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Chamilo alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Chamilo: smaller plugin ecosystem than Moodle, and fewer hosting and support partners. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Chamilo, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Moodle currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Moodle logoMoodleOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, iOS +14 of 466.5
2Open edX logoOpen edXOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, iOS +14 of 459.6
  1. Moodle logo

    1. MoodleTop pick

    Best for: Schools, universities and organisations that want a flexible LMS they fully control

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Chamilo

    Larger ecosystem of plugins, partners and documentation.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no licence fees
    • Very flexible, with thousands of plugins
    • Strong quiz, grading and permission features

    Cons

    • Interface feels dated next to modern SaaS tools
    • Needs admin skills to host, theme and upgrade
    • Quality of community plugins varies
    Visit Moodle Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Moodle a good Chamilo alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Languages
    Courses in 42 languages
    Checked Oct 25, 2026moodle.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Free to download, modify and share
    Checked Oct 25, 2026moodle.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hosted option
    MoodleCloud, with a free trial
    Checked Oct 25, 2026moodle.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Open edX logo

    2. Open edX

    Best for: Universities and large organisations running MOOCs or big online programmes

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Chamilo

    Better for very large online courses and MOOCs.

    Pros

    • Free, open source and proven at very large scale
    • Rich course authoring with many problem types
    • Many certified providers for hosting and support

    Cons

    • Complex to install, run and upgrade
    • Overkill for small course businesses
    • Customisation usually needs developers
    Visit Open edX Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Open edX a good Chamilo alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Steward
    Axim Collaborative (nonprofit)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026openedx.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Free to use
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026openedx.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Reach
    70,000+ courses, 140M+ learners
    Checked Oct 25, 2026openedx.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Chamilo alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Moodle logo

Best Chamilo alternative for most people

Moodle

Larger ecosystem of plugins, partners and documentation.

ILIAS logo

Best Chamilo alternative for a free option

ILIAS

Another mature open-source LMS, strong on assessment and compliance.

TalentLMS logo

Best Chamilo alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

TalentLMS

Hosted corporate LMS with a free plan and nothing to install.

Open edX logo

Best Chamilo alternative for open source

Open edX

Better for very large online courses and MOOCs.

Moodle logo

Best Chamilo alternative for self-hosting

Moodle

Larger ecosystem of plugins, partners and documentation.

Google Classroom logo

Best Chamilo alternative for iPhone and Android

Google Classroom

Simpler, free option for schools on Google Workspace.

Moodle logo

Best Chamilo alternative for working in the browser

Moodle

Larger ecosystem of plugins, partners and documentation.

Chamilo alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Chamilo?

Moodle ranks first right now. Larger ecosystem of plugins, partners and documentation. ILIAS and Open edX follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Chamilo?

Yes. Moodle (open source), ILIAS (open source), Open edX (open source) and TalentLMS (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Chamilo?

Yes: Moodle, ILIAS and Open edX. Moodle, ILIAS and Open edX can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Chamilo?

The complaints we hear most: smaller plugin ecosystem than Moodle; fewer hosting and support partners; interface looks dated next to SaaS tools.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Chamilo, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.