Moodle
The most widely used open-source LMS, for schools, universities and workplace training.
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Moodle
Moodle is a free, open-source learning management system used by schools, universities, governments and companies around the world. It covers courses, assignments, quizzes with large question banks, gradebooks, forums, competencies, badges and detailed permissions, and thousands of community plugins extend it further. Institutions can download and host it themselves, use a certified Moodle Partner for hosting and support, or start on MoodleCloud, Moodle's own hosted service for smaller setups. Moodle Workplace is a commercial edition for corporate training. Its strengths are flexibility, standards support and freedom from licence fees; the weaknesses are an interface that feels dated next to modern SaaS tools and the admin skill needed to run, theme and upgrade a large site well. It runs in the browser on your own server or hosted, with official mobile apps for learners.
Best for: Schools, universities and organisations that want a flexible LMS they fully control.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and open source with no licence fees
- Very flexible, with thousands of plugins
- Strong quiz, grading and permission features
Why people leave
- Interface feels dated next to modern SaaS tools
- Needs admin skills to host, theme and upgrade
- Quality of community plugins varies
Top Moodle alternatives
See all 6- 1
Canvas LMS66.5Cleaner, more modern interface; popular with universities that want a hosted service.
- 2
Open edX62.6Open-source platform better suited to large online courses and MOOCs.
- 3
Chamilo59.6Lighter open-source LMS that is quicker to set up and easier for teachers.
- 4
ILIAS57.2Open-source LMS with strong compliance and assessment features, popular in Europe.
- 5
Google Classroom55.3Much simpler, free class management for schools on Google Workspace.
Why people left Moodle
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Moodle: common questions
Is Moodle free?
Yes. Moodle is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is Moodle open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at moodle/moodle. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does Moodle run on?
Moodle is available for Web, Self-hosted, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Moodle?
The highest-ranked Moodle alternatives right now are Canvas LMS, Open edX and Chamilo. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.