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Compare Blackboard and Watermark Planning & Self-Study 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Enterprise (46.4% of reviews)
Mid-Market (64.8% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
No pricing available
Blackboard
Star Rating
(1,058)4.0 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (46.4% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Free Trial is available
Learn more about BlackboardWatermark Planning & Self-Study
Star Rating
(71)4.2 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (64.8% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Watermark Planning & Self-StudySummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Blackboard excels in providing an all-in-one ecosystem, integrating core tools like course content management, graded assessments, and discussion boards into a single, stable platform. This organization helps users stay on top of their classes and manage their materials effectively.
- Users say that Watermark Planning & Self-Study shines in its ability to keep information organized by Unit/Program and year, making it easy to track progress on strategic goals. This feature is particularly beneficial for institutions managing multiple programs and accreditation processes.
- Reviewers mention that while both platforms are user-friendly, Blackboard's interface is noted for its stability and familiarity, which can enhance the overall user experience. However, some users feel that Watermark's interface is also easily understood and navigated, making it a strong contender in usability.
- According to verified reviews, Blackboard has a significantly higher G2 Score, indicating greater overall user satisfaction. This is supported by a larger number of reviews, suggesting that its performance is well-established among a diverse user base.
- Users highlight that Watermark's ability to preload documents and data for assessments is a valuable feature, allowing for efficient evidence collection. This capability is particularly useful for institutions focused on accreditation and program reviews.
- Reviewers note that while Blackboard has a robust support system, Watermark Planning & Self-Study receives higher marks for quality of support, indicating that users may find more responsive assistance when facing challenges with the latter.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Blackboard
No pricing availableWatermark Planning & Self-Study
No pricing availableFree Trial
Blackboard
Free Trial is available
Watermark Planning & Self-Study
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.2
829
8.3
69
Ease of Use
7.8
923
7.8
70
Ease of Setup
7.5
303
7.5
55
Ease of Admin
7.4
202
8.3
37
Quality of Support
7.4
682
8.3
54
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
7.9
170
8.6
37
Product Direction (% positive)
6.7
830
9.0
71
Features by Category
Assessment delivery
8.9
83
7.4
49
8.5
80
Feature Not Available
7.7
74
7.2
50
Grading and reporting
8.8
80
Feature Not Available
6.9
76
Feature Not Available
8.2
80
7.9
52
8.2
82
8.0
50
Administration
7.6
74
7.0
48
8.0
79
7.0
48
Process Automation
8.4
15
Not enough data
9.0
15
Not enough data
7.3
15
Not enough data
8.0
15
Not enough data
7.6
15
Not enough data
7.8
15
Not enough data
Course Authoring
7.6
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.8
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
Course Management
7.3
13
Not enough data
8.7
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
13
Not enough data
7.7
14
Not enough data
Platform
8.9
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
Onboarding
8.9
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
14
|
Verified
Not enough data
Generative AI
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Course Authoring
9.0
35
Not enough data
7.8
34
Not enough data
8.8
38
Not enough data
8.7
35
Not enough data
Course Delivery
8.3
36
Not enough data
8.6
38
Not enough data
9.0
38
Not enough data
Course Management
6.5
32
Not enough data
8.4
33
Not enough data
8.2
34
Not enough data
8.5
28
Not enough data
LMS Marketplace
6.2
29
Not enough data
7.1
29
Not enough data
6.7
29
Not enough data
Interface
7.7
31
Not enough data
7.8
28
Not enough data
Training & eLearning
8.6
56
Not enough data
8.2
60
Not enough data
7.7
52
Not enough data
8.0
45
Not enough data
7.2
43
Not enough data
7.6
56
Not enough data
7.3
51
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.6
22
Not enough data
7.5
12
Not enough data
6.7
22
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Corporate Learning Management Systems
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Blackboard and Watermark Planning & Self-Study are categorized as Assessment
Unique Categories
Blackboard is categorized as Sales Training and Onboarding, Corporate Learning Management Systems, Learning Management System (LMS), and Healthcare Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Watermark Planning & Self-Study has no unique categories
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Blackboard
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Watermark Planning & Self-Study
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Higher Education
48.1%
Education Management
18.6%
E-Learning
9.8%
Primary/Secondary Education
3.3%
Information Technology and Services
1.8%
Other
18.4%
Higher Education
76.1%
Education Management
18.3%
E-Learning
4.2%
Primary/Secondary Education
1.4%
‐
Other
0.0%
Alternatives
Discussions
It seems like I see a lot of reviews saying 'back in the day' in reference to how Blackboard has been surpassed by several new products. What new products are out there today that compete well or have surpassed Blackboard in both features and usability?
3 Comments
CS
It think D2L (Desire To Learn) is a pretty good modern alternative to Blackboard. It requires far less down time and is more intuitive. I've had better...Read more
API
1 Comment
SB
Hi Asmat,
This is Shaun from G2. If you’re looking for information about APIs in Blackboard Learn, this is a useful website:...Read more
I would be curious if the designers have taken to heart the UX concerns that have been raised.
1 Comment
SH
Everyone dislikes their enterprise level LMS and wants to replace it. I worked with Bb daily for 8 years. Yes. I had complaints about the UX. But the...Read more
Watermark Planning & Self-Study has no discussions with answers
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