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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Canvas

    Score8.2 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

    PowerSchool Unified Classroom

    Score6.2 out of 10
    N/APowerSchool Unified Classroom is a learning management and classroom collaboration solution suite. It aims to empower teachers with real-time student interaction inside and outside the classroom, bringing in more social and collaborative learning. Teachers can quickly create and deliver rich engaging lessons, electronically collect, annotate, and grade work, and easily collaborate and share with other educators. Unified Classroom includes PowerSchool solutions Assessment, Gradebook, Learning,…N/A
    Pricing
    CanvasPowerSchool Unified Classroom
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    CanvasPowerSchool Unified Classroom
    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.
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    CanvasPowerSchool Unified Classroom
    Considered Both Products
    Instructure
    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.
    Incentivized
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    87%
    Would buy again
    20 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    94%
    Delivers good value for the price
    17 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    87%
    Happy with the feature set
    20 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    12 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    13 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    CanvasPowerSchool Unified Classroom
    Learning Management
    Comparison of Learning Management features of Canvas and PowerSchool Unified Classroom
    Feature
    Canvas
    9.8
    42 Ratings
    18% above category average
    PowerSchool Unified Classroom
    8.1
    2 Ratings
    1% below category average
    Course authoring9.942 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Course catalog or library9.839 Ratings6.72 Ratings
    Player/Portal9.933 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Learning content9.935 Ratings8.32 Ratings
    Mobile friendly9.941 Ratings5.01 Ratings
    Progress tracking & certifications9.938 Ratings7.92 Ratings
    Assignments9.942 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Compliance management9.833 Ratings00 Ratings
    Learning administration9.937 Ratings8.32 Ratings
    Learning reporting & analytics9.939 Ratings8.92 Ratings
    Social learning9.934 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Gamification9.63 Ratings00 Ratings
    Single Sign On (SSO) Enabled Learning9.83 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    CanvasPowerSchool Unified Classroom
    Small Businesses
    Google Classroom
    Score8.2 out of 10
    Google Classroom
    Score8.2 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Schoology Learning
    Score9.7 out of 10
    Schoology Learning
    Score9.7 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Axonify
    Score10 out of 10
    Axonify
    Score10 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    CanvasPowerSchool Unified Classroom
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.6
    (84 ratings)
    8.9
    (4 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.3
    (5 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    10.0
    (8 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    9.0
    (11 ratings)
    8.9
    (2 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
    CanvasPowerSchool Unified Classroom
    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
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    In the classroom it is very well suited. For classroom teachers, and for school systems in general. It is appropriate in this capacity because it creates a streamlined sense of communication for all stakeholders: teachers, parents, students, and administration. It makes parent meetings very easy, it makes interventions for students easy, and it helps administration keep tabs on overall progress
    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
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    • Hand in/Hand Out Assignments
    • Standards Based Assessments
    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
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    • The user interface is a little blocky and not entirely user-friendly.
    • It does take more training than we'd like with new staff.
    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
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    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
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    No answers on this topic
    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
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    They are very responsive to the issues that we have and follow through with their assistance. Having a live assist that is available when our teachers need it is essential too. They also seem to listen to suggestions on making improvements and have been transparent with us when renovations are done.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    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
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    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
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    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
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    I have used markbook and gradebook. Each system had good features that were slightly different but the fact that this one is web based and accessible makes it the best of the 3 I have used. The learning curve to using the program is similar to the other 2 and overall has allowed me to save time reporting to students and parents.
    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
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    • Positive impact- i don't know how much it costs but every teacher spends probably 1-4 hours on powerschool every week but it streamlines communication
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    PowerSchool Unified Classroom Screenshots

    Screenshot of Discussion in LMSScreenshot of LMS student portalScreenshot of LMS student portfolio