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Blackboard vs Khan Academy

Blackboard logo

Blackboard

Software

Comprehensive learning platform for educational institutions

From
$10/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Khan Academy logo

Khan Academy

Software

Free world-class education for anyone, anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Khan Academy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Blackboard user interface is outdated, cluttered, and unintuitive with hidden menus and excessive clicks; Khan Academy the Internet Archive's capture of Khan Academy's homepage on 1 January 2021 stated it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and that its full library of practice and lessons 'is all free for learners and teachers', funded by donations rather than subscriptions.
  • They diverge on capability: Blackboard covers Course management, Khan Academy covers Video lessons.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blackboard and Khan Academy actually diverge.

Attributes where Blackboard and Khan Academy differ
AttributeBlackboardKhan Academy
Starting price$10/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, IOS, Android
Founded19972008

Identical on both: 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 Khan Academy

  • Video lessons
  • Practice exercises
  • Mastery system
  • Progress tracking
  • Personalized learning
  • Teacher tools
  • Parent dashboard
  • Test prep

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 Khan Academy
  • Student engagementnot Khan Academy
  • Assessmentnot Khan Academy
  • Virtual learningnot Khan Academy

Khan Academy

  • Free self paced learning across maths, science and humanitiesnot Blackboard
  • Assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroomnot 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  • User interface is outdated, cluttered, and unintuitive with hidden menus and excessive clicks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

Khan Academy

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Khan Academy's homepage on 1 January 2021 stated it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and that its full library of practice and lessons 'is all free for learners and teachers', funded by donations rather than subscriptions.

Pricing, plan by plan

Blackboard

$10/year

No published plan breakdown. See the Blackboard review.

Khan Academy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Video lessons
    • Practice exercises
    • Progress tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackboard if

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

Choose Khan Academy if

  • You need video lessons.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want practice exercises.
Khan Academy review

Questions people ask

Is Blackboard or Khan Academy better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackboard starts at $10/year and Khan Academy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blackboard or Khan Academy?
Khan Academy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10/year for Blackboard and Free for Khan Academy.
Does Blackboard or Khan Academy run on more platforms?
Blackboard runs on Web. Khan Academy runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Khan Academy for free?
Yes. Khan Academy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Blackboard starts at $10/year.
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 Khan Academy is typically brought in for.
What can Blackboard do that Khan Academy cannot?
Blackboard covers Course management, Assessment tools, Discussion boards, Virtual classroom. Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Practice exercises, Mastery system, Progress tracking. 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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