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Head-to-head · Open Educational Resource Platforms

MERLOT vs LibreTexts

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 7 checks side by side
Higher score MERLOT #1 in Open Educational Resource Platforms 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 6 of 6 features Visit MERLOT
LibreTexts #3 in Open Educational Resource Platforms 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit LibreTexts

MERLOT leads on 0 checks, LibreTexts on 0, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMERLOT · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresMERLOT · 6 of 6

MERLOT scores higher on our rubric for open educational resource platforms: 9.4 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

MERLOT is the better fit for broad OER discovery, creation, and integration. LibreTexts is the better fit for interactive open textbooks and institutional programs.

  • MERLOT fits best

    Broad OER discovery, creation, and integration

  • LibreTexts fits best

    Interactive open textbooks and institutional programs

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Side by side

Feature MERLOT 9.4/10 Visit ↗ LibreTexts 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.2
Ranking #1 in Open Educational Resource Platforms #3 in Open Educational Resource Platforms
Best for Broad OER discovery, creation, and integration Interactive open textbooks and institutional programs
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $15/user/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Browser extension Cloud, Browser extension
Platforms Web Web
Support Email, Docs Email, Community, Docs
Integrations 4 integrations 8 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features MERLOT 6/6 · LibreTexts 0/6
Open-license filter ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Remix and adaptation ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Authoring tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Publishing workflow ✓ (best) Not checked yet
API access ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Content review ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Download formats Common Cartridge, PDF, Zip, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, RTF, TXT, CSV, SAV, SCORM, website, audio, video, image Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Advanced search includes discipline, format, audience, mobile, and license filters
  • Content Builder supports hosted website creation and public publishing
  • APIs, Common Cartridge, and four LMS integrations support reuse
  • Free digital textbooks with remixing, PDFs, annotations, and print options
  • Interactive content supports videos, notebooks, visualizations, and assessments
  • LMS import plus optional ADAPT, The Forge, and Jupyter Hub services
Cons
  • Many discoverable resources are linked externally rather than hosted
  • The platform is web-based, with no listed native desktop or mobile apps
  • Content Builder publishing is narrower than a full learning management system
  • Advanced homework and authoring tools require paid plans
  • The platform is focused on educational publishing rather than general course delivery
  • Paid options use separate products and six-month student pricing
Our verdict

MERLOT is a free, web-based community and repository for discovering, contributing, evaluating, organizing, and creating online teaching and learning materials. It primarily serves higher education educators, learners, researchers, and…

Read the review →

LibreTexts is a nonprofit, open-source platform for students, educators, and institutions that need free digital textbooks and tools for creating, adapting, publishing, and sharing instructional content. Its textbook libraries support…

Read the review →
  1. MERLOTOpen Educational Resource Platforms 9.4Free plan
  2. LibreTextsOpen Educational Resource Platforms 9.2Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • MERLOT — where it wins

    • Advanced search includes discipline, format, audience, mobile, and license filters
    • Content Builder supports hosted website creation and public publishing
    • APIs, Common Cartridge, and four LMS integrations support reuse

    Where it doesn't

    • Many discoverable resources are linked externally rather than hosted
    • The platform is web-based, with no listed native desktop or mobile apps
    • Content Builder publishing is narrower than a full learning management system

  • LibreTexts — where it wins

    • Free digital textbooks with remixing, PDFs, annotations, and print options
    • Interactive content supports videos, notebooks, visualizations, and assessments
    • LMS import plus optional ADAPT, The Forge, and Jupyter Hub services

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced homework and authoring tools require paid plans
    • The platform is focused on educational publishing rather than general course delivery
    • Paid options use separate products and six-month student pricing

More comparisons

All open educational resource platforms comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update