Blackboard Learning Management vs CYPHER Learning comparison

Blackboard and CYPHER LEARNING are both solutions in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) category. Blackboard is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.3, while CYPHER LEARNING is ranked #2 with an average rating of 9.1. Blackboard holds a 0.9% mindshare in LMS, compared to CYPHER LEARNING’s 1.6% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Blackboard users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of CYPHER LEARNING users who would recommend it.

Blackboard Learning Management

Read 10 Blackboard Learning Management reviews

1,458 Views
1,254 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

CYPHER Learning

Read 55 CYPHER Learning reviews

1,855 Views
1,818 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Blackboard Learning Management

CYPHER Learning

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

Blackboard Learning Management and CYPHER Learning are competitors in the educational technology market. Blackboard has an advantage in pricing and support, whereas CYPHER Learning offers a feature-rich experience, providing excellent value for its cost.

Features:Blackboard Learning Management includes attendance tracking, detailed grading analytics, and comprehensive reporting, suitable for educational settings requiring extensive reporting capabilities. CYPHER Learning excels with a robust automation engine, modern gamification elements, and competency-based learning features that cater to organizations seeking innovative engagement strategies.

Room for Improvement:Blackboard Learning Management could improve by simplifying its deployment process and enhancing its feature set further. CYPHER Learning has room to improve its customer service responsiveness and better integrate its feedback mechanisms to align more closely with user expectations.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service:Blackboard's traditional deployment may require a more intricate setup, though its customer service is regarded as responsive and reliable. CYPHER Learning offers a simplified, cloud-based deployment process, although its customer service is considered less responsive compared to Blackboard.

Pricing and ROI:Blackboard Learning Management involves higher setup costs but provides a justified ROI for complex educational needs. CYPHER Learning offers competitive pricing with significant ROI due to its scalable model, making it a cost-effective choice for modern e-learning solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed Blackboard Learning Management vs. CYPHER Learning Report (Updated: February 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Blackboard Learning Management vs. CYPHER Learning

February 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Blackboard Learning Management

Ranking in Learning Management Systems (LMS)

7th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

CYPHER Learning

Ranking in Learning Management Systems (LMS)

2nd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) category, the mindshare of Blackboard Learning Management is 0.9%, down from 2.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of CYPHER Learning is 1.6%, down from 5.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Learning Management Systems (LMS) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
CYPHER Learning	1.6%
Blackboard Learning Management	0.9%
Other	97.5%

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Featured Reviews

Jennifer Sveigdalen

Senior Consultant / Security Consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Consistently supports dynamic learning environments and strengthens educational interactions

Since I've been working with Blackboard Learning Management for an extended period, I've witnessed its evolution and consistent dedication to pedagogy. The platform's ability to deliver exams and content in a technical way is superior to most other platforms. This delivery system allows for establishing checkpoints before progressing to new content, ensuring students understand current material before moving forward. The platform offers various conditions for content progression and exams. Students can take exams multiple times at the instructor's discretion, requiring specific passing scores for content release. Additionally, peer-reviewed paper submissions can be required before accessing new content. If a student struggles with an exam section, the system halts the exam and allows review of the specific content they might not understand. The adaptive release feature is particularly interesting as it customizes the learning environment for individual students, including those with special needs or delivery requirements. The platform checks documents for accessibility, sending alerts for missing alt text in images and can generate automatic alt text. This ensures compliance with universal design laws, similar to U.S. 508 compliance. While specific measurable benefits cannot be specified since this course has always been delivered through Blackboard Learning Management, the course has grown from 12 students to nearly 200 at semester start. The structured delivery enables incorporation of additional teaching assistants due to uniform methodologies. The platform's compatibility for data export to other institutions opens interesting revenue streams through course sharing agreements, which has influenced my consistent choice to work with it.

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Gieshala (Gigi) Mims

Teacher/ AI research educator at Senatobia Municipal School District

Boosts student engagement and simplifies course management with creative tools

The best features of CYPHER Learning that I enjoy most include the course management system, gamification, blogging, and debating tools that cater to increasing creative thinking, creative writing, and problem-solving. Gamification and these specific tools make it easy for my students to navigate and manage numerous courses within one class while keeping up with my standards for my curriculum, where my students can see their mastery and performance on assignments. I find it extremely beneficial because our curriculum in schools is data-driven. This allows me to easily obtain data from the content-specific standards assigned to each assignment. I can assess what concepts I need to review and identify what the students have mastered. This transparency also enables the students to see their own progress.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"One of Blackboard's strengths is its historical prominence as a leading LMS for universities in the US and Europe a decade or more ago."

"The solution is easy to use."

"Blackboard enables instructors to collectively gather all the grading data into one place. If students upload content or post it to a Google Doc, I can do my grading and calculate the grades. It is an excellent holding place for all of that data"

"One of the most important features is the possibility of creating unlimited subdomains."

"Meeting dynamic educational requirements with Blackboard Learning Management's adaptability and personalized learning environments is the main reason for success in academic performance in this business school."

"It is scalable."

"The modules and courses are flexible."

"It encompasses various components, including course delivery modules, content management, community engagement features, digital classrooms, and mobile integration."

More Blackboard Learning Management pros

"Another feature that is great for me... is the learning outcomes feature... In CYPHER Learning, it's called the Mastery feature. The learning outcomes feature allows us to measure whether students have achieved competency, based on the encoded learning outcomes."

"Having the SCORM packaging and the ability to move that SCORM packaging in is my number one feature."

"Most LMSs have a fixed template for all the courses and the whole school uses it. When it comes to younger ages, they need fewer features so there won't be a lot of hassle for the teachers and parents. That's what we can do using CYPHER Learning: Just turn off anything that we don't need in a specific course."

"One of the things that we are really excited about is being able to tie the state or national standards as competencies. Then, when students complete a course, they are awarded certain competencies or standards that we have aligned with the course. This shows schools evidence that students are meeting standards. Right now, we are not tying any of our courses with how schools are testing and assessing students. However, our company goals are to provide access to STEM for all students and help schools engage with communities to develop the STEM talent and workforce, which then impacts a community's economic development."

"One of the most valuable features is the ability to use private external portals through which we can sell our courses, which is enormous. This feature is one of the primary reasons we stitched from our previous LMS, as it allows us to grow and create customization. We can customize the portals within CYPHER Learning for specific clients, and that's huge."

"The in-depth reporting feature of CYPHER Learning enables us to better understand the training needs of our customers and monitor the performance of our training services."

"The lessons we offer in each course can be both in written format and in audio or video format. This dramatically helps participants to choose their best way of learning."

"I also like the discussion board a lot because students can give their opinions there and interact with each other. For me, as an English teacher, it is also important because they practice writing in a real context."

More CYPHER Learning pros

Cons

"Blackboard could benefit from significant improvements in its data storage and software functionality to remain competitive with more innovative LMS solutions."

"The system falls short in terms of managing assessments and exams effectively."

"The solution must provide better integration with third-party software."

"The solution is not flexible."

"It would be ideal to create a more responsive or more intuitive template for access from telephones or tablets."

"Blackboard has limitations in terms of delivering content and assessing student assignments because it can't handle large file sizes. It's also limited in its ability to track student activity. Instructors can see the student's most recent login, but they can't follow the activity."

"What we've been asking them for recently is that, while we really appreciate the shopping cart, it doesn't have a recurring payment charge. A lot of our participants, instead of paying the full fee, spread it out over several months and that feature is not there yet."

"There are some tools that facilitate dialogue but not many that help produce continuous interaction. There is room for improvement in the area of interaction. I'd like to see more ways for the student to communicate with their classmates."

"The parents' training was not adequate. Parents say that it wasn't user-friendly for them."

"The list of students needs to be organized according to gender. The list of students in the product contains both male and female students, whereas, in our grading system, we list the male students followed by the female students."

"They are not the cheapest solution, but they are not the most expensive."

"One of the things that I would like to see improvement on is detecting duplicate users by identifying them by their names and not only by their email addresses. Many people change their email addresses but we don't know that they have. This can result in unnecessary duplication of user accounts."

"In terms of face-to-face education, a suggestion for CYPHER LEARNING is that it give more presence to CYPHER Learning as an entity in the school by teaching more about how to exploit the tools: how to create games, and more about the use of SCORM."

"I would like to see an improvement in peer bonding and the possibility for students to share knowledge among themselves regarding the work that they do. That would greatly help in that it wouldn’t be a one-to-many communication format."

More CYPHER Learning cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product pricing tends to be higher than alternatives."

"At the beginning, you can choose a basic plan. As your users grow you can buy a more expensive license."

"Even though it's priced high, the return on investment is going to be phenomenal. It does what you want it to do."

"CYPHER Learning is a bit more expensive than our previous solution."

"I'm an instructional designer, and from a build or a designer standpoint, it would be nice to have a more user-friendly resource folder to access artifacts to pull into course modules. The second feature that I would love is that while editing any page inside CYPHER Learning, there should be more functionality to design it well."

"The pricing is somewhere in the middle. It's not too expensive and, for what it is, it's very reasonable."

"It has helped us save from 90% to 100% of our costs. The most valuable thing that we have earned in the last three years is time, e.g., my personal time versus my work time. There is more harmony."

"Their plans are based on enrollment numbers. We're at the silver level with 100 active learners. So, you're really beholden to how many learners you're going to accommodate. There are no extra costs in addition to the standard licensing fees."

"I did not negotiate the pricing, but from what I gathered, it was a significant purchase for us at West Music. We recognize its value and potential for growth, making it worthwhile."

"CYPHER Learning is more cost-efficient for us compared to others."

More CYPHER Learning pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

University

20%

Educational Organization

18%

Government

12%

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

21%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	2
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	5

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	30
Midsize Enterprise	9
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Blackboard Learning Management?

The product pricing tends to be higher than alternatives like Canvas, making Blackboard more suitable for larger universities with substantial budgets.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Blackboard Learning Management?

To make Blackboard Learning Management better, I believe maintaining, updating, and upgrading the content is the key success factor for the platform to provide value to students.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Blackboard Learning Management?

I use Blackboard Learning Management in a business school. I utilize it to take courses and lessons in a virtual way.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for NEO LMS?

The pricing for CYPHER Learning is on par with other solutions. I've been a single user of the system for a while and priced out several other options, and it's probably standard pricing if not may...

See all answers

What needs improvement with NEO LMS?

One of the areas that I believe CYPHER Learning could improve on is having a saving function as you type in, much as some Google products. That would really help in my classroom because we do a lot...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering NEO LMS?

I absolutely recommend CYPHER Learning to other users. My students really connect with it because it doesn’t resemble anything else available. The ease of use, the autonomy it provides my students,...

See all answers

Comparisons

Google Classroom vs Blackboard Learning Management

Compared 51% of the time

ELITE LMS vs Blackboard Learning Management

Compared 22% of the time

More Blackboard Learning Management Competitors

Cornerstone Learn vs CYPHER Learning

Compared 24% of the time

Moodle vs CYPHER Learning

Compared 15% of the time

Canvas LMS vs CYPHER Learning

Compared 11% of the time

Articulate 360 vs CYPHER Learning

Compared 9% of the time

TalentLMS vs CYPHER Learning

Compared 8% of the time

More CYPHER Learning Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Blackboard Learning Management

February 2026

Download Blackboard Learning Management product report

Buyer's Guide

CYPHER Learning

February 2026

Download CYPHER Learning product report

Also Known As

No data available

MATRIX LMS, NEO LMS

Overview

Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) is a comprehensive platform designed to enhance the teaching and learning experience in educational institutions. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, Blackboard LMS enables educators to create, deliver, and manage online courses effectively. Blackboard LMS is facilitates communication and collaboration among students and instructors. The platform's built-in discussion boards, chat rooms, and messaging systems enable real-time interaction and engagement, fostering a sense of community and allowing students to participate actively in the learning process.

Blackboard LMS also provides a full set of tools for content creation and management. Educators can easily upload and organize course materials, including documents, videos, and multimedia resources. The platform supports various file formats, making it convenient for instructors to deliver diverse content to their students.

Assessment and grading are simplified with Blackboard LMS. Educators can create online quizzes, assignments, and exams, and even set automated grading criteria. This saves time and effort, while also providing students with immediate feedback on their performance. The platform also offers grade book functionality, allowing instructors to track and manage student progress easily.

Blackboard LMS features robust analytics and reporting capabilities. Educators can access detailed data on student engagement, performance, and participation, enabling them to identify areas for improvement and tailor their teaching strategies accordingly. This data-driven approach enhances the effectiveness of instruction and supports personalized learning.

Blackboard LMS is also highly customizable, allowing institutions to tailor the platform to their specific needs. It integrates seamlessly with other educational tools and systems, ensuring a smooth workflow and enhancing the overall learning experience.

Blackboard Learning Management System is a powerful and versatile platform that empowers educators to deliver engaging and effective online courses. With its comprehensive features, user-friendly interface, and customizable options, Blackboard LMS is a valuable tool for educational institutions seeking to enhance their teaching and learning environment.

Blackboard

CYPHER Learning provides an AI-powered platform designed for efficient, personalized learning. It supports an ever-evolving educational and professional landscape with intuitive, comprehensive tools.

CYPHER Learning offers a unified learning experience, simplifying course creation and improving learner engagement through automation, gamification, and adaptive learning. Its intuitive design enhances communication and multimedia integration, making it suitable for trainers, educators, and HR professionals. Advanced analytics and customization options bolster its capabilities, positioning it as a leading choice for competency-based education and training.

What features define CYPHER Learning?

Gamification: Encourages engagement through game-like elements.
Adaptive Learning: Tailors content to individual learner needs.
Competency-Based Learning: Focuses on skill development and mastery.
Automation: Streamlines content delivery and administrative tasks.
Customizable Course Materials: Allows tailored content and pathways.

Why consider CYPHER Learning?

Enhanced Engagement: Keeps learners motivated with captivating experiences.
Improved Productivity: Increases efficiency for trainers and administrators.
Comprehensive Analytics: Provides insights into learner performance and engagement.
Seamless Integration: Integrates with external platforms for a unified experience.

CYPHER Learning finds applications in industries like health, insurance, and retail management, supporting technical training, onboarding, and professional development. Organizations leverage its customizable features for both self-paced and cohort-based learning, enriching their educational initiatives across sectors.

CYPHER LEARNING

Sample Customers

University of Derby, University of Warwick, John Moore's University

Millions of users across business, academia, and entrepreneurs - worldwide.

Buyer's Guide

Blackboard Learning Management vs. CYPHER Learning

February 2026

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