Comparison

Canvas by Instructure vs Blackboard

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Canvas by Instructure

Access your courses and stay organized with this learning app. Track assignments, submit work, participate in discussions, and even study offline. It supports integrated tools and accessibility features for a seamless educational experience.

Highlights
  • View grades and track assignments
  • Submit assignments and take quizzes
  • Join class discussions
  • Download courses for offline access
  • Receive push notifications and reminders
  • Integrated classroom tools and dark mode
Features
Read full description

Your learning, anywhere. Stay connected to your courses with the official Canvas app for learners. Whether you’re in class, commuting, or offline, Canvas helps you stay organized and engaged. Note for instructors: For teaching and grading features, use the Canvas Teacher app. What you can do • Organize: View grades, track assignments, homework, and schoolwork; get reminders, push notifications and add customizable widgets for quick access • Engage: Send messages, join class discussions and collaborate with classmates in real time • Learn: Submit assignments, PDFs, docs, and media files for teachers to annotate in SpeedGrader, take quizzes, and watch videos on the go • Offline: Download full courses and keep studying even without internet • Integration & inclusivity: Use integrated classroom tools (LTIs), enjoy dark mode, and rely on built-in accessibility for everyone (VPAT 2.2 compliant) • Lifelong learning: Support for continuous learning, career-focused skill based learning programs, and AI-powered learning experience via Career experience Trusted by over 40 million learners worldwide.

About

Blackboard

This app connects students and instructors to their institution's learning management system. Access course materials, submit assignments, track grades, and communicate with peers and instructors on the go.

Highlights
  • Course updates and announcements
  • Assignment submission and testing
  • Grade tracking
  • Discussion board management
  • Material organization
  • Real-time notifications
Currently charting
Read full description

Download the Blackboard App and stay seamlessly connected with your courses and elevate your learning experience. Whether you're a student or an instructor, this app integrates with your institution’s Blackboard platform to bring you essential tools and real-time updates on the go. For Students: - Stay Informed: Instantly view updates and changes to your courses. - Real-Time Alerts: Receive notifications for due-dates, announcements, and more. - Manage Coursework: Easily complete and submit assignments, take tests, and track your progress. - Check Grades: Access grades for courses, assignments, and tests with just a few taps. - Plus More: Explore additional features tailored to enhance your educational journey. For Instructors: - Efficient Course Management: Upload and organize course materials and assessments effortlessly. - Timely Notifications: Set up custom alerts such as when submissions are ready for grading, messages from students, and more. - Streamlined Grading: Grade assignments and provide feedback from your phone or tablet. - Engage Students: Send course announcements, create and manage discussion threads, and interact with student comments. - And Beyond: Utilize more tools designed to support your teaching and engagement. Please Note: The Blackboard App functions in conjunction with your institution’s Blackboard server. Access and features may vary based on your institution's settings and software updates. By using this app, you agree to our terms and privacy information - https://www.anthology.com/trust-center/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Canvas by Instructure4 screens
Blackboard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: Canvas by Instructure at #3 against Blackboard's #73. Canvas by Instructure also leads on review sentiment (27% vs 14%) and ratings volume (2.8M vs 443K). Blackboard's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Canvas by Instructure against 4.6 for Blackboard. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Canvas by Instructure has 2.8M ratings behind it against 443K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 27% of Canvas by Instructure's written reviews are positive against 14% of Blackboard's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, Blackboard monthly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Canvas by Instructure versus Blackboard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCanvas by InstructureBlackboard
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.8M ratings) — better4.6 (443K ratings)
Positive reviews26.8% of reviews — better14.2% of reviews
Number of ratings2.8M — better443K
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#3 — better#73
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size209 MB172 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInstructure Inc.Anthology Inc.

Customer experience

Canvas by Instructure

All ratings2,768,036 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral2.5%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews1,463 reviews
Positive26.8%
Neutral12.0%
Negative61.2%

Blackboard

All ratings442,980 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral4.0%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews2,032 reviews
Positive14.2%
Neutral13.5%
Negative72.3%

User reviews

Canvas by Instructure

From 2.8M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 📚 Easy access to course materials
  • 💻 Convenient mobile access
  • 📊 Helpful grade tracking
  • 🔔 Useful notification system

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 🔁 Resets when switching apps
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate
  • 🙈 Lack of customization options
  • 🗓️ Calendar issues

Blackboard

From 443K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🔒 Secure login process
  • 💡 Helpful for busy students

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔄 Constant need to re-login
  • 🕰️ Slow loading times
  • 📱 Not optimized for mobile/tablets

Bugs and requests

Canvas by Instructure

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App freezing and crashing
  • Inability to view all course content
  • Inconsistent behavior across devices
  • Unreliable assignment submission
  • Syncing issues between app and website

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved discussion board functionality
  • Ability to edit posts/comments
  • Integration with personal calendars
  • More granular notification controls

Blackboard

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Activity stream not loading properly
  • Inconsistent behavior across mobile and web
  • Inability to view full assignment details

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to customize course order
  • Improved notifications and alerts
  • Split-screen functionality for multitasking
  • Offline access to course materials

In-app purchases

None

Canvas by Instructure

No in-app purchases

None

Blackboard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Canvas by Instructure free?
Canvas by Instructure is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Blackboard free?
Blackboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Canvas by Instructure or Blackboard?
Canvas by Instructure is rated higher. Canvas by Instructure averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.8M ratings, while Blackboard averages 4.6 from 443K ratings.
Do Canvas by Instructure or Blackboard have ads?
Neither Canvas by Instructure nor Blackboard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Canvas by Instructure or Blackboard?
Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, and Blackboard monthly. Most recently, Canvas by Instructure was updated on September 24, 2026 and Blackboard on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Canvas by Instructure or Blackboard?
Canvas by Instructure currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Blackboard at #73. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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