Numbas

Numbas is an open-source e-assessment system for mathematics and other numerate subjects. It suits educators who want to build or adapt assessments and can manage how they are delivered. Its broad delivery options and reusable question bank are valuable, but it is not a turnkey hosted LTI service.

Overview

Educators can deliver Numbas exams in a browser, through a virtual learning environment (VLE), or from DVD or USB. The public mathcentre editor offers more than 5,000 questions that are free to use or modify, giving numerate courses a substantial foundation for assessment design. That breadth is most useful when its question collection fits the curriculum; Numbas is less suited to teams expecting a fully managed online exam platform.

The project has been based at Newcastle University since its founding in 2011. Its open-source approach and support for extensions and themes allow institutions to tailor functionality and presentation, though that flexibility favors users prepared to take responsibility for setup.

Key features

• Question bank: The mathcentre editor's 5,000-plus reusable or modifiable questions can cut the work of creating assessments for mathematics and related subjects.
• Multiple delivery routes: Exams can run in a browser, a VLE, or from DVD or USB. Standalone browser delivery gives students immediate feedback, but scores are not saved automatically, so it is a poor fit when automatic score capture is essential.
• VLE integration: The LTI tool supports Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, and Brightspace. Institutions must host the tool themselves or discuss paid hosting with the team; there is no public LTI instance to simply adopt.
• SCORM and customization: Numbas generates SCORM 2004 packages for compatible VLEs, while extensions and themes can add functionality or change the interface and exam delivery.
• Accessibility and exam security: The interface is designed to work with assistive technology and varied accessibility needs. Because exams run in a browser, students may inspect answers or alter reported data; the documentation recommends a locked-down browser for high-stakes summative exams. A lockdown app is available for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS.

Pricing

Numbas: free, billed Free and open-source. There is no free-trial period because the software is free. The free software is a strong choice for educators and institutions able to install and operate their own assessment setup. The key caveat is hosting: LTI use requires your own infrastructure, or a discussion with the team about paid hosting. No other seat or usage caps are given.

Platforms

Numbas supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted environments, the web, and Windows. Its exams can be delivered in a desktop browser, through compatible VLEs, or offline from DVD or USB. The range helps institutions fit exams around different devices and infrastructure, but browser delivery means high-stakes use calls for additional lockdown measures.

Who it's for

Numbas is best for mathematics and other numerate-discipline educators who value a large editable question collection, open-source software, and control over delivery. It is also a reasonable fit for institutions with staff and infrastructure to host LTI themselves. Teams that need scores automatically saved from standalone exams, publicly hosted LTI, or browser-only security for high-stakes exams should look elsewhere or plan additional infrastructure.

Pros and cons

• Pro: More than 5,000 free-to-use or modifiable mathcentre questions provide a meaningful starting point for numerate assessments.
• Pro: Browser, VLE, SCORM 2004, and offline delivery give institutions several ways to fit exams into existing teaching arrangements.
• Pro: Assistive-technology support, themes, and extensions help address accessibility and customization needs.
• Con: LTI has no public hosted instance, leaving institutions to manage hosting or arrange paid hosting with the team.
• Con: Standalone browser exams do not automatically save scores, limiting their usefulness where automatic score collection matters.
• Con: Browser-based exams can expose answers or reported data, so high-stakes summative use requires a locked-down browser.

Alternatives

For classroom activities with a defined free-tier ceiling, Wayground (formerly Quizizz) offers a free Starter plan limited to 20 activities and 100 participants per session, with limited library access; choose it when those activity limits suit your needs. PrairieLearn is another open-source option for institutions and individuals prepared to run and modify software on their own infrastructure.

MATLAB Grader is free with a current MATLAB maintenance license, while LMS integration requires a qualifying academic license, making it relevant when MATLAB licensing is already part of the teaching setup. Socrative has a free tier capped at five quizzes, one room, 50 students per activity, and 30-day report history; it may suit smaller activities that fit those limits.

TAO offers a free Starter plan with one author seat, 3,000 AI credits per month, and 50 learner test attempts per month, for teams whose work fits those quotas. Gradescope is another option for assignment grading. Möbius Assessment uses an institutional subscription with pricing handled by sales. DMOJ offers public contest hosting free and private contest hosting for a small fee to educational organizations.

For more options, browse Automated Grading Software and Online Exam Software.

Verdict

Choose Numbas if you teach mathematics or another numerate subject and want open-source assessment software with a large adaptable question collection and flexible delivery. Its strongest case is that combination without a software price; its main reason to look elsewhere is the need to host LTI yourself and account for browser-based security limitations in high-stakes exams.