5 self-hosted options
Open-source alternatives to Thinkific
The best open-source alternative to Thinkific is Moodle (GPL-3.0, 7,542 GitHub stars). Frappe LMS stands out for a published Docker image, and LearnHouse stands out for AI features named in its own description.
About Thinkific: A hosted platform for building, marketing and selling online courses and communities.
Updated · data from GitHub, refreshed daily
Top picks
- Rank 1:
Moodle
moodle/moodle
The world's most widely used open-source learning platform for schools, universities and companies.
Active · last commit Oct 21, 2026
Learning Management (LMS)PHPStands out for the most GitHub stars.
- Rank 2:
Frappe LMS
frappe/lms
Easy-to-use learning management system with courses, chapters, live class batches, quizzes, assignments and certificates.
Active · last commit Oct 23, 2026
Learning Management (LMS)PythonDockerStands out for a published Docker image.
- Rank 3:
LearnHouse
learnhouse/learnhouse
Modern learning platform with a block-based course editor, assignments, discussions, certificates and code exercises.
Active · last commit Oct 25, 2026
Learning Management (LMS)PythonDockerStands out for AI features named in its own description.
At a glance
Thinkific alternatives compared
Open-source apps come first, then source-available ones and apps whose license appsgit could not verify; within each group, projects with at least 12 commits in the last 12 months come before less active or archived ones, then by GitHub stars.
| App | Stands out for | License | GitHub stars | Commits (12 mo) | Last commit | Docker image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moodle | the most GitHub stars | GPL-3.0 | 7,542 | 3,407 | Oct 21, 2026 | No |
| Frappe LMS | a published Docker image | AGPL-3.0 | 3,347 | 3,296 | Oct 23, 2026 | Yes |
| LearnHouse | AI features named in its own description | AGPL-3.0 | 2,415 | 1,511 | Oct 25, 2026 | Yes |
| ClassroomIO | the newest codebase (created November 2023) | AGPL-3.0 | 1,729 | 902 | Oct 26, 2026 | Yes |
| CourseLit | – | AGPL-3.0 | 1,284 | 125 | Oct 25, 2026 | Yes |
Full list
All 5 Thinkific alternatives
Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.
- 1
Moodle
The world's most widely used open-source learning platform for schools, universities and companies.
Learning Management (LMS)Stands out for the most GitHub stars. Moodle has 7,542 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license and had 3,407 commits in the last year.
- 2
Frappe LMS
Easy-to-use learning management system with courses, chapters, live class batches, quizzes, assignments and certificates.
Learning Management (LMS)DockerStands out for a published Docker image. Frappe LMS has 3,347 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 3,296 commits in the last year.
- 3
LearnHouse
Modern learning platform with a block-based course editor, assignments, discussions, certificates and code exercises.
Learning Management (LMS)DockerAI-nativeStands out for AI features named in its own description. LearnHouse has 2,415 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,511 commits in the last year.
- 4
ClassroomIO
Open-source LMS for companies running employee, customer and partner training with cohorts and certificates.
Learning Management (LMS)DockerStands out for the newest codebase (created November 2023). ClassroomIO has 1,729 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 902 commits in the last year.
- 5
CourseLit
Sell courses and digital downloads from your own site, with course authoring, Stripe payments and a website builder.
Learning Management (LMS)DockerCourseLit has 1,284 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 125 commits in the last year.
Is there a free alternative to Thinkific?
Yes. All 5 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can replace Thinkific without per-user fees. You pay only for the server.
Can I self-host an alternative to Thinkific with Docker?
Yes. 4 of the 5 apps here publish a Docker image, including Frappe LMS, LearnHouse and ClassroomIO, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose.
Which Thinkific alternative is the most actively developed?
Moodle (GPL-3.0), with 3,407 commits in the last 12 months. Activity is a good sign that bugs and security issues get fixed.
How is this list ranked?
Open-source apps come first, then source-available ones and apps whose license appsgit could not verify; within each group, projects with at least 12 commits in the last 12 months come before less active or archived ones, then by GitHub stars.