Canvas vs. LearnDash

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
LearnDash
Score 8.1 out of 10
N/A
LearnDash 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
Features
CanvasLearnDash
Learning Management
Comparison of Learning Management features of Product A and Product B
Canvas
9.7
41 Ratings
17% above category average
LearnDash
6.9
1 Ratings
17% below category average
Course authoring9.941 Ratings5.01 Ratings
Course catalog or library9.638 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Player/Portal9.732 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Learning content9.734 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Mobile friendly9.940 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Progress tracking & certifications9.737 Ratings7.01 Ratings
Assignments9.941 Ratings7.01 Ratings
Compliance management9.632 Ratings4.01 Ratings
Learning administration9.736 Ratings7.01 Ratings
Learning reporting & analytics9.738 Ratings5.01 Ratings
Social learning9.733 Ratings4.01 Ratings
Gamification9.22 Ratings6.01 Ratings
Single Sign On (SSO) Enabled Learning9.62 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
CanvasLearnDash
Small Businesses
iSpring LMS
iSpring LMS
Score 8.9 out of 10
iSpring LMS
iSpring LMS
Score 8.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Schoology Learning
Schoology Learning
Score 9.6 out of 10
Schoology Learning
Schoology Learning
Score 9.6 out of 10
Enterprises
Schoology Learning
Schoology Learning
Score 9.6 out of 10
Schoology Learning
Schoology Learning
Score 9.6 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CanvasLearnDash
Likelihood to Recommend
9.1
(83 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.3
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(9 ratings)
8.0
(1 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[.]
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LearnDash
LearnDash is perfect for starting out with your courses or if you're tired of paying exorbitant fees to third-party platforms. It allows you to create audio, video, or text-based training in a simple and intuitive way if you're familiar with WordPress. I don't recommend it if you're not comfortable editing or designing your own website. LearnDash es perfecto para empezar a crear tus cursos o si estás cansado de pagar comisiones abusivas a plataformas de terceros. Te permite crear formaciones en audio, vídeo o texto de una forma sencilla e intuitiva si sabes manejarte dentro de Wordpress. No te la recomiendo si no te sientes cómodo editando/diseñando dentro de tu propia web. This review was originally written in Spanish and has been translated into English using a third-party translation tool. While we strive for accuracy, some nuances or meanings may not be perfectly captured.
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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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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)
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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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LearnDash
  • I would like to see more options for creating activities (games, fill in the blanks, etc.)
  • It would be nice if the support section had a Spanish translation.
  • I miss that when you install the plugin they give you a small introduction to teach you how to use it.
  • Me gustaría que haya más opciones de creación de actividades (juegos, rellenar huecos, etc)
  • Estaría bien que la sección de soporte tuviera traducción al español
  • Echo en falta que en el momento de instalar el plugin te hagan una pequeña introducción para enseñarte a usarlo
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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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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
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LearnDash
Learndash is an intuitive tool with everything you need to create courses and present them in an engaging way. It's also surprisingly easy to use. I've deducted a few points because, while it offers quite a few options out of the box, you may need to integrate it with other plugins (bbpress, etc.) to get the most out of it. Learndash es una herramienta intuitiva con todo lo necesario para crear cursos y presentarlos de una manera atractiva. Además es sorprendentemente fácil de utilizar. Le he quitado unos puntos porque, aunque de base ofrece bastantes opciones, es posible que necesites integrarlo con otros plugins (bbpress, etc.) para sacarle el máximo provecho.
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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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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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LearnDash
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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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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.
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