10 Google Slides Extensions for Teachers (Free Classroom Tools)

Google Slides extensions for teachers can add interactive features, save prep time, and make whole-group lessons more engaging, without requiring much extra work on your end. Some work directly inside Google Slides as add-ons; others are Chrome extensions that change how you present or share slides with students.

This post covers 10 free extensions worth adding to your classroom setup, including the Fullscreen Interactive extension that lets you edit and annotate slides while you’re presenting them.

Why Use Google Slides in the Classroom?

Great question! Why must you use another program/app if you’re already using PowerPoint? The answer? You don’t have to, but it makes it much easier.

Google Slides is simple to use and saves automatically. You can create, edit, access, and share your slides from any device. Your presentation stays consistent, no matter what computer (or tablet/mobile device) you or your students use. Plus, your presentation can be a lot more interactive for your students.

Already have your presentation created in PowerPoint? No worries, you can open it in Google Slides and save it as a Google Slides presentation.

What Do Google Slides Extensions Do?

Google Slides extensions unlock new levels of interactive engagement and ease your workload. You want your students to remain engaged without overloading your already busy schedule. Extensions can help with both. There are great interactive tools to wow your students. There are also great time-saving tools that make your job a little easier.

Follow these steps to download the extensions you want:

1. Open a saved or new Google Slide.
2. On the menu bar, click “Add-Ons” and then click “Get Add-Ons.”
3. Click on the add-on/extension you want to see a full description. If you don’t see the extension you wish to, type the name in the search and hit Enter.
4. Install the add-on/extension of your choice by clicking “Install.”
5. A pop-up message will appear.
6. If you’re OK with it, click “Continue.”

Follow these steps to use the extensions you want:

1. Open a saved or new Google Slide.
2. On the menu bar, click “Add-Ons.”
3. Click on the extension you want to use.

The Ten Free Google Slides Extensions You’ll Want for Your Classroom

Without further ado, here are ten free Google Slides extensions for Google Slides that will make your virtual teaching more powerful:

Kami

Kami is a PDF and document annotation tool. When a student opens a PDF in Kami, they can highlight, draw, add text boxes, and leave audio comments — then submit it directly from their browser. For teachers assigning PDFs that are not natively editable, Kami fills the gap without requiring you to rebuild the document. The free version includes the core annotation tools. Some advanced LMS integrations require a paid school license, but Kami also offers a free teacher license worth applying for.

Pear Deck

Pear Deck adds interactive question slides to your Google Slides presentations — multiple choice, short answer, drawing, and more. When you share a session with students, they respond in real time on their own devices and you see answers come in as you teach. The free version includes the core question types (multiple choice, short answer, basic slides). Drawing responses and the full Teacher Dashboard require a paid subscription. If you use Google Slides for whole-group instruction, even the free version changes how students participate.

Slides Toolbox

Slides Toolbox is a time-saving add-on for managing and editing slide decks. It lets you batch-edit text formatting, align elements across multiple slides, remove duplicate slides, and adjust margins in bulk — all in a few clicks rather than slide by slide. It is free and works well if you frequently build or edit large slide decks and find yourself doing the same repetitive formatting steps.

Mote

Mote lets you record voice comments and embed them in Google Slides, Docs, Classroom assignments, and Forms. For slides specifically, you can leave recorded feedback on individual slides that students can play back at their own pace. Students can also use it to respond with audio. The free version covers the core recording and playback features. If you give a lot of written feedback and find it takes too long, Mote can cut that time significantly.

Lucid (formerly LucidChart)

The Lucid add-on for Google Slides lets you create and embed diagrams, mind maps, and Venn diagrams directly into your slides. Students can build their own diagrams collaboratively and insert them into a shared slide. The free version allows a limited number of documents, which is usually enough for classroom use. It works well for graphic organizer-style activities where students need to organize and display their thinking visually.

Bitmoji

Bitmoji is a Chrome extension that lets you add your personal avatar to slides. You can insert your Bitmoji into any Google Slide with a few clicks. It is mainly a way to add a personal classroom feel to slides and digital resources. Students tend to respond to seeing a teacher’s Bitmoji in materials. Still active and free as of 2026.

Slides Randomizer

Slides Randomizer shuffles the order of your slides randomly. If you use Google Slides as flashcards or review stations, this randomizes the sequence so students do not memorize the order. The free version now has limited randomization; full features require a short trial signup. If you only need occasional randomization, the free tier is enough for most classroom uses.

Nearpod

Note: The Nearpod Google Slides add-on now requires a paid account (Gold, Platinum, School, or District level). Free tier teachers cannot access the add-on.

If you have a paid Nearpod account, the add-on lets you import your existing Google Slides deck directly into Nearpod and add interactive elements — virtual field trips, 3D models, polls, and quizzes. Free tier teachers can still use Nearpod by converting slides manually through the Nearpod website, though it takes a few extra steps. If your school has a Nearpod license, the add-on is worth using. If not, PearDeck’s free tier covers the core interactive slide functionality.

Voice In (Voice Typing)

Voice In is a Chrome extension that enables speech-to-text in any text field on any website — including Google Slides. Students who struggle with typing can dictate their answers directly into slides. It is still available on the Chrome Web Store and free to use.

One addition since this post was originally written: Google Slides now has built-in voice typing. Go to Tools > Dictate speaker notes to use it without any extension. For voice input in the main slide body (not just speaker notes), Voice In still fills that gap.

Live Present Slides

The original Fullscreen Interactive Google Slides extension is no longer available — it was removed when Chrome phased out older extensions in the Manifest V3 transition.

The current replacement is Live Present Slides, which does the same thing: your browser tab shows your slides in full screen while the slide remains editable. You can add text, move pieces, type student responses, and annotate without exiting to edit mode.

To use it: install the extension from the Chrome Web Store, open your Google Slides presentation, make your browser window full screen (F11 or the green button on Mac), and click the Live Present Slides icon. The slide fills the screen and stays editable.

It works well for whole-group activities where you want to write down student responses as they share, model filling in answers during a lesson, or run any interactive activity where students suggest what goes on the slide.

More Ways to Use Google Slides in Your Classroom

These ten free Google Slides extensions are only the beginning. View the Google Chrome Market, and you’ll find endless possibilities. Any of these extensions can make your next class a big hit with your students. 

If you use Google Slides for interactive activities with your students, you may also want to read about Two-Syllable Phonics Games or browse my reading resources that are already formatted as Google Slides for classroom use.