Moodle review (2026): features, pros and cons, pricing
Open source LMS that is free to self-host, with paid MoodleCloud hosting and a quote-only Moodle Workplace corporate edition via partners.
Verdict at a glance
Moodle is an open source LMS that is free to self-host, with paid MoodleCloud hosting and a quote-based Workplace edition for companies. It is flexible and feature-rich, but it needs technical effort and is less polished out of the box.
Pros
- Flexible and feature-rich.
Cons
- Not user-friendly for some.
- Lower ease-of-use and support scores than Canvas on G2.
What is Moodle?
Open source LMS that is free to self-host, with paid MoodleCloud hosting and a quote-only Moodle Workplace corporate edition via partners. It is built for organizations with in-house IT willing to configure and host and education and training teams wanting no license fee.
Category: Learning Management Systems
Moodle key features
| Feature | What we found |
|---|---|
| Content authoring and SCORM support | SCORM support (not confirmed by the vendor) |
Moodle pricing
Moodle's core software is free open source, so you pay for what surrounds it: hosting, plugins, partner services and staff time. MoodleCloud Starter is listed at $160 per year for 50 users and 1GB, while G2 shows $200, and these figures come from third-party sources. Moodle Workplace, the corporate edition, is quote-only through partners, with an unofficial estimate of about $6,000 a year for up to 250 users. Billing for MoodleCloud is annual. A free trial is available.
| 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 confirmed by the vendor.
Who Moodle is best for
Best for
- Organizations with in-house IT willing to configure and host.
- Education and training teams wanting no license fee.
Not ideal for
- Teams wanting a polished out-of-the-box corporate UX.
- Buyers who need a single published price for corporate edition.
Moodle alternatives
TalentLMSSmall and mid-size companies wanting a published LMS price.
DoceboMid-market and enterprise with extended enterprise (customers, partners)
Absorb LMSMid-market and enterprise training teams, including customer education.
ThinkificCreators and training businesses selling paid courses to external customers.
360LearningTeams that want employees and subject experts to author courses collaboratively.
ContinuCompanies wanting MAU-based pricing where inactive users cost nothing.
What Moodle really costs
Moodle publishes a starting price but few details about how the bill grows, so the real cost depends on the quote. Use the questions below to turn a sales conversation into a number you can compare.
Add-ons and extras to budget for
- Plugins, partner hosting and support.
Questions to ask about price
- Is there a minimum number of seats or a minimum annual spend?
- What is the discount for annual billing, and can we start monthly?
- How much can the price rise at renewal, and is the increase capped in the contract?
- Are there one-time costs for implementation, onboarding or data migration?
Is Moodle worth the price?
Moodle is good value for organizations with in-house IT willing to configure and host it, and for education and training teams that want no license fee. It gets expensive when hosting, plugins and admin time are counted, and it is awkward for teams that want a polished corporate experience out of the box or a single published price for the corporate edition.
Worth it 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.
Pricing details most 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.
Our verdict on Moodle
Moodle is an open source LMS, and the software itself is free to self-host. That makes the license fee zero, but not the cost. The real spend is hosting, plugins, partner support and admin time. If you want hosting handled, MoodleCloud Starter is listed at $160 a year for 50 users and 1GB, though G2 shows $200, so sources differ.
The corporate edition, Moodle Workplace, has no public list price and is sold through partners. A 2026 third-party guide estimates about $6,000 a year for up to 250 users, which is unofficial. MoodleCloud no longer appears to offer a permanent free plan. Budget Moodle as a project, not a subscription.
Moodle FAQ
What is Moodle used for?
Moodle is an open source LMS that is free to self-host, with paid MoodleCloud hosting and a quote-based Workplace edition for companies. It is flexible and feature-rich, but it needs technical effort and is less polished out of the box. It suits organizations with in-house IT willing to configure and host.
Is Moodle free?
The core software is free and open source to self-host. Costs come from hosting, plugins, partner services and admin time. MoodleCloud no longer appears to offer a permanent free plan.
How much does MoodleCloud cost?
MoodleCloud Starter is listed at about $160 per year for 50 users and 1GB. G2 shows $200 for the same size, so confirm the current price with Moodle.
What does Moodle Workplace cost?
There is no public list price, since it is quoted through partners. A third-party 2026 guide estimates about $6,000 a year for up to 250 users, which is unofficial.
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.