# Best open source LMS > The best open source LMS is Open edX, with 8,198 GitHub stars, the AGPL-3.0 license and a Docker image; Moodle and Frappe LMS are strong alternatives. This page also breaks the picks down by team size and use: Open edX leads for small business and enterprise. The overall ranking weighs GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits across the 17 apps in the learning management (LMS) category of the appsgit catalog. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | |---|---| | Question | What is the best open source LMS? | | Picks | 20 | | Top pick | Open edX (8,198 stars) | | Data as of | Oct 7, 2026 | | Canonical URL | https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-lms | ## Top picks 10 of the 17 apps in the learning management (LMS) category, ranked on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [Open edX](https://appsgit.com/apps/open-edx) (8,198 stars, AGPL-3.0, Python, Docker): Open edX has 8,198 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,319 commits in the last year; it replaces Blackboard Learn and TalentLMS. - [Moodle](https://appsgit.com/apps/moodle) (7,468 stars, GPL-3.0, PHP): Moodle has 7,468 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license and had 3,502 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. - [Frappe LMS](https://appsgit.com/apps/frappe-lms) (3,285 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): Frappe LMS has 3,285 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 3,065 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. - [Canvas LMS](https://appsgit.com/apps/canvas-lms) (6,862 stars, AGPL-3.0, Ruby): Canvas LMS has 6,862 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 4,416 commits in the last year; it replaces Blackboard Learn. - [LearnHouse](https://appsgit.com/apps/learnhouse) (2,323 stars, AGPL-3.0, Python, Docker, AI features): LearnHouse has 2,323 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,375 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. - [ClassroomIO](https://appsgit.com/apps/classroomio) (1,710 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): ClassroomIO has 1,710 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 828 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. - [CourseLit](https://appsgit.com/apps/courselit) (1,269 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): CourseLit has 1,269 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 135 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. - [Sakai](https://appsgit.com/apps/sakai) (1,234 stars, ECL-2.0, Java): Sakai has 1,234 GitHub stars, uses the ECL-2.0 license and had 699 commits in the last year; it replaces Blackboard Learn. - [Chamilo LMS](https://appsgit.com/apps/chamilo-lms) (1,009 stars, GPL-3.0, PHP): Chamilo LMS has 1,009 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license and had 5,508 commits in the last year; it replaces Blackboard Learn and TalentLMS. - [ILIAS](https://appsgit.com/apps/ilias) (505 stars, GPL-3.0, PHP): ILIAS has 505 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license and had 1,649 commits in the last year; it replaces Blackboard Learn. ## Best for small business Ranked for small business on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites, recent commits and deploy guides. - [Open edX](https://appsgit.com/apps/open-edx) (8,198 stars, AGPL-3.0, Python, Docker): Open edX has 8,198 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,319 commits in the last year; it replaces Blackboard Learn and TalentLMS. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Frappe LMS](https://appsgit.com/apps/frappe-lms) (3,285 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): Frappe LMS has 3,285 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 3,065 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Moodle](https://appsgit.com/apps/moodle) (7,468 stars, GPL-3.0, PHP): Moodle has 7,468 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license and had 3,502 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. For small business it also scores on an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [LearnHouse](https://appsgit.com/apps/learnhouse) (2,323 stars, AGPL-3.0, Python, Docker, AI features): LearnHouse has 2,323 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,375 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Canvas LMS](https://appsgit.com/apps/canvas-lms) (6,862 stars, AGPL-3.0, Ruby): Canvas LMS has 6,862 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 4,416 commits in the last year; it replaces Blackboard Learn. For small business it also scores on an open-source license and a project website. ## Best for enterprise Ranked for enterprise on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [Open edX](https://appsgit.com/apps/open-edx) (8,198 stars, AGPL-3.0, Python, Docker): Open edX has 8,198 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,319 commits in the last year; it replaces Blackboard Learn and TalentLMS. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Moodle](https://appsgit.com/apps/moodle) (7,468 stars, GPL-3.0, PHP): Moodle has 7,468 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license and had 3,502 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Canvas LMS](https://appsgit.com/apps/canvas-lms) (6,862 stars, AGPL-3.0, Ruby): Canvas LMS has 6,862 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 4,416 commits in the last year; it replaces Blackboard Learn. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license. - [Frappe LMS](https://appsgit.com/apps/frappe-lms) (3,285 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): Frappe LMS has 3,285 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 3,065 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [LearnHouse](https://appsgit.com/apps/learnhouse) (2,323 stars, AGPL-3.0, Python, Docker, AI features): LearnHouse has 2,323 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,375 commits in the last year; it replaces Teachable and Thinkific. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. ## How this list was made - Candidates: the 17 apps in the learning management (LMS) category. Archived projects and projects with no commit in the last two years are left out. - Base score: GitHub stars on a log scale plus commits in the last 12 months (log scale, capped at 1,000). - Bonus points for a published Docker image, an OSI-approved open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - Each "Best for" section re-ranks the same apps with that audience's profile (for example startups add points for permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits; small business for Docker images and deploy guides). - Source-available apps can rank, but they are labelled and never described as open source. ## FAQ ### Is Open edX free? Yes. Open edX is open-source software released under the AGPL-3.0 license, so you can self-host it at no cost. You only pay for the server it runs on, and some projects also offer an optional paid cloud plan. ### Which open source LMS is best for a small business? Open edX ranks first for small business, with 8,198 GitHub stars, the AGPL-3.0 license and a Docker image; Frappe LMS and Moodle follow. The small business ranking adds points for Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites, recent commits and deploy guides on top of stars and activity. ### Which open source LMS is best for an enterprise team? Open edX ranks first for enterprise, with 8,198 GitHub stars, the AGPL-3.0 license and a Docker image; Moodle and Canvas LMS follow. The enterprise ranking adds points for open-source licenses and recent commits on top of stars and activity. ### Can I self-host these LMS options with Docker? Yes, 5 of the 10 picks. Open edX, Frappe LMS and LearnHouse publish Docker images, so you can run them on a VPS or home server with Docker Compose. The others install from their own packages or source; follow each project's install guide. ### Are all of these LMS options open source? All 10 apps on this list are open source. You can self-host and modify each one under its license. ## Related questions - [What is the best open source student management system?](https://appsgit.com/best/student-management-systems) - [What is the best open source wiki?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-wikis) - [What is the best open source video conferencing software?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-video-conferencing) - [What is the best open source survey and event tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-survey-tools) - [What is the best open source budgeting app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-budgeting-software) - [What is the best open source CMS?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-cms) - [What is the best open source team chat app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-team-chat) - [What is the best open source analytics tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-analytics) ## See also - [Best open source student management systems](https://appsgit.com/best/student-management-systems) - [All learning management (LMS) apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/learning) - [All wikis & knowledge bases apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/wikis-knowledge) - [All video conferencing & VoIP apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/video-conferencing) - [Open-source alternatives to Blackboard Learn](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/blackboard) - [Open-source alternatives to TalentLMS](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/talentlms) - [Open-source alternatives to Teachable](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/teachable) - [Open-source alternatives to Thinkific](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/thinkific) - [Frappe Learning vs Moodle](https://appsgit.com/compare/frappe-lms-vs-moodle) --- Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-lms Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. Data from the GitHub API, refreshed nightly. Machine access: JSON API https://appsgit.com/api/v1/apps (OpenAPI: https://appsgit.com/openapi.json), MCP server https://mcp.appsgit.com/mcp, full index https://appsgit.com/llms-full.txt.