Moodlevs
Canvas
Canvas: Cloud-based LMS used in higher education with extensive institutional integrations
Moodle
Open-source LMS designed by educators for educators
As of 30 August 2026, Moodle has a free plan and paid plans start at $200/year. Moodle is a flexible, open-source learning management system used by millions of learners around the world. Softwr lists it under LMS. Moodle is made by Moodle Pty Ltd, launched in 2002, available on Web.
Overview
What Moodle does
Moodle is a flexible, open-source learning management system used by millions of learners around the world. Designed by educators, for educators, Moodle provides a powerful set of tools to create engaging online learning experiences and manage student progress with comprehensive tracking and assessment capabilities.
What people use it for
- Online learning
- Blended learning
- Corporate training
- Compliance training
Related searches
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about Moodle.
- Self-hosted deployment requires significant IT resources and technical expertise
- Managed hosting has higher costs for large institutions compared to self-hosting
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of Moodle
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- MoodlevsBlackboard
Blackboard: Enterprise LMS for institutions with comprehensive course management and assessment tools
- MoodlevsSchoology
Schoology: Cloud-based LMS for K-12 and higher education with collaborative learning features
Pricing
What Moodle costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Self-Hosted
Free
- Full feature access
MoodleCloud Starter
$200 /yr
- 50 users
- Managed hosting
Capabilities
Features
Course management
Quiz builder
Forums
Assignments
Gradebook
Badges
Competencies
Mobile app
H5P
Integration with H5P
BigBlueButton
Integration with BigBlueButton
Zoom
Integration with Zoom
Microsoft 365
Integration with Microsoft 365
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Is Moodle free or paid?
Moodle is free and open-source software. However, self-hosting requires IT resources and server infrastructure. Managed cloud hosting through MoodleCloud starts at $200/year for 50 users.
SourceWhat languages does Moodle support?
Moodle is available in over 160 languages, making it accessible to educators and learners worldwide.
SourceIs Moodle suitable for corporations and enterprises?
Yes, Moodle is suitable for K-12, higher education, vocational training, and corporate learning. Moodle Workplace is the enterprise edition with multi-tenancy and compliance tooling.
SourceWhat learning standards does Moodle support?
Moodle supports various e-learning standards including SCORM and Tin Can API for compatibility with other educational systems.
SourceBehind it
Who makes Moodle
- Company
- Moodle Pty Ltd
- Based in
- Perth, Australia
Timeline
Moodle over time
Keep looking
Where to go from Moodle
- Moodle alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- Moodle pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- Moodle badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All LMS softwareThe full category
- Best LMS softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best LMS software for
Compare Moodle with
- Canvas
- Sakai
- Chamilo
- Totara
- Claroline
- Schoology
- Google Classroom
- Edmodo
- ClassDojo
- CYPHER Learning
- LearnWorlds
- Absorb LMS
- Seesaw
- Weet
- Whatfix
- Sakai
- Chamilo
- Claroline
Other LMS software
Open source learning management system governed by the Apereo Foundation
Open source13 researched notesOpen source learning management system with no licence fee and a Latin American and francophone user base
Open source12 researched notesOpen source learning, performance and collaboration platform derived from Moodle and sold through partners
Pricing on request11 researched notesOpen source French-language learning platform, now developed as Claroline Connect
Open source13 researched notesOne learning platform codebase serving schools, universities and businesses with built-in AI course generation
Pricing on request11 researched notesCreate and sell online courses with interactive experiences
Free, then $24/mo13 researched notesAsynchronous training video with AI avatars, quizzes and a searchable knowledge library
Free, then $24/mo12 researched notesIn-application guidance and walkthroughs layered over enterprise software you did not build
Pricing on request12 researched notesOpen source learning management system governed by the Apereo Foundation
Open source13 researched notesOpen source learning management system with no licence fee and a Latin American and francophone user base
Open source12 researched notesOpen source French-language learning platform, now developed as Claroline Connect
Open source13 researched notes
Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for Moodle, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on Moodle
Moodle alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
Moodle pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare Moodle
Put it head to head with anything we hold
Moodle badge
Its rating, and an embed for your own site
Best LMS software alternatives
Asynchronous training video with AI avatars, quizzes and a searchable knowledge library
Per creator per month
External learning platform for companies that sell training to customers and partners as a product
quote
Learning management with interactive content authoring built in rather than bought separately
quoteOpen source learning, performance and collaboration platform derived from Moodle and sold through partners
quote
Customer education platform that treats training completion as a commercial signal in the CRM
quote
WordPress plugin that turns a site you already own into a course platform with no revenue share
Per site per yearOne learning platform codebase serving schools, universities and businesses with built-in AI course generation
quote