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Head-to-head · Course Evaluation Software

SmartEvals vs Explorance Blue

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score SmartEvals #2 in Course Evaluation Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit SmartEvals
Explorance Blue #4 in Course Evaluation Software 9.1/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Explorance

SmartEvals leads on 0 checks, Explorance Blue on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSmartEvals · 9.3/10
  • Most featuresSmartEvals · 5 of 5

SmartEvals scores higher on our rubric for course evaluation software: 9.3 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

SmartEvals is the better fit for universities wanting automated benchmarking. Explorance Blue is the better fit for complex institutions with many systems.

  • SmartEvals fits best

    Universities wanting automated benchmarking

  • Explorance Blue fits best

    Complex institutions with many systems

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature SmartEvals 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Explorance Blue 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 9.1
Ranking #2 in Course Evaluation Software #4 in Course Evaluation Software
Best for Universities wanting automated benchmarking Complex institutions with many systems
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price Pricing on request Pricing on request
Free plan Not checked yet Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web
Support Email, Phone Community, Docs · 24/7
Compliance SOC 2, GDPR SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, SSO/SAML
Integrations 9 integrations 11 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features SmartEvals 5/5 · Explorance Blue 4/5
Anonymous feedback ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Instructor evaluations ✓ ✓
LMS integrations ✓ ✓
Benchmarking ✓ ✓
Data export ✓ ✓
Specs
Response limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Reporting depth Advanced Advanced
Our review
Pros
  • Automates surveys, reminders, reporting, and distribution workflows.
  • Connects with ERP, SIS, LTI, and major LMS platforms.
  • Adds institution-wide, nationwide, trend, and longitudinal analysis.
  • Automates course evaluations from collection through reporting
  • Connects with LMS, SIS, HRIS, CRM and major LMS platforms
  • Adds benchmarking, trend analysis and AI-assisted feedback analysis
Cons
  • Pricing requires contacting the vendor.
  • The platform is web-based rather than offered as a listed native app.
  • Its focus is colleges and universities, not general course providers.
  • Pricing is customized through a contact-sales process
  • Fully anonymous submissions are not established
  • Its scope may exceed the needs of simple survey teams
Our verdict

SmartEvals is a hosted course evaluation platform for colleges and universities. It supports student, instructor, and administrator workflows, including team-taught and cross-listed courses. Core capabilities include automated evaluation…

Read the review →

Explorance Blue is a course evaluation and feedback analytics platform for higher education. It supports end-to-end evaluation automation, custom questionnaires, question banks and multiple response channels, including LMS, email, SMS, QR…

Read the review →
  1. SmartEvalsCourse Evaluation Software 9.3Pricing on request
  2. Explorance BlueCourse Evaluation Software 9.1Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • SmartEvals — where it wins

    • Automates surveys, reminders, reporting, and distribution workflows.
    • Connects with ERP, SIS, LTI, and major LMS platforms.
    • Adds institution-wide, nationwide, trend, and longitudinal analysis.

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contacting the vendor.
    • The platform is web-based rather than offered as a listed native app.
    • Its focus is colleges and universities, not general course providers.

  • Explorance Blue — where it wins

    • Automates course evaluations from collection through reporting
    • Connects with LMS, SIS, HRIS, CRM and major LMS platforms
    • Adds benchmarking, trend analysis and AI-assisted feedback analysis

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing is customized through a contact-sales process
    • Fully anonymous submissions are not established
    • Its scope may exceed the needs of simple survey teams
  • SmartEvals9.3/10 · Pricing on request

    A higher-education evaluation platform with automation, integrations, and benchmarking.

    Visit SmartEvalsFull verdict →
  • Explorance Blue9.1/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad course evaluation system for institutions that need automation, integrations and analysis.

    Visit ExploranceFull verdict →

More comparisons

All course evaluation software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update