When youโre teaching, presenting your work, or trying to get quick feedback at the start of a project, tools that let people respond in real time can make a noticeable difference. They help you see what your audience already understands, where theyโre unsure, and what they want to discuss. Used well, they shift a room from quiet observation to active involvement.
The challenge, of course, is choosing a tool like Slido that will support the kind of interaction youโre after in an effective way, and something that will fit your budget.
What do these platforms do?
Platforms like Slido and Mentimeter allow you to do the following:
- Interactive word clouds
- Polls
- Question and answer sessions
- Brainstorming
- Quizzes
- Surveys
Are they free to use?
Universities once routinely provided premium licences for major interaction platforms, and some still do. Yet ongoing budget pressures mean researchers canโt always assume that these subscriptions are available. For many projects, especially early-phase studies and those with smaller grants, itโs become important to know which free tools offer meaningful functionality without eating into valuable funding.
Fortunately, there are several platforms that still allow academics to run polls, Q&As, and engagement activities at no cost โ although each of their free tiers comes with its own limitations.
| Provider | Number of participants on free plan | Polls/questions limit per event on free plan |
|---|---|---|
| Wooclap | 1000 participants per event | 2 |
| Directpoll | 500 concurrent voters | N/A |
| Slido | 100 participants per session | 3 |
| Mentimeter | 50 participants per month (but unlimited once a month) | N/A |
| Poll Everywhere | 40 max audience size – i.e. responses per poll (700 max audience size for 30 days) | N/A |
Hereโs a more in-depth comparison of some of the best free options:
1. Wooclap
Wooclap is one of the most versatile tools in the free tier, offering word clouds, polls, quizzes, surveys, Q&A, and even brainstorming activities. But what really stands out is that it allows up to 1,000 participants per event โ higher than most competitors. The limitation is that it only lets you ask two questions per event, making it less practical for longer sessions or anything that needs more detailed input. Even so, it works well for focused interactions where you need quick engagement.
2. DirectPoll
DirectPoll focuses on simplicity and speed. It supports standard polls only, but places no limits on the number of questions. It also allows up to 500 concurrent voters. For lecturers or researchers who need straightforward, instant voting without additional features, DirectPoll offers an efficient, distraction-free option. Its stripped-back design actually becomes a strength when you want clear, fast responses and donโt need the โclutterโ of the extra features found in more complex tools.
When youโre teaching, presenting your work, or trying to get quick feedback at the start of a project, tools that let people respond in real time can make a noticeable difference.
3. Slido
Slido combines polls, word clouds, quizzes, surveys and Q&A in a clean, accessible interface. The free tier supports up to 100 participants per session and three questions per event. This makes it well-suited for seminars, small conferences, or modules with limited cohort sizes. The moderated Q&A feature, even in the free plan, is particularly helpful for managing larger volumes of audience questions. It offers a level of structure that many lecturers find reassuring in busy sessions.
4. Mentimeter
Mentimeter offers word clouds, polls, quizzes, surveys, and Q&A, and its free plan places no limits on the number of questions. Although it generally restricts the number of participants to 50 per month, it also provides one session per month with unlimited participants, which can be valuable for occasional larger events. This mixed model makes Mentimeter appealing for researchers who host infrequent but high-attendance sessions, and still need a lot of flexibility in question design.
5. Poll Everywhere
Poll Everywhere is widely recognised in academic settings. Its free tier supports all major interaction types โ including word clouds, polls, quizzes, Q&A sessions, and surveys โ but limits responses to 40 participants per poll. There is, however, a temporary option that allows for up to 700 participants for 30 days, which could cover a major event or conference. With no limits on the number of questions and an interface many will recognise, itโs a solid option for small groups or focused research.
Which interactive polling tool is best?
The choice depends on your needs.
- If audience size is essential, Wooclap offers the largest capacity.
- DirectPoll suits those who need unlimited questions without complexity.
- Mentimeter works well if youโre running a larger event from time to time.
- Slido offers a good mix of features for mid-sized groups.
- Poll Everywhere suits smaller studies that benefit from a tool many academics already know.
We know how important interactive tools are for research, and we hope these free options help keep your audiences involved without putting extra pressure on your budget.
Let us help you interact with your audiences
If youโre starting a new project or preparing material for a wider audience, the team here at Pixelshrink can work with you to shape interaction plans that draw people in and support clearer, more effective communication.
