OpenLearn vs OpenStax
OpenLearn
open.edu
OpenStax
openstax.orgSide by side
| Figure | OpenLearn | OpenStax |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Open Educational Resource Platforms | 7.6 (#15) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Accessibility | OpenLearn reports that its website is partially compliant with WCAG 2.2 AA and notes accessibility issues in some legacy images and interactive activities. | OpenStax works toward WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Section 508 compliance and uses Level Access for automated and manual accessibility reviews. |
| Founded | 2006 | 2012 |
| Support | For content problems, OpenLearn directs users to email [email protected] with details of the issue. | OpenStax says its support team helps instructors and students with questions about textbooks, instructor resources, and Assignable through its support center or email. |
| What it does | OpenLearn is a free learning platform delivered by The Open University. | OpenStax is a Rice University nonprofit initiative publishing free peer-reviewed educational materials and learning tools. |
Plans
OpenStax
- OpenStax textbooksFree
- OpenStax Assignable$15, paid once
- OpenStax AssignablePriced on request
In their own words
OpenLearn
OpenLearn is a free web learning platform delivered by The Open University. It offers courses, articles, quizzes, interactive games, videos and audio across many subjects, with short courses described as taking 1 to 24 hours. The listed Free courses plan includes nearly 1,000 courses at free. After completion, learners can download a free Statement of Participation, and some courses award a digital badge. OpenLearn courses do not carry formal credit toward a qualification. A free account enables enrolment, progress tracking and activity-record downloads; general content is available without an account, though users must be at least 13 to create one. Materials can be shared through other learning systems in IMS Common Cartridge, HTML and Moodle formats. OpenLearn says its software tools are open source and its main learning environments use Moodle and Drupal. The site reports partial WCAG 2.2 AA compliance, with issues in some legacy images and interactive activities. It was founded in 2006 and is based at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes.
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.