CYPHER Learning vs Google Classroom comparison

CYPHER LEARNING and Google are both solutions in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) category. CYPHER LEARNING is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.7, while Google is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.3. CYPHER LEARNING holds a 5.0% mindshare in LMS, compared to Google’s 5.6% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of CYPHER LEARNING users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Google users who would recommend it.

CYPHER Learning

Read 54 CYPHER Learning reviews

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508 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Google Classroom

Read 25 Google Classroom reviews

2,226 Views
823 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

CYPHER Learning

Google Classroom

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 12, 2025

CYPHER Learning and Google Classroom compete in the educational technology category, focusing on providing comprehensive solutions for learning environments. While CYPHER Learning offers advanced features and customization, Google Classroom is recognized for its seamless integration and ease of use, providing simplicity for users familiar with Google services.

Features: CYPHER Learning includes personalized lessons, gamification, and a robust rules engine, allowing extensive customization and adaptability in teaching methods. It also provides certificates and a comprehensive support system. Google Classroom integrates smoothly with Google Suite, offering powerful communication tools and simplicity, which is ideal for quick adoption and basic functionality without complex customization.

Room for Improvement: CYPHER Learning could enhance its reporting and automation, as some users find these areas complex. Integration with more third-party platforms is also limited. Google Classroom needs improvements in grading capabilities and offline access, particularly to better support interactive learning experiences. Enhanced video conferencing integration could also benefit users.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: CYPHER Learning supports multiple deployment options, including public, private, and hybrid clouds, offering flexibility and excellent customer support with fast response times. Google Classroom is primarily cloud-based, facilitating straightforward deployment and integration with Google apps, though it lacks a personalized support structure compared to CYPHER Learning.

Pricing and ROI: CYPHER Learning offers competitive pricing with flexible plans based on active users, delivering significant ROI through reduced administrative costs. It provides substantial value, especially for institutions requiring advanced LMS features. Google Classroom is free for educational institutions, which is highly appealing. The paid version offers additional features at a low cost but may lack the comprehensive capabilities necessary for more demanding educational environments.

To learn more, read our detailed CYPHER Learning vs. Google Classroom Report (Updated: January 2025).

Buyer's Guide

CYPHER Learning vs. Google Classroom

January 2025

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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

CYPHER Learning

Ranking in Learning Management Systems (LMS)

1st

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

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

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) category, the mindshare of CYPHER Learning is 5.0%, down from 6.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Google Classroom is 5.6%, down from 11.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Featured Reviews

Roland Lorenzo M Ruben

Philosophy Professor at De La Salle University - Dasmariñas

Offers flexible learning and saves printing costs; it has been excellent for us

There is room for improvement in the CYPHER Learning mobile application because my students have given feedback that they are not using the mobile app as it takes time to open. I also use the app. For me, it is easier to use than using the browser, but some of the students do not use it because it takes a very long time to open. Most of our students are using smartphones. Some students do not have laptops, so if the mobile app is more responsive, it would be a great help for us. The peer feedback feature is not user-friendly. Some of our faculty members were very happy when CYPHER gave the news that there is already a peer feedback feature because we were asking for it, but when they used it, they found it complicated and not user-friendly. They were disappointed with the peer feedback feature. When students submit their outputs, we want their classmates to give feedback as well, but that is not very easy to use. After I tried it, I also did not find it very friendly to use. They have this assessment type where we can group our students. We create groups, and they can work and collaborate with the group. While grading the submissions of the groups, although we can see that the students are separated by groups, we still have to grade them one by one. We would like a way to grade the group as one. For example, if there are five members in a group, currently, we give each member a grade. It would be easier to be able to give the same grade to all the members of the group. The team assessment feature could be improved to allow grading the group as one.

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Susan Nash

Director of innovation at AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS

It's free and integrates seamlessly with many tools

When students don't have Gmail accounts, it creates a lot of hiccups, but the main issue is that the interface is somewhat primitive. It’s intuitive and you can be up and running in no time at all. However, it is not very attractive. But that may be because I installed it myself and I'm not using any fancy templates. It's primitive because that's how I've been able to get it going. I would like to see a better user experience, a prettier interface, and more templates. Google could make templates readily available or users could design and share them. As it is, 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. Most learning management systems also have a dashboard. It would be useful to have a dashboard with blocks on the side that lets you navigate all of your courses. It would like to have the ability to navigate at a glance and breadcrumbs. By breadcrumbs, I mean it should be designed to leave you a trail like you would use to find your way out of a forest. Go back to where you were and pick up where you left off. So, instead of going back, it shows you where you were. Moodle does something like this, but you don't see it in Canvas or Blackboard. I think that that would be a big advantage. And then, a dashboard would just be when you go to the front page, in addition to having your courses listed there, you would have something like other activities, as well. Further, the dashboard would include your calendar, you could have a calendar there, you could have different productivity apps.

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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

"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."

"There are several valuable features. One is the competency mapping. This helps us, as faculty members and developers of learning materials, track and monitor which competencies our students have acquired, based on the outcomes that we wanted them to have at the end of a particular module or term."

"The feature I use the most is the rubrics tool. I have built all my rubrics in the platform and, using them, I can mark the scores that the students have and it provides transparency between the students and the teachers."

"The reports are also something that's very helpful from an administrative perspective."

"For as long as I have been working with MATRIX (for a few years now), they have the social aspect with groups. The thing that they did not have for years, until earlier this year, was a reply-all feature. I had been asking for that for years and they finally added it this year. That has been helpful because now our students are less frustrated."

"There are so many valuable features: The structure of the platform is fantastic and the learner experience is very good."

"Gamification is another feature that I've recently really gotten into and I have found that my students really enjoy getting points and badges. That reinforcement is critical... my students get that instant gratification. They get specific scores when they do specific tasks within CYPHER Learning and it lets them know. It's a really big motivator for my students."

"The entire system is incredibly valuable, but one of the reasons we chose CYPHER Learning was the social interaction features, such as forums, student groups, and messaging."

More CYPHER Learning pros

"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."

"Google Classroom is simple to use."

"When a teacher uploads material, all students connected to that class will receive the same information at the same time. I have found this to be a valuable feature. I also like that the material remains in Google Classroom until the teacher removes it. The UI is user-friendly, and you don't have to have prior experience to use the solution."

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

"The customer service and support are very good."

"I can see all the submissions in a central place."

"The most valuable features of Google Classroom are the meetings, mark book, and assignments."

"Assigning a unique copy of Google Classroom to students and giving out information is what the solution excels at."

More Google Classroom pros

Cons

"There is room for improvement in the CYPHER Learning mobile application because my students have given feedback that they are not using the mobile app as it takes time to open."

"One thing that has been a problem is that CYPHER Learning doesn't save the students' work while they are doing it. For example, if you are on a Google Doc, and you close your Google Doc, then you come back, the work that you did has been saved. However, in CYPHER Learning, if for some reason the student clicks out of CYPHER Learning and goes back in, whatever they typed isn't saved. That is an area that they need to improve. A lot of my students may write an essay, but if they are two paragraphs in and their iPad crashes or something, when they go back, they are like, "All my work is gone." So, this would be an area that I would recommend for improvement in CYPHER Learning. It needs to auto save, and it doesn't auto save. That is definitely a weakness."

"Perhaps there could be advances in artificial intelligence with more precise and immediate automated reports so that teachers have reports at hand. That would make things easier and would speed up processes."

"I do wish that there could be some formatting option so that I don't have to do some manual work in terms of translating the data into, for example, a PowerPoint presentation."

"The vendor could improve on the chat system. Right now, the student only has access to messaging. Maybe it would be good to have a mini chat or the ability to do video calls with teachers if they have any questions about an assignment."

"The user interface looks dated compared to more modern learning management systems, which are really clean."

"The system should help us more in the area of evaluation. I don't think CYPHER Learning has exploited this topic enough. I can upload rubrics for evaluation, but there are no additional information sources or other instruments for student evaluation."

"One thing that I wish was different was that it showed the full title in the catalog when I create something outside, such as in Articulate 360, and bring it in. When you go into the catalog title, it does not show you the whole title. If it is a long title, it will just have three dots. I wish it would just show the entire title, even if it goes into the next line so that people can see the whole title."

More CYPHER Learning cons

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

"There can often be language barriers when you're not dealing with local technical support, which can be challenging."

"There's room for improvement in the offline functionality. When you're working with a class, you can't close the class or perform certain tasks when you're offline."

"The stability could be improved."

"It would be helpful to add voice or audio capabilities to the classrooms instead of text only."

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

"There are a lot of things that need to be fixed in order for it to be called a learning management system. I think that's where a lot of people are very confused in terms of what Google Classroom actually does. Google Classroom is not a learning management system. A learning management system allows teachers to grade with authenticity and doesn't provide only one grade for a particular document or assignment."

"It would be useful if this solution had its own online teaching platform with an integration with a Google video conferencing tool."

More Google Classroom cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

"The price was fair for all the features we received."

"We are on a plan where we pay for 1,000 users every month. The pricing structure is pretty straightforward. It just depends on what you need. We are currently going with a monthly model because sometimes there are still months during the year where we will have a lot less students on the system, and we took that into consideration."

"Understanding your active users, compared to total users, in terms of the plan you choose, is something to be aware of."

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

"For our for-profit entities, CYPHER Learning is the perfect solution in terms of cost. It is not too expensive and is about the same as what other service providers charge."

"The main reason we went for it was cost, which was very reasonable."

"The pricing is good. It's scalable, meaning you can start off at a cost level that is easy for a startup and then build on it from there."

More CYPHER Learning pricing and cost advice

"The product offers a yearly based license."

"I use the free version of Google Classroom."

"The price of Google Classroom has been reasonable."

"My child's school made payments on a subscription-based model to use Google Classroom."

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

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

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

"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

25%

Computer Software Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Educational Organization

24%

University

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about NEO LMS?

Creating courses for our resources is one of the best features of CYPHER Learning.

See all answers

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

It seems moderate and as per industry standards. In my previous organization, we had to hire an outside company, so I know what companies charge to do just a single course. Considering that, the pr...

See all answers

What needs improvement with NEO LMS?

The AI feature needs some fine-tuning or tweaking. They use Microsoft Copilot. I have had courses on and used the AI feature. I find myself having to correct a lot of mistakes that it has made. It ...

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 AI integration, specifically in the education sector. Google Classroom could benefit from tools that help correct coding errors for students, thereby enhancing lear...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Google Classroom?

We are using Google Classroom for assessments, homework, and providing resources to students. We also use it for tuition and online interaction, focusing on IT subjects such as computing and progra...

See all answers

Comparisons

Canvas LMS vs CYPHER Learning

Compared 41% of the time

Moodle vs CYPHER Learning

Compared 38% of the time

Cornerstone Learning vs CYPHER Learning

Compared 21% of the time

More CYPHER Learning Competitors

Moodle vs Google Classroom

Compared 65% of the time

Blackboard Learning Management vs Google Classroom

Compared 21% of the time

Canvas LMS vs Google Classroom

Compared 14% of the time

More Google Classroom Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

CYPHER Learning

February 2025

Download CYPHER Learning product report

Buyer's Guide

Google Classroom

January 2025

Download Google Classroom product report

Also Known As

MATRIX LMS, NEO LMS

No data available

Overview

CYPHER Learning® exists to give learners the power to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Trainers, learning and development (L&D) pros, HR pros, and educators get everything they need in one platform to deliver faster, more personalized, and better learning outcomes. We provide the only all-in-one AI-powered learning platform that is easy-to-use, beautifully designed, and built to power hundreds of millions of learning moments every day. Create courses faster. Train and teach better. Learn even quicker. Experience our "just in time, just for you, just the way you want to learn" approach that puts people first.

Brandon Hall Group says:

"CYPHER Learning is not your typical “way inside the box” parochial learning tech. This is a supercharged next-generation technology platform that rocks competency and skills-based learning.”

“The best way to describe the tech is to say it anticipates the moves of the learner. And it’s super powerful. Like a Ferrari, the tech effortlessly combines beauty with the beast to deliver an elegant and stylish learning environment. This is what modern learning is supposed to be.”

Forbes Advisor says:

“The intuitive user interface (UI) and multiple ways to award learners for using the CYPHER Learning platform scores major points—it’s visually pleasing and keeps learners engaged. Aside from the user experience (UX) though, it’s a comprehensive platform that’s simple to use to create courses and track analytics of learner performance.”

Enduring benefits of the CYPHER human-centric approach
Learners desire and demand modern, holistic learning - to keep competitive, entertained, and ready for what’s ahead. Our human-centric approach delivers benefits and outcomes that have lasting positive effects on their personalized school path, career path, and life path.

CYPHER for Business
- Increased employee engagement
- Better employee lifecycle outcomes
- Increased competitive advantage
- Stronger culture of continuous learning
- Increased trainer and admin productivity

CYPHER for Academia
- Increased student engagement
- Better workforce preparedness
- Increased enjoyment of learning
- Stronger sense of purpose
- Increased teacher and admin productivity

Millions of users look to CYPHER everyday to deliver dynamic and personalized learning solutions like:

- Personalized skills development
- Hybrid learning
- Teacher and trainer productivity
- Training (employee, partners, customers, product, + more)
- Onboarding
- Employee lifecycle management
- Compliance
- Extended enterprise

and so much more!

The CYPHER platform has it all. Sophisticated automation, leveled-up gamification, insightful reporting and analytics (ROI), skills development, smart learning paths and proactive recommendations, customization, personalization, toolsets for every user.

“...users discover what great looks like when they use CYPHER."
- Brandon Hall Group

See the modern learning platform at: www.cypherlearning.com

CYPHER LEARNING

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.

Google

Sample Customers

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

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

CYPHER Learning vs. Google Classroom

January 2025

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