Google Classroom vs Sakai
Google Classroom
edu.google.com
Sakai
sakailms.orgSide by side
| Figure | Google Classroom | Sakai |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.25/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 2 |
| Spec score · Learning Management Systems | 9.4 (#1) | 8.1 (#49) |
| Spec score · Education software | 9.1 (#1) | 7.9 (#14) |
| Spec score · Educational Software | 9.2 (#1) | 7.9 (#13) |
| Spec score · Education Learning Management | 9.2 (#1) | 7.9 (#9) |
| Spec score · E-Learning Software | 9.0 (#2) | 7.9 (#20) |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Assessments | Yes | Yes |
| Audience | Google describes Classroom as serving educators and students and presents tools for education leaders and IT administrators. | The project describes Sakai as created by educators for educators and supports teaching and learning in person or online. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Classroom supports EdTech add-ons and SIS connections including Clever, PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, Skyward SMS, Skyward Qmlativ, and Follett Aspen. | Sakai implements the IMS LTI specification and provides an API for native integrations with third-party applications. |
| Support | The Classroom Help Center provides role-based guides for students, teachers, leaders and administrators plus community support. | The project says official community support for Sakai 22 ceased with the Sakai 25 series and encourages older-version users to upgrade for current security patches. |
Plans
Google Classroom
- Education Plus$6 a year
- Education FundamentalsFree
- Google Workspace for Education FundamentalsFree
- Education Standard$3 a year
- Teaching and Learning$4 a month
- Education Plus$5 a year
- Google Workspace for Education Plus$6 a year
In their own words
Google Classroom
Google Classroom is a learning platform where educators can create classes, distribute coursework, and grade student work. Teachers can use customizable rubrics, reusable comment banks, bulk grading, and feedback during students’ work. Originality reports compare submissions with web pages and books; the listed allowance is five reports per class for Education Fundamentals and unlimited reports with peer comparison for Education Plus. Other learning tools include interactive practice sets, Read Along reading feedback, and questions embedded in YouTube videos. Classroom supports EdTech add-ons and connections to student information systems, and institutions can customize it through APIs. It is available on web, Android, and iOS, with support for up to 1,000 learners. Google says the core service has no advertising and personal information is not used or sold for ad targeting. Education Fundamentals is free for qualifying institutions; Education Plus is $6 a year. A 60-day trial is listed.