eXeLearning

Overview

eXeLearning is a free, open-source authoring editor for teachers and other creators who need to build interactive learning materials without programming. It suits educators producing lessons, learning objects and assessments for several publishing destinations. The trade-off is clear: it provides a capable authoring and export workflow, but mobile devices are for viewing rather than editing.

Key features

The editor combines text, images, video and activities in a single project, with an assessment builder for checks and exercises. That focus is useful when subject-matter experts need to make their own resources instead of handing work to developers. Responsive output helps those resources remain usable across screen sizes, although the product remains an authoring tool rather than a complete learner-management system.

SCORM, HTML and EPUB export gives one project several routes to publication or sharing. The official Moodle SCORM plugin adds tracking and grade collection, which matters to schools that need results returned to Moodle. Plugins for Moodle Web, WordPress and Omeka-S can also place the content in established teaching or publishing workflows instead of leaving it as a standalone file.

eXeLearning CLOUD extends the desktop editor with cloud storage and simultaneous real-time editing by multiple users. It can be installed on a server, making it a plausible option for distributed teams, but that deployment is more involved than simply installing the desktop application. Version 4.0.1 strengthened ZIP extraction, authentication and API-based access control, while version 4.0 introduced accessibility improvements that help authors create more inclusive materials.

Pricing

The eXeLearning plan costs free. It is free and open source under the GNU Affero General Public License 3, with online or desktop use. There are no paid tiers, seat charges or subscription renewals to weigh for the core plan. That makes it suitable for individual teachers, schools and organisations that need a predictable no-cost authoring tool, while teams wanting hosted collaboration should account for the server setup required by eXeLearning CLOUD.

Platforms

Official installers cover Linux, Windows and macOS, and eXeLearning can also be used online or deployed on a server through eXeLearning CLOUD. Android and iOS have no editing application. eXeReader lets mobile users view finished materials, so phones and tablets work for consumption but not for authoring or project maintenance.

Who it's for

Choose eXeLearning if you are a teacher, instructional author or education organisation that wants to create interactive content directly, export it to SCORM, HTML or EPUB, and retain control through open-source software. It is particularly well matched to Moodle users who need tracking and grade collection, and to teams prepared to install a server for shared editing.

Look elsewhere if authors must work from Android or iOS, or if you need a turnkey cloud service centred on learner administration rather than content creation. The project is coordinated by CEDEC-INTEF under Spain’s Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports with regional education administrations, which provides a public-education governance context rather than a conventional commercial vendor model.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free and open source: the 0.00 USD plan removes subscription and renewal costs and uses the GNU Affero General Public License 3.
• Broad publishing options: SCORM, HTML and EPUB exports let authors reuse materials in different delivery contexts.
• Useful Moodle connection: the Moodle SCORM plugin supports both tracking and grade collection.
• Real-time team work: eXeLearning CLOUD allows multiple users to edit one project simultaneously and stores projects in the cloud.
• Desktop choice: official Linux, Windows and macOS installers support schools with mixed computer fleets.

Cons

• No mobile editing: Android and iOS users can view through eXeReader but cannot create or revise projects.
• Server responsibility for collaboration: CLOUD can be installed on a server, so collaborative deployments require infrastructure rather than a purely local workflow.
• Not a full learning platform: it authors and exports content; institutions needing broader learner-management functions will need another system alongside it.

Alternatives

ProProfs Training Maker is a better fit when you want a freemium service with Android and iOS support, a free tier capped at 10 learners, and a free trial rather than a wholly open-source desktop workflow.

Adapt Learning is another free, open-source authoring tool and framework, available across mobile, desktop, web and self-hosted environments, with no free trial.

Xerte suits organisations seeking free, open-source software that runs on a web server; commercial hosting and support are separate.

Lumi Education is worth choosing for a freemium desktop and web workflow with unlimited content on its free plan, a 15 MB per-file upload limit and HTML, SCORM and H5P export.

BranchTrack is an alternative for teams looking for a freemium authoring product available on Android, iOS and the web.

Mindsmith is a freemium option with Android, iOS, web and API access, including unlimited content and sharing on its free plan.

Open eLearning provides free, open-source authoring under GNU GPL v3.0+, with an optional premium membership at $39.99 a year.

ActivePresenter is aimed at macOS and Windows users who can accept a free edition limited to trial and non-commercial use, with watermarks when non-free features are used.

Verdict

eXeLearning is a strong recommendation for educators and institutions that want no-cost, code-free authoring with assessment tools, responsive output and exports that fit Moodle and other publishing systems. Its open license and optional server collaboration add control for organisations willing to manage their own environment. Choose another product when mobile authoring, a managed cloud service or a broader learning-management platform is the priority.