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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

    LearnDash

    Score7.1 out of 10
    N/ALearnDash is a WordPress LMS designed to bring learning management and elearning delivery to the WordPress open-source platform.

    $159

    per year 1 site license

    Pricing
    CanvasLearnDash
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Basic
    $159
    per year 1 site license
    Plus Package
    $189
    per year up to 10 site licenses
    Pro Package
    $329
    per year up to 25 site licenses
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    CanvasLearnDash
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    YesNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional DetailsMust contact vendor for pricing information.All plans come with a 30-day money back guarantee.
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    CanvasLearnDash
    Considered Both Products
    Instructure
    No answer on this topic
    LearnDash
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    88%
    Would buy again
    21 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    95%
    Delivers good value for the price
    18 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    88%
    Happy with the feature set
    21 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    13 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    14 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    CanvasLearnDash
    Learning Management
    Comparison of Learning Management features of Canvas and LearnDash
    Feature
    Canvas
    9.0
    42 Ratings
    11% above category average
    LearnDash
    6.7
    3 Ratings
    18% below category average
    Course authoring8.142 Ratings7.12 Ratings
    Course catalog or library9.838 Ratings6.63 Ratings
    Player/Portal9.932 Ratings6.23 Ratings
    Learning content9.035 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Mobile friendly9.041 Ratings8.63 Ratings
    Progress tracking & certifications8.138 Ratings6.73 Ratings
    Assignments8.142 Ratings7.52 Ratings
    Compliance management9.033 Ratings6.12 Ratings
    Learning administration9.037 Ratings6.33 Ratings
    Learning reporting & analytics9.039 Ratings4.03 Ratings
    Social learning9.034 Ratings5.12 Ratings
    Gamification9.62 Ratings5.03 Ratings
    Single Sign On (SSO) Enabled Learning9.03 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    CanvasLearnDash
    Small Businesses
    Google Classroom
    Score8 out of 10
    Google Classroom
    Score8 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Schoology Learning
    Score8 out of 10
    Schoology Learning
    Score8 out of 10
    Enterprises
    D2L Brightspace
    Score7.8 out of 10
    D2L Brightspace
    Score7.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    CanvasLearnDash
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.3
    (84 ratings)
    7.3
    (3 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.3
    (5 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    9.4
    (10 ratings)
    6.6
    (3 ratings)
    Support Rating
    9.0
    (11 ratings)
    -
    (0 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)
    Product Scalability
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    CanvasLearnDash
    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
    Read full review
    LearnDash
    Its a very flexible system so can be used in pretty much any scenario. The only time someone would perhaps not want to use it, is if they don't want to be responsible for maintaining the site (in terms of Wordpress backups, updates and security)
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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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    LearnDash
    • Integrate with the website and other plugins (woocommerce, etc.)
    • Simple lesson design
    • Offers different formats in which to offer your courses (free, paid, restricted access, with groups, etc.)
    • Integrarse con la web y con otros plugins (woocommerce, etc)
    • Diseño sencillo de las lecciones
    • Ofrece diferentes formatos en los que ofrecer tus cursos (gratuito, pago, acceso restringido, con grupos, etc)
    Incentivized
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    LearnDash
    • customer service is rough
    • out of the box, the platform looks absolutely awful and very hard to use
    • you have to invest in many plugins for common sense functions (increasing customer support issues)
    • I have worked with a developer for the ten years I have used LearnDash which gets expensive
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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
    Read full review
    LearnDash
    No answers on this topic
    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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    LearnDash
    It does require some knowledge of Wordpdress (which isn't difficult) but everything is well laid out Documentation is also comprehensive.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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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    LearnDash
    No answers on this topic
    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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    LearnDash
    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
    Read full review
    LearnDash
    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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    LearnDash
    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.
    Read full review
    LearnDash
    It's the only LMS that I have used.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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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    LearnDash
    • It has allowed me to transform materials that were previously only for my students into scalable digital products, multiplying the income generated with certain resources by up to 50x.
    • I have been able to amortize the cost of the plugin with just a few sales.
    • It's allowed me to present my courses in a professional manner and on my own website. Although the impact is difficult to measure, this has also contributed to increasing my sales.
    • Me ha permitido transformar materiales que antes eran solo para mis estudiantes en productos digitales escalables, multiplicando hata x50 los ingresos generados con ciertos recursos.
    • He podido amortizar el coste del plugin con unas pocas ventas
    • Me ha permitido presentar mis cursos de una forma profesional y dentro de mi propia web. Aunque el impacto es difícil de medir, esto también ha contribuido a aumentar mis ventas.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
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