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LMS · head to head

Chamilo vs Kdenlive

Chamilo logo

Chamilo

LMS

Open source learning management system with no licence fee and a Latin American and francophone user base

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kdenlive logo

Kdenlive

Video Production

Free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Chamilo version 3.0 has been in beta since 2024 while production deployments stay on the 1.11 branch, so anyone planning a multi-year deployment is choosing between an ageing stable line and an unfinished rewrite.; Kdenlive relies on volunteer development so release cadence and bug fixes can be slower than commercial tools.
  • They diverge on capability: Chamilo covers Course and learning paths, Kdenlive covers Multi-track timeline.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chamilo and Kdenlive actually diverge.

Attributes where Chamilo and Kdenlive differ
AttributeChamiloKdenlive
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeopen-source
PlatformsWeb, Self-hosted, Linuxwindows, mac, linux
CategoryLMSVideo Production

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Chamilo

  • Course and learning paths
  • Assessments
  • Gradebook and certificates
  • Attendance tracking
  • Sessions and multi-tenancy
  • Wide interface translation
  • Plugins
  • Low hosting requirements

Only in Kdenlive

  • Multi-track timeline
  • Proxy editing
  • Wide format support
  • Titler tool
  • Effects and transitions
  • Cross-platform

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Chamilo

  • A Latin American university that needs an LMS with no per-student licence fee and Spanish-language support from people in a compatible time zonenot Kdenlive
  • A ministry or NGO delivering vocational training over poor connectivity, where a lightweight PHP application on cheap hosting beats a heavyweight platformnot Kdenlive
  • A francophone institution in West Africa or Belgium where French interface and documentation quality decides adoption more than feature countnot Kdenlive
  • An organisation that requires the LMS to run entirely on its own infrastructure with no data leaving the countrynot Kdenlive

Kdenlive

  • Free video editing for hobbyistsnot Chamilo
  • Linux-native video productionnot Chamilo
  • Educational video editingnot Chamilo
  • Community/open-source project video worknot Chamilo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Chamilo

  • Version 3.0 has been in beta since 2024 while production deployments stay on the 1.11 branch, so anyone planning a multi-year deployment is choosing between an ageing stable line and an unfinished rewrite.
  • Governance moved to BeezNest Belgium, a commercial company that also sells Chamilo hosting and services, which concentrates roadmap decisions in a vendor with a direct commercial interest in the support market.
  • The English-language community and documentation are noticeably thinner than the Spanish and French, so an anglophone institution will find fewer answers, fewer contributors and fewer consultants than the project size implies.
  • No licence fee is not no cost: hosting, upgrades, security patching, backups and integration work all fall on the institution or a paid partner, and that ongoing labour usually exceeds what a small institution would have paid for a hosted commercial LMS.
  • The third-party plugin ecosystem is small compared with Moodle, so integrations with proctoring, publisher content and student information systems often have to be commissioned rather than installed.

Kdenlive

  • Relies on volunteer development so release cadence and bug fixes can be slower than commercial tools.
  • Lacks built-in advanced VFX/compositing found in tools like DaVinci Resolve.
  • Performance and stability can vary depending on system configuration and GPU drivers.
  • No official cloud collaboration or review features.

Pricing, plan by plan

Chamilo

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • GNU GPL licence, no per-learner fee
    • Full source code
    • Community support in Spanish, French and English
  • Hosting and support from partners$undefined/year
    • Managed hosting, upgrades and support sold by BeezNest and other official providers
    • Priced per deployment, quoted

Kdenlive

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • All effects and transitions
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Chamilo if

  • You need course and learning paths.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted, Linux.
  • You also want assessments.
Chamilo review

Choose Kdenlive if

  • You need multi-track timeline.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want proxy editing.
Kdenlive review

Questions people ask

Is Chamilo or Kdenlive better?
Neither clearly leads. Chamilo starts at Free and Kdenlive at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chamilo or Kdenlive?
Chamilo starts at Free and Kdenlive at Free.
Does Chamilo or Kdenlive run on more platforms?
Chamilo runs on Web, Self-hosted, Linux. Kdenlive runs on windows, mac, linux.
Can I use Chamilo for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Chamilo best used for?
Chamilo is most often used for a latin american university that needs an lms with no per-student licence fee and spanish-language support from people in a compatible time zone, a ministry or ngo delivering vocational training over poor connectivity, where a lightweight php application on cheap hosting beats a heavyweight platform, a francophone institution in west africa or belgium where french interface and documentation quality decides adoption more than feature count, an organisation that requires the lms to run entirely on its own infrastructure with no data leaving the country. Of those, a latin american university that needs an lms with no per-student licence fee and spanish-language support from people in a compatible time zone and a ministry or ngo delivering vocational training over poor connectivity, where a lightweight php application on cheap hosting beats a heavyweight platform are not what Kdenlive is typically brought in for.
What can Chamilo do that Kdenlive cannot?
Chamilo covers Course and learning paths, Assessments, Gradebook and certificates, Attendance tracking. Kdenlive covers Multi-track timeline, Proxy editing, Wide format support, Titler tool.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Chamilo: Who owns and maintains Chamilo now?

The project has been governed by BeezNest Belgium since January 2026. The code remains under the GNU GPL, but roadmap stewardship sits with a commercial company that also sells Chamilo services.

Kdenlive: Is Kdenlive free to use?

Yes, Kdenlive is completely free and open source, distributed under the GPL license with no cost to download or use, though donations to KDE e.V. are welcomed.

Source
Chamilo: Is Chamilo 3 ready for production?

No. The 3.0 line has been in beta since 2024 and production installations remain on the 1.11 branch. Plan on 1.11 and treat the 3.0 migration as a future project.

Kdenlive: What platforms does Kdenlive support?

Kdenlive runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, and BSD.

Source
Chamilo: Is there a licence fee?

No. Chamilo is GPL software with no per-learner charge. Costs are hosting, support and whatever integration work you commission.

Kdenlive: Where can I get help with Kdenlive?

Users can consult the user manual at docs.kdenlive.org, join the community Matrix channel, or ask on the KDE discussion forum.

Source
Chamilo: Where is it strongest?

Spanish-speaking Latin America, Spain, francophone West Africa and Belgium. Support and documentation quality in Spanish and French exceed the English.

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