Canvas LMS vs Google Classroom comparison

Instructure and Google are both solutions in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) category. Instructure is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.3, while Google is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.4. Instructure holds a 4.3% mindshare in LMS, compared to Google’s 8.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Instructure users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Google users who would recommend it.

Canvas LMS

Read 10 Canvas LMS reviews

654 Views
438 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Google Classroom

Read 24 Google Classroom reviews

2,700 Views
939 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Canvas LMS

Google Classroom

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Canvas LMS and Google Classroom based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Learning Management Systems (LMS) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Canvas LMS vs. Google Classroom Report (Updated: October 2024).

Buyer's Guide

Canvas LMS vs. Google Classroom

October 2024

Download the complete report

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Categories and Ranking

Canvas LMS

Ranking in Learning Management Systems (LMS)

6th

Average Rating

8.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Google Classroom

Ranking in Learning Management Systems (LMS)

3rd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2024, in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) category, the mindshare of Canvas LMS is 4.3%, down from 5.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Google Classroom is 8.3%, down from 13.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Featured Reviews

James Phelps

Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University

Intuitive, easy to learn, and easy to adapt to various teaching methodologies

It is scalable. There must be 20,000 people using it on that campus. We run a medical college, a public health department, and the hard sciences department. We also have a lot of things that are spread out across the state of Florida through Canvas. So, it is pretty scalable. In terms of our plans to increase its usage, I don't know what the university is going to do, but right now, the university is saturated with Canvas. Even if you're doing classes in a regular standard classroom, all of your exams, all of your quizzes, all of your practicals, and all of your teaching are recorded and loaded into the Canvas system for future review by accreditors. So, it is pretty well saturated on that particular campus.

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Andrew Bryson

IT Manager at Pipers Corner School

An easy-to-use and intuitive solution that can be used to facilitate excellent teaching and learning

We have very little to do with the solution's maintenance. Since it's an online software as a service (SaaS) platform, Google deals with all the maintenance, and we don't need to worry about it. We've got Microsoft 365, Firefly, and Google. It would be nice if that were all in one platform or integrated much more easily so that the look and feel was one single platform. Users should make sure they have done their planning properly. Users should not think they'll be able to just switch it on and it will all work. You do need to plan it and plan it carefully and properly. Overall, I rate Google Classroom a nine out of ten.

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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

"Canvas LMS is user-friendly. Its assessment tools help to find the weaknesses and strengths of students."

"We have been using Canvas LMS, and overall, it has served our needs well for managing courses and general settings."

"The assessment tools in Canvas significantly contribute to educational outcomes by allowing instructors to create and manage assessments effectively."

"It's easy to follow. It flows well, and it's easy to use."

"The solution is easy to access."

"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."

"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."

"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."

More Canvas LMS pros

"What I liked most about Google Classroom is it was very easy to communicate with the students and simple for me to learn even though it was the first time I was using it. I was able to learn the features very well by navigating through the different discussions forums and becoming proficient, not necessarily a master but knowledgeable in using the solution. The ease of use was the best feature."

"This solution integrates with all the other Google apps including Google Calendar and Google Docs. This makes it very easy to manage."

"The most valuable feature of Google Classroom is its clouds based. It can be accessed anywhere. Additionally, the GUI is good, we have not had any complaints and the platform has built-in security. For example, email has protection."

"The product's initial setup phase was easy."

"I find Jamboard to be a great tool for supporting classroom activities."

"I would rate the initial setup a nine out of ten. It is very straightforward."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is its performance."

"The most valuable feature of Google Classroom is the ability for the lecturer to put in work. Additionally, the work can be graded after completion, and there can be feedback provided through the system which has a good interface."

More Google Classroom pros

Cons

"The learning curve is not steep, but it is intermediate."

"It would be nice to be able to do more real-time comprehensive reporting with Canvas LMS."

"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."

"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."

"The solution could be upgraded and improved."

"Integrating more AI capabilities for the product could enhance its functionality, particularly in automating repetitive tasks and personalizing learning experiences."

"It would be good to be able to do teleconferencing within the LMS."

"The product could be integrated with a talent management system."

More Canvas LMS cons

"There are some websites where you can create activities and guide students to do them in a sequence. You can guide them to do an activity first and then go to the next one. You can automatically link activities, and there is a flow, but in Google Classroom, you don't have that feature. All you can do is put the material and tell students what to do. For example, I have an assignment, but I want my students to read a particular text before that. They need to tick it, or they need to click next before they start doing the activity. After that, I want them to do comprehension questions or something else. In Moodle, there are activities such as assignments, quizzes, etc. There is a lesson module in which you can put all of the activities in a flow. So, you can decide what they need to do first. If students answer a question incorrectly, you can decide and design to which page do they need to go next, and which part do they need to review. This is currently missing in Google Classroom."

"The stability of the product is an area with certain flaws where improvements are required."

"I would like to see a master list of documents with folder names so that it is more convenient for students to know whether they have submitted a particular document. At present, you need to go to each classroom to check what you have submitted."

"I would like to see a better user experience, a more engaging interface, and more templates. Google should develop templates or at least encourage developers to share them. You'll only get a basic framework when you create a new course. You don't have different themes to choose from like you do in Moodle."

"We found that Google Classroom is it is missing a lot in current engagement. We know it has got guardian access, where it sends the reports to the guardian at the end of either the week or the month, depending on how you set it. However, it lacks collaboration between the teacher, student, and parents. The engagement is mostly between the student and the teacher. If you have a school similar to ours, where you're dealing with little children where the parent is supposed to be engaged, you need a system that can engage them as well. It's good for senior students, but not for our students."

"There are certain things that I can do on PowerPoint that I cannot do on Google Presentations and Google Slides, such as using PowerPoint's animation feature, I have found that PowerPoint is generally more feature-rich and offers a wider range of tools that I can use to prepare and enhance my presentations."

"Initially, the product's initial setup phase may not seem user-friendly."

"The product's UI needs improvement."

More Google Classroom cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Canvas LMS is an affordable solution."

"The pricing of Canvas is satisfactory for my university. We have negotiated a good price, especially considering that we are a large university with twenty-six campuses across the country. Canvas offers a favorable pricing model for academic institutions, and the cost is reasonable. However, in continuous education, the challenge lies not in the price itself but in the business model. The requirement to pay for the entire year when our students may only use the license for a shorter duration creates challenges. The inability to adjust the licensing based on actual usage is a significant drawback for us, making the effective cost higher compared to other platforms like Hyper Learning"

"Canvas LMS is low-priced compared to other vendors."

"The platform can be expensive for smaller organizations with fewer students."

"We did not need a license to use Google Classroom."

"I use the free version of Google Classroom."

"There are competitors that offer free solutions, making the price of Google Classroom high."

"If you do a certain size and build, it's like any Google solution. You have to pay for storage, but you don't need to pay extra to use the interface. There may be Google Classroom partners that provide more integrated solutions, but I don't know. I'm strictly DIY."

"Google Classroom is a free solution. There is paid version that has more options, the cost is approximately eight dollars per student per month."

"The solution is affordable."

"Google Classroom is free to use."

"Google Classroom is a free solution."

More Google Classroom pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

23%

University

11%

Government

Non Profit

Educational Organization

25%

University

11%

Computer Software Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Canvas LMS?

We have been using Canvas LMS, and overall, it has served our needs well for managing courses and general settings.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Canvas LMS?

Integrating more AI capabilities for the product could enhance its functionality, particularly in automating repetitive tasks and personalizing learning experiences.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Canvas LMS?

I rate Canva LMS a nine out of ten.

See all answers

What do you like most about Google Classroom?

The product's UI is good and user-friendly.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Google Classroom?

There is room for improvement in the notification. Just managing the Guardian invitations and ensuring they get notifications. That's what I mean. We're currently using GAM to do that.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Google Classroom?

It is for students, for learning, assignments, and all that. Just learning management. I don't use it as a teacher. I just support it, so I don't use it a lot as an end-user.

See all answers

Comparisons

Moodle vs Canvas LMS

Compared 19% of the time

CYPHER Learning vs Canvas LMS

Compared 19% of the time

Schoology Learning vs Canvas LMS

Compared 14% of the time

Kajabi Course vs Canvas LMS

Compared 13% of the time

Brightspace vs Canvas LMS

Compared 12% of the time

More Canvas LMS Competitors

Moodle vs Google Classroom

Compared 72% of the time

Blackboard Learning Management vs Google Classroom

Compared 14% of the time

More Google Classroom Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Canvas LMS

November 2024

Download Canvas LMS product report

Buyer's Guide

Google Classroom

November 2024

Download Google Classroom product report

Learn More

Instructure

Google

Overview

Canvas LMS is a comprehensive learning management system that enhances the educational experience. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows educators to create and manage courses, assignments, and assessments. Canvas enables seamless communication and collaboration between students and teachers. It supports various multimedia formats, making it easy to incorporate engaging content into lessons. Canvas also provides a mobile app, ensuring accessibility on the go. Its built-in analytics and reporting allow educators to track student progress and identify areas for improvement. Canvas LMS can integrate with other educational tools and platforms, enhancing its functionality. Canvas LMS is a powerful and versatile platform that empowers educators to deliver effective and engaging online learning experiences.

Google Classroom is an online learning platform that allows teachers to create and manage virtual classrooms. With Google Classroom, teachers can easily distribute assignments, communicate with students, and provide feedback. Students can access their assignments, submit their work, and collaborate with their peers all in one place. The platform integrates seamlessly with other Google tools like Google Drive and Google Docs, making it easy for students to create and share their work. Google Classroom also provides a streamlined workflow for teachers, allowing them to save time and stay organized. Google Classroom is a user-friendly and efficient tool that enhances the learning experience of teachers and students alike.

Sample Customers

Pragmatic Group, MRWED Training and Assessment, RedHill Education

Google Classroom is used in major urban school districts throughout the United States, including: * Los Angeles Unified School District * Chicago Public Schools * New York City Department of Education * Houston Independent School District * Miami-Dade County Public Schools * Dallas Independent School District * Broward County Public Schools * Clark County School District (Las Vegas) * Philadelphia School District

Buyer's Guide

Canvas LMS vs. Google Classroom

October 2024

Free Report: Canvas LMS vs. Google Classroom

Find out what your peers are saying about Canvas LMS vs. Google Classroom and other solutions. Updated: October 2024.

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