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The verdict
Moodle scores 4.1/5 in our review. It's best for schools, universities and training organizations and technical teams wanting full control. Completely free and open-source, no revenue share. The main trade-offs: no built-in selling — e-commerce needs plugins/integrations; requires technical setup, hosting and maintenance; dated ux and steep learning curve vs modern saas. There's a genuinely usable free plan, so you can try it at zero cost.
What Moodle looks like
A live snapshot of Moodle's site so you can eyeball the look and feel before clicking through.
Pros & cons
- Completely free and open-source, no revenue share
- Full ownership of data, branding and learner relationships
- Extremely flexible and extensible via plugins/code
- No built-in selling — e-commerce needs plugins/integrations
- Requires technical setup, hosting and maintenance
- Dated UX and steep learning curve vs modern SaaS
Key features
- Fully open-source LMS with unlimited customization
- Courses with quizzes, assignments, grading and certificates
- Forums, wikis, SCORM/LTI support and activity modules
- Huge plugin ecosystem and developer community
- Self-hosting for full data ownership
- Optional managed MoodleCloud and Moodle Workplace
- Multilingual and granular role/permission control
Pricing
Free, open-source, self-hosted (server ~$5–30/mo). MoodleCloud hosting starts ~$130–160/yr.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted (open source) | Free | Free | Free software; you pay only for your server and plugins |
| MoodleCloud (hosted) | $13 | $13 | Official hosted tiers from ~$130–160/yr for small sites |
Transaction fees: None — open-source; you pay only hosting/plugins. Prices verified against Moodle's pricing page; verify current pricing ↗.
Who should use Moodle?
Good fit
- Schools, universities and training organizations
- Technical teams wanting full control
Look elsewhere
- Non-technical solo creators wanting to sell fast
Weighing the field? See Moodle alternatives →.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Moodle cost?
Moodle is free to start. Free, open-source, self-hosted (server ~$5–30/mo). MoodleCloud hosting starts ~$130–160/yr.
Does Moodle charge transaction fees?
Transaction fees: None — open-source; you pay only hosting/plugins. Factor this in — it often costs more than the monthly fee at volume.
Who is Moodle best for?
Moodle is best for schools, universities and training organizations and technical teams wanting full control. It's less ideal for non-technical solo creators wanting to sell fast.