Learning Management Systems
Moodle review
Open source LMS that is free to self-host, with paid MoodleCloud hosting and a quote-only Moodle Workplace corporate edition via partners.
Moodle at a glance
- Category
- Learning Management Systems
- Starting price
- Free (self-hosted); MoodleCloud from about $160 to $200 per year for 50 users
- Pricing model
- free open source; paid hosting and Workplace licenses
- Public pricing
- Yes
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- G2 rating
- 4.1 (448 reviews)
Buying Moodle: security, admin and contract
- Support
- Via MoodleCloud plan or Moodle Certified Partners; not verified.
Questions to ask Moodle before you sign
- Which plan includes SAML SSO, and what does it cost for our seat count?
- Is SCIM provisioning included, or a paid add-on?
- Which plan includes audit logs, and how long are they kept?
- Where is our data stored, and can we choose the region?
- Can we sign your standard DPA without changes?
- Is there a monthly option, and what are the cancellation and renewal terms?
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Questions are listed where Moodle's public pages leave the answer open.
Who Moodle is for
Choose Moodle if
- Organizations with in-house IT willing to configure and host.
- Education and training teams wanting no license fee.
Look elsewhere if
- Teams wanting a polished out-of-the-box corporate UX.
- Buyers who need a single published price for corporate edition.
Moodle pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moodle LMS (self-hosted) | Free | Open source | |
| MoodleCloud Starter | $160 | per year, 50 users, 1GB | G2 shows $200 for 50 users, sources differ |
| Moodle Workplace | Quote via partners | Third-party estimate (compono.com 2026 guide): about $6,000/yr for up to 250 users; unofficial |
Figures come from third-party sources (including G2) and are not verified on moodle.com.
Moodle features by buying criteria
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| Content authoring and SCORM support | SCORM support (not verified on vendor page) |
| Pricing model | Free software; pay for hosting, plugins, partner services. |
| Target company size | Education first; Workplace for corporate. |
What reviewers say about Moodle
Praised for
- Flexible and feature-rich.
Common complaints
- Not user-friendly for some.
- Lower ease-of-use and support scores than Canvas on G2.
Themes paraphrased from public reviews on G2 and similar sites, not quotes.
What most Moodle reviews leave out
- Core software is free, real cost is hosting, plugins and admin time.
- MoodleCloud no longer appears to offer a permanent free plan.
- Moodle Workplace is the corporate edition and has no public list price.
- G2 scores: Moodle ease of use 7.7 vs Canvas 8.5.
Moodle alternatives
TalentLMSSmall and mid-size companies wanting a published LMS price.$119/month (Core, up to 40 users)
DoceboMid-market and enterprise with extended enterprise (customers, partners)Contact sales
Absorb LMSMid-market and enterprise training teams, including customer education.Contact sales
ThinkificCreators and training businesses selling paid courses to external customers.$82/month billed annually (Start); $109/month billed monthly
360LearningTeams that want employees and subject experts to author courses collaboratively.$8 per user per month (Team, up to 100 users)
ContinuCompanies wanting MAU-based pricing where inactive users cost nothing.Contact sales
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Moodle's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.