Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PowerSchool VS Canvas by Instructure

Compare PowerSchool VS Canvas by Instructure and see what are their differences

PowerSchool logo PowerSchool

PowerSchool provides a K-12 education technology platform for operations, classroom, student growth, and family engagement.

Canvas by Instructure logo Canvas by Instructure

The Canvas LMS is the world's fastest growing learning management system. Check out favorite features and schedule a live demo!
  • PowerSchool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • Canvas by Instructure Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-11

PowerSchool features and specs

  • Comprehensive Student Information System
    PowerSchool provides a holistic view of student data, including grades, attendance, assignments, and demographic information, enabling educators to monitor and support student progress effectively.
  • Customizable Reporting
    The platform allows for the creation of custom reports, which can cater to the specific needs of schools and districts, providing relevant insights and data for decision-making.
  • Parent and Student Access
    PowerSchool offers portals for both parents and students, enhancing communication and engagement by allowing access to real-time academic and attendance information.
  • Integrations
    PowerSchool integrates with a variety of third-party educational tools and services, providing a seamless experience for users and expanding its functionality.
  • Mobile App
    The availability of a mobile app ensures that stakeholders can access important data and updates on the go, increasing accessibility and convenience.

Possible disadvantages of PowerSchool

  • Cost
    PowerSchool can be expensive, particularly for smaller schools or districts with limited budgets, potentially making it less accessible for all educational institutions.
  • Complexity
    The system's wide array of features and capabilities can be overwhelming for new users, necessitating training and a learning curve to fully utilize its potential.
  • Customization Challenges
    While customizable, making and managing custom solutions can sometimes be complex and require technical expertise, which might not be readily available.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance issues such as slow loading times and occasional downtime, which can disrupt access to essential information.
  • Customer Support
    There have been occasional complaints about the quality and responsiveness of customer support, which can be a critical factor when issues arise.

Canvas by Instructure features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Canvas is designed with a simple, clean interface that is easy for both instructors and students to navigate, reducing the learning curve.
  • Customizable
    Canvas offers extensive customization options, allowing institutions to tailor the platform to their specific needs and branding.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Canvas supports a wide range of third-party integrations, including popular educational tools and services, increasing its adaptability.
  • Mobile App
    Canvas provides a robust mobile app that allows students and teachers to access course materials, submit assignments, and engage in discussions on the go.
  • Active Community and Support
    Canvas has a large community of users who share resources and strategies, as well as extensive support options including guides, tutorials, and customer service.
  • Robust Analytics
    Canvas includes powerful analytics tools that allow educators to track student performance and engagement, facilitating data-driven decisions.

Possible disadvantages of Canvas by Instructure

  • Cost
    The pricing for Canvas can be high, particularly for smaller institutions, and additional costs may be incurred for certain premium features or integrations.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are straightforward, more advanced functionalities can have a steeper learning curve, requiring time and training to utilize fully.
  • Occasional Downtime
    Some users have reported occasional downtime or slow performance, which can be disruptive to the teaching and learning process.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Canvas's offline access features are somewhat limited, making it difficult for students and instructors to work without a stable internet connection.
  • Support Response Time
    While Canvas offers comprehensive support, some users have experienced slower response times for resolving issues, especially during peak usage periods.
  • Complexity for Large Courses
    Managing very large courses with many students can be complex and require more administrative effort, which can be cumbersome without adequate support.

Analysis of PowerSchool

Overall verdict

  • PowerSchool is generally regarded as a good choice for schools looking for integrated educational technology solutions. It is well-reviewed for its user-friendly interface, robust feature set, and the ability to customize according to the specific needs of a district or institution.

Why this product is good

  • PowerSchool is considered a strong player in the educational technology sector because it offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to support K-12 education. It provides solutions for student information systems, learning management, and assessment analytics that facilitate better classroom management, enhance communication between educators, students, and parents, and streamline administrative processes.

Recommended for

    PowerSchool is recommended for K-12 schools and districts seeking an all-in-one education technology solution to manage student information, enhance teacher efficiency, and improve communication with parents. It is especially beneficial for schools looking to centralize their data management and streamline educational processes.

Analysis of Canvas by Instructure

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Canvas by Instructure is considered a strong choice for educational institutions seeking a reliable and effective learning management system. Its emphasis on simplicity without sacrificing functionality makes it a popular option among schools, colleges, and universities.

Why this product is good

  • Canvas by Instructure is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface, robust set of features, and flexibility. It's designed to facilitate teaching and learning through customizable course creation, a wide range of integrations with other educational tools, and comprehensive analytics to track student progress. Instructors and students alike appreciate its intuitive navigation and accessibility, which supports a positive educational experience.

Recommended for

    Canvas is recommended for educational institutions of all sizes, from K-12 schools to higher education establishments. It is particularly beneficial for environments where both online and blended learning are prominent, and where there is a need for strong analytical tools to track and enhance student performance. Additionally, institutions looking for a customizable and scalable LMS solution will find Canvas suitable to their needs.

PowerSchool videos

PowerSchool Assessment: How to Allow Students to Review Exam

More videos:

  • Demo - Powerschool Grade Review Demo

Canvas by Instructure videos

CANVAS BEAUTY HAIR GROWTH SERUM ๐Ÿ’• PRODUCT REVIEW!

More videos:

  • Review - Canvas Beauty Brand | 3 Month Product Review Update
  • Review - Canvas Beauty Hair Growth Serum RESULTS| 30 Day Challenge Results

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PowerSchool and Canvas by Instructure)
Education
56 56%
44% 44
Online Education
65 65%
35% 35
LMS
35 35%
65% 65
Other Education Tech
61 61%
39% 39

User comments

Share your experience with using PowerSchool and Canvas by Instructure. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare PowerSchool and Canvas by Instructure

PowerSchool Reviews

Top 15 educational software to streamline the learning process
PowerSchool is a popular administration and student information system. It streamlines administrative operations, provides real-time student performance and attendance analytics, and facilitates communication between educators, parents and students. PowerSchool helps educational institutions make data-driven decisions, improve operational efficiency, and improve...

Canvas by Instructure Reviews

We have no reviews of Canvas by Instructure yet.
Be the first one to post

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PowerSchool and Canvas by Instructure, you can also consider the following products

Teachable - Create and sell beautiful online courses with the platform used by the best online entrepreneurs to sell $100m+ to over 4 million students worldwide.

Clever - syncing between education applications for K-12 schools

Treehouse - Treehouse is an award-winning online platform that teaches people how to code.

LanSchool - Get the best classroom management and monitoring software to inspire collaborative teaching with tools to minimize distractions and maintain an effective learning environment.

Fedena - Fedena is a multipurpose college and school management software, it is used by 40K+ education institutions worldwide to automate administration & academic-related activities.

Wikispaces - Wikispaces is a social writing platform for education.