We earn commission when you buy through affiliate links.
This does not influence our reviews or recommendations.Learn more.
But lately, many course creators have turned their way around looking for Moodle alternatives.
In this article, we have handpicked the best open-source LMS that works as a great Moodle alternative.
What is Moodle LMS?
Moodle is the first open-source LMS, founded in 2002 by Australian techie Martin Dougiamas.
Moodle stands for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment and has over200 million usersworldwide.
Moodle also boasts of wikis, documentation, forums, and blog sections.
Lets look at these benefits:
How is Open-Source LMS different from Proprietary LMS?
The most common perception of open-source software is it lacks security and will likely fall into vulnerabilities.
Besides this, there are various differences between the open-source and closed-source LMS that most enterprises see.
Open-source LMS are customizable and flexible because anyone can contribute to it.
On the other hand, Proprietary LMS is owned by an organization with encrypted software.
No external developers or coders can make changes to the software.
Thats where proprietary LMS takes the edge.
Most LMSs offer direct integration with third-party tools apart from offering API integration.
One of the important features of LMS and e-learning tools is customizable schedules andcalendarsfor online classrooms.
But that doesnt rule out the possibility that all open-source LMSs are bad.
It depends on the usability and the features that you are looking for.
Why Should You Look for a Moodle Alternative?
Moodle is undoubtedly a great choice if you are willing to do everything independently.
But that comes with frills and obstacles.
Sorry to burst your bubble!
You cant install Moodle on your own.
You will need to hire a Moodle developer to get your platform running and up.
it’s crucial that you have strong technical knowledge to code your virtual classroom.
In some cases, you might even run into technical failures that cant be fixed alone.
Thus, you might always need assistance from a Moodle developer.
One way or another, Moodle will cost you money and resources.
One of the drawbacks of Moodle is its traffic limitations.
Since it is open-source, Moodle servers are limited to certain traffic.
You will need a new server when your site reaches a certain traffic threshold.
Getting a new server means hiring a developer and cloning the environment again.
You must rewrite the system if you plan to use it on a shared platform or in the cloud.
Data protection is one of the most essential features of an efficient online learning system.
Again, you must hire a developer to recover or rewrite the system.
One of the major disadvantages of Moodle is the server limitation.
Moodle is self-hosted, which means you will need your server.
Once the server gets overloaded, you will need another server and a developer to install it.
Further, you will have to purchase aMoodle hostingto host your LMS.
Canvas
When compared to Moodle,Canvas LMSis more modern-looking and a reliable LMS platform.
It is used for a wide range of applications by schools, universities, and educational institutes.
Canvas LMS also takes the edge in terms of its interface.
The dashboard is seamless to navigate with all the elements on the right side.
Unlike some open-source LMS, Canvas is compatible with any gadget and runs on any screen resolution.
Not just the basic courses, the platform also supports quizzes, assignments, and multimedia presentations.
Developers can contribute and extend its functionality apart from its basic features.
In terms of reliability and intuitiveness, Sakai is a top-notch choice for students and educational institutes.
You wont have a hard time exploring the interface since there are no clumsy options.
Like Canvas and Chamilo, there is a third-party API integration that further boosts its functionality.
The platform also offers features likeplagiarism detector, resource builder, and job scheduler tools.
Odoo
Odoois a popular LMS with over 7 million users worldwide.
You will even get access to a vast library of over 1 million royalty-free images.
All these elements can boost the learning experience and provide a better user experience for the tutors.
Like Canvas LMS, Oddo has a vast community with over a million users.
Site owners can also engage through forums, leaderboards, emails, and reviews.
Frappe LMS
Frappe LMSis like a personal assistant in your online coaching journey.
As you launch the LMS, you will have a smooth onboarding walkthrough guiding you from the basics.
It does not need admin access to edit or add courses.
Instead, the course instructors have access to add or remove the modules.
However, everything goes through admin permission to ensure quality is maintained.
Open EdX
Developed by EdX,Open EdXis a trusted name in the Open-source LMS industry.
Open EdX provides a seamless experience for the course instructors and learners through course creation and collaboration features.
One of the highlight features of Open EdX is its analytics and reporting.
Their analytics platform helps learners make data-driven decisions through valuable insights.
What makes Pupilfirst stand out is the ability to quickly give targeted feedback to the students.
Pupilfirst helps students work together and solve problems by creating student groups.
It also allows students to team up and tackle difficult courses as a team.
The platform is customizable and lets you add branding to the courses.
Admins can add logos, cover images, and set brand themes.
Final Thoughts
This completes our list of the best alternatives to Moodle.
Each of these open-source LMSs that we have mentioned complies with the regulations and offers great flexibility.
It depends on your specific needs and your target audience.
These LMS differ based on integration capabilities, user interface, and plugins.
Next, check out the bestLearning Management Systems (LMS)for SMB.
