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Canvas

Canvas

Overview

What is Canvas?

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.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Canvas has proven to be an invaluable tool for various educational institutions and organizations. Users have praised Canvas for its …
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Helpful Platform for Students

9 out of 10
January 07, 2022
Canvas has been integrated into one of my businesses as a virtual and in-person learning tool to help students (and professors!) study …
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Great LMS

10 out of 10
November 05, 2021
Incentivized
We used it as a Learning Management System--I posted assignments and grades on Canvas, and students could use it to check their daily …
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Popular Features

View all 13 features
  • Assignments (41)
    9.0
    90%
  • Course authoring (41)
    8.9
    89%
  • Mobile friendly (40)
    8.4
    84%
  • Course catalog or library (38)
    7.1
    71%

Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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Unavailable

What is Canvas?

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.

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.instructure.com/contact-us

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Alternatives Pricing

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What is ProProfs LMS Software?

ProProfs LMS is a learning management system software that is designed to help instructors create and deliver online training courses. The LMS offers both businesses and educational institutions comprehensive training solutions by allowing them to create online courses, complemented by tests,…

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Product Demos

Atomic Apps for Canvas LMS, Webinar recording from #CanvasLive August 2017

YouTube

Starting with BookWidgets in Canvas LMS - Demo for beginners

YouTube

DEMO: Tentacle Insights for Canvas LMS

YouTube

How to Use Video with Your LMS | Powtoon's Canvas LMS Integration

YouTube

Creating demo users in bulk for Canvas LMS

YouTube

Canvas Demo Slam

YouTube
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Features

Learning Management

Features of LMS and LCMS systems, related to designing, administering, and consuming learning content in an educational, corporate, or on-the-job context.

7.6
Avg 8.2
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Product Details

What is Canvas?

Canvas by Instructure is a cloud-based learning management system for every stage and style of education. Available to institutions of all sizes and types, from individual K-12 classrooms to universities to companies with a blended or fully virtual environment.

As the hub of the digital learning environment, Canvas offers complete LMS functionality, including standards-based grade books, course content authoring, customizable student assessments, mobile communication, video learning, and digital badging.

Canvas LMS integrates with an institution's existing SIS and other teaching tools. With over two hundred different LTI tools educators can customize courses and monitor engagement with classes or individual students. Canvas also has mobile apps to keep everyone informed and connected, on the go, on any device.



Canvas Features

Learning Management Features

  • Supported: Course authoring
  • Supported: Course catalog or library
  • Supported: Player/Portal
  • Supported: Learning content
  • Supported: Mobile friendly
  • Supported: Progress tracking & certifications
  • Supported: Assignments
  • Supported: Compliance management
  • Supported: Learning administration
  • Supported: Learning reporting & analytics
  • Supported: eLearning
  • Supported: Assessments
  • Supported: Live online learning
  • Supported: In-person learning
  • Supported: Micro-learning
  • Supported: Video learning
  • Supported: eCommerce
  • Supported: SCORM-compliant
  • Supported: Social learning
  • Supported: Gamification
  • Supported: GDPR Compliant Learning
  • Supported: Single Sign On (SSO) Enabled Learning

Canvas Video

Canvas 101

Canvas Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationApple iOS, Android, Mobile Web
Supported CountriesGlobal

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Blackboard Learn by Anthology, Edmodo, and D2L Brightspace are common alternatives for Canvas.

Reviewers rate Assignments highest, with a score of 9.

The most common users of Canvas are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(275)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Canvas has proven to be an invaluable tool for various educational institutions and organizations. Users have praised Canvas for its user-friendly platform, effectiveness in managing distance courses, and seamless integration with other vendors. It has been widely adopted by universities, community colleges, and high schools as the primary learning management system due to its intuitive interface and ability to bridge the communication gap between instructors and students.

Canvas has been used for a multitude of purposes, including online degree programs, blended courses, and supplementing face-to-face classes in educational institutions. Human Resource services have utilized Canvas for assessing new employee skills and providing information to employees. Student Services have used it to promote clubs and other services, while the library has used Canvas as a platform to provide information about their services and obtain feedback.

Canvas has also been used by administration committees and faculty committees for discussions, dissemination, and data maintenance. It has served as the central hub for organizing assignments, sharing content, managing grades, and supporting hybrid distance learning models. Instructors have utilized Canvas to post announcements, assignments, theory slides, Zoom Meetings, as well as give points and feedback. Canvas has provided a dynamic and student-friendly interface that encourages interaction and engagement among students.

Furthermore, Canvas offers a mobile app that allows students and instructors to access course content on the go. This feature has greatly enhanced the flexibility and accessibility of online learning. Additionally, Canvas has been used by universities as a replacement for other learning management systems due to its frequent updates and robust features. Its versatility supports a variety of course types including online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses.

Overall, Canvas has been widely adopted across various educational institutions due to its ease of use, versatility, and ability to deliver content effectively. It has become an essential tool in delivering quality education regardless of location and promoting student engagement through its range of features such as discussion forums, assignments, embedding Google docs, sharing files, speed grader for assessments process, integrated rubrics, and more.

Frequent updates and evolution: Users have expressed their appreciation for the frequent updates and evolution of Canvas. Some reviewers have mentioned that these regular updates demonstrate the platform's commitment to continuously improving the user experience over time. The consistent release of new features and bug fixes every three weeks ensures that Canvas stays current and addresses user needs.

Efficient mobile grading with Speed Grader: Many users have praised the mobile app for grading assignments, Speed Grader, for its efficiency in reducing grading time by 30-50%. Reviewers find this feature convenient as it allows instructors to grade assignments on the go, making use of any available time. By providing a way to grade assignments while waiting for meetings or commuting, Speed Grader saves users valuable time.

Intuitive WYSIWYG editor: The WYSIWYG editor in Canvas is highly valued by users as it simplifies the process of creating and editing content. This intuitive editor appears in almost every tool within Canvas, allowing users to easily create engaging and visually appealing course materials. Its presence enhances the overall learning experience for students.

Difficulty in navigation: Several users have expressed frustration with the navigation within Canvas, stating that it can be confusing and not user-friendly. They have mentioned difficulty in finding desired features and having to click through multiple options before reaching the required functionality. Some users also find the linear structure of Canvas makes it difficult for students to differentiate between lessons.

Lack of customization options: Many reviewers have mentioned a lack of customization options in Canvas. Users have stated that there is a limited ability to customize colors, profiles, and class pages, making it difficult to personalize their experience. Some users have suggested including more basic color options for personalization and providing more freedom for designing a visually enhanced environment.

Challenges with customer support: A number of users have experienced challenges with customer support in the past. They have mentioned issues such as unanswered complaints via email or phone calls, delayed response times, and a lack of availability. While some users acknowledge that customer support may have improved over time, others still express dissatisfaction with the level of service provided by Canvas.

Note: These three cons were selected based on their frequency of mention throughout the context provided.

Users of Canvas have provided several recommendations based on their experience with the platform. The most common recommendations include: getting familiar with Canvas before submitting assignments, taking the time to navigate and figure out the features of Canvas before the semester starts, using Canvas for collaborative work, considering Canvas for higher education settings, appreciating its user-friendly interface, and valuing its seamless experience. Overall, users express that Canvas is a simple yet full-featured solution for online learning, which they find more user-friendly than Google Classroom.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 83)
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Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Canvas is a great choice to integrate online learning, course management, and communication. I find ti very useful as a place to house our course materials and assignments for my in-person course, it is fairly easy to navigate. Fully virtual classes are more difficult to manage, sometimes to video elements do not upload and play as they should. When I add in a narrated video or Kaltura video they can be glitchy.
Nicolas Hanhan | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas essential tool to create courses for both instructor-led and self-paced. In the self-paced model, students complete the required reading and media materials available from within Canvas. After completing the required assessments with a passing grade, a certificate is automatically created.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I used Canvas in my IC design class, and we had a quiz every week, which forced me to study and become more conscious of the topic. The second one is that I utilize it in ITI to take the AWS/reStart program with Amazon web services and create all of our labs, quizzes, and training on Canvas.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
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[.]
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
If you have a school you can let teachers easily create new deadlines which [automatically] get shown in the calendar. Teachers can also [temporarily] hide deadlines [until] they've given the explanation about the tasks. [Besides] that the teacher can also choose what should be uploaded, should it be a link, file, pdf, link,...
November 05, 2021

Great LMS

Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas is really the premier Learning Management System in my opinion. I assume it is a more expensive option, although I'm not involved in any decision-making/financial planning at my school. But in terms of its ability to allow students and teachers to track assignments and grades, it's a fantastic platform.
Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I feel it is never appropriate. I believe it is a waste of time. Prior to being strong armed into using Canvas, I use Microsoft Teams to manage the digital aspects of my classes, and it took less that five minutes to set up six classes. I have been trying to sort out ONE of my courses for 9 hours and it is now 3:20 am, with the first day of school closing in fast. I have yet to get a single class ready for publication with Canvas.
Chris Wilkey | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It is well suited for online-only classes and as a supplement to on-campus courses. It would not be appropriate for a class that is very hands-on and doesn't have a need for online resources or discussions. Distance education would be the key market, but it does a nice job overall for teaching.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
If you are in a school or have a lots of students to manage. And you need to have a full curriculum represented online, to have the ability to track students' assignments and their grades, Canvas can be a great tool to use. It was easy to be onboard with their customer support. And the productivities can be improved significantly.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
This e-Learning tool is being highly implemented as a study method by universities and schools, as it is effective and easy to access for both students and teachers, offering multiple options for teaching and grading outside the classroom.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas has been an excellent resource for schools looking to consolidate learning platforms. Canvas has also been great for students that are learning about electronic file structures/organization by allowing teachers to model an organized structure of electronic filing. Canvas has also been wonderful during the remote learning periods (not only to access content- but also for consolidation of ZOOM/virtual meeting links).
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas is a great tool for any educational institution. If faculty members at your institution are interested in improving the online component of their courses or expanding remote learning opportunities, Canvas is a worthwhile investment. However, it is important to have faculty support before making a decision on which learning management system to use.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
As a school or organization-wide online education tool. Instruction, grading, file storage and sharing and attendance are all part of the system and seem to work pretty seamlessly from both the instructor and student sides of the table. It keeps a solid timeline of communication and dates and times when assignments are turned in.
Devarajulu Ravichandran | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Delivery of course materials, schedule, assignments and grading.
  • Integrated it with Zoom for video conferencing and that has helped tremendously with student engagement and remote course delivery during the pandemic.
Patrick Woessner | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
[Canvas is] a terrific LMS for K-12 and Higher Education. It's rare to find a tool that works for 10 year old's as well as college students. To make it cost effective, through, requires training teachers and setting expectations for use. It has SO many features but if organizations don't use them, they would be better suited to a cheaper, more basic learning management system.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It is best suited as it is able to cater for diverse age group of users. The simplicity of design somehow makes [the] user feel less overwhelm[ed] than other platforms.
So far, after being a basic user since 8 years ago using a free version, the platform has technologically progress[ed] but the likeablity remains even though there are more functions now.

Shay Kotian | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Canvas is typically used in schools and universities to provide a seamless course management platform to both students and teachers. Helps in bridging the online education gap between instructors and students. Suited for universities and schools who are looking to move their curriculum online with capabilities for attendance, quizzes, assignments, and notifications to be provided all online.
Ashley Milton | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas is well suited for large institutions managing a lot of different courses. As a staff member, I'm currently starting to use the Organization feature as a way to engage current students. We will enroll all students in the Organization and share important information and resources with them during this time of remote learning. This is the best way for us to reach all of our students in a platform we know they have to be accessing (instead of social media or just emailing them). This has made the idea of "engagement" much easier in these difficult quarantine/social distancing times.

In a way that's less appropriate, Canvas is not built to just be a file sharing platform. We thought a lot about whether using the Organization function would be best for one of our Student Organizations as we try to transition from DropBox. We keep all historic data from past members, bylaws, meeting notes, etc. We were waned by our central Online Distance Learning Office that Canvas might not be the best fit for that. However, we ultimately decided it's functionality to reach students outweighed our need to store historic documents.
April 22, 2020

Canvas Review

Liza Bondurant | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas is an excellent learning management system. It is user-friendly. It helps you organize your courses. It offers a wide variety of types of assignments, such as information pages, discussions, assignments, assessments, and projects. It allows you to create a rubric to grade assignments. The Canvas Commons has resources to help you set up your courses.
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas is great overall for students who all learn the same way and complete the same work. It has different tabs that are listed. Teachers need real training to use it though, and it isn't intuitive to figure out problems. Also, when teachers want to assign different work to particular students, it is incredibly challenging.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas is well suited to host online learning. All of the materials are in one place and it's easy to navigate. Also, the app works quite well too. It's not as equipped as using a desktop, obviously. But, if you're trying to do homework or reading while you have extra time, it works great.
Victoria L. | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas is well suited for remote access to a class that could be online or in person. It is great for giving online exams and allowing students to also turn in assignments remotely. It is less appropriate for art or design classes that have large files which may/may not be able to upload properly to the platform.
February 18, 2020

Canvas

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas is specifically a learning management system, and I would see it working best for schools. A company might find it helpful that the company was building large amounts of training materials for its employees. However, my experience is using Canvas in a school and as a student myself. Canvas allows the teacher to ad students to have a clear understanding of where the course is headed and what's involved.
Joshua Welsh | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Canvas is great for creating online classes. We also use it for two other purposes: communicating with program advisees, and internal department communication. For communicating with students, the program is very helpful, but it would be nice if the list of users could integrate more easily with PeopleSoft.
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