Kahoot alternatives: 5 tools every teacher should know
Thomas Courtley
Teaching & Learning Lead
Why look for Kahoot alternatives?
Kahoot has become almost synonymous with classroom quizzes. It is fun, competitive, and gets students cheering. However, many teachers are looking for Kahoot alternatives that offer more than just quiz competitions. In this article, we explore five tools you should know to make your lessons more interactive, inclusive, and effective.
Kahoot: The classic quiz tool
What it is
Kahoot is the original quiz-based learning platform that energizes classrooms through competitive games. It remains a popular choice, but teachers often seek Kahoot alternatives when they want more comprehensive lesson planning.
Limitations
Teachers know the buzz it creates, but Kahoot is quiz-first. It does not guide you through full lesson planning. Its AI-powered quiz creation is is only available within the premium version.
When to use it
Kahoot is great when you want your class laughing, having fun, and competing. For deeper teaching moments, though, most teachers need more.
3 main strengths of Kahoot
Easy to set up
Creating quizzes is quick and intuitive, requiring minimal preparation time.
Fun and engaging
The colorful interface, music, and points system keep students excited.
In the classroom and remote
Kahoot can be used on any device with internet access, no matter where you are.
LessonUp: Kahoot alternative for interactive lessons
What it is
LessonUp is one of the best Kahoot alternative for teachers who want a platform that supports every phase of their lesson. From planning to reflection, LessonUp’s interactive features help engage every student.
Limitations
LessonUp offers more structure and pedagogy than quiz-only tools. It may take a moment to get used to preparing a digital lesson, but soon feels like a natural part of teaching.
When to use it
LessonUp is ideal for teachers who want their lessons to be inclusive, interactive, and grounded in pedagogy.
3 main strengths of LessonUp
Teacher-centered AI tools
LessonUp’s AI tools help by instantly preparing a lesson, relevant quizzes, a quick rubric, or engaging pictures.
PowerPoint import feature
You do not have to start from scratch. Just upload your existing lessons and bring them to life with interactive features.
Variety of interactive question types
Fill in the blanks, sorting, or mind maps encourage recall, initiate conversations, and make every student feel included.
Genially: Kahoot alternative for visual storytelling
What it is
Genially is a strong Kahoot alternative for teachers who want to blend storytelling with interactive content.
Limitations
The platform is not specifically designed just for teachers. It’s a general-purpose interactive content platform. You must decide your learning objectives and structure your lessons.
When to use it
It works well when you want your students to dive into a story, and interact with content in more creative ways.
3 main strengths of Genially
Fresh and visually appealing designs
With a wide variety of templates and graphics, you can create presentations that stand out.
Supports quizzes, polls, and branching
Genially allows for interactive elements that go beyond simple multiple-choice questions.
It encourages you to dive into a story
By combining narrative elements with interactive content, learners are drawn into a journey.
Quizizz: Kahoot alternative for self-paced quizzing
What it is
Quiz platform that works both live and at the students’ own pace, while with Kahoot teachers control the pace. it's primary focus is practice, homework, and self-paced learning.
Limitations
Teachers like the flexibility, but Quizizz remains quiz-focused. It does not provide a complete toolkit for lesson design.
When to use it
Perfect for practice sessions, review homework, or extra challenges for students who need them.
3 main strengths of Quizizz
Flexible: run quizzes live in class or assign
Choose for real-time competitions or let students complete them in their own time.
A large library of ready-made quizzes
With thousands of quizzes, teachers can easily find ad adapt quiz questions.
Gamified features to motivate
Points, leaderboards feel like a game, encouraging students to learn by playing.
Socrative: Kahoot alternative for simple formative assessment
What it is
Socrative is a lightweight tool for quick checks of student understanding.
Limitations
Socrative is not for building full lessons. Think of it as a handy classroom assistant for quick checks.
When to use it
Use Socrative when you just want to know: “Did my students get this?” It is quick feedback for both you and them.
3 main strengths of Socrative
Fast to set up polls and exit tickets
Teachers can quickly create simple assessments without spending much time on them.
Real-time response for clarity
Immediate results allow teachers to identify gaps in understanding and adjust instruction.
Simple interface = no distractions
The clean design keeps students focused on the questions rather than pictures or avatars.
Final comparison: Which tool should you choose?
✅ Kahoot: A fun way to bring joy and competition into the classroom. Best for energizing students and quick review quizzes.
✅ LessonUp: Complete student-centered platform. Supports every phase of your lesson, from preparation to reflection, and includes all student voices.
✅ Genially: Creative storytelling with built-in interactivity. Great for making content visually engaging. It requires teachers to design the learning structure themselves.
✅ Quizizz: Flexible quizzing for class practice or homework. Motivates students to try again, but remains quiz-focused.
✅ Socrative: Effective for quick checks. Provides valuable real-time feedback, but limited interactivity, and is not suited for supporting entire lessons.
