Gibbon
Gibbon: A broad, free school management system for teams prepared to self-host. Ranked #13 of 50 in School Management Software by our editors (7.6/10); pricing: Free plan; best for technical schools seeking free open-source software.
At a glance
- Editor score7.6 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTechnical schools seeking free open-source software
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Attendance trackingYes
- Founded2010 · Hong Kong
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Covers records, admissions, attendance, assessment, fees, and portals
- Configurable roles, permissions, and modules support varied school workflows
- Free GNU GPL software with self-hosted installation
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosting leaves installation and server maintenance with the school
- Web and self-hosted delivery limit platform coverage
- Google Calendar is the listed external integration
Our verdict on Gibbon
Gibbon is a free, open-source, web-based school management platform for schools, teachers, students, parents, and administrators. It brings together student profiles, lesson planning, homework submission, timetables, attendance, academic assessment, admissions, enrolment, fees, communications, and administration. Parent access supports visibility into student information and attendance, while configurable roles and permissions allow schools to define access for different user groups. Its broad feature coverage makes it a strong fit for technical schools that want control over their software environment and do not want a recurring license charge.
The published pricing model is a single Free and open source plan. It includes the core software, uses the GNU GPL open-source model, and is installed on the school’s own web server. That structure keeps the software cost low, but it shifts responsibility for installation, hosting, maintenance, and ongoing administration to the school. Gibbon therefore suits institutions with internal technical capacity or a dependable web-server partner more than schools looking for a vendor-managed SaaS service. The platform also includes practical administrative functions such as invoices, receipts, payment tracking, absence reporting, and online admissions applications.
For ecosystem fit, Gibbon includes Google Calendar integration and supports messaging through email, SMS, and a message wall. Its main strength is breadth within a configurable school system rather than a narrow focus on one operational area. The trade-off is that delivery is centered on web access and self-hosting, while transport management is not part of the described coverage. Schools that need a managed cloud deployment, broader platform options, or transport workflows should consider an alternative. Gibbon is the better choice for schools prioritizing free open-source software, configurable permissions, and wide administrative coverage.
Your product? Our editors can test Gibbon in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Gibbon pricing
Gibbon fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Student limit | Not verified |
| Attendance tracking | Yes |
| Gradebook | Yes |
| Parent portal | Yes |
| Fee management | Yes |
| Admissions and enrollment | Yes |
| Transport management | No |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: Moodle, Google, Microsoft |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | gibbonedu.org |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Gibbon integrations
Gibbon lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- Moodle
- Microsoft
Alternatives to Gibbon
- Blackbaud Student Information SystemA broad SIS for private K–12 schools, especially those in the Blackbaud ecosystem.9.2
- iSAMSA broad school information system with APIs, portals, billing and learning integrations.8.8
- Infinite CampusA mature SIS covering core records, enrollment, attendance, grading, portals, and administration.8.7
Also Ranked In
Gibbon is ranked in 3 of our directories.
Used Gibbon? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Gibbon for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Gibbon is listed in our School Management Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/gibbon/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/gibbon.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update