Chrome Sign builder was a simple and elegant solution for displaying messages screens throughout the school building. Sign builder was deployed as a kiosk app that required minimal maintenance, it just worked! 

Unfortunately, sign builder will cease to work starting in July as Google officially ends support for Chrome Apps. This date has been on the calendar for a LONG time, but sadly, the end has arrived. Chrome sign builder will rest peacefully in the Google Graveyard. 🪦

Related Post: Chrome Apps are going away, but don’t panic…

What’s a kiosk app? 

A kiosk application turns a ChromeOS device into a single-purpose device. The most common type of kiosk app is for standardized testing. When a kiosk app is enabled, the device automatically boots into the kiosk experience. The user is prevented from using the device for any other purpose than the kiosk app. 

Sign builder was another great use for a kiosk app. A Chromebook connected to a hallway TV or digital display automatically loaded the sign builder with no fuss or manual connections. It just worked. 

It’s unfortunate that such a simple, elegant solution isn’t being maintained anymore. C’mon Google!

Chome Sign builder replacement? 

If you have been using sign builder, you are probably looking for a replacement. If you aren’t using sign builder, you might want to consider adding some digital signage to your school! Here are three good alternatives to Google’s sign builder: 

Able Sign – this is a great free option, but can’t be deployed directly via ChromeOS. The good news is that you can deploy and manage Able Sign using Amazon Firestick ($20+). Amazon also offers “Amazon Signage Stick,” a dedicated digital signage device ($99). The Firestick works just like a Chromebook in kiosk mode. Deploying a Google Slide presentation for announcements is quick and painless. Able Sign doesn’t offer a robust template library or some of the more advanced features available for paid solutions, but it’s free! 

Rise Vision – if you are willing to invest some money into a sign solution, Rise Vision is excellent. They offer a large library of templates as well as dynamic widgets (weather, RSS feeds, etc). Rise Vision is available as a progressive web app (PWA) and can be easily deployed to ChromeOS devices in kiosk mode. The fact that Rise Vision offers a PWA means it won’t be impacted when Chrome app support ends this summer. Rise vision doesn’t offer a free option, but is reasonably affordable. Pricing starts at $10/screen/month. 

OptiSign – this is a nice easy to use solution that can be deployed as a kiosk app or through a variety of other methods including Amazon Fire Stick, Android, and Windows. Optisign hasn’t updated its deployment instructions for ChromeOS which means it may not work when Chrome app support ends unless they convert their app to a PWA, like Rise Vision. OptiSign integrates with a variety of Google services making it easy to display Google Slides, Calendar, Youtube, Weather, and a variety of other widgets on your displays. OptiSign is free for up to three screens. After that you will pay $10/screen/month.

These three options are admirable replacements for Chrome sign builder. As a free solution, Able Sign is very similar to sign builder. OptiSign and Rise Vision aren’t free, but they offer a lot more features and customization than sign builder.

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