Canvas LMS vs TCExam
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted learning & courses options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Canvas LMS
Open-source learning management system by Instructure
VS
TCExam
Open-source computer-based assessment system
| Feature | Canvas LMS | TCExam |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Ruby | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,763 | ★ 617 |
| First released | 2011 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Blackboard, Moodle | ExamSoft |
Why pick each one
Choose Canvas LMS if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6.8k GitHub stars
- Written in Ruby
Choose TCExam if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is Canvas LMS or TCExam better?
Neither is universally better. Canvas LMS has the larger community, while TCExam is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Canvas LMS and TCExam free and open-source?
Yes. Canvas LMS is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and TCExam under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Canvas LMS and TCExam with Docker?
Canvas LMS: yes. TCExam: yes.