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Xerte

xerte.org.uk

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Visit xerte.org.uk
Spec score 8.2 #13 of 31 in Interactive Lesson Makers

What it is

Xerte is a browser-based authoring suite for interactive learning materials, aimed at teachers and tutors as well as organisations delivering teaching and learning. Authors assemble content with forms and templates, while developers can use JavaScript and CSS to change its appearance and functionality. The Xerte Online Toolkit has over 70 templates. Output is responsive, standards-compliant HTML5 for modern browsers and devices, with keyboard accessibility, a colour contrast changer, and compatibility with text-to-speech and most screen-reader tools. Projects can be exported as standalone ZIP files for web-server deployment or as SCORM packages. Xerte also supports SCORM, LTI, and xAPI integrations, though xAPI reporting requires a configured Learning Record Store. The software is free and open source, but requires installation on a web server. The described setup uses Linux, Apache, MySQL or MariaDB, and PHP; Windows servers with IIS can also be configured. Community forums are the main support channel, and support there is voluntary.

Spec sheet

What it does
Xerte is a browser-based suite for creating interactive learning materials and online learning objects.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Purpose
Xerte is a browser-based authoring suite for creating interactive learning materials.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Audience
The project describes Xerte as aimed at teachers and tutors, and says it is used in universities, colleges, schools, and other organisations delivering teaching and learning.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Deployment
Xerte requires installation on a web server; the site describes a standard Linux, Apache, MySQL or MariaDB, and PHP stack, with Windows servers and IIS also configurable.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Integrations
The site describes SCORM, LTI, and xAPI support for integrating with learning technologies; xAPI reporting requires a configured Learning Record Store.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Security
A May 2026 security notice says public-facing installations should not contain the initial-installation setup folder and identifies updated versions 3.15.5 and 3.14.6.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Support
Support is offered through forums, technical and developer mailing lists, GitHub issues and listed commercial providers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Accessibility
The project says accessibility was developed with accessibility specialists and people with special needs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
AI release
Version 3.15, released December 31, 2025, added optional generative-AI features while leaving AI disabled by default.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Authoring
Authors assemble content using forms and templates, while developers can use JavaScript and CSS to customise functionality and appearance.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Authoring workflow
The editor uses forms, reusable templates and selectable themes, including organisation-created themes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Changelog
The 3.15 changelog records security fixes, an xmlseclibs upgrade for CVE-2026-32313, theme-upload fixes and mobile and tracking fixes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Collaborative authoring
Teams can share projects in a workspace, publish them to learners, and export standalone ZIP or SCORM packages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Commercial services
The maker lists community-connected companies offering commercial help with hosting, installation, troubleshooting, upgrades, custom development, and training.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Community stewardship
The project moved from University of Nottingham stewardship into the Apereo Foundation, with a governance board and Apache licensing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Developer control
Authors with technical skills can use HTML, CSS and JavaScript, while installations can add page types and templates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Documentation
Documentation includes student, teacher and system-administrator sections, installation guides and developer material, with the project acknowledging that developer documentation is still being improved.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xertedocs.readthedocs.io
Download access
The community downloads page says users must create an account and log in to download files.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Enterprise usage
The project says Nottingham had hosted Xerte since 2008 and had created more than 20,000 projects.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Export
Projects can be exported as standalone ZIP files for web-server deployment or as SCORM packages for compatible learning platforms.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
External media
The documentation says projects can incorporate YouTube and Flickr content.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
GoodFirms listing
GoodFirms describes Xerte as a full e-learning authoring suite and lists on-premises deployment for Windows, Mac and Linux.Read 15 Oct 2026 · goodfirms.co
GoodFirms pricing
GoodFirms records the pricing type and payment frequency as free.Read 15 Oct 2026 · goodfirms.co
GoodFirms review availability
GoodFirms shows no submitted reviews and an unclaimed Xerte profile.Read 15 Oct 2026 · goodfirms.co
Hosting limit
The maker says the benefits generally come from an online installation for an organisation, and that local XAMPP setup is more technical.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
HTML5 delivery
Published content uses standards-compliant HTML5 and responsive layouts for modern browsers and devices.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Independent comparison score
The ResearchGate study scored Xerte 8.83 across 15 criteria, below eXeLearning at 10.38 and above H5P at 7.74.Read 15 Oct 2026 · researchgate.net
Installation burden
The project says installation normally needs a web server and system-administrator or IT support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Licence
The source code is released under the Apache License 2.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: documentation
The independent review says administrator documentation is fragmented, outdated and incomplete.Read 15 Oct 2026 · consulting.berthelemy.net
Limit: learning curve
A comparative study found a moderately steep learning curve and gave Xerte zero points for an in-product help wizard.Read 15 Oct 2026 · researchgate.net
Limit: mobile and legacy design
The independent review reports that the core e-learning package is not fully responsive or mobile-friendly and retains legacy Flash-era material.Read 15 Oct 2026 · consulting.berthelemy.net
Limit: portability and language
The same study scored Xerte zero for operation without installation and said the application was available only in English for its multilingualism criterion.Read 15 Oct 2026 · researchgate.net
Limit: service withdrawal
Durham University announced that its Xerte service would be withdrawn on September 1, 2026 because of security concerns and very low use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · helpguides.webspace.durham.ac.uk
LMS integrations
Projects can be embedded or linked in Moodle and Blackboard, exported as SCORM, or connected through LTI and xAPI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Notable news
The Xerte community website reported an extended Joomla maintenance period while stating that project code, versions and existing installations were unaffected.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
OpenHub activity
OpenHub reports about 1,019,709 lines of code, 68 contributors and Apache License 2.0 for the project.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openhub.net
Output
Xerte produces responsive, standards-compliant HTML5 content for modern web browsers and devices.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Praise: authoring speed
Gitnux credits Xerte's block templates, reusable components, previewing and automatic SCORM manifest generation with speeding course creation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitnux.org
Praise: flexibility and accessibility
An independent review praises Xerte's template range, organisational authentication, xAPI, accessibility and flexibility for multi-user server deployments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · consulting.berthelemy.net
Rating on Gitnux
6.8 out of 10 from the site's 2026 SCORM-software evaluation; feature score 6.9, ease-of-use 6.8 and value 6.8.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitnux.org
Release cadence
The getting-started material says the community usually produces a couple of releases each year.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Security update
A 2026 security notice advised upgrading older 3.14 and 3.15 installations to fixed releases after vulnerabilities were reported.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Self-hosting
Xerte is installed on an organisation's web server and is designed for a LAMP stack using Linux, Apache, MySQL or MariaDB and PHP.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
System requirements
The release documentation lists Apache or IIS, PHP with PDO, zLib and SimpleXML, optional LDAP, and MySQL.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Templates
The Xerte Online Toolkit provides over 70 templates designed for interactive learning.Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Tracking
Xerte provides basic playback statistics and supports more advanced tracking through SCORM or xAPI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk

Plans and prices

Xerte Free Free and open-source software · requires installation on a web server · commercial hosting and support are separate Read 8 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk
Xerte Online Toolkits Free No software or licence fee · self-hosting and maintenance required Read 15 Oct 2026 · xerte.org.uk

Every Xerte plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Includes over 70 interactive-learning templates
  • Exports standalone ZIP and SCORM packages
  • Offers keyboard and screen-reader accessibility features
  • Free and open-source software

Limits

  • Requires installation on a web server
  • xAPI reporting needs a configured Learning Record Store
  • Community forum support is voluntary
  • Download files require an account and login

Who it suits

Xerte suits teachers, tutors, and organisations creating interactive teaching materials. It also accommodates developers who want to customize functionality or appearance with JavaScript and CSS.

Verdict

Xerte offers a free authoring toolkit with responsive HTML5 output, templates, and learning-platform integrations. Plan for server installation and community-based support, and note the extra requirement for xAPI reporting.

Where Specifiction places it

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