eXeLearning vs Open edX
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?
eXeLearning
Open-source tool for authoring educational web content
VS
Open edX
Scalable open-source platform for online courses
| Feature | eXeLearning | Open edX |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 138 | ★ 8,156 |
| First released | 2004 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Articulate, Adobe Captivate | Coursera, Canvas |
Why pick each one
Choose eXeLearning if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Open edX if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 8.2k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is eXeLearning or Open edX better?
Neither is universally better. Open edX has the larger community, while eXeLearning is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are eXeLearning and Open edX free and open-source?
Yes. eXeLearning is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Open edX under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run eXeLearning and Open edX with Docker?
eXeLearning: check the project docs for container support. Open edX: yes.