Best Student Engagement Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Rubric is ranked #1 of 25 as of 8 October 2026, ahead of GivePulse and Zynvo. The best-ranked option with a free plan is GivePulse. The lowest first paid tier on this page is GivePulse at $0.15/mo.
Student engagement tools support communication and feedback across a learning environment. Compare automated campaigns and SMS outreach with student surveys and engagement analytics; risk alerts and LMS integration offer further points to consider. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing can help you assess cost alongside capabilities. Rubric, GivePulse and InScribe are among the entries shown. Consider which outreach channels and signals are relevant to your students, and whether the available integration options fit the systems you use. The listed criteria provide a practical basis for comparing how each product may support engagement work.
25 student engagement software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
25ranked
3free plans on this page
$0.15/molowest paid tier
8 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Student Engagement Software 25 channels on this page · 62 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromEngagement analyticsAutomated campaignsSMS outreachStudent surveysRisk alertsLMS integration Spec sheet Score
01 Rubric Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachYesStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsYesLMS integrationYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.5
02 GivePulse Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachYesStudent surveysYesRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.3
03 Zynvo Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.3
04 InScribe Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysYesRisk alertsYesLMS integrationYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.0
05 Modern Campus CMS Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsYesSMS outreachYesStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsYesLMS integrationnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.0
06 Nearpeer Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.0
07 Suitable Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsYesSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysYesRisk alertsYesLMS integrationYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.9
08 Pathify Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachYesStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsYesLMS integrationYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.8
09 EAB Navigate360 Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsnot statedAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.7
10 Stunoa Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
11 Unibuddy Free planNoPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsYesSMS outreachYesStudent surveysYesRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 Civitas Advising Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsnot statedAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.6
13 Early Alert Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsYesSMS outreachYesStudent surveysYesRisk alertsYesLMS integrationnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.6
14 Empower Free planNoPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysYesRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.6
15 Mongoose Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsYesSMS outreachYesStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsYesLMS integrationnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.6
16 UniOne Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachYesStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.6
17 YOU at College Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysYesRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.6
18 ConexED Retain Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsnot statedAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.5
19 CampusESP Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsYesSMS outreachYesStudent surveysYesRisk alertsYesLMS integrationnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.4
20 Mainstay Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsYesAutomated campaignsYesSMS outreachYesStudent surveysYesRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.4
21 Starfish Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsnot statedAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.4
22 Civitas Learning Student Impact Platform Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsnot statedAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.3
23 Watermark Student Success & Engagement Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsnot statedAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 5.8
24 CampusGroups Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsnot statedAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 5.7
25 Mentor Collective Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedEngagement analyticsnot statedAutomated campaignsnot statedSMS outreachnot statedStudent surveysnot statedRisk alertsnot statedLMS integrationnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 5.2
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Engagement analytics | Automated campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rubric | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 2 | GivePulse | 7.3 | Free plan | $0.15/mo | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 3 | Zynvo | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | InScribe | 7.0 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 5 | Modern Campus CMS | 7.0 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Nearpeer | 7.0 | No | $1,250/mo | — | — | Yes | — |
| 7 | Suitable | 6.9 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Pathify | 6.8 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 9 | EAB Navigate360 | 6.7 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | Stunoa | 6.7 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 11 | Unibuddy | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | Civitas Advising | 6.6 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | Early Alert | 6.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | Empower | 6.6 | No | — | No | — | Yes | — |
| 15 | Mongoose | 6.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | UniOne | 6.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 17 | YOU at College | 6.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 18 | ConexED Retain | 6.5 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | CampusESP | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | Mainstay | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | Starfish | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Civitas Learning Student Impact Platform | 6.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Watermark Student Success & Engagement | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | CampusGroups | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Mentor Collective | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which student engagement software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Rubric is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 7.5. GivePulse is second and Zynvo third.
How many of these have a free plan?
3 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, GivePulse has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.15/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.