Xerte

Overview

Xerte is a browser-based suite for building interactive learning materials, with a template-led workflow for educators and room for developers to customise it. It suits schools, colleges, universities and other teaching organisations able to manage their own installation. The trade-off is clear: the software is free, but getting it running and keeping support at hand requires more effort than a hosted authoring service.

Authors assemble content through forms and templates; developers can use JavaScript and CSS to change its appearance and behaviour. That division makes Xerte adaptable to teams with different technical skills, but it is not the most direct choice for an individual seeking a ready-to-use hosted tool.

Key features

The Xerte Online Toolkit provides more than 70 templates for interactive learning, and Xerte includes assessment building. Templates offer educators varied starting points for creating activities, rather than a library of ready-made courses. Interactive content and team collaboration are also supported.

Published materials are responsive, standards-compliant HTML5 for modern browsers and devices. Authors can export projects as standalone ZIP files for web-server deployment or as SCORM packages for compatible learning platforms. SCORM, LTI and xAPI support connect Xerte with learning technologies; xAPI reporting requires a configured Learning Record Store, so organisations need that infrastructure to use it.

Accessibility features include keyboard access, a colour-contrast changer, and compatibility with text-to-speech and most screen-reader tools. Those options support more inclusive delivery, though they do not remove the need to make thoughtful content and design choices.

Pricing

Xerte is free and open-source software. Its Xerte plan costs nothing and requires installation on a web server; commercial hosting and support are separate. There is no free trial because the software itself is free.

The main cost is operational rather than a subscription: an organisation needs a suitable server and someone able to install and maintain the software. The standard setup uses Linux, Apache, MySQL or MariaDB, and PHP; Windows servers with IIS can also be configured. The project says its benefits generally come from an online organisational installation, while a local XAMPP setup is more technical. Commercial services are offered by community-connected companies for hosting, installation, troubleshooting, upgrades, custom development and training.

Platforms

Xerte is browser-based and supports Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, web and self-hosted use. Its deployment model centres on a web-server installation rather than a conventional app-store download. Users must create an account and log in to download files.

Organisations running public-facing installations should heed the May 2026 security notice: the initial-installation setup folder should not remain on a public-facing server, and the notice identifies updated versions 3.15.5 and 3.14.6.

Who it's for

Xerte is a strong fit for education teams that want interactive authoring, assessment creation and learning-platform exports under their own control. Its templates can help teachers and tutors build without coding, while JavaScript and CSS give technical staff ways to customise the result.

Pros and cons

• Pros: More than 70 learning templates and assessment building give educators a broad authoring toolkit.
• Pros: Responsive HTML5 output, ZIP and SCORM exports, plus SCORM, LTI and xAPI support, accommodate different delivery and integration needs.
• Pros: Keyboard access, a contrast changer, and support for text-to-speech and most screen readers address several practical accessibility needs.
• Cons: A web-server installation is required, so a team without technical capacity may find setup and upkeep burdensome.
• Cons: Community forums are the primary support channel, and support is voluntary; organisations needing dependable assistance may need to pay a commercial provider.
• Cons: xAPI reporting depends on a configured Learning Record Store, adding another requirement for teams that need that reporting.

Alternatives

For a free, self-hosted authoring tool with a similar open-source orientation, compare Adapt Learning. eXeLearning is another free option, with online or desktop use.

Choose Lumi Education if its free plan’s unlimited contents and 15 MB per-file upload limit fit your work, or if you want its paid Pro option. ProProfs Training Maker offers a free plan for up to 10 learners and a free trial, making it worth considering for a small audience looking at a freemium service.

BranchTrack, Mindsmith and Open eLearning are other options to compare. ActivePresenter is a further alternative.

See the Course Authoring Software and Interactive Lesson Makers directories for more options.

Verdict

Choose Xerte if your education organisation wants a capable, free authoring suite with templates, assessments, accessible output and learning-platform exports—and can take responsibility for server installation. Look elsewhere if you need a hosted, low-maintenance service or guaranteed support without arranging it separately.