Chromebook vs iPad for School: A Parent's Guide to Choosing the Right Device
Published on by Jim Mendenhall
Every August, the same conversation plays out in households across the country. Your child needs a device for school, the back-to-school sales are in full swing, and you’re staring at two very different options that both seem perfectly reasonable. On one side sits the Chromebook, a laptop-style device that’s become a fixture in American classrooms. On the other sits the iPad, Apple’s sleek tablet that promises creative possibilities and an ecosystem your family might already know well. Both work with Google Classroom. Both run most educational apps. Both seem like they should be able to handle whatever third grade or ninth grade throws at them.
So which one should you actually buy? After years of watching parents navigate this decision and seeing which choices end up making families happy six months later, I’ve developed some strong opinions on the matter. The honest answer depends on your child’s age, how they’ll actually use the device, and whether you’re willing to factor in the hidden costs that neither Apple nor Google mentions in their marketing materials.
The Keyboard Question That Determines Everything
Let me start with what I consider the most fundamental difference between these devices, because it affects everything that follows. Every Chromebook comes with a physical keyboard attached. It’s not optional equipment, not an accessory you might buy later, not something the manufacturer assumes you’ll figure out on your own. When you unbox a Chromebook, your child can immediately start typing their book report or responding to their teacher’s message.
The iPad takes a different approach that Apple frames as flexibility but that I’d describe as incomplete out of the box. Apple sells the base iPad as a tablet, then expects you to purchase a keyboard separately if your student needs to type anything substantial. The Magic Keyboard Folio runs $249 for the current iPad. Even decent third-party keyboard cases start around $50 and frequently cost $100 or more for something that won’t feel flimsy within a few months. This isn’t an optional accessory for a school device. Once your child starts writing essays, research papers, or even longer emails to teachers, typing on glass becomes an exercise in frustration that slows down their work and their thinking.
The practical impact of this difference extends beyond the obvious. Students who learn to type on physical keyboards develop muscle memory that transfers to any computer they’ll use in college or the workplace. Touch typing on a glass screen is its own skill that doesn’t translate anywhere else. The built-in keyboard also means one less thing to charge, one less thing to forget at home, and one less thing that can break separately from the main device.
What School Devices Actually Cost
The sticker price comparison seems straightforward at first glance. A solid Chromebook for school runs $250 to $350, while the base iPad starts at $349. That looks like a reasonable $0 to $100 difference. But sticker prices tell only part of the story, and the complete picture changes the calculation significantly.
That $349 iPad becomes a school-ready iPad only after you add essential accessories. A keyboard case that will survive a school year adds $100 at minimum, often $150 or more. If your child’s school uses apps that benefit from handwriting, or if they’re taking math or science classes where sketching diagrams makes sense, the Apple Pencil adds another $79 to $129 depending on which generation their iPad supports. The realistic iPad setup for school costs somewhere between $528 and $727, not $349.
The Chromebook’s price includes everything needed for school on day one. That $250 to $350 covers the keyboard, the trackpad, and the ability to start working immediately. Even if you decide to add a protective case or a USB mouse, those accessories cost $15 to $30, not hundreds of dollars. The total cost difference between platforms isn’t $100; it’s closer to $200 to $400 when you compare complete, school-ready setups.
This gap compounds when you factor in longevity. Google now guarantees 10 years of automatic updates for new Chromebooks, meaning security patches, new features, and continued compatibility for a decade. A Chromebook purchased for a kindergartner could theoretically last through high school graduation. iPads typically receive software updates for five to seven years, which remains respectable but means potentially needing a replacement sooner if you’re thinking truly long-term.
How Students Actually Work on These Devices
The way Chrome OS and iPadOS approach multitasking reflects fundamentally different philosophies about what a computer should be. Chrome OS works like a desktop operating system because that’s essentially what it is: a streamlined version of Linux with the Chrome browser as its primary interface. Your child can have multiple windows open side by side, drag and drop files between applications, and work the way they would on any traditional computer.
This matters more than you might expect for actual schoolwork. A typical research project requires switching between a browser with source material, a document for writing, and maybe a spreadsheet for organizing notes. On a Chromebook, these exist as separate, resizable windows that students can arrange however makes sense for their workflow. They can see their sources while they write, drag a quote directly into their essay, and maintain awareness of everything they’re working on without constantly switching contexts.
iPadOS has improved its multitasking considerably over the years, but the experience still reflects its origins as a touch-first tablet operating system. Split View lets students see two apps side by side, and Stage Manager offers more flexibility on newer models. But the implementation feels like an afterthought grafted onto a system designed around single-app focus. Students frequently describe the experience as fighting the device rather than flowing with it when they’re trying to manage multiple sources for complex assignments.
File management presents similar friction. Chromebooks include a Files app that works essentially like Windows Explorer or Mac Finder. Students create folders, organize documents, and develop habits around file management that transfer directly to whatever computers they’ll use in college and beyond. The iPad’s Files app exists, but the sandboxed nature of iOS means files often live in mysterious locations within individual app folders. For students learning how computers work, the Chromebook teaches transferable skills while the iPad teaches iPad-specific behaviors.
The IT Department Factor
Most K-12 schools in the United States have standardized on Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) for their educational technology infrastructure. This isn’t an accident or a temporary trend; Google offers Workspace for Education at no cost to schools, and the ecosystem has become deeply embedded in how American education operates. When your child logs into their school Chromebook, their apps, bookmarks, extensions, and settings appear automatically because the entire device was designed around this ecosystem from the ground up.
iPads work with Google Workspace too, but the integration feels like a translation layer rather than a native experience. Schools that deploy iPads typically need additional mobile device management software, and certain features work better through Chrome on a Chromebook than through iOS apps on an iPad. This doesn’t mean iPads can’t function in Google-based schools. They absolutely can. But the experience involves more friction, more workarounds, and occasionally more frustration when something that should work simply doesn’t.
The exception to this guidance applies to schools that have built their curriculum specifically around iPads and Apple’s ecosystem. Some districts, particularly those with dedicated funding or specific educational philosophies, have invested heavily in iPad infrastructure and designed their teaching around the device’s strengths. If your child attends one of these schools, matching what they use in the classroom makes sense regardless of the general arguments favoring Chromebooks.
Durability When It Matters Most
Children are hard on technology. This isn’t a criticism; it’s simply reality. Devices get dropped into backpacks, knocked off desks, occasionally rained on, and subjected to the general chaos of student life. The design philosophies of Chromebooks and iPads handle this reality quite differently.
Many Chromebooks marketed for education come specifically engineered for student abuse. Manufacturers like Acer, ASUS, and Lenovo produce education models with reinforced hinges, spill-resistant keyboards that can survive knocked-over drinks, and rubberized edges designed to absorb impacts from drops onto hard classroom floors. Some can genuinely survive a tumble from desk height onto tile without catastrophic damage. These aren’t theoretical claims; they’re tested standards that education-focused Chromebooks routinely meet.
iPads are beautifully engineered devices, but they’re not designed for rough handling. A cracked iPad screen costs $199 to $329 to repair outside of AppleCare, and that’s assuming you can get the repair done quickly during the school year. A Chromebook with a damaged keyboard or cracked screen typically costs $50 to $100 to fix, and many components on education models are designed for easy replacement by school IT departments. The repairability difference matters both for immediate costs and for keeping devices functional throughout the school year.
This durability consideration varies significantly by age group. High school students who’ve developed better habits around device care can keep an iPad in good condition with reasonable attention. A third-grader stuffing their device into an overstuffed backpack presents a very different risk profile.
Where the iPad Genuinely Excels
I’ve spent considerable time explaining why Chromebooks make sense for most students, but intellectual honesty requires acknowledging where iPads offer genuine advantages that matter for specific situations.
The Apple Pencil remains the gold standard for digital handwriting and drawing on any platform. It offers pressure sensitivity, palm rejection that actually works, and latency low enough that writing feels natural rather than digital. For students taking advanced math courses where showing handwritten work matters, or for art students who need to sketch and create, or for anyone whose learning style benefits from handwritten notes over typing, the iPad with Apple Pencil provides capabilities that Chromebooks simply cannot match. USI styluses exist for some Chromebooks, but the experience isn’t comparable.
The iPad’s app ecosystem for creative work also stands apart. GarageBand makes music production accessible to students who’ve never touched an instrument. iMovie provides capable video editing that’s genuinely easy to learn. Procreate has become the standard for digital illustration. If your child is interested in creating rather than just consuming, in making music or editing video or producing digital art, the iPad’s creative software library offers depth that Chromebooks can’t approach with web-based alternatives.
Accessibility features on iPads also deserve recognition. Apple has invested heavily in VoiceOver, Switch Control, Voice Control, and other accommodations for students with visual impairments, motor difficulties, or learning differences. Chrome OS includes accessibility features too, but Apple’s implementations are generally more mature and better supported across third-party applications. For students who need these accommodations, the iPad may provide a meaningfully better experience.
Portability matters as well for some situations. A base iPad weighs about 1.07 pounds. Most Chromebooks weigh 2.5 to 4 pounds. For younger students with small backpacks or anyone who prioritizes carrying weight above other factors, the iPad’s lightness represents a real advantage.
Matching the Device to the Student’s Stage
Different ages bring different needs, and the right choice shifts as students progress through their educational journey. Here’s how I think about the decision at each major stage.
For elementary school students in grades K through 5, my recommendation for most families is a Chromebook. At this age, students are primarily learning basic computer skills, accessing educational websites and games, and beginning to type simple assignments. The keyboard helps build typing skills that will matter throughout their education. The desktop-style interface teaches fundamental concepts about how computers work. The durability of education-focused models matches the reality of how young children handle technology. The primary exception: if your school has specifically built its early education curriculum around iPads and provides training to teachers around iPad-specific apps, matching what they use in the classroom makes sense.
Middle school students in grades 6 through 8 have needs that align even more strongly with Chromebooks. This is when essays get longer, research projects get more complex, and students need to juggle multiple browser tabs alongside word processing and spreadsheets. The keyboard becomes essential rather than optional. Desktop-style multitasking matches how actual work gets done. Chrome OS handles everything standard academics require without the friction of working around a tablet interface. The exception here: students heavily invested in visual arts, music production, or video creation may find the iPad’s creative tools worth the tradeoffs. That’s a specific call based on your child’s interests and how they spend their time.
High school presents the most nuanced decision. For general academics, Chromebooks continue working well. Google Docs handles collaborative work effectively, and Chrome OS runs the web-based tools that most high schools use. But specific pathways create specific needs. Students taking serious art or design courses would benefit from an iPad. Those exploring music production need iPad’s creative software. Anyone learning serious programming might actually need a full laptop rather than either option. Students heading toward video production would appreciate iPad’s creative capabilities. The device should match where your child is heading, not just where they are now.
The Honest Bottom Line
If I had to make a single recommendation for most families buying a school device in 2026, I’d say get a Chromebook. The built-in keyboard eliminates a major expense and a major headache. The lower total cost leaves money available for other needs. The longer guaranteed update support means better long-term value. The durability matches student reality. The desktop-style multitasking and file management teach skills that transfer to every computer they’ll encounter afterward.
But both devices can genuinely work for school. If your child already uses an iPad at home and your family has invested in Apple’s ecosystem, if you’re willing to budget for a proper keyboard case, they’ll manage fine. If your school specifically deploys iPads and builds curriculum around them, matching that makes sense. The technology isn’t the limiting factor for educational success.
The mistake I see most often isn’t choosing the “wrong” platform. It’s buying an iPad without budgeting for a keyboard, leaving a student struggling to type assignments on glass. Or it’s buying the absolute cheapest Chromebook available when the student needs something more capable for demanding coursework. Either device can serve school well when properly configured for how students actually work.
Choose the option that matches your child’s specific situation, budget for the complete setup rather than just the base device, and your student will have what they need to focus on learning rather than fighting with their technology. You can explore specific Chromebook models in our comparison tool to find options that fit your requirements and budget.
Looking for more guidance on choosing the right Chromebook? Check out our guide to Chromebooks for kids or learn about the built-in security features that make Chromebooks safer than traditional laptops.
