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Pros & Cons summary

Buyer's Guide

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Canvas LMS is highly adaptable to various teaching methods and is intuitive to use without requiring extensive instruction.
Canvas offers exceptional flexibility, making it easy to follow and use.
Integration with Zoom allows seamless access to live class sessions, scheduling, and recording, enhancing convenience for users.
Canvas excels in collaboration and discussion capabilities, offering privacy and focused interactions through custom group creation.
Assessment tools in Canvas facilitate effective management of assessments, contributing to improved educational outcomes.

CONS

Canvas LMS has a complex reporting system that limits real-time comprehensive analysis.
Compatibility with external software like ArcGIS or RSA Archer is limited, affecting interactivity.
Cost structure is rigid; requiring annual licensing for short-term courses, which increases expenses.
Licensing model restricts cost efficiency in continuous education by prohibiting license reuse across terms.
Canvas LMS lacks built-in AI capabilities, limiting automation and personalized learning experiences.
 

Canvas LMS Pros review quotes

James Phelps - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 1, 2022
Its easy adaptability to whatever form or methodology you are using to teach is valuable. It tends to be seamless, and it is very much a self-intuitive product. It requires almost no instruction, and you can be fully up to speed and ready to run on it. You can bring someone in who has never worked with any online learning or LMS system, and in a week's timeframe, they would almost be fully functional because Canvas is so simple to use.
reviewer2333142 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 17, 2024
We have been using Canvas LMS, and overall, it has served our needs well for managing courses and general settings.
reviewer2254248 - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 25, 2023
The integration with Zoom is a notable feature. It allows for seamless access to live class sessions directly from Canvas after authentication, enabling quick entry into Zoom calls. You can also schedule Zoom calls or private recordings directly within Canvas, making it convenient, especially for situations like self-recording exams. Additionally, Canvas excels in collaboration and discussion capabilities. Users can engage in discussions on various topics, and there's the option to create custom groups for more focused interactions. These groups provide a level of privacy and isolation from the broader class, which is a significant advantage.
Learn what your peers think about Canvas LMS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Matt Deakyne - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 3, 2022
I used a lot of other systems in my IT career and Canvas LMS truly has everything that I would look for in an enterprise system.
reviewer1974066 - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 4, 2022
The product's flexibility is exceptional.
reviewer1702650 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 28, 2024
The assessment tools in Canvas significantly contribute to educational outcomes by allowing instructors to create and manage assessments effectively.
Lance Levin - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 30, 2023
They have a more extensive support base in terms of infrastructure.
reviewer2107608 - PeerSpot reviewer
Feb 28, 2023
It's easy to follow. It flows well, and it's easy to use.
Paul Akinleye - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 16, 2023
The solution is easy to access.
reviewer2107608 - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 22, 2024
Canvas LMS is user-friendly. Its assessment tools help to find the weaknesses and strengths of students.
 

Canvas LMS Cons review quotes

James Phelps - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 1, 2022
The high-tech interactivity with other software, like ArcGIS or RSA Archer, can be better. It is not as easily compatible with them. You can put apps in it that the students can then access, but the routing of apps through the Canvas system slows down functionality on the other types of products.
reviewer2333142 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 17, 2024
In our working, we are encountering many challenges with Canvas LMS. One of the major area is their business model which is having a very different pricing structure. The structure is made in such a way that the license fee is needed to be paid for the complete year even if the student has been enrolled for a programme of short duration. This structure is not conducive with our needs and hence, in the past few years, been increasing our costs manifold. Along with this, Canva LMS also lacks many functionalities such as notifications and adaptive learning. There is a specific issue with the licensing model that affects us in continuous education. The inability to reuse a license for the same course in different terms hinders our cost efficiency. For instance, if a program runs from January to April, we are required to pay for the license twice within the same academic year. This contrasts with other platforms like Hyper, where reusing a license is possible, allowing us to use the same license multiple times in different terms. Along with the use, we are exploring the integration of artificial intelligence into our processes, and Canvas LMS falls short in this regard. While some platforms allow connections with external AI services, Canvas does not currently offer built-in artificial intelligence capabilities, a feature we find valuable for enhancing the learning experience.
reviewer2254248 - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 25, 2023
There are a couple of areas that could be improved. Firstly, the discussion feature is not very interactive and can be slow to respond, making it less intuitive at the moment. This is an aspect that needs substantial improvement. Another point to consider is related to the cost of the LMS system. It's perceived as relatively expensive, which has led to discussions about transitioning away from Canvas, potentially to a more cost-effective alternative. This cost-related aspect is a significant factor to consider when implementing such a system.
Learn what your peers think about Canvas LMS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Matt Deakyne - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 3, 2022
It would be nice to be able to do more real-time comprehensive reporting with Canvas LMS.
reviewer1974066 - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 4, 2022
The learning curve is not steep, but it is intermediate.
reviewer1702650 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 28, 2024
Integrating more AI capabilities for the product could enhance its functionality, particularly in automating repetitive tasks and personalizing learning experiences.
Lance Levin - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 30, 2023
The product could be integrated with a talent management system.
reviewer2107608 - PeerSpot reviewer
Feb 28, 2023
It would be good to be able to do teleconferencing within the LMS.
Paul Akinleye - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 16, 2023
The solution could be upgraded and improved.