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SPECIFICTION
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Perusall

perusall.com

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Spec score 7.9 #14 of 31 in Web Annotation Tools

What it is

Perusall is a web-based social learning platform where instructors and students discuss course materials collaboratively. Instructors can use catalog books, PDFs, EPUBs, Google Docs and Slides, PowerPoint slides, Canvas pages, videos, podcasts, images, and web pages. Participants comment, ask questions, reply, upvote, tag classmates, and use emojis or GIFs in synchronous or asynchronous activities. Perusall AI can suggest discussion prompts and quiz questions from course content. Instructors can auto-grade engagement against up to seven criteria and view confusion reports and discussion summaries. Integrations are documented for Canvas, Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Moodle, and Sakai, including roster, group, and gradebook connections. The service supports LTI 1.3 and LTI 1.1, with existing LTI 1.1 integrations scheduled to stop being supported on January 1, 2027. Perusall states that data is encrypted in transit and at rest, undergoes regular security testing, and complies with SOC 2, FERPA, GDPR, and PIPEDA. A free course-creation plan is available; eligible courses may involve student access fees.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Perusall is a social learning platform that turns course content into collaborative conversations and aims to improve learning outcomes through engagement and collaboration.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Audience
Perusall describes its platform for instructors and students, and says it can be used in seminars of 12 or lectures of 800 across disciplines.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Security
Perusall says data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and its system undergoes regular penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Support
Perusall describes its customer support as human support from its US-based team; Premium institutional licenses include expedited support.Read 9 Oct 2026 · support.perusall.com
Headquarters
The site lists its address as 2028 E Ben White Blvd, Suite 240-4400, Austin, TX 78741.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Founded
2015Read 28 Sep 2026 · perusall.com
AI prompts
Perusall AI can suggest discussion prompts and quiz questions based on course content.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Assessment
Instructors can auto-grade engagement on up to seven criteria and access student confusion reports and discussion summaries.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Company history
Perusall says it began after a four-year research project at Harvard and built the business in 2015.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Company ownership
Perusall says it has no investors and is independently owned by educators.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Compliance and privacy
Perusall states it complies with SOC 2, FERPA, GDPR, and PIPEDA, and says it does not sell user data or ad space.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Course materials
Instructors can use catalog books, PDFs, EPUBs, Google Docs and Slides, PowerPoint slides, Canvas pages, videos, podcasts, images, and web pages.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
LMS integrations
Perusall documents integrations for Canvas, Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Moodle, and Sakai, including roster and group sync and gradebook integration features.Read 9 Oct 2026 · support.perusall.com
LTI support
Perusall is certified for LTI 1.3 and LTI 1.1; it says it will stop supporting existing LTI 1.1 integrations on January 1, 2027.Read 9 Oct 2026 · support.perusall.com
Social learning
Students can comment, ask questions, reply, upvote, tag classmates, use emojis and GIFs, and participate synchronously or asynchronously.Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com

Plans and prices

Free course creation Free Free to start; eligible new courses may require a student platform fee unless covered by an institutional license, book adoption, or waiver. Instructor course creation · Course-specific student access costs may apply Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Student platform access fee $5, paid once Instructors choose $5, $10, $15, $20, or $25 per student for eligible new courses; a 14-day grace period applies. Individual student access · Instructor may exempt students or apply for a course-wide waiver Read 9 Oct 2026 · perusall.com
Institutional license Price not published Annual license; pricing by contacting Perusall. Basic or Premium · Premium includes guaranteed platform performance, expedited support, training, a customized interface, and an administrator dashboard Read 9 Oct 2026 · support.perusall.com

Every Perusall plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports many document and media formats
  • Synchronous and asynchronous discussion
  • Auto-grades engagement on up to seven criteria
  • LMS roster and gradebook integrations
  • Free course creation plan

Limits

  • Eligible courses may charge student access fees
  • LTI 1.1 support ends January 1, 2027
  • Access is web-only

Who it suits

It suits instructors and students using collaborative annotation and discussion in seminars or large lectures. Institutions may consider it when LMS integration, engagement assessment, and stated privacy compliance matter.

Verdict

Perusall combines shared annotation, discussion, AI prompts, and engagement assessment in a browser-based learning environment. Check course fee eligibility and future LTI requirements before adoption.

Where Specifiction places it

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