Canvas LMS has been a widely used platform for managing online learning in both academic and corporate settings. Known for its structured course management and integration capabilities, it has served as a reliable choice for universites, schools and businesses looking to streamline training and education.

However, Canvas LMS is not the perfect fit for everyone. Organizations and educators often seek alternatives that offer more affordability, customization, user-friendly interfaces, or advanced features such as social learning, learning interactivity, and flexible integrations.

Whether you're looking for lower costs, a more intuitive learning experience, or better support for specific training needs, this guide explores the best Canvas LMS alternatives. We'll compare their features, pricing, and pros & cons to help you find the right learning platform for your organization.

Why Consider Canvas LMS Alternatives?

Canvas LMS offers a solid foundation for managing courses, it may not always align with every organization's needs.

Here's why you might consider exploring other options:

Pricing That Doesn't Fit Every Budget

‍Canvas LMS can be costly, especially for small organizations, schools, and independent educators. If you're working with a tight budget, finding a more affordable alternative with similar capabilities might be a smarter choice.

Customization Limits

‍While Canvas LMS is designed for ease of use, its user experience (UX) can feel outdated compared to newer learning platforms. The interface, though functional, lacks the modern design and intuitive navigation that many educators and corporate trainers expect. Additionally, customization options are limited. Organizations looking for extensive branding, unique workflows, or specialized learning experiences may find Canvas too rigid.

A Steep Learning Curve

‍For beginners, setting up and navigating Canvas LMS can feel overwhelming. Some alternatives provide more intuitive, beginner-friendly interfaces that make adoption smoother for instructors and learners alike.

Missing Key Features

‍Not all learning experiences fit into Canvas's framework. If you need gamification elements, advanced analytics, or specific integrations, you might find Canvas limiting. Some alternatives offer these features right out of the box.

Integration Challenges

‍Organizations often rely on multiple tools—CRMs, HR platforms, or specialized education apps. If Canvas LMS doesn't support the integrations you need, switching to a more compatible platform could save you time and effort.

Canvas LMS Pricing: Costs, Considerations, and Alternatives

Canvas LMS, developed by Instructure, follows a custom pricing model rather than a standard subscription plan. While an open-source version is available, organizations often encounter additional expenses for hosting, support, customization, and integrations.

Breaking Down Canvas LMS Pricing

Unlike many learning management systems that offer transparent pricing tiers, Canvas LMS requires organizations to request a quote. Pricing is influenced by several factors, including:

• Hosting options (self-hosted vs. cloud-based)
• Number of users and courses
• Additional tools such as Canvas Studio, Canvas Catalog, and Canvas Credentials
• Support and implementation services

Who Should Consider Canvas LMS?

Canvas LMS is a strong option for organizations that:

• Have dedicated IT teams to manage setup, maintenance, and customizations
• Require advanced course structuring and multiple integration options
• Can accommodate variable costs based on institutional needs

When Canvas LMS May Not Be the Best Fit

For some organizations, Canvas LMS may present challenges, particularly in terms of cost and technical complexity. It may not be ideal for:

• Small businesses and independent educators looking for a cost-effective LMS
• Organizations without in-house technical expertise, as managing an open-source LMS requires ongoing IT support
• Users who prefer predictable, fixed-cost pricing instead of a quote-based model

Given these factors, many organizations explore Canvas LMS alternatives that offer more affordable pricing, easier implementation, and better scalability. In the next section, we will compare the best alternatives for 2025.

What Are the Best Canvas LMS Alternatives?

Teachfloor

Teachfloor is a social and collaborative learning platform built for educators, corporate trainers, and organizations that prioritize engagement and community-driven learning. W

ith its cohort-based approach, learners stay actively involved, creating a more structured and interactive experience.

Designed for flexibility and ease of use, Teachfloor provides powerful tools for course creation, management, and analytics, making it an ideal choice for those who value interactive and meaningful learning.

Key Features

These are some of the main functionalities of Teachfloor.

• Collaborative Learning Tools – Encourage teamwork and interaction with built-in collaboration features.
• Discussion Boards – Facilitate dynamic conversations and knowledge sharing within courses.
• Group Activities – Support structured teamwork through engaging, interactive tasks.
• Peer Review System – Enable learners to provide constructive feedback on each other's work.
• Live Video Integration – Connect seamlessly with Zoom and other video conferencing tools for real-time learning.
• Community Forums – Build an interactive learning community with dedicated discussion spaces.
• Seamless Integrations – Easily connect with popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Zapier.
• Multilingual Support – Make learning accessible to a global audience with multiple language options.
• Customizable LMS – Adapt the platform to fit your branding and specific needs with a white label lms.
• WCAG Accessibility – Ensure an inclusive learning experience for all users.
• Dark Mode – Enhance visual comfort with an alternative viewing option.
• Smart Gradebook – Simplify grading and track learner progress efficiently.
• SCORM Compliance – Ensure compatibility with industry-standard eLearning content.
• Advanced Progress Tracking – Monitor both individual and group performance with detailed insights.
• Activity Reports – Gain valuable insights into learner engagement and outcomes.
• API & SDK Support – Extend platform capabilities with powerful integrations and custom development options.

Pros:

• User-Friendly for All – Intuitive design makes it easy for both educators and learners to navigate.
• Affordable Pricing – Offers cost-effective plans suitable for various budgets.
• Engagement-Driven Learning – Focuses on collaboration, interaction, and community-building.
• Seamless Integrations – Works effortlessly with popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Zapier.
• Fully Customizable – Adapt the platform to match your branding and specific needs.
• Effortless Performance Tracking – The Smart Gradebook simplifies grading and progress monitoring.

Cons:

• Does not yet have built-in gamification capabilities.

Pricing

Starts at $89/month. Offers a free trial and discounts for nonprofits.

G2 Score

‍4.9 out of 5

Moodle

Moodle is LMS which purpose is to give teachers, administrators, and students a unified, reliable, and secure platform for creating customized learning environments.

Moodle is well-known for its vast collection of extensions and plugins, which give administrators and teachers the means to establish highly collaborative and interactive learning environments.

Key Features

• Open-source code: Adjust and customize the system as necessary.
• Extensions & plugins: Get access to a huge add-on library.
• Mobile app: Make learning possible anywhere, at any time.
• Forums, chat rooms, and wikis are examples of collaborative tools.
• Gradebook: Monitor and manage student progress.
• SCORM compliance: Verify adherence to eLearning guidelines.
• Multilingual support: Fit for audiences around the world.

Pros: 

• Incredibly adaptable thanks to open-source flexibility.
• It is affordable because it is free to use with basic hosting.
• Large collection of extensions and plugins.
• Strong backing for teamwork tools such as wikis and forums.

Cons:

• Requires technological knowledge of how to set up and maintain.
• Outdated UI in contrast to platforms that are more recent.
• Depending on the hosting solution, performance can change.
• Does not have integrated support for advanced analytics or gamification.

Price:

It is free to download. Additional services and hosting are extra.

G2 Score  

4.1 out of 5

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is an excellent choice because it's easy to use, integrates seamlessly with other Google tools, allows efficient communication and collaboration between teachers and students, and is available for free or at an affordable price for educational institutions, making it accessible to schools worldwide.

The four main learning processes for any course are Stream, Classwork, Students, and Grades.

They let you monitor accesses, grade work, make announcements, and generate materials. In this sense, Google LMS provides a simple method where you can create a task or schedule a meeting with only a few clicks.  

Pros:

• Free to use.
• Easy integration with Google Workspace
• Intuitive and straightforward interface
• Increased speed with the assignment process
• Enhanced communications 

Cons:

‍

• Hard to manage your account
• Might be uncomfortable for people who are not familiar with Google
• You can only interact through Google Docs
• Students have less control

Price:

Pricing starts at $3 per user per month for the Education Standard plan.

G2 Score

4.6/5

Anthology

A popular learning management system, Anthology helps corporations and educational institutions to administer and deliver their online materials and courses. Anthology cloud-based LMS platform offers educators a full range of tools to manage exams, student communications, and course content creation.

Key Features 

• Course management: Organize, manage, and deliver courses with tools for creating assignments, quizzes, and content.
• Collaborative tools: Discussion boards, group work, and messaging features to enhance student interaction.
• Grade center: Track and manage student performance with customizable grading options.
• Mobile access: Mobile app for students and instructors to access courses and resources on the go.
• Analytics and reporting: Data-driven insights to monitor student progress and course effectiveness.
• Integration: Compatible with third-party tools and systems like Google Drive and Microsoft Office.
• Customization: Personalize the user interface and content to fit specific teaching needs.

Pros:

• Comprehensive course management and content delivery tools.
• Strong analytics and reporting features to track student performance.
• Collaboration tools like discussion boards, messaging, and group projects.
• Mobile app support for easy access to courses.
• Integration with third-party tools like Google Drive and Microsoft Office.

Cons: 

• Can have a steep learning curve for new users.
• User interface may feel outdated compared to other modern LMS options.
• Some features may require additional licensing or add-ons, increasing complexity.

Price:

Blackboard pricing starts at $9500.00 per year.

G2 Score

3.9/5

D2L Brightspace

With an emphasis on the learning moment, D2L Brightspace is an LMS that combines learning science, artificial intelligence, and human creativity to raise student accomplishment.

D2L Brightspace provides instructors and students a cutting-edge, adaptable, highly configurable, and individualized teaching and learning environment. 

Key Features

• Simple access to past and current courses.
• Instructors may easily build courses, provide content, and mark assignments thanks to an accessible interface and pre-installed templates.
• To add content, use the drag & drop feature.
• Mobile-first design that makes sense.
• Use the course activity stream for centralized notifications, announcements, and student involvement.
• Integration with third-party content storage services like Microsoft OneDrive.
• Use Quick Eval to quickly evaluate assignments and give feedback across classes from a single spot.
• Evaluation and feedback rubrics.
• Conditions of flexible, adaptive release for course activity.
• Access to learning analytics, which enables detailed evaluation of students' performance.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface with customizable features.
• Strong mobile support and accessibility.
• Excellent analytics and reporting tools.
• Good integration with third-party apps and tools.
• Effective collaboration tools for students and instructors.

Cons:

• Limited third-party integrations compared to some competitors.
• Some users report a steeper learning curve for administrators.
• Can be costly for smaller institutions.

Price:

Pricing is based on contract duration.

G2 Score: 

4.3/5

Schoology

Schoology is a learning management system with all the tools your institution needs to create engaging content, design lessons, and assess student understanding.

Every year, millions of members and students fall in love with our platform without prior training. The reason for this is that it was created with users in mind. Schoology integrates the most cutting-edge contemporary interfaces to simplify learning and access pertinent information on any device.

Key Features

• Course management with content creation, assessments, and grading tools.
• Collaboration features like discussion boards, messaging, and group projects.
• Integration with Google Drive, Microsoft Office, and other third-party tools.
• Mobile app support for easy access on the go.
• Analytics and reporting tools to monitor student progress.

Pros:

• Great user-friendly interface 
• Strong collaboration tools
• Good integration options 
• Cloud-based
• Helpful customer support and training resources

Cons:

• Occasional issues with integration for certain third-party tools.
• Limited customization for course layouts and design.

Price:

Schoology offers a free version for individual teachers, but pricing for institutions is customized based on size and needs.

G2 Score: 

4.4/5

LearnDash

LearnDash offers top-notch tools for creating and enhancing your online courses and return on investment. You may create amazing courses with it without any limitations.

LearnDash helps LMS owners by enabling course developers to offer coaching and training resources to students worldwide. 

To make creating courses easier, LearnDash has an intuitive drag-and-drop course builder. You can create sections, lessons, themes, quizzes, assignments, and more with our adaptable course builder without going between pages.

Key Features

• Course creation with easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder.
• Quizzes, assignments, and certificates to engage learners.
• Drip-feed content delivery will release lessons over time.
• Integration with WordPress and other third-party tools.
• Advanced reporting and analytics for tracking learner progress.

Pros:

• Highly customizable 
• Great for creating both simple and complex courses.
• Integrates well with WordPress
• Strong community and support resources.
• Scalable for different types of businesses or educational institutions.

Cons:

• Can be pricey when adding premium features or plugins.
• No native mobile app, which can limit flexibility for some users.

Price:

Starting at $199/year for a single site license.

G2 Score:

4.2/5

Tovuti LMS

Tovuti's LMS reduces administrative expenses and your tech stack by turning disparate programs into simply manageable, trackable, and highly engaging programs.

It incorporates many features, including AI-powered tools and comprehensive analytics, making it useful for companies looking to improve their training and development initiatives.

Key Features

• Offer training to multiple audiences. 
• Automatically deliver emails and notifications. 
• Use detailed, easy reporting to increase ROI and make data-driven decisions. 
• Easily create engaging courses. All from one platform!

Pros:

• Comprehensive features for course creation, assessments, and certification.
• Supports blended learning with in-person and online training.
• Integration with a wide range of third-party tools and systems.
• User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality.

Cons:

• Higher cost
• Can be overwhelming for new users due to the wide range of features
• Limited mobile app functionality

Price:

Packages: 

• Small – $6,000
• Medium – $10,000
• Large – $20,000

G2 Score:

4.6/5

Chamilo

An open-source learning management system called Chamilo LMS was created to help corporations and educators design and administer online training courses. Additionally, Chamilo enables API connectivity with well-known third-party platforms like Zoom, Webex, and Salesforce.

An easy-to-use course builder, assessment engine, student tracking tools, mobile access, and integration capabilities are essential features to search for in an LMS. 

Key Features

• Tools for course authoring: Simple tools for creating and editing courses that include text, photos, videos, and more.
• Assessments: Tasks, questionnaires, and quizzes to gauge students' progress.
• Real-time video conferencing.
• Gradebook - Track learner scores across courses and activities.
• Tools to track student activity completion rates and ratings are known as learner progress tracking.
• Mobile app - iOS and Android apps for learning on the go.

Pros:

• Free and open-source,
• Easy to use with an intuitive interface 
• Supports SCORM and Tin Can xAPI for content delivery
• Provides a wide range of features 
• Multi-language support

Cons:

• Lacks some advanced features
• Limited customer support

Price:

Chamilo LMS is free to use, as it is an open-source platform.

G2 Score:

4.9/5

Docebo

Docebo is a unique enterprise-grade learning management system that uses artificial intelligence to provide scalable and customized learning experiences. With Docebo, companies can seamlessly integrate training into their workflow, monetize educational content, and provide employees with tailored learning paths.

Key Features

• Personalized learning: Provide tailored learning experiences with AI-driven content recommendations.
• Engagement through gamification: Boost learner involvement with badges, leaderboards, and rewards.
• Monetization features: Easily sell and monetize your courses.
• In-depth reporting: Access detailed insights into learner performance and progress.
• Mobile learning: Allow learners to access content anytime, anywhere with a mobile app.
• Seamless integrations: Connect effortlessly with CRM and HR tools for enhanced functionality.
• Custom branding: Fully personalize the platform with your own branding and logo.

Pros:

• Built for scalability in large enterprises
• Wide range of third-party integrations
• AI-driven personalization features
• Robust reporting and analytics tools

Cons:

• Complex setup for beginners
• Limited customization of some features

Price:

Pricing is available upon request. No free plan.

G2 Score:

4.3/5

Easy LMS

Easy LMS is a user-friendly learning management system designed to help organizations create, manage, and deliver online training programs efficiently.

Key Features

• Course creation and management: Develop and organize courses with multimedia content, quizzes, and assessments.
• User management: Easily manage user accounts, track progress, and assign courses.
• Reporting and analytics: Access detailed reports on learner performance and course effectiveness.
• White-labeling: Customize the platform's appearance to align with your organization's branding.
• Mobile accessibility: Ensure learners can access courses on various devices, enhancing flexibility.

Pros:

• Ease of use
• Affordability
• Comprehensive features
• Customer support

Cons:

• Limited advanced features
• Customization constraints
• Integration limitations

Pricing

Easy LMS offers several pricing plans to accommodate different organizational needs.

G2 Score

4.1/5

GoReact

GoReact is a video-based assessment platform designed for skills development and coaching. It is widely used in education, corporate training, and healthcare to provide structured feedback on presentations, role-playing, and practical exercises.

Key Features

• Video-Based Feedback – Time-stamped comments on recorded sessions.
• Live & Recorded Coaching – Real-time and asynchronous reviews.
• AI-Powered Insights – Analyzes speech and presentation skills.
• Custom Grading & Rubrics – Personalized assessment criteria.
• LMS Integrations – Compatible with Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle.

Pros

• Effective for skills-based training and performance evaluation.
• Seamless LMS integrations for easy workflow.
• Intuitive video annotation and feedback tools.

Cons

• Primarily a video assessment tool, not a full LMS.
• Limited support for traditional course management.

Pricing

Available upon request.

G2 Score

4.7/5

Best Canvas LMS Alternatives for 2025: Breakdown

FAQs About Canvas LMS Alternatives

1. What is the best alternative to Canvas LMS?

The best alternative depends on your needs. Teachfloor is ideal for collaborative and cohort-based learning, Moodle offers open-source flexibility, and 360Learning specializes in peer-driven learning. For video-based assessments, GoReact is a strong choice.

2. Are there free alternatives to Canvas LMS?

Yes, Moodle and Chamilo offer open-source solutions, allowing organizations to customize and self-host their LMS. Google Classroom is another free option, though it has limited features compared to full LMS platforms.

3. Which Canvas LMS alternative is best for corporate training?

Teachfloor, 360Learning, and Docebo are well-suited for corporate training due to their engagement tools, analytics, and compliance tracking features.

4. What is the easiest LMS to use?

Google Classroom and Easy LMS have user-friendly interfaces, making them great for beginners. Teachfloor also provides an intuitive setup with strong collaboration tools.

5. Is there an alternative to Canvas with better customization?

Moodle and LearnDash allow extensive customization, while Teachfloor provides branding flexibility with an easy-to-use interface.

6. What is the most affordable Canvas LMS alternative?

Easy LMS, Google Classroom, and Moodle offer cost-effective or free options. Teachfloor provides affordable pricing with collaboration-focused features.

7. Which Canvas LMS alternative is best for interactive learning?

Teachfloor, 360Learning, and Tovuti LMS include collaborative tools, gamification, and engagement features that enhance interactivity.

8. How do I migrate from Canvas LMS to another platform?

Migration involves exporting course content, transferring user data, setting up integrations, and training staff on the new system. Some LMS providers offer migration support for a seamless transition.

9. Can I integrate third-party tools with Canvas LMS alternatives?

Yes, most alternatives support integrations with Google Drive, Slack, Microsoft 365, Zoom, and other learning tools to streamline workflows.

10. What is the best LMS for small businesses and startups?

Teachfloor, Easy LMS, and LearnDash offer scalable solutions with cost-effective pricing, making them ideal for small teams and startups.