Google Classroom is a great virtual training solution if you’re teaching in a standard, formal education setting. But if you’re a coach or trainer working with adults, running workshops, or selling online programs, it can feel clunky, limited, and not built for how you work.
Google Classroom doesn’t let you customize the learning experience much. It lacks built-in tools for live interaction or coaching, and it’s hard to track engagement beyond assignments. For coaches and trainers, that means more manual work, less flexibility, and a learning environment that doesn’t match how you deliver value.
You need a more flexible tool. For example, something more professional that makes it easy to organize content, track progress, and deliver an impactful client experience.
This article will provide you with the best Google Classroom alternatives for coaches and trainers, so you can find a platform that fits your style, your clients, and your business.
What is Google Classroom?
Google Classroom is a learning management system (LMS) that helps teachers create and deliver personalized learning experiences for their students. Think of it as a digital hub where everything related to your class can live — from assignments and announcements to feedback, and more.
Google Classroom offers features like:
- Multi-classrooms: instructors can set up and manage multiple classrooms and students simultaneously from one platform.
- Third-party integrations: one of the best parts about Google Classroom is how well it connects with other tools. It integrates with over 100 edtech apps and platforms, including Khan Academy, Quizizz, and Edpuzzle. It also syncs with other Google apps like Slides and Sheets.
This allows you to connect all your learning apps in one place. For example, you can assign a quiz from Quizizz, review assignments in Google Docs, and track student progress at a go — all without leaving Google Classroom.
- Custom grading: Google Classroom lets you tailor grading to fit your teaching style or subject. You can use rubrics, assign point values, set up weighted categories, or choose other grading systems that work best for you.
Why Look for a Google Classroom Alternative?
If Google Classroom is so great, why would coaches and trainers look for an alternative? Good question. It depends on your teaching requirements.
Google Classroom works well for structured, classroom-style teaching — where everything is standardized. But that’s hardly the case for coaching and training sessions.
As a coach or trainer, you’re working with learners who have different goals, schedules, and learning styles. They might be balancing work, family, and personal commitments. Their learning needs evolve quickly, and you need a platform that easily adapts to these changes. Google Classroom isn’t built for that.
Let’s discuss a few reasons why it makes sense to switch from Google Classroom to a more suitable coaching or training LMS.
1. You’re Locked Into the Google Ecosystem (Kind Of)
Google Classroom works best if you already use Google tools like Drive, Docs, Slides, and Meet. However, if your workflow includes other platforms or if your clients don’t have Google accounts, it can quickly become frustrating. Suddenly, you’re dealing with extra steps to share and access materials or manage multiple apps for each coaching session.
For example, let’s say a coaching client shares a file with you via Dropbox, and you need to co-review it in real-time during your session. Google Classroom doesn’t integrate with Dropbox, so you’d have to download the file first and then upload it to Google Drive to work on it together. This is time-consuming and confusing, especially if your client isn’t using Google tools themselves.
2. Limited Interactive Activities
Google Classroom has some interactive features, like whiteboards and adding questions to YouTube videos. But these are basic compared to what virtual coaching and training platforms like Beekast offer.
For example, Google Classroom can handle a standard quiz, but you won’t get the fun, gamified elements like a timer or a leaderboard. To add those features, you’d need third-party integrations, which can take extra time and effort.
Beekast, on the other hand, makes it easy to integrate interactive quizzes into your sessions. You can introduce them at different points during your training and add fun features like live leaderboards and instant feedback to keep learners engaged and motivated throughout.
3. No Automated Session Reports
While Google Classroom offers features like meeting recordings through Google Meet and basic participation tracking via analytics, there’s no built-in way to generate a comprehensive report summarizing everything that happened during a coaching or training session.
You have to take manual notes or rely on third-party tools to create a meeting report, which is time-consuming and, let’s be honest, kind of a hassle. In coaching and training, clear follow-up is key to progress. Without automated reports, you and your client risk forgetting key takeaways, action items, and progress made.
The Top 5 Virtual Classroom Alternatives to Google Classroom
You might be looking for a Google Classroom alternative for any of the reasons listed above. If that’s the case, here are five virtual classroom platforms that could be a better fit for your needs.
1. Beekast: Best for Interactive Coaching and Training Sessions
If you want to transform your coaching sessions from one-way monologues into exciting conversations, Beekast is worth checking out. It’s an interactive meeting tool that makes coaching and training sessions more engaging.
In Beekast, you’ll find a ton of icebreakers to help you build rapport and connect with your clients right from the start. Throughout the session, you can use different interactive coaching and training activities to test participants’ knowledge, collect real-time feedback, and brainstorm ideas collaboratively. One standout activity for trainers is the gamified challenge, which adds a fun, competitive element to the learning experience.
Even with all these features, Beekast is still super easy to use. There is no complicated setup or tech headaches. You can launch a session in minutes, and your clients can join with just a code — no account needed. It’s a simple, effective way to make your coaching sessions more dynamic and engaging.
Here’s how one coach describes their experience using Beekast.
“I appreciate the ease of use with a system similar to PowerPoint and a fairly rich list of activities. Also, the integration of the QR Code allows participants to connect easily. Finally, the Beekast Inspiration site with ready-to-use templates is often my best friend when designing a remote training session” — G2 Review.
Top Features
- Inspiration library with icebreakers, interactive coaching, and training templates.
- Automated meeting notes and reports.
- Third-party integrations with Zoom, Google Meet, and many other tools.
Pricing
You can start using Beekast for free. However, to enjoy more features, you need to upgrade to a paid Beekast plan. Here’s the pricing breakdown:
- Starter: €39 per host per month (billed annually).
- Pro: €59 per host per month (billed annually).
- Business: €79 per host per month (billed annually).
2. Circle: For Coaching Communities
Coaching isn’t just about one-on-one conversations. Sometimes, the real magic happens when clients learn from each other. That’s where Circle comes in. It’s a community platform built to help you create a dedicated space where your clients can connect, collaborate, and grow together.
If you coach cohorts or run group programs, Circle gives you everything you need to support that experience. You can host live group coaching sessions using Circle’s Live Rooms, share resources in one place, and even set up dedicated spaces for each cohort to exchange ideas and ask questions. It feels more like a private community than a classroom, which is often what adult learners respond to best.
You can also run group chats, post updates, and create a library of resources — all within the same platform. Unlike Google Classroom, which can feel a little academic and rigid, Circle gives you full control to shape the space around your coaching style and your clients’ needs.
Top Features
- Live Q&As.
- Gamification and rewards.
- Live chat and live streaming.
Pricing
Circle doesn’t have any free plan, but it offers a 14-day free trial. Here’s the pricing breakdown:
- Professional: $89 per month.
- Business: $199 per month.
- Enterprise: $499 per month.
3. Microsoft Teams for Education: Best for Blended Learning
If you’re looking for something like Google Classroom — but with more built-in collaboration tools and a tighter communication loop — Microsoft Teams might be the right fit.
You can host live coaching calls, share resources, assign tasks, and even organize your notes — all without juggling a dozen tools. Everything happens inside Teams, which makes it great for blended learning (especially if your sessions mix self-paced resources with live coaching).
While Google Classroom focuses on structured lessons and assignments, Teams is a bit more flexible and real-time. You can create channels for different topics or cohorts, drop in for video chats on the fly, and collaborate directly in documents. It’s especially helpful if you want to keep your clients engaged between sessions or work more closely with them on goals and progress.
Top Features
- Microsoft 365 integration.
- AI-powered updates.
- Video collaboration.
Pricing
Microsoft Teams for Education is free for eligible institutions through the Microsoft 365 A1 plan, which includes core tools like Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint online.
For more advanced features, schools can upgrade to paid plans:
- Microsoft 365 A3: Around $4.60 per user per month – includes full desktop apps, advanced security, and device management.
- Microsoft 365 A5: Around $6.80 per user per month – includes everything in A3, plus enhanced security, compliance tools, and analytics.
Pricing may vary depending on your institution and region. Institutions typically need a valid, active school email to access these plans.
4. Canvas LMS: Best for Structured, Scalable Coaching Programs
Canvas LMS is built for education at scale. Unlike Google Classroom, which works well for simple assignment sharing and announcements, Canvas offers a much deeper, more customizable learning experience.
You can build out entire courses with video lessons, quizzes, discussions, and even certifications. It’s perfect if your coaching offer includes pre-recorded content, homework, or a curriculum that people follow over time.
It also gives you powerful tracking tools so that you can monitor progress, engagement, and performance across all your clients or cohorts. Think of it as your coaching dashboard — you get to see who’s keeping up, who needs support, and how well your material is landing.
Yes, it has a steeper learning curve than Google Classroom. But if you’re running structured coaching programs and want something more professional and scalable, Canvas is worth the setup.
Top Features
- Course import tool.
- Peer reviews and in-platform chat.
- Canvas Analytics.
Pricing
Canvas LMS has both free and paid plans. Students can use the learning management system for free, but organizations pay for administrative access, integrations, and support. The pricing plans are custom and based on your specific needs.
5. LearnWorlds: Best for Selling Coaching Programs and Online Courses
If you’re selling online coaching or training programs, LearnWorlds might be a better fit than Google Classroom. While Google Classroom wasn’t built with monetization in mind, LearnWorlds is designed for creators who want to package, market, and sell their coaching or training content.
With LearnWorlds, you can build branded landing pages, set up payment gateways, and offer tiered pricing or subscriptions — all in one platform. More than enabling coaching, LearnWorlds is also your sales and content delivery engine.
On the learning side, it offers interactive video tools, assessments, certificates, and a clean course structure. If you’ve got pre-recorded modules or a digital product component to your coaching, this setup gives you a super polished experience that goes way beyond what you can build in Google Classroom.
It’s perfect for coaches who want to scale up their business, productize their knowledge, or just look more professional online. Plus, you can manage client progress, drip content over time, and offer a mix of live sessions and self-paced material.
Top Features
- Interactive video lessons.
- Live coaching sessions.
- Assessment builder.
Pricing
LearnWorlds doesn’t offer any free plans, but you can get started with a free trial. It has four pricing tiers:
- Starter: $24 per month.
- Pro Trainer: $79 per month.
- Learning Center: $249 per month.
- Corporate Plan: Custom pricing.
What to Consider When Choosing a Google Classroom Alternative for Your Coaching or Training Program
Not all virtual classroom tools are built the same — and not every one of them will match how you run your sessions. Before you make the switch, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- How interactive do you want your sessions to be? if you’re running collaborative coaching or training programs, you’ll want more than just a place to drop files or record sessions. Look for tools that support real-time feedback, brainstorming, breakout rooms, polls, quizzes, and other interactive activities that keep clients involved — not just watching.
- Are you coaching individuals, groups, or both? some platforms (like Circle) are great for building communities and running cohorts. Others (like Beekast or Microsoft Teams) are better for real-time, interactive sessions. Think about how you deliver your program and choose a tool that fits your workflow.
- What kind of follow-up or progress tracking do you need? do you want session summaries, progress reports, or analytics on client activity? Some tools offer automated session reports or client check-ins. These features can save you time and give clients a clear sense of momentum — something you won’t get natively in Google Classroom.
Deliver Interactive Coaching and Training Sessions With Beekast
At the end of the day, coaching and training sessions shouldn’t feel like lectures. Real learning happens when people are engaged — when they’re asking questions, participating in discussions, and applying what they’ve learned in real-time. That is what turns a coaching or training session into a memorable and impactful experience.
That’s where Beekast shines. From icebreakers that build instant connections to live quizzes, brainstorming boards, and feedback tools, Beekast gives you everything you need to keep your sessions dynamic and collaborative.
Ready to make your sessions more interactive? Try Beekast for Free.