# Alternatives to Open edX

Open edX is an open-source learning management system originally built by edX and now stewarded by the nonprofit Axim Collaborative, distinct from the 2U-owned edx.org consumer site. The platform code is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0, with no license fee, and organizations self-host it directly or through certified hosting providers. It ships an LMS and course-authoring Studio, native iOS and Android apps, and an XBlock plugin architecture used to add capabilities such as SCORM and xAPI support.

Open edX ranks #2 of 8 in Learning management systems, with an Alt Score of 89. It is licensed under AGPL-3.0, open source with paid hosting from Free and available on Web, iOS and Android. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/open-edx/
Category: Learning management systems

## Where Open edX stands out

- **Gamification** — 3 of 7 apps with a verified answer have this
- **Open source** — 3 of 8 apps with a verified answer have this

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Universities, workforce-development programs, corporate learning teams, and NGOs that want a self-hosted, customizable course platform rather than a hosted SaaS LMS.
- **What you get**: A learner-facing LMS plus a Studio authoring tool, native iOS and Android apps, certificates, discussion forums, and an XBlock plugin architecture, distributed as open-source software with no per-learner license fee.
- **How it works**: Organizations self-host the platform (commonly via the Tutor installer) or engage a certified Open edX hosting provider; course teams build content in Studio and learners access it through the LMS web interface or the mobile apps.

## Profile

- **License**: AGPL-3.0 (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Pricing model**: OSS + paid hosting (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Starts at**: Free (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Platforms**: Web, iOS, Android
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-08-03)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [Moodle](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/moodle.md) | 93 | GPL-3.0-or-later | Web, iOS, Android |
| 2 | [TalentLMS](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/talentlms.md) | 85 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 3 | [Absorb LMS](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/absorb-lms.md) | 81 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 4 | [Docebo](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/docebo.md) | 78 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 5 | [Blackboard Learn](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/blackboard-learn.md) | 74 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 6 | [Canvas LMS](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/canvas-lms.md) | 70 | AGPL-3.0 | Web, iOS, Android |
| 7 | [LearnDash](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/learndash.md) | 44 | Proprietary (GPLv2+ per vendor terms) | Web, iOS, Android |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| Learning management systems checklist | Open edX | Moodle | TalentLMS | Absorb LMS | Docebo | Blackboard Learn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | OSS + paid hosting | OSS + paid hosting | Freemium | ? | Subscription | ? |
| Starts at | Free | Free | $119/mo | ? | ? | ? |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0-or-later | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| SCORM support | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| xAPI support | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Quizzes and assessments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Certificates | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Live virtual classroom | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offline learning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Gamification | Yes | Partial | Yes | Partial | Partial | Yes |
| Sell courses / e-commerce | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial |
| SSO (SAML/OIDC) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |

## Sources

Sources for Open edX. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **License**: AGPL-3.0 — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openedx/edx-platform/master/LICENSE> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Pricing model**: OSS + paid hosting — <https://openedx.org/get-started/> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Starts at**: Free — <https://openedx.org/get-started/> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Platforms**: Web, iOS, Android — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/site_ops/install_configure_run_guide/mobile.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Status**: active — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/community/release_notes/index.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Self-hostable**: Yes — <https://openedx.org/platform/features/hosting-freedom/> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Open source**: Yes — <https://openedx.org/get-started/> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **SCORM support**: Partial — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/educators/references/course_development/exercise_tools/SCORM_overview.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **xAPI support**: Partial — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/developers/references/internal_data_formats/xapi_events.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Quizzes and assessments**: Yes — <https://openedx.org/platform/features/ecosystem-of-assessment-tools/> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Certificates**: Yes — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/educators/concepts/open_edx_platform/about_certificates.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Live virtual classroom**: Yes — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/educators/how-tos/course_development/add_course_live.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Mobile app**: Yes — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/site_ops/install_configure_run_guide/mobile.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Offline learning**: Yes — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/educators/how-tos/course_development/manage_videos.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Gamification**: Yes — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/educators/concepts/advanced_features/about_badges.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Sell courses / e-commerce**: Partial — <https://docs.openedx.org/en/latest/site_ops/install_configure_run_guide/ecommerce-solutions.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **SSO (SAML/OIDC)**: Yes — <https://openedx.org/platform/features/sso-single-sign-on/> (verified 2026-08-03)

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Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/