Education & E-Learning · head to head
Open edX vs Labster
Open edX
Education & E-Learning
Open-source platform powering online learning
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Labster
Education & E-Learning
Virtual science labs for immersive learning
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Open edX has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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.; Labster customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes
- They diverge on capability: Open edX covers Course authoring, Labster covers Virtual simulations.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Open edX and Labster actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education & E-Learning).
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 Labster
- Virtual simulations
- 3D environments
- Theory pages
- Quizzes
- Lab reports
- Progress tracking
- Mobile access
- Multiplayer
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 Labster
- Corporate trainingnot Labster
- Blended learningnot Labster
- Degree programsnot Labster
Labster
- Virtual labsnot Open edX
- Pre-lab preparationnot Open edX
- Supplemental learningnot Open edX
- Remote educationnot 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.
Labster
- Customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes
- Simulations can lag or freeze depending on operating system and connection speed
- Cannot fully replace hands-on physical lab experience and data collection
- Students report preference for tactile physical lab experience over virtual simulations
Pricing, plan by plan
Open edX
Free- Self-HostedFree
- Full platform
- Community support
- All features
- Managed Hosting$undefined/month
- Hosted solution
- Support
- Maintenance
Labster
On request- Student Access$49/month
- Course simulations
- Mobile access
- Progress tracking
- Institution$undefined/month
- All simulations
- LMS integration
- Analytics
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Custom content
- API access
- Priority support
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Open edX or Labster better?
- Neither clearly leads. Open edX starts at Free and Labster at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Open edX or Labster?
- Open edX has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Open edX and On request for Labster.
- Does Open edX or Labster run on more platforms?
- Open edX runs on Web, IOS, Android. Labster runs on Web.
- Can I use Open edX for free?
- Yes. Open edX has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Labster starts at On request.
- 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 Labster is typically brought in for.
- What can Open edX do that Labster cannot?
- Open edX covers Course authoring, Interactive videos, Assessments, Discussions. Labster covers Virtual simulations, 3D environments, Theory pages, Quizzes. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Labster: What STEM subjects does Labster cover?
Labster provides interactive 3D simulations across biology, chemistry, physics, and other STEM subjects, designed for university, college, and high school students.
Labster: How many students has Labster served?
Labster has served over 6 million students and thousands of institutions globally with its virtual lab simulations.