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LMS · head to head

Claroline vs Docebo

Claroline logo

Claroline

LMS

Open source French-language learning platform, now developed as Claroline Connect

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Docebo logo

Docebo

LMS

AI-powered learning platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Claroline has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Claroline two products share the name and the abandoned original, last released in December 2021, dominates search results, so institutions regularly install unmaintained software believing it is current.; Docebo no price is published, and cost depends on product tier plus an active user count
  • They diverge on capability: Claroline covers Workspaces, Docebo covers AI-powered learning.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Claroline and Docebo actually diverge.

Attributes where Claroline and Docebo differ
AttributeClarolineDocebo
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, LinuxWeb, IOS, Android, API
FoundedUnknown2005

Identical on both: 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 Claroline

  • Workspaces
  • Resource model
  • Learning paths
  • Quizzes and evaluation
  • Competency framework
  • Planning and events
  • Self-hosting
  • SaaS option

Only in Docebo

  • AI-powered learning
  • Social learning
  • Content marketplace
  • Mobile app
  • Gamification
  • Analytics
  • Extended enterprise
  • Virtual classroom

What people use each for

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

Claroline

  • A French or Belgian training organisation that needs a francophone platform where the interface and support are French-first rather than translated.not Docebo
  • A public body required to keep learner data on European infrastructure under an open licence it can audit.not Docebo
  • A training provider assembling learning paths from a shared library of reusable resources across many client workspaces rather than duplicating courses.not Docebo
  • An institution already running the abandoned Claroline 13 line that needs to plan a migration onto the maintained Connect codebase before its dependencies become unsupportable.not Docebo

Docebo

  • Corporate learning management and compliance trainingnot Claroline
  • Delivering and tracking training to employees, partners or customersnot Claroline

Where each one falls short

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

Claroline

  • Two products share the name and the abandoned original, last released in December 2021, dominates search results, so institutions regularly install unmaintained software believing it is current.
  • The community is small compared with Moodle, so plugin choice, third-party integrations and the pool of people who can administer it in production are all thin.
  • Documentation and community discussion are French-first and English coverage is partial and inconsistent, which raises the effort for any non-francophone team.
  • The commercial hosting is offered by a small operator rather than a large partner network, so an institution depending on paid support has concentrated supplier risk.
  • The workspace and resource model is different enough from a conventional course-based LMS that staff moving from Moodle or Canvas have to relearn how content is organised, and migrations do not map cleanly.

Docebo

  • No price is published, and cost depends on product tier plus an active user count
  • Three different user counting models exist, monthly active, yearly active and registered active, so what counts as a billable user is itself a negotiated term
  • The vendor states the product is best suited to organisations training at least 250 learners
  • Add ons sit on top of the tier and are not enumerated with prices

Pricing, plan by plan

Claroline

Free
  • Claroline ConnectFree
    • GPL licence, no fee
    • Full source on GitHub
    • You provide Symfony and PHP hosting and operations
  • Hosted distribution$undefined/year
    • Managed hosting, maintenance and updates
    • Support from the commercial operator
    • Quoted by user count

Docebo

On request
  • Engage$undefined/month
    • Course management
    • Mobile learning
    • Reporting
  • Elevate$undefined/month
    • All Engage
    • AI features
    • Social learning
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • All Elevate
    • Extended enterprise
    • Custom integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Claroline if

  • You need workspaces.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux.
  • You also want resource model.
Claroline review

Choose Docebo if

  • You need ai-powered learning.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, API.
  • You also want social learning.
Docebo review

Questions people ask

Is Claroline or Docebo better?
Neither clearly leads. Claroline starts at Free and Docebo at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Claroline or Docebo?
Claroline has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Claroline and On request for Docebo.
Does Claroline or Docebo run on more platforms?
Claroline runs on Web, Linux. Docebo runs on Web, IOS, Android, API.
Can I use Claroline for free?
Yes. Claroline has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Docebo starts at On request.
What is Claroline best used for?
Claroline is most often used for a french or belgian training organisation that needs a francophone platform where the interface and support are french-first rather than translated., a public body required to keep learner data on european infrastructure under an open licence it can audit., a training provider assembling learning paths from a shared library of reusable resources across many client workspaces rather than duplicating courses., an institution already running the abandoned claroline 13 line that needs to plan a migration onto the maintained connect codebase before its dependencies become unsupportable.. Of those, a french or belgian training organisation that needs a francophone platform where the interface and support are french-first rather than translated. and a public body required to keep learner data on european infrastructure under an open licence it can audit. are not what Docebo is typically brought in for.
What can Claroline do that Docebo cannot?
Claroline covers Workspaces, Resource model, Learning paths, Quizzes and evaluation. Docebo covers AI-powered learning, Social learning, Content marketplace, Mobile app.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Claroline: Which Claroline should I install?

Claroline Connect, the Symfony and React codebase currently on version 15. The original PHP Claroline stopped at 13.1.3 in December 2021 and should not be deployed.

Docebo: How much does Docebo cost?

Docebo uses custom pricing designed to reflect how your organization engages with learning. Tiers include Elevate and Enterprise, with pricing based on selected tier, active user model, and user count.

Source
Claroline: Is it still maintained?

Yes. Point releases in the 15.0 line continued into 2026 with active commits on GitHub.

Docebo: What is Docebo's minimum learner requirement?

Docebo is typically suited for organizations training 250 or more learners. Specific pricing requires contacting their sales team.

Source
Claroline: Is it free?

The software is GPL and free. Hosted distribution with maintenance and support is a paid service from the commercial operator.

Docebo: What are Docebo's pricing tiers?

Docebo offers Elevate tier with personalization, white-labeled design, and AI-powered content. Enterprise tier includes advanced analytics, integration of up to 6 tools, and elite support.

Source
Claroline: Does it work in English?

The interface has English, but documentation and community support are French-first, so a non-francophone team will hit gaps.

Claroline: How big is the ecosystem compared to Moodle?

Much smaller. If you need a wide plugin market or an easy administrator hiring pool, Moodle is the safer open source choice.

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