Blackboard

What is Anthology

Anthology is an education-technology company that now encompasses the legacy Blackboard learning management system (LMS) along with a suite of products focused on learning effectiveness, accessibility, analytics, and community engagement. The company combines SaaS-hosted learning platforms, accessibility tooling (Anthology Ally), student success and retention products, and enterprise services for learning and workforce development.

Anthology’s product strategy targets higher-education institutions, K–12 districts, government agencies, and corporate learning teams that need an integrated set of services: a full-featured LMS, accessibility and content remediation, analytics for institutional decision-making, and professional services for implementation and training. Many customers choose Anthology when they need vendor-managed hosting, compliance with education data standards, and broad integration support with existing campus or organizational IT systems.

Because Anthology grew by bringing Blackboard and complementary products together under one brand, the platform’s capabilities reflect decades of LMS and accessibility tooling development. If you want a direct view of the company’s corporate positioning and product descriptions, review the Anthology overview and product pages such as the Anthology Blackboard LMS product page and the Anthology Ally accessibility tool page.

Anthology features

Anthology’s platform is a multi-product suite with modules and integrations intended to cover several institutional needs. Core feature areas include: course delivery and assessment via the Blackboard LMS; accessibility scanning and content remediation with Anthology Ally; analytics dashboards for student success and retention; and integrations with student information systems (SIS), identity providers (SSO), and third-party content providers.

The suite supports modern LMS capabilities like modular course design, gradebook integrations, assignment and rubric management, discussion tools, and grade export. On the accessibility side, Anthology Ally automatically scans course content, generates alternative formats, and provides instructor-facing guidance to improve content accessibility. Administrators get usage metrics, accessibility scores, and remediation workflows to prioritize fixes.

Anthology emphasizes standards-based interoperability. Expect support for standards such as LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) for third-party tool launches, xAPI for learning activity tracking, and common data integrations with major SIS platforms. The company also provides enterprise features such as role-based access control, single sign-on (SSO), data export and archival options, and configurable reporting for compliance and accreditation.

What does Anthology do?

Anthology delivers a combined set of learning and administrative tools so institutions can run courses, monitor learner outcomes, and manage digital accessibility. The Blackboard LMS component handles course delivery, communications, assessment, and grading, while Anthology Ally focuses on scanning course materials and converting content into accessible formats for learners with different needs.

Administrators and instructional designers use Anthology to deploy course templates, enable automated workflows for grading and feedback, and generate analytics that surface at-risk students or trends across cohorts. For IT teams, Anthology offers integrations, APIs, and hosting options that align with institutional security and data management policies.

Anthology also offers professional services — implementation planning, instructor training, custom development, and support packages — so organizations can adopt the platform at scale and link it to existing enterprise systems. For organizations focused on accessibility and compliance, Anthology Ally provides measurable accessibility scores and a path to remediate content proactively.

Anthology pricing

Anthology offers flexible pricing tailored to different institutional and organizational needs, from individual course-level tools to enterprise LMS and accessibility bundles. Pricing is typically structured as annual contracts for institutions with volume-based components (seats, course shells, or active users) and optional modules such as accessibility tooling, analytics, and professional services. Many customers receive discounted rates for multi-year commitments and bundled product purchases.

Because Anthology’s product set is modular and often sold via institutional contracts, exact public list prices are not typically published for all modules. Institutions commonly engage Anthology sales teams or authorized partners to receive quotes based on deployment scale, hosting requirements, and required integrations. For specific product pricing such as Anthology Ally or Blackboard LMS hosting, institutions should request formal quotes that break out module fees, implementation costs, and ongoing support charges.

Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

How much is Anthology per month

Anthology offers contract-based pricing rather than standardized per-month list prices for most enterprise LMS and accessibility products. Monthly equivalent costs depend on the size of the institution, number of active users, selected modules (LMS, Ally, analytics), and whether hosting and professional services are included. Institutions often structure payments annually or quarterly after signing a multi-year agreement.

For teams or individual departments evaluating Anthology modules, request a quote or pilot agreement from Anthology that provides a clear monthly or annual cost breakdown for the specific scope you need. Check the Anthology Ally and Blackboard LMS product pages for module-level information and contact details.

How much is Anthology per year

Anthology’s annual costs vary widely by product mix and scale, from small departmental pilots to full-campus deployments that can range into the tens of thousands of dollars per year. The final annual price will reflect the number of users, course shells, optional modules, hosting and SLAs, and professional services for onboarding and training.

Institutions typically budget for: software subscription fees, implementation and integration costs, annual support and maintenance, and potential third-party hosting or data migration expenses. For accurate annual pricing, request a tailored institutional quote through Anthology’s sales channels or authorized partners.

How much is Anthology in general

Anthology pricing ranges from free tiers for select accessibility helpers to enterprise subscriptions costing tens of thousands of dollars per year depending on scope. Smaller units (single-course pilots) can often be arranged at modest cost, while full institutional LMS and analytics deployments require larger annual investments.

When planning procurement, include both one-time implementation costs and recurring subscription fees. Typical budget line items to prepare include:

• Software subscription: ongoing module fees based on users or seats
• Implementation services: data migration, integration, and configuration
• Training and support: instructor onboarding and staff training

Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

What is Anthology used for

Anthology is used primarily as a campus-wide learning management system and as an accessibility and analytics platform for improving teaching and learning outcomes. Institutions deploy Anthology to: deliver online and blended courses, manage assessments and gradebooks, centralize course content, and provide accessible content alternatives for learners with diverse needs.

Beyond course delivery, Anthology tools are used for student success initiatives (retention analytics, early-alert systems), institutional reporting, accreditation support, and workforce learning programs for government or corporate customers. IT teams use Anthology to integrate with identity providers, SIS databases, and library or content vendors to maintain a cohesive digital learning ecosystem.

Operational uses include content accessibility audits via Anthology Ally, exportable analytics for institutional research teams, and APIs for integrating external edtech tools. These use cases make Anthology suitable for institutions seeking a single vendor to manage course delivery, accessibility, and learning analytics alongside professional services.

Pros and cons of Anthology

Pros:

• Anthology provides a comprehensive suite combining a mature LMS (formerly Blackboard) with dedicated accessibility tooling (Anthology Ally) and analytics, creating a single vendor path for multiple institutional needs.
• The platform supports standards such as LTI and xAPI, and offers robust integration options with SIS and enterprise identity systems.
• Professional services and institutional experience make large-scale migrations and managed hosting feasible for institutions that lack large internal IT teams.

Cons:

• Pricing is generally contract-based and can be complex to estimate without a tailored quote; smaller organizations may find the procurement process and cost structure more involved than cloud-native competitors.
• The breadth of features and legacy interface elements can produce a steeper learning curve for faculty and administrators compared with some newer, more streamlined LMS interfaces.
• Some customers report variable experiences with product updates and customization timelines when many modules are bundled together.

Overall, Anthology is a strong choice for institutions that need enterprise-grade LMS capabilities combined with accessibility and analytics, but procurement and onboarding require planning and resource commitment.

Anthology free trial

Anthology sometimes offers pilots or trial arrangements for specific modules such as Anthology Ally or a limited Blackboard course shell, but trials are typically arranged through sales or partner channels rather than a self-serve free trial page. Institutions evaluating the platform usually run time-limited pilots that include sandbox course environments, basic instructor training, and limited administrative access.

Pilot agreements typically define the scope (number of courses, duration, and included support) and are intended to validate integration workflows, content accessibility improvements, and instructor adoption. For government and enterprise customers, trials may include additional security or deployment requirements.

To set up a trial or pilot, contact Anthology sales or an authorized partner; pilot offerings, scope, and availability vary by region and product. For module-specific trials, see the Anthology Ally product page for accessibility tooling demos and pilot options.

Is Anthology free

No, Anthology is not free as a full institutional LMS; however, some Anthology tools offer limited free or demo options. Anthology Ally and other modules are typically sold as paid modules or included as part of bundled institutional contracts. Smaller pilots and demos are common, but a production-scale LMS and analytics deployment requires a paid subscription and contractual agreement.

For precise details about free demos and pilot program availability, contact Anthology directly or review their product demo and trial information on the Anthology Ally and Blackboard pages.

Anthology API

Anthology supports developer and integration interfaces commonly required by institutions: RESTful APIs for data exchange, LTI for third-party tool integration into courses, and xAPI for learning record interoperability. These APIs allow third-party tools to launch inside courses, exchange grade and roster data, and send learning activity statements to analytics systems.

Institutions use these APIs to integrate library systems, assessment platforms, proctoring tools, and custom campus applications. Anthology typically documents available endpoints, authentication methods (OAuth2 or token-based access), and developer guides through their developer resources or partner portals.

If your team plans to build integrations, request Anthology’s developer documentation and test keys early in technical evaluation to validate the APIs you need. For authoritative developer resources and specifications, consult the Anthology developer pages and integration documentation.

10 Anthology alternatives

Paid alternatives to Anthology

• Canvas LMS — A cloud-native LMS widely used in higher education with modern UX, strong third-party integrations, and clear pricing tiers for institutions and districts.
• D2L Brightspace — An enterprise LMS focused on competency-based learning and analytics, with a modular architecture and strong accessibility features.
• Schoology (PowerSchool) — A K–12 and higher-education LMS with a user-friendly interface and deep K–12 gradebook integrations.
• Cornerstone OnDemand — A talent-development and learning platform often used by enterprise HR teams for employee training and compliance.
• Cornerstone Learning — (if purchased separately) provides extended enterprise learning features and integration options for corporate customers.
• Google Workspace for Education (paid tiers) — Not a traditional LMS but used as part of a learning stack with classroom management features and broad collaboration tools.

Open source alternatives to Anthology

• Moodle — A mature open source LMS with a large ecosystem of plug-ins; institutions can self-host or purchase hosted services from vendors.
• Sakai — An open source LMS project used by several universities; strong in collaboration and academic workflows.
• Open edX — A platform for course authoring and delivery, used for MOOCs and campus deployments; supports advanced content and analytics.
• Chamilo — A lightweight open source LMS used in corporate and educational settings with simpler hosting and administration needs.

Frequently asked questions about Anthology

What is Anthology used for?

Anthology is used for campus and enterprise learning, accessibility, and analytics. Institutions deploy it to deliver online and blended courses, manage assessments and grades, provide accessibility remediation with Anthology Ally, and run analytics to support student success and institutional reporting.

How does Anthology differ from Blackboard?

Anthology includes the Blackboard LMS as part of its product family. The rebranding brings Blackboard products and Anthology’s other modules under one company, so differences are mostly organizational and packaging-related rather than immediate feature changes; institutions still use Blackboard-branded LMS capabilities within the Anthology portfolio.

Does Anthology support accessibility standards?

Yes, Anthology provides dedicated accessibility tooling through Anthology Ally. Ally scans course content, provides alternative formats to students, and surfaces instructor guidance and institution-level accessibility reporting to track remediation progress.

Can Anthology integrate with student information systems (SIS)?

Yes, Anthology supports integrations with major SIS platforms. The platform can synchronize rosters, enrollments, and grade exchange using secure integrations and standard data formats, although exact integration methods and setup vary by SIS vendor.

Is there an Anthology API for developers?

Yes, Anthology exposes APIs and supports LTI and xAPI standards. Developers can use these interfaces to integrate third-party tools, exchange learning data, and build custom workflows; request developer documentation and sandbox credentials from Anthology or an authorized partner.

Why would an institution choose Anthology over other LMS vendors?

Institutions choose Anthology when they want an enterprise-grade LMS with integrated accessibility and analytics modules. Anthology’s combination of Blackboard functionality, Anthology Ally accessibility tooling, and professional services makes it suitable for large campuses and organizations that need vendor-managed hosting and broad institutional support.

When can institutions get a trial or pilot of Anthology

Trials and pilots are available but typically require coordination with Anthology sales or partners. Institutions should contact Anthology to arrange sandbox access, pilot scope, and time-limited evaluation environments for specific modules like Blackboard or Anthology Ally.

Where can I find Anthology career opportunities?

Anthology publishes job openings on its careers page. Visit the Anthology careers portal to find listings for product, engineering, sales, and professional services roles and to learn about the company’s hiring process.

What does Anthology cost for small deployments?

Anthology offers contract-based pricing that scales with deployment size; small pilots often cost significantly less than full institutional deployments. For a precise cost estimate, request a quote that outlines subscription fees, implementation charges, and optional support packages. Visit their official pricing page for guidance on procurement channels.

How can I compare Anthology reviews and customer feedback?

You can find independent Anthology and Blackboard reviews on major software review sites such as G2 and Capterra. These platforms collect user ratings on usability, customer support, and feature satisfaction, which can help buyers compare Anthology’s strengths and weaknesses against competitors.

Anthology careers

Anthology lists open roles across product, engineering, customer success, sales, and professional services. Career pages typically include role descriptions, remote/hybrid options, and application instructions. For current job openings and recruitment events, check Anthology’s careers portal and their LinkedIn company page.

Anthology affiliate

Anthology works with channel partners, resellers, and system integrators rather than a conventional affiliate program for individual promoters. Institutions and organizations can engage Anthology through authorized partners for procurement, implementation, and managed services. See the Anthology partners and alliances pages for details on becoming a partner or reseller.

Where to find Anthology reviews

Third-party review platforms that aggregate customer feedback include G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. For peer references and case studies, look at Anthology’s customer stories and higher-education case studies, and cross-check those accounts with independent reviews on software marketplaces. For metrics about accessibility and compliance features, consult Anthology Ally documentation and independent accessibility reports.