Canvas vs Edmodo

Last Updated:

Our analysts compared Canvas vs Edmodo based on data from our 400+ point analysis of LMS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Edmodo Software Tool

Product Basics

Canvas helps you create and deliver engaging courses to your students and track their progress in real time. It allows you to post course materials, assignments, quizzes and grades. Students can access these resources, submit their work and communicate with other team members.

You can host discussions through discussion boards and chat rooms, provide personalized feedback using SpeedGrader and track student progress with built-in analytics. Canvas integrates with third-party apps like Zoom, Webex and GoToMeeting, and offers three mobile apps, one each for teachers, students and parents.

User reviews about Canvas praise its smooth interface, real-time collaboration tools and course creation capabilities. Since pricing details aren't mentioned online, you can contact the vendor directly for more information.

read more...
Edmodo is a cloud-based education solution used primarily by K-12 institutions. It currently serves over 100 million users. Created in 2008, it manages the basics of digital classrooms such as communication, assignments, testing, grading, parental views, mobile apps and more. It also gives learners access to an online library of over 700 million resources shared by students, parents and teachers.

Because of its popularity within the education sector, 10% of its users are instructors. Overall, it’s used by 400,000 schools in over 190 countries. It has an active community of educators that pool resources, information, consult with one another and offer worldwide support.
read more...
$0 Open-Source
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
$2,500 Monthly, Freemium
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Ensures Continuous Learning: Experience minimal disruptions with a 99.9% uptime. Say goodbye to unexpected crashes and keep your educational ecosystem reliable and accessible at all times.
  • Enriches Learning with Unlimited File Size: Upload as much audio, visuals and video content as you need to courses. File size is not limited, so you can provide comprehensive and engaging materials without worrying about storage constraints.
  • Strengthens Collaboration: If you’re looking to create collaborative learning experiences for your team, Canvas is the perfect LMS for you. Based on our analysis, it provides a variety of collaboration tools fully out of the box, such as discussion boards, content sharing, group chat, two-way messaging, and notes and annotations.
  • Ensures Consistency in Evaluations: Create centralized repositories of questions at account levels. For instance, you can create sub-account question banks to store assessments like basic grammar rules across various courses. This ensures consistency in evaluations across different classes, making it easier to access and administer assessments. 
  • Offers a Flexible Pedagogy: Enable instructors to design classes around their preferred learning methods. That could mean standards-based grading, traditional grading, flipped learning, project-based learning and more.
  • Streamlines Corporate Training: Use Bridge LMS, Canvas’ corporate training solution, to meet your employee training needs. Create and track training programs, use built-in performance tools, integrate with HR systems and more.
  • Award-Winning LMS: Canvas ranks among our top 10 LMS software, alongside LMS giants like LearnUpon, Absorb LMS and Moodle. In the SelectHub Awards 2024 for the LMS category, it won best-in-class honors for assessments, collaboration, compliance, user management, gamification, and integrations and extensibility.
read more...
  • Better Communication: Facilitate open communication channels for students, teachers, parents and administrators through email, push notifications and text. Send messages to distinct groups — parents, kids and instructors — simultaneously. Disseminate information to update parents on their class activity through messages, answers to questions, grades and more. Keep guardians informed on what their children are accomplishing, let them see grades and learn how to best support them. Send direct messages to teachers and see updates from the mobile app.
  • Motivated Learners: Improve learner engagement with games, mindfulness activities and the ability to step into a role as active participants. Provide multiple ways to make learning more fun and exciting in the Discover program.
  • More Support for Learners: Access information from the mobile app as needed. Use AskMo so users can request help from online tutors. Take a picture of math or science homework and get step-by-step help from mentors through a ten-minute chat. Either pay for this service or use the promo for free sessions from the website. Study subjects such as algebra 1 and 2, AP calculus, calculus, college algebra, AP chemistry, AP physics, chemistry, geometry, middle school math, physics, pre-algebra, pre-calculus and trigonometry.
  • Money and Time Saver: Save valuable time with online assignments, grading, discussion and more. Use the solution for free initially and upgrade to paid options for organizations that need more robust functionality.
read more...
  • Course Creation: Create new courses using built-in interactive tools. Add specific details like name, course code, due date, language, grading scheme, modules and sections, description and more.
    • Announcements: Share key course information with everyone. Remind students of dates and tasks, point them to valuable resources, celebrate achievements and highlight events. You can include text, multimedia and files.
    • Grades: Show grades as points, percentages and complete/incomplete. Filter and arrange Gradebook entries, automatically apply grades for missing/late work, and hide grades until you're ready to release them.
    • People: Depending on permissions, add students, teachers, assistants and observers. Create student groups for group assignments, discussions and file sharing.
    • Pages: Create interactive content like weekly updates, collaborative wikis or resource lists. Include text, multimedia and links, and allow students to contribute to specific pages.
    • Files: Easily insert files into modules, assignments, discussions or pages. Share files with students or lock them until ready for download.
    • Quizzes: Use the New Quizzes engine for diverse question types. If unavailable, use Classic Quizzes to achieve your objectives.
    • Modules: Organize content by weeks and units. Add files, discussions, assignments, quizzes and more. Set prerequisites or lock modules until specific dates.
    • New Analytics: Use the New Analytics tool to monitor who has viewed content and participated in assignments and identify students needing extra support.
  • Dashboard: View published/unpublished courses, access the calendar and upcoming events, start new courses, view grades, enable notifications and more.
  • Assignments: Include quizzes, graded discussions and various online submissions (files, images, text, URLs media). Assign to everyone or set different due dates for specific groups. Organize assignments into groups, weigh them by percentage, and enable Peer Review for student feedback.
  • Gradebook: Easily input and distribute grades using various methods, such as points, percentages, pass/fail, GPA scale and letter grades.
    • Use SpeedGrader to assign grades and provide feedback efficiently.
    • Automatically create columns in the Gradebook for assignments, discussions, quizzes, surveys and attendance tracking.
    • View grades by grading periods, sort by due dates or student names, and apply specific filters for streamlined management.
    • Download and grade assignments offline and calculate totals.
    • Monitor grades across all courses, notify students of graded assignments and manage grade history.
    • Customize grading curves, message students based on assignment status, leave private comments and excuse assignments when necessary.
  • Rubrics: Set custom or outcome-based assessment criteria to communicate quality expectations. Use rubrics to align learning outcomes, assess submissions in SpeedGrader and support non-scoring assessments for comprehensive grading.
  • Canvas Catalog: Integrate with Canvas Catalog to streamline course offerings.
    • Easily bundle multiple courses into programs and enable registration for community education and professional development.
    • Create branded sub-catalog listings for specific departments or organizations.
    • Customize page templates for FAQs, contact info and individual course landing pages.
    • Set up personalized certificates and automate their distribution.
    • Allow students to track their progress with customized dashboards.
    • Generate reports on course progress, registrations, revenue and enrollment trends.
    • Offer hassle-free self-registration and self-paced courses with automated enrollment, payments and certificate distribution.
    • Build, manage and customize courses and programs.
  • SpeedGrader: Quickly grade student submissions in one place with SpeedGrader. Use a simple point scale or detailed rubrics to assign grades, and accept various document formats and URLs to mark up assignments directly for feedback. Sort submissions by student, hide names for anonymous grading and track your progress. Easily view submission details, handle resubmissions and manage moderated assignments.
  • Intelligent Insights: Enhance teaching and learning effectiveness with Intelligent Insights, a premium analytics solution tailored for admins.
    • Use AI and analytics to gather actionable data.
    • Leverage conversational AI for quick ad hoc data requests and pre-built analytics for tracking goals such as course effectiveness and student success.
    • Customize insights to pinpoint best practices, optimize LTI usage and address learning needs.
    • Build custom dashboards and automate SQL queries to streamline data management and improve learner support.
    • Identify courses that need improvement, notify instructors promptly and foster continuous improvement across teams.
  • Roll Call Attendance: Manage attendance in courses using the Attendance (Roll Call) tool, an external LTI app suitable for both online and face-to-face classes. Enabled at the account level, users can access it across all courses within your Canvas account.
  • Discussions: Communicate about course topics anytime. Create graded or casual discussions for idea exchange and problem-solving. Use threaded discussions for detailed topics and focused discussions for short exchanges.
  • Assessments: Administer assessments in the form of assignments, quizzes and discussions.
  • Assignments
    • Allow students to submit assignments online through text entry, file uploads, media recordings, external tools, URLs or Canvas pages.
    • Assign to individual students, groups or sections.
    • Include a due date for Not Graded assignments, without providing points or grades.
  • Discussions
    • Grade student responses to discussion topics.
    • Assign to individual students, groups or sections.
  • Quizzes
    • Conduct surveys or assess student comprehension of course content through quizzes.
    • Assign to individual students or sections, but not to groups.
  • Collaboration: Teachers can communicate with individual students, groups or the entire class through messaging, audio notes, video and more. Students can work together via chat groups, video and other messaging tools.
  • Mobile App: Provide equal access to curriculum and instruction with native mobile apps for students, teachers and parents on iOS and Android devices.
  • Canvas Student: Enables students to access courses anytime, anywhere. They can:
    • View grades and course content.
    • Submit assignments.
    • Keep track of coursework with a to-do list and calendar.
    • Send and receive messages.
    • Post to discussions, take quizzes and watch videos.
    • Receive notifications for new grades and course updates.
  • Canvas Teacher: Helps teachers manage their courses anywhere, both in and out of the classroom. This app offers quick access to three main tasks:
    • Browse submissions and give feedback to students with the enhanced mobile SpeedGrader.
    • Send announcements and messages (like "Message Students Who..."), and join course discussions quickly.
    • Change due dates, publish assignments and correct misspellings directly from your phone.
  • Canvas Parent: Allows parents to see their child's educational details easily at a glance. They can:
    • View assignment descriptions and due dates
    • Set reminders for assignments
    • View assignment and course grades
    • View course announcements
  • Outcomes: Set and track learning goals. Focus on skills and activities, not just grades. Assess progress using the Learning Mastery Gradebook. Import existing outcomes and align them with course rubrics.
  • SIS Imports: Upload and integrate data from SIS using CSV files or through the Canvas API. Manage users, accounts, courses, enrollments, logins and more. Use IMS Enterprise Specification XML zip files or Banner Grade Exchange Results XML for automated imports.
  • Canvas Studio: Create, deliver and organize video content in various formats within your media library using Canvas Studio.
    • Upload videos directly from devices or integrate them from YouTube into courses.
    • Monitor student engagement by tracking views, duration and interactions.
    • Connect with platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Hangouts.
    • Engage students with interactive video quizzes, real-time feedback and integrated Gradebook.
    • Provide personalized feedback using SpeedGrader and customize learning paths with MasteryPaths.
    • Encourage student participation through video creation and peer feedback.
    • Integrate instruction, assessment and additional learning opportunities directly into the video experience.
  • Conferences: Integrate with BigBlueButton to host lectures, office hours and group meetings. Broadcast audio/video, share slides, and demonstrate applications and resources.
  • ePortfolios: Create ePortfolios to display and discuss your students’ submissions and experiences. Allow them to collect and document educational projects, assignments and more. Keep ePortfolios private or share them with peers, instructors and future employers.
  • Video Assessments: Create engaging video quizzes where students answer questions as they watch. Give instant feedback and automatically submit grades to the Gradebook. Review videos and provide comments. Use SpeedGrader to apply rubrics and offer quick, personalized feedback.
read more...
  • Course Creation: Share materials for class, send messages and make all education more accessible with course authoring tools.
  • Testing: Offer mini-quizzes, sample tests, ACT and SAT prep, and a “score predictor” option which helps students find out how prepared they are for tests that could change their futures.
  • Integrated Apps: Access multiple apps, including AskMo, Discover and Spotlight. Get mentoring for math and science through AskMo. Use Discover for games, activities, news and other bits of information to keep learners engaged and empowered. Use Spotlight as a marketplace for teachers and publishers to create and share resources.
  • Educator Resources: Follow hashtags in the program for additional information. Access professional creative learning communities for a broader range of resources and ideas to solve problems creatively. Use the Distance Learning Toolkit for instructors and a community to plug into for more help. Give badges to recognize high-performing educators.
  • Administration: Provide opportunities for collaboration and staff development. Track learning and make sure the whole district coordinates. Group educators and deliver personalized training. Use group text, push notifications and email. Audit members, reset passwords and verify teachers in the admin center.
  • Edmodo Labs: Access advanced education technology and give feedback through gamified quizzes, interactive puzzles and models, creative tools and more.
  • Integration: Integrate with many systems. Access other programs quickly through a single sign-on solution. Use apps such as ClassLink, Clever, custom identity providers, Google, identity automation software, LDAP and Office 365. Get help with account creation and class rosters.
  • Reporting: Let administrators see what is working, what’s not and how students engage with the material. Work with the school success manager to get access to custom analytics, data tracking and reporting.
  • Planner: Use an integrated planner to organize work with users’ course folders.
read more...

Product Ranking

#10

among all
LMS Software

#87

among all
LMS Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

79
we're gathering data
0
we're gathering data
82
we're gathering data
100
we're gathering data
Show More Show More

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Canvas
Edmodo
+ Add Product + Add Product
AI-based Capabilities Assessments Collaboration Compliance Content And Course Management ECommerce Learning Delivery Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Reporting And Dashboard User Management And Gamification 0 82 100 83 91 92 75 87 74 97 99 0 25 50 75 100
0%
0%
100%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
80%
0%
20%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
83%
0%
17%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
87%
0%
13%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
80%
0%
20%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
54%
0%
46%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
88%
0%
12%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
73%
0%
27%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

79%
0%
21%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A

User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 5849 reviews
Great User Sentiment 427 reviews
91%
of users recommend this product

Canvas has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 91% when considering 5849 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

89%
of users recommend this product

Edmodo has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 427 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (11)
n/a
4.4 (1482)
n/a
n/a
4.4 (354)
4.6 (3998)
n/a
4.5 (77)
n/a
4.5 (281)
4.6 (73)

Awards

Canvas stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

we're gathering data

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

User-Friendly Interface: According to 60% of users who mentioned this pro, Canvas offers an intuitive and navigable interface, and is easy to use for both instructors and students.
Mobile Accessibility: The Canvas mobile app, praised by 72% of users, offers a responsive design and on-the-go access on various devices.
Best-In-Class Integration Capabilities: 55% of users said Canvas integrates well with a wide range of third-party tools and services, and helps create a customized learning environment.
Effective Communication and Collaboration Features: 45% of users appreciate Canvas’ communication tools, specifically discussion boards, announcements and email.
Personalized Course Design: Canvas offers flexible course designs, allowing instructors to create personalized learning experiences for their students, said 40% of users.
Show more
Intuitive Interface: Edmodo is often praised for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for educators, students, and parents to navigate and utilize its features effectively. The platform's layout is clean and straightforward, promoting a smooth user experience.
Communication and Collaboration: Edmodo facilitates seamless communication and collaboration among teachers, students, and parents. Teachers can easily share announcements, assignments, and resources, while students can engage in discussions, submit work, and receive feedback. Parents can stay informed about their child's progress and communicate with teachers.
Content and Assessment: Edmodo provides tools for creating and delivering engaging content, including quizzes, polls, and assignments. Teachers can also track student progress and provide personalized feedback. The platform supports various learning styles and allows for differentiation.
Accessibility and Flexibility: Edmodo is accessible from various devices, including computers, tablets, and smartphones, enabling users to stay connected and engaged anytime, anywhere. This flexibility supports diverse learning environments and schedules.
Show more
Technical Glitches and Bugs: Nearly 40% of users report experiencing technical issues, such as system crashes, data loss and bugs.
Steep Learning Curve for Complex Features: According to 30% of users, while the overall interface is user-friendly, more advanced features have a steep learning curve.
Rigid Due Date Policies: Some users mentioned that Canvas's rigid due date rules can be challenging for students who submit work late due to technical issues or other reasons.
Show more
Limited Customization: Teachers have expressed frustration with the platform's inflexibility in terms of personalizing the learning experience for their students. For example, they cannot modify the platform's interface or create unique learning pathways for individual students.
Assessment Constraints: The platform's assessment tools have been criticized for their lack of sophistication. Teachers find it challenging to create and administer complex assessments or track student progress in a nuanced way.
Integrations and Interoperability: Edmodo may not seamlessly integrate with other educational tools and platforms that schools are already using, leading to compatibility issues and workflow disruptions. This can hinder a school's ability to create a cohesive digital learning ecosystem.
Show more

Canvas is an eLearning solution used for online, in-person and hybrid learning in a variety of educational settings. Users praise its smooth interface, mobile accessibility and integration capabilities, while also highlighting some technical and usability challenges that may require attention.Users found the system easy to use and navigate, and were happy with its vast suite of features, especially the grading, assignments and assessment tools. Most reported that it’s budget-friendly and had positive experiences with customer service.On the downside, users said they encountered bugs and glitches in the program. They requested a more flexible due date policy and more ease of use in advanced features.All things considered, Canvas is a versatile LMS that provides a modern platform and industry-specific features to make learning more engaging and personalized. It may require some initial investment in training and customization, but it delivers a positive overall experience for both instructors and students.

Show more

Edmodo seems to be a bit of a mixed bag, with some users singing its praises and others finding it falls short of expectations.  One of the things that users consistently point out as a strength is its simplicity and user-friendly interface.  It's easy to navigate, even for those who aren't tech-savvy, making it a good option for educators who want a straightforward platform to manage their classrooms.  Additionally, Edmodo offers a free basic plan, which is a major plus for budget-conscious schools or individual teachers. However, there are also some drawbacks that users frequently mention.  One common complaint is the limited functionality compared to more comprehensive learning management systems (LMS) like Canvas or Blackboard.  Edmodo lacks some of the advanced features that these platforms offer, such as robust assessment tools or the ability to create complex learning pathways.  Additionally, some users have expressed concerns about the platform's stability and occasional technical glitches.  This can be frustrating for educators who rely on the platform to deliver instruction and manage student work. So, who is Edmodo best suited for?  Based on user feedback, it seems like a good fit for individual teachers or small schools looking for a basic, easy-to-use platform to supplement their classroom instruction.  It's also a decent option for those who are new to using technology in the classroom and want a simple starting point.  However, for larger institutions or educators who need a more feature-rich LMS, Edmodo might not be the best choice.  It's always a good idea to weigh the pros and cons and consider your specific needs before making a decision.  Keep in mind that the EdTech landscape is constantly evolving, so it's wise to check for the latest updates and user reviews to make an informed choice.

Show more

Screenshots

Top Alternatives in LMS Software


Absorb LMS

Adobe Learning Manager

Blackboard Learn

Brainier

Brightspace

Cornerstone LMS

Docebo

LearnUpon

Litmos

Moodle

Schoology

Seismic Learning

SkyPrep

Spoke LMS

TalentLMS

Thinkific

Tovuti

Trainual

WorkRamp

Related Categories

Head-to-Head Comparison

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

Compare products
Comparison Report
Just drag this link to the bookmark bar.
?
Table settings