Simpl Courses
Simpl, BetterCampus and plain Canvas.
All three are free to start. Here is where Simpl is ahead.
Checked October 25, 2026. BetterCampus and Canvas change; the numbers link to where each fact comes from.
Where Simpl is ahead
| Feature | Simpl Courses | BetterCampus | Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Due, overdue and graded on one screen | Six counters on the Dashboard, each opening what it counted | A planner and to-do list (account needed for the planner)1 | A To Do list beside the course cards |
| Search every course at once | Yes, with commands | No | Smart Search inside one course, where the teacher turns it on3 |
| Apps for Mac and Windows | Yes (Windows in beta) | No: a browser extension and a web app2 | No: phone apps only4 |
| Works in Safari | Yes | Waitlist2 | Yes (it’s a website) |
| Hand in by scanning a code with your phone | Yes | No | Submit in the Canvas phone app4 |
| A cleaner quiz page | One question at a time or one scroll, a question map, review before you submit | Canvas’s own quiz page | Laid out as the teacher set it |
| Knewton Alta inside the app | Yes, in the Mac and Windows apps | No | Opens Alta’s own site |
| Science and math tools built in | 17 in the browser, nearly 40 in the apps: GeoGebra, periodic table, 3D cell, circuits | AI flashcards, quizzes and games from your notes1 | None |
| Account and price | Free. No account. | Free to start; Pro $19/month or $119/year. The planner, grades, AI tools and sync need a free account12 | Free for students |
How we checked. Simpl’s column describes Simpl for Mac 1.3.162, Simpl for Windows 0.3.57 and the extension 2.99.104. The other columns come only from the pages below. Found something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.
Sources
- What BetterCampus can do for you, BetterCampus help center
- BetterCanvas is now BetterCampus, BetterCampus
- Canvas Smart Search, Hall County Schools eLearning (September 2024)
- Canvas Mobile Apps, University of Kansas IT