Blackboard Learning Management vs Cornerstone Learn comparison

Blackboard Learning Management vs. Cornerstone Learn

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Blackboard Learning Management

Ranking in Learning Management Systems (LMS)

6th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cornerstone Learn

Ranking in Learning Management Systems (LMS)

7th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Virtual Training (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) category, the mindshare of Blackboard Learning Management is 2.0%, down from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cornerstone Learn is 8.0%, up from 4.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Featured Reviews

James Phelps

Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University

Expandable with good real-time live interactions but is very expensive

Initially, Blackboard had problems for faculty members who were forced to use it to try to get it set up and running. That said, over time, they improved that. Unfortunately, due to its licensing requirements on standalone systems, like at a university on our servers, we run into problems where we can only set it up in one way. The way you teach a biology class is not the way you teach a social science class, for example. It's not flexible. Often you are forced into compromising in such a manner that neither group would be happy. If you need help, the help desk in-house will provide 24-hour help to both students and faculty. That means you have eight people, eight hours a day, supervisors, and an overall manager. It takes at least 12 people to handle maintenance for a 10,000-person campus for 24-hour coverage.

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Vibha Mishra

Global L&D Lead at Tieto Sweden AB

Streamlined compliance training and efficient session creation empower diverse industries

Creating a session requires just one click, which makes data ready efficiently. Reporting-wise, Cornerstone is the best. It allows internal content management, playlist creation, using external links for learning, and supports various AI training. All the compliance training, code of conduct, and audits are handled through Cornerstone, making it beneficial.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution is easy to use."

"One of the most important features is the possibility of creating unlimited subdomains."

"Blackboard enables instructors to collectively gather all the grading data into one place. If students upload content or post it to a Google Doc, I can do my grading and calculate the grades. It is an excellent holding place for all of that data"

"It encompasses various components, including course delivery modules, content management, community engagement features, digital classrooms, and mobile integration."

"It is scalable."

"One of Blackboard's strengths is its historical prominence as a leading LMS for universities in the US and Europe a decade or more ago."

"The modules and courses are flexible."

"The most valuable features of Cornerstone Learning are how they organized the management of the different content types is good. They are done in different ways which is a benefit. Additionally, the reporting 2.0 and playlist functionality are very good."

"The most valuable feature of Cornerstone Learning is the reporting and learner transcripts."

"The solution is very stable."

"Combining everything together, our on-time completions have gone from the mid-sixty percentile to over 99% on-time completion."

"The most valuable features of Cornerstone Learning are the welcome page and the learner's home. It is user-friendly and graphically appealing."

"The Meeting feature is similar to a conference call facility that can be used for virtual meetings."

"It is a one-stop shop solution, where you can actually log in using your Windows username and password, and the single sign-on can be configured with this LMS."

"What I like the most about Cornerstone is that it is agile. It has good built-in processes and the implementation is rapid."

More Cornerstone Learn pros

Cons

"Blackboard could benefit from significant improvements in its data storage and software functionality to remain competitive with more innovative LMS solutions."

"The solution must provide better integration with third-party software."

"It would be ideal to create a more responsive or more intuitive template for access from telephones or tablets."

"Blackboard has limitations in terms of delivering content and assessing student assignments because it can't handle large file sizes. It's also limited in its ability to track student activity. Instructors can see the student's most recent login, but they can't follow the activity."

"The system falls short in terms of managing assessments and exams effectively."

"The solution is not flexible."

"The recruitment module needs to be improved in Cornerstone Learning."

"Its integration with Microsoft Teams for virtual sessions could be better"

"In the next release, I would like to see improvement in the dashboards and reporting."

"Cornerstone Learning could be improved with more e-learning content."

"There are some configuration elements that require Cornerstone engineering resources. It would be nice if we could self-serve. I would like the ability to manage the user interface or the navigation and layout of the pages that are displayed to end-users."

"Its dashboard and analytics must be improved. Currently, we get the data, but we don't get anything from the insightfulness perspective. Analytics is where it requires a lot of work. We definitely expect some good dashboard features, which are currently lacking in this solution. From a technical perspective, they need to open access to all HTML tags. It currently doesn't support many HTML tags, which makes it challenging to create HTML pages."

"Even though the system has a number of features, design wise the user interface is a little bit complicated. It is hard for the user to navigate properly. Because the system has so many features, it has a lot of tabs and links. Sometimes, people get confused as to where to go and search."

"The user interface is in need of improvement."

More Cornerstone Learn cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"At the beginning, you can choose a basic plan. As your users grow you can buy a more expensive license."

"The product pricing tends to be higher than alternatives."

"This is a cost-effective solution."

"The pricing of Cornerstone Learning is reasonable, but my knowledge of the cost is limited. I've had some discussions about licenses. I suppose we've had to push them a little bit to be more flexible about the licensing. For example, someone said they could only give us licenses in a batch of 500, but we found out that it wasn't true. We were able to negotiate a different amount."

"The solution cost approximately $47,000 annually."

"The solution's pricing depends on the specific requirements."

"I was not involved in the financial negotiation for our contract with this company, but in the past, I have seen the fees run between $10 USD and $11 USD per user."

"It is a premium product, and it is on par with its competitors. It isn't out of scale with what the market is demanding. We're always looking at ways of trimming costs, but we haven't had a lot of flexibility with pricing and/or options with Cornerstone. So, its price is decent. There are ad hoc engineering costs when we are required to use a Cornerstone resource. Additionally, when we choose to integrate with third-party platforms, there is a setup and maintenance fee for these data integrations. They need to be built into our ongoing budget as we expand our offerings."

"Quality always comes at a cost. I would not rate it as expensive. It provides value for money."

"I rate the price of Cornerstone Learning a four out of five. There are not any additional costs other than the standard licensing fees"

More Cornerstone Learn pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Learning Management Systems (LMS) solutions are best for your needs.

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856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

University

22%

Educational Organization

20%

Government

10%

Computer Software Company

Educational Organization

46%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Blackboard Learning Management?

The modules and courses are flexible.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Blackboard Learning Management?

The product pricing tends to be higher than alternatives like Canvas, making Blackboard more suitable for larger universities with substantial budgets.

What needs improvement with Blackboard Learning Management?

Blackboard could benefit from significant improvements in its data storage and software functionality to remain competitive with more innovative LMS solutions.

Is Cornerstone Learning reliable for content organization?

I think the organizational management of Cornerstone Learning is great. My organization uses this learning software and the way different content types are managed is very useful for our training ...

Does Cornerstone Learning provide you with good reports?

Cornerstone Learning provides great reports for your training programs and the performance of your employees on them. What's more, you get skills graphs which my company finds the most valuable for...

Why would you recommend Cornerstone as a platform for virtual training?

Hello, I think that Cornerstone is more than suitable for virtual training. For one, it gives you a really big array of tools and customizations to be able to deliver your employees high-quality t...

Google Classroom vs Blackboard Learning Management

Comparisons

Compared 100% of the time

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Compared 21% of the time

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Compared 11% of the time

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Compared 10% of the time

Oracle HCM Cloud vs Cornerstone Learn

Compared 7% of the time

Skillsoft vs Cornerstone Learn

Compared 6% of the time

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Product Reports

Blackboard Learning Management

Download Blackboard Learning Management product report

Cornerstone Learn

Download Cornerstone Learn product report

Also Known As

No data available

Cornerstone Learning Suite, Saba Cloud

Overview

Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) is a comprehensive platform designed to enhance the teaching and learning experience in educational institutions. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, Blackboard LMS enables educators to create, deliver, and manage online courses effectively. Blackboard LMS is facilitates communication and collaboration among students and instructors. The platform's built-in discussion boards, chat rooms, and messaging systems enable real-time interaction and engagement, fostering a sense of community and allowing students to participate actively in the learning process.

Blackboard LMS also provides a full set of tools for content creation and management. Educators can easily upload and organize course materials, including documents, videos, and multimedia resources. The platform supports various file formats, making it convenient for instructors to deliver diverse content to their students.

Assessment and grading are simplified with Blackboard LMS. Educators can create online quizzes, assignments, and exams, and even set automated grading criteria. This saves time and effort, while also providing students with immediate feedback on their performance. The platform also offers grade book functionality, allowing instructors to track and manage student progress easily.

Blackboard LMS features robust analytics and reporting capabilities. Educators can access detailed data on student engagement, performance, and participation, enabling them to identify areas for improvement and tailor their teaching strategies accordingly. This data-driven approach enhances the effectiveness of instruction and supports personalized learning.

Blackboard LMS is also highly customizable, allowing institutions to tailor the platform to their specific needs. It integrates seamlessly with other educational tools and systems, ensuring a smooth workflow and enhancing the overall learning experience.

Blackboard Learning Management System is a powerful and versatile platform that empowers educators to deliver engaging and effective online courses. With its comprehensive features, user-friendly interface, and customizable options, Blackboard LMS is a valuable tool for educational institutions seeking to enhance their teaching and learning environment.

Blackboard

Cornerstone Learn offers a comprehensive learning management system designed to enhance educational experiences with a focus on user-friendliness, reporting, analytics, and automation capabilities.

Cornerstone Learn provides a robust platform for learning management, ensuring efficient content delivery and knowledge retention. It offers tools for digital, classroom, and blended learning environments. Users have access to custom reporting tools, performance analytics, and seamless integrations with APIs. Despite its rich features, there is room for improvement in interface updates, navigation simplification, and mobile app enhancements. The platform is suited for diverse training needs, especially in large organizations.

What are the key features of Cornerstone Learn?

User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design simplifies navigation.
Custom Reporting Tool: Allows detailed insights into learning metrics.
Performance Tracking Analytics: Monitors progress effectively.
Proxy Enrollment: Facilitates bulk user enrollments easily.
Automation: Streamlines repetitive tasks in learning workflows.
Mobile Accessibility: Learn on the go with mobile platform support.
API Integration: Connects with other software for extended functionality.
Playlist Capabilities: Organizes content into personalized playlists.

What benefits can users expect from Cornerstone Learn?

Seamless Onboarding: Smooth transitioning for new users enhances experience.
Dynamic Assignments: Adapts to varying learning needs efficiently.
Email Digests: Keeps learners updated without overwhelming them.
Comprehensive Learning Experiences: From virtual meetings to certifications.
Broad Configurability: Adapts to diverse learning environments.

Cornerstone Learn is widely adopted in healthcare, manufacturing, and automotive industries for employee training and e-learning initiatives. It supports compliance training and certification management, integrating with platforms like LinkedIn Learning to deliver on-demand and professional skills training. Companies in corporate and governmental sectors utilize it to maintain their workforce's knowledge up to date, accommodating up to 10,000 users per organization.

Cornerstone OnDemand

Sample Customers

University of Derby, University of Warwick, John Moore's University

Advantage Sales and Marketing

Blackboard Learning Management vs. Cornerstone Learn