Kotobee Author vs OpenStax
Kotobee Author
kotobee.com
OpenStax
openstax.orgSide by side
| Figure | Kotobee Author | OpenStax |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 3 |
| Spec score · Digital Textbook Platforms | 8.1 (#10) | 8.9 (#3) |
| Audience | Vijua describes its target industries as education, digital publishing, and training. | OpenStax provides free, openly licensed textbooks and affordable technology for introductory courses. |
| LMS integrations | The product supports SCORM, LTI, and Tin Can integration with an organization’s LMS. | Supported integrations include Blackboard Learn and Ultra, Canvas, D2L Brightspace, Moodle 3.10 or later, Schoology and other LTI 1.3 systems. |
| Support | The site offers a live agent chat, meeting scheduling, a help center, and Kotobee Academy. | OpenStax says its support team helps instructors and students with questions about textbooks, instructor resources, and Assignable through its support center or email. |
Plans
Kotobee Author
- FreeFree
- BasicPrice not published
- InstitutionalPriced on request
- Mobile App CreditsPrice not published
- PremiumPrice not published
OpenStax
- OpenStax textbooksFree
- OpenStax Assignable$15, paid once
- OpenStax AssignablePriced on request
In their own words
Kotobee Author
Kotobee Author creates and edits interactive ebooks, with tools for importing existing PDF, HTML, Word, and EPUB files and adding interactive material. Ebooks can include video, audio, image click animations, self-assessment questions, and book widgets. AI tools can generate text, images, questions, and voice narration. For educational content, authors can add auto-graded questions, track learner scores, and connect to an organization’s learning management system through SCORM, LTI, or Tin Can. The product exports to more than 12 ebook formats, including mobile apps; listed formats include EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and Word. Users can customize ebook-app branding with their colors and logo and remove Kotobee references. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can be added for custom functions and integrations. Kotobee says exported files belong to customers and do not collect data from their users, though formats that depend on Kotobee servers require an active subscription. Kotobee Author runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. A free plan is available; paid plans are noted as starting from $150.
OpenStax
OpenStax is a nonprofit education initiative of Rice University that publishes free, openly licensed textbooks and related materials for introductory courses. Subject matter experts write the textbooks, which are peer-reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Books can be read online on the web, Android or iOS, or downloaded as free PDFs; low-cost print editions are also offered. Most titles are accessible without an account, although a small number require sign-in. Students can highlight, take notes and create study guides, with a free student account required for some features. Educators with a free account can access test banks, PowerPoint slides, solutions manuals and customization tools. OpenStax Assignable lets instructors assign readings, assessments and supporting materials through an LMS, with automatic grading and gradebook synchronization. It supports LTI 1.3 and Blackboard, Canvas, D2L Brightspace and Moodle. Textbooks cost nothing. Assignable starts at $15, paid once, billed per student per semester; instructors use it free, and a two-week trial begins on the first day of access. Institutional pricing is by contact.