Software · head to head
Canvas vs Pear Deck
Canvas
Software
Open-source LMS for engaging learning experiences
- From
- $5/student-year
- Rated
- -
Pear Deck
Software
Interactive presentations that engage every student
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Pear Deck 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; Pear Deck the Teacher Dashboard, draggable and drawing responses and Reflect and Review require Teacher Premium at $149 per year
- They diverge on capability: Canvas covers Course management, Pear Deck covers Interactive slides.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Canvas and Pear Deck actually diverge.
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 Canvas
- Course management
- Assignment submission
- Gradebook
- Discussion forums
- Quizzes
- Mobile app
- Video conferencing
- Analytics
Only in Pear Deck
- Interactive slides
- Real-time responses
- Formative assessment
- Student-paced mode
- Dashboard
- Audio responses
- Drawing
- Vocabulary
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Canvas
- Online coursesnot Pear Deck
- Blended learningnot Pear Deck
- Course managementnot Pear Deck
- Student assessmentnot Pear Deck
Pear Deck
- Turning slide decks into interactive lessons with student responsesnot Canvas
- Running formative checks for understanding during classnot Canvas
- Student paced review activities and assessmentsnot 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
Pear Deck
- The Teacher Dashboard, draggable and drawing responses and Reflect and Review require Teacher Premium at $149 per year
- Pear Assessment Premium is a separate $125 per year purchase from Pear Deck Premium
- Standards aligned content, district library and efficacy reports are only in the Schools and Districts plan
- SIS and LMS integration is only in the Schools and Districts plan
- School and district pricing is by quote with no published rate
Pricing, plan by plan
Canvas
$5/student-yearNo published plan breakdown. See the Canvas review.
Pear Deck
Free- FreeFree
- 5 question types
- Real-time responses
- Student-paced mode
- Premium$149.99/month
- All question types
- Audio responses
- Flashcard factory
- School/District$undefined/month
- All Premium
- Admin dashboard
- Rostering
Which should you pick?
Choose Canvas if
- You need course management.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want assignment submission.
Choose Pear Deck if
- You need interactive slides.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Chrome Extension.
- You also want real-time responses.
Questions people ask
- Is Canvas or Pear Deck better?
- Neither clearly leads. Canvas starts at $5/student-year and Pear Deck at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Canvas or Pear Deck?
- Pear Deck has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5/student-year for Canvas and Free for Pear Deck.
- Does Canvas or Pear Deck run on more platforms?
- Canvas runs on Web, iOS, Android. Pear Deck runs on Web, Chrome Extension.
- Can I use Pear Deck for free?
- Yes. Pear Deck 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 Pear Deck is typically brought in for.
- What can Canvas do that Pear Deck cannot?
- Canvas covers Course management, Assignment submission, Gradebook, Discussion forums. Pear Deck covers Interactive slides, Real-time responses, Formative assessment, Student-paced mode. Both handle Web support.
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.
SourceCanvas: 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.
SourceCanvas: 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.
SourceRelated pages
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