Canvas by Instructure vs Blackboard
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- Course updates and announcements
- Assignment submission and testing
- Grade tracking
- Discussion board management
- Material organization
- Real-time notifications
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, Blackboard monthly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Canvas by Instructure | Blackboard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (2.8M ratings) — better | 4.6 (443K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 26.8% of reviews — better | 14.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2.8M — better | 443K |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #3 — better | #73 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 209 MB | 172 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Instructure Inc. | Anthology Inc. |
Customer experience
Canvas by Instructure
Blackboard
User reviews
Canvas by Instructure
From 2.8M App Store ratingsWhat 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 ratingsWhat 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
Canvas by Instructure
No in-app purchases
Blackboard
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Canvas by Instructure free?
Is Blackboard free?
Which has better reviews, Canvas by Instructure or Blackboard?
Do Canvas by Instructure or Blackboard have ads?
Which is updated more often, Canvas by Instructure or Blackboard?
Which is more popular, Canvas by Instructure or Blackboard?
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