Canvas LMS vs Tsugi
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
Tsugi
Framework for building LTI learning tools
| Feature | Canvas LMS | Tsugi |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Ruby | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,763 | ★ 371 |
| First released | 2011 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Blackboard, Moodle | LTI Marketplace tools |
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 Tsugi if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Written in PHP
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Canvas LMS or Tsugi better?
Neither is universally better. Canvas LMS has the larger community, while Tsugi is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Canvas LMS and Tsugi free and open-source?
Yes. Canvas LMS is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tsugi under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Canvas LMS and Tsugi with Docker?
Canvas LMS: yes. Tsugi: check the project docs for container support.