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Paid plans start at $13.33/mo. There's also a free plan.
Moodle LMS software is free if you host it yourself, but you handle the infrastructure. MoodleCloud starts at $13.33 per month for the Starter plan, with 50 users and 1GB of storage. That figure is a reference price: MoodleCloud bills annually, and monthly prices are not published. Starter includes a 28-day free trial. The cheapest plan is tightly capped, so check user and storage needs before comparing it with a paid hosted LMS.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moodle LMS (Self-Hosted) | $0 | — | Organizations hosting Moodle themselves |
| MoodleCloud Starter | $13.33 | — | Small groups starting with hosted Moodle |
| MoodleCloud Mini | $22.50 | — | Small teams needing more capacity |
| MoodleCloud Small | $40.83 | — | Growing teams selling courses |
| MoodleCloud Medium | $98.33 | — | Mid-sized teams needing more storage |
| MoodleCloud Standard | $173.33 | — | Larger teams needing hosted Moodle |
Add-ons and overages
- Moodle App Premium is included on all MoodleCloud plans.
- Stripe course selling integration is included on Small, Medium, and Standard.
- Custom Domain add-on for Medium: $160 AUD/year.
- Custom domain is included on Standard.
- Other add-on and overage costs are not published.
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Self-hosting infrastructure
Self-hosted Moodle software is free, but hosting infrastructure is yours to arrange. Moodle says storage depends on infrastructure; infrastructure costs are not published.
Annual billing only
MoodleCloud plans are billed annually. Listed USD monthly figures are reference prices; monthly billing prices are not published.
Medium domain add-on
A custom domain for MoodleCloud Medium costs $160 AUD per year. It is included with Standard.
Unpublished overage costs
Other add-on and overage costs are not published, so there is no listed price for exceeding plan limits.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Organizations with hosting capacity | Moodle LMS (Self-Hosted) | The software costs $0 and includes unlimited users; storage depends on your infrastructure. |
| Small groups trying hosted Moodle | MoodleCloud Starter | Costs $13.33/month on an annual plan and includes 50 users, 1GB storage, and a 28-day trial. |
| Teams selling courses | MoodleCloud Small | At $40.83/month billed annually, it includes 200 users, 5GB storage, and Stripe course selling integration. |
04Is Moodle LMS worth the money?
Moodle is worth considering if control and course depth matter more than a turnkey setup. Self-hosted Moodle has no software fee, but hosting is your responsibility, so $0 is not the full operating cost. MoodleCloud is more straightforward on hosting, but its annual billing, user and storage caps, and unpublished overage costs matter. Our take: choose Moodle for control and course depth; skip it if you expect hosting and setup to be handled for free.
Moodle LMS pricing FAQ
Do colleges still use Moodle?
Moodle's stated audience includes educational institutions, and Moodle LMS is described as software for creating, delivering and managing courses. The published pricing and product details do not publish current college adoption counts, so we can't quantify how many colleges use it now.
What is Moodle LMS used for?
Moodle LMS is used to create, deliver and manage courses for blended, distance and virtual learning. Its listed tools include course sections, quizzes, assignments, forums, messaging, progress tracking and reporting. It serves educational institutions, corporate training programs, vocational educators, government entities and non-profits.
Do you have to pay for Moodle?
You do not pay for the self-hosted Moodle LMS software, but you provide the infrastructure. MoodleCloud is paid: Starter is listed at $13.33 per month as an annual reference price, with 50 users and 1GB of storage. Monthly billing prices are not published.
Which LMS is better than Moodle?
There is no universal answer in the published product details, which do not compare Moodle with named alternatives. Moodle is a better fit if control and course depth are priorities. If you want hosting and setup handled for free, our verdict is to skip it.