Is Moodle worth the price?
Moodle's pricing is incredibly generous, offering a full-featured open-source option for free.
The MoodleCloud tiers, starting at $160/year for 50 users, provide a convenient hosted solution at a very competitive price point compared to proprietary LMS platforms. This structure is best for organizations ranging from small educational institutions to large enterprises seeking flexible and cost-effective learning solutions.
Pricing Plans
28-day Free TrialOpen Source
Free
- Self-hosted
- GPL licensed
- Full LMS features
- Community support
MoodleCloud Starter
$160/year
- Up to 50 users
- Hosted by Moodle
- Quick setup
MoodleCloud Medium
$1,140/year
- 500 users
- 20GB storage
- Custom domain add-on
MoodleCloud Standard
$2,010/year
- 750 users
- 50GB storage
- Custom domain included
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
Self-hosted requires IT infrastructure & expertise
MoodleCloud user limits are strict
Custom domain is an add-on for Medium tier
No monthly billing for MoodleCloud plans
Which Plan Do You Need?
Budget-conscious institutions needing full LMS control
Small schools wanting hosted convenience
Large organizations requiring scalable, open solutions
How Moodle Compares to Competitors
Compared to proprietary LMS like Canvas or Blackboard, Moodle's open-source option is free, while hosted MoodleCloud plans are significantly cheaper. For example, Canvas LMS can cost thousands annually even for smaller institutions, making MoodleCloud's $160/year (Starter) or $1140/year (Medium) highly attractive for budget-conscious users.
Moodle Pricing FAQ
How much does Moodle cost?
Moodle starts at $160/month on the MoodleCloud Starter plan. It offers 3 paid tiers ranging from $160/month up to $2010/month. A free plan is also available with limited features.
Does Moodle have a free plan?
Yes. Moodle offers a free plan called "Open Source". It includes: Self-hosted, GPL licensed, Full LMS features.
Does Moodle offer a free trial?
Yes, Moodle offers a free trial lasting 28 days. No credit card is typically required to start the trial, though this may vary.
What is the cheapest Moodle paid plan?
The cheapest paid plan for Moodle is "MoodleCloud Starter" at $160/month. Key features include: Up to 50 users, Hosted by Moodle, Quick setup.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Moodle?
Yes. Popular alternatives to Moodle include TalentLMS, Google Classroom. Free alternatives include TalentLMS, Google Classroom. Compare them side-by-side on Toolradar.
Cheaper alternatives to Moodle
Direct competitors with similar features. Many offer free tiers or lower per-seat pricing.
