If you’ve been looking for an easy-to-use Flip Alternative, here are some ideas. As a fellow teacher and library media specialist, I know how powerful Flip (formerly known as Flipgrid) has been for amplifying student voice and fostering student engagement. I was so disappointed when Flip became available only to those who use Microsoft Teams. What a loss! However, there are some Flip alternatives that support critical thinking, effective communication, and boost student engagement. In this post, I’m sharing teacher-tested platforms and educational technology tools that seamlessly support technology integration and creative technology activities for kids. Consider this your go-to guide for fresh teaching strategies and practical tips for teachers looking to level up classroom tech with an alternative to Flip.
My Flip Backstory
I first began using Flip for short student introductions, then moved on to having students use it for short book talks (like book commercials). You can read more about the strategies I used here. When Flip became exclusively for those using the Microsoft Teams suite of technology tools, I had many teachers coming to me for suggestions about alternatives.
I have been on a quest to find workable flip alternatives, and listed below are the options I have tested. Each has some advantages and drawbacks. None of the options are ideal. I’ve also included a tutorial for each so that you can easily test the options that seem workable to you. I hope you find something you can use.
Adobe Express
Adobe Express offers a polished and powerful alternative to Flip, especially for longer student videos—with a generous 5-minute time limit in the free version! It’s easy to edit or delete clips, giving students control over their content. However, collaboration takes a bit more effort—you’ll need to manually add contributors and adjust the timeline for multiple videos. Plus, viewers have to watch the entire video to see all the introductions, since you can’t pick and play individual clips. Still, for sleek, story-style projects, Adobe Express brings creativity and quality to the forefront. To learn more, go here.
Book Creator
Book Creator is a fantastic, flexible alternative to Flip that makes it easy for students to record, embed, and resize videos, whether they want to fill the whole screen or just a portion of it. It’s perfect for crafting multimedia stories and projects with a polished look. The downside? Teachers need to set up student accounts, and some schools might not allow its use due to privacy regulations. But where it’s available, Book Creator opens up a world of creative possibilities for student expression. Here’s a tutorial to show you how to use this option.
Canva
Canva is a free and user-friendly option for students looking to share their voices in a creative way. It’s super simple to record and insert videos directly into projects, making it a breeze for quick presentations. The catch? Videos can’t be resized to take up the full screen and must be displayed with a background slide, plus, there’s no option to enlarge the video image. Still, for visually engaging, easy-to-make presentations, Canva is a fun and accessible choice. Here’s a quick tutorial to show you how it works.
Google Slides
Google Slides offers a free and flexible alternative to Flip for student projects. I’m a huge fan of this Google app, and have used it for many student projects. It’s great for collaboration. Each student can shine on their own slide, with videos easily resized and arranged for a clean, organized presentation. While it’s not quite as intuitive as Kami and requires a few extra steps (like saving videos to Google Drive before importing), the familiar interface and creative freedom make it a solid choice for showcasing student work in a polished, personalized way. Here’s a simple tutorial, but note that as of this writing the video tool is located on the right side of the screen, not at the top.
Kami
As an alternative to Flip for student projects, Kami might be your new go-to tool. It’s super easy to use and perfect for collaborative work. Students can resize their videos to fit neatly into a project grid, and each clip can be enlarged for easy viewing. Just one catch: since anyone can edit, students need to stay focused and avoid the temptation to tinker with each other’s work. With a little discipline, Kami can be a creative and flexible platform for showcasing student voices. Here’s a short tutorial.
Padlet
Padlet is a fun, free, and easy-to-use alternative to Flip that’s perfect for collaborative video projects! The cool filters and effects are blocked in my district, since they are connected to Snap Chat, but videos can be shared in a stream, enlarged to full screen, and easily accessed with just a link. Teachers can approve posts and comments before they go live, keeping things on track. The only hiccups? The free version limits videos to 2 minutes and allows just three boards—and students might get sidetracked exploring other features. Still, Padlet offers a sleek, shareable way for student voices to be seen and heard.
SeeSaw
SeeSaw is a simple and student-friendly alternative to Flip, offering an easy way to record and share videos with a solid 5-minute time limit. It’s perfect for quick reflections or presentations. While it’s not free and lacks the collaborative features of platforms like Flip or Padlet, its intuitive design makes it a great option for individual submissions. For classrooms looking for a streamlined, teacher-managed space for student voice, SeeSaw gets the job done with ease and clarity. Here’s a brief tutorial.
Final Verdict and a Free Resource
Of all of these Flip alternatives, the free version of Padlet seems like the most engaging and simple to use, with Kami (paid for by my school district) being a close second. With Kami in mind, I created a simple student grid that can be edited in Kami to include multiple student videos. Each participant can place their video in the grid for the class to view. You can get the free grid here. It’s not fancy, but maybe it will help you get started with a Flip alternative.
Going to Use Some of These Flip Alternatives for Your Classroom?
I hope you have found something to try in this post you can use. Do you have any Flip alternative ideas? I’d enjoy learning about them. I’m always on the lookout for fun technology inspiration!
Have a wonderful week, and have fun exploring the Flip alternatives!
Lisa Mitchell is a school librarian who likes to use her job as an excuse to stay up far too late reading books and noodling around with tech tools. To learn more about what this website has to offer, click on over to the Tech Tips page.
Thank you so much for these Flip alternatives. I have been at a loss, but now I have hope that one or more of these options will work. I will share this with my teaching colleagues!
Great! Yes, it was a great loss when Flip became unavailable to me to use, since my school district uses Google Suite. So glad you found these flip alternatives helpful.