D2l

What is D2L

D2L (Desire2Learn) is the company behind Brightspace, a cloud-first learning management system used to create, deliver and manage online learning at scale. Brightspace targets K–12 districts, higher education institutions, corporate learning programs, associations and government training environments. The platform focuses on course authoring, assessment and grading, learning analytics, accessibility and integrations with enterprise systems.

Brightspace is offered as a hosted platform with multi-tenant, cloud infrastructure and a set of optional add-ons—AI-powered learner supports, content authoring tools and accessibility services—that extend core LMS functionality. The platform supports standards and interoperability such as SCORM, xAPI (Tin Can), and LTI for integrating learning content and third-party tools. For technical details about integrations and developer support, see the D2L Valence API documentation: https://docs.valence.desire2learn.com/.

D2L positions Brightspace for organizations that need a single LMS to serve diverse learner populations across different stages of learning: classroom courses, continuing professional development, compliance training and commercial course storefronts. The vendor emphasizes accessibility, analytics and configurable workflows so institutions can align the system to pedagogical models and organizational goals. For an overview of product modules and recent feature updates, review the Brightspace product pages on D2L’s official site: https://www.d2l.com/brightspace/.

D2L features

What does D2L do?

D2L Brightspace provides a comprehensive set of tools for creating, delivering and measuring online learning experiences. Core capabilities include course and content authoring, assessment and grading, learning analytics, reporting, learner communications, and secure content delivery. The platform supports mobile access, offline reading (via mobile apps), role-based dashboards and configurable permissions for administrators, instructors and learners.

Key packaged and optional features include:

• Createspace: Centralized content creation, editing and collaboration tools for teams and instructional designers.
• Course Authoring and H5P: Visual layout builders, drag-and-drop resource design and interactive content via H5P to create engaging activities and assessments.
• Assessment and Grading: Quizzes, rubrics, bulk grading actions, gradebook exports and integration with plagiarism tools and proctoring services.
• Learning Analytics and Outcomes: Dashboards for instructor and administrator views, cohort and individual learner analytics, and outcomes-based reporting to track mastery and institutional metrics.
• AI-powered supports (D2L Lumi): Features such as learner insights, 24/7 chat assistance, personalized study suggestions and AI-driven tutor or feedback options to augment instructor-led learning.
• E-commerce and storefront: Catalog, commerce workflows and self-enrollment options for institutions selling courses or offering continuing education.
• Integrations and standards compliance: Native connectors and support for LTI, SCORM, xAPI, SSO and integrations with SIS/HR systems. D2L Link provides out-of-the-box connectors to common enterprise platforms.
• Accessibility+ and compliance: Automated and expert-reviewed accessibility checks, captioning workflows and tools to help meet accessibility regulations and policies.

Brightspace also includes features designed to reduce instructor administrative overhead: bulk actions for feedback, due dates for discussions, print quiz capabilities, and enhanced quiz grading flows. For feature-specific documentation and recent release notes, consult Brightspace feature pages and the D2L product roadmap: https://www.d2l.com/brightspace/.

D2L pricing

D2L offers flexible pricing tailored to different business needs, from single-course pilots to enterprise-wide LMS deployments. Pricing typically varies by sector (K–12, higher education, corporate), number of active users, selected feature modules and service level (self-service vs. fully managed implementation). Annual contracts often include discounts compared with month-to-month billing and can bundle hosting, support, professional services and add-on modules like AI tools or accessibility review services.

Common commercial packaging approaches you can expect from an LMS vendor like D2L include:

• Free Plan: Limited trial or pilot access may be available for evaluation purposes or for a very small user base; full production use is licensed.
• Starter: Core LMS services, basic assessments and limited integrations suitable for small programs or pilots.
• Professional: Expanded authoring, analytics, e-commerce and integrations for institutions or businesses scaling online learning initiatives.
• Enterprise: Full-featured platform with advanced security, custom integrations, enterprise SSO, dedicated support and professional services for large organizations.

Because Brightspace deployments are commonly customized (SIS/HR integrations, custom themes, specialized accessibility services, e-commerce setups), final pricing is best determined through a tailored quote. Check D2L's current pricing options for organizational licensing and add-on modules on their pricing and solutions pages: https://www.d2l.com/brightspace/.

Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

How much is D2L per month

D2L offers competitive pricing plans designed for different team sizes and institutional needs; monthly rates depend on the selected bundle, active user counts and added services. Many organizations negotiate annual contracts that convert to lower effective monthly pricing, and pilot programs or short-term trials are sometimes available to test the platform. Check D2L’s current pricing options for details on monthly billing and per-user models: https://www.d2l.com/brightspace/.

How much is D2L per year

D2L offers competitive pricing plans and often provides discounts for annual commitments. Yearly contract pricing is typically quoted based on the number of active learners, modules chosen (analytics, AI tools, accessibility services) and service level agreements for support and implementation. For precise annual licensing rates and savings estimates for annual billing, consult D2L’s sales team or review current options at D2L’s Brightspace pages: https://www.d2l.com/brightspace/.

How much is D2L in general

D2L pricing ranges widely depending on deployment size and features required. Small pilots and single-course implementations will have a much lower total cost than institution-wide or enterprise deployments that require integrations, custom development, advanced security features and professional services. Typical cost drivers include active user counts, chosen add-ons (AI, accessibility review, e-commerce), integration complexities and desired SLA/support levels. Visit their official pricing page or contact D2L sales for a tailored quote.

What is D2L used for

D2L Brightspace is used to manage the full lifecycle of online and blended learning initiatives. Institutions use Brightspace to host course content, run assessments, manage grading and track learner progress. Corporate L&D teams use the platform to deliver onboarding, compliance training, sales enablement and leadership development programs with analytics that tie learning to business outcomes.

In higher education and K–12, Brightspace is commonly used for LMS replacement, blended course delivery, competency-based education and large-scale assessment programs. Administrators value outcomes-based reporting to map curriculum to accreditation or district learning standards. Teachers use built-in authoring tools, rubrics and discussion workflows to deliver instruction and assess mastery.

In business and government, Brightspace is deployed for regulated training, certification programs and measurable professional development. The platform supports e-commerce for continuing education and associations, letting organizations sell courses and manage memberships through integrated storefronts. Cross-sector use cases include compliance tracking, instructor-led training coordination, microlearning and continuing professional education (CPE) management.

Pros and cons of D2L

D2L Brightspace has strengths and trade-offs that organizations evaluating LMS options should weigh carefully. Pros include robust accessibility and compliance features, flexible content authoring, integrated analytics and a modular architecture that allows institutions to add AI-driven learning supports and accessibility services. The platform’s extensibility—LTI, xAPI, SCORM and the Valence API—makes it suitable where third-party tools and custom integrations are required.

Common challenges reported by prospective buyers include implementation complexity for large integrations (SIS/HR systems), variable cost depending on chosen modules and the need for training and change management to drive instructor adoption. Because Brightspace is feature-rich, organizations should budget time and services for content migration, staff training and workflow configuration to realize full value.

Operational considerations:

• Scalability: Brightspace is designed for large deployments, but scale often requires advanced planning and services.
• Customization vs. standardization: Extensive customization can increase costs and implementation time; using standard templates and workflows typically reduces time to value.
• Support and services: Professional services, onboarding and customer success offerings are available but may be separate line items in contracts.

D2L free trial

D2L sometimes offers trial or pilot programs to let institutions evaluate Brightspace features before committing to full production licensing. Trials are typically time-limited and may provide access to core LMS features, sample courses and basic analytics so stakeholders can assess usability, integration needs and instructional workflows.

Trial options vary by region and organization type—education customers may be offered academic pilots while corporate prospects might receive a business-focused sandbox. When planning a trial, define evaluation criteria (ease of content import, grading workflows, accessibility checks and analytics) and allocate time for stakeholder review and instructor testing.

If you are evaluating Brightspace, request a demo and inquire about a pilot account through D2L’s sales or regional representatives; product pages list specific contact paths and resources: https://www.d2l.com/brightspace/.

Is D2L free

No, D2L Brightspace is not a free platform for production use. Brightspace is a commercial LMS and licensing is required for ongoing, full-featured deployments. However, D2L may provide limited trial accounts, pilots or sandbox environments for evaluation purposes and short-term testing. Educational institutions and smaller organizations should contact D2L for details on pilot options and any available evaluation programs.

D2L API

D2L provides developer-facing APIs and standards-based integration options that let institutions connect Brightspace to student information systems, HR platforms, content providers and analytics pipelines. The primary developer offering historically referenced is the Valence API, a RESTful API that allows programmatic access to users, enrollments, course content, gradebook entries and more. For developer documentation and endpoint details, see the D2L Valence API docs: https://docs.valence.desire2learn.com/.

Brightspace also supports LTI for integrating external learning tools, SCORM and xAPI for content interoperability and activity tracking. Many organizations use xAPI to capture fine-grained learning events and feed them into external learning record stores (LRS) or analytics systems. The LMS supports webhook-like notifications and scheduled export mechanisms to synchronize data with business intelligence or ERP systems.

When planning integrations, typical technical considerations include authentication (OAuth, SSO), rate limits, data privacy/compliance, and mapping between the LMS data model and institutional systems. D2L’s professional services and partner ecosystem can provide implementation support for complex integrations; for technical security and compliance details, review D2L’s security documentation: https://www.d2l.com/security/.

10 D2L alternatives

Paid alternatives to D2L

• Canvas (Instructure): Popular LMS for higher education and K–12 with strong course management, mobile apps and a large partner ecosystem. Canvas emphasizes ease of use and broad LTI tool support.
• Blackboard Learn: Enterprise-focused LMS with deep assessment, proctoring and analytics capabilities commonly used across higher education and corporate learning environments.
• Cornerstone OnDemand: Talent and learning platform targeted at enterprise HR and compliance training, with strong talent management integration and reporting.
• Schoology (PowerSchool): K–12-focused LMS with class collaboration tools, assessments and integration with district SIS systems.
• TalentLMS: Cloud LMS aimed at small-to-medium businesses and extended enterprise use cases, with rapid deployment and e-commerce support.
• SAP Litmos: Corporate learning platform with ready-made content libraries, LMS features for compliance and sales enablement, and strong enterprise integration.
• Absorb LMS: Corporate-oriented LMS with flexible course management, reporting and e-commerce capabilities suited to training organizations and associations.

Open source alternatives to D2L

• Moodle: Widely used open source LMS with extensive plugin ecosystem, strong community support and flexibility for custom deployments. Ideal for organizations that want full control over hosting and customization.
• Open edX: Open source platform for massive open online courses (MOOCs) and professional learning, often used by universities and organizations offering large-scale online courses.
• Sakai: Community-driven LMS primarily used in higher education with collaboration and assessment features; suitable for institutions seeking an academic-focused open source solution.
• ILIAS: European-origin open source LMS with a strong focus on compliance, certification and structured course delivery.
• Chamilo: Lightweight open source LMS focused on ease of use and quick deployments, often selected by small organizations and NGOs.

Frequently asked questions about D2L

What is D2L used for?

D2L is used as a cloud-based learning management system (LMS). Organizations use Brightspace to create courses, deliver content, run assessments, grade learners and monitor outcomes. It serves education (K–12 and higher ed), corporate training, associations and government training programs.

How much does D2L cost?

D2L offers competitive pricing plans designed for different team sizes and deployment scopes; actual cost depends on active user counts, chosen modules and service levels. Institutions typically receive quotes based on required features (analytics, accessibility services, AI modules) and integration needs—contact D2L sales or review their Brightspace pages for tailored pricing: https://www.d2l.com/brightspace/.

Does D2L have an API?

Yes, D2L provides a developer API (Valence) and supports standards such as LTI, xAPI and SCORM. These interfaces let developers integrate Brightspace with SIS/HR systems, external tools and analytics platforms; developer documentation is available at the Valence API site: https://docs.valence.desire2learn.com/.

Can D2L be used for corporate training?

Yes, Brightspace is used for corporate learning and compliance training. The platform supports onboarding programs, sales enablement, leadership development and regulated compliance workflows with reporting and e-commerce options for external learning audiences.

Is there a free version of D2L?

No, Brightspace is a commercial platform and does not offer a fully free production tier. D2L may provide trial or pilot instances for evaluation, but longer-term deployments require licensing and implementation services.

Why choose D2L for accessibility?

D2L emphasizes accessibility with Accessibility+ and automated plus expert review workflows. Brightspace includes tools for captioning, content accessibility checks and workflows to remediate content to meet accessibility standards, helping institutions comply with laws and serve diverse learners.

When should an institution consider Brightspace over other LMS options?

When the institution needs modular features, advanced analytics and strong accessibility support at scale. Brightspace is a fit for organizations that require flexible content authoring, outcomes-based reporting, enterprise integrations and optional AI-driven learner supports.

Where can I find D2L developer documentation?

D2L developer documentation is available through the Valence API site. The Valence docs provide REST endpoint details, authentication models and example workflows for integrating with Brightspace: https://docs.valence.desire2learn.com/.

How does D2L handle integrations with student or HR systems?

D2L supports integrations via SSO, API, LTI and connector tools like D2L Link. Integration planning typically covers authentication (SAML/OAuth), data mapping for users and enrollments, scheduled syncs for rosters and event-based notifications; D2L professional services can assist with complex integrations.

Where can I read reviews of D2L Brightspace?

You can find user reviews and ratings on major software review sites and education technology analyst reports. Review platforms such as G2 and TrustRadius host user feedback on usability, support and feature fit; also consult case studies and customer stories on D2L’s site for implementation examples: https://www.d2l.com/brightspace/.

d2l careers

D2L offers career opportunities across product development, customer success, professional services, sales and operations to support Brightspace customers worldwide. Career pages typically list roles for software engineers, instructional designers, implementation consultants and support specialists. Because Brightspace deployments span multiple sectors and regions, D2L hiring often includes roles that require domain knowledge of higher education, K–12 or corporate learning.

If you are considering a role with D2L, assess job descriptions for required technical competencies (cloud platforms, API experience, analytics), pedagogical experience (instructional design) and customer-facing skills. Many larger edtech vendors also offer remote and regional positions; check D2L’s official careers portal for open roles and recruiting events: https://www.d2l.com/company/careers/.

d2l affiliate

D2L operates through a partner and reseller ecosystem that includes implementation partners, systems integrators and regional resellers who help with deployment, integrations and managed services. An affiliate or partner program is typically focused on certified partners who deliver services such as content migration, custom integrations and training. If you are interested in partnership opportunities, contact D2L’s partner program through their partner pages to learn about certification, revenue share and co-marketing arrangements: https://www.d2l.com/partners/.

Where to find d2l reviews

For independent reviews, user ratings and peer feedback about Brightspace, consult technology review sites, industry reports and educational technology forums. Platforms like G2 and TrustRadius provide user-submitted ratings on ease of use, customer support and feature satisfaction. Academic case studies and institutional reports can also provide deeper insight into long-term deployments, adoption strategies and measurable outcomes—search for Brightspace case studies and third-party analyst coverage for context and validation: https://www.d2l.com/brightspace/.