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LMS · head to head

Nearpod vs Pear Deck

Nearpod logo

Nearpod

LMS

Interactive lessons that engage every student

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pear Deck logo

Pear Deck

LMS

Interactive presentations that engage every student

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Nearpod free plan limited to 40 student joins per lesson, restricting larger classroom use; Pear Deck the Teacher Dashboard, draggable and drawing responses and Reflect and Review require Teacher Premium at $149 per year
  • They diverge on capability: Nearpod covers Virtual reality, Pear Deck covers Real-time responses.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nearpod and Pear Deck actually diverge.

Attributes where Nearpod and Pear Deck differ
AttributeNearpodPear Deck
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, ChromebookWeb, Chrome Extension
Founded20122014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (LMS).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Nearpod

  • Virtual reality
  • Gamification
  • Polls
  • Open-ended questions
  • Draw It
  • Collaborate board
  • Reports
  • Microsoft Teams

Only in Pear Deck

  • Real-time responses
  • Formative assessment
  • Student-paced mode
  • Dashboard
  • Audio responses
  • Drawing
  • Vocabulary
  • Google Slides

Both cover

  • Interactive slides
  • Google Classroom
  • Canvas
  • Schoology
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Nearpod

  • Interactive lessonsnot Pear Deck
  • Formative assessmentnot Pear Deck
  • Student engagementnot Pear Deck
  • Virtual learningnot Pear Deck

Pear Deck

  • Interactive classroom presentations for teachersnot Nearpod
  • Student practice and assessment toolsnot Nearpod
  • Standards-aligned content delivery for schoolsnot Nearpod

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Nearpod

  • Free plan limited to 40 student joins per lesson, restricting larger classroom use
  • Paid plans require annual commitment with limited monthly flexibility
  • Advanced collaboration features restricted to district/school level plans
  • VR features depend on student device compatibility

Pear Deck

  • The Teacher Dashboard, draggable and drawing responses and Reflect and Review require Teacher Premium at $149 per year
  • Pear Assessment Premium is a separate $125 per year purchase from Pear Deck Premium
  • Standards aligned content, district library and efficacy reports are only in the Schools and Districts plan
  • SIS and LMS integration is only in the Schools and Districts plan
  • School and district pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Nearpod

Free
  • SilverFree
    • 300 MB storage
    • 40 student joins per lesson
    • 22,000+ library resources
  • Gold$159/year
    • 1 GB storage
    • 75 student joins per lesson
    • AI Question Generator
  • Platinum$397/year
    • 5 GB storage
    • 90 student joins per lesson
    • Student notes capability

Pear Deck

Free
  • Pear Start FreeFree
    • 40+ AI tools for teachers
    • unlimited usage
  • Pear Deck FreeFree
    • basic interactive presentations
    • anonymous responses
    • student-paced mode
  • Pear Deck Premium$149/year
    • Teacher Dashboard with named responses
    • drawing/draggable features
    • Reflect & Review
  • Pear Assessment FreeFree
    • basic assessment creation
    • autograding

Which should you pick?

Choose Nearpod if

  • You need virtual reality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Chromebook.
  • You also want gamification.
Nearpod review

Choose Pear Deck if

  • You need real-time responses.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Chrome Extension.
  • You also want formative assessment.
Pear Deck review

Questions people ask

Is Nearpod or Pear Deck better?
Neither clearly leads. Nearpod starts at Free and Pear Deck at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Nearpod or Pear Deck?
Nearpod starts at Free and Pear Deck at Free.
Does Nearpod or Pear Deck run on more platforms?
Nearpod runs on Web, iOS, Android, Chromebook. Pear Deck runs on Web, Chrome Extension.
Can I use Nearpod for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Nearpod best used for?
Nearpod is most often used for interactive lessons, formative assessment, student engagement, virtual learning. Of those, interactive lessons and formative assessment are not what Pear Deck is typically brought in for.
What can Nearpod do that Pear Deck cannot?
Nearpod covers Virtual reality, Gamification, Polls, Open-ended questions. Pear Deck covers Real-time responses, Formative assessment, Student-paced mode, Dashboard. Both handle Interactive slides, Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nearpod: What is included in Nearpod's free plan?

The free Silver plan includes 300 MB storage, 40 student joins per lesson, and access to core features with 22,000+ library resources.

Source
Pear Deck: What is the price for individual teacher subscriptions?

Pear Deck Premium: $149/year; Pear Assessment Premium: $125/year. Pear Practice and Start have custom pricing for paid tiers.

Source
Nearpod: Can I import existing presentations into Nearpod?

Yes, you can upload PowerPoints, Google Slides, and PDFs to make them interactive with Nearpod's tools.

Source
Pear Deck: Are there free versions available?

Yes, all Pear Deck products offer free teacher plans: Pear Start, Pear Deck, Pear Practice, and Pear Assessment are free for educators.

Source
Nearpod: Does Nearpod integrate with learning management systems?

Yes, Nearpod integrates with Canvas, Google Classroom, Schoology, Blackboard, and other LMS platforms with single sign-on and rostering support.

Source
Pear Deck: What features require payment in Pear Assessment?

Free version includes basic assessment creation and autograding. Premium ($125/year) adds advanced security, accessibility tools, state test interface mimicry, and rubric scoring.

Source
Pear Deck: Do schools get discounted pricing?

Yes, schools and districts receive custom pricing with additional features like standards-aligned content, shared libraries, and LMS integration.

Source
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