Claroline Connect vs OpenOLAT
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted learning & courses options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Claroline Connect | OpenOLAT |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 75 · Good | 74 · Good |
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 4,096 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 349 | ★ 443 |
| First released | 2002 | 2011 |
| Replaces | Moodle, Blackboard | Moodle, Blackboard |
What are Claroline Connect and OpenOLAT?
Claroline Connect
Claroline Connect is an open-source learning management and collaboration platform for schools and training organizations. It offers course paths, resources, quizzes, and group workspaces.
- Learning path builder
- Group workspaces
- Quiz and survey tools
- Resource library
OpenOLAT
OpenOLAT is an open-source LMS for organizing courses, assessments, and collaborative learning. It is widely used by universities and offers a modern interface with extensive course-building tools.
- Flexible course editor
- Assessment tools
- Video and SCORM support
- Institutional scale
Claroline Connect vs OpenOLAT: key differences
Claroline Connect is written in PHP, while OpenOLAT is built with Java. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Claroline Connect versus Apache-2.0 for OpenOLAT. Claroline Connect is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for OpenOLAT. Claroline Connect is the more established project (first released 2002), while OpenOLAT arrived in 2011. OpenOLAT lists first-class Docker deployment; Claroline Connect does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Claroline Connect if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in PHP
Choose OpenOLAT if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Claroline Connect or OpenOLAT better?
Neither is universally better. OpenOLAT has the larger community, while Claroline Connect is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Claroline Connect and OpenOLAT free and open-source?
Yes. Claroline Connect is licensed under GPL-3.0 and OpenOLAT under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Claroline Connect and OpenOLAT with Docker?
Claroline Connect: check the project docs for container support. OpenOLAT: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Claroline Connect or OpenOLAT?
Claroline Connect has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for OpenOLAT. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.