Apple Classroom vs Lightspeed Classroom

Apple Classroom is a free app for teachers to guide lessons, keep students focused, and share learning resources on iPad and Mac. During a session, teachers can see all student screens together and direct one student or the class to a web page, book, or app. They can launch apps, websites, and books; restrict a student to one app; lock screens; and mute device audio. Agendas can set timed tasks and launch a Classroom session. Teachers can share documents and links with AirDrop and present student work through AirPlay on Apple TV. Classes can be managed by IT or created by teachers, with students arranged into groups. Schools using Shared iPad can have students reassigned to the device they most recently used. Apple says students can connect remotely, while the App Store listing says Classroom actions take place only over the local network. Apple School Manager can connect identity providers and student information systems for class rosters. Apple says it does not sell student information or share it for third-party marketing or advertising.

Lightspeed Classroom is a classroom management solution that gives teachers controls for student screens and web activity. Teachers can view, lock, and record screens, receive alerts about unusual browsing, restrict web access, set tab limits, and close off-task tabs. They can organize students into groups with custom browsing rules and curriculum links, add co-teachers, and merge classes. The product provides visibility and notifications about classroom AI activity. It interoperates with Lightspeed Hall Monitor to show hall-pass reports and integrates with Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Lightspeed Classroom works on Chromebooks, Windows devices, and Macs; its FAQ says third-party screen monitoring does not work on iOS. Administrators can decide whether screen monitoring is enabled off campus. Lightspeed offers weekly live online teacher training, an on-demand video course, documentation, and help materials. The company says data is encrypted at rest using AES and in transit using TLS, and that it undergoes an annual independent SOC 2 Type II audit. Pricing is available by request.