OpenStax vs Siyavula

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.

Siyavula is a web-based learning platform for Mathematics and Physical Sciences practice, educator tools, and free textbooks. Learners can work through unlimited question versions, receive instant marking and full solutions, and follow their progress on a personal dashboard. Questions become harder as learners master concepts. Practice covers Mathematics in Grades 8–12 and Physical Sciences in Grades 10–12, aligned with South Africa’s CAPS curriculum, and works on any internet-enabled device. Educators can search questions by subject, grade, topic, and difficulty, then assign automatically marked homework and assessments. Reports let teachers review activity and progress at individual, class, and school levels. Textbooks for several subjects across Grades 4–12 are free to read and download; users may copy, share, or modify them. Siyavula says the site is zero-rated on MTN and Cell C networks in South Africa. Learner access and verified-teacher access are free. Essentials costs $2,050 a year per teacher and subject, excluding VAT; Advanced costs $6,199 a year per teacher and subject, excluding VAT.