Claroline Connect vs Stud.IP
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 | Stud.IP |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 349 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2002 | 2003 |
| Replaces | Moodle, Blackboard | Blackboard, Moodle |
What are Claroline Connect and Stud.IP?
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
Stud.IP
Stud.IP is an open-source course and learning management system widely used by German universities. It combines course administration, messaging, file sharing, and collaborative tools in one portal.
- University course management
- Integrated messaging
- Collaborative wikis
- Plugin ecosystem
Claroline Connect vs Stud.IP: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Claroline Connect versus GPL-2.0 for Stud.IP. Claroline Connect is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Stud.IP. Claroline Connect has the considerably larger community, at 349 GitHub stars versus 100.
Why pick each one
Choose Claroline Connect if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is Claroline Connect or Stud.IP better?
Claroline Connect is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Stud.IP if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Claroline Connect and Stud.IP free and open-source?
Yes. Claroline Connect is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Stud.IP under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Claroline Connect and Stud.IP with Docker?
Claroline Connect: check the project docs for container support. Stud.IP: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Claroline Connect or Stud.IP?
Claroline Connect has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Stud.IP. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.