Open Response review
A free, self-hosted polling option for Canvas-compatible courses.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Open Response is a free, open-source, web-based classroom polling system developed through Oregon State University's computer science capstone program. It is designed for instructors who need live or asynchronous student responses, with tools for courses, lectures, sections, questions, and rosters. Students can submit answers during sessions, while instructors can manage participation and grades. Self-hosting and Canvas compatibility make it a focused fit for institutions that want control over deployment and already use Canvas.
The core feature set covers real-time classroom polling through WebSockets, multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions, quiz-style grading, analytics, and CSV exports for participation and grades. Role-based access separates student, instructor, and administrator capabilities, and the RESTful API provides a foundation for connecting the system to other workflows. Its main tradeoff is scope: the documented question formats are basic, so teams looking for a broader assessment toolkit may need a more expansive alternative.
Open Response has a narrow ecosystem profile, with Canvas listed as its LMS integration and web and self-hosted availability as its platform coverage. That focus can suit a Canvas-centered deployment, but it is less compelling for organizations requiring wider LMS or platform support. The project is still in development, with small-scale beta testing planned for the 2026–2027 academic year. Choose it for a free, open-source polling system with roster, grading, analytics, and API capabilities; choose an alternative if broader integrations, richer question types, or a more mature development stage are priorities.
Open Response pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Real-time polling with WebSocket feedback
- Grading, analytics, roster management, and CSV exports
- Canvas compatibility, role-based access, and a RESTful API
- Where it doesn't
- Question types are limited to multiple-choice and multiple-answer
- Canvas is the documented LMS integration
- The project remains in development with beta testing planned
Open Response fact sheet, pricing and score →
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