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.
Not the right match-up?
Claroline Connect
Open-source LMS for collaborative online courses
VS
OpenOLAT
Web-based learning management system for institutions
| Feature | Claroline Connect | OpenOLAT |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ★ 434 |
| First released | 2002 | 2011 |
| Replaces | Moodle, Blackboard | Moodle, Blackboard |
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.