Chamilo vs Claroline Connect
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?
Chamilo
Easy-to-use e-learning and collaboration platform
VS
Claroline Connect
Open-source LMS for collaborative online courses
| Feature | Chamilo | Claroline Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 982 | ★ 349 |
| First released | 2010 | 2002 |
| Replaces | Moodle, Blackboard | Moodle, Blackboard |
Why pick each one
Choose Chamilo if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
Choose Claroline Connect if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is Chamilo or Claroline Connect better?
Neither is universally better. Chamilo has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Chamilo and Claroline Connect free and open-source?
Yes. Chamilo is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Claroline Connect under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Chamilo and Claroline Connect with Docker?
Chamilo: yes. Claroline Connect: check the project docs for container support.