Moodle vs Tutor
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?
Moodle
World's most popular open-source learning platform
VS
Tutor
Docker-based distribution of the Open edX platform
| Feature | Moodle | Tutor |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 4,096 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, kubernetes | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,315 | ★ 1,123 |
| First released | 2002 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Canvas, Blackboard | Coursera for Campus, Canvas |
Why pick each one
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 7.3k GitHub stars
Choose Tutor if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Active community (1.1k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Moodle or Tutor better?
Moodle is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Tutor if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Moodle and Tutor free and open-source?
Yes. Moodle is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Tutor under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Moodle and Tutor with Docker?
Moodle: yes. Tutor: yes.