
What is Sakai?
Sakai provides a flexible and feature-rich environment for teaching, learning, research and other collaboration. As an open source software suite developed by its adopter community, the Sakai continually evolves in step with the needs of the students, faculty members and organizations it serves. Colleges, universities, governments and other organizations deploy Sakai’s rich toolset to expand the possibilities for technology-enabled learning across many facets of the educational experience.
Company Details
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Real user data aggregated to summarize the product performance and customer experience.
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Product scores listed below represent current data. This may be different from data contained in reports and awards, which express data as of their publication date.
82 Likeliness to Recommend
88 Plan to Renew
1
Since last award
82 Satisfaction of Cost Relative to Value
1
Since last award
Emotional Footprint Overview
Product scores listed below represent current data. This may be different from data contained in reports and awards, which express data as of their publication date.
+83 Net Emotional Footprint
The emotional sentiment held by end users of the software based on their experience with the vendor. Responses are captured on an eight-point scale.
How much do users love Sakai?
Pros
- Respectful
- Fair
- Trustworthy
- Acts with Integrity
How to read the Emotional Footprint
The Net Emotional Footprint measures high-level user sentiment towards particular product offerings. It aggregates emotional response ratings for various dimensions of the vendor-client relationship and product effectiveness, creating a powerful indicator of overall user feeling toward the vendor and product.
While purchasing decisions shouldn't be based on emotion, it's valuable to know what kind of emotional response the vendor you're considering elicits from their users.
Footprint
Negative
Neutral
Positive
Feature Ratings
Online Learning
Assessments and Quizzes
Course Management
Gradebook
Classroom Management
Content Management
Instructor Led Training
Content Creation
Analytics and Reporting
Student Collaboration
Vendor Capability Ratings
Business Value Created
Ease of Implementation
Ease of Data Integration
Vendor Support
Breadth of Features
Ease of IT Administration
Availability and Quality of Training
Quality of Features
Ease of Customization
Usability and Intuitiveness
Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement
Sakai Reviews
Tim W.
- Role: Information Technology
- Industry: Education
- Involvement: Business Leader or Manager
Submitted Oct 2023
Overall, Sakai is a very functional LMS.
Likeliness to Recommend
What differentiates Sakai from other similar products?
Fully open source LMS and active community.
What is your favorite aspect of this product?
Project sites and guest access.
What do you dislike most about this product?
Discussions because it doesn't work with delegated access.
What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?
Take time to review and consider the cost-benefit to other propriety LMS platforms.
Pros
- Reliable
- Trustworthy
- Respectful
- Helps Innovate
- Role: Information Technology
- Industry: Education
- Involvement: IT Leader or Manager
Submitted Oct 2023
Likeliness to Recommend
Pros
- Trustworthy
- Caring
- Respectful
- Client Friendly Policies
Cons
- Less Effective Service

Roseline A.
- Role: Student Academic
- Industry: Education
- Involvement: End User of Application
Submitted Jul 2025
Powerful but Dated LMS
Likeliness to Recommend
What differentiates Sakai from other similar products?
Sakai stands out from other learning management systems primarily because it is open-source and community-driven. This means institutions can customize the platform extensively without the high costs associated with proprietary software. Unlike many commercial LMS products, Sakai allows full control over data, functionality, and appearance, making it ideal for schools that prioritize academic freedom and flexibility. Its strong emphasis on interoperability through standards like LTI and IMS ensures it integrates smoothly with a variety of third-party tools.
What is your favorite aspect of this product?
My favorite aspect of Sakai is its high level of customizability and control. Being open-source, it allows institutions to tailor the platform to fit their unique teaching and learning needs without being locked into rigid, pre-defined structures. Instructors can design their course sites with flexibility, choosing the tools and layout that best suit their pedagogy. The Gradebook and Assignments tools are particularly robust, offering clear tracking of student progress and flexible grading options.
What do you dislike most about this product?
What I dislike most about Sakai is its outdated and less intuitive user interface. Compared to more modern LMS platforms, Sakai’s design can feel clunky and visually unappealing, which may lead to a steeper learning curve for new users. Navigating between tools and performing simple tasks often requires multiple clicks, and some features are not as streamlined or user-friendly as they could be. Limited mobile functionality and the lack of a robust native mobile app hinder accessibility for users who prefer learning on-the-go. The pace of updates and improvements can also be slow due to its community-driven nature
What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?
If you are considering Sakai, I recommend evaluating your institution’s technical capacity and long-term goals. Sakai is best suited for institutions that value open-source flexibility, academic freedom, and have the resources to support in-house customization and development. Be prepared to invest time in training for both faculty and students, as the learning curve can be steeper than with some commercial platforms. Take advantage of the active Sakai user community—it’s a valuable resource for troubleshooting, updates, and feature suggestions. If your priorities include data privacy, custom workflows, and long-term cost savings,
Pros
- Unique Features
- Caring
- Saves Time
- Respectful