While there are many benefits of using an LMS in higher education, Winstead says it's incredibly important to note that not all LMS platforms are created equal.  "When choosing an LMS platform for an institution, it is important to consider the specific needs of the institution and its community," Winstead says. That said, there are several LMS platforms that tend to work well in higher education; thus, they are used by colleges and universities on a regular basis. Common LMS platforms used by institutions of higher education include the following: Blackboard: This company promises to offer a "holistic ecosystem of EdTech solutions." Currently, Blackboard is used by more than 150 million learners and educators in more than 89 countries. Canvas: Canvas is another popular LMS that aims to make teaching and learning easier for everyone involved. Founded in 2008, this virtual learning platform has more than 6 million concurrent users worldwide, with 99.9% system uptime. D2L: Another online learning platform called D2L offers the LMS experience with more personalized learning opportunities included. They currently have clients in K-12 education, higher education, and corporate learning environments. Moodle: Finally, Moodle is an open source learning platform that aims to power learning environments worldwide. What makes Moodle different is the fact that it's provided open source and entirely free without licensing fees.