Best Anchor Alternatives in 2026
The top Anchor alternatives are Apple Classroom, ClassDojo and Veyon: 15 classroom management software our editors would look at instead of Anchor, in our ranking order.
Anchor: A free, self-hosted choice for Microsoft-focused classroom activity control. Where it falls short: no live screen view for teachers.
Switching from Anchor? For most classroom management software buyers the best Anchor alternative is Apple Classroom, built for apple device classrooms.
Why People Look for an Anchor Alternative
- No live screen view for teachers
- Self-hosting requires school-managed backend infrastructure
- Device enforcement centers on Windows and Microsoft Edge
- No live screen view — 13 of the alternatives below have it
- No behavior tracking — 10 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallApple Classroom9.2
Apple device classrooms
Visit Apple Classroom - Best free optionApple Classroom9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Apple Classroom - Best for live screen viewApple Classroom9.2
Live screen view (Anchor: no)
Visit Apple Classroom
All 15 Anchor Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forApple device classrooms
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Editor score 9.2 vs 6.5
A free Apple classroom app for screen viewing, device controls, and content sharing.
- Live screen view
- Device controls
- Activity monitoring
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Apple -
Best forFree behavior-focused classroom engagement
- Better than Anchor:
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 9.0 vs 6.5
A free, behavior-focused classroom platform with messaging, portfolios, and family engagement.
- Behavior tracking
- Activity monitoring
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit ClassDojo -
Best forOpen-source Windows/Linux labs
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Editor score 8.8 vs 6.5
A capable free classroom management core for Windows and Linux computer labs.
- Live screen view
- Device controls
- Activity monitoring
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Veyon -
Best forTraditional classroom control suites
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Editor score 8.7 vs 6.5
A traditional classroom control suite covering monitoring, restrictions, communication, and remote commands.
- Web filtering
- Live screen view
- Device controls
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Faronics -
Best forManaged classrooms with Chromebook support
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.5
A broad classroom control suite for managed Chromebook, Windows, and Mac environments.
- Web filtering
- Live screen view
- Device controls
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Securly -
Best forAI-assisted classroom oversight
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 8.5 vs 6.5
A broad classroom oversight platform with monitoring, controls, communication, and AI alerts.
- Web filtering
- Behavior tracking
- Live screen view
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit GoGuardian -
Best forCross-platform filtering and safety
- Better than Anchor:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 6.5
A cross-platform K–12 toolkit combining filtering, monitoring, scheduling, and safety alerts.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Blocksi -
Best forBroad classroom control and assessment
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.5
A broad classroom control suite for schools managing student activity across five platforms.
- Web filtering
- Behavior tracking
- Live screen view
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit NetSupport -
Best forFull-featured school classroom management
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 7.8 vs 6.5
A broad school platform for monitoring, instruction, safeguarding, and device administration.
- Web filtering
- Behavior tracking
- Live screen view
7.8/10★★★★☆Try classroom.cloud -
Best forValue-focused cross-platform classrooms
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 7.7 vs 6.5
A broad classroom, safeguarding, and device-management suite with low annual per-device pricing.
- Web filtering
- Behavior tracking
- Live screen view
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Senso.cloud -
Best forFlexible live classroom supervision
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 7.6 vs 6.5
A broad toolkit for supervising student devices and managing access during live lessons.
- Web filtering
- Behavior tracking
- Live screen view
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Classwize -
Best forAI-enabled everyday classroom management
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 7.5 vs 6.5
AI-enabled classroom controls for monitoring, instruction, and student device management.
- Web filtering
- Behavior tracking
- Live screen view
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit LanSchool Air -
Best forGoogle-centered browser classrooms
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 7.4 vs 6.5
A focused classroom monitoring tool for schools built around Google Workspace and browsers.
- Web filtering
- Behavior tracking
- Live screen view
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Hāpara -
Best forMature monitoring and device control
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 7.3 vs 6.5
Deep monitoring and device control for education providers managing classroom technology.
- Web filtering
- Behavior tracking
- Live screen view
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit AB Tutor -
Best forLow-cost modern classroom control
- Better than Anchor:
- Live screen view
- Behavior tracking
- Editor score 7.2 vs 6.5
A low-cost classroom control tool with live monitoring and practical device controls.
- Web filtering
- Behavior tracking
- Live screen view
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit KyberClassroom
Anchor Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Anchor?
Apple Classroom: #1 in our Classroom Management Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A free Apple classroom app for screen viewing, device controls, and content sharing.
Is there a free alternative to Anchor?
Yes. Apple Classroom, ClassDojo and Veyon have a free plan or a free tier.
Why do people look for Anchor alternatives?
No live screen view for teachers; Self-hosting requires school-managed backend infrastructure; Device enforcement centers on Windows and Microsoft Edge.
How do I switch from Anchor?
Export your data from Anchor (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Anchor.
How to Switch from Anchor
- Export your data from Anchor (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Anchor.
Anchor vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Activity monitoring | Live screen view | Web filtering | Device controls | Behavior tracking | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Anchor | Yes | Free | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | 6.5 |
| 1 | Apple Classroom | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 | ||
| 2 | ClassDojo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | ||||
| 3 | Veyon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |||
| 4 | Faronics Insight | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | ||
| 5 | Securly Classroom | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |||
| 6 | GoGuardian Teacher | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 7 | Blocksi | No | 8.4 | ||||||
| 8 | NetSupport School | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 9 | classroom.cloud | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 10 | Senso.cloud | No | £3/device/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
| 11 | Classwize | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | ||
| 12 | LanSchool Air | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | |
| 13 | Hāpara Highlights | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 14 | AB Tutor | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 15 | KyberClassroom | No | $5/device/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.2 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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