ClassLink alternative
A free, open-source alternative to ClassLink.
Same LaunchPad, Roster Server, and OneSync capabilities. Zero per-student cost. Your apps keep working through the cutover.
Source on GitHub — AGPL-3.0.
Nothing breaks
Your apps don't notice the switch.
Chalk exposes ClassLink-shaped OAuth 2.0 compatibility endpoints with explicit role mapping for student, teacher, and admin. Existing app integrations point at Chalk and keep working.
01
Dry-run preview
Chalk pulls the canonical roster from your SIS (PowerSchool, Skyward, or Infinite Campus) via OneRoster 1.1 and shows you exactly what would change before anything moves.
02
Run side-by-side
Repoint apps at Chalk's ClassLink-compat endpoints one at a time. ClassLink and Chalk run in parallel during cutover; you validate each app against a real test student before declaring it done.
03
Cutover
Flip the switch. Chalk's wizard tracks which apps are migrated and which are still on ClassLink.
Why switch
Why districts are leaving ClassLink.
ClassLink is a solid product. The SAML library is broad, OneSync provisioning is well-liked, and the rostering side runs set-and-forget for most districts. The reason districts move isn't that ClassLink is bad — it's that the same capabilities are now available at $0.
Cost: from per-student to $0
ClassLink charges per-student: Quote-based, per student [G2 pricing insights, verified May 2026] .
Average negotiated discount: ~10% average [G2 pricing insights, verified May 2026] .
Typical implementation: ~2 months [G2 pricing insights, verified May 2026] .
Chalk is free for districts — hosted or self-hosted. AGPL-3.0; funded by the vendor marketplace, not district fees.
Analytics+ specifically
ClassLink Analytics+ is $0.25 / user / yr, $100 minimum [ClassLink product page, verified May 2026] . If usage analytics matter to your reporting, this is the line item to weigh against the gap noted in the feature mapping below.
Data ownership and openness
Self-host Chalk and student PII never leaves infrastructure your district controls. AGPL-3.0 code is auditable on GitHub. OneRoster 1.1 in, OneRoster 1.1 out — if you ever leave Chalk, you leave with standard data.
Side by side
Chalk vs ClassLink
A direct side-by-side. Rows where Chalk has a gap are shown honestly.
| Capability | Chalk | ClassLink |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to district | Free (software). Optional paid hosting. | Quote-based, per-student |
| Open source | Yes (AGPL-3.0) | No |
| Self-host option | Yes | No |
| Rostering standard | OneRoster 1.1 + REST API + webhooks | OneRoster 1.1 (Roster Server) |
| Provisioning | Google Workspace + AD/Entra (dry-run, scheduled) | OneSync (Google + AD/Entra) |
| Badge login | QR badge + picture-password (K–2) | QuickCard |
| Usage analytics | Audit logs only — usage analytics on roadmap | Analytics / Analytics+ (paid) |
| Implementation | Wizard-driven; most districts cut over in their summer window | ~2 months typical |
| Data ownership | District-controlled (self-host) or Chalk-hosted | ClassLink-hosted |
Feature parity
Your ClassLink products, mapped to Chalk.
A product-by-product mapping so you can audit parity against your current ClassLink deployment.
Timeline
What a ClassLink→Chalk migration looks like.
Identity migrations almost always happen between June and August so you're live before the first bell. Time the cutover to your ClassLink renewal — the parallel-run pattern means apps keep working until you flip them. Talk to us early in your summer window and we'll size the timeline against your specific app inventory and contract end date.
Trust
Built to be auditable.
Open code, district-owned data, and the kind of operational transparency that survives a procurement review.
Open source (AGPL-3.0)
Read the code on GitHub. Audit the security model. Fork it if you ever need to.
Self-host option
Run Chalk on your own infrastructure. Student PII never leaves systems your district controls.
Per-tenant key isolation
AES-256 at rest with no-downtime master key rotation. One tenant cannot read another.
Audit logs + DPA
Every admin action and authentication event is logged. DPA available on request.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
We rely on Analytics+ — is that a dealbreaker?
Possibly. Chalk's logging today is audit-grade, not usage analytics. Quantify what Analytics+ costs you annually and weigh it against the cost-out. Usage analytics is on our roadmap; talk to us about timing if it's critical.
We're mid-contract with ClassLink. When should we move?
Time the cutover to your renewal and your summer window. Most districts decide in spring, dry-run in early summer, and run parallel through the first week of school.
Our ClassLink integrations are dialed in — won't switching break them?
The OAuth 2.0 contract Chalk exposes matches what ClassLink-integrated apps expect, and the parallel-run pattern lets you validate one app at a time before cutover. Send us your app list and we'll tell you honestly which are covered.
Is Chalk really free? What's the catch?
The software is free under AGPL-3.0. Hosting is free for K-12 districts (we cover infra). The business model is funded by the vendor marketplace, not district fees. See /pricing.
Open source — who supports it when something breaks at 6am on opening day?
Honest answer: a commercial support tier is on the roadmap. In the meantime, we work with every district through their first cutover directly.
Can a small vendor be trusted with student PII?
Self-host and the data never leaves your infrastructure. Audit the code on GitHub. Read our security posture at /security. DPA available on request.
Calculate what you'd save.
Spin up a free Chalk tenant in minutes and validate one app against our ClassLink-compatibility endpoints before you commit to a cutover.