MERLOT vs Lumen Learning

MERLOT9.4Visit Lumen Learning8.7Visit

Higher score MERLOT #1 in Open Educational Resource Platforms 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 6 of 6 features Visit MERLOT

vs

Lumen Learning #6 in Open Educational Resource Platforms 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 6 features Visit Lumen Learning

• MERLOT fits best

  Broad OER discovery, creation, and integration

• Lumen Learning fits best

  Institutions needing supported OER courses

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Side by side

Feature	MERLOT 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Lumen Learning 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.7
Ranking	#1 in Open Educational Resource Platforms	#6 in Open Educational Resource Platforms
Best for	Broad OER discovery, creation, and integration	Institutions needing supported OER courses
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Browser extension	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Docs	Email, Tickets, Docs · 24/7
Integrations	4 integrations	4 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features MERLOT 6/6 · Lumen Learning 3/6
Open-license filter	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Remix and adaptation	✓	✓
Authoring tools	✓	✓
Publishing workflow	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
API access	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Content review	✓	✓
Specs
Download formats	Common Cartridge, PDF, Zip, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, RTF, TXT, CSV, SAV, SCORM, website, audio, video, image	PDF, EPUB
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	Remixable OER with authoring, editing, and redistribution Practice, assessments, feedback, and personalized learning tools Canvas, Blackboard Learn, D2L Brightspace, and Moodle integrations
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	Interactive courseware requires payment or institutional coverage Paid support and training add costs beyond free public OER Designed primarily for colleges and universities, not general audiences
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 →	Lumen Learning provides open educational resources, digital courseware, learning tools, and faculty support for colleges and universities. Faculty can select materials from its OER course catalog, revise and remix content, create courses,… Read the review →

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

• Lumen Learning — where it wins

  • Remixable OER with authoring, editing, and redistribution
  • Practice, assessments, feedback, and personalized learning tools
  • Canvas, Blackboard Learn, D2L Brightspace, and Moodle integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Interactive courseware requires payment or institutional coverage
  • Paid support and training add costs beyond free public OER
  • Designed primarily for colleges and universities, not general audiences

• MERLOT9.4/10 · Free plan

  A free OER platform with strong discovery, authoring, review, and LMS integration.

  Visit MERLOTFull verdict →
• Lumen Learning8.7/10 · Free plan

  Lumen pairs remixable OER with supported courseware, assessments, and LMS grade return.

  Visit Lumen LearningFull verdict →