OpenBoard Interactive 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?
OpenBoard Interactive
Interactive whiteboard software for teaching
VS
Open edX
Scalable open-source platform for online courses
| Feature | OpenBoard Interactive | Open edX |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,020 | ★ 8,156 |
| First released | 2018 | 2013 |
| Replaces | SMART Notebook, Promethean | Coursera, Canvas |
Why pick each one
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++
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 OpenBoard Interactive or Open edX better?
Neither is universally better. Open edX has the larger community, while OpenBoard Interactive is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are OpenBoard Interactive and Open edX free and open-source?
Yes. OpenBoard Interactive 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 OpenBoard Interactive and Open edX with Docker?
OpenBoard Interactive: check the project docs for container support. Open edX: yes.