Software · head to head
Open edX vs Flip
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Open edX open edX has no licensing fee as open source software, but the vendor's own site states that hosting and infrastructure costs are the operator's responsibility, so there is no bundled managed-hosting price to compare against SaaS competitors.; Flip the Internet Archive's capture of Flip's homepage on 28 June 2022 stated 'Flip is a free video discussion app', confirming the Microsoft-owned product (rebranded from Flipgrid) carries no subscription fee.
- They diverge on capability: Open edX covers Course authoring, Flip covers Video responses.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Open edX and Flip actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, IOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Open edX
- Course authoring
- Interactive videos
- Assessments
- Discussions
- Certificates
- Analytics
- Mobile apps
- xBlocks
Only in Flip
- Video responses
- Topics
- Camera effects
- Stickers
- Text responses
- Moderation
- Mixtapes
- AR camera
Both cover
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Open edX
- MOOC creationnot Flip
- Corporate trainingnot Flip
- Blended learningnot Flip
- Degree programsnot Flip
Flip
- Video discussionsnot Open edX
- Student portfoliosnot Open edX
- Book talksnot Open edX
- Language practicenot Open edX
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Open edX
- Open edX has no licensing fee as open source software, but the vendor's own site states that hosting and infrastructure costs are the operator's responsibility, so there is no bundled managed-hosting price to compare against SaaS competitors.
Flip
- The Internet Archive's capture of Flip's homepage on 28 June 2022 stated 'Flip is a free video discussion app', confirming the Microsoft-owned product (rebranded from Flipgrid) carries no subscription fee.
Pricing, plan by plan
Open edX
Free- Self-HostedFree
- Full platform
- Community support
- All features
- Managed Hosting$undefined/month
- Hosted solution
- Support
- Maintenance
Flip
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited groups
- Unlimited topics
- Video responses
Which should you pick?
Choose Open edX if
- You need course authoring.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want interactive videos.
Choose Flip if
- You need video responses.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want topics.
Questions people ask
- Is Open edX or Flip better?
- Neither clearly leads. Open edX starts at Free and Flip at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Open edX or Flip?
- Open edX starts at Free and Flip at Free.
- Does Open edX or Flip run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Open edX for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Open edX best used for?
- Open edX is most often used for mooc creation, corporate training, blended learning, degree programs. Of those, mooc creation and corporate training are not what Flip is typically brought in for.
- What can Open edX do that Flip cannot?
- Open edX covers Course authoring, Interactive videos, Assessments, Discussions. Flip covers Video responses, Topics, Camera effects, Stickers. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.