Gibbon 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 | Gibbon | Stud.IP |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | 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, docker | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 633 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2010 | 2003 |
| Replaces | PowerSchool, Blackboard | Blackboard, Moodle |
What are Gibbon and Stud.IP?
Gibbon
Gibbon is a free, open-source school management and learning platform built for teachers and schools. It combines a virtual learning environment with timetabling, attendance, and student records.
- School management plus VLE
- Timetabling and attendance
- Student records
- Free for schools
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
Gibbon vs Stud.IP: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Gibbon versus GPL-2.0 for Stud.IP. Gibbon is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Stud.IP. Stud.IP is the more established project (first released 2003), while Gibbon arrived in 2010. Gibbon has the considerably larger community, at 633 GitHub stars versus 100. Gibbon lists first-class Docker deployment; Stud.IP does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Gibbon if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is Gibbon or Stud.IP better?
Gibbon 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 Gibbon and Stud.IP free and open-source?
Yes. Gibbon 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 Gibbon and Stud.IP with Docker?
Gibbon: yes. Stud.IP: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Gibbon or Stud.IP?
Gibbon 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.