Open edX vs Tsugi
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?
Open edX
Scalable open-source platform for online courses
VS
Tsugi
Framework for building LTI learning tools
| Feature | Open edX | Tsugi |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning & Courses | Learning & Courses |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,156 | ★ 371 |
| First released | 2013 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Coursera, Canvas | LTI Marketplace tools |
Why pick each one
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
Choose Tsugi if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Written in PHP
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Open edX or Tsugi better?
Neither is universally better. Open edX has the larger community, while Tsugi is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Open edX and Tsugi free and open-source?
Yes. Open edX is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tsugi under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Open edX and Tsugi with Docker?
Open edX: yes. Tsugi: check the project docs for container support.