Canvas vs. Nearpod

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Canvas
Score 8.6 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
Nearpod
Score 7.9 out of 10
N/A
Nearpod is an education-focused learning management software solution offered by Nearpod.
$159
per year
Pricing
CanvasNearpod
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Gold
$159
per year
Platinum
$397
per year
Silver
Free
Premium Plus
Get quote
per year
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CanvasNearpod
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsMust contact vendor for pricing information.Nearpod has a free version for all teachers. There are paid options for individual teachers, as well as schools and districts, for increased features and access.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
CanvasNearpod
Considered Both Products
Canvas
Chose Canvas
Canvas was far easier to use, more feature rich, and much better supported. Teachers and students prefer it to the other solutions we've evaluated or used in the past. Anything that kids can use with minimal instruction is a major win for schools.
Chose Canvas
Canvas is the most robust choice available when comparing LMS platforms. When looking at other platforms used by K-12, such as Edmodo and Google Classroom, Canvas has far more features, support, and has a higher level of user ease. The customer service provided by Canvas is one …
Nearpod
Chose Nearpod
I don't know of a product off hand that does what Nearpod can do. Between the library of pre-made lessons, the ability to create your own lesson content, the ability to add interactive content, Nearpod offers a unique engagement platform for instruction.
Chose Nearpod
Nearpod stacks up well to alternatives because of growing LMS integrations.
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
CanvasNearpod
Learning Management
Comparison of Learning Management features of Product A and Product B
Canvas
7.7
41 Ratings
7% below category average
Nearpod
-
Ratings
Course authoring8.941 Ratings00 Ratings
Course catalog or library7.138 Ratings00 Ratings
Player/Portal8.032 Ratings00 Ratings
Learning content7.934 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile friendly8.540 Ratings00 Ratings
Progress tracking & certifications8.037 Ratings00 Ratings
Assignments9.041 Ratings00 Ratings
Compliance management7.032 Ratings00 Ratings
Learning administration8.036 Ratings00 Ratings
Learning reporting & analytics8.038 Ratings00 Ratings
Social learning7.833 Ratings00 Ratings
Gamification4.22 Ratings00 Ratings
Single Sign On (SSO) Enabled Learning7.12 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
CanvasNearpod
Small Businesses
Tovuti LMS
Tovuti LMS
Score 9.5 out of 10
Freckle by Renaissance
Freckle by Renaissance
Score 8.4 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Sakai
Sakai
Score 8.7 out of 10
Schoolmint Hero
Schoolmint Hero
Score 9.7 out of 10
Enterprises
Schoology Learning
Schoology Learning
Score 9.2 out of 10
Schoolmint Hero
Schoolmint Hero
Score 9.7 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CanvasNearpod
Likelihood to Recommend
8.2
(83 ratings)
10.0
(6 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.3
(5 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(8 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(11 ratings)
10.0
(1 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
CanvasNearpod
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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Nearpod
Nearpod works great in any classroom, but the presentation must be projected or each student must have access to a internet connected device.
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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.
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Nearpod
  • Provide timely and individualized feedback.
  • Allow for the teacher to check for understanding, for the entire class, in one view.
  • Present an array of different interactive lesson items, at the fingertips of every student.
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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.
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Nearpod
  • I would love Nearpod to have more free activities.
  • I would love Nearpod to be free for educators.
  • I would love if teachers could assign homework on Nearpod.
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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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Nearpod
Goal is to continue our subscription for the 2019-2020 school year
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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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Nearpod
Web-based or using the app, Nearpod is easy to use
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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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Nearpod
The support staff for Nearpod is top-notch. I have not had technical issues, but I did have a concern about my bill and they reached out to me nearly immediately to address the problem. I was very satisfied with how they handled the interaction from beginning to end. They did a great job.
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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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Nearpod
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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Nearpod
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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Nearpod
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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Nearpod
The custom, integrated, online content, along with school libraries, makes this product superior to PearDeck. Nearpod exceeds PowerPoint because of the ease of use, the student paced lessons, and the ability to embed CFUs.
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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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Nearpod
  • The impact is awesome. It gives students a digital option other than PowerPoint for presentations.
  • The feedback tool allows you to follow students in realtime.
  • The shallow learning curve made it easy encourage other faculty to try it.
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ScreenShots