Padlet vs PinnyBinny: Which Online Board Is Better for Teachers?

Looking for a Padlet alternative? If you use Padlet in your classroom, you may have encountered its limitations — whether related to price, complexity, or student registration. This article offers a clear and fair comparison of Padlet and PinnyBinny, a newer European alternative focused on simplicity and accessibility.

The comparison is written primarily for teachers and schools who want to work efficiently with students, without unnecessary setup or administrative overhead.

Introduction: Why Compare Padlet at All?

Padlet is one of the most widely used digital board tools in education today. Millions of teachers worldwide rely on it for brainstorming, collaboration, and classroom activities.

At the same time:

• not every teacher needs a large number of advanced features,
• pricing can be a concern for individuals and schools,
• and student accounts raise GDPR and privacy questions in the EU.

This is where PinnyBinny comes in — a tool designed to solve very specific classroom problems rather than trying to cover every possible use case.

Quick Comparison at a Glance

Area	Padlet	PinnyBinny
FREE plan	3 boards, unlimited posts	unlimited boards, 33 posts per board
Paid plan	approx. $8–12 / month	€4.99 / month
Student registration	Often required	Not required
Time to start	5–10 minutes	~30 seconds
Ease of use	More complex	Very simple
GDPR (EU schools)	Requires consideration	No personal data needed
Languages	40+	EN, CZ, DE, FR, ES, IT
File upload limit	Higher limits (depends on plan)	Lower limit (sufficient for typical classroom use)

Pricing: What Do You Actually Pay?

Padlet

Padlet's free version is very limited:

• up to 3 boards
• unlimited posts (limitation is only in storage space and file size - max. 20 MB per file)

Paid plans typically cost:

• $8–12 per month, depending on the plan and region.

PinnyBinny

PinnyBinny offers:

• a FREE plan suitable for testing in real lessons,
• a teacher plan for €4.99 per month.

This represents a 50–60% cost saving compared to Padlet.

Practical example:

If you currently pay $8 per month for Padlet, switching to PinnyBinny saves you about $96 per year — money that can be used for other teaching tools or classroom materials.

Simplicity and Speed of Use

Padlet

Padlet provides many configuration options:

• different board types,
• visual customization,
• multiple user roles.

This flexibility is useful, but it often means:

• longer setup time,
• additional explanation for students.

PinnyBinny

PinnyBinny takes the opposite approach:

• minimal setup,
• clear interface,
• focus on fast classroom use.

In most cases:

• you create a board,
• share a link or QR code,
• and start working immediately.

Student Registration and GDPR

This topic is especially relevant for European schools.

Padlet

In many classroom scenarios:

• students need accounts or identifiable access,
• which can involve email addresses.

This may lead to:

• GDPR compliance concerns,
• parental consent requirements,
• additional administration.

PinnyBinny

PinnyBinny avoids this entirely:

• students do not create accounts,
• no personal data is required,
• access is via password or QR code.

For many teachers, this significantly reduces friction and paperwork.

Features: What Do You Really Use?

Padlet offers:

• classic boards,
• timelines,
• maps,
• kanban boards,
• and other specialized layouts.

PinnyBinny focuses on essentials:

• classic boards,
• mind maps,
• whiteboard,
• flashcards,
• memory game (for practice and revision).

A simple question is worth asking: How many advanced features do you actually use during everyday lessons?

For many teachers, clarity and speed matter more than feature breadth.

FREE Plans: Trying It in a Real Lesson

Padlet FREE

• very limited capacity,
• suitable mainly for short testing.

PinnyBinny FREE

• allows real classroom use,
• includes all board types,
• provides more space for student contributions.

If you want to test a tool with a real class, PinnyBinny is generally more forgiving.

When Does Padlet Make Sense?

Padlet may be the right choice if:

• you need a very wide range of board types,
• you work in many languages,
• budget is not a concern,
• you are comfortable with a more complex interface.

When Does PinnyBinny Make Sense?

PinnyBinny is a good fit if:

• you want to start quickly without explanations,
• you want to avoid student registration,
• you prefer a lower monthly cost,
• you teach in Europe and value GDPR simplicity,
• you need a practical tool for everyday lessons.

Conclusion: A Fair Summary

Padlet is a powerful and established tool, but it may be more complex and expensive than necessary for everyday teaching.

PinnyBinny focuses on:

• simplicity,
• affordability,
• and student privacy.

In short:

• If you need a highly flexible, feature-rich tool → Padlet
• If you want a fast, affordable, and GDPR-friendly solution → PinnyBinny

Try PinnyBinny for Free

No student registration. No commitment.

Start Free: https://b.pinnybinny.com/login