BookWidgets vs Xerte
BookWidgets
bookwidgets.com
Xerte
xerte.org.ukSide by side
| Figure | BookWidgets | Xerte |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Interactive Lesson Makers | 8.6 (#8) | 8.2 (#13) |
| Accessibility | The VPAT describes keyboard shortcuts, alternative text, high-contrast mode, and regular assistive-technology compatibility testing. | The project says accessibility was developed with accessibility specialists and people with special needs. |
| Integrations | BookWidgets lists integrations with Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Smartschool, Canvas, Schoology Learning, Blackboard, Itslearning, and D2L Brightspace. | The site describes SCORM, LTI, and xAPI support for integrating with learning technologies; xAPI reporting requires a configured Learning Record Store. |
| LMS integrations | BookWidgets lists integrations including Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Canvas, Moodle, Schoology, Blackboard, Brightspace, itslearning, and Smartschool. | Projects can be embedded or linked in Moodle and Blackboard, exported as SCORM, or connected through LTI and xAPI. |
| Purpose | BookWidgets is an internet-based content creation and evaluation tool for teachers to create interactive activities and auto-graded assignments. | Xerte is a browser-based authoring suite for creating interactive learning materials. |
| Security | The privacy policy says the company uses technical and organizational measures to protect personal data and has a breach response plan. | 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. |
| Support | The pricing page directs users who need help during the trial to contact BookWidgets for support. | Support is offered through forums, technical and developer mailing lists, GitHub issues and listed commercial providers. |
Plans
In their own words
BookWidgets
BookWidgets is a content creation and evaluation tool for teachers to build digital exercises and activities and share them with students. Its library has over 40 widget types, including quizzes, worksheets, games, and interactive activities. Quiz, Video Quiz, Worksheet, and Split Worksheet activities offer 36 question types, 30 of which can be automatically graded. Teachers can use activities for formative or summative assessment, monitor progress, and collect, review, grade, and return work with feedback. LMS integrations include Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Canvas, Moodle, Schoology, Blackboard, Brightspace, itslearning, and Smartschool. Through a connected LMS, teachers can monitor students in real time and synchronize grades. Students can access activities through a web link, LMS, QR code, or short code without logging in to BookWidgets. A free 30-day trial offers unlimited widget creation. Without an active subscription, users cannot create or edit widgets, and LMS integrations stop working.
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.