Chamilo vs Moodle: Which LMS Should You Self-Host?
Both Chamilo and Moodle deliver the same core promise: a self-hosted learning management system with courses, quizzes, grading, and certificates. The difference is scale. Moodle dominates with 300,000+ registered sites and 2,000+ plugins. Chamilo targets the same functionality at half the resource cost and with a simpler administrative experience.
Quick Verdict
For most self-hosting scenarios, Moodle is the safer choice — the ecosystem, community, and plugin library are unmatched. Choose Chamilo if you’re deploying on constrained hardware (1-2 GB RAM) or want a simpler admin experience without sacrificing core LMS features.
Updated March 2026: Verified with latest Docker images and configurations.
Overview
Moodle (v4.5) has been the open-source LMS standard since 2002. Used by universities, schools, and corporations worldwide. PHP/MySQL stack with the largest education plugin ecosystem in existence.
Chamilo (v1.11.32) launched in 2010 as a fork of Claroline. Strong adoption in Europe and Latin America. Same PHP/MySQL stack as Moodle, but with a lighter footprint and a more opinionated default configuration.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Chamilo | Moodle |
|---|---|---|
| Course management | Yes | Yes |
| Quiz engine | Yes (10+ question types) | Yes (15+ question types) |
| SCORM support | 1.2 + 2004 | 1.2 + 2004 |
| Certificates | Built-in | Plugin (Custom Certificate) |
| Gradebook | Yes | Yes (advanced) |
| Forums | Yes | Yes |
| Assignments | Yes | Yes |
| Video conferencing | BigBlueButton plugin | BigBlueButton, Zoom, Jitsi plugins |
| H5P interactive content | No | Yes (native) |
| LTI support | Yes (consumer + provider) | Yes (consumer + provider) |
| xAPI/Tin Can | Yes | Plugin |
| Plugin ecosystem | ~100 plugins | 2,000+ plugins |
| Mobile app | Web-responsive | Native iOS/Android app |
| Multi-tenancy | Yes (built-in) | Plugin (Workplace) |
| Theme engine | Yes | Yes (Boost + child themes) |
| REST API | Yes | Yes (Web Services) |
| Languages | 40+ | 120+ |
| License | GPL v3 | GPL v3 |
Installation Complexity
Chamilo deploys with 2 containers (app + MariaDB). First-time setup uses a web installer (5-10 minutes clicking through forms). After initial setup, administration is straightforward.
Moodle also deploys with 2 containers using Bitnami’s image. Initial setup is automated via environment variables — no web installer needed. However, post-install configuration is more complex due to the sheer number of settings.
| Metric | Chamilo | Moodle |
|---|---|---|
| Container count | 2 | 2 |
| First-run setup | Web installer (manual) | Environment variables (automated) |
| Time to first course | ~15 minutes | ~10 minutes |
| Admin settings pages | ~30 | ~100+ |
| Plugin installation | Manual upload | In-app marketplace |
Performance and Resource Usage
This is Chamilo’s strongest differentiator.
| Resource | Chamilo | Moodle |
|---|---|---|
| RAM (idle) | ~300 MB | ~600 MB |
| RAM (with DB) | ~500 MB | ~1 GB |
| RAM (50 concurrent users) | ~800 MB | ~1.5 GB |
| CPU (idle) | Low | Medium |
| Disk (app) | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| Minimum viable VPS | 1 GB ($5/mo) | 2 GB ($10/mo) |
Chamilo consistently uses 40-50% less RAM than Moodle for equivalent workloads. On a 2 GB VPS, Chamilo handles ~100 concurrent users comfortably; Moodle starts swapping at ~50.
Community and Support
| Metric | Chamilo | Moodle |
|---|---|---|
| Registered sites | ~50,000 | ~300,000 |
| GitHub stars | ~800 | ~5,000 |
| Plugin count | ~100 | 2,000+ |
| Stack Overflow questions | ~500 | ~30,000 |
| First release | 2010 | 2002 |
| Commercial support | Chamilo Association | Moodle HQ + 100+ partners |
| Documentation quality | Good | Excellent (community wiki) |
Moodle’s community is 5-10x larger by every metric. If you hit a problem with Moodle, someone has solved it before. Chamilo’s community is smaller but active, particularly in French and Spanish-speaking regions.
Use Cases
Choose Chamilo If…
- You’re deploying on a small VPS (1-2 GB RAM)
- Multi-tenancy is needed out of the box (multiple organizations on one instance)
- Your team prefers a simpler admin interface with fewer settings
- SCORM compliance is a primary requirement
- You don’t need Moodle’s extensive plugin ecosystem
- Your learner base is under 500 users
Choose Moodle If…
- Plugin ecosystem matters (specific integrations, H5P, gamification)
- You need a native mobile app for learners
- Community support is important (30,000+ Stack Overflow questions)
- You’re managing a large educational institution (1,000+ users)
- H5P interactive content is part of your course design
- You want the safest, most widely deployed option
Final Verdict
Moodle is the default recommendation for most self-hosted LMS deployments. The ecosystem, documentation, and community support make it the lowest-risk choice. It earns that position through 20+ years of continuous development.
Chamilo earns its place when resources are constrained or simplicity matters more than extensibility. Running a capable LMS on a $5/month VPS is a real advantage for small organizations, training companies, or personal course hosting.
FAQ
Can I migrate from Chamilo to Moodle (or vice versa)?
Not directly. Both export SCORM packages, so SCORM-based courses transfer cleanly. Quizzes, forums, assignments, and user data require manual migration or custom scripts.
Which is better for corporate training?
Moodle Workplace (commercial plugin) adds the enterprise features corporations need: multi-tenancy, reporting, compliance tracking. Chamilo has basic multi-tenancy built-in but fewer corporate-specific features.
Do both support video-based courses?
Yes. Both embed videos via URL or upload. For live video sessions, both integrate with BigBlueButton. Moodle additionally supports Zoom and Jitsi plugins.
Related
Get self-hosting tips in your inbox
Get the Docker Compose configs, hardware picks, and setup shortcuts we don't put in articles. Weekly. No spam.
Comments