What are the disadvantages of CANVAS LMS?

Some reviewers on Software Advice note that the mobile app can experience slow loading times, and some mention challenges with external tool integration. Teachers report needing time to master advanced features such as custom grading schemes. Several users find the notification system overwhelming without proper configuration.

Can CANVAS LMS detect cheating?

CANVAS offers tools to mitigate cheating, such as randomized question banks, timed assessments, and browser lockdown options. Teachers can monitor student activity during tests, track time spent per question, and use built-in plagiarism detection. The system requires a secure login and can flag suspicious behavior, such as browser tab switches.

Is CANVAS LMS easy to use?

The platform provides comprehensive step-by-step guides and video tutorials for navigation. Teachers can copy course content between classes and manage assignments through a centralized dashboard. Students access materials, submit work, and track grades all from one organized interface with built-in help resources and customizable settings.

How much does the app CANVAS cost?

CANVAS provides a free version for teachers and paid plans with expanded features. Schools receive custom pricing based on their size, specific needs, and chosen functionality level. Pricing varies for K-12 schools versus higher educational institutions. Contact CANVAS directly for a detailed quote matching your requirements.

How does CANVAS LMS work?

Teachers upload course materials, create assignments, and manage grades through a central interface. Students access content through personalized dashboards, submit work, and participate in discussions. The system handles file sharing, assignment tracking, and progress monitoring for both live classes and self-paced learning.

Updated October 31, 2025 at 7:30 AM

Canvas 2026: Benefits, Features & Pricing

Written by Brian Westfall

Associate Principal Analyst

Edited by Caroline Rousseau

Senior Editor

Software Advice offers objective insights based on verified user reviews and independent product and market research. When our advisors match you to a software provider, we may earn a referral fee.

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On this page

Our Summary
Pricing and Plans
Features
Integrations
Key Sentiments
User Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions

Our Summary

Canvas

4.6

(4296)

Pros:

Course organization
Grading and feedback system

Cons:

Technical glitches
Slow loading times

Pricing

Pricing available upon request

What is Canvas:

CANVAS is a cloud-based learning platform where instructors create courses, grade assignments, and communicate with students. It includes tools for quizzes, homework submissions, and class discussions. Students can access coursework through personalized dashboards showing upcoming assignments and announcements.

Why we like Canvas:

Named best for education in Software Advice's list of best learning management software for 2025, CANVAS stands out for its teaching tools. Users rate its student portal and activity dashboard highly. Teachers value its grading tools and academic integrity features, while students appreciate its intuitive mobile access.

Who should use Canvas:

CANVAS serves educational institutions, from K-12 schools to higher-ed colleges and universities. The platform adapts to both small and large organizations. It supports schools offering online or hybrid classes that need reliable tools for managing coursework and tracking progress.

Canvas Screenshots

Canvas Overview

Canvas by Instructure is a modern, cloud-based learning management system (LMS) designed to simplify and elevate digital learning across a wide range of environments. Trusted by millions of users worldwide, Canvas supports organizations of all sizes—whether delivering instruction in K–12 schools, universities, workforce development programs, or professional learning environments.

Canvas serves as the digital foundation for teaching and training, offering intuitive tools to create, deliver, and manage content at scale. It’s built to grow with your organization, from small t...

eams to global institutions, and supports learning in every format—fully virtual, in-person, or hybrid. The platform is known for its ease of use and flexibility, giving instructors and administrators the power to build customized learning experiences without technical barriers. Its clean interface, modular course design, and mobile-first capabilities make it accessible and engaging for learners, no matter where or how they participate. Canvas includes robust functionality to meet both academic and professional learning needs. Users can develop rich course content, incorporate multimedia, administer assessments, and deliver feedback all within the platform. With Canvas Studio, learners and educators can collaborate through video and increase engagement with interactive media tools. Canvas Credentials supports digital badging to recognize skills and achievements, while Canvas Catalog provides a branded storefront experience for promoting and enrolling in course offerings. Canvas integrates with more than 900 tools and platforms, allowing organizations to connect their LMS with the systems and apps they already use. Popular integrations include Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Adobe, and Zoom, among others. This open ecosystem enables seamless workflows for content delivery, communication, and analytics. In addition to its learning features, Canvas offers a range of tools to support data-informed instruction and training. With Intelligent Insights, administrators and instructors gain access to powerful analytics that track engagement, measure outcomes, and inform strategic decisions. The platform supports a wide variety of use cases, from differentiated instruction and student tracking in K–12, to large-scale curriculum delivery in higher education, to certification and compliance training in professional settings. For learning and development teams, Canvas delivers a scalable, secure environment for onboarding, upskilling, and performance improvement. Mobile apps for teachers, students, and observers ensure that learning stays on track, even on the go. Built-in accessibility features and adherence to privacy and security standards make Canvas a trusted solution for organizations with diverse needs and high expectations. Whether you're shaping the next generation, training your workforce, or launching public sector initiatives, Canvas offers the tools and support needed to make learning more effective, more accessible, and more impactful. Canvas is more than an LMS—it’s your partner in delivering results through learning.

Canvas Pricing and Plans

Starting price: Connect with an advisor for pricing

Free Trial

Free Version

Basic

Pricing available upon request

Plan includes:

Custom Licensing Based on Organization Size
Flexible Deployment Options
Scalable Integrations Access
Training & Enablement Resources
Dedicated Customer Success Manager (select plans)
Comprehensive Onboarding & Implementation Support
Optional Add-Ons

Confused about pricing? We've got you covered.

Get a personalized pricing breakdown tailored to your specific needs—no guesswork, no generic estimates.

Our Analysis of Canvas's Pricing Plans

Although pricing for paid Canvas versions is only available upon request, they do offer a free version.

Free-for-Teacher Account
The Free-for-Teacher Account is for educators who want to explore the basic features of Canvas LMS. This plan allows teachers to create content, such as assignments, and get a feel for how the platform works.

Pros:

No cost: Instructors can access essential Canvas features without any financial inves...

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*Defined as the price above any available free plan

Canvas Features

Drawn from insights across 4296 verified reviews, we've outlined Canvas's best and worst rated features and how they stack up against the average rating.

Canvas's score

Category average

Canvas's Best Rated Features

Lesson Planning

4.90

2.45 category average

Interactive Content

4.88

4.27 category average

Class Summary

4.88

4.96 category average

Canvas's Worst Rated Features

Gamification

3.80

3.52 category average

Video Conferencing

3.83

3.05 category average

Parent Portal

3.94

3.03 category average

More features of Canvas
Academic/Education
Access Controls/Permissions
Activity Dashboard
Activity Management
Activity Tracking
Alerts/Notifications
Analytics
API
Assessment Management
Assignment Management
Asynchronous Learning
Attendance Management
Attendance Tracking
Audio/Video Recording
Benchmarking
Blended Learning
Block Websites/Applications
Built-in Course Authoring
Built-in LMS
Calendar Management
Certification & Licensing
Chat/Messaging
Classroom Management
Class Scheduling
Class Summary
Collaboration Tools
Commenting/Notes
Communication Management
Compliance Tracking
Conferencing
Content Library
Content Management
Corporate/Business
Course Authoring
Course Library
Course Management
Course Publishing
Course Tracking
Curriculum Management
Curve Scores
Customizable Branding
Customizable Questions
Customizable Reports
Customizable Templates
Data Import/Export
Discussions/Forums
Document Management
Document Storage
Drag & Drop
eLearning Companies
Email Management
Employee Training
Engagement Tracking
Enrollments/Onboarding
Event Calendar
Faculty/Staff Management
Feedback Management
File Sharing
For Classroom
For Higher Education
For Schools
Gamification
Gradebook
Grade Calculations
Individualized Assessments
Instructor-Led Courses
Interactive Content
Interactive Learning
Interoperability
K-12
Learner Portal
Learning Management
Learning Paths/Tracks
Lesson Planning
Media Import
Media Management
Mobile Access
Mobile Learning
Multi-Language
Multimedia Support
Offboarding
Parent Portal
Progress Reports
Progress Tracking
Quizzes
Real-time Broadcasting
Real-Time Data
Real-Time Notifications
Real-Time Reporting
Reminders
Remote Access/Control
Report Cards
Reporting/Analytics
Reporting & Statistics
Scheduling
School District
SCORM Compliance
Screen Sharing
Self-paced Learning
Self Service Portal
Skills Assessment
Skills Tracking
Social Learning
Storyboarding
Student Information/Records
Student Management
Student Portal
Support Audio/Images/Video
Surveys & Feedback
Synchronous Learning
Teacher Dashboard
Template Management
Tests/Assessments
Third-Party Integrations
Training Administration
Training Companies
Training Management
Video Conferencing
Video Management
Video Streaming
Virtual Classroom
Weighted Assignments

Canvas Integrations

Based on 4296 verified reviews, we've identified products most frequently integrated with Canvas.

Google Drive

Integration rated 4.6 from 66 reviews

Naveed

CEO

Used for 1-2 years

Reviewed July 2024

"We use Google Drive to store and share files, link resources in CANVAS, and allow students to submit assignments directly from Drive. This integration enhances accessibility and collaboration."

Zoom Workplace

Integration rated 4.7 from 33 reviews

Tyler

Teacher

Used for 1-2 years

Reviewed March 2022

"Allows you to give people in your courses access to zoom meetings directly from Canvas."

Microsoft 365

Integration rated 4.6 from 22 reviews

Emmanuel

Freelancer

Used for less than a year

Reviewed July 2022

"This integration allows students and instructors to use, create, share, and collaborate on Office 365 files within Canvas. Users can also view their OneDrive files directly in Canvas."

Google Docs

Integration rated 4.7 from 58 reviews

McGraw-Hill Connect

Integration rated 4.3 from 25 reviews

Microsoft Outlook

Integration rated 4.6 from 22 reviews

Google Calendar

Integration rated 4.9 from 22 reviews

Microsoft Teams

Integration rated 4.3 from 9 reviews

Panopto

Integration rated 4.3 from 8 reviews

See all 106 integrations

Canvas Key Sentiments

We analyzed 4296 verified reviews for Canvas to find out what actual users really think.

Most Positive Sentiments

Ease of use

75% Positive

10% Neutral

15% Negative

Users appreciate Canvas for its intuitive interface and clear organization of courses and modules, which makes navigation simple for both students and teachers. The short learning curve helps new users adapt quickly, and customizable navigation and sidebar features improve access to essential tools and resources.

Student and teacher interaction

69% Positive

21% Neutral

10% Negative

The platform supports effective communication between teachers and students through a design that accommodates diverse learning environments. Its adaptability fosters engagement, and reviewers highlight tools such as multimedia content and third-party app compatibility that encourage collaboration and enhance the learning experience.

Course management

64% Positive

26% Neutral

10% Negative

Canvas serves as a centralized hub for organizing course materials, assignments, and grades. Course setup is straightforward, with structured modules that simplify workflow. The mobile app is also appreciated for enabling course management and real-time updates from any device, supporting flexibility for educators and learners.

Least Positive Sentiments

File uploads

39% Positive

33% Neutral

28% Negative

Users appreciate the multiple submission options and centralized file management tools that Canvas provides for assignments and course content. Uploading and downloading files is generally easy, though reviewers note areas for improvement such as limited customization for file handling, lack of bulk upload/download options, and occasional issues with certain file types.

Grading

49% Positive

31% Neutral

20% Negative

Canvas offers assignment feedback tools, what-if grade calculations, and accessible gradebook management, which help track progress effectively. Grading integration is useful, but reviewers mention opportunities to improve grade calculation accuracy, gradebook setup, and feedback visibility. Lack of advanced grading tools is also noted as a challenge for complex evaluation needs.

Assignments

54% Positive

28% Neutral

18% Negative

Users appreciate the clear organization of assignments and due dates, along with customization options that support diverse coursework requirements. The platform helps maintain structure, but reviewers report issues such as difficulty locating assignments, confusing organization, and occasional technical problems that affect access. These areas can make tracking tasks more challenging for some users.

Canvas User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.6

Ratings Breakdown

64%

29%

Secondary Ratings

Ease of Use

4.4

Value for money

4.5

Customer support

4.3

Functionality

4.5

Lauren S.

Verified reviewer

Higher Education

11-50 employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

Great for organization and course management

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Functionality

Pros:

Canvas makes it easy for me to organize information for our students. Not only does it allow for me to organize learning content, but the announcement feature is a game changer. No longer having to put together email groups is amazing!

Cons:

Making quizzes in the program is pretty time consuming, but not impossible. I wish it was a little more intuitive.

Jean-Pierre N.

Verified reviewer

Higher Education

201-500 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed December 2025

Canvas Works Like Magic!

Canvas is an excellent Learning management system, user-friendly and Use it heavily in designing courses and integrating different learning tools. Our faculty like it very much.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Canvas is a learning management system that is user-friendly with a graphic interface easy to navigate. It can seamlessly integrate different types of learning and has multiple templates that help new users to design assignments, quizzes, and discussion questions.

Cons:

The Canvas gradebook tool can be a bit complex and intimidating for new instructors. The HTML feature of Canvas is not robust enough for the designer who wants tobe more creative.

Reasons for switching to Canvas

We were looking for a user-friendly LMS that suits our budget.

Dori B.

Verified reviewer

Education Management

51-200 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

Canvas for me

As I said above, I use canvas daily for all the courses I teach at CSUF. Online, hybrid and in person.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Canvas is accessible and fairly easy to use. Students like it. It has worked well for my courses that I teach.

Cons:

There isn’t really anything I don’t like about canvas. I use it in all my courses at CSUF. I teach two courses.

Reasons for switching to Canvas

University decision to change platforms online.

Verified

Reviewer

Education Management

501-1000 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed November 2025

Canvas - The Versatility LMS

Overall, within the education field, canvas was a huge improvement from previous albums that I've used. Their versatility, the tracking, and the ability to organize your courses were simplified and very easy to do. It didn't feel clunky, it was very clean, and the user end had a positive experience and as a creator, I also shared that experience as well.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Canvas is an extremely versatile LMS because of its capabilities to host and create different files. What I like most about canvas is the ability to create pages that allowed you to link items from various resources. As long as that link stays stable, the user would be able to open and access that link. I also liked canvases capability to track several things about my users which include log in time, how long they were logged in, and if there were any required items to complete for assignments to complete, it would be able to track their progress and score which was essential for record keeping.

Cons:

The main thing that I liked least about canvas was the creation of pages because it did require knowledge of coding in order to make the page appear and look the way you wanted it to. Thankfully I do have experience with coding so I was able to set up the page to look and function as I wanted it to. However, for some of my colleagues, they did have a harder time with that because of their lack of knowledge of coding and they were unable to achieve the kind of look that they wanted to do.

Reasons for switching to Canvas

The switch to canvas was made because it was a decision made by upper administration to move from blackboard to canvas.

Verified

Reviewer

Information Technology and Services

5001-10000 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

Great comprehensive platform for educators

Overall its a great resource to connect students and educators. For the price point, features and automation it's very useful and easy to navigate amount all students. It robust features include direct messaging, integrations of countless platforms and course creation.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

The clean and modern dashboard makes it very easy for both student and instructors, it allows instructors to also view a students point-of-view. The app is also very easy and has almost all the features. Canvas also allows to you to connect third-party tools like Zoom, Google Drive, and other LTI plugins. Built in functions like turn-it in and auto graders reduces time spent on cross checking or auto grading. It also has many extensions to help with customization.

Cons:

I think the notification overload is a little annoying and it has to be configured correctly, you can receive both app notifications and email. Sometimes there are bugs and it states "Canvas is experiencing issues" and it's down so that can be annoying.

Justin M.

Verified reviewer

Information Technology and Services

11-50 employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

I am surprised by how well this is going

My website search visibility is now finally up. So I am happy we are no longer invisible on the web. I do not want to have to go into the nitty gritty details of marketing since I do not know anything about marketing. They actually answer the phone when I call which is more than I can say for our last agency.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I am writing this as my laptop is literally burning my legs and the fan sounds like it is going to scream itself hoarse, so I am writing this quickly. [sensitive content hidden] were able to somehow get the SEO stuff going, I am relieved I do not have to tell them about my business ten thousand times. The reports are showing up in my email and I do not have to worry about them which is perfect for me.

Cons:

The development work (coding) took forever and moved much slower then I would have liked. That chocolate chip cookie they sent for holiday was a 6/10 at best and extremely dry compared to the other cookies. Communicating with the offshore people was a challenge due to all the different time zones.

Tristan M.

Verified reviewer

Computer & Network Security

Self-Employed

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

Great experience

My overall experience with canvas is great would highly recommend for people looking for navigation with school and great for your time.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I love how canvas is so easy to use and easy support and able to look at my classes and grades as well managing classes

Cons:

Some of the things I don’t like about canvas is how buggy it can be where things won’t load and my app will crash.

BISHNU A.

Verified reviewer

Construction

51-200 employees

Used weekly for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

Canvas: Course Manager

I would give Canvas a solid 8/10. Its authentic, safe and purposeful. It was developed to bring everyone on the same page. So, it's extremely professional. In addition to that, slight rework is needed in UI.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I used Canvas during my Graduate program at the University. I liked how everything is integrated in one platform. You can track literally everything in Canvas.

Cons:

Least Liked: Since, it was the first platform I used for course management, I found it Complex for a beginner. Also, being a Teaching Assistant, grading a paper was a bit of experience at the beginning.

Sean C.

Verified reviewer

Automotive

2-10 employees

Used weekly for less than 6 months

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

Great software for the price!

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Employee management is fantastic. Very easy to use, value for the money is great, and customer support was right on top of any issue I had

Cons:

No complaints to note. Had a little issue with the software at first but customer support walked me through it

Oliver B.

Verified reviewer

Marketing and Advertising

11-50 employees

Used monthly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2026

A great service

Very easy to navigate and use, helpful customer support and never had any bugs or issues in my time using it

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Easy to use, great user interface that is beginner friendly, great for employee management and helpful customer support

Cons:

No complaints as of yet, always been super straightforward and has ticked all the boxes in terms of what I use it for

Showing 1 - 10 of 4296 Reviews

See All Reviews

Canvas FAQs

What are the disadvantages of CANVAS LMS?
Some reviewers on Software Advice note that the mobile app can experience slow loading times, and some mention challenges with external tool integration. Teachers report needing time to master advanced features such as custom grading schemes. Several users find the notification system overwhelming without proper configuration.
Can CANVAS LMS detect cheating?
CANVAS offers tools to mitigate cheating, such as randomized question banks, timed assessments, and browser lockdown options. Teachers can monitor student activity during tests, track time spent per question, and use built-in plagiarism detection. The system requires a secure login and can flag suspicious behavior, such as browser tab switches.
Is CANVAS LMS easy to use?
The platform provides comprehensive step-by-step guides and video tutorials for navigation. Teachers can copy course content between classes and manage assignments through a centralized dashboard. Students access materials, submit work, and track grades all from one organized interface with built-in help resources and customizable settings.
How much does the app CANVAS cost?
CANVAS provides a free version for teachers and paid plans with expanded features. Schools receive custom pricing based on their size, specific needs, and chosen functionality level. Pricing varies for K-12 schools versus higher educational institutions. Contact CANVAS directly for a detailed quote matching your requirements.
How does CANVAS LMS work?
Teachers upload course materials, create assignments, and manage grades through a central interface. Students access content through personalized dashboards, submit work, and participate in discussions. The system handles file sharing, assignment tracking, and progress monitoring for both live classes and self-paced learning.