LMS · head to head
Chamilo vs Skillshare
Chamilo
LMS
Open source learning management system with no licence fee and a Latin American and francophone user base
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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.; Skillshare limited language support available compared to Udemy which offers 75 languages
- They diverge on capability: Chamilo covers Course and learning paths, Skillshare covers Video classes.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chamilo and Skillshare actually diverge.
| Attribute | Chamilo | Skillshare |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted, Linux | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 2010 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (LMS).
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 Skillshare
- Video classes
- Class projects
- Discussions
- Offline viewing
- Mobile learning
- Workshops
- Curated paths
- Teacher studio
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 Skillshare
- A ministry or NGO delivering vocational training over poor connectivity, where a lightweight PHP application on cheap hosting beats a heavyweight platformnot Skillshare
- A francophone institution in West Africa or Belgium where French interface and documentation quality decides adoption more than feature countnot Skillshare
- An organisation that requires the LMS to run entirely on its own infrastructure with no data leaving the countrynot Skillshare
Skillshare
- Skill developmentnot Chamilo
- Creative projectsnot Chamilo
- Career growthnot Chamilo
- Side hustlesnot 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.
Skillshare
- Limited language support available compared to Udemy which offers 75 languages
- Focus on creative skills means limited technical or professional development courses
- Video quality and instructor expertise varies across courses
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
Skillshare
Free- FreeFree
- Select free classes
- Class projects
- Premium$13.99/month
- All classes
- Offline viewing
- No ads
- Teams$undefined/month
- Team management
- Analytics
- Custom content
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.
Choose Skillshare if
- You need video classes.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want class projects.
Questions people ask
- Is Chamilo or Skillshare better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chamilo starts at Free and Skillshare at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chamilo or Skillshare?
- Chamilo starts at Free and Skillshare at Free.
- Does Chamilo or Skillshare run on more platforms?
- Chamilo runs on Web, Self-hosted, Linux. Skillshare runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- 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 Skillshare is typically brought in for.
- What can Chamilo do that Skillshare cannot?
- Chamilo covers Course and learning paths, Assessments, Gradebook and certificates, Attendance tracking. Skillshare covers Video classes, Class projects, Discussions, Offline viewing.
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.
Skillshare: How much does Skillshare cost?
Skillshare Premium membership costs $167.88 per year (about $13.99 per month) when billed annually, or $17.99 to $32 per month when paying month-to-month. New members receive a free trial before billing begins.
SourceChamilo: 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.
Skillshare: What topics does Skillshare cover?
Skillshare offers more than 30,000 project-based classes in design, illustration, photography, video, writing, marketing, and productivity. Courses often include downloadable resources like templates, brushes, and design files.
SourceChamilo: 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.
Skillshare: Can I download Skillshare classes for offline viewing?
Yes, Skillshare Premium members can download classes for offline viewing, allowing you to watch content anywhere without an internet connection.
SourceChamilo: 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.
Skillshare: Does Skillshare offer certificates?
Yes, Skillshare classes include certificates of completion as part of the project-based learning model, allowing you to track and share your learning progress.
SourceSkillshare: Is there a free tier on Skillshare?
Skillshare offers a free one-month trial to new users who provide card details. After the trial, a paid subscription is required for continued access.
SourceRelated pages
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