Canvas LMS vs Moodle – 2025 Comparison
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Canvas LMS vs Moodle Table of Contents
- What is Canvas LMS?
- Who is Canvas LMS for?
- Key benefits of Canvas LMS?
- What is Moodle?
- Who is Moodle for?
- Key Benefits of Moodle?
- Who are Canvas LMS and Moodle best for?
- Canvas LMS vs Moodle Feature Comparison
- Canvas LMS vs. Moodle: Third-Party Integrations and Ecosystem
- Canvas LMS vs Moodle Pricing
- Canvas LMS Pros and Cons
- How do Canvas LMS and Moodle address data security and privacy concerns?
- Moodle Pros and Cons
- What are the scalability considerations for large institutions using Canvas LMS or Moodle?
- Verdict – Canvas LMS vs Moodle: Which software is better?
- Canvas LMS vs Moodle: FAQ
What is Canvas LMS?
Currently, there is a high demand for learning management system (LMS) solutions that make online learning easier, more enjoyable, and more effective. Organizations and schools want to ensure they invest in the best educational platforms, and many of them will consider using the top LMS products. Canvas LMS and Moodle are two popular choices, and this guide will focus on comparisons between Canvas LMS vs Moodle so you can decide if either is suitable for your online learning needs.
Canvas LMS is a learning management system open-source platform from the education technology company Instructure. It was launched in 2011, and since then, this web-based LMS has become and continues to be a popular online course management system among academic institutions and organizations. It serves as a centralized hub where instructors or administrators can upload, organize, share, assess, and keep track of classwork and daily lessons. It also allows learners and instructors to interact and communicate on the platform, making for a more engaging teaching and learning experience.
Another reason why Canvas LMS is popular is it has many advanced functionalities and can be accessed from any device. Users can also easily integrate other educational technology tools and apps into the platform, such as Zoom, Adobe, and Google Classroom. This allows instructors and administrators to be more innovative in presenting a more personalized, interesting, and collaborative learning environment.
Featured LMS Software Providers
Free; $89 per month
(billed annually)
Demo available
Yes
Editor's Take
TalentLMS is a cloud-based learning management system designed for businesses of all sizes to deliver effective training programs. Key features include course management, quizzes, gamification, and reporting tools. The platform supports a variety of content types, including video and presentations, and integrates with popular tools like Zoom and Salesforce. Pros include an intuitive interface, customizable branding, and a free tier for small teams. However, advanced reporting and customization options are limited in lower-tier plans. TalentLMS is ideal for corporate training, employee onboarding, and compliance programs, offering scalability and flexibility to suit different learning needs.
Expert Score
In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.
1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software’s overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.
2. Cost - scoring weight 15%
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It’s crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.
3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.
4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.
5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.
$4.08 per user per month
(billed annually)
30 days
Yes
Editor's Take
iSpring Learn is a user-friendly learning management system (LMS) tailored for businesses and educators to deliver eLearning content efficiently. It offers features like course creation, quizzes, learning paths, and progress tracking. iSpring Learn supports various content types, including video lectures and interactive modules, and integrates with the iSpring Suite authoring tool for seamless content development. Pros include a straightforward interface, mobile-friendly access, and powerful reporting tools. However, customization options can be limited, and pricing may be high for smaller organizations. It is ideal for corporate training, employee development, and onboarding, providing a reliable platform for scalable eLearning.
Expert Score
In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.
1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.
2. Cost - scoring weight 15%
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.
3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.
4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.
5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.
Custom
14 days
Course creation, customizable learning paths, automated assessments
Editor's Take
SkyPrep is an intuitive Learning Management System (LMS) designed to streamline online training and onboarding for businesses, educational institutions, and non-profits. Known for its user-friendly interface, SkyPrep makes it easy for administrators to create, manage, and deliver training content while providing learners with a seamless, engaging experience. Key features include course creation tools, customizable learning paths, automated assessments, and reporting capabilities, enabling organizations to tailor training programs to individual or group needs.
One of SkyPrep’s strengths is its ability to support a range of media, including videos, presentations, and quizzes, making it versatile for various training formats. Its analytics and reporting tools offer valuable insights into learner progress, course completion rates, and knowledge gaps, empowering administrators to refine training content and improve learning outcomes.
The platform also integrates with popular software like Google Workspace, Salesforce, and Zoom, enhancing collaboration and accessibility for remote teams. With features like automated notifications, compliance tracking, and gamification, SkyPrep helps organizations keep learners engaged while ensuring that critical training requirements are met.
SkyPrep offers scalable pricing plans to fit small teams, growing businesses, and large enterprises, making it a cost-effective solution for organizations looking to simplify training and boost team performance. Overall, SkyPrep is an effective LMS choice for organizations that prioritize ease of use, customizability, and a comprehensive suite of learning management tools.
Expert Score
In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.
1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software’s overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.
2. Cost - scoring weight 15%
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It’s crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.
3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.
4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.
5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.
Editor's Take
Absorb LMS is a comprehensive learning management system designed to deliver, track, and manage online training for businesses of all sizes. Known for its modern, user-friendly interface, Absorb LMS offers a flexible solution for employee training, compliance, and certification programs. The platform supports a wide range of learning formats, including eLearning, instructor-led training, and blended learning, making it adaptable to different training needs.
Key features include a robust course builder, automated reporting and analytics, mobile accessibility, and advanced integrations with third-party systems like HR and CRM software. Absorb LMS also offers a highly customizable interface, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to reflect their branding and specific workflows.
With its scalability, ease of use, and strong focus on learner engagement and tracking, Absorb LMS is an ideal solution for organizations looking to enhance their learning and development initiatives while maintaining control and flexibility over their training programs.
Expert Score
In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.
1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software’s overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.
2. Cost - scoring weight 15%
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It’s crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.
3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.
4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.
5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.
$8 per user per month
30 days
Yes
Editor's Take
360Learning is a collaborative learning platform designed to enable companies to create, manage, and distribute learning content at scale. It focuses on enabling a culture of peer learning by allowing employees to collaborate on course creation, share knowledge, and receive feedback in real-time. This platform is especially beneficial for organizations that prioritize continuous learning and development, offering tools for course authoring, learner engagement, and progress tracking.
Key features of 360Learning include a user-friendly course builder, integrations with major LMS platforms, and powerful analytics for tracking learning outcomes. Its emphasis on collaboration makes it stand out, helping companies leverage internal expertise while fostering a culture of shared learning.
Overall, 360Learning is ideal for businesses looking to enhance employee training through a more collaborative, engaging, and efficient approach.
Expert Score
In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.
1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.
2. Cost - scoring weight 15%
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.
3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.
4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.
5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.
$1,200 per month
Demo available
Yes
Editor's Take
eFront is a highly flexible learning management system (LMS) tailored for businesses that require a robust and customizable platform for employee training. Known for its advanced security features and extensive customization options, eFront is suitable for organizations with complex learning requirements or strict compliance needs. It allows administrators to create tailored learning paths, manage certifications, and scale training across various departments or locations.
eFront's standout features include enterprise-grade security, a powerful content management system, and integrations with third-party software like HR systems and CRMs. It also offers detailed reporting and analytics to track learner progress and compliance.
With its scalability, security, and customization capabilities, eFront is an excellent choice for companies looking to take control of their corporate training programs while ensuring flexibility and compliance.
Expert Score
In evaluating SaaS software, a comprehensive and structured methodology ensures a fair and accurate comparison across key metrics. This approach focuses on the most critical aspects that affect user experience, functionality, and business value. The following metrics—general features, cost, customer service, integrations, and mobile support—are evaluated to provide a holistic view of each software solution’s strengths and weaknesses. These metrics are selected based on their direct impact on software usability, scalability, and long-term effectiveness for businesses.
1. General Features - scoring weight 40%
This metric evaluates the core functionalities and tools the software offers. It involves assessing the comprehensiveness of the features, their relevance to the target users, and the ease of use. This is important because robust and well-designed features determine the software's overall utility and efficiency in solving user problems.
2. Cost - scoring weight 15%
Cost analysis focuses on pricing models, value for money, and scalability. It's crucial to evaluate whether the software’s features justify its price, considering different plans for small and large organizations. This is vital for businesses to ensure they invest in cost-effective solutions that fit their budget.
3. Customer Service - scoring weight 15%
This evaluates the responsiveness, quality, and availability of customer support, including channels like chat, email, or phone. Good customer service is essential for troubleshooting and ensuring smooth software usage, which reduces downtime and frustration for users.
4. Integrations - scoring weight 15%
This examines how well the software integrates with third-party tools (e.g., CRM, payment systems, collaboration apps). Seamless integrations are key for creating a unified workflow and enhancing productivity by connecting multiple systems, which is crucial for operational efficiency.
5. Mobile Support - scoring weight 15%
Mobile support assesses the software’s functionality and performance on mobile devices, including apps and mobile web versions. With increasing remote work and on-the-go usage, strong mobile support is critical to ensure users can access and utilize the software effectively, regardless of location.
Who is Canvas LMS for?
If you are looking for a single platform where you can easily manage every stage of the education cycle and deliver personalized course materials to suit different class sizes and styles of learning, then Canvas LMS can be what you need. It is a popular choice among academic institutions for K-12 levels or higher education and is frequently included on the list of the best free LMS for schools. Many of the top universities in the U.S., including Yale, Stanford, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), use this platform. Canvas LMS is ideal for varying class and school sizes, but it can also be a great learning management system for employee training. Learning and development departments can create courses and integrate their preferred systems using the corporate education features of Canvas.
Key benefits of Canvas LMS?
- Accessibility. Canvas LMS is a cloud-based software that is compatible with multiple devices and has mobile apps. This makes it easier for students, faculty, and other users to access and submit grades, daily lessons, assignments, quizzes, analytics reports, and other educational content anytime and anywhere.
- Organization. Course materials, learners' records, and all forms of communication are stored on Canvas LMS. Instructors, administrators, and learners will not have to jump from one app to another, saving time and improving organization and focus.
- Enhanced Learning. Thanks to the internal Canvas LMS tools and the easy integration of other educational and collaboration apps, course designers and students have more options on how to best present, share, learn, and interact with content in virtual and physical classrooms. This can greatly enhance the learning experience and positively affect learner outcomes.
What is Moodle?
In the Canvas LMS vs Moodle debate, the latter would definitely win if the category is which platform has been around longer. Moodle was launched way back in 2002. According to the official website of Moodle, the founder of this popular learning management system created the platform intending to take education beyond physical classrooms and give educators a means to deliver distance learning in all corners of the globe.
Today, Moodle is one of the largest open-source LMS designed to provide a secure, robust, and integrated system for online learning. Users can enjoy a collaborative and learner-centric environment, and the platform can be customized using different themes and scaled according to your growing needs. Instructors can deliver tasks and content using different learning environments and formats. Teachers and learners can also communicate and collaborate on the platform, stay on top of assessments, and learn on the go using the Moodle mobile app. To use the learning management system, you have to install the free software to your own server or you can purchase a MoodleCloud hosted solution.
Who is Moodle for?
Moodle has millions of users from all across the globe and is one of the most preferred learning management systems for small to medium-sized businesses, large corporations, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. Tech giant Microsoft, super retail chain Walmart, London School of Economics, and The Open University are just some of Moodle’s big clients. Thanks to its highly customizable themes and integration capabilities, educators from all levels and types of institutions and trainers from different business sizes and industries can use Moodle LMS.
Key benefits of Moodle?
- Customization. You can customize your site layout and design by choosing the color schemes, themes, plugins, and drop-down menus. Users can also add their logo and even create their own Moodle themes.
- Blended Learning. Instructional designers can use Moodle to design and manage courses that are self-paced, collaborative, instructor-led, entirely online, or blended. The Moodle app also has offline features making it ideal for learners residing in areas with unstable or underdeveloped internet service and facilities.
- Integration. Moodle allows for free integration of external applications and even lets users create their own plugins. You can also insert video and audio files into course materials thanks to Moodle’s built-in multimedia support.
Who are Canvas LMS and Moodle best for?
Both Canvas LMS and Moodle are popular options for learning management systems. Each offers a range of features and benefits, whether you need an LMS for company training or academic studies. We took a look at some of the clients for both platforms, did our own research, and checked other recent user reviews to gain insight into who would most benefit from each software and to help you decide between Canvas LMS vs Moodle.
Canvas LMS
- K-12 and higher education institutions that want to provide a more personalized learning experience from one centralized hub.
- Academic institutions that want a more forward-thinking LMS with regular updates.
- Users who prefer a simpler system and easier navigation.
- Organizations and educational institutions that want to be able to easily integrate their preferred apps and tools into an LMS.
Moodle
- Business entities that are looking for an LMS suitable for online course development, onboarding processes, and compliance and competency-based training.
- Those who want a highly customizable site with a range of plug-ins and features.
- Institutions that need more capabilities for e-Learning analytics, assessments, and multimedia integrations for their course materials.
- Administrators, instructors, and learners who require offline learning options when using the LMS site or app.
Overall, Canvas LMS appears to be better suited for K-12 academic and higher education institutions that prefer a well-maintained platform with a simple user interface and various integration options. On the other hand, Moodle tends to be popular among organizations that like having a highly flexible, configurable, and customizable platform, and can be ideal for those with an in-house technical support team.
Canvas LMS vs Moodle Feature Comparison
Each organization has unique needs when it comes to learning management systems. You need to go beyond looking at popularity ratings or the number of users when deciding if you should go with Canvas LMS vs Moodle or another alternative. Educational technology experts strongly advise carefully learning about the features and benefits of each product, and determining how these support your goals and needs. Our research team prepared this feature comparison to give you an overview of how Canvas LMS and Moodle fare when it comes to important factors that affect the success of your digital learning program rollout.
Data, Analytics, and Reports
According to current LMS adoption trends in universities, institutions rely heavily on data and analytics to measure the success of their courses and programs. The information they gather from LMS reports greatly helps in highlighting what instructional designers and administrators need to improve on to assist and support learners and ensure that learning outcome goals are achieved.
Canvas has a Course and Student Analytics feature that provides an overview of student activity within a course. Users can see participation activity, grades, range of scores for an assignment, a list of students per course, current score percentages, and communication information between the instructor and learners. In March 2023, Instructure launched Canvas Admin Analytics which is available to all Canvas LMS customers. Aside from providing course and student data, the new dashboard feature lets administrators see and understand Canvas engagement and adoption data for their institution. It uses interactive charts and includes the option to download reports.
Moodle also offers similar analytics features as Canvas but with even more tools and categories. Administrators are able to look into site-wide and course reports that provide data on students who are at risk of dropping out, site configurations, all comments created on the site, activity in courses or on the site, live logs from the past hour, an overview of security settings, and browser sessions, among others. Moodle users can also take advantage of application programming interface (API) capabilities that allow them to build prediction models and indicators for third-party plugins. You can include predictors, insights, targets, actions, and notifications when building models through the Moodle Learning Analytics API. To take full advantage of the analytics features, you need to follow an initial configuration process, enable access, and assign roles.
Customization Options
One of the features that get the most comments when comparing Canvas LMS vs Moodle has to do with customization. While both Canvas and Moodle claim that their LMS is highly customizable, the latter currently seems to have an edge in this area. Canvas LMS does allow for the customization of your learning content and interface, but it really does not offer the same capabilities to further personalize and add certain aspects as Moodle does. As previously discussed, you can choose or design different themes, add your logo, and integrate your plugins of choice into your Moodle site.
Assessment and Grading
Canvas LMS has a discussion board, anonymous peer review capabilities, and practice quizzes as means to do formative assessments. For summative assessments, it has the Learning Mastery Gradebook tool, Rubrics, and Quizzes. The SpeedGrader feature displays the assignment submissions of the active students in a course and allows instructors to quickly view and grade coursework at once. There can be some problems when using SpeedGrader for courses with a large number of learners or when too many people are submitting assignments at the same time. Even with these issues, SpeedGrader is a feature that many Canvas LMS users like. Moodle, on the other hand, goes beyond basic and traditional assessment and grading methods. It has an advanced grading method capability that allows users to refine rubrics and grade coursework in a variety of ways. You can also use the peer assessment and self-assessment capabilities so students can grade and assess their own and other learners’ output as a group. Teachers can also specify and enable competencies for a course subject and create and assign an individual learning plan to select students.
Accessibility
Both Canvas LMS and Moodle advertise their intent to make education more accessible to different types of learners across the globe. Instructure even shares on its Community website that the company and the Canvas platform are committed to conforming with the U.S. government’s Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This policy requires certain agencies to ensure that information and communication technology is accessible to people with disabilities. Canvas LMS also supports more than 40 languages and is used in schools for the deaf and blind in North Carolina.
As for Moodle, the standard version comes only with English but users can select from over 100 readily available language packs or manually download their preferred language pack. While Moodle is committed to conforming with accessibility standards and law, it cannot guarantee that all of its sites are compliant since anyone using the platform can customize, disable, or add features and content.
Canvas LMS and Moodle each have mobile app versions. However, the former is available only to devices with Android 8.0 or iOS 15.0 or later while the latter will work only with Moodle sites that have enabled the app. Moodle also suggests using devices that run on iOS4 or greater or an Android mobile with at least 512MB RAM, 480×320 resolution, and 1GHz single core for optimum experience. When we looked into Canvas LMS vs Moodle mobile app reviews, we found out that users for both platforms have mixed sentiments and many have expressed frustration with how the apps do not work properly on their devices.
Hosting and Implementation Technology
Canvas LMS and Moodle are web-based technologies and offer different options for hosting and installation. Since it was written using the PHP programming language - a highly preferred platform-independent script - Moodle can support different database management systems and web server solutions. It was developed using Linux, so, it tends to run better on this operating system (OS). Moodle will still work with a Windows server and other OS as long as it meets the software requirements of the versions you are installing. You can either install Moodle using the command-line installer or the web-based installer option. Users can also choose to use their own hosting, purchase a MoodleCloud hosted solution, or pay a third-party provider. Canvas LMS also offers a hosting service where the platform comes pre-installed. Users also have the option to self-host on a dedicated server, a virtual private server (VPS), or a cloud service provider like Google Cloud Platform or Amazon Web Services. You can also try using the free open-source version of Canvas LMS. However, Instructure does not release all of the code for Canvas so there will be features that are not available with the free version.
Canvas LMS vs. Moodle: Third-Party Integrations and Ecosystem
Both Canvas LMS and Moodle offer integration capabilities that expand their functionality, but the level of integration and ecosystem support varies significantly between the two platforms. Understanding these differences can help organizations and institutions leverage the full potential of their chosen LMS.
Canvas LMS provides seamless integration with a wide range of third-party tools and solutions, including widely used platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace. This makes it a strong choice for institutions looking for out-of-the-box compatibility and user-friendly integrations. Its application store, EduApp Center, houses pre-approved tools that easily connect with Canvas, ensuring educators have access to resources that enhance teaching effectiveness and student engagement.
Moodle, on the other hand, takes customization and integration to the next level with its open-source architecture. It supports integration through standard protocols like LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability), allowing institutions to develop bespoke solutions tailored to their specific needs. Furthermore, Moodle has a robust plugin directory featuring over 1,600 options, from attendance tracking and gamification tools to advanced analytics. This vast ecosystem enables Moodle users to adapt the platform to highly specific educational or business needs with relative ease.
Organizations seeking an lms for small business will find Moodle's open-source model appealing due to its cost-effectiveness and flexibility when paired with dedicated in-house IT support. Conversely, Canvas LMS appeals more to institutions that prioritize simplicity in setup and use along with solid third-party integrations. Choosing the right LMS largely depends on the type of tools and systems your organization already uses and how much customization you are willing to undertake.
Canvas LMS vs Moodle Pricing
One great thing about Canvas LMS and Moodle is you can try out the basic features and capabilities of both products through their free versions. For those who are ready to invest, require assistance with installation and implementation, or need hosting services, both platforms have different pricing plans suitable for businesses, academic institutions, and other types of organizations of varying sizes and niches.
Based on the current data provided on their official websites, here is the Canvas LMS vs Moodle pricing information as of this writing.
Canvas LMS Pricing
Instructure does not provide pricing details for Canvas LMS or its other products on its website, although, you can get in touch with representatives to request a quote. You can also opt to use the Canvas Free-for-Teacher version without having to sign up as a customer. Another great option is to contact Instructure for a demo and get a custom-tailored walkthrough.
Moodle LMS Pricing
Moodle has a 45-day free trial that provides access to unlimited activities and courses and built-in video conferencing (for up to 100 concurrent users). When you are ready to upgrade and invest, you can choose from the following:
1. Standard hosting plans
If you have a smaller number of potential LMS users and do not need too many whistles and bells for your site, this package can be what you need. Moodle offers these affordable and hassle-free solutions that let you start using the platform with all its popular built-in features, plus some predefined perks. You get to track site usage, build unlimited courses and set up as many activities as you want, and use video conferencing for up to 100 users. Moodle will take care of site maintenance and updates. The standard hosting plans are further categorized according to the number of users and the size of storage. Local taxes may apply to the prices listed.
- Starter ($130 per year). Includes 250 MB storage and supports up to 50 users
- Mini ($210 per year). Includes 500 MB storage and supports up to 100 users
- Small ($400 per year). Includes 1 GB storage and supports up to 200 users
- Medium ($920 per year). Includes 2.5 GB storage and supports up to 500 users
- Standard ($1,730 per year). Includes 5 GB storage, 1,000 users
2. Premium hosting plans
This is ideal for organizations that have hundreds to millions of potential LMS users and need fully managed, highly scalable, cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions. Moodle provides specialized consulting services, custom domain names, extra storage, maintenance, backups, enhanced security and data protection, real-time 24-hour support, and many other extras. You can ask for a quote from Moodle representatives for their premium hosting solutions.
Comparing prices and getting a quote for LMS systems for small business entities, large corporations, or different types and sizes of academic institutions is beneficial when procuring the best learning management system options. This allows you to determine what services and support each provider can offer with their LMS and which ones can give the best deals to fit your organization’s spending budget.
Canvas LMS Pros and Cons
Canvas LMS Pros
- Most users agree that the interface is easy to learn and the simple aesthetics make the dashboard more organized.
- You can test its features and capabilities using the free version allowing you to become more familiar with the features and better understand what you need in your LMS.
- You can expand your platform’s capabilities with API integrations and access additional advanced tools included in the Instructure Learning Platform.
Canvas LMS Cons
- It does not offer as many customization options as other learning management systems.
- The free and standard versions do not provide 24/7 customer support, but you can still request assistance through chat, email, tickets, or calls.
- You can lose data and experience slow loading times when the platform is busy and many people are using the bandwidth.
How do Canvas LMS and Moodle address data security and privacy concerns?
Both platforms implement robust security measures, yet their approaches differ. Canvas LMS benefits from a managed hosting environment where centralized security protocols, continuous updates, and adherence to global standards such as GDPR and FERPA provide a comprehensive layer of protection. In contrast, Moodle offers customizable security configurations that allow institutions to tailor access controls, encryption settings, and periodic backups according to their unique requirements when self-hosted or using third-party services. In addition, integrating with a reliable knowledge management system can enhance overall data governance and streamline compliance efforts.
Moodle Pros and Cons
Moodle Pros
- Users can be more creative in making their Moodle sites as there are more options for customization.
- You can quickly expand your platform and include learners from various regions thanks to Moodle’s multiple language support and offline capabilities.
- Multiple pedagogical possibilities allow instructional designers and teachers to create more personalized and innovative course materials, assessments, and learning plans.
Moodle Cons
- The free version has limited features and is good for only 45 days.
- There is quite a steep learning curve for administrators and first-time course content creators.
- It can be quite challenging to get direct provider support when you have issues using the site, but the Moodle user community is very active in giving tips and advice.
What are the scalability considerations for large institutions using Canvas LMS or Moodle?
For larger educational institutions or corporations, scalability is a critical factor when choosing between Canvas LMS and Moodle. Here’s how each platform addresses scalability:
- Resource Allocation: Moodle’s flexibility with self-hosted options allows institutions to expand storage and processing power as needed. Canvas offers scalable cloud hosting, which simplifies management for larger organizations but might have higher associated costs.
- User Load Management: Both platforms can support large numbers of users, but Moodle requires careful configuration to handle spikes in activity effectively, especially on self-hosted setups. Canvas’s cloud-based infrastructure generally manages high traffic efficiently, even during peak times.
- Database Optimization: Canvas uses a streamlined database setup to handle multiple concurrent users, reducing data retrieval time for large institutions. Moodle’s open-source structure allows custom database management, but scaling may require additional technical support.
Considering these factors can help large institutions implement a stable, responsive LMS that supports significant user activity and growth over time.
Verdict – Canvas LMS vs Moodle: Which software is better?
The market for online learning platforms is quickly growing worldwide and LMS providers are scrambling to be the top product. Canvas LMS and Moodle are no exception, with each platform boasting an impressive list of clients and acquiring millions of users across the globe. Our team of researchers carefully looked at multiple credible sources and dozens of reviews from actual users, as well as personally assessed the pros and cons of Canvas LMS vs Moodle to hopefully gain more insight into the benefits of the two popular learning management systems.
Canvas LMS appears to get higher ratings for user interface, time to learn the platform features, value for money, in-person training, customer support, maintenance, and implementation. Moodle typically receives better scores for customization, integration, course creation, scalability, flexibility, and community support.
When it comes to data, analytics, and reporting, most users give higher ratings to Moodle thanks to its capabilities to use third-party plugins and design models through its learning analytics API. However, Canvas LMS now comes with admin analytics features - a solution they provided in response to their client’s comments and requests. This is a good indicator that Instructure listens to feedback and continues to work on improving its product based on the needs of its users.
Our Canvas LMS vs Moodle comparison guide will hopefully provide additional insight into which features and capabilities must be met when deciding on the best LMS software for academic institutions, businesses, or other types of organizations. Learning management systems are more competitive than ever, and the top providers do their best to keep up with trends and demands. This means that potential users can be more selective when deciding which LMS to go with, especially when there are several good options available in the market.
Key Insights
- Canvas LMS Overview: Canvas LMS, launched by Instructure in 2011, is a cloud-based learning management system popular among academic institutions and organizations. It provides a centralized hub for uploading, organizing, sharing, and tracking classwork and daily lessons, with integration capabilities for tools like Zoom, Adobe, and Google Classroom.
- Moodle Overview: Moodle, established in 2002, is one of the largest open-source LMS platforms designed to offer a secure, robust, and integrated system for online learning. It supports customization, blended learning, and integration with external applications, making it suitable for various educational and business environments.
- Target Users: Canvas LMS is widely used by K-12 and higher education institutions, including prestigious universities like Yale, Stanford, and MIT. It is also suitable for employee training in corporate settings. Moodle is favored by small to medium-sized businesses, large corporations, and academic institutions, including Microsoft and Walmart, due to its customizable and scalable nature.
- Key Features Comparison:
- Canvas LMS: Offers course and student analytics, integration with multiple educational tools, and features like SpeedGrader for quick grading. It emphasizes ease of use and organization.
- Moodle: Provides extensive customization options, advanced grading methods, offline learning capabilities, and detailed analytics through its API. It supports a wide range of pedagogical approaches and integrations.
- Pricing: Canvas LMS offers a free version and custom pricing upon request. Moodle has standard and premium hosting plans, starting from $130 per year for the Starter plan to over $1,730 per year for the Standard plan, with a 45-day free trial available.
- Pros and Cons:
- Canvas LMS: Pros include user-friendly interface, free version availability, and robust integration options. Cons include limited customization and potential data loss during high usage.
- Moodle: Pros include high customization, multiple language support, and diverse pedagogical possibilities. Cons include a steep learning curve for administrators and limited features in the free version.
- User Feedback: Canvas LMS is highly rated for user interface, ease of use, customer support, and implementation. Moodle is praised for customization, integration, scalability, and community support.
Canvas LMS vs Moodle: FAQ
- What is Canvas LMS? Canvas LMS is a cloud-based learning management system developed by Instructure. It is used to upload, organize, share, assess, and track classwork and daily lessons, with advanced functionalities and integration capabilities for various educational tools.
- Who uses Canvas LMS? Canvas LMS is used by K-12 and higher education institutions, including top universities like Yale, Stanford, and MIT, as well as organizations for employee training and development.
- What are the benefits of Canvas LMS? Benefits include accessibility from multiple devices, organization of course materials and communication, and enhanced learning through integration with other educational and collaboration apps.
- What is Moodle? Moodle is an open-source learning management system that provides a secure, robust, and integrated system for online learning. It supports customization, blended learning, and integration with external applications.
- Who uses Moodle? Moodle is used by small to medium-sized businesses, large corporations like Microsoft and Walmart, and academic institutions such as the London School of Economics and The Open University.
- What are the benefits of Moodle? Benefits include extensive customization options, support for blended and offline learning, and the ability to integrate external applications and create plugins.
- How do Canvas LMS and Moodle compare in terms of customization? Moodle offers more extensive customization options compared to Canvas LMS. Users can design themes, add logos, and integrate various plugins, whereas Canvas provides basic customization for learning content and interface.
- Which LMS is better for data and analytics? Moodle generally receives higher ratings for data and analytics due to its capabilities to use third-party plugins and design models through its learning analytics API. However, Canvas LMS has improved its analytics features with the introduction of admin analytics.
- What are the pricing options for Canvas LMS and Moodle? Canvas LMS offers a free version and custom pricing upon request. Moodle offers standard hosting plans ranging from $130 to $1,730 per year and premium hosting solutions with additional services.
- Which LMS is more suitable for academic institutions? Canvas LMS is more suitable for academic institutions looking for a user-friendly, well-maintained platform with regular updates and integration options. Moodle is better for institutions needing extensive customization and advanced pedagogical capabilities.
