The best free audience response systems in 2026

What to look for

Three questions settle most choices: how many people can answer on the free plan, whether voters or presenters must sign up, and whether the results look good on a projector.

Free-plan limits vary a lot. Some count participants per month, some cap the audience per session, and some limit how many questions you can ask.

The free plans at a glance

• LivePollUnlimited voters, no ads, no signup for voters or presenters.
• DirectPollFree with no account and no ads, up to 500 concurrent voters per poll.
• SlidoUp to 100 participants and 3 polls per slido on the free plan.
• AhaSlides50 participants per month on the free plan.
• Mentimeter50 participants per month on the free plan.
• Poll EverywhereAn audience of up to 40 on the free plan.

Limits as published on each company's own pricing page, checked October 27, 2026.

LivePoll

Live polls with unlimited voters, no ads and no signup. People scan a QR code and vote in the browser; the presenter view is built for a projector, with a phone remote to move between questions. Pro is $5 a month or $39 a year, and a $9 Event Pass covers one event.

Best for: classes, meetings and events where you need fast live votes from everyone, with no limits to plan around.

Mentimeter

Interactive presentations with polls, quizzes, word clouds and Q&A. The free plan allows 50 participants a month, and paid plans start at $14 per presenter a month.

Best for: presenters who build a full interactive deck and need quizzes or word clouds.

Slido

Audience Q&A and polls, popular at corporate events. The free plan allows up to 100 participants and 3 polls per slido; paid plans start at $17.50 per member a month, billed yearly.

Best for: events where audience questions matter as much as polls.

Poll Everywhere

A long-standing audience response system with polls, word clouds, Q&A and competitions, plus presentation integrations. The free plan caps the audience at 40; the Present plan is $10 a month, billed yearly.

Best for: small groups, or teams already working inside its integrations.

AhaSlides and Wooclap

AhaSlides adds quizzes and spinner wheels, with 50 participants a month on its free plan. Wooclap offers 21 interactive formats, including polls and word clouds, with a free Starter plan to try the basics.

Best for: playful presentations (AhaSlides) and classroom activities with many question types (Wooclap).

DirectPoll

A simple, free live polling tool with no account and no ads, supporting up to 500 concurrent voters per poll.

Best for: a classroom or a meeting that needs one quick poll on a tight budget.