Moodle

Moodle is today one of the most popular open‑source solutions for online learning management (LMS – Learning Management System). Initially designed by Martin Dougiamas in 2002, Moodle is used by universities, schools, companies and government institutions worldwide. Its mission is simple: to provide a free, flexible and customizable platform for creating effective digital learning environments.

In this review we will analyse its main features, see how it solves the problems of proprietary solutions, compare Moodle with other alternatives, and assess why it remains a relevant choice.

What problems does Moodle solve?

Many organisations turn to Moodle to escape the limits of proprietary solutions:

• High costs: Commercial e‑learning platforms (such as Blackboard or Canvas) often require expensive licences. Moodle offers a free open‑source alternative.

• Limited flexibility: Proprietary software sometimes restricts customisation. Moodle allows full customisation through its plugins, themes and advanced settings.
   

• Vendor lock‑in: With proprietary solutions institutions depend on the provider. Moodle guarantees sovereignty through On‑Premise or private‑cloud deployment.

Key features and capabilities

Moodle is recognised for its many features suited both to teachers and administrators:

• Interface :

  • Customisable dashboards.

  • Support for themes and graphic templates.
     

  • Accessibility complying with WCAG standards.

• Performance :

  • Optimised for thousands of concurrent users.

  • Compatible with robust databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB).

• Customisation :

  • More than 1 800 plugins available (gamification, pedagogical tools, integrations with Zoom, BigBlueButton, etc.).

  • Support for SCORM, xAPI and H5P to enrich interactive content.

• Security :

  • SSL/TLS encryption.

  • Fine‑grained role and permission management.
     

  • Regular security updates from the Moodle HQ community.

How to install and configure Moodle?

Installing Moodle is straightforward, but it requires technical knowledge:

1. Download the latest version from moodle.org.
    

2. Install a web server (Apache or Nginx), a database (MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL) and PHP.

3. Run the installation script via Moodle’s web interface.
    
4. Configure settings: create administrators, add themes and install plugins.
    
5. Optimise performance (caching, CDN, database).
    

For organisations without an IT team, Moodle also offers MoodleCloud, a turnkey hosted version.

Use cases for Moodle

Moodle is used in a variety of contexts:

• Universities: creation of full courses with forums, quizzes and assignments.

• Companies: internal employee training, certification tracking.

• NGOs and public institutions: distance‑learning programmes.
   
• Secondary schools: blended learning (hybrid education).

Concrete example: the Open University in the United Kingdom uses Moodle to manage more than 200 000 students, thereby reducing infrastructure costs while improving the learning experience.

Comparison with alternatives

Comparison table

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• ✅ Completely free and open source.

• ✅ Highly customisable with thousands of plugins.

• ✅ Large open‑source community of users and developers.

• ✅ Compatible with pedagogical standards (SCORM, xAPI, H5P).

• ✅ Flexible deployment (On‑Premise or hosted).

Disadvantages

• ❌  Longer learning curve for novice teachers.

• ❌ Requires technical expertise for installation and maintenance.

• ❌The interface can appear less modern than some commercial alternatives.

Conclusion

Moodle is an ideal solution for universities, schools, companies and institutions seeking an open‑source LMS that is customisable and sustainable. Its community‑driven model, compatibility with pedagogical standards and deployment flexibility make it a pertinent choice. 
Moreover, Moodle relies on a dynamic open‑source service that blends innovation, community collaboration and professional support, ensuring a reliable and scalable platform.