# Page 3 | Blackboard Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Page 3 - Is Blackboard the right Higher Education solution for you? Explore 536 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/14500/Blackboard-LMS-for-Business/reviews --- Blackboard 4.1 (536) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/14500/Blackboard-LMS-for-Business/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Page 3 - Reviews of Blackboard ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 51-75 of 536 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use John C. Professor Higher Education Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "a Long Term User's Honest Experience" March 23, 2016 1.0 Quick background, was in high tech sales and marketing for many years prior to teaching and heavily involved with custom Computer Graphics systems since Time Arts Lumena was around (predecessor to Photoshop). Check out my LinkedIn profile for more details. On to the product review -- I've been using Blackboard for \*many\* years, and have been teaching (and doing) Web Design and Development since 1993. I'm retiring shortly, so I can be absolutely frank and honest about my experience with this app without fear of upsetting IT folks or admins that I would have to work with in the future. Truthfully, the ONLY reason I use this app is because I have no alternative at the College where I teach and it gives the students easy access to information, but so would any LMS (Learning Management System). The UIX (User Interface Experience) is incredibly archaic and counter-intuitive. It's also painfully slow to use, as it does constant server requests (just paste the URL for a Blackboard connection into http://www.webpagetest.org/ for testing). Sometimes one single click every 15 seconds is all the system will react to when I'm using the grade book, etc. -- in the "real" world, without captive users, no one would ever return to a site with those response times. To be fair to Blackboard, part of that may (or may not) be our schools network or Blackboard interface setup. As far as usability, Blackboard needs to let the User Interface and UIX designers (if they even had any) direct the techs and coders. It's \*very\* obvious that it's been the reverse, . They should 'steal' some Apple UIX people and give them some \*real\* power to direct how the app works and what it looks like. I've just finished using Blackboard for 3 hours+ doing things that should have taken 1 hour or less had the interface been optimized and more thought out. For example, under the 'Assignments' and 'Course Documents' sections there is no easy way to reorder or batch select using something basic like check boxes or a multi-select hot keys. Also, any NEW assignment or document post goes to the BOTTOM (the absolute reverse of a Blog post) So I need to drag it back to the top (where it logically should go). However, even that is awkward, since when I drag to the top of the browser the window does not auto-scroll. I have to hold the left mouse button at the same time as I use my middle finger to roll the mouse wheel -- duh!!. There IS a small text window pop-up accessed via an archaic icon to reorder posts, however, that shows only 5 assignment titles at a time (no window resize function to show more than 5). I can reorder them there, but need to do a single mouse click each time it moves up one position, but again, with no way to see more than 5 and no way to multi-select. So, if I have 50 course documents and want to shift 5 new documents to the top (where they belong) that's almost 250 mouse clicks to re-position 5 documents to where they should be in the first place - duh!! In Gradebook it only shows 10 students listed by default. I can change the setting up to 50 but the next time I go back it's back or need to refresh something -- it's back to 10. It doesn't save defaults or give me a choice. This may seem to be nit-picking, but over the period of a 14 week semester that's a lot of wasted time time and clicks. I'm going to end my review here as I have more work to do, but when I saw a 4 star review for this LMS being the solo review I had to balance it out. Bottom line is, the concept is good -- many, many modules/tools in a LMS bundled package but the execution is absolutely awful. Just Google search 'Blackboard sucks' or 'I hate Blackboard' if you want real faculty and user opinions sans any marketing spin. Other telltale signs are when a company start to lose long-term clients. Ryerson University in Toronto just did a switch from Blackboard after "a multi-year consultation process". More on that process is here http://lms.blog.ryerson.ca/ Hopefully that last paragraph doesn't get censored, because that's the source of raw truth. Pros 1\. it's an LMS and something is better than nothing. 2. It's full of examples I can show my students on how not to do UI and UIX 3. Well established company is behind it 4. Modular front-end 5. Many bells and whistles Cons 1\. Counter intuitive, clunky, awkard UI (User Interface) - improve it by hiring UI/UIX experts and giving them actual control over the app interface and functions. 2. Slow (even when on the same network node or high speed cable connection) - needs a code rewrite/optimization. 3. Ancient aesthetics (although some design elements are now "flat design-ish") - hire UI and UIX designers and actually allow them to direct the final interface. 4. Many glitches (I've a folder full of screen-shots, if you want proof) - again a code rewrite needed, or ideally a complete start-over with newer code philosophies and methods. Review Source LT Laura T. Educational Technologist Higher Education Used the software for: 2+ years ### "BB Learn-the old workhouse" May 27, 2022 3.0 I will continue to use BB Learn or soon we will be using Ultra, for as long as I have to for my job. If my job were to ask me should we keep BB or switch to another LMS - I would say SWITCH! One of the absolute worst features within BB is the Voice thread area. I used to use it and had to teach others how to use it. They (BB) decided to "improve it" a couple years ago and now it is so difficult to use that I tried to create user guides and could not get it to work and it was so complicated now, I have given up on it entirely and do not recommend that area at all for anyone to use. Pros I like the powerful features and security of the program Cons BB is the most frustrating program I have ever used. It was one of the 1st LMS programs-I have heard. Its design is clunky and seems to be created by someone with little UXUI experience, I mean UXUI was a field that was known only by the people in the top of their field 20+ years ago so that would make sense! The lack of logical design for buttons and search areas is aggravating. The lack of them going back and changing things for the better and getting a visual designer and UXUI person involved NOW to fix the program-is again aggravating. An example to add a user, you click on a menu item-it goes to a window on the right and there is a search field there which one is supposed to ignore and know somehow to click on a button that does not look like a button called "Find Users To Enroll". WHY, is the search field even showing? Do you know how many times if I get away form using BB for a few weeks or months I end up typing in that filed instead of a button that does not look like a button? Explaining to faculty to NOT type in the field is a constant, because your intuition thinks the design makes sense-it does not. Review Source JM Joshua M. Administration Mental Health Care Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great LMS for school or uni" July 15, 2022 3.0 Pros Blackboard is reliable and easy to use LMS, requiring little to no direction or training for new users. Communication and notifications are great, found all in one place for easy access and viewing. Gradebook is another fantastic feature. All the information about your assessments can be found in one place, including submission dates, marking criteria and overall grades. Submission process is great, allowing users to thoroughly review their documents and their similarity report before submission. Cons UI could be updated to be more user-friendly, e.g., minimise clicks, add more shortcuts for site navigation. Features to allow for collaboration in group projects/tasks would be useful as many users prefer external software for collaboration, communication between students and instructors and productivity. However, it is perfectly adequate for users familiar with the LMS. Review Source AM Ariya M. Student E-Learning Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Blackboard Learn" September 13, 2022 4.0 Overall, using Blackboard has been a pleasure and I think it's a wonderful platform, especially to get started with if one has never had any experience with LMS. Online schooling and learning are not as easy as in-person, but this platform makes it tolerable. Pros Blackboard was simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. I believe anyone could use it and get comfortable within the first 2 uses. It's adaptable and user-friendly. Cons I did not like how the software had a high tendency to be unreliable. It would shut down, freeze or simply not accept work or media. I think in part, its use on the Safari web browser could be the problem as using it o Chrome did not garner the same results. I do think the platform should be reviewed on different web browsers to fix these issues and optimize the results. Review Source SC Sriram C. Associate Professor Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Blackboard Learn is an excellent Learning Management System" April 6, 2022 5.0 Pros Blackboard Learn has an easy to use assessment management system that allows faculty to share documents with colleagues and administrators that allow for assessing both online, hybrid, and fully in-person courses for accreditation purposes. Cons Blackboard Learn has an easy to use customizable reports that are simple to generate and share with colleagues and administrators. However, I rarely use this feature but it might be good for administrators who assess faculty performance for promotion and tenure evaluations. Review Source MM Michael M. Director of the Global Stuudio Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "BlackBoard Learn is a Relic of a Bygone Era" April 24, 2022 2.0 I have used BlackBoard Learn for 5 years now, and I can report that it's a tool that I've tolerated with a fair degree of frustration, as opposed to a tool that I'd relish and recommend to others. Pros BlackBoard Learn is a reliable tool for basic communication, content collection, and assessments. There are convenience factors baked into its framework in the sense that instructors can readily copy and reuse materials from earlier semesters, but other capabilities have far surpassed the benefits of this complacency factor. Also, the price point of BlackBoard Learn is extremely compelling, and they have reliable customer support and service. Cons Doing anything on BlackBoard Learn requires significantly more clicks and testing than competing products. The design is clunky, and it directly contradicts the instructional delivery of faculty who know what else is out there, as well as the learning-design preferences of Gen-Z students. Alternatives considered [Sakai LMS](https://www.capterra.com/p/124698/Sakai-CLE/)[Canvas](https://www.capterra.com/p/127214/CANVAS/)[Moodle](https://www.capterra.com/p/80691/Moodle/)[Schoology](https://www.capterra.com/p/128481/Schoology/) Reason for choosing Blackboard I was not part of the committee that made the decision to continue with BlackBoard Learn, but I believe the continuation was justified because of its low-cost and the challenge of switching to a competing model. Upgrading the LMS is a bit like updating your operating system. You can kick the can down the road and keep your status quo in place, but when you eventually update, you gain new capabilities, efficiencies, securities, and collaborative synergies. Review Source DN Debbie N. Manager Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Blacboard Learn from a Person who is not techie" February 2, 2023 5.0 Improving student engagement and outcomes Streamlining course management Enhancing collaboration and communicationImproving reporting and analyticsI could elaborate but theres not enough room hereBenefitsUser-friendly interface, Blackboard Learn has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for teachers and students to use.Customizable content The platform allows teachers to create and upload their own course content, including multimedia materials, assignments, and assessments , Real-time feedback,Blackboard Learn provides real-time feedback to students, which can help improve their learning outcomes. Analytics, Integration, Improved student engagement and outcomes Pros User-friendly interface: Blackboard Learn has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for teachers and students to use.Customizable content: The platform allows teachers to create and upload their own course content, including multimedia materials, assignments, and assessments.Real-time feedback: Blackboard Learn provides real-time feedback to students, which can help improve their learning outcomes.Analytics: The platform provides detailed analytics and reporting capabilities, allowing teachers to monitor student progress and make data-driven decisions to improve their teaching.Integration: Blackboard Learn integrates with other tools and platforms, such as Google Drive, Microsoft Office 365, and more, making it easy to share and access course materials. Cons Cost: Blackboard Learn can be expensive for schools, especially when compared to other learning management systems.Technical issues: Some users have reported technical issues with Blackboard Learn, such as slow performance and system crashes.Limited customization options: While the platform allows for some customization, some users have reported that it is limited compared to other learning management systems. Review Source Diego Martin R. Marketing Analyst E-Learning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "An intuitive software" July 19, 2021 5.0 The software is amazing. I have not have any problem with it even when I have had difficulties with my internet connection. Pros Blackboard is one of the most easier and intuitive softwares that I have ever used. I really like it because its videoconferencing platform is really easy to use and has a very powerful tool called "Safe Assign". Cons The software could improve its social learning by creating an environment where all the students enrolled in a classroom could post and share any doubts, news, and even discuss about various topics. Review Source Signe J. Owner Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Simplifies Grades, Course Communications, & Materials Distribution" August 18, 2021 5.0 There are a lot of learning management systems out there, and I've used several of them. Blackboard is my favorite. It has excellent capabilities, improves organization, and makes it very easy to communicate with students. Pros Blackboard is a great tool for communicating with students, distributing course materials, and recording student grades. The "one-stop shopping" approach makes it easy for professors to stay organized in each class, and it also makes it easy for students to stay organized. When used well, Blackboard allows you to do everything from communicating with students to uploading assignment sheets to sending class announcements. As a writing professor, I especially appreciate the SafeAssign feature that checks student assignments for plagiarism. Once I started requiring my students to use SafeAssign, I found that plagiarism attempts dropped off significantly. (So did attempts to recycle papers from one course to another.) In addition, SafeAssign saves me a lot of leg work when students DO plagiarize -- it flags the suspect text as well as the source, so I don't have to hunt it down myself. Cons For me, Blackboard wasn't intuitive to learn. Even after 7 years of using it nearly ever day during the semester, I had some challenges making it do what I wanted it to do. I often spent far more time than I should have trying to customize things for my courses. But, as long as I stuck to the basic features -- which are also the ones I personally found most useful/beneficial -- Blackboard was a great tool for organizing my courses and keeping students on track. Review Source EP Erick P. Teacher Education Management Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "The learning platform " November 11, 2022 5.0 It comes to supporting self-learning which is one of the learning ways many companies are looking for in this age. Pros I like that the features are easy to use and friendly, also I like that for learners there is a general overview in the dashboard about subjects, tasks assigned, and important information/announcements. Cons I did not like the price since it is a little high compared with other Learning Management Systems. Review Source Nhat N. Instructor Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Blackboard Learn Review" November 3, 2021 5.0 I had great experience with Blackboard Learn and I will continue to use it in the future. I have not found any other education software out there that can do what Blackboard Learn does. Pros It is easy to use and has all of the feature I need like auto grade, the ability to create quiz and text on the fly and allow the student to get involved in the discussion. Cons There is nothing I do not like about the software. Alternatives considered [Google Classroom](https://www.capterra.com/p/186631/Google-Classroom/) Reason for choosing Blackboard I chose Blackboard Learn over these alternative because it is a higher quality product with far better features than any other I have ever seen. Switched from [Google Classroom](https://www.capterra.com/p/186631/Google-Classroom/) Google classroom do not have the ability to auto grade and it does not have the ability to organized things in different pages like Blackboard. Review Source Prateek K. iOS Developer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Exceptional Learning Management Systems Provide Integration With Third-Party Applications" December 19, 2022 4.0 The platform helps me because I can continue my education from a distance using the various alternatives offered by Blackboard. It is an entire LMS system, incredibly user-friendly, and connects with a variety of audio and video resources. Pros I love that everything for all of my classes is accessible on Blackboard Learn in a single area. I have access to all of the resources, tests, and homework that my instructors have uploaded. the platform's user-friendliness. For instance, it can be effectively used by both the instructor and the students. You can see all of your selections on the bar to the left. Cons I can't think of anything about Blackboard Learn that I dislike, to be completely honest. It has been an excellent resource for online learning and classes. I may interact with my professor and fellow students, take part in debates, and access and watch my lectures. Review Source WI Wassim I. Associate Professor Computer Networking Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Blackboard Learn: The Leading LMS Platform for Higher Education" July 17, 2023 5.0 Very great experience. I rely on Blackboard Learn in managing all my online/face-to-face courses. I also rely on it in providing training sessions, tutorials, and office hours. Pros I have been using Blackboard Learn to support my undergraduate and graduate university courses. I mainly use it to flexibly:1. Post course lecture notes and recorded videos.2. Post assignments and manage their submission policies and due dates3. Conduct exams and quizzes4. Post grades to students and link it to Banner to be on the University database system5. Use many tools such as Blackboard Collaborate to conduct video conferencing sessions and office hours with students Cons Creating exams and assessments can be streamlined in a better way to create questions of different types more flexibly and rapidly. I recommend having a tool to do MCQ grading (such as Gradescope) integrated in the Blackboard LMS. Moreover, integrating video editing tools into the LMS itself would be a great addition as well. Switched from [Moodle](https://www.capterra.com/p/80691/Moodle/) This is the LMS supported at my institution Review Source FA Francisco A. Chief's Editor Media Production Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Powerful but confusing." September 30, 2021 3.0 I've been using Blackboard since the University and up until know I've tried other platforms that are easy to use. However Blackboard has so much potential and can be a good platform. Pros If you know how to use it, you can do so much, for programmers there is ton of choice, and for what I know that is a good thing because it can be personalized for the company or schol that wants to use it. Mobilie use is also pretty great. Cons Many bugs, this essentially is not Blackboard fault but is their platform, they should add more support tools for programmers. Also I don't like so many optiones to mange a course, is confusing for teachers and learners. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Fundadora E-Learning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Blackboard \[conteúdo sensível escondido\]" June 25, 2023 5.0 É uma plataforma completa de aprendizado. Possui ferramentas sincronas, como chats, collaborate dentre outras e assincronas como fóruns, dentre outras. Pros Eu acho que o Blackboard é muito intuitivo e organiza muito bem os conteúdos a serem estudados. Cons O LMS Blackboard não monitora o progresso e os seu relatórios são deficientes/insuficientes. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Research Assistant Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Virtual classroom " March 6, 2022 5.0 Pros This software is very easy to navigate. It has the dashboard feature which will allow us to check daily assignments easily without going through each course. Cons Sometimes it takes time to upload assignments in the blackboard. If you unexpectedly upload a wrong file in the assignment, it doesn’t allow to remove the file, and upload the correct file. Review Source TD Tanay D. Software Developer Consumer Electronics Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Wow..an excellent online Learning platform" July 30, 2021 5.0 Pandemic-related problems with submitting assignments and accessing information for my online and face-to-face classes. It has become increasingly apparent to me as I progress through graduate school that this site will be useful not only for my coursework, but also for group presentations and collaboration with other students. Pros My assignments and materials are organized in one place. As of the most recent update, it is now much easier to use than it used to be. Assigning assignments and adding details to classes has never been simpler. Now, it's much easier to use than it was before. The process of giving students feedback and organizing my responses is simple. It's also how I communicate with them. As a result, it's easy to refer back to them and remember what I said. I also like that Blackboard integrates well with other apps. When it comes to presentations, I rely heavily on VoiceThread and Panopto. GoReact and Top Hat are also on my to-do list. Cons An update to the mobile app is still in order. There is a lot of work to be done on this project. On the web, the user experience was much better. Alternatives considered [Moodle](https://www.capterra.com/p/80691/Moodle/) Reason for choosing Blackboard Student logistical challenges were addressed and resources were provided by Blackboard. It simplifies managing and improving communication with students and teachers. The whiteboard allows you to attach Microsoft Outlook, and anyone in the class can send an e-mail to the class. Switched from [Canvas](https://www.capterra.com/p/127214/CANVAS/) I've used Moodle and Canvas, and I believe Blackboard Learn is more user-friendly and easier to use. The saying "you get what you pay for" applies to Blackboard. Review Source ZP Ziyaad P. Software Engineer Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A good environment for students " August 6, 2022 4.0 Really nice experience especially since I went remote, very easy to learn because of its user friendly UI, it sometimes feels better than being in the office/class Pros The calendar was a great feature, I would always catch myself going there to see what I have due on which days, its a really nice addition to stay organized and check due dates in the case I forgot. Another additional feature would be recordings, having a space to go back and check previous recordings was great as well Cons Not being able to import the calendar to google calendars or going through a lengthy process to do it, Linking it with outlook calendar can be confusing as well at some points. Review Source LM Lee M. Program Coordinator E-Learning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "BLACKBOARD LEARN – you don’t know how good something is until it’s gone!" November 17, 2022 5.0 Blackboard Learn (BBL) was much better than we knew! You don’t always have control over what tools or LMS you have to use, but if you (or someone else) think that you’d prefer a different LMS - BE CAREFUL what you wish for! I loved the Grade Book’s versatility and ability to easily download it for offline management when needed. Also, when we still had BBL (yes, ‘they’ have switched us to a different LMS) I used it for online classes and as an e-Companion to onsite classes. Loading and transferring content and tests was pretty easy. I MISS BBL! Pros I found that Blackboard Learn is much easier to use than other online platforms used in higher education. Being able to easily add materials and instructional documents to an online course is critical especially when a department adopts a new edition of a textbook. The quiz/test builder within Blackboard Learn is also quite user friendly and being able to export exams from a previous course and import to a future course is a real time saver! Cons The discussion board when entering grades can sometimes be a little confusing, trying to determine if the student is replying to a classmate’s post – especially if the student has not included the classmate’s name in their reply, but that’s really more due to a student not following instructions and not the program. Review Source Axel M. Student Higher Education Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Good tool for any student " April 21, 2022 5.0 I used it through my entire High School, and I never experienced any kind of technological issue. Pros It is a very advanced educational software. It has any kind of tool that you can imagine that can help to be organized and responsible. Cons I have nothing to complain about this software. Review Source LY Lap Y. Professor Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Blackboard" March 25, 2022 5.0 I have been using blackboard for over 10 years. First as a student and then as a professor. The institutions that I now work for uses another product which I do not like as much. I am not sure if it is because I got use to Blackboard or the other product is just not as intuitive as Blackboard. Pros Blackboard is the standard software for most educational programs and most can use it without a big learning curve. Cons Can be a bit clunky such as uploading material, but overall nothing really bad about this. Review Source ZAiN R. QA Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Industry Standard LMS" February 20, 2023 5.0 Blackboard integrated seamlessly with our current system, Microsoft Teams Pros With an established ecosystem and many tools available, Blackboard is my go to LMS for schools and other educational institutions Cons Blackboard is a bit pricey, however you get a polished piece of software. Alternatives considered [Canvas](https://www.capterra.com/p/127214/CANVAS/)[Absorb LMS](https://www.capterra.com/p/61763/Absorb-LMS/)[Firefly Learning](https://www.capterra.com/p/136600/Firefly-Learning/)[Schoology](https://www.capterra.com/p/128481/Schoology/) Review Source CB Cary B. Assistant Professor - History Higher Education Used the software for: 2+ years ### "True and Tried (but also Tired)" March 30, 2022 4.0 Please see above :). I've used BB since I was in college (back in the aughts) and regret that my future students at CSUSB will not have access to it moving forward. Even still, I likely won't miss the gradebook, though Canvas' leaves much to desire as well... Pros I know it extremely well, find it to be easy to operate, think its features are strong and easily accessible, and have had very few incidents with students being totally baffled by it. We switched to Canvas this year, and I rue the day the decision was made. Cons The GUI for our version of Blackboard was extremely dated (we did not use Ultra, which frankly seems like a Canvas clone). I would offer the following analogy... Blackboard : Canvas :: PowerPoint : Keynote (... and I'm a PC user). It's boxy, somewhat drab, and looks a bit 'late Geocities // Fark.com'-era. EVEN STILL: I don't mind it - I'd rather have functionality than aesthetics, which is the tradeoff made with Canvas. DEADLY SERIOUS NOTE HERE: The BB Gradebook has always been, continues to be, and seemingly will forever remain an enormous hassle. It is slow, tedious to adjust, difficult to manage, and user unfriendly. Review Source ME Marti E. Faculty Instructor E-Learning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Not bad, but could be better" November 16, 2023 3.0 My overall experience has been somewhat frustrating. I used a different platform at the previous university, and the transition to Blackboard Learn has not been an easy one. I have not had the time to learn all the functions available, and some of the features I would like (from my previous platform) are not available with Blackboard Learn. Pros Blackboard Learn employs a feature where many other apps and learning platforms can be smoothly integrated into the LMS. Cons I do not find Blackboard Learn to be intuitive. Switched from [Canvas](https://www.capterra.com/p/127214/CANVAS/) I changed universities and Blackboard Learn was used at my current university. Review Source JK Jagdish K. Professor Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Blackboard: Learning and Teaching made fun!" August 5, 2022 5.0 Very positive experience as an instructor, students learned a lot and found it easy to navigate. Pros Ease of use, convenient platform, variety of options, interactive, helps develop critical thinking, communication options between instructors and students are plenty. Cons Nothing really. If at all, they could add more multimedia options for teaching. Review Source Similar Products Featured