Blackboard Learning Management vs Google Classroom comparison

Blackboard and Google are both solutions in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) category. Blackboard is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.0, while Google is ranked #4 with an average rating of 7.6. Blackboard holds a 1.0% mindshare in LMS, compared to Google’s 2.8% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Blackboard users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Google users who would recommend it.

Blackboard Learning Management

Read 10 Blackboard Learning Management reviews

1,424 Views
1,196 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Google Classroom

Read 26 Google Classroom reviews

1,273 Views
1,273 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Blackboard Learning Management

Google Classroom

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 2, 2025

Blackboard Learning Management and Google Classroom are key players in the educational technology market. Google Classroom often seems preferred due to its user-friendly interface and cost-effectiveness, while Blackboard is chosen for its comprehensive features in extended setup scenarios.

Features: Blackboard Learning Management offers advanced analytics, customizable learning environments, and scalable features for comprehensive management. Google Classroom is favored for its seamless integration with Google Workspace, simplicity, and real-time collaboration tools such as Google Meet and Jamboard.

Room for Improvement: Blackboard could benefit from a simplified user interface, reduced configuration time, and more cost-effective options for smaller institutions. Google Classroom could enhance its analytics capabilities, introduce more robust customization options, and improve initial onboarding for complex educational setups.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Google Classroom is praised for its swift deployment, leveraging existing Google services, with strong self-service resources for support. Blackboard may require longer setup but offers more personalized support and comprehensive training, providing assistance for complex queries.

Pricing and ROI: Google Classroom provides a significant advantage with its no-cost access, aiding institutions with restricted budgets. Blackboard, though involving higher costs initially, offers exceptional ROI through its scalable and feature-rich platform, catering to the needs of larger educational institutions.

To learn more, read our detailed Blackboard Learning Management vs. Google Classroom Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Blackboard Learning Management vs. Google Classroom

December 2025

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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)

7th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Google Classroom

Ranking in Learning Management Systems (LMS)

4th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) category, the mindshare of Blackboard Learning Management is 1.0%, down from 2.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Google Classroom is 2.8%, down from 6.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Learning Management Systems (LMS) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Google Classroom	2.8%
Blackboard Learning Management	1.0%
Other	96.2%

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Featured Reviews

Jennifer Sveigdalen

Senior Consultant / Security Consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Consistently supports dynamic learning environments and strengthens educational interactions

Since I've been working with Blackboard Learning Management for an extended period, I've witnessed its evolution and consistent dedication to pedagogy. The platform's ability to deliver exams and content in a technical way is superior to most other platforms. This delivery system allows for establishing checkpoints before progressing to new content, ensuring students understand current material before moving forward. The platform offers various conditions for content progression and exams. Students can take exams multiple times at the instructor's discretion, requiring specific passing scores for content release. Additionally, peer-reviewed paper submissions can be required before accessing new content. If a student struggles with an exam section, the system halts the exam and allows review of the specific content they might not understand. The adaptive release feature is particularly interesting as it customizes the learning environment for individual students, including those with special needs or delivery requirements. The platform checks documents for accessibility, sending alerts for missing alt text in images and can generate automatic alt text. This ensures compliance with universal design laws, similar to U.S. 508 compliance. While specific measurable benefits cannot be specified since this course has always been delivered through Blackboard Learning Management, the course has grown from 12 students to nearly 200 at semester start. The structured delivery enables incorporation of additional teaching assistants due to uniform methodologies. The platform's compatibility for data export to other institutions opens interesting revenue streams through course sharing agreements, which has influenced my consistent choice to work with it.

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Wafaa Salah

Professor at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

User-Friendly Platform with Valuable Features but Needs Improvement in Pool of Questions and Statistics

The integration with Google Workspace is great because we have many tools such as Google Meet, Google Sheets, and Google Drive. However, the space is very limited. We purchased extra space until it reached 100 gigabytes. I have been using Google since having a Gmail account in 2001 when I was a student. Google Classroom allows me to make quizzes and assignments for students with random ordering, but I would appreciate having a pool of questions feature. For example, having 1000 questions and extracting 20 for each student would allow every student to have a different version. Currently, while using quizzes, every question appears to every student, though the order might differ. Adding the pool of questions would be beneficial. Having statistics while students take their exams would be helpful - showing how many students submitted, how many are in progress, and how many have not started the quiz. Having a log file to track students who opened documents would be valuable. In Moodle, I can see which students opened files, downloaded them, or watched videos. This feature is not available in Google Classroom, which is why I prefer other applications with more powerful statistics to trace student performance.

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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

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

"It is scalable."

"The solution is easy to use."

"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."

"Meeting dynamic educational requirements with Blackboard Learning Management's adaptability and personalized learning environments is the main reason for success in academic performance in this business school."

"The modules and courses are flexible."

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

"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"

More Blackboard Learning Management pros

"The customer service and support are very good."

"The most valuable feature of Google Classroom is its clouds based. It can be accessed anywhere. Additionally, the GUI is good, we have not had any complaints and the platform has built-in security. For example, email has protection."

"What I liked most about Google Classroom is it was very easy to communicate with the students and simple for me to learn even though it was the first time I was using it. I was able to learn the features very well by navigating through the different discussions forums and becoming proficient, not necessarily a master but knowledgeable in using the solution. The ease of use was the best feature."

"The product's initial setup phase was easy."

"The product's UI is good and user-friendly."

"The product is easy to use."

"The most valuable feature of Google Classroom is the ability to meet people and it is online."

"Assigning a unique copy of Google Classroom to students and giving out information is what the solution excels at."

More Google Classroom pros

Cons

"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."

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

"The solution is not flexible."

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

"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 product's UI needs improvement."

"The user interface of Google Classroom could improve by being more user-friendly."

"The stability of the product is an area with certain flaws where improvements are required."

"There are a lot of things that need to be fixed in order for it to be called a learning management system. I think that's where a lot of people are very confused in terms of what Google Classroom actually does. Google Classroom is not a learning management system. A learning management system allows teachers to grade with authenticity and doesn't provide only one grade for a particular document or assignment."

"The initial setup is not very easy. It has modern complexity."

"Google Classroom could benefit from tools that help correct coding errors for students, thereby enhancing learning."

"I would like to see a better user experience, a more engaging interface, and more templates. Google should develop templates or at least encourage developers to share them. You'll only get a basic framework when you create a new course. You don't have different themes to choose from like you do in Moodle."

"The stability could be improved."

More Google Classroom cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

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

"Google Classroom is a free solution. There is paid version that has more options, the cost is approximately eight dollars per student per month."

"The solution is affordable."

"The price of Google Classroom has been reasonable."

"We are an educational institution, and it is free of charge for us. Normally, if you are a private company, you have to pay a lot of money to get this service, but they are giving it for free to schools."

"There are competitors that offer free solutions, making the price of Google Classroom high."

"My child's school made payments on a subscription-based model to use Google Classroom."

"The product offers a yearly based license."

"I'm using a free version of Google Classroom, so it's a product I don't pay for."

More Google Classroom pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

University

21%

Educational Organization

20%

Government

11%

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

22%

University

15%

Manufacturing Company

13%

Performing Arts

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	2
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	5

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	10

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Blackboard Learning Management?

The modules and courses are flexible.

See all answers

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.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Blackboard Learning Management?

To make Blackboard Learning Management better, I believe maintaining, updating, and upgrading the content is the key success factor for the platform to provide value to students.

See all answers

What do you like most about Google Classroom?

The product's UI is good and user-friendly.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Google Classroom?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Google Classroom?

I'm not creating classrooms using Google Classroom, as I join courses that other professors have created. Our university works with Outlook and Teams, but I still use Google Classroom when joining ...

See all answers

Comparisons

CYPHER Learning vs Blackboard Learning Management

Compared 30% of the time

More Blackboard Learning Management Competitors

Moodle vs Google Classroom

Compared 38% of the time

Canvas LMS vs Google Classroom

Compared 11% of the time

EduWave vs Google Classroom

Compared 11% of the time

Schoology Learning vs Google Classroom

Compared 9% of the time

CYPHER Learning vs Google Classroom

Compared 6% of the time

More Google Classroom Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Blackboard Learning Management

January 2026

Download Blackboard Learning Management product report

Buyer's Guide

Google Classroom

December 2025

Download Google Classroom product report

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

Google Classroom is an online learning platform that allows teachers to create and manage virtual classrooms. With Google Classroom, teachers can easily distribute assignments, communicate with students, and provide feedback. Students can access their assignments, submit their work, and collaborate with their peers all in one place. The platform integrates seamlessly with other Google tools like Google Drive and Google Docs, making it easy for students to create and share their work. Google Classroom also provides a streamlined workflow for teachers, allowing them to save time and stay organized. Google Classroom is a user-friendly and efficient tool that enhances the learning experience of teachers and students alike.

Google

Sample Customers

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

Google Classroom is used in major urban school districts throughout the United States, including: * Los Angeles Unified School District * Chicago Public Schools * New York City Department of Education * Houston Independent School District * Miami-Dade County Public Schools * Dallas Independent School District * Broward County Public Schools * Clark County School District (Las Vegas) * Philadelphia School District

Buyer's Guide

Blackboard Learning Management vs. Google Classroom

December 2025

Free Report: Blackboard Learning Management vs. Google Classroom

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