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LMS · head to head

Claroline vs Kaltura

Claroline logo

Claroline

LMS

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kaltura logo

Kaltura

Webinars

Video platform for learning, media, and engagement

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.; Kaltura no published pricing; vendor directs all inquiries to request quotes, demos, or trials
  • They diverge on capability: Claroline covers Workspaces, Kaltura covers Video creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Claroline and Kaltura actually diverge.

Attributes where Claroline and Kaltura differ
AttributeClarolineKaltura
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, LinuxWindows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web
CategoryLMSWebinars
FoundedUnknown2006

Identical on both: 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 Claroline

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

Only in Kaltura

  • Video creation
  • Live streaming
  • Analytics
  • Interactive content
  • Mobile apps
  • Canvas
  • Blackboard
  • Moodle

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 Kaltura
  • A public body required to keep learner data on European infrastructure under an open licence it can audit.not Kaltura
  • A training provider assembling learning paths from a shared library of reusable resources across many client workspaces rather than duplicating courses.not Kaltura
  • 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 Kaltura

Kaltura

  • Enterprise video portals and internal town hallsnot Claroline
  • Virtual classrooms and lecture capture for universitiesnot 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.

Kaltura

  • No published pricing; vendor directs all inquiries to request quotes, demos, or trials
  • Pricing is custom per customer with no rate information disclosed publicly

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

Kaltura

On request
  • Starter$400/month
    • Video library
    • Basic features
  • Professional$1000/month
    • Live streaming
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$2500/month
    • Custom solutions
    • Support

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 Kaltura if

  • You need video creation.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want live streaming.
Kaltura review

Questions people ask

Is Claroline or Kaltura better?
Neither clearly leads. Claroline starts at Free and Kaltura at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Claroline or Kaltura?
Claroline has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Claroline and On request for Kaltura.
Does Claroline or Kaltura run on more platforms?
Claroline runs on Web, Linux. Kaltura runs on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Claroline for free?
Yes. Claroline has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kaltura 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 Kaltura is typically brought in for.
What can Claroline do that Kaltura cannot?
Claroline covers Workspaces, Resource model, Learning paths, Quizzes and evaluation. Kaltura covers Video creation, Live streaming, Analytics, Interactive content.

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.

Kaltura: How much does Kaltura cost?

Kaltura does not publish pricing online. The vendor offers custom pricing based on solutions selected, requiring customers to request quotes or book demos through their website.

Source
Claroline: Is it still maintained?

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

Kaltura: Can I try Kaltura before purchasing?

Kaltura offers free trial access, but specific trial terms, duration, and feature restrictions are not stated on the pricing page. Contact Kaltura to request a trial and learn about specific offerings.

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.

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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