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LMS · head to head

Google Classroom vs Sana

Google Classroom logo

Google Classroom

LMS

Free, easy-to-use learning management for schools

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sana logo

Sana

LMS

AI-native learning and knowledge assistant, acquired by Workday in 2025

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Classroom has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Classroom no SCORM or xAPI support for tracking learning analytics; Sana workday completed its acquisition on 4 November 2025, so Sana is now an HCM vendor's capability; if you do not run Workday, the roadmap will be shaped around a platform you do not use and standalone availability is not guaranteed long term.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Classroom covers Class management, Sana covers Sana Agents.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Classroom and Sana differ
AttributeGoogle ClassroomSana
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
Founded1998Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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
  • Assignments
  • Gradebook
  • Google Meet
  • Google Drive integration
  • Originality reports
  • Mobile app
  • Parent summaries

Only in Sana

  • Sana Agents
  • Sana Learn
  • Enterprise search
  • Live collaborative sessions
  • Content generation
  • Permission-aware retrieval
  • Analytics
  • Workday integration

What people use each for

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

Google Classroom

  • Class managementnot Sana
  • Assignment distributionnot Sana
  • Gradingnot Sana
  • Communicationnot Sana

Sana

  • An organisation whose employees repeatedly ask the same policy and process questions in Slack and where the answer already exists in a document nobody findsnot Google Classroom
  • A Workday customer wanting learning and an internal assistant on the same employee record rather than a separate LMS contractnot Google Classroom
  • Onboarding at a fast-growing company where content goes stale faster than the training team can rewrite coursesnot Google Classroom
  • Sales enablement where reps need an answer about a product or a contract term during a call, not a course to complete next weeknot 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

Sana

  • Workday completed its acquisition on 4 November 2025, so Sana is now an HCM vendor's capability; if you do not run Workday, the roadmap will be shaped around a platform you do not use and standalone availability is not guaranteed long term.
  • Answer quality depends entirely on the state of your internal content, so an organisation with contradictory or outdated documents gets a confident assistant citing the wrong version, which is worse than not having one.
  • Permission-aware retrieval across many source systems is difficult to get exactly right, and a misconfigured connector can surface content to employees who should not see it, which makes the security review substantial.
  • Compliance-heavy training needs, such as certification tracking, regulator-mandated evidence and SCORM-based external content, are handled less thoroughly than in traditional learning management systems built for that purpose.
  • Pricing is unpublished and now negotiated in the context of a Workday relationship, which reduces a non-Workday buyer's leverage and makes a like-for-like comparison against a standalone LMS difficult.

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

Sana

On request
  • Sana$undefined/year
    • Per-employee annual subscription
    • Agents and Learn licensed together or separately depending on the agreement
    • Connector scope affects pricing

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 assignments.
Google Classroom review

Choose Sana if

  • You need sana agents.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want sana learn.
Sana review

Questions people ask

Is Google Classroom or Sana better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Classroom starts at Free and Sana at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Classroom or Sana?
Google Classroom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Classroom and On request for Sana.
Does Google Classroom or Sana run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Google Classroom for free?
Yes. Google Classroom has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sana starts at On request.
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 Sana is typically brought in for.
What can Google Classroom do that Sana cannot?
Google Classroom covers Class management, Assignments, Gradebook, Google Meet. Sana covers Sana Agents, Sana Learn, Enterprise search, Live collaborative sessions.

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
Sana: Is Sana still an independent company?

No. Workday completed its acquisition on 4 November 2025 for approximately $1.1bn; the integrated experience begins rolling out in 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
Sana: Is it an LMS or a search tool?

Both, but the emphasis is on answering questions from your existing content. Traditional course delivery and completion tracking are secondary.

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
Sana: Does it work if we are not a Workday customer?

Currently yes, but the product direction now serves Workday's platform strategy, so weigh that in a multi-year commitment.

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
Sana: How is it priced?

Per employee per year, unpublished, and increasingly negotiated as part of a Workday agreement.

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