Learning Locker 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?
Learning Locker
Open-source learning record store for xAPI data
VS
Open edX
Scalable open-source platform for online courses
| Feature | Learning Locker | Open edX |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 581 | ★ 8,156 |
| First released | 2013 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Watershed LRS, Veracity LRS | Coursera, Canvas |
Why pick each one
Choose Learning Locker if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in JavaScript
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 Learning Locker or Open edX better?
Neither is universally better. Open edX has the larger community; both share a hard setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Learning Locker and Open edX free and open-source?
Yes. Learning Locker is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Open edX under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Learning Locker and Open edX with Docker?
Learning Locker: yes. Open edX: yes.