Google Classroom vs Moodle: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Google Classroom and Moodle side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Google Classroom
Simplify assignment creation, distribution, and grading
Best for you if:
- • You want free to use
Moodle
Open source learning management system
Best for you if:
- • You want free and open source
| At a Glance | Google Classroom | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $4/mo, billed monthly Teaching & Learning plan | Free plan, paid from $160/year MoodleCloud Starter plan |
Category | Education & Learning LMS | Online Course Platforms LMS |
Rating | 4.2/5 Capterra 4.6 · G2 4.5 · Trustpilot 2.0 4,489 reviews | 4.1/5 Capterra 4.3 · G2 4.1 · SourceForge 3.6 3,841 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | n/a |
Watch out for | Potential for storage overage fees on Drive | Custom domain is an add-on for Medium tier |
Choose Google Classroom or Moodle?
Choose Google Classroom if
- You want free to use
- You want google ecosystem integration
- You work in education & learning, not online course platforms
Choose Moodle if
- You want free and open source
- You want highly customizable
- You work in online course platforms, not education & learning
In-Depth Analysis
Google Classroom
Simplify assignment creation, distribution, and grading
Google Classroom's pricing is incredibly generous, starting with a free tier for core functionalities.
Watch out
Potential for storage overage fees on Drive
Strengths
- Pro: Free to use
- Pro: Google ecosystem integration
- Pro: Simple interface
- Pro: Mobile apps
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited LMS features
- Con: Basic gradebook
- Con: Requires Google accounts
Key features
Moodle
Open source learning management system
Moodle's pricing is incredibly generous, offering a full-featured open-source option for free.
Watch out
Custom domain is an add-on for Medium tier
Strengths
- Pro: Free and open source
- Pro: Highly customizable
- Pro: Large community
- Pro: Self-hosted option
Weaknesses
- Con: Dated interface
- Con: Requires technical setup
- Con: Resource intensive
Key features
Plans and prices: Google Classroom vs Moodle
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Google Classroom |
| edu.google.com/workspace-for-education/classroom read Oct 5, 2026 |
| Moodle |
| moodle.com/pricing read Oct 4, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Google Classroom pricing and Moodle pricing.
Key Takeaways
Google Classroom
- Choose if you want simplify assignment creation, distribution, and grading
Moodle
- Choose if you want open source learning management system
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.2/5 from 4,489 reviews for Google Classroom, 4.1/5 from 3,841 reviews for Moodle).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Google Classroom $4/mo, billed monthly; Moodle $160/year.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Google Classroom and Moodle compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.2/5 from 4,489 reviews for Google Classroom, 4.1/5 from 3,841 reviews for Moodle). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Google Classroom $4/mo, billed monthly; Moodle $160/year. Both have a free plan.
What are Google Classroom and Moodle used for?
Google Classroom: Simplify assignment creation, distribution, and grading. Moodle: Open source learning management system.
What does Google Classroom cost vs Moodle?
Google Classroom's cheapest paid plan is Teaching & Learning at $4/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Moodle's cheapest paid plan is MoodleCloud Starter at $160/year. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 5, 2026.
What's the main difference between Google Classroom and Moodle?
Google Classroom's main strength: free to use. Moodle's main strength: free and open source.