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LMS · head to head

Google Classroom vs Sakai

Google Classroom logo

Google Classroom

LMS

Free, easy-to-use learning management for schools

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sakai logo

Sakai

LMS

Open source learning management system governed by the Apereo Foundation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Classroom no SCORM or xAPI support for tracking learning analytics; Sakai the zero licence fee is misleading: running Sakai needs Java operations, database administration and upgrade testing capacity, and universities that costed only the hardware have ended up paying a hosting partner anyway.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Classroom covers Class management, Sakai covers Course sites.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Classroom and Sakai actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Classroom and Sakai differ
AttributeGoogle ClassroomSakai
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Linux, iOS, Android
Founded1998Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (LMS).

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 Google Classroom

  • Class management
  • Google Meet
  • Google Drive integration
  • Originality reports
  • Mobile app
  • Parent summaries
  • Google Workspace
  • Google Meet

Only in Sakai

  • Course sites
  • Tests and Quizzes
  • Lessons
  • Forums and messaging
  • LTI support
  • Self-hosting

Both cover

  • Assignments
  • Gradebook

What people use each for

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

Google Classroom

  • Class managementnot Sakai
  • Assignment distributionnot Sakai
  • Gradingnot Sakai
  • Communicationnot Sakai

Sakai

  • A university whose data protection policy or national regulation requires student coursework to stay on institution-controlled infrastructure inside a specific jurisdiction.not Google Classroom
  • An institution that has been repriced twice by a commercial LMS vendor after ownership changes and wants a platform with no owner to sell it.not Google Classroom
  • A university with an existing Java and Tomcat operations team, where the marginal cost of running one more Java application is genuinely low.not Google Classroom
  • A consortium of institutions sharing one deployment and one set of local integrations rather than each paying separate per-student licences.not Google Classroom

Where each one falls short

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

Google Classroom

  • No SCORM or xAPI support for tracking learning analytics
  • Limited quiz types, relying on Google Forms instead of native assessment tools
  • No rubric-based grading workflow for detailed feedback
  • Minimal built-in analytics and no discussion forums for asynchronous engagement
  • Tightly dependent on Google Workspace ecosystem with limited third-party integrations

Sakai

  • The zero licence fee is misleading: running Sakai needs Java operations, database administration and upgrade testing capacity, and universities that costed only the hardware have ended up paying a hosting partner anyway.
  • The third-party teaching tool ecosystem builds and tests for Canvas first, so Sakai adopters do their own LTI integration work and occasionally wait for a vendor to certify against a platform it does not prioritise.
  • Because governance is a foundation of member institutions rather than a company, a feature only gets built if some institution funds an engineer to build it, so roadmap commitments are weaker than a vendor contract provides.
  • The interface, while improved through the version 20 to 25 cycle, still reads as older than Canvas or Brightspace, and academic staff who have used a commercial LMS elsewhere notice it immediately.
  • Adoption is concentrated in specific regions and sectors, so the pool of people who have run Sakai in production is small, making it harder to hire an administrator than for Moodle or Canvas.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Classroom

Free
  • Education FundamentalsFree
    • Classroom, Docs, Gmail, Meet, Forms, Chat
    • 100 TB pooled storage
  • Google Workspace for Education Plus$5/month
    • Advanced features
    • Dedicated support

Sakai

Free
  • SakaiFree
    • Educational Community Licence, no licence fee
    • Full source on GitHub
    • Community support through Apereo lists and Jira
  • Commercial hosting and support$undefined/year
    • Provided by Apereo affiliates such as Longsight
    • Hosting, upgrades, backups and support
    • Quoted per institution, commonly by student headcount

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Classroom if

  • You need class management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want google meet.
Google Classroom review

Choose Sakai if

  • You need course sites.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want tests and quizzes.
Sakai review

Questions people ask

Is Google Classroom or Sakai better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Classroom starts at Free and Sakai at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Classroom or Sakai?
Google Classroom starts at Free and Sakai at Free.
Does Google Classroom or Sakai run on more platforms?
Google Classroom runs on Web, iOS, Android. Sakai runs on Web, Linux, iOS, Android.
Can I use Google Classroom for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Classroom best used for?
Google Classroom is most often used for class management, assignment distribution, grading, communication. Of those, class management and assignment distribution are not what Sakai is typically brought in for.
What can Google Classroom do that Sakai cannot?
Google Classroom covers Class management, Google Meet, Google Drive integration, Originality reports. Sakai covers Course sites, Tests and Quizzes, Lessons, Forums and messaging. Both handle Assignments, Gradebook.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Classroom: How much does Google Classroom cost?

Google Classroom is free with Google Workspace for Education. Advanced AI features via Gemini Pro add-on cost $24 per user per month, and Google Workspace for Education Plus costs $5-$8 per user per month.

Source
Sakai: Is Sakai still actively developed?

Yes. Version 25.0 shipped in 2025, 25.1 followed in November 2025, and further maintenance releases in the 25 line are planned, with commits continuing through 2026.

Google Classroom: What are the limitations of Google Classroom compared to full LMS platforms?

Google Classroom lacks SCORM or xAPI support, has limited quiz types relying on Google Forms, no rubric-based grading workflow, minimal built-in analytics, and no discussion forums for asynchronous student interaction.

Source
Sakai: Who owns Sakai?

No company does. Governance sits with the Apereo Foundation, a membership organisation of institutions, and the code is under the Educational Community Licence.

Google Classroom: Can Google Classroom be customized for advanced course structures?

Google Classroom is not ideal for modular or branching content and offers limited customization compared to full LMS platforms like Moodle or Canvas.

Source
Sakai: What does it actually cost to run?

The software is free. The cost is Java hosting and staff, or a commercial hosting agreement with an Apereo affiliate such as Longsight, typically quoted by student headcount.

Google Classroom: Does Google Classroom integrate with Microsoft 365 or other SIS platforms?

Google Classroom is tightly integrated with Google Workspace and depends on Google Meet. Integration with other systems like Microsoft 365 or specific SIS platforms is limited.

Source
Sakai: How does it compare to Moodle?

Moodle has a far larger plugin ecosystem and installed base; Sakai has a cleaner assessment and gradebook model and is more common in research-intensive universities. Moodle is easier to hire for.

Sakai: Can we migrate off it later?

Yes, but course content export fidelity through Common Cartridge is imperfect, so budget for manual rebuilding of assessments as you would leaving any LMS.

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