Lumi vs OpenBoard Interactive
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?
Lumi
Create and host interactive H5P learning content
VS
OpenBoard Interactive
Interactive whiteboard software for teaching
| Feature | Lumi | OpenBoard Interactive |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 190 | ★ 3,020 |
| First released | 2019 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Articulate, Nearpod | SMART Notebook, Promethean |
Why pick each one
Choose Lumi if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in JavaScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose OpenBoard Interactive if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Lumi or OpenBoard Interactive better?
Neither is universally better. OpenBoard Interactive has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Lumi and OpenBoard Interactive free and open-source?
Yes. Lumi is licensed under MIT and OpenBoard Interactive under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lumi and OpenBoard Interactive with Docker?
Lumi: check the project docs for container support. OpenBoard Interactive: check the project docs for container support.