10 Best Google Classroom Alternatives in 2024

Have you ever thought Google Classroom could be better for your schoolwork? As technology improves, countless new websites and applications are created especially for schooling purposes. This article will introduce you to the 10 best Google Classroom alternatives in 2024.

We’ll describe the working and unique features of each app or website. And we’ll go over the pros and cons of using them. That way, you can decide if one of these new learning platforms might be a better fit for you than Google Classroom. Getting a peek at the latest edtech innovations could change how you do your assignments and activities.

10 Best Google Classroom Alternatives in 2024

The same way Google Classroom does, web sites and software that give the educational opportunity of work, assignments and tests to a teacher are called learning management systems (LMS). These systems have actually really helped the students through the COVID-19 pandemic digitalization when they couldn’t attend the real classes.

There are many LMSs that can be used as Google Classroom alternatives in 2024. Let’s take a look at the 10 best Google Classroom alternatives: 

Moodle

Moodle is a free website where a teacher can build an entire digi-class. You can adapt the style and tools to the needs of the project making it much easier to work on.

Features:

• Make it your own with lots of customization.
• Add-ons and plugins are available to add more cool stuff.
• Works on your phone too, so you can learn on the go.

Pros:

• You can make it fit your class perfectly.
• There’s a big community of Moodle users to help you out.

Cons:

• It might be tricky to set up if you’re not into tech stuff.
• It’s got so many options it can feel overwhelming.

Pricing: Free

Link: https://moodle.org/

Blackboard Learn

Blackboard Learn is like a digital school that’s been around for a while. It gives teachers tools to make learning online easy and fun, with ways to check your grades, hand in your homework, and even chat in forums.

Features:

• Tools to see how you’re doing in class.
• Ways to talk and work with classmates online.
• Lots of resources to help teachers help you.

Pros:

• Really good at keeping things safe and private.
• Lots of help and support if you get stuck.

Cons:

• Might cost your school or educational organisation a bit of money.
• Can take some time to get used to all its tools.

Pricing: Various customizable plans available. 

Link: Blackboard Learn – Low-maintenance. Modern. A new kind of LMS. | Anthology

Canvas

Canvas helps teachers to create a digital classroom environment, where they post lessons, give feedback, and let you to interact with other classmates in a different way.

Features:

• Easy to access lessons and resources.
• Get comments back from your teacher in real-time.
• Group areas for working with friends on projects.

Pros:

• Super easy to use, with a clear layout.
• Great for learning on your phone or tablet.

Cons:

• Not as many ways to make it look different.
• Some extra cool features might cost more.

Pricing: Various plans available according to size of organization 

Link: Canvas LMS, The World’s #1 Teaching and Learning Software

Schoology

Schoology is a bit like a social network for school. It makes talking with your teachers and classmates easy and lets your teacher put all your learning materials in one spot.

Features:

• Everything you need for your class in one place.
• Tools for quizzes and keeping track of grades.
• Lets you work with your classmates on assignments.

Pros:

• Friendly design that’s easy to get the hang of.
• Great for chatting and working together with your class.

Cons:

• Might run slow if everyone’s using it at once.
• The free version doesn’t let teachers do as much.

Pricing: A free demo is available.

Link: PowerSchool Schoology Learning

Edmodo

The Edmodo interface is similar to the social networking sites you use but with more educational aspects. Through it, you can become interactive with your classmates, deliver your homework, and view your tasks in a fun and convenient way.

Features:

• Feels like using social media.
• Quick quizzes and polls to see what you’ve learned.
• A library of resources for studying and learning.

Pros:

• Super simple and fun to use.
• Great for talking to your class and getting involved.

Cons:

• It might be too simple for really big projects.
• Doesn’t give you lots of details on how you’re doing.

Pricing: Free

Link: https://edmodo.online/

Microsoft Teams for Education

Microsoft Teams for Education takes the Microsoft Teams app and makes it just for schools. You can chat, video call, and work on documents with your classmates, all in one place. It’s like a digital classroom that’s part of the Microsoft world.

Features:

• Works with Office 365 apps you already know.
• Video calls to have class from anywhere.
• Tools for handing in homework and getting grades.

Pros:

• Easy for anyone who’s used Microsoft stuff before.
• Great for group projects with chat and video.

Cons:

• Can be a lot to learn if you’re new to Microsoft Office.
• Might feel a bit too professional for younger students.

Pricing: Various plans available starting from ₹ 115 per user per month.

Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-teams/download-app

Teachable

Teachable helps people to be capable of creating as well as sharing courses about any field they’re keen on. If you’d like to study a topic outside school program, it’s likely Teachable course covers such a subject.

Features:

• Make your course website look just the way you want.
• Easy-to-use tools for creating your lessons.
• Handles payments if your teacher is selling the course.

Pros:

• Very user-friendly, especially for making courses.
• Can learn about stuff outside the usual school subjects.

Cons:

• There’s a charge for some courses.
• Not much interaction with other students or the teacher.

Pricing: Various plans starting at $39 per month. 

Link: https://teachable.com/

Thinkific

Thinkific is another platform where teachers can create courses on all sorts of topics. It’s a bit like Teachable, where you can find courses on things not usually taught in school, but it also has features for businesses to train their employees.

Features:

• Drag-and-drop to build your course.
• Tools to help teachers sell their courses.
• You can have your own course website.

Pros:

• Simple to use, with no tech headaches.
• Good for learning about business or other specific interests.

Cons:

• Some of the best features cost extra.
• Might not be as interactive as a real classroom.

Pricing: The basic plan start at $36 per month. 

Link: https://www.thinkific.com/

Brightspace by D2L

Brightspace by D2L is a bit more serious and is designed to make learning personalized. It has tools to help teachers see how you’re doing and adjust the lessons to fit your needs. It’s like having a digital learning path that’s just for you.

Features:

• Analytics to see how students are doing.
• Custom learning paths for each student.
• Interactive content to make learning fun.

Pros:

• Really focuses on what each student needs.
• Lots of ways to make learning interactive.

Cons:

• Might take a bit to learn how to use all the features.
• Could be more expensive for schools to use.

Pricing: Various plans available which can be customized. 

Link: https://www.d2l.com/en-in/brightspace/

Udemy for Business

Udemy for Business is a part of Udemy which is a platform with a wide variety of courses on every topic you can imagine. The direction of the business is to assist their employees learning new skills or, this is also a perfect opportunity for students who want to learn something new.

Features:

• A huge library of courses on different subjects.
• Tracks to follow for learning specific skills.
• Tools to see how you’re progressing.

Pros:

• You can learn at your own pace.
• So many courses, you’re bound to find something you like.

Cons:

• The quality of courses can vary a lot.
• Not much personalized attention from instructors.

Pricing: Various plans depending on the size of the organisation, starting at ₹14,000 billed annually. 

Link: https://business.udemy.com/

Which Google Classroom Alternative is Best?

The “best” tool really depends on what you need and like. One tool out of all the Google Classroom alternatives that covers almost all features is Microsoft Teams for Education. It can hold on to your chats for a really long time. The voice calls, video calls and large group meetings are generally very stable unless there is a network instability at your end (or Teams crashes, but that is rare). 

You can organise your files efficiently using Microsoft applications like MS Word, MS Excel etc. Although the interface might be a little tough to get used to for someone who hasn’t used Microsoft tools before, there are many tutorials offered by Microsoft on their website which are easy to understand. 

Conclusion

Looking at different learning websites is like going on an adventure into a vast online world. No matter if you like creating stuff, talking with others, or just learning in the way that works best for you, there is a website out there for everyone.

The important thing is finding a learning website that you really like and get excited about using. You’ll learn the most when you’re having fun and feeling curious about the topics. So don’t be afraid to try out all the different learning websites until you find one that feels just right for you.

FAQs – 10 Best Google Classroom Alternatives in 2024

Is there a Microsoft alternative to Google Classroom? 

Yes, Microsoft Teams for Education is a Microsoft alternative for Google Classroom, and it is able to integrate with other MS Office tools efficiently.

Is Canvas available for free?

Teachers can use Canvas for free using .edu emails, or whatever extension is used by their organisations for verification.

Why do schools not use Google Classroom? 

Google has a lot of privacy concerns associated with it, and educational organisations may not feel secure in sharing all their data with Google Classroom.

Is Blackboard Learn free? 

Blackboard Learn does not have a free version. However, they do offer a free trial.