Canvas LMS Reviews

“Improves live online teaching”

Pros

The platform improves live online teaching and learning by bringing a wide range of management tools together into one central location.

Cons

There are not any major issues that I have run into while using it and I use it regularly in my current role.

“Great for calendar and assignments”

Pros

Canvas is really effective for managing a calendar, viewing assignments from all our classes in one place and organizing groups for collaborative work. The feature for messaging both classmates and professors is also a great tool.

Cons

The mobile app does not always function correctly. Sometimes it does not show new classes I am enrolled in and I have had problems with the messaging feature where I could not select a recipient.

“excellent for tracking my work”

Pros

This product was excellent for keeping track of assignments, knowing what was due and confirming what I had already submitted. I used it daily for many years.

Cons

Getting text reminders for assignments due within 24 hours would have been a huge help. I'd often remember things were due on the actual day.

“More user-friendly for everyone”

Pros

The platform feels much more user-friendly. It seems more accessible for people who are not very tech-savvy or have not had much training.

Cons

People with basic tech skills like me can use it for both work and personal projects. It would be even better if we had more images and easier ways to edit them.

“easy to move things and edit”

Pros

I really like how easy it is to move things around and make edits. The huge selection of printable products has been a major help, the template library has grown a lot and the price is fairly reasonable. Plus I even used it to design my wedding thank-you cards.

Cons

There is a very large premium section now which can feel a bit overwhelming. Most of the templates, graphics and special editing features used to be free but now you mostly have to pay for them. While there are good free trial options and you can still work with free materials, it has made the platform less accessible.

“More creative options for us”

Pros

There are more creative options available which helps us put together good promotions and invitations. I especially like the feature for adding pictures.

Cons

The pricing does not seem right to me. The download process is also very difficult a lot of the time. That is really my only complaint.

“simple to connect with instructors”

Pros

Connecting with instructors is a pretty simple process. The layout is also designed to make everything easy to find and navigate.

Cons

Well the program sometimes freezes or restarts by itself. It is really frustrating when that happens in the middle of working on something.

“amazingly simple for everyone”

Pros

It is amazing how simple it is to use, whether you are a student taking a course or an instructor leading one. The features are really great.

Cons

Having widgets for a computer or phone would be a great addition to the app. As it would make staying on top of everything much simpler.

“simple to Use but Messy Messaging setup”

Pros

The platform is user-friendly right from the start and I also like the deeper customization options available as you get more familiar with it.

Cons

It is confusing that messages from instructors and general announcements are kept in two different places which makes it harder for us to follow important updates.

“easy to navigate but hard password reset”

Pros

Once everything is set up, navigating it is not a problem. The built-in tech features are impressive too like being able to pause videos to ask students questions.

Cons

Resetting a password is way too difficult and the support tickets are not helpful. Since I am taking a workshop offered by a university I do not attend, I now have to contact their IT department just to recover my login.

“simple to build modules”

Pros

It offers a simple way to build modules and structure content so it is easy for students to follow and understand.

Cons

Our institution is still waiting for the New Quizzes feature. It is hard to wait for something new for this long but I am eager to see the recent improvements.

“Much simpler to use now”

Pros

Over time using it has become much simpler. Navigating and uploading finished work is now a very easy process for me too.

Cons

There are not really any major drawbacks. Whenever a data fix is needed, the team usually resolves any bugs or other issues we are having.

“clear and easy to use”

Pros

The platform's functionality is clear and it is very easy to use. Recent updates have also made the mobile homepage much more user-friendly.

Cons

My biggest issue is that it still does not work perfectly with all internet connections, though that might just be because my computer needs updating.

“Very versatile and easy”

Pros

Canvas LMS is very versatile and it was easy to find my way around. During my classes, moving between different courses and assignments was easy.

Cons

There is very little to dislike about the app. The only minor downsides I noticed are the frequent software updates and the occasional internet connectivity dropouts.

“staying current with tech trends”

Pros

I must say they are doing a good job staying current with tech trends like adding AI features and focusing on a user-friendly experience.

Cons

The recent improvements have been great. It feels like they are actually listening to user feedback and making needed changes. I do not have any negative feedback right now.

“a top-tier platform for teaching”

Pros

Canvas remains a top-tier platform and I have discovered many new features as I have taken on more teaching. Having only used Blackboard for comparison, Canvas seems better equipped for online exams, especially for tailoring them to student needs with extra time or attempts. I also value how easily it calculates the final grade from various quizzes, exams and assignments when I just set the weights at the course start. Uploading files, links and other materials for students is also very simple.

Cons

I feel like a student participation and learning could get a big boost if the platform included more interactive tools to keep them engaged.

“Great updates for instructors”

Pros

It has rolled out some great updates such as instructors can now submit assignments for a student which helps those who miss deadlines for valid reasons. The new quiz tool offers more question types and lets us set accommodations for a whole term. The assignment page is better for students, there is a screen recording feature for tutorials and a richer editor for comments.

Cons

Copying assignments from one course to another is an annoying process. The original due dates carry over which can automatically give students a zero if they do not submit on that date. Plus I noticed the To Do list for students also is not very effective.

“effective for homeschool lessons”

Pros

Well it is really effective for putting together short, daily homeschool lessons and designing PDF projects. And its design tools are top-notch.

Cons

Working with certain elements like drawing flow diagrams, can be time-consuming because it takes a while to figure out how everything works.

“connects me with my classes”

Pros

This platform lets me connect with my classes and coworkers and it gives me faster access to my course information than before. Overall it is an essential tool you can use anywhere like at home, school, work or traveling and it is helpful for anyone who needs to do or grade coursework at any time.

Cons

The only downside I noticed is the scheduled maintenance which locks you out until it is finished. It is understandable but it can be an inconvenience. Other than that it is a fantastic tool.

“Very helpful and reliable”

Pros

It continues to be very helpful. After using it daily for a few months, I have found that it makes moving around the platform much easier.

Cons

No complaints here. The platform is consistently reliable. There is a bit of a learning curve at first but it gets much easier after we use it for a while.