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Education · head to head

Open edX vs Udemy

Open edX logo

Open edX

Education

Open-source platform powering online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Udemy logo

Udemy

Education

World's largest marketplace for online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Open edX no license fees for software but requires separate spending on hosting, infrastructure, and maintenance; Udemy course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
  • They diverge on capability: Open edX covers Course authoring, Udemy covers Video courses.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Open edX and Udemy differ
AttributeOpen edXUdemy
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Founded20122010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, IOS, Android), 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
  • Analytics
  • Mobile apps
  • xBlocks
  • LTI tools

Only in Udemy

  • Video courses
  • Quizzes
  • Assignments
  • Mobile learning
  • Offline viewing
  • Q&A
  • Reviews
  • Slack

Both cover

  • Certificates
  • SSO
  • 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 Udemy
  • Corporate trainingnot Udemy
  • Blended learningnot Udemy
  • Degree programsnot Udemy

Udemy

  • Skill buildingnot Open edX
  • Career transitionnot Open edX
  • Professional developmentnot Open edX
  • Team trainingnot 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

Udemy

  • Course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
  • No formal credentials or degrees offered, unlike Coursera and edX which offer institution-branded certificates
  • Courses are self-paced with no instructor interaction or support, making structured learning difficult for some students

Pricing, plan by plan

Open edX

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

Udemy

Free
  • Personal$19/month
    • 11,000+ courses access
  • Team$360/year
    • For 5-20 people

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 Udemy if

  • You need video courses.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want quizzes.
Udemy review

Questions people ask

Is Open edX or Udemy better?
Neither clearly leads. Open edX starts at Free and Udemy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Open edX or Udemy?
Open edX starts at Free and Udemy at Free.
Does Open edX or Udemy run on more platforms?
Open edX runs on Web, IOS, Android. Udemy runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 Udemy is typically brought in for.
What can Open edX do that Udemy cannot?
Open edX covers Course authoring, Interactive videos, Assessments, Discussions. Udemy covers Video courses, Quizzes, Assignments, Mobile learning. Both handle Certificates, SSO, Web support, IOS support.

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
Udemy: Does Udemy offer team/business pricing?

Yes, Udemy's Team plan costs $360 per user annually for groups of 5 to 20 people, in addition to individual Personal plan at $19/month.

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
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