Google Classroom vs. Schoology Learning

Google Classroom

Schoology Learning

Overview
Product	Rating	Most Used By	Product Summary	Starting Price
Google Classroom	Score 8.5 out of 10	N/A	N/A	$0 per month
Schoology Learning	Score 9.6 out of 10	N/A	Schoology aims to combine as many parts of the learning process as possible into a single platform for K-12 students. By doing this they aim to simplify the learning experience for students, parents, and teachers.	N/A

Pricing

Google Classroom

Schoology Learning

Editions & Modules

Education Fundamentals: $0
per license/per month
Google Workspace for Education Standard: $3
per student/per year
Teaching and Learning Upgrade: $4
per license/per month
Google Workspace for Education Plus: $5
per student/per year

Schoology Basic: Free
Schoology Enterprise: Contact sales team

Offerings

Pricing Offerings
Google Classroom	Schoology Learning
Free Trial
Yes	No
Free/Freemium Version
No	Yes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
No	No

Entry-level Setup Fee

No setup fee

Additional Details

Education Fundamentals Version - 30-day free trial for qualifying institutions.

Reach out to the vendor for pricing options based on your needs.

More Pricing Information

Community Pulse
	Google Classroom	Schoology Learning
Considered Both Products	Google Classroom Oleksandr Torlo Product Manager Chose Google Classroom Google Classroom stacks up well against similar platforms, offering a user-friendly interface, seamless integration with Google Workspace, and efficient assignment management. The selection of Google Classroom often depends on existing software ecosystems, user familiarity with … Helpful? Verified User Representative Chose Google Classroom I selected Google Classroom because it is a great website for managing and organizing learning. It is simple to use for interface; interacts with a wide range of apps and websites; effortlessly shares, collects, and grades Google Workspace documents. It is also free , … Helpful? Verified User Employee Chose Google Classroom To create an instructional space online, Google Classroom is ahead of its competitors. It does precisely what educators need - create a virtual classroom where students can collaborate, post discussions, post their work, and receive immediate feedback. It feels like a real … Incentivized Helpful? Verified User Employee Chose Google Classroom I haven’t reviewed other products. Incentivized Helpful? Amy Westby High School Counselor Chose Google Classroom Google does a great job of doing the obvious: integrating Google's Drive system as schoolwork. It does a great job of scheduling assignments and sending reminders to students. Incentivized Helpful? BW Ben Westby Educator Chose Google Classroom Google Classroom beats all these other tools in how they can integrate with other websites and educational resources. Incentivized Helpful? Alan Urbina Profesor Chose Google Classroom Since Google Classroom is part of the Google suite, several different tools are integrated with Classroom so it makes the user experience more rewarding than other platforms like Schoology. You can do certain things faster than with other platforms since you can have something … Incentivized Helpful? Verified User Employee Chose Google Classroom With so many schools using Google apps, Google Classroom becomes an integral part of the classroom learning experience. Overall, Classroom gets the job done. If you are looking for something simple this is it. It isn't a full-blown LMS but it keeps everything organized in one … Incentivized Helpful? Jennifer DeSalme 8th grade PeeAlgebra and History Teacher Chose Google Classroom Google Classroom is more streamlined and focused on the end game of getting assignments to and from students without clogging up their feed. Schoology feels more like an educational Facebook page. Incentivized Helpful? Cassie Dunnam 4th Grade Teacher Chose Google Classroom I have not found Schoology to be user friendly...I have been more productive with google classroom for the needs in my classroom. Incentivized Helpful? Trent Slaton Instructional Technology Support Chose Google Classroom Of course Google Classroom has more "built-in resources, but it can still be complicated for a teacher to build a class site, but on the K-12 level there's not another LMS prep that's better. Incentivized Helpful?	Schoology Learning Glen Irvin Teacher/Technology Integrationist Chose Schoology Learning Schoology is simply a more robust option that either Edmodo, Google Classroom or Canvas without the headaches of a large learning curve. Helpful? Ariel Margolis Director of Makor, Director of Online Learning, Instructional Designer Chose Schoology Learning Schoology is more robust than Google Classroom as it can track student progress and connect University criteria to student objectives. It has more capabilities than Blackboard. Helpful? Tiffany Kannengieszer Instructional Technology Coordinator Chose Schoology Learning When I first started my journey with blended learning, I used and was hooked to Google Classroom. Although I was reluctant to using Schoology, I was soon turned into the biggest advocate. Schoology does (especially with the new Google enhancements coming) everything Classroom … Helpful? JH Julie Hopp Educator, Technology Coach Chose Schoology Learning Schoology is easier and more robust then any other learning management system I have ever used. It is also available for free to teachers that has almost all of the features available. Blackboard was terribly user unfriendly. Canvas was too limited for me. Moodle was only … Incentivized Helpful? David Wallace 7-12 Online Learning Coordinator Chose Schoology Learning This is a far better product than Google Classroom. Classroom offers no options for assessments or discussions, two major features of Schoology. There is no way to create and store assignments from year to year in Google Classroom which was a major frustration. Helpful? Marci Karoll Director of Instructional Technology Chose Schoology Learning The ability for parents to observe student progress was critical in our decision to choose Schoology. Google Classroom does not offer parents that ability. Incentivized Helpful? Erika Muller English Teacher Chose Schoology Learning Schoology has far more options than any of the above three as far as communication, dissemination of information, and assignment and test updates and tracking. Moodle was fairly primitive in its design; Blackboard is a bit clunky in its use, and, while Google Classroom is … Incentivized Helpful? Sean Coffron Instructional Design Chose Schoology Learning Google Classroom is like Schoology-Lite. Both platforms have similar resources and can link to SIS, but Schoology is more versatile, more dynamic, and more comprehensive. Helpful? Verified User Employee Chose Schoology Learning Schoology is so much nicer at being able to organize the course materials however you want. Google Classroom would organize it in date order similar to like a Facebook feed. That made it a nightmare for me as the teacher to direct my students to where certain files were located. Incentivized Helpful? AP Arcadia Parson Teacher Chose Schoology Learning I have taught using both Edmodo and Google Classroom. While both were easier than Schoology was to get in the beginning, Schoology is infinitely more powerful than either of them was. I can do so much more, and differentiate so much easier using Schoology than I could with … Incentivized Helpful? MG Marcus Gonzalez ESL Teacher Chose Schoology Learning I had no choice when it came to selecting the program, but I will say that Schoology Learning, a PowerSchool Unified Classroom presents the content way more clearly than Google Classroom. Schoology Learning, a PowerSchool Unified Classroom takes way fewer clicks to go where you … Incentivized Helpful? Tiffany LoSasso Digital Teacher Librarian Chose Schoology Learning As mentioned before, Schoology has a lot more capabilities than Google Classroom. Granted that Schoology is an actual LMS and Google Classroom is not. Assessments are better; guardian views and information; communication with our Student Information System; Better organization … Incentivized Helpful? Nick Amaral District Staff Development Coordinator Chose Schoology Learning I think Schoology is the best of the best. This is the all-around LMS in my opinion and offers features that these other platforms do not. The ability to personalize your class and tailor it to your expectations and wants is unparalleled. Schoology does all the little things … Helpful? Amy Westby High School Counselor Chose Schoology Learning Schoology is a blend of most online programs. In areas of assigning work and grading, it does really well. In terms of having an intuitive classroom to navigate, other programs are better. Incentivized Helpful? KW Kellie Weisenbeck Educator Chose Schoology Learning I've worked with several different learning management systems. Schoology has more to offer and allows students to work within the LMS. Other apps and programs can be embedded and opened inside the LMS. Educators can create and use great graphics within folders, pages, … Helpful? Saloni Hemani Curriculum Development Chose Schoology Learning I haven't used anything but Schoology since I've started working. Incentivized Helpful? Ben Westby Fourth Grade Teacher Chose Schoology Learning While I did not personally select Schoology due to the district level agreements, it has been helpful to coordinate with other teachers with the same students. Incentivized Helpful? Mike Rich Director of Innovation Chose Schoology Learning Schoology surpasses the alternatives, in our situation, because it interfaces directly with our SIS (PowerSchool). This feature saves time for teachers and provides quick grading updates. Schoology also has a robust LTI interface that allows outside tools to be connected. Incentivized Helpful? Crystal Hurt Teaching and Learning Coordinator Chose Schoology Learning I've either been a student or teacher in each of the products listed above. Schoology is, by far, the easiest yet most comprehensive platform. While several of the products have similar features, the layout, look, and navigation within Schoology create the best user experience. … Incentivized Helpful? Steve Holmes Teacher Chose Schoology Learning Schoology was the best in our eyes because it was the most flexible and had the best features. Google Classroom really isn't a learning management system, and Canvas was good but Schoology was better. Helpful? Aaron Lee Assisstant Principal Chose Schoology Learning Schoology is definitely top shelf, head and shoulders above the rest! Helpful? Janelle Hermann Technology Integrationist Chose Schoology Learning We started our search by defining our purpose and what we wanted from an LMS. Then, we started exploring options. We chose Schoology because of its user-friendly interface, rich assessment tools, user analytics, and integration with Google. Helpful? Taylor Norton Instructional Technology Professional Development Specialist Chose Schoology Learning Schoology provides a one-stop shop for providing students with a comprehensive digital classroom experience. Helpful? JB James Bencrowsky 4th Grade Teacher Chose Schoology Learning Schoology is a robust LMS with built in analytics, assessment tools, organizational options and usability that is unmatched by other platforms on the market. While other LMS platform focus solely on their own product, Schoology allows for the integration of different web 2.0 … Incentivized Helpful? Brian Green, M.Ed. Online Professional Development Consultant Chose Schoology Learning Schoology outperforms all other learning management system platforms. Its interface and platform are intuitive and easy to learn how to use. Plus, it has an abundance of features that make differentiation possible and powerful. Helpful?

TrustRadius Insights
	Google Classroom	Schoology Learning
Highlights	Research Team Insight Published July 15, 2020 Google Classroom and Schoology are academic learning management systems designed primarily for K-12 education. They are both used in schools of all sizes. Google Classroom differentiates itself by leveraging other Google products and services in its G Suite for Education package, making the typically business-focused applications accessible to students. Schoology, by contrast, is a fully-featured LMS designed from the ground up for use by students and teachers in a K-12 context. Features Google Classroom and Schoology share many features, but they execute these features in different ways and with different strengths. Google Classroom excels at bringing the power and familiarity of Google applications to the classroom. Teachers report that the platform is easy to adopt and learn, especially if their school is already using other Google products. By leveraging other tools in the G Suite for Education package, Classroom offers collaboration, communication, document management, scheduling, and other features. Reviewers report that the platform is easy to use overall, with intuitive grading systems and plenty of tools for digital assignments, meetings, and exams. Google Classroom itself is also free for schools to use, and is under active development. Recent improvements include integrations with third-party student information systems for exporting grades, multi-language support for plagiarism detection, and additional ways for teachers to invite students to their class workspaces. Schoology, on the other hand, stands on its own as an academic LMS designed specifically for K-12 schools. It’s designed to be accessible even for elementary school students, and also offers portals for parents to view their children’s grades and academic progress. Schoology integrates with a wide range of third-party applications, including Google Workplace, and includes a mobile application for student and parent access. Recent additions to the platform include guides for new users, accessibility improvements for text-to-speech tools, and additional integrations with PowerSchool, Microsoft, and Google applications. Limitations Although many schools use Google Classroom and Schoology effectively, they each have limitations to consider before choosing one or the other. Google Classroom relies heavily on its integrations with other G Suite for Education tools to provide a full range of features. It also lacks some of the extended capabilities of a standalone vendor-supplied LMS. For instance, Google Classroom doesn’t offer as many options as its competitors for parents to view student progress and communicate with teachers. Some teachers found its grading tools relatively simplistic and lacking the customization they wanted for alternative grading methods. Google Classroom’s mobile interface may also be missing features and polish when compared to the browser-based application. By contrast, Schoology lacks the familiarity and intuitive UI of Google products. Many teachers found the system to have a harsh learning curve, particularly when using features like in-platform grading. Some parents complain about poor user experience and navigation, although recent updates to the software have attempted to improve the parent experience on Schoology’s mobile application. Finally, some users wish for more interface optimizations, such as more efficient workflow options and more agency for teachers when sharing documents. Pricing Google Classroom is free for schools to use, and is included in the G Suite for Education package as well. The core G Suite for Education suite is free for eligible institutions. Google also offers G Suite Enterprise for Education, which is priced via a quote from Google and adds additional analytics, security features, and support tools. Pricing for Schoology is available via a quote from the vendor.

Features

Google Classroom

Schoology Learning

Learning Management

Comparison of Learning Management features of Product A and Product B
	Google Classroom 7.6 60 Ratings 8% below category average	Schoology Learning 5.6 40 Ratings 38% below category average
Course authoring	8.652 Ratings	4.738 Ratings
Course catalog or library	7.939 Ratings	4.727 Ratings
Player/Portal	7.538 Ratings	8.229 Ratings
Learning content	7.541 Ratings	5.633 Ratings
Mobile friendly	7.157 Ratings	6.438 Ratings
Progress tracking & certifications	7.444 Ratings	7.334 Ratings
Assignments	7.658 Ratings	4.740 Ratings
Compliance management	7.434 Ratings	9.123 Ratings
Learning administration	7.646 Ratings	2.233 Ratings
Learning reporting & analytics	7.442 Ratings	4.637 Ratings
Social learning	8.451 Ratings	4.635 Ratings
Gamification	5.18 Ratings	00 Ratings
Single Sign On (SSO) Enabled Learning	9.412 Ratings	00 Ratings

Best Alternatives
	Google Classroom	Schoology Learning
Small Businesses	iSpring LMS Score 9.5 out of 10	iSpring LMS Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies	Schoology Learning Score 9.6 out of 10	iSpring LMS Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises	Schoology Learning Score 9.6 out of 10	Axonify Score 10.0 out of 10
All Alternatives	View all alternatives	View all alternatives

User Ratings
	Google Classroom	Schoology Learning
Likelihood to Recommend	8.5 (77 ratings)	3.0 (112 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew	10.0 (4 ratings)	4.5 (6 ratings)
Usability	8.5 (8 ratings)	3.7 (9 ratings)
Availability	9.0 (1 ratings)	7.3 (1 ratings)
Performance	9.0 (1 ratings)	6.4 (1 ratings)
Support Rating	1.9 (14 ratings)	1.0 (9 ratings)
Online Training	- (0 ratings)	4.5 (1 ratings)
Implementation Rating	2.0 (2 ratings)	- (0 ratings)
Product Scalability	10.0 (1 ratings)	3.6 (1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale	- (0 ratings)	7.3 (1 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale	- (0 ratings)	7.3 (1 ratings)

User Testimonials
	Google Classroom	Schoology Learning
Likelihood to Recommend	Google Google Classroom allows teachers to post for daily lessons and assignments. It also allows teachers to be able to communicate with students easily outside of class. Students are able to stay connected and know where to find all information and resources easily in a streamlined manner for all of their classes. Incentivized Verified User Anonymous Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC Schoology does the job well enough, but there are enough areas of contention that make advanced use of the system unwieldy. District staff does not have easy reporting ability to determine adoption and use of the platform without having to export to another program for analysis. The reliability of the system is a huge pain point as we need to deliver the curriculum but cannot count on it being available when we need to use it. Incentivized Scott Herring Database Support Specialist Read full review
Pros	Google Student-teacher communication - I love using Classroom for this because my students can always go back and check what was on Classroom by looking through the stream. This way they don't have to go dig through emails to find what they're looking for. Posting to multiple classes - I can post the same announcement or assignment to multiple classes at once without having to repeat the process or send separate emails. Streamlining grading - when students turn work in on Classroom, it all goes to one place and then when I'm grading I can open their documents directly from Classroom or my Drive folder. This way, I'm not looking through emails and Google Doc shared files for their assignment. Incentivized Verified User Anonymous Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC Assessments - Much more interactive and have more grading options than Google Forms Auto-rostering - We are able to use Infinite Campus to automatically roster classes and there are no extra steps Family/Guardian access - Schoology allows families to have a sign in and see student grades & work. Incentivized Tiffany LoSasso Digital Teacher Librarian Read full review
Cons	Google The content management of the Classroom is not that good. The sub-section for notes, syllabus, or discussion is missing. It doesn't have parental control feature. It converts the excel output into a normal file. All the formulas and pivots got changed into plain text. AMIT SANPUI Marketing Executive Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC While this product constantly seeks to make improvements, certain features need tweaking. As educators enroll in various courses, these course tend to accumulate. If the educator is not an administrator of the course, it is next to impossible to get out. Switching from one course/group to another course/group takes several steps. Not always easy to find the course/group needed. KW Kellie Weisenbeck Educator Read full review
Likelihood to Renew	Google Testing is particularly important in online learning, and Google Classroom falls far short of other learning management systems in this regard. Security is also a concern: while account control is reasonable for the account used with Google Classroom, the person controlling a particular account is often able to, for example, forward or download proprietary materials. HM H. P. Molloy Instructor Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC While we have taken time to re-evaluate our selected 1:1 devices, Schoology's impact on student learning is unquestioned. Students are able to connect with other learners, create and share products of their learning, and develop their digital fluency through their use of Schoology. Robert Schuetz Technology Coordinator Read full review
Usability	Google Simple design and seamless integration with Google tools and drive, but missing some key features. However, since it is limited in overall functions and ability to truly personalize / customize, it is quite user friendly and easy to set up and get going, other than sending out the code to your course or dropping students in via their gmail account. Users of Google Forms and sites will find the layout similar in design. Incentivized Verified User Anonymous Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC It's very easy to use Schoology. As with any LMS, it helps to learn some tips and tricks prior to getting started. But, each item is clearly indicated within the platform. If I want to add materials, it is right at the top of my screen. If I want to view the calendar, it is indicated to the right of my screen. Navigating a course and the platform is quite straightforward. Additionally, the benefit of Schoology's help center and user community makes asking and answering questions quick and easy. Natasha Monsaas-Daly iLearn Specialist Read full review
Reliability and Availability	Google We have had very little trouble in accessing Google Classroom. Our issues, if any, have risen from our server and not the Google servers. Incentivized Verified User Anonymous Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC Generally good, but issue self-reporting has become a problem. When there are issues, it can be 20 minutes to an hour before it gets noted on the status page Philip Pulley Teacher Read full review
Performance	Google No answers on this topic	PowerSchool Group LLC Course saves or transfers can take several minutes and up to an hour Philip Pulley Teacher Read full review
Support Rating	Google Since this platform is provided by Google, the technical support is better than any others, and we are not required to bother about the space constraints for adding the contents. If we have a good uninterrupted internet facility we can access Google Classroom without any delay or lag. They have app support in both Android and iPhone. RA Rahul Ajithkumar Assistant Professor Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC We have county-level support and district-level support, but their HELP page offers everything that is needed to answer questions and to find "how-to" information for staff. This includes video and written directions for every available feature. Schoology has also worked with our district to improve their product. Sheila Majask, MLIS History Teacher & Social Studies Curriculum Leader Read full review
In-Person Training	Google No answers on this topic	PowerSchool Group LLC Too surface level with no follow-up. A Philip Pulley Teacher Read full review
Online Training	Google No answers on this topic	PowerSchool Group LLC Sit and get with very little hands-on time. 5 minutes to try out a feature/question type, etc. is not enough time. Once your training is done, there is no option for new employees to get that training without having to rebook and pay for the training again. If you pay for basic training, that should be available to a district to use in the future. Philip Pulley Teacher Read full review
Implementation Rating	Google It was relatively easy to implement due to the simplicity of the platform. Even our more technology challenged teachers found it easy to get started with Google Classroom. Incentivized Verified User Anonymous Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered	Google I haven't tested or evaluated another digital classroom website or application. I feel like Google Classroom is convenient for many reasons such as compatibility to Google docs, slides, etc. I also love the ability to link to YouTube and other sites. I don't know if there would be a site that is easier to maneuver. Incentivized Meredith Sanders Teacher Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC I have taught using both Edmodo and Google Classroom. While both were easier than Schoology was to get in the beginning, Schoology is infinitely more powerful than either of them was. I can do so much more, and differentiate so much easier using Schoology than I could with either of my previous LMSs. Incentivized AP Arcadia Parson Teacher Read full review
Scalability	Google It is very easy to push out this program across our buildings. Teachers are able to use it without much trouble. Incentivized Verified User Anonymous Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC We use it 5-12 so scalability is not an issue but sharing materials between departments including common assessments is difficult without paying for add-on features Philip Pulley Teacher Read full review
Return on Investment	Google Students are able to continue learning in a remote environment Parents have a single, consistent organization structure to make it easy to track assignments and progress for multiple children Much better solution than the quickly assembled Zoom-and-gloom of the previous spring when school abruptly went remote with no planning Incentivized Gabrielle Wayman PTA Board of Directors Read full review	PowerSchool Group LLC Using Schoology to build a foundation for a blended learning model has helped increase my students ABC rate between 15-20% in all classes! Using Schoology is forcing my students to become responsible for their own learning! The only negative thing I have encountered is the students resistance to change! Stacy Dunn High School Math Teacher Read full review
ScreenShots		Schoology Learning Screenshots

Features

Limitations

Pricing