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Software · head to head

Blackboard vs edX

Blackboard logo

Blackboard

Software

Comprehensive learning platform for educational institutions

From
$10/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
edX logo

edX

Software

Online courses from the world's top universities

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blackboard user interface is outdated, cluttered, and unintuitive with hidden menus and excessive clicks; edX individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view
  • They diverge on capability: Blackboard covers Course management, edX covers Video lectures.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blackboard and edX actually diverge.

Attributes where Blackboard and edX differ
AttributeBlackboardedX
Starting price$10/yearOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded19972012

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Blackboard

  • Course management
  • Assessment tools
  • Discussion boards
  • Virtual classroom
  • Gradebook
  • Mobile app
  • Analytics
  • Accessibility

Only in edX

  • Video lectures
  • Interactive exercises
  • Discussion forums
  • Certificates
  • MicroMasters
  • Professional certificates
  • Degrees
  • Mobile learning

Both cover

  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Blackboard

  • Course deliverynot edX
  • Student engagementnot edX
  • Assessmentnot edX
  • Virtual learningnot edX

edX

  • Learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (MIT, Harvard, Cambridge)not Blackboard
  • Career changers pursuing MicroMasters or professional certificatesnot Blackboard
  • Individuals in regions with limited access to higher educationnot Blackboard

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Blackboard

  • User interface is outdated, cluttered, and unintuitive with hidden menus and excessive clicks
  • Slow response times and platform crashes when opening multiple tabs simultaneously
  • Cannot track detailed student activity beyond most recent login information
  • Limited ability to handle large file uploads for content and assignments
  • Minimal customization options for page and template design

edX

  • Individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view

Pricing, plan by plan

Blackboard

$10/year

No published plan breakdown. See the Blackboard review.

edX

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the edX review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackboard if

  • You need course management.
  • You also want assessment tools.
Blackboard review

Choose edX if

  • You need video lectures.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want interactive exercises.
edX review

Questions people ask

Is Blackboard or edX better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackboard starts at $10/year and edX at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blackboard or edX?
Blackboard starts at $10/year and edX at On request.
Does Blackboard or edX run on more platforms?
Blackboard runs on Web. edX runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is Blackboard best used for?
Blackboard is most often used for course delivery, student engagement, assessment, virtual learning. Of those, course delivery and student engagement are not what edX is typically brought in for.
What can Blackboard do that edX cannot?
Blackboard covers Course management, Assessment tools, Discussion boards, Virtual classroom. edX covers Video lectures, Interactive exercises, Discussion forums, Certificates. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blackboard: What does Blackboard LMS offer?

Blackboard is a learning management system that includes course management, assignment and gradebook tools, discussion forums, and analytics for tracking learner progress in online, hybrid, and in-person courses.

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Related pages

More on Blackboard

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