Adapt Learning vs Xerte
Adapt Learning
adaptlearning.org
Xerte
xerte.org.ukSide by side
| Figure | Adapt Learning | Xerte |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · Interactive Lesson Makers | 9.1 (#2) | 8.2 (#13) |
| Spec score · Course Authoring Software | 9.1 (#3) | 8.2 (#13) |
| Accessibility | The project states that its framework meets WAI AA accessibility standards. | The project says accessibility was developed with accessibility specialists and people with special needs. |
| Licence | Adapt is released under the GNU General Public License version 3. | The source code is released under the Apache License 2.0. |
| Purpose | Adapt is an e-learning authoring tool for creating responsive, multi-device HTML5 learning content. | Xerte is a browser-based authoring suite for creating interactive learning materials. |
| Self-hosting | The authoring tool is a server-based Node.js web application using Backbone.js and MongoDB, so organizations can run it themselves. | Xerte is installed on an organisation's web server and is designed for a LAMP stack using Linux, Apache, MySQL or MariaDB and PHP. |
| Support | Support is community-based through Gitter, technical forums and GitHub issues for bugs and feature requests. | Support is offered through forums, technical and developer mailing lists, GitHub issues and listed commercial providers. |
| What it does | Adapt creates responsive, multi-device HTML5 e-learning courses through a browser-based authoring tool and developer framework. | Xerte is a browser-based suite for creating interactive learning materials and online learning objects. |
Plans
In their own words
Adapt Learning
Adapt Learning is a free e-learning authoring tool and framework for making responsive HTML5 learning content. Course creators can use its no-code authoring tool to build courses, add interactive elements, preview content, and publish without programming. Developers can use the Adapt Framework as an extensible toolkit, with courses delivered from a web server or through a SCORM-compliant learning management system. Framework features include LMS user data, completion tracking, assessments, question banks, randomized questions, and configurable feedback. It supports multiple languages, localization, and right-to-left layouts, and states that it meets WAI AA accessibility standards. The framework includes 22 bundled plugins; additional community plugins include SCORM tracking and xAPI extensions. Installation options include Adapt-CLI, a ZIP download from GitHub, or cloning the repository with Git. Setup requires Git, Node.js and NPM, Grunt-CLI, and Adapt-CLI. Documentation and a technical community forum are available for support. The project relies on collaborator time donations and does not publish specific release schedules.
Xerte
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.