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Canvas Reviews
Learning Management Systems (LMS)The Canvas LMS by Instructure makes teaching, learning, implementation, adoption, customer support and student success easier. Reliable, customizable, mobile, time-saving, designed to get out of your way, to let you do your thing.
Canvas Reviews 2025: Pros & Cons, Ratings & more
Is Canvas the right solution for you? Read verified Canvas reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice.
Performance Overview
Overall Rating
59%
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Usefulness
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Usability
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Customer Experience
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Likelihood to Recommend
May 12, 2025
I find many aspects of Canvas very frustrating. It has a very limited function set.
What do you like best?
The best feature is the link Validator; it's not perfect, but it is better than nothing. It will return false positives for a number of reasons often relating to links to databases such as EBSCO Host etc, which require a login. But I still find it wuite usefula nd recomend it to academic staff.
What do you dislike?
Lack of basic functionality, for example, as an Ex Moodle user, I often set up choices in Moodle to allow students to select a specific time for a one-to-one oral assessment etc. This is nothing in Canvas that provides this function. Also, Canvas state that it works well with large cohorts. I find that it struggles and is very slow and clunky with courses that have more than a few hundred students. Some of our courses have over 1000 students, and it is extremely painful to load the gradebook
Jan 22, 2025
Not suitable for large classroom educators with more than one instructor. Inferior to Blackboard.
What do you like best?
I can moderate new quizzes with accommodations for students and those are carried over to each quiz.
What do you dislike?
Item banks cannot be modified easily and require individual names listed to edit each bank. The lead instructor should always have editing access and there should be a setting for the course to add editors one time. Even after a class has ended and students have no access, the item bank and quiz copied to a new course disallows changes because students already took the quiz in a different course. Limits the utility of copying over these banks or assumes professors do not update content.
Nov 5, 2024
The app will always confuse the user interface, very slow loading times, making it frustrating to us
What do you like best?
The app will always confuse the user interface, very slow loading times, making it frustrating to use.Its features are often buggy or lacking functionality, and customer support is unresponsive. Additionally, it usually needs to be restarted for the app to actually work, test scores or any scores usually doesn't gets to be shown, creating an overall negative experience.The app will always The app will always confuse the user interface, very slow loading times, The app will always confuse the use
What do you dislike?
The app will always confuse the user interface, very slow loading times, making it frustrating to use.Its features are often buggy or lacking functionality, and customer support is unresponsive. Additionally, it usually needs to be restarted for the app to actually work, test scores or any scores usually doesn't gets to be shown, creating an overall negative experience.The app will always The app will always confuse the user interface, very slow loading times, making it frustrating to use.Its al
Sep 16, 2024
It tries to do too much and does nothing well. Bloated. Sloppy. Poor UI.
What do you like best?
Nothing Another problem I had: Another, I spent 30 minutes trying to get students to start an exam. It wouldn't let me copy the exam from a practice course into the real course. Never ever gave a reason. I over and over and finally used copy and that worked. No reason given. But the students still couldn't see it. It kept asking for an access code. I told them I didn't create one. Turns out that only on one of three settings panels were the relevant settings. They were not interconnected.
What do you dislike?
One simple example of the numerous issues I encounter on a daily basis. I "Made available" a document to start at a certain date. The date passed. Students couldn't see it. It wasn't also published. Why didn't Canvas warn me about making something available without "publishing" it? I don't have time to watch endless videos on how to do what should be basic tasks. I have a graduate level class to teach. Importing paper exams took endless hours and the terrible editing and review make it hard.
Sep 11, 2024
I like the format, but trying to summit my homework sucks.
What do you like best?
I know where everything is, but you should make it so I can move my classes around so they are in the right order, also make it easier to submit my assignments from all different types of documents and stuff. Why did you make it so complicated.
What do you dislike?
I just wanted to submit my assignment but it made it so complicated bc it wouldn’t accept it or something. I’m just a student who wants to get a good grade but I spend hours on canvas trying to figure out how it to accept my work. It should be more like Google Classroom it’s so easy there but my school stoped using that I’m so mad.
Sep 10, 2024
The user interface is not intuitive, the platform is hard to use, and it's downright quirky.
What do you like best?
After massive amounts of effort, my class information materials are posted where students can find them.
What do you dislike?
The terrible user interface and strange lack of usability. Days ago, after much effort, I fully published my course, only to be told today it's not published. Everything I can see says the course and every module is published. What is wrong with this software???
Dec 8, 2023
It is inflexible and tries to take over from instructors by imposing a point of view.
What do you like best?
Nothing. I find nothing to like about this cumbersome and controlling platform. I wish I could say something positive.
What do you dislike?
It imposes on teachers a statistical, rubric-laden, clumsy grading system. I teach history. To use numbers in grading makes no sense.
Jul 1, 2023
Not user friendly. The college I teach at just switch to canvas
What do you like best?
This is my first semester using canvas as an instructor and there is nothing I like about it. Not recommended
What do you dislike?
Canvas is NOT user friendly. My students are having trouble submitting assignment and seeing test. IT has to be called all the time
Jun 22, 2023
This s great tool, just needs a little help in tools.
What do you like best?
The LMS is simple to use. It does allow for some flexibility in deployment. I love the ability to use sub-accounts and not worry about messing up any other account settings.
What do you dislike?
Too much K-12 and not enough Higher Education in its design. Also, Outcomes need work and not be tied to rubrics/grades.
Jun 12, 2023
It is the best LMS for higher Ed out there - very powerful
What do you like best?
Modules ! I can drip things out for students. Then they can see what is coming up and it helps them manage their time. It also keeps them fromebing overwhelmed by seeing the whole class at once.
What do you dislike?
I'd like to see some changes with the grade group - especially group grades - I'd like to easily see who is in the group.
May 16, 2023
Overall decent product for LMS that can function for multiple campuses.
What do you like best?
It's easy to use, the documentation from Instructure is excellent, there are several different ways to do each task.
What do you dislike?
It lacks some solid automations (like reminders to students to engage). Cannot customize the navigation links to preferred vernacular. Requires significant SQL programming to collect reports (but I hear this is changing).
Feb 7, 2023
It is the MOST useless LMS that exists in the higher education.
What do you like best?
NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING is likeable about it. This LMS has so much navigation issues that practically makes it super cumbersome to use.
What do you dislike?
Everything. It is an LMS that probably should not be in higher education. It is probably great for middle school history. But when it comes to STEM disciplines in higher education, it just falls apart like a shattered glass.
Oct 20, 2022
The worst sites on the internet have a search function. Yet this doesn't.
What do you like best?
I like how I'm paying excruciating amounts of money for a course to have to use this under-par service.
What do you dislike?
Lecturers tell me to get or look at something on Canvas and I have to sift through pages and pages to find it as there's no search bar.
Jul 12, 2022
It is good modem good architecture and design for the students
What do you like best?
I like the organization of the courses the assignments and the type of deadline cretaed. Also the genda development
What do you dislike?
The deadlines or it is a but slow when opening ressources and documents of each course and the need to sign in everytime.
Jun 10, 2022
Canvas is user-friendly but robust enough to meet all of my needs.
What do you like best?
I loved that Canvas was easy to use. Even though I had never used Canvas before, I jumped in and was able to do everything I needed pretty quickly. I had all of the features I needed but wasn't difficult to use.
What do you dislike?
I have no experiences with what I liked least about this LMS. It was easy to use and helpful for my application.
Jun 10, 2022
DOESN'T SAVE MY WORK. This website doesn't save student work.
What do you like best?
nothing. It is complex, hard to use, and if it has an essay writing tool, it should be backed up. So annoying.
What do you dislike?
I wrote an entire essay on there and it did not save my work. If you are making a platform for students the students should be able to be supported by it. Not saving work is the worst thing you can do to a tired and overworked student. I am so mad right now.
Feb 27, 2022
I am continuously using this software. It is very useful in various purposes
What do you like best?
Canvas has a variety of options for integrating with external applications, as well as innovative quizzing and other assignment methods. This has aided us in providing kids with a diversity of learning experiences in order to accommodate diverse learning styles.
What do you dislike?
When I use a browser other than Chrome, or when my Mac has an iOS update that hasn't yet synchronized with Chrome, I have the biggest trouble with Canvas. I also wish that the Canvas teacher applications on my tablet provided me with more editing options.
Jan 26, 2022
Canvas mainpole and it's an extraordinary stage for instructors/learning experts.
What do you like best?
1. every minute of every day support for clients 2. The level and clean plan 3. Instinctive and straightforwardness to utilize 4. Material Community of clients 5. The Commons 6. Regular updates 7. The portable applications
What do you dislike?
Such a long ways there is anything but a lot of I try to avoid concerning Canvas as a chief, teacher, or understudy client.
Jan 14, 2022
It's an extremely buggy software that doesn't offer any unique functionality.
What do you like best?
It has some useful functions, such as calendar, grading of students and sharing of files. It does what can be done with other software, but everything is collected in one place. Unfortunately everything that Canvas does is way better implemented in other software, so Canvas becomes either the worst option or at least not the best one.
What do you dislike?
It's extremely buggy. I wasn't even able to upload files or feedback to students. I found multiple ways of doing this (speedgrade, grade, and uploading files), none of them were working at all and did not even give me any kind of error messages. The button simply did not react or loaded for all eternity. The irony was that I was teaching software testing class about testing usability while being forced to use a user hostile software that would fail any software testing.
Dec 15, 2021
Can't even create an account, no support, no helpdesk, no email response.
What do you like best?
I was not even successful in my numerous attempts to create an account using this software. I am unable to reach anyone at the help desk.
What do you dislike?
I cannot create an account following the prompts. I attempt to reach customer support, but there is none.
Mar 29, 2021
I may be harsh but It is a piece of absolute trash. It sets a new low for buggy software.
What do you like best?
The UI is relatively intuitive. The university switched from desired2learn previously. Canvas's UI looks more modern and intuitive (at least at first).
What do you dislike?
Absolutely buggy. No one tried to fix bugs. Community coaches know nothing and won't fix bugs. Simple functionalities do not exist. Not even a simple way to duplicate a quiz. To duplicate a quiz, I copy to another course and then copy back. It is ridiculous that the "community coaches" sound like it is a normal thing to do. The company rather than invests ppl to improve the software. They just put money on PR crap.
Feb 3, 2021
This bug ridden system is not how our children should be educated.
What do you like best?
I like that I can review the students grades and see the assignments for each class when the teachers post them properly. External inks to assignments are often broken.
What do you dislike?
As a software developer and a parent, I can't believe this is what our children are being forced to work with on a daily basis. The people who reviewed this software and gave it five stars have to work for the company. Poor children and teachers.
Jan 28, 2021
Canvas creates a mind-bending scavenger hunt for students.
What do you like best?
I am required to engage with coursework via Canvas as part of my program at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Canvas seems to be designed for students and professors with computers and phones who enjoy a challenge when searching for the information they need.
What do you dislike?
Canvas’ course templates, if left as is, create mind-bending scavenger hunts for students, dispersing important information into unpredictable nooks and crannies of each site. Finding the link to a professor’s office hours generally requires tactics similar to those used by forest rangers searching for lost hikers. And since every professor uses the “Home”, “modules”, “Assignments”, and other pages in completely different ways, every class is a brand new exercise in this laborious sleuthing.
Oct 29, 2020
Canvas has great features, but it is unnecessarily cumbersome and does not do the basics well.
What do you like best?
Flexibility of options, stability. It offers many features, is customizable in many ways.
What do you dislike?
Speedgrader is cumbersome, time consuming, and jumpy. In general, my students find Canvas confusing to navigate. It needs to do the basics better. It is cumbersome as well to give feedback to Canvas itself (through Commons or otherwise).
Sep 19, 2020
Barely Passable; Terrible for Discussions; UI is a Mess
What do you like best?
There's not much to like in Canvas, but I suppose it at least keeps all your information in one place.
What do you dislike?
The discussion interface is ridiculous -- just unusable in its current form. You can't subscribe to individual replies, so you spend literally hours scrolling up, scrolling down, scrolling up again just to find new replies to specific prompts. The interface is cumbersome and confusing. Icons are randomly scattered around the UI. Some of them disappear until you hover over them. CSS errors cause some text blocks to be superimposed over others, or cause mystery blank spaces four screens high.
Aug 29, 2020
It is too complicated and too many inconsistencies
What do you like best?
I like that it allows online submissions and that files are editable online.
What do you dislike?
I don't like having to be a web designer, the limited trainings, the complexity, it's not user-friendly and not geared toward young children (but we are being forced to work with it).
Aug 26, 2020
It is not user-friendly and there are numerous problems that they are not good at resolving.
What do you like best?
It seems to have some features that would be nice, but it is not user friendly!
What do you dislike?
I was waiting on the phone at NIGHT for well over 2 hours and never got assistance!!! The wait time estimate kept jumping around from 38 minutes to 33 minutes to 31 minutes to 38 minutes to 32 minutes to 38 minutes to 31 minutes--stayed in the 30+ minute range for well over an hour. Never did get assistance and again--THIS IS AT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! I gave up trying during the day because the wait times were in excess of 2 hours. And they wonder why I am so annoyed when someone FINALLY answers???
Jul 14, 2020
Takes too much time to get up to speed and use holistically
What do you like best?
I like being able to do online quizzes and get immediate results with statistics
What do you dislike?
How confusing it is to set up the course, with syllabus, materials, etc. It requires a ton of training sessions which are marginally useful.
Jun 12, 2020
It was very easy to learn but hard to find support
What do you like best?
It was easy to maneuver because the assignments and materials were really organized in a certain area for users to see
What do you dislike?
Getting support was hard when attempting to get a real chat to speak to a technician which cause a little confusion
May 15, 2019
Intuitive and designed to meet the needs of all users
What do you like best?
1. 24/7 support for users 2. The flat and clean design 3. Intuitive and ease to use 4. Canvas Community of users 5. The Commons 6. Frequent updates 7. The mobile applications
What do you dislike?
So far there is not much I do not like about Canvas as an admin, instructor, or student user.
Mar 10, 2019
Canvas is a great platform for educators/learning professionals.
What do you like best?
The user interface was simple and well designed. Students found it easy to navigate and locate essential materials.
What do you dislike?
I would recommend Canvas for anyone in the instructional design, education and e-learning professions.
Jan 29, 2019
I think it is very user friendly and provides flexibility to be designed in various ways.
What do you like best?
I like that the flexibility in designing learning experiences allows instructors and students to be creative, depending on how student permissions are set up. It feels like the possibilities are limitless.
What do you dislike?
I honestly can say I have been the administrator and trainer for almost a full year and I am finding it difficult to think of something I don’t like about it. The only thing that really comes to mind is the look of the rubrics that it creates when using the rubric feature.
Oct 29, 2018
Great LMS; it's easy to use and it offers extensive third-party integrations.
What do you like best?
The LMS is simple to use and easy to interoperate with third-party tools and services, using LTI. The Canvas' UI offers users easy access to all educational content and learning acticities. It also provides a nice overview of course statistics.
What do you dislike?
Translation of interface into other languages is not very good. Most of the time institutions choose for the English language settings, because the lack of good option in their preferred language (in Europe).
Jan 30, 2018
Well designed interface for both students and faculty.
What do you like best?
LTI integrations with many familiar apps that promote collaboration and interactive learning.
What do you dislike?
The grading features are not as flexible as our current student management system's grade book. Syncing grades between the two is possible, but not always reliable.
Jan 15, 2018
Solid foundation
What do you like best?
Fairly small overhead for a new course setup
What do you dislike?
Cannot duplicate assignments, quizzes. Group calendars not visible for course director levels. Not a lot of customization available in the standard package on course level without involving tech teams.
Jan 8, 2018
It is a good serviceable LMS. Does most of it's work easily and logicly.
What do you like best?
mostly intuitive for users students and teachers. Have had very little down time over the last 7 years or so. Programing is solid and has most all the features that are needed or wanted.
What do you dislike?
so much contextual controls. meaning that you have to click on some things to see the complete list of options. many users will never realize the number of options that they have.
Jan 5, 2018
It's a practical, straightforward system that provides a way to deliver courses.
What do you like best?
The ability to integrate so many 3rd party apps pretty easily.
What do you dislike?
Too much real estate taken away from course content with link columns on left and right. Also, the formatting of the front page in page mode is different than when it's seen as the front page. It makes designing creative landing pages for a course frustrating.
Jan 4, 2018
Canvas is a simple, yet extremely flexible and effective LMS.
What do you like best?
I love that at the base, it is so simple to use. There aren't an over abundance of options to choose from, which lets you focus on designing learning, instead of instructions on how to use the LMS. And, although it is simple, it allows you to add so many custom options via LTI that you get to choose how embellished the learning environment is. This flexibility makes it a great option for institutions with users at various skill levels.
What do you dislike?
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Dec 27, 2017
Easy to use, regularly updated LMS with a lot of support resources.
What do you like best?
Regular updates based on community input. Relatively easy to find support resources. Availability of many LTI plug-ins to extend functionality.
What do you dislike?
Still has room to grow to be a "perfect" LMS. Areas of growth needed include quiz engine and accessibility (which they are actively working on), need for an instructor dashboard since tools instructors use to measure student success can be difficult to find, need for better authoring tools and more ability to add interest to pages without a lot of coding (e.g., accordions, image handling, interactives, etc.) as these functions are very basic in Canvas.