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Canvas vs. Centralpoint vs. Blackbaud Education Management Solutions

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Canvas

    Score8.6 out of 10
    N/AInstructure is an educational software company based in Sandy, Utah. It is the developer of the Canvas learning management system, which is a comprehensive software package that competes with such systems as Blackboard Learning System, SumTotal and Saba.N/A

    Centralpoint

    N/AN/ACentralpoint is a Digital Experience Platform (DXP) available either On Premise or Cloud. The vendor states it offers over 220 out of the box functions to manage the entire digital enterprise, in whole or in part, microsites, Mobile, Document Management, MDM (auto apply metadata based on the contents of any content), Scheduled Data Import (SQL, Oracle, PDF, Word, ODBC, JSON). Centralpoint integrates out of the box with ACTIVE DIRECTORY * SAML considerate of roles filtered information for all.N/A

    Blackbaud Education Management Solutions

    Score7.2 out of 10
    N/ABlackbaud Education Management Solutions is a unified student management system for K–12 private schools. Blackbaud Enrollment Management System™: Gives schools and families the ability to track admissions progress from first impressions all the way through the application process to acceptance, enrollment, and tuition payment. Blackbaud Learning Management System™: Track students' academic performance and progression…N/A
    Pricing
    CanvasCentralpointBlackbaud Education Management Solutions
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    CanvasCentralpointBlackbaud Education Management Solutions
    Free Trial
    YesNoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    YesNoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup feeRequired
    Additional DetailsMust contact vendor for pricing information.
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    CanvasCentralpointBlackbaud Education Management Solutions
    Considered Multiple Products
    Instructure
    No answer on this topic
    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answer on this topic
    Blackbaud
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    88%
    Would buy again
    21 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    73%
    Would buy again
    11 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    95%
    Delivers good value for the price
    18 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    85%
    Delivers good value for the price
    11 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    88%
    Happy with the feature set
    21 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    87%
    Happy with the feature set
    13 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    13 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    7 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    14 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    83%
    Implementation went as expected
    10 Answers
    Features
    CanvasCentralpointBlackbaud Education Management Solutions
    Learning Management
    Comparison of Learning Management features of Canvas and Centralpoint and Blackbaud Education Management Solutions
    Feature
    Canvas
    9.0
    42 Ratings
    11% above category average
    Centralpoint
    -
    Ratings
    Blackbaud Education Management Solutions
    -
    Ratings
    Course authoring8.142 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Course catalog or library9.838 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Player/Portal9.932 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Learning content9.035 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Mobile friendly9.041 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Progress tracking & certifications8.138 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Assignments8.142 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Compliance management9.033 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Learning administration9.037 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Learning reporting & analytics9.039 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Social learning9.034 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Gamification9.62 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Single Sign On (SSO) Enabled Learning9.03 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    CanvasCentralpointBlackbaud Education Management Solutions
    Small Businesses
    Google Classroom
    Score8 out of 10
    Yext
    Score6.8 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    Schoology Learning
    Score8 out of 10
    Sitecore Digital Experience Platform
    Score8.9 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Enterprises
    D2L Brightspace
    Score7.8 out of 10
    Progress Sitefinity
    Score7.9 out of 10
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    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    CanvasCentralpointBlackbaud Education Management Solutions
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.3
    (84 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.0
    (120 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.3
    (5 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.5
    (9 ratings)
    Usability
    9.4
    (10 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    6.5
    (7 ratings)
    Support Rating
    9.0
    (11 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.0
    (115 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Online Training
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    8.5
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.0
    (21 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    CanvasCentralpointBlackbaud Education Management Solutions
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Instructure
    It is really well suited for school situations like knowing what [assignments] need to be done when, getting feedback, getting points, finding the slides that the teacher used for explaining an [assignment] or theory. I think It would be less suited in business situations because it's [primarily] made to be a [one-way] communication tool for schools. Businesses need more control on individual levels I think[.]
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    A good, and constantly improving solution for private schools. I don't know that a lot of its functionality would be well suited to public schools, but maybe? The integration with other Blackbaud software is a huge plus for us, as we have several of their other products including their flagship Raiser's Edge. Smaller schools may not need the sophistication of Blackbaud solutions, and it is not an inexpensive option.
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    Instructure
    • Creativity options for teachers to create a virtual space that still has fun graphics and accessibility options.
    • Canvas has versatility in viewing options for assignment due dates such as the calendar built in feature as well as the dashboard options to display upcoming and due assignments.
    • Allowing teachers to create community with each other and collaborate in each-other's space.
    • Discussion platforms within classrooms for students to communicate with each-other and with their teachers.
    • Easy messaging portal within each virtual classroom.
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    • Seamless integration between the LMS, EMS and SIS modules
    • Real-time, effective chat support helps me not only with urgent needs but also to work through possibilities for increasing how we use the product.
    • Feature upgrades monthly that respond to voiced needs from users
    Incentivized
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    Cons
    Instructure
    • Their integration with Big Blue Button was a bust for distance learning. Would be great to see them collaborate with Zoom or Google Meets.
    • Their "feature request" process is slow and cumbersome at times because it relies on user "up votes" to get ideas addressed by the developers.
    • They seem to have a lot of turn-over with their staff. We get a new Customer Success Manager far more frequently than with other vendors.
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    • Forms - lack of conditional questions
    • Gradebook -lack of links to assignments
    • Not being able to customize displays, for example, Grading tab - we just finished 1st semester and teachers could only see the current quarter but not the 1st one which is still part of the first semester. Lack of customization in assessments.
    • Scheduling- even though re-running generating schedules, we're still getting a high number of unscheduled students. Lack of being able to limit the number of scheduled classes in a row for teachers.
    Incentivized
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    Likelihood to Renew
    Instructure
    The other LMS tools have fallen behind. One reason is they are not able to update their systems, features, toolsets in a timely manner. While other LMS providers release bug fixes and new features several times a year, schools struggle to install and implement them in a timely manner. It is not uncommon for a school to take 6 months to a year to fully install and implement new releases on other LMS platforms. With Canvas, those features are released every 3 weeks, and there is nothing for a school to do other than choose to turn them on once released. This has allowed Instructure to innovate faster, and get new features and tools to customers quicker. Other factors include great pricing, customer support, and the innovative way in which LTI is implemented in the tool.
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    It is a solid product. We have some issues with the capabilities of the website building components and the out dated technology behind its communications software but overall Blackbaud Education Management Software services to combine numerous functions into one product.
    Incentivized
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    Usability
    Instructure
    The functions in Canvas are well integrated and consistent across the application, and mostly intuitive. Overall navigation and setup is streamlined through integrated features and navigation. The feedback we've gotten from our program participants is that it is easy to learn to use. It also integrates well with third party software like Google Docs and Blackboard Collaborate web conferencing software
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    Blackbaud EMS is very usable from my perspective. I am a power user and get lots of valuable functionality. It is, however, a complex system. Sometimes necessarily complex to accommodate flexibility for diverse customer needs. Some complexity seems unnecessary and/or hold-over functionality from earlier versions; nice to see this type being evolved away from over time. It is valuable to receive regular updates to the system along with good release notes of what changed and notices of significant changes in advance.
    Incentivized
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    Support Rating
    Instructure
    I do not personally use Canvas support since we have a central office that helps us. However, our central office always has the answers we need and are always able to solve our issues - so I would assume that get great support from the Canvas team on their end. They also offer great training, which uses materials directly from Canvas
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    Decent support however the chat feature can take a great amount of time out of the workday. If for instance you are waiting for someone to respond in the chat and there is a fire drill, if you are not responding within a few minutes, you are disconnected and have to start all over again. It would be great if you could submit your problem and then whoever has the most experience, can respond. The training in the Blackbaud University is good but also time-consuming - a 3 hr training in the middle of a workday is a lot to ask. I like the 90-minute sessions. It would also be great to offer a shorter webinar to update on any changes implemented. Other than the email I subscribed to, there is no information on how these updates actually work.
    Incentivized
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    In-Person Training
    Instructure
    The training sessions were broken down into several days as well as different levels depending upon the knowledge of the user
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    No answers on this topic
    Online Training
    Instructure
    The online tutorials and videos are very clear and addressed the issues/questions that I had about using the system.
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation Rating
    Instructure
    Once you purchase and sign the contract there is nothing to install or hardware to buy. You can almost immediately start using it and have courses up and going within weeks. We signed in December and had pilot courses online ready to go for the start of school in January
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Instructure
    Canvas is more secure, has a cleaner design, and has more features. For the features, they have in common canvas still stacks up against [Smart school] by going for the extra mile. Besidfor e that, [the] canvas looks a lot more [professional] than [Smart school]. I didn't make the decision myself to get canvas instead of [Smart school] but I'm happy they did.
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    Blackbaud K-12 is very similar. I feel like I would be trading one set of issues for another so it's kind of a wash. We are very much hooked into the Blackbaud website with our Google SSO, SmartTuition, and Schooldoc integrations. It would be difficult for us to transition. That is the main reason I haven't really entertained other web firms.
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    Return on Investment
    Instructure
    • Canvas has helped us provide a more robust online component to our courses.
    • Canvas has helped us better adapt to a rapidly changing educational landscape.
    • Canvas has reduced the time that we have to spend training faculty on how to use our learning management system.
    Incentivized
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    Oxcyon Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Blackbaud
    • Negative - The rollout is brutal. Blackbaud said it could happen in 6 months, but that is definitely not a reality. It will take well over a year, and one complete school cycle to actually integrate everything correctly.
    • Positive - The amount of time saved in data processing has allowed our office to become more involved in other areas of the school.
    • Positive - The ease of having everything in [one] place, from inquiry to application to contracts and course registration, has been a HUGE benefit to our applicants and their families.
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    ScreenShots

    Blackbaud Education Management Solutions Screenshots

    Screenshot of Topics pages help organize units of learning throughout the year in the Learning Management SystemScreenshot of Blackbaud's education management solutions come with strong reporting tools to get the information you need quicklyScreenshot of Schedule view makes it easy for teachers to manage their daysScreenshot of Blackbaud Enrollment Management System Admissions Checklists help applicants track their progress in the admissions processScreenshot of Blackbaud's education management solutions come with strong reporting tools to get the information you need quicklyScreenshot of Keep track of all the key information about your students in one place