ILIAS vs Moodle
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted learning & courses options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Moodle
World's most popular open-source learning platform
| Feature | ILIAS | Moodle |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 506 | ★ 7,429 |
| First released | 2000 | 2002 |
| Replaces | Moodle, Blackboard | Canvas, Blackboard |
What are ILIAS and Moodle?
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
Moodle
Moodle is a comprehensive open-source learning management system used by schools, universities, and businesses worldwide. It supports course creation, quizzes, assignments, grading, and a vast plugin ecosystem.
- Full LMS feature set
- Huge plugin library
- Quizzes and grading
- Mobile app support
ILIAS vs Moodle: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. ILIAS is the more established project (first released 2000), while Moodle arrived in 2002. Moodle has the considerably larger community, at 7,429 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 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 7.4k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is ILIAS or Moodle better?
Moodle 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 Moodle free and open-source?
Yes. ILIAS is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Moodle under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ILIAS and Moodle with Docker?
ILIAS: yes. Moodle: yes.