LMS · head to head
Canvas vs Lumosity
Canvas
LMS
Open-source LMS for engaging learning experiences
- From
- $5/student-year
- Rated
- -
Lumosity
Education
Brain training game app from Lumos Labs, which paid an FTC settlement in 2016 over unsupported cognitive improvement claims
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Lumosity has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Canvas basic analytics lack predictive intelligence or advanced student success insights; Lumosity lumos Labs settled with the US FTC in 2016 for 2 million dollars over deceptive claims that its games improved real-world cognitive performance and could delay age-related decline, and the company was barred from making such claims without solid supporting evidence, a fact any buyer evaluating cognitive benefit claims should weigh.
- They diverge on capability: Canvas covers Course management, Lumosity covers Daily training set.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Canvas and Lumosity actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Canvas
- Course management
- Assignment submission
- Gradebook
- Discussion forums
- Quizzes
- Mobile app
- Video conferencing
- Analytics
Only in Lumosity
- Daily training set
- Brain Performance Index
- Game library by domain
- Fit Test assessment
- Progress tracking
- Insights and tips
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Canvas
- Online coursesnot Lumosity
- Blended learningnot Lumosity
- Course managementnot Lumosity
- Student assessmentnot Lumosity
Lumosity
- An adult wanting a short daily game habit with a cognitive theme, treated as entertainment rather than medical interventionnot Canvas
- Someone comparing Lumosity against Elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practicenot Canvas
- A user who wants a long historical performance trend across many game sessionsnot Canvas
- A buyer evaluating whether the current marketing claims about cognitive benefit are consistent with the 2016 FTC settlement findings before subscribingnot Canvas
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Canvas
- Basic analytics lack predictive intelligence or advanced student success insights
- Course structure is traditional and may not support competency-based or adaptive learning paths without supplementary tools
Lumosity
- Lumos Labs settled with the US FTC in 2016 for 2 million dollars over deceptive claims that its games improved real-world cognitive performance and could delay age-related decline, and the company was barred from making such claims without solid supporting evidence, a fact any buyer evaluating cognitive benefit claims should weigh.
- The free tier is limited to a small daily set of games, and the personalised training programme the product is built around is a paid-only feature.
- As with the brain training category broadly, evidence that improved performance on the specific games transfers to real-world cognitive ability remains contested, independent of the marketing claims addressed by the settlement.
- The subscription auto-renews and, like most mobile subscriptions, requires cancelling through app store account settings rather than within the app.
- The game library has not changed dramatically in years, and long-term subscribers report the exercises becoming repetitive well before a years subscription is up.
Pricing, plan by plan
Canvas
$5/student-yearNo published plan breakdown. See the Canvas review.
Lumosity
Free- Lumosity$11.99/month
- Free tier gives a small daily set of games
- Full subscription unlocks the complete game library and personalised programme
- Annual plans typically run $59.99 to $79.99, cheaper per month than monthly billing
Which should you pick?
Choose Canvas if
- You need course management.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want assignment submission.
Choose Lumosity if
- You need daily training set.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want brain performance index.
Questions people ask
- Is Canvas or Lumosity better?
- Neither clearly leads. Canvas starts at $5/student-year and Lumosity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Canvas or Lumosity?
- Lumosity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5/student-year for Canvas and Free for Lumosity.
- Does Canvas or Lumosity run on more platforms?
- Canvas runs on Web, iOS, Android. Lumosity runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Lumosity for free?
- Yes. Lumosity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Canvas starts at $5/student-year.
- What is Canvas best used for?
- Canvas is most often used for online courses, blended learning, course management, student assessment. Of those, online courses and blended learning are not what Lumosity is typically brought in for.
- What can Canvas do that Lumosity cannot?
- Canvas covers Course management, Assignment submission, Gradebook, Discussion forums. Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Canvas: Does Canvas work offline?
Canvas has launched offline access for its student mobile app, allowing students to view pre-selected course content without internet. However, offline access is view-only and submissions require reconnecting to the internet.
SourceLumosity: What was the FTC settlement about?
In 2016 the FTC found Lumos Labs advertising made unsupported claims that Lumosity games could delay cognitive decline, protect against conditions like Alzheimers, and improve real-world performance. The company paid 2 million dollars and was barred from such claims without solid evidence.
Canvas: What integrations does Canvas support?
Canvas supports hundreds of external applications through its App Center using LTI standards, including video platforms, plagiarism detection tools, and digital textbooks through a standardized integration framework.
SourceLumosity: Is Lumosity still available and does it still make cognitive claims?
Yes, the app and games remain available, but the company is legally restricted from the specific unsupported claims covered by the settlement.
Canvas: How does Canvas handle course analytics?
Canvas provides built-in reporting that covers grades and student engagement, but lacks predictive analytics or advanced student success insights that some institutions require.
SourceLumosity: Is Lumosity free?
A small daily set of games is free. The full library and personalised training programme require a paid subscription.
Related pages
Other head to heads
- Canvas vs Moodle
- Canvas vs Schoology
- Canvas vs Sakai
- Canvas vs Google Classroom
- Canvas vs ClassDojo
- Canvas vs Seesaw
- Canvas vs Edmodo
- Canvas vs Echo360
- Canvas vs LearnWorlds
- Canvas vs Padlet
- Canvas vs Absorb LMS
- Canvas vs Pear Deck
- Canvas vs Coursera
- Canvas vs Podia
- Canvas vs Udacity
- Canvas vs Cornerstone Learning
- Canvas vs Elevate
- Canvas vs Busuu
- Canvas vs Memrise
- Canvas vs Anki
- Canvas vs PictureThis
- Canvas vs Replit AI Agent
- Canvas vs Photomath
- Canvas vs Miro Education
- Canvas vs Blackboard
- Canvas vs Skoolur
- Canvas vs Wooclap
- Canvas vs MasterClass
- Canvas vs Jackrabbit Class
- Canvas vs Lightspeed Systems
- Canvas vs Open edX
- Canvas vs Quizizz
- Canvas vs Rosetta Stone
- Lumosity vs Moodle
- Lumosity vs Schoology
- Lumosity vs Sakai
- Lumosity vs Google Classroom
- Lumosity vs ClassDojo
- Lumosity vs Seesaw
- Lumosity vs Edmodo
- Lumosity vs Echo360
- Lumosity vs LearnWorlds
- Lumosity vs Padlet
- Lumosity vs Absorb LMS
- Lumosity vs Pear Deck
- Lumosity vs Coursera
- Lumosity vs Podia
- Lumosity vs Udacity
- Lumosity vs Cornerstone Learning
- Lumosity vs Elevate
- Lumosity vs Busuu
- Lumosity vs Memrise
- Lumosity vs Anki
- Lumosity vs PictureThis
- Lumosity vs Replit AI Agent
- Lumosity vs Photomath
- Lumosity vs Miro Education
- Lumosity vs Blackboard
- Lumosity vs Skoolur
- Lumosity vs Wooclap
- Lumosity vs MasterClass
- Lumosity vs Jackrabbit Class
- Lumosity vs Lightspeed Systems
- Lumosity vs Open edX
- Lumosity vs Quizizz
- Lumosity vs Rosetta Stone