itslearning vs Canvas

Why Switch from Canvas to itslearning?

Canvas, developed by US company Instructure (now owned by private equity firm Thoma Bravo), has become one of the most popular learning management systems globally. However, Canvas processes student data on US servers, and Instructure’s acquisition by a private equity firm raises questions about long-term data stewardship and the commercialization of educational data. For European schools and universities, sending sensitive student information — grades, learning disabilities, behavioral notes, parent communications — to US servers subject to the CLOUD Act represents a real compliance and ethical risk.

itslearning, founded in Bergen, Norway, in 1999, was built from the ground up for European education. The platform stores all data in European data centers within the EU/EEA, operates under GDPR, and was designed with European pedagogical approaches in mind. Rather than retrofitting a US product for European compliance, itslearning is natively European.

The pedagogical difference matters too. itslearning emphasizes competency-based learning, learning paths, and formative assessment — approaches deeply embedded in Scandinavian and European education philosophy. Canvas excels as a content delivery platform but is less opinionated about pedagogy. For schools that want their LMS to actively support their teaching methodology rather than just host files and quizzes, itslearning’s design philosophy aligns better with European educational values.

Choosing itslearning also means supporting a European edtech company that employs staff across Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, and the UK, contributing to the European education technology ecosystem rather than sending licensing fees to US private equity.

Feature Comparison

Feature	itslearning	Canvas
Course management	✅ Full-featured	✅ Full-featured
Gradebook	✅ Competency-based and traditional	✅ Traditional
Learning paths	✅ Built-in with branching	⚠️ Modules (linear)
Parent communication	✅ Built-in parent portal	⚠️ Canvas for Parents app
Assessment tools	✅ Formative and summative	✅ Quizzes and rubrics
LTI integrations	✅ LTI 1.3 support	✅ Extensive LTI ecosystem
Mobile app	✅ iOS and Android	✅ iOS and Android
Data location	Norway / EU 🇪🇺	United States 🇺🇸
GDPR compliant	✅ Full (EEA company)	⚠️ Partial (US entity)
Free tier	❌ Institutional only	✅ Free for Teachers
WCAG accessibility	✅ Strong	✅ Strong

Pricing

Both itslearning and Canvas use institutional licensing:

• itslearning: Custom per-institution pricing, typically based on student count — contact sales for quotes
• itslearning includes: Full platform, parent portal, learning paths, integrations, and European hosting
• Canvas: Institutional pricing via Instructure sales team
• Canvas Free for Teachers: Free individual accounts (limited features, US data hosting)
• Canvas pricing range: Varies widely by institution size, typically $5-15/student/year for K-12

itslearning’s pricing is competitive with Canvas for European institutions, and the included European data hosting eliminates the need for additional data processing agreements or compliance workarounds required when using US-hosted platforms.

Who Should Switch?

itslearning is ideal for:

• European K-12 schools that need a GDPR-compliant LMS with European data hosting
• School districts and education authorities requiring centralized learning platforms with student data sovereignty
• Universities seeking a European alternative to US-hosted learning management systems
• Parents and families who want assurance that their children’s educational data stays in Europe
• Education ministries implementing national or regional digital learning strategies

The European Advantage

Student data is among the most sensitive personal information that exists. It includes not just grades but learning disabilities, behavioral assessments, disciplinary records, and communications between teachers and parents. Sending this data to US servers — where it is accessible under the CLOUD Act and managed by a private equity-owned company focused on shareholder returns — is a risk that European schools should not accept when viable European alternatives exist.

itslearning provides structural data sovereignty: all student data resides in European data centers within the EU/EEA, processed by a Norwegian company under GDPR-equivalent protections. Norway’s membership in the EEA ensures data protection standards equivalent to EU member states. There is no US parent company and no legal pathway for US authorities to access student data.

Beyond compliance, itslearning invests in the European education technology ecosystem. The company employs education technology specialists across Scandinavia, Germany, France, and the UK, contributing to European innovation in digital learning. For schools and education authorities making long-term platform decisions, choosing itslearning is an investment in European educational sovereignty and an assurance that student data will be governed by European values.

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Looking for more European education platforms? See also: OpenClassrooms vs Coursera and Mimo vs Codecademy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is itslearning?

itslearning is a learning management system (LMS) founded in Bergen, Norway, in 1999. It provides a digital platform for schools, universities, and training organizations to manage courses, assignments, assessments, and communication between teachers, students, and parents. It is one of Europe's most widely used LMS platforms, particularly in Scandinavia, Germany, France, and the UK.

Where is itslearning student data stored?

itslearning stores all student data in European data centers within the EU/EEA. As a Norwegian company operating under the EEA Agreement (which extends GDPR-equivalent protections), itslearning provides full GDPR compliance. Student data is not processed on US servers and is not subject to the CLOUD Act or other US surveillance legislation.

How does itslearning compare to Canvas for K-12 schools?

itslearning was designed primarily for K-12 education and has strong features for competency-based learning, learning paths, and parent communication. Canvas was originally built for higher education and later expanded to K-12. For European K-12 schools, itslearning's pedagogical design and GDPR compliance give it an advantage over Canvas.

Can itslearning integrate with Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom?

Yes. itslearning offers integrations with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace for Education, and various LTI-compatible tools. While its integration ecosystem is smaller than Canvas's, it covers the major platforms that European schools use. The platform supports LTI 1.3 for connecting external learning tools.

Is itslearning suitable for universities and higher education?

Yes. While itslearning has its strongest presence in K-12, it is used by universities and vocational training institutions across Europe. The platform supports course management, gradebooks, rubrics, peer assessment, and learning analytics suitable for higher education contexts.