Blackboard Ally Review 2025
Honest assessment based on feedback from universities using Ally
Overall Verdict: Excellent for Alternative Formats, Not for Source Remediation
TL;DR: Ally Converts Files. It Doesn't Fix Them.
Blackboard Ally automatically generates alternative formats (HTML, ePub, audio, BeeLine Reader) from uploaded files. This gives students multiple ways to access content, which is valuable.
However, Ally doesn't fix the source content. If your PDF has missing alt text, the HTML version will inherit that problem. You still need to manually remediate the original files.
Bottom line: Use Ally for student choice (alt formats) + Aelira for source content remediation.
Best For
- Providing alternative formats (HTML, ePub, audio)
- Student accessibility preferences
- Blackboard Learn institutions
- Faculty awareness (visual scores)
Not Suitable For
- Source content compliance (alt formats inherit issues)
- STEM courses (no LaTeX support)
- Non-Blackboard institutions
- Meeting April 2026 deadline alone
What Blackboard Ally Does Well
1. Automatic Alternative Format Generation
Ally's killer feature: it automatically converts PDFs, Word docs, and PowerPoints into 5 alternative formats:
HTML
Screen reader optimized
ePub
E-reader format
Audio (MP3)
Text-to-speech narration
BeeLine Reader
Color-coded reading aid
"Students love having choices. Some prefer audio when commuting, others use ePub on Kindles. Ally makes this automatic—we don't have to think about it."
— Instructional Designer, Large University
2. Deep Blackboard Learn Integration
Ally is part of the Anthology suite, so it integrates seamlessly with Blackboard Learn. Faculty see accessibility scores directly in their course view without switching tools.
Limitation: Only works with Blackboard. If you switch LMS, you lose Ally.
3. Student-Centric Accessibility
Students can download alternative formats with one click. This respects individual learning preferences and assistive technology choices without requiring faculty intervention.
4. Established Market Leader
Ally has been around since 2016 and is used by 60%+ of Blackboard institutions. Mature product with ongoing updates and enterprise support.
What Blackboard Ally Doesn't Do (Critical Limitations)
The Big Problem: Alt Formats Inherit Source Problems
If your source PDF has missing alt text, low contrast, or broken heading structure, the HTML/ePub/audio versions will inherit those problems. Ally doesn't fix the source—it just converts it.
1. No Source Content Remediation
Ally provides alternative formats, not source fixes. You still need to manually:
- Add alt text to images in the original PDF
- Fix contrast issues in PowerPoint slides
- Add heading structure to Word documents
- Create proper table markup
"Ally gives students alternative formats, which is great. But the original PDF still fails accessibility checks. We're not actually compliant—we're just providing workarounds."
— IT Director, Mid-Sized University
2. No LaTeX/MathML Support
Like YuJa, Ally cannot process LaTeX equations. STEM courses are left without a solution for accessible math content.
3. Blackboard-Only (Vendor Lock-In)
Ally only works with Blackboard Learn. If your institution switches to Canvas, Moodle, or D2L, you lose Ally entirely.
Many universities are moving away from Blackboard due to high costs and limited innovation.
4. Bundled Pricing (Can't Buy Standalone)
Ally is part of the Anthology suite—you can't buy it separately. This means you're paying for Blackboard Learn whether you want it or not.
What Faculty & IT Directors Say About Ally
"Students love the alternative formats. They can download HTML, ePub, or audio versions depending on their preferences. But we still have to fix the original PDFs manually—Ally doesn't do that."
Instructional Designer, Large State University
"Ally is great if you're committed to Blackboard long-term. But we're considering switching to Canvas, which means we'd lose Ally entirely. That vendor lock-in is concerning."
IT Director, Community College
"The visual accessibility score (red/yellow/green) is helpful for faculty awareness. But Ally doesn't provide guidance on HOW to fix issues. Faculty see a red score and don't know where to start."
Faculty Development Coordinator
Pricing: Bundled with Anthology Suite
Blackboard Ally is part of the Anthology suite—you cannot buy it standalone. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and requires enterprise negotiations.
Estimated Total Cost: Blackboard Learn (AU$75K-$225K/year) + Ally (bundled)
Final Verdict: Use Ally for Alt Formats, Add Aelira for Remediation
The Hybrid Approach: Ally + Aelira = Complete Solution
Use Ally for:
- Alternative format generation (HTML, ePub, audio)
- Student accessibility choices
- Faculty awareness (visual scores)
Add Aelira for:
- Source content remediation (fixing PDFs, PowerPoints)
- LaTeX/MathML conversion (STEM courses)
- AI-generated working code fixes
- Bulk processing (1,000+ files)
Total Cost: Ally (bundled with Blackboard) + Aelira (AU$1,499/mo)
= Compliant source files + multiple student access options
Use Ally for Alt Formats, Aelira for Source Remediation
Try Aelira free for 30 days. Works alongside Ally for complete accessibility coverage.
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