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D2L Brightspace vs. Google Classroom

Which is Best for
Your Class?

How do D2L Brightspace and Google Classroom compare against one another? Find your best digital teaching solution in our comprehensive comparison guide.

Join a community of more than 1,100
organizations already using D2L Brightspace.

Brightspace vs. Google Classroom

D2L Brightspace and Google Classroom are two of the leading educational software platforms of choice in K-12 classrooms. Both empower teachers to support their students in online learning environments. But how do you know which one is right for your needs?

  • Brightspace is a powerful and robust learning management system in the K-12 space. It enables teachers to easily create personalized learning experiences, meeting students where they are. An all-in-one solution, Brightspace is accessible on a range of devices. Boasting templates and tools that make course development and duplication easier, it also integrates with several popular teaching tools, including Zoom and Microsoft Office 365.

  • Google Classroom is not a learning management system but does have many of the features typically found in an LMS. A cloud-based online class, Google Classroom lets teachers create an online learning space. They can then invite students to complete and submit assignments, have discussions and more. It integrates seamlessly with the suite of Google Workspace tools (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Meet, etc.) and is free to use for schools.

#1 Easiest to Use LMS

Brightspace has clinched the top spot as the most user-friendly Learning Management System according to G2. With its intuitive interface, seamless navigation, and excellent accessibility features, Brightspace is tailored for your ease.

Here’s what you’ll find in this comprehensive comparison guide

Feature Snapshot

Looking for a Google Classroom alternative? Here’s how Brightspace compares.

Testimonials

Why students and teachers love Brightspace.

Benefits of Brightspace At A Glance

Built for people who care deeply about helping all students reach their potential.

Feature Focus

A comprehensive look at how Brightspace compares to Google Classroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to some frequently asked questions about D2L Brightspace and Google Classroom.

Feature Snapshot

Looking for a Google Classroom alternative? Here’s how Brightspace compares:

Legend:
Full Capabilities = Platform offers all of the specified feature/functionality to users
Some Capabilities = Platform offers some of the specified feature/functionality to users
None = Platform does not offer the specified feature/functionality to users

Don’t take our word for it…

According to G2, an industry leading review site, Brightspace is a powerful learning innovation platform that works for everyone.

G2 testimonials

An excellent LMS to administrate your school courses, good tutorials and big community. Course content creation, many options to create digital courses, interactive content through HTML, adaptable to any other app such as genially, near pod and more Laura V Technology Coordinator, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
Brightspace – great for K-12 students! Accessibility options are excellent and enhance the experience for all learners. D2L staff are responsive and so very helpful – we enjoy working with them! Our students and their families find the LMS very easy to use, and they praise the tools that they access when working in the LMS. Our staff finds the tools very helpful in every aspect of their work – developing courses and content, assessing student work, compiling engagement data, and communicating with students experiencing challenges. Karen F Principal, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
Brightspace is a powerful LMS with many integrated tools. It is a powerful, full-featured LMS. The tools integrate nicely throughout the platform and it allows a lot of customization at both an organization and instructor level. Administrator in Primary/Secondary Education, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
Brightspace has helped me organize my class. What is most helpful in Brightspace is that it is straightforward to use. The content bar was beneficial in organizing my class for my students. It has made our online experience better, with many tools and applications for class and teaching. I love that everything is in one same platform just one click away. Gabriela M Teacher, Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Brightspace is a great tool for students and teachers. What I like best is the way each course can be designed with different amazing formats by the teacher and the versatility of content. Maria Auxiliadora S Graphic Design Teacher, Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

The Benefits of Brightspace, at a Glance

Built for people who care deeply about helping all students reach their potential.

  • Access

    Students can learn at their own pace—and on any device.

  • Personalization

    Engage students with timely, personalized feedback that supports growth and development.

  • Autonomy

    Teach the way you want (with the tools you love) on a flexible platform you can make your own.

  • Efficiency

    Automate administrative tasks and help free up time to personalize the student learning experience.

  • Transparency

    Parents can easily be kept up to date with student activities, lessons and progress.

  • Centralization

    No more switching between systems—manage all your courses on a single platform.

  • Partnership

    Thrive in an educators’ community that grows with you to support the future of K-12 learning.

  • Experience

    Reach your teaching goals faster with a partner that brings more than 20 years of educational experience.

Feature Focus

A comprehensive look at how Brightspace compares to Google Classroom.

Harness the Power of Partnership

From migration to course design and everything in between, we’re here to help you maximise your results.

Learning Services

Create fantastic learning experiences with our proven course design and development approach.

Onboarding Services

Get up to speed quickly with our personalised, people-first approach.

Customer Support Services

Keep the momentum going post-launch with customised and flexible support.

Optimization Services

Get the attention and care you need to take your results to the next level.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • D2L (which stands for ‘Desire 2 Learn’) is the name of the company that created Brightspace, which is an accessible and powerful learning management system

  • There are many factors that go into determining what the ‘best’ learning management system is. D2L Brightspace is a robust, all-in-one teaching platform that enables educators to create truly personalized learning experiences. With multiple integrations available and the ability to create a wide range of content and assessment types (text, image, video, audio), it offers everything you could want in an LMS.

    Google Classroom is a free option that integrates with the Google Workspace suite of products, however there are limitations when it comes to content types, sharing and scaling. It’s also not a true LMS, as it is solely cloud-based—however, it does have many features that are typically found in learning management systems.

    Ultimately, each institution has to decide what their goals are for their students and work back from there to choose the best LMS for their needs.

  • Brightspace and Google integrate seamlessly in multiple ways! Choosing the right online learning tools can be challenging. Having to learn how an entirely new system works can be frustrating—especially if you’re already using tools you love. At D2L, we strive to make teaching and learning easier by helping you use the tools you’re already comfortable with, while also exploring new and exciting features in Brightspace. Brightspace boasts a powerful integration feature that allows educators to continue using what they love in Google, all from the convenience of the Brightspace LMS.

  • Yes, it does. As we mentioned above, Brightspace integrates with Google Drive, Gmail, and other tools within the Google Suite of products to simplify your work life. Once you’ve linked your Google Workspace account to your organization account, you’ll be able to view Google Drive directly in the Brightspace ePortfolio.

  • Users can try Brightspace free for 30 days to assess if it works for them.

  • Brightspace is one of the top-ranked K-12 learning management systems on the market today. Teachers can easily design accessible, personalized learning experiences, create interactive content and track student progress—all from one, centralized platform. Created with the individual student in mind, Brightspace is for people who care deeply about helping all students reach their potential.

Powerful Alone, but Even Better Together

Powerful Alone, but Even Better Together

  • Improve learner outcomes and performance with adaptive learning and advanced analytics tools.

  • Support educators in the efficient development of better learning experiences through engaging course content.

  • Whether you’re a first-time or a long-term customer, our services and support can be personalized to your needs to ensure success at every step.

D2L has made every effort to provide complete and accurate information. The content of this page is based upon information available as of December 2022, and it is to be used for informational purposes only. If you identify any information outlined on this page that is inaccurate, please contact us at [email protected] with details so we can make the appropriate modification.