Canvas vs. Google Meet

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Canvas
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Instructure 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
Google Meet
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
Google Meet, formerly Hangouts Meet, replaces the former Google Hangouts as the company's G Suite integrated web conferencing tool, allowing users to join meetings directly from a Calendar event or email invite from a computer, phone, or conference room. G Suite's Enterprise edition also creates a dial-in phone number for each meeting, as an additional convenience.
$6
per month
Pricing
CanvasGoogle Meet
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Google Workspace - Business Starter
$6
per month
Google Workspace - Business Standard
$12
per month
Google Workspace - Business Plus
$18
per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CanvasGoogle Meet
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
YesYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsMust contact vendor for pricing information.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
CanvasGoogle Meet
Features
CanvasGoogle Meet
Learning Management
Comparison of Learning Management features of Product A and Product B
Canvas
9.3
41 Ratings
13% above category average
Google Meet
-
Ratings
Course authoring9.741 Ratings00 Ratings
Course catalog or library9.138 Ratings00 Ratings
Player/Portal9.432 Ratings00 Ratings
Learning content9.434 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile friendly9.740 Ratings00 Ratings
Progress tracking & certifications9.437 Ratings00 Ratings
Assignments9.741 Ratings00 Ratings
Compliance management9.132 Ratings00 Ratings
Learning administration9.436 Ratings00 Ratings
Learning reporting & analytics9.438 Ratings00 Ratings
Social learning9.433 Ratings00 Ratings
Gamification8.22 Ratings00 Ratings
Single Sign On (SSO) Enabled Learning9.12 Ratings00 Ratings
Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of Product A and Product B
Canvas
-
Ratings
Google Meet
8.4
55 Ratings
6% above category average
High quality audio00 Ratings8.355 Ratings
High quality video00 Ratings8.055 Ratings
Low bandwidth requirements00 Ratings8.943 Ratings
Mobile support00 Ratings8.350 Ratings
Screen Sharing
Comparison of Screen Sharing features of Product A and Product B
Canvas
-
Ratings
Google Meet
7.5
55 Ratings
5% below category average
Desktop sharing00 Ratings7.455 Ratings
Whiteboards00 Ratings7.637 Ratings
Online Meetings / Events
Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of Product A and Product B
Canvas
-
Ratings
Google Meet
7.3
54 Ratings
12% below category average
Calendar integration00 Ratings8.353 Ratings
Meeting initiation00 Ratings8.053 Ratings
Integrates with social media00 Ratings6.325 Ratings
Record meetings / events00 Ratings6.442 Ratings
Slideshows00 Ratings7.443 Ratings
Online Events Collaboration
Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Canvas
-
Ratings
Google Meet
7.3
53 Ratings
10% below category average
Live chat00 Ratings8.051 Ratings
Audience polling00 Ratings7.033 Ratings
Q&A00 Ratings7.036 Ratings
Online Events Security
Comparison of Online Events Security features of Product A and Product B
Canvas
-
Ratings
Google Meet
8.1
46 Ratings
1% above category average
User authentication00 Ratings7.943 Ratings
Participant roles & permissions00 Ratings9.041 Ratings
Confidential attendee list00 Ratings7.332 Ratings
Best Alternatives
CanvasGoogle Meet
Small Businesses
iSpring Learn
iSpring Learn
Score 9.4 out of 10
Intermedia AnyMeeting Pro
Intermedia AnyMeeting Pro
Score 6.3 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Schoology Learning
Schoology Learning
Score 9.7 out of 10
JioMeet
JioMeet
Score 9.8 out of 10
Enterprises
Schoology Learning
Schoology Learning
Score 9.7 out of 10
Webex Meetings
Webex Meetings
Score 8.5 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CanvasGoogle Meet
Likelihood to Recommend
8.9
(83 ratings)
8.6
(57 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.3
(5 ratings)
7.0
(6 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(9 ratings)
8.4
(16 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(11 ratings)
9.8
(18 ratings)
In-Person Training
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Online Training
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
8.5
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Contract Terms and Pricing Model
-
(0 ratings)
8.6
(2 ratings)
Product Scalability
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Professional Services
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
CanvasGoogle Meet
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[.]
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Google
Google Meet was a perfect video conferencing solution for us during our training sessions. The only problems encountered were due to weak signals, which sometimes required us to turn off our video. All features worked very well in tying together a team across four different time zones. I was very impressed with the tool's performance
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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.
Read full review
Google
  • First off, the quality of the call is pretty good, especially when all of us are working remotely.
  • We can easily schedule our meeting in Google Calendar.
  • Sending an invitation link is easy.
  • What makes Google Meet stand out from other video conferencing tools is that we can use it for an unlimited time, even if we use the free account.
Read full review
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.
Read full review
Google
  • Meet as it comes doesn't have a great way to handle large meetings.
  • I don't like the way they hide the mute button. It's a disruptive view to mute/unmute.
  • Chat box is the only way to document collaborations within the meeting.
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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.
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Google
This app is still having a lot of redundant features as compared to other industry apps such as Zoom and Webex which offers much more on the functionality side along with the option to have greater user access control to the admin/host of the meetings. A sense of interaction is always found to be missing in Google meet which can be easily adopted in the Zoom
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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
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Google
Google Meet is very easy and simple to use. I can schedule a meeting right on my calendar - it literally takes a few seconds. There is no additional app I have to open to schedule anything. Guests can click on the link easily to join any meetings. 10/10!
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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
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Google
Google does a great job of providing tech support for this product, as it does many others. Similarly, Google has FAQs that cover a large amount of issues faced by users. Problems have not persisted in our use of this product. Problems are resolved quickly and easily, with or without personal Google support.
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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
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Google
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.
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Google
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
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Google
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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Google
The main positive feature in Google Meet over Zoom to me is the fact that Google meet can be seamlessly deployed in the browser with its full functionality. Unlike Zoom for which you need to download an extra application to use. This consequently makes workflow smooth when transitioning between something like emails and taking part in a meeting.
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Contract Terms and Pricing Model
Instructure
No answers on this topic
Google
I wasn't involved in the unit pricing factor. So far I used Google meet in the office where I got access to all these Google applications including the Google Meet feature. So I wasn't involved much in this pricing factor of Google Meet and also regarding the contact terms of the product.
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Professional Services
Instructure
No answers on this topic
Google
This is very good in the professional services as I started using this first for the professional service only. While using this Google Meet itself gives a professional feel as the UI works in a professional way. The video background modification, multi-screen feature, and some other features help in professional service.
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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.
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Google
  • Negative: on each webinar someone from our team had to write manually the people that were participating and after that matching it with the registered people list. We wasted time. It could be easily resolved by adding the export list feature
  • Positive: Collaboration and internal meetings. Calendar integration helps us save time.
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ScreenShots