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Moodle pricing: the real cost of free, MoodleCloud tiers and 2026 comparison

Moodle software is open source and free to download, but running it is not. Self-hosting adds hosting plus 0.25 to 1.0 of an admin or developer FTE (roughly $19,000 to $76,000 a year), while MoodleCloud runs from about $130 to $200 a year at 50 users up to roughly $2,000 a year at 750.

Here is what Moodle actually costs in 2026 once hosting and staffing are counted, how MoodleCloud and Workplace differ, and how a flat published per-seat rate compares.

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Courses, onboarding & compliance · one platform · flat per seat

Course Studio

Start from a template

modules

Progress board

Completion %

/ certified

Moodle is free open-source software whose real cost is hosting and staffing, while CompanyLMS is a managed platform with a flat published per-seat rate and no server or admin overhead.

Side by side

Moodle vs CompanyLMS, honestly

A fair look at what each does well. Both are capable tools. Here is where they differ.

What matters	CompanyLMS	Moodle
License cost	$4 per learner on Team, $7 on Business ($6 billed annually)	Software is free (open source)
Hosting and staffing	Fully managed, included	Self-host: 0.25 to 1.0 FTE, about $19,000 to $76,000 a year
Managed cloud option	Standard, no server to run	MoodleCloud about $130 to $200 a year (50 users) up to about $2,000 (750)
Corporate features	Onboarding, compliance, certs included	Moodle Workplace quoted via Certified Partners, tens of thousands a year
Setup and maintenance	None, live the same day	Install, upgrade, secure and back up yourself (or pay a Partner)
Support	Included	Community forums, or paid Partner support
Best suited for	Companies wanting managed corporate training	Schools and teams with in-house technical staff

Comparison reflects general, publicly understood positioning. Capabilities change, so check each product for the latest.

Why teams pick CompanyLMS

One platform for courses, onboarding, compliance and certifications

Free software is not free to run

Moodle Core costs nothing to download, but a production instance needs hosting, security patching, upgrades, backups and someone to run it. In a company that lands at roughly 0.25 to 1.0 of a technical FTE, or about $19,000 to $76,000 a year in salary, which is the real Moodle line item, not the license.

MoodleCloud and Workplace

MoodleCloud is the hosted option, roughly $130 to $200 a year at 50 users and about $2,000 a year at 750, which removes the server work but keeps standard Moodle. Moodle Workplace, the corporate edition with roles, programs and certifications, is sold only through Certified Partners and commonly runs into tens of thousands a year.

When a managed LMS wins

Moodle is a strong choice for schools and teams with technical staff who want full control. For a company whose priority is onboarding, compliance and certification tracking without running servers, a managed platform with a flat published price usually costs less once staffing time is counted, and it is live the same day.

Good questions

Moodle vs CompanyLMS, answered

Moodle Core software is free and open source, but running it is not. A company instance needs hosting, upgrades, security patching and backups, which typically requires 0.25 to 1.0 of a technical FTE (about $19,000 to $76,000 a year). MoodleCloud avoids the server work for roughly $130 to $200 a year at 50 users up to about $2,000 at 750.

It depends on how you run it. Self-hosting is free to license but adds hosting plus admin staffing, often $19,000 to $76,000 a year in labor. MoodleCloud runs about $130 to $200 a year at 50 users. Moodle Workplace, the corporate edition, is quoted through Certified Partners and commonly reaches tens of thousands a year.

Moodle is the free open-source software you host yourself, giving full control but requiring technical staff. MoodleCloud is the official hosted version, priced per user tier, that removes the server work. Moodle Workplace is a separate corporate edition with roles, programs and certifications, sold via Certified Partners.

Yes. If you do not want to run servers or hire a Moodle admin, a managed LMS is simpler. CompanyLMS charges a flat $4 to $7 per learner per month with hosting, upgrades, support and corporate features included, so there is no infrastructure to maintain and you are live the same day.

Moodle software is free, but its real cost is hosting and staffing, which often exceeds a managed subscription once labor is counted. CompanyLMS publishes a flat per-seat rate ($4 Team, $7 Business, $6 billed annually) that includes hosting, maintenance and onboarding, compliance and certification features, with no server to run.

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See everything CompanyLMS trains

See how CompanyLMS trains, onboards and certifies your team

One platform: build courses in minutes, run role-based onboarding, and track compliance and certifications with renewal reminders, plus a skills matrix across the org. Flat per-seat pricing, no upsell maze.

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Courses in minutes · onboarding paths · compliance & cert tracking · flat per seat