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#7

Google Classroom is ranked #7 in the Corporate LMS product directory based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub. Compare the leaders with our In-Depth Report.

Google Classroom Pricing

Based on our most recent analysis, Google Classroom pricing starts at $5 (Per Student, Annually).

Price
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Starting From
$4.80
Pricing Model
Per Student, Annually
Free Trial
Yes, Request for Free

Training Resources

Google Classroom is supported with the following types of training:

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars

Support

The following support services are available for Google Classroom:

Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Help Desk
Knowledge Base
Tickets
Training
24/7 Live Support

Google Classroom Benefits and Insights

Why use Google Classroom?

Key differentiators & advantages of Google Classroom

  • More Efficient: Save time through automation, the replacement of paper and manual processes. Grade quickly through the Docs app, which allows teachers to comment upon and return assignments rapidly.
  • Cut Down on Plagiarism: Prevent plagiarism with tools that scan for matching phrases or text online, find missing citations, do a cross-reference of books, look for paraphrasing and more. Provide this for learners who can check their work before they turn work in. Download originality reports and keep work so instructors can catch peer-to-peer copying.
  • Engaged Students: Integrate with virtual reality allowing users to explore famous landmarks, natural events and more. Explore spaces made by instructors and use mobile technology, the Expeditions app, while in VR to get further instructions and navigate the world. Let the app act as a roadmap while they explore. Pair the VR with mobile devices, access 360 views of virtual landscapes, work with several content partners and get a free course to teach individuals how to use VR provided by partners.
  • More Centralized Info: Use the complete G Suite, including Sheets, Meet, Drive, Docs, Forms, Calendar, Jamboard and more. Create and collaborate across several mediums while instructors can make various administrative processes more efficient.

Industry Expertise

Google Classroom is one of the top learning platforms worldwide. It has 100 million users, nearly double what it saw before the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. As of April 2020, the app saw a spike of one-star reviews from frustrated students who dislike working from home under quarantine. They spammed the Google Classroom app to get it removed. The idea originated after Chinese students tried the same method to get the DingTalk app removed. Content creators on TikTok popularized “review bombing” the app.

The company also recently began a campaign to broaden internet access in California. It promised to set up the internet for 100,000 people and give away 4,000 Chromebooks to children in need, according to the article, “Google Classroom Users Doubled as Quarantines Spread,” from Bloomberg Quint.

Google Classroom Reviews

Average customer reviews & user sentiment summary for Google Classroom:

User satisfaction level icon: excellent

4017 reviews

92%

of users would recommend this product

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Based on an aggregate of Google Classroom reviews taken from the sources above, the following pros & cons have been curated by a SelectHub Market Analyst.

Pros

  • Affordable: Over 80% of viewers who mentioned price were happy with the cost.
  • Integrates with the G Suite: Users who mentioned the integration with Google Docs, Slides and other products were pleased in 80% of reviews.
  • Uploads Efficiently: Over 70% of reviewers felt that uploading ran smoothly.
  • Easy to Use: The majority of users who mentioned the UI were happy with its capability in just under 70% of reviews.
  • Multimedia Support: More than 60% were happy with the various formatting and multimedia support in the system.
  • Excellent User Communication Tools: Users who mentioned the messages, notifications and other communications functions were pleased in more than 60% of reviews.

Cons

  • Glitchy: More than 80% of users who mentioned the speed of running the program felt it was glitchy.
  • Lack of Customization: Reviewers who mentioned customization felt the options were lacking in more than 70% of reviews.
  • Not Enough Admin Control: Over 60% of reviewers who discussed the user admin function felt functionality was lacking.
  • Lacks Features: In over 50% of reviews that mentioned the feature set, users felt they were missing features.

Researcher's Summary:

Google Classroom is an eLearning solution that’s widely used in education because of its price point. While the base version is free, there is a paid enterprise package with expanded functionality. Reviewers like its simple UI, integration with the G Suite, support of multimedia options and good base functionality with grading, assignments, exams and more. They also felt it encouraged engagement and collaboration while saving time and money.
On the flip side, reviewers felt the platform lacked options for customization and didn’t come with enough features. The platform isn’t a full-service LMS. It delivers lessons, shares files and has some higher function feedback functions, but doesn’t have the advanced administrative, reporting and other options of more robust solutions. This is an excellent option for small to medium-sized organizations that need to facilitate training. Make sure you understand the functional differences between the free and enterprise versions.

Key Features

  • Different Roles: Adjust access on the platform allowing administrators to create other roles for parents, students, educators and more.
  • Web Conferencing: Create a unique link for each video session and send out a private link for classes. Use the IETF security standards for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol and Datagram Transport Layer Security. Record and live stream with the expanded paid product.
  • Integration: Integrate with many school administration apps, curriculum building, communication, education enhancement and more. Use apps like Aeries, Aladdin Schools Connect, Classcraft, Pear Deck, Pearson Education, Quizizz, Squigl, Writable and a wide variety of others. Have programmers connect their app with the platform and access technical support, company-wide initiatives and marketing support.
  • Mobile: Use the mobile app that works on iOS and Android where learners and instructors can access the program from multiple devices.
  • Jamboard: Provide a smart display for tablets, smartphones or smart boards. Pull in images, make notes with the stylus and handwriting and shape recognition tools and more. Operate with Meet or during an in-person class.
  • Enterprise Option: Use the teacher center and Google for Education for more control, better security, device management, data loss prevention, a S/MIME for Gmail, Gmail logs and admin reports in BigQuery, a security sandbox and more. Set up a university-wide email system with Gmail.
  • Stream: See posts, comments and other materials when they log into the program. Upload content and respond to comments while students can collaborate with their peers and comment on posted materials.
  • Class Management: Facilitate classes through an organization with features such as a content library for assignments, slides, class papers, forms and other resources. Lock due dates, set a timer on access for materials, reuse content, add YouTube videos and more.
  • Accessibility: Accommodate students with impairments such as hearing, vision, physical disabilities and processing disorders. Use voice access, screen readers, closed captioning and more so learners can access information in a way that helps them. Adjust the content to make it more visual, auditory and more to match individual learning styles. Download an accessibility conformance report to analyze the effectiveness of the program.
  • Security: Use a system that supports the standards and compliance for the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Software & Information Industry Association, ISO/IEC 27018:2014, HIPPA, GDRP and more. Host information on secure servers, let administrators watch over data security and get audited by a third-party to ensure data protection.
  • Grading: Allow instructors to add comments, grade, enter commonly used feedback, apply rubrics and automatically notify students when their assignment is ready for them.
  • Educator Groups: Unite local educators so they can collaborate and help one another online and in-person. A local volunteer organizes the group and the members unite for teaching, workshops, advice and more.

Limitations

As with any other solution, Google Classroom comes with a handful of limitations in addition to all of its benefits. Users considering implementing this platform should be aware of the following limitations:

  • Limited functionality in free version
  • Integrating with other apps is costly
  • Limits the number of students and instructors that can use the system

Suite Support

Google Classroom has a help forum for free users and expanded support for paid subscribers. It offers online training and consulting with a professional development specialist. Everyone can use the forum for help and a teacher center with resources for instructors. Paid subscribers can contact support more directly.

mail_outlineEmail: There’s no specific general-purpose support email for the platform.
phonePhone: There isn’t a public support number for free users of the product. In the Enterprise version, the administrator receives a support number.
schoolTraining: For administrators, there’s a self-guided course to help them get acclimated to the process. It offers documentation and an online help center for issues, a forum and special support for IT admins.
local_offerTickets: Paid users can submit tickets and also have access to live chat. Information for using these tools is given after the purchase of the license.
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