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Education · head to head

Open edX vs Zoom Webinars

Open edX logo

Open edX

Education

Open-source platform powering online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom Webinars logo

Zoom Webinars

Webinars

Dedicated webinar platform by Zoom for large-scale events

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; Zoom Webinars exact pricing amounts not published on pricing pages
  • They diverge on capability: Open edX covers Course authoring, Zoom Webinars covers Attendee registration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Open edX and Zoom Webinars actually diverge.

Attributes where Open edX and Zoom Webinars differ
AttributeOpen edXZoom Webinars
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidCloud-based SaaS
CategoryEducationWebinars
Founded20122011

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

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
  • Mobile apps
  • xBlocks
  • LTI tools

Only in Zoom Webinars

  • Attendee registration
  • HD video
  • Screen sharing
  • Polls and surveys
  • Q&A
  • Breakout rooms
  • Recording
  • Salesforce

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • 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 Zoom Webinars
  • Corporate trainingnot Zoom Webinars
  • Blended learningnot Zoom Webinars
  • Degree programsnot Zoom Webinars

Zoom Webinars

  • Interactive webinarsnot Open edX
  • Virtual events with multiple sessionsnot Open edX
  • Ticketed eventsnot Open edX
  • Hybrid event hostingnot Open edX
  • Networking eventsnot 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

Zoom Webinars

  • Exact pricing amounts not published on pricing pages
  • Multiple webinar tiers exist but costs not specified online
  • Requires direct sales contact for pricing quotes

Pricing, plan by plan

Open edX

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

Zoom Webinars

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoom Webinars 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 Zoom Webinars if

  • You need attendee registration.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
  • You also want hd video.
Zoom Webinars review

Questions people ask

Is Open edX or Zoom Webinars better?
Neither clearly leads. Open edX starts at Free and Zoom Webinars at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Open edX or Zoom Webinars?
Open edX has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Open edX and On request for Zoom Webinars.
Does Open edX or Zoom Webinars run on more platforms?
Open edX runs on Web, IOS, Android. Zoom Webinars runs on Cloud-based SaaS.
Can I use Open edX for free?
Yes. Open edX has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zoom Webinars 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 Zoom Webinars is typically brought in for.
What can Open edX do that Zoom Webinars cannot?
Open edX covers Course authoring, Interactive videos, Assessments, Discussions. Zoom Webinars covers Attendee registration, HD video, Screen sharing, Polls and surveys. Both handle Analytics, Web support, IOS support, Android 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
Zoom Webinars: What are Zoom Webinars pricing tiers?

Zoom's webinar pricing is not publicly displayed on the pricing page. Customers must contact Zoom sales directly or log into their account to view available plans and rates.

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
Zoom Webinars: Does Zoom offer a free webinar plan?

No pricing or trial information is visible on Zoom's public pricing page. Contact Zoom sales to learn about trial options and starter plans for webinars.

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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