FrontCore vs IDEA Instruments
FrontCore
frontcore.comIDEA Instruments
help.anthology.comSide by side
| Figure | FrontCore | IDEA Instruments |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £42/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 0 |
| Spec score · Course Evaluation Software | 9.0 (#2) | 7.1 (#18) |
| API | FrontCore says users can sync key data via API and ready-made connectors, and contact the company about custom integrations. | Evaluate provides a web service that institutions can use to query whether a student completed an evaluation for a course section and term. |
| Browser support | The terms say the latest Google Chrome, Safari and Microsoft Edge versions are officially supported. | Evaluate is designed to work in major browsers, and its documentation recommends using current browser versions. |
| Integrations | Listed integrations include Visma.net, xLedger, PowerOffice Go, Fortnox, Sage, Xero, Thinkific, Moodle, FrontCore LMS, FIDL, SuccessFactors, Trainingportal, Outlook Calendar, Google Calendar, Stripe, Klarna, MobilePay, Swish, Swedbank Pay, Payer, Zapier, HubSpot and Sjøfartsdirektoratet. | Anthology Evaluate can integrate with Blackboard LMS through calendar events and evaluation reminders; setup requires matching course identifiers, and reminders require an LTI 1.3 connection. |
| Purpose | FrontCore offers cloud based SaaS tools for training providers, including training and learning management. | IDEA Instruments provide formative feedback with suggestions for improvement and summative feedback that can contribute to faculty evaluation. |
| Security | The LMS page describes trust and security measures and says the platform is GDPR-compliant. | Blackboard states its security program aligns to NIST and that several products complete annual SOC 2 Type 2 examinations; the page does not specify IDEA's individual certification status. |
| Support | Customer support is offered by phone, email and contact form on weekdays from 09:00 to 15:00 CET, with reduced holiday capacity. | Evaluate support handles technical troubleshooting and can be contacted by ticket, phone, or chat. |
Plans
FrontCore
- LMS StartFree
- LMS Mini£42 a month
- TMS Start£60 a month
- LMS Pro£83 a month
- LMS Premium£125 a month
- TMS Mini£200 a month
- TMS Pro£240 a month
- TMS Premium£280 a month
- TMS Enterprise£350 a month
- TMS Corporate£630 a month
In their own words
FrontCore
FrontCore provides cloud-based training management and learning management tools for professional training providers. Its Training Management System (TMS) covers course administration, participant management, and training operations, with course and delegate management, booking, and routine automation. Listed capabilities also include class scheduling, learner registration, attendance and certification tracking, instructor management, waitlists, and automated reminders.
The Learning Management System (LMS) includes course management and video training, with AI tools for generating quizzes, transcribing lectures, and creating subtitles. Learners can access and deliver courses using mobile devices. FrontCore says the LMS is GDPR-compliant and describes trust and security measures. The platform is available on Android, iOS, web, and API. Integrations include Zapier, HubSpot, Moodle, Xledger, Thinkific, Visma.net, Xero, Fortnox, SuperOffice, and Google Calendar; users can also sync key data through API and ready-made connectors. LMS Start is free for up to 30 participants. Paid LMS plans add a £0,8 per-active-user engagement fee. TMS plans start at £60/mo, and new TMS customers must pay a startup investment for training and configuration.
IDEA Instruments
IDEA Instruments are course-feedback surveys delivered through Anthology Evaluate for higher education. They provide formative suggestions for improving instruction and summative feedback for faculty evaluation, with attention to student learning. Diagnostic Feedback has 40 questions about learning objectives, teaching methods, and overall impressions. Learning Essentials has 18 questions summarizing progress on relevant objectives and course impressions. Teaching Essentials has 12 questions about teaching methods associated with instructor and course excellence. A separate six-question Feedback tool gathers student input during a semester. Diagnostic Feedback and Teaching Essentials adjust specified ratings for preparation, motivation, work habits, course difficulty, and class size, while reports show raw averages too. Faculty receive customized reports and improvement resources. Students access surveys through their campus Anthology portal. Evaluate supports LTI launches, Blackboard integrations, browser access, accessibility features, anonymous feedback, benchmarking, advanced reporting, and data export. Pricing is available on request.