What is Google Classroom?
In one paragraph
Google Classroom is Google's free online classroom. Teachers post assignments, materials and announcements; students open the work, do it in Google Docs, Slides or other tools, and turn it in; teachers grade it and give feedback. It runs in a web browser and in apps for Android and iPhone, it has no ads, and it's part of Google Workspace for Education. Schools get it at no cost with Education Fundamentals; anyone over 13 can also use it with a personal Google account.
What it does
- Classwork: assignments, quizzes, questions and materials, organized by topic, with due dates and points.
- Stream: the class's announcement board.
- Grading: rubrics, grade categories, comments and returning work.
- Google Drive underneath: every class has a Drive folder; "Make a copy for each student" hands each child their own Doc or Slides.
- Families: guardian email summaries of missing and upcoming work.
Who can use it
| Account | Can use Classroom? |
|---|---|
| School account (Google Workspace for Education) | Yes. The school's admin turns it on and decides who can teach. |
| Personal Google account, over 13 | Yes, as a teacher or student. Up to 250 people per class. |
| Child 13 and under | With a school account only |
| Nonprofit (Workspace for Nonprofits) | Yes |
Free and paid editions
| Edition | What's included |
|---|---|
| Education Fundamentals (no cost for qualifying schools) | Classroom, Drive, Docs, Gmail, guardian summaries, Gemini in Classroom |
| Education Plus or Teaching and Learning add-on (paid) | Adds practice sets, interactive YouTube questions, recording in assignments and more. Guardian preview links need Education Plus. |
What's new in 2025 and 2026
- Gemini in Classroom became free for Education Fundamentals, Standard and Plus in June 2025, came to all Classroom languages in April 2026, and from August 2026 can be opened to students of any age if the school allows it.
- Learning goals (May 2026): teachers can tag skills and standards on assignments.
- A new homepage (July 2026): a dashboard for teachers, with class cards in a Classes section.
How it compares to a website of printables
Classroom is where the work is handed out and collected. It doesn't come with lessons or worksheets: teachers bring their own. That's where sites like LessonSupply come in, with printables that also come as Google Docs and Slides copies you can assign.
Questions teachers ask
Is Google Classroom free?
For most people, yes. It's included with Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals, which Google offers at no cost to qualifying schools, and with personal Google accounts. Paid editions (Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on) add extras such as practice sets, interactive YouTube questions and recording in assignments.
Can parents use Google Classroom?
Parents can't log in to their child's class, but teachers can invite them to guardian email summaries. See the parent guide.
Can homeschool families use it?
Yes. Anyone over 13 can create classes with a personal Google account. Children 13 and under should use a school account, so homeschool co-ops often use a Workspace for Education or Nonprofits account.
Does Google Classroom have ads?
No. Google says there are no ads in Classroom.