Software · head to head
Khan Academy vs Blackboard
Blackboard
Software
Comprehensive learning platform for educational institutions
- From
- $10/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Khan Academy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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'is all free for learners and teachers', funded by donations rather than subscriptions.; Blackboard user interface is outdated, cluttered, and unintuitive with hidden menus and excessive clicks
- They diverge on capability: Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Blackboard covers Course management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Khan Academy and Blackboard actually diverge.
| Attribute | Khan Academy | Blackboard |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $10/year |
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, IOS, Android | Web |
| Founded | 2008 | 1997 |
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 Khan Academy
- Video lessons
- Practice exercises
- Mastery system
- Progress tracking
- Personalized learning
- Teacher tools
- Parent dashboard
- Test prep
Only in Blackboard
- Course management
- Assessment tools
- Discussion boards
- Virtual classroom
- Gradebook
- Mobile app
- Analytics
- Accessibility
Both cover
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Khan Academy
- Free self paced learning across maths, science and humanitiesnot Blackboard
- Assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroomnot Blackboard
Blackboard
- Course deliverynot Khan Academy
- Student engagementnot Khan Academy
- Assessmentnot Khan Academy
- Virtual learningnot Khan Academy
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
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- User interface is outdated, cluttered, and unintuitive with hidden menus and excessive clicks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
Pricing, plan by plan
Khan Academy
Free- FreeFree
- Video lessons
- Practice exercises
- Progress tracking
Blackboard
$10/yearNo published plan breakdown. See the Blackboard review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Khan Academy or Blackboard better?
- Neither clearly leads. Khan Academy starts at Free and Blackboard at $10/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Khan Academy or Blackboard?
- Khan Academy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Khan Academy and $10/year for Blackboard.
- Does Khan Academy or Blackboard run on more platforms?
- Khan Academy runs on Web, IOS, Android. Blackboard runs on Web.
- 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 Khan Academy best used for?
- Khan Academy is most often used for free self paced learning across maths, science and humanities, assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroom. Of those, free self paced learning across maths, science and humanities and assigning practice and tracking student progress in a classroom are not what Blackboard is typically brought in for.
- What can Khan Academy do that Blackboard cannot?
- Khan Academy covers Video lessons, Practice exercises, Mastery system, Progress tracking. Blackboard covers Course management, Assessment tools, Discussion boards, Virtual classroom. 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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