edX vs Scratch
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
Scratch
Programming language to create your own interactive stories, games,
| Feature | edX | Scratch |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | — | ★ 4,811 |
| First released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Replaces | — | — |
Why pick each one
Choose edX if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Python
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose Scratch if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (4.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is edX or Scratch better?
Scratch is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider edX if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are edX and Scratch free and open-source?
Yes. edX is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Scratch under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run edX and Scratch with Docker?
edX: check the project docs for container support. Scratch: check the project docs for container support.