Softwr

Education · head to head

Open edX vs PowerSchool

Open edX logo

Open edX

Education

Open-source platform powering online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PowerSchool logo

PowerSchool

Education

More Power, Stronger School

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Open edX has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Open edX no license fees for software but requires separate spending on hosting, infrastructure, and maintenance; PowerSchool no pricing information published on website

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Open edX and PowerSchool actually diverge.

Attributes where Open edX and PowerSchool differ
AttributeOpen edXPowerSchool
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).

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 PowerSchool

Nothing recorded that Open edX does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Open edX

  • MOOC creationnot PowerSchool
  • Corporate trainingnot PowerSchool
  • Blended learningnot PowerSchool
  • Degree programsnot PowerSchool

PowerSchool

  • Managing student enrollment and family communications at scalenot Open edX
  • Tracking attendance, grades, and course performance across schoolsnot Open edX
  • Planning budgets and managing school financial resourcesnot Open edX
  • Recruiting and supporting teachers with performance analyticsnot Open edX

Where each one falls short

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

Open edX

  • No license fees for software but requires separate spending on hosting, infrastructure, and maintenance
  • Customization and support from third-party providers requires additional investment

PowerSchool

  • No pricing information published on website

Pricing, plan by plan

Open edX

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Full platform
    • Community support
    • All features
  • Managed Hosting$undefined/month
    • Hosted solution
    • Support
    • Maintenance

PowerSchool

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PowerSchool review.

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.
Open edX review

Choose PowerSchool if

Nothing in the data separates PowerSchool from Open edX on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

PowerSchool review

Questions people ask

Is Open edX or PowerSchool better?
Neither clearly leads. Open edX starts at Free and PowerSchool at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Open edX or PowerSchool?
Open edX has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Open edX and On request for PowerSchool.
Does Open edX or PowerSchool run on more platforms?
Open edX runs on Web, IOS, Android. PowerSchool runs on Web.
Can I use Open edX for free?
Yes. Open edX has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PowerSchool 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 PowerSchool is typically brought in for.
What can Open edX do that PowerSchool cannot?
Open edX covers Course authoring, Interactive videos, Assessments, Discussions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Open edX: How much does Open edX cost?

Open edX software itself is completely free with no license fees. Organizations must cover their own hosting, infrastructure, maintenance, and customization costs.

Source
PowerSchool: How much does PowerSchool cost?

PowerSchool does not publish pricing on their website. Visitors are directed to contact the company directly through their contact page for pricing details.

Source
Open edX: Are there hosting options for Open edX?

Open edX offers three deployment options: self-hosted (organizations deploy independently), managed providers (third-party companies offer cost-effective managed services), and a free sandbox for testing.

Source
Open edX: What does free mean for Open edX?

There are no license fees to use the Open edX software. Organizations can download and deploy it independently or use managed hosting providers for a fee.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Open edX

More on PowerSchool

Keep looking

Other head to heads