edX vs Moodle
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?
edX
The Open edX platform is open-source code that powers edX.org
VS
Moodle
World's most popular open-source learning platform
| Feature | edX | Moodle |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | — | ★ 7,315 |
| First released | 2020 | 2002 |
| Replaces | — | Canvas, Blackboard |
Why pick each one
Choose edX if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Python
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose Moodle if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 7.3k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is edX or Moodle better?
Neither is universally better. Moodle has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are edX and Moodle free and open-source?
Yes. edX is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Moodle under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run edX and Moodle with Docker?
edX: check the project docs for container support. Moodle: yes.