Transform Reading into Active Learning
Hypothesis for LMS vs. Perusall:
Choosing the Right Social Annotation Tool for Your Institution
Hypothesis is a social annotation tool that transforms how students and educators engage with content—together.
Seamlessly integrated into your LMS, Hypothesis allows annotations on webpages, PDFs, videos, and more, turning passive reading into interactive collaboration.
Built with accessibility, privacy, and open innovation in mind, Hypothesis empowers instructors to build community, drive engagement, and support learning outcomes.
Perusall is a proprietary reading platform that includes social annotation features. While both tools support reading engagement, they differ in design philosophy, technical flexibility, and instructional impact.
This guide offers a side-by-side comparison so you can make the most informed decision for your campus.
Feature Comparison: Hypothesis vs. Perusall (Inside the LMS)
| Feature | Hypothesis | Perusall |
| How it works | Annotations over any web or PDF content directly in the LMS. Single sign-on via LMS. | Content is accessed via Perusall login. Annotations occur on uploaded or purchased content. |
| Supported content types | Websites, PDFs, YouTube videos, JSTOR, Bookshelf (VitalSource), and more. | Uploads of PDFs, EPUBs, websites, Office files. Textbooks sold through Perusall. |
| Document storage | Documents are never uploaded or stored by Hypothesis. Content remains where it lives—whether in the LMS, on the public web, or in cloud storage—and is rendered in place for annotation. | Stored within Perusall. |
| Annotation model | Rich, in-line annotations with threaded discussions, highlights, tagging, @mentions, and multimedia embeds. Designed for collaborative learning directly within the LMS. | Supports basic text comments with optional auto-generated prompts. No threaded replies. Annotations live inside the Perusall platform, not natively in the LMS. |
| Grading | Auto-Grading + LMS Gradebook sync via LTI. Fully customizable | Native gradebook with some auto-grading. LMS sync requires extra step. |
| Analytics | LMS Dashboard: Institutional insights, annotation counts, real-time data. | Analytics within Perusall platform. |
| Copyright | Content is not copied or stored; no new copyright concerns. | Teacher responsible for copyright clearanceon uploaded content. Additional fee per student may apply. |
| Cost | Institutional subscription or via Inclusive/First Day Access at select institutions | Textbooks paid by students; institutional licenses available. |
| Support | Dedicated Account Manager and Customer Success Manager,, Custom Workshops,, and Hypothesis Academy certification. | Ticket system and public documentation. |
| SLAs | Industry-grade SLAs for support, uptime, API, and more. | Basic SLAs. |
| Accessibility | Independently audited WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. VPAT available. | VPAT 2.4, WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. |
| Privacy | FERPA Compliant, Limited PII collected (student email) | Collects PII (e.g., email). |
| Security | SOC 2 Type 2 + HECVAT. | Public security statement. |
| Standards | LTI + W3C Web Annotation. | LTI only. |
| Codebase | Fully open-source. | Proprietary. |
What’s New in Hypothesis
Stay ahead with our latest features—all designed to boost engagement and reduce instructor workload:
Image Annotations
Add interactive pins to images in PDFs—from scientific diagrams to historical maps.
@Mentions
Tag students and colleagues directly in annotations to start targeted conversations.
LMS Dashboard
Track participation by class or institution with real-time insights, annotation counts, and holistic overviews.
Import/Export
Easily import course materials or export annotations for record-keeping and review.
Auto-Grading
Assess annotations automatically using your custom grading criteria—saving time without losing control.
Real Results in Real Classrooms
UT Austin & University of Minnesota
More Days Reading, Deeper Engagement
When Hypothesis was integrated with eTexts, student reading days more than tripled.
“Hypothesis gives students the chance to see how reading can give them an advantage.”
— Viranga Perera, UT Austin
Indiana University Bloomington
78,000+ Annotations, Stronger Community
In a first-year writing seminar:
- 78,000 annotations across 182 courses
- Students often made 200+ annotations on a single reading
“It’s such a low lift, and the yield is so high.”
— Justin Hodgson, Indiana University
2x Comprehension Gains
Using Hypothesis led to:
- 2x more students showing grad-level comprehension
- Near-total discussion participation
“It gave students the psychological safety to speak up.”
— Nicholas Denton
More A+ Grades, More Peer Learning
After adopting Hypothesis:
- A+ grades jumped from a few to nearly half the class
- Students drove their own learning through collaboration
“Within two weeks, they became the drivers of their own learning.”
— Kristin Polizzotto
Educator Spotlights: Why They Chose Hypothesis
Merilee Madera, West Liberty University
Hypothesis as a Game-Changer
“I use Hypothesis in all of my courses—it’s something I’m truly passionate about.”
See why Merilee chose Hypothesis over other tools and how it transformed her students’ engagement.
Angie Miller, Ozarks Technical Community College
Why I Won’t Teach Without Hypothesis
Angie shares how Hypothesis shifted students from passive readers to thoughtful collaborators.
Ready to try Hypothesis for your school or institution?