ILIAS vs Learnhouse
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted learning & courses options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | ILIAS | Learnhouse |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 506 | ★ 2,291 |
| First released | 2000 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Moodle, Blackboard | Canvas, Moodle |
What are ILIAS and Learnhouse?
ILIAS
ILIAS is a flexible open-source learning management system used by universities, schools, and companies. It provides courses, tests, learning paths, and SCORM support with strong standards compliance.
- Standards-compliant LMS
- SCORM and LTI support
- Tests and learning paths
- Strong access control
Learnhouse
LearnHouse is an open-source learning platform for creating courses with documents, videos, and assessments. It supports organizations, multiple instructors, and a flexible content structure.
- Course authoring
- Multi-instructor support
- Document and video lessons
- Organization workspaces
ILIAS vs Learnhouse: key differences
ILIAS is written in PHP, while Learnhouse is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for ILIAS versus Apache-2.0 for Learnhouse. Learnhouse is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for ILIAS. ILIAS is the more established project (first released 2000), while Learnhouse arrived in 2022. Learnhouse has the considerably larger community, at 2,291 GitHub stars versus 506.
Why pick each one
Choose ILIAS if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
Choose Learnhouse if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is ILIAS or Learnhouse better?
Learnhouse is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider ILIAS if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are ILIAS and Learnhouse free and open-source?
Yes. ILIAS is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Learnhouse under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ILIAS and Learnhouse with Docker?
ILIAS: yes. Learnhouse: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, ILIAS or Learnhouse?
Learnhouse has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for ILIAS. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.