How to choose your online whiteboard and video conferencing tools

To start teaching online, you need to choose your core tools: one for video conferencing so you can see and speak to your student, and one for a shared whiteboard to collaborate on. The best approach is to start with the excellent free versions of popular tools like Google Meet for video and BitPaper for your whiteboard, which are often more than enough to get you started.

Step 1: Choose Your Video Conferencing Software

This is the virtual room where your lessons will happen. The goal is to find a tool that is reliable, easy for both you and your students to use, and professional. For one-to-one tutoring, your main choices are Google Meet and Zoom.

Our Recommendation: Start with Google Meet. It's incredibly simple, runs in a web browser without needing any software downloads, and has no time limits for one-to-one lessons on its free plan.

Comparing the Top Options

Free Plan Limits

Unlimited one-to-one meetings. Group meetings are limited to 60 minutes.

Unlimited one-to-one meetings. Group meetings are limited to 40 minutes.

Ease of Use

Extremely easy. You just share a link and the student can join from their browser.

Very easy, but often prompts the user to download the Zoom desktop app for the best experience.

Best For...

Tutors who want a reliable, no-fuss solution that works seamlessly for one-to-one lessons without any time pressure.

Tutors who might later want to run group sessions and use features like polls and advanced screen sharing.

Step 2: Choose Your Online Whiteboard

An interactive whiteboard is your digital piece of paper. It’s a shared space where you and your student can write, draw, and work through problems together in real-time. This is crucial for making lessons interactive and engaging.

Our Recommendation: Start with a tool built for education, like BitPaper. It’s designed specifically for tutoring, making it much more intuitive than more corporate-focused tools.

Comparing the Top Options

Core Focus

Designed specifically for online tutoring and teaching.

Aimed at corporate teams for brainstorming and project management.

Key Features

Simple interface, subject-specific tools (like graph paper and equation editors), and the ability to upload documents.

An 'infinite' canvas with a vast library of templates, sticky notes, and advanced collaboration features.

Best For...

Tutors who need a straightforward, easy-to-use tool that mimics the experience of working on paper.

Tutors who need a highly flexible, creative space for complex mind-mapping or visual projects.

Next Steps

1. Sign up for the free versions: Create free accounts for your top choice in each category.
2. Do a practice run: Ask a friend or family member to join you for a 15-minute test lesson. Check your audio and video quality, and practise using the whiteboard tools so you feel confident.
3. Decide and subscribe: Once you're happy with your choices, you're ready to go. You can stick with the free plans for as long as they meet your needs, and only upgrade to a paid subscription when your business grows.