Jamboard ended on December 31, 2024. A replacement must support the work you do now: teaching, quick sketches, structured diagrams, or team workshops. Google’s official announcement explains the shutdown and names partner alternatives.
Jamboard Has Already Shut Down
The app became view-only on October 1, 2024, then closed at the end of December. Instructions to create a new jam or use the old app’s export menu are no longer usable.
Working with Retained Jamboard Files
Look in Google Drive for the PDFs created during Google’s 2025 conversion of jams. Also check any PDFs or images your team saved separately. Keep an untouched copy before using the material in another tool. If a file is missing, ask your organization’s administrator about access and retained copies.
A PDF or image preserves what the board looked like. It does not preserve editable notes, comments, permissions, or the full history. Recreate the objects that need further work.
Six Alternatives to Consider
1. Boardmix
Boardmix combines shared boards with mind maps, flowcharts, and templates. Use it when the discussion needs to develop into an editable visual plan. Its Free plan includes 3 editable boards and 100 objects per board.
2. Lucidspark
Lucidspark supports visual brainstorming and collaboration. It is one of Google’s named partner alternatives and may suit teams already using Lucid tools.
3. Miro
Miro offers a visual workspace for planning, diagrams, and workshops. Compare its editing limits and participant access with the size and format of your sessions.
4. FigJam
FigJam offers sticky notes, shapes, connectors, and collaborative discussion. It is useful for early product thinking alongside Figma design work.
5. Microsoft Whiteboard
Microsoft Whiteboard is worth considering for groups that work in Teams. Check your organization’s policies for external sharing and the account requirements of attendees.
6. Excalidraw
Excalidraw provides a hand-drawn-style canvas with a free browser app, real-time collaboration, and editable-file export. It suits quick sketches and informal visual explanations.
Where Boardmix Fits
Use Boardmix to put reference images, planning notes, and structured diagrams in one workspace. For a live meeting, send participants a board link and present through your conferencing application. Set edit permissions for the people who need to contribute.
Bring Retained Material into a New Board
- Find the converted PDF in Google Drive or a separately saved export, and keep the original.
- Use the new whiteboard’s supported import or upload workflow to add it as a reference.
- Recreate notes and shapes that need to change.
- Invite a colleague to review the board and check access before sharing it with the wider group.
The goal is a usable workspace for the next task. Preserve the source material, but avoid rebuilding old boards that no one needs to edit.
