Blackboard Learn vs Chamilo LMS
Blackboard Learn
blackboard.comChamilo LMS
chamilo.orgSide by side
| Figure | Blackboard Learn | Chamilo LMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Education Learning Management | 8.1 (#6) | 8.6 (#2) |
| Spec score · Education software | 8.0 (#9) | 8.5 (#4) |
| Spec score · Learning Management Systems | 8.1 (#43) | 8.5 (#16) |
| Spec score · E-Learning Software | 8.0 (#14) | 8.5 (#8) |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Assessments | Yes | Yes |
| Audience | Blackboard says its institutions span higher education, government, business, and K-12 worldwide. | Chamilo describes its mission as increasing access to quality education worldwide, and says future paid modules would concern professional stakeholders rather than teachers or trainers in day-to-day practice. |
| Founded | 1997 | 2010 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | Boca Raton, Florida, United States | Belgium |
| Purpose | Blackboard LMS provides an institutional learning environment with AI, accessibility, and personalized learning at its core. | Chamilo LMS is a free and open-source e-learning platform used by more than 41 million learners worldwide. |
| SSO support | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Blackboard provides a Help Center with product documentation and guides, support cases and knowledge base articles for users, and a developer community with documentation. | Chamilo points users to its FAQ and forum, and offers training, online events, and a certification catalogue. |
Plans
In their own words
Blackboard Learn
Blackboard Learn, now referred to as Blackboard LMS, is an institutional learning environment for higher education, government, business, and K-12 organizations. Its AI Design Assistant can help instructors prepare courses, documents, assessments, and grading rubrics. AI Conversation supports practical-skills assessment in a controlled digital environment and is included in the core license. Administrators choose which AI capabilities are active, while instructors can review and edit AI outputs before accepting them. Blackboard says student data is not used to train external AI models. The LMS connects with education tools through LTI 1.3 and REST APIs, including Turnitin, VitalSource, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and most SIS platforms. Blackboard Ally creates alternative formats for learners. It is available on Android, iOS, and web, with API access, assessments, and SSO support. Pricing is on request; the product page offers a demo and contact option but displays no price.
Chamilo LMS
Chamilo LMS is a free, open-source platform for delivering online learning and assessments. The project says it serves more than 41 million learners worldwide and aims to broaden access to quality education. Its features include tests, certificates, single sign-on and API access. Teachers can select a learner’s best test attempt in a lesson, while an OpenAI/ChatGPT plugin supports creating editable test questions.
Chamilo describes support for xAPI and LTI, including an LTI provider mode for sharing SCORM content with compatible portals. It says LTI Advantage compliance enables information exchange with external learning tools. Documented features include locking accounts after too many failed login attempts, and its homepage describes the platform as GDPR compliant. The download page lists version 3.0.1 as a ZIP for PHP 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5; the older 1.11.40 branch is available in ZIP and TAR.GZ for PHP 7.4 and 8.3. A Free Campus demo is available, while professional projects are directed to BeezNest Belgium. The software is free under GNU/GPLv3+.