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LMS · head to head

Edpuzzle vs Totara

Edpuzzle logo

Edpuzzle

LMS

Make any video your lesson

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Totara logo

Totara

LMS

Open source learning, performance and collaboration platform derived from Moodle and sold through partners

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Edpuzzle has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Edpuzzle free tier limited to 20 videos maximum, with no storage increase from deleting; Totara you cannot buy from the vendor. Every purchase runs through a partner who sets its own hosting, services and support pricing, so identical platforms are quoted at materially different totals and buyers must run a partner comparison as well as a product comparison.
  • They diverge on capability: Edpuzzle covers Video embedding, Totara covers Organisational hierarchies.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Edpuzzle and Totara actually diverge.

Attributes where Edpuzzle and Totara differ
AttributeEdpuzzleTotara
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, Linux
Founded2013Unknown

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 Edpuzzle

  • Video embedding
  • Question overlays
  • Audio notes
  • Voiceover
  • Progress tracking
  • Gradebook
  • LMS integration
  • Mobile app

Only in Totara

  • Organisational hierarchies
  • Compliance and certification
  • Totara Perform
  • Totara Engage
  • Self-hosting
  • Programs and learning plans

What people use each for

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

Edpuzzle

  • Flipped classroomnot Totara
  • Video assignmentsnot Totara
  • Formative assessmentnot Totara
  • Remote learningnot Totara

Totara

  • Health services and government bodies that must evidence mandatory training by job role across a large hierarchynot Edpuzzle
  • Organisations with data residency rules that require the platform to run on their own infrastructurenot Edpuzzle
  • Moodle users who need appraisal, competency and compliance features the academic product does not carrynot Edpuzzle
  • Buyers who want exit rights over the platform code rather than dependence on a single hosted vendornot Edpuzzle

Where each one falls short

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

Edpuzzle

  • Free tier limited to 20 videos maximum, with no storage increase from deleting
  • Primarily focused on K-12; less comprehensive for higher education video management
  • Advanced features require paid plan, limiting free users to basic interactivity

Totara

  • You cannot buy from the vendor. Every purchase runs through a partner who sets its own hosting, services and support pricing, so identical platforms are quoted at materially different totals and buyers must run a partner comparison as well as a product comparison.
  • Open source does not mean cheap. Subscription plus partner hosting plus implementation and version upgrade services commonly lands near commercial system cost, and the saving is in control and exit rights rather than in the invoice.
  • The administrative interface carries its Moodle lineage and is dense, so administrator training is a real project cost rather than an afterthought.
  • Major version upgrades are projects, especially where a partner has customised the deployment, and organisations that customise heavily find upgrades slower and dearer over time.
  • The learner facing experience is functional rather than engaging, and organisations wanting a consumer grade learning experience usually front it with something else.

Pricing, plan by plan

Edpuzzle

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 20 videos maximum
    • Basic interactive features
    • Limited analytics
  • Pro Teacher$12/month
    • Unlimited videos
    • Advanced analytics
    • Priority support
  • Pro Annual$162/year
    • Same as Pro Teacher
    • Annual discount

Totara

On request
  • Totara subscription via partner$undefined/year
    • Sold only through distribution partners
    • Partner sets hosting, implementation and support pricing
    • Source available under the GPL, but subscription required for supported releases

Which should you pick?

Choose Edpuzzle if

  • You need video embedding.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want question overlays.
Edpuzzle review

Choose Totara if

  • You need organisational hierarchies.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
  • You also want compliance and certification.
Totara review

Questions people ask

Is Edpuzzle or Totara better?
Neither clearly leads. Edpuzzle starts at Free and Totara at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Edpuzzle or Totara?
Edpuzzle has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Edpuzzle and On request for Totara.
Does Edpuzzle or Totara run on more platforms?
Edpuzzle runs on Web, iOS, Android. Totara runs on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
Can I use Edpuzzle for free?
Yes. Edpuzzle has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Totara starts at On request.
What is Edpuzzle best used for?
Edpuzzle is most often used for flipped classroom, video assignments, formative assessment, remote learning. Of those, flipped classroom and video assignments are not what Totara is typically brought in for.
What can Edpuzzle do that Totara cannot?
Edpuzzle covers Video embedding, Question overlays, Audio notes, Voiceover. Totara covers Organisational hierarchies, Compliance and certification, Totara Perform, Totara Engage.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Edpuzzle: What is the video storage limit on the free Edpuzzle plan?

Free accounts can store up to 20 videos. Deleting videos does not increase the limit. Upgrading to a Pro plan provides unlimited storage.

Source
Totara: Is Totara free because it is open source?

No. The source is available under the GPL, but supported releases require a subscription, and it is sold through partners who add hosting, implementation and support costs.

Edpuzzle: Can I use videos from YouTube in Edpuzzle?

Yes, Edpuzzle lets you take videos from YouTube, Khan Academy, Crash Course, TED-Ed, and National Geographic, then add interactive elements like questions and annotations.

Source
Totara: How is it different from Moodle?

Moodle is built around courses and academic delivery. Totara adds organisational hierarchies, role based automatic assignment, recurring certification and appraisal, which is what workplace compliance reporting needs.

Edpuzzle: How much does Edpuzzle Pro cost?

Edpuzzle Pro starts at $12 per month for individuals, or $162 per year. Professional license options are available for schools and districts at custom pricing.

Source
Totara: Can we host it ourselves?

Yes. Self hosting is a genuine option and is one of the main reasons regulated and public sector buyers choose it over a hosted only competitor.

Edpuzzle: Can I embed my own voice narration?

Yes, one of Edpuzzle's key features is the ability to add your own voice narration and explanations to any video, making content more personalized for your class.

Source
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