Alison vs Canvas Network
Alison
alison.com
Canvas Network
canvas.netSide by side
| Figure | Alison | Canvas Network |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 12 | 2 |
| Spec score · Online Course Marketplaces | 9.2 (#5) | 8.6 (#15) |
| Spec score · MOOC Platforms | 9.3 (#3) | 9.1 (#6) |
| Course Certificates | Courses are CPD-accredited and completers can earn recognized certificates. | Canvas Network does not issue certificates; individual instructors or sponsoring institutions decide whether to provide them. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Mount Carmel, Loughrea, Ireland | Salt Lake City, Utah, USA |
| API Integration | Alison provides an API integration option. | Canvas states that it integrates with more than 1,000 external tools and partners. |
| Mobile Apps | The Alison App supports learning on the move and offline course access. | Canvas Student supports grades, assignments, calendars, messaging, discussions, videos and quizzes; separate Teacher and Parent apps are offered. |
| Support | Alison provides general and support contact routes for its platform and business services. | Course-specific help is provided through instructor materials or discussion forums, with Canvas Guides available for platform questions. |
Plans
Alison
- FreeFree
- Single Course Download$1, paid once
- Unlimited Offline Access$5 a month
- LMS+ Starter$99 a month
- LMS+ Growth$249 a month
- LMS+ Enterprise$599 a month
- Free LMSFree
- Lite Plan$1, paid once
- Unlimited Plan$5 a month
- Starter$99 a month
In their own words
Alison
Alison is an online learning service with more than 6,000 courses across 10 categories, alongside skills training, psychometric assessments, career resources, and a learning management system. Learners can study at their own pace, with no stated deadline for finishing a course. Completed courses can lead to Certificates and Diplomas; Alison says its courses are CPD UK accredited. Career resources include a Career Ready Plan, a résumé builder, job listings, and course recommendations. Free learning includes advertising, while Premium is offered to remove ads. The Android and iOS app supports offline study for English courses, but quizzes, assessments, and certificates need an internet connection. The Free LMS supports up to 10 users in an organisation. LMS+ adds unlimited learners, groups, co-branded certificates, reporting, and Content Hub storage. The free plan is free; an individual offline course download is $1, paid once, and unlimited offline access is $5 a month. Alison was founded in Ireland and is headquartered in Mount Carmel, Loughrea.
Canvas Network
Canvas Network offers free professional development courses made by educators for K–12 and higher education educators. Subjects include teaching methods, technology skills for educators, student performance analysis, and leadership. Anyone with an email address can enroll, but learners need a separate Canvas Network account, even if they use another Canvas instance. Materials become available on or after the course start date; courses begin according to U.S. Mountain time. Learners can work through activities at their own pace, though an instructor may invite them to synchronous activities. Instructors or sponsoring institutions may provide completion certificates, but Canvas Network does not issue them. It also does not charge eligible institutions to offer courses. Powered by Canvas LMS, the service is available on the web, Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its Android and iOS apps support course access, assignment submission, discussions, and grade viewing, though not every Canvas feature is available in the apps. Offline learning is available. Course settings may hide an individual course after it ends.