Open eLearning review
A free offline authoring tool with SCORM export and a focused assessment feature set.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Open eLearning is a free, open-source desktop course authoring tool for teachers, instructional designers, and other course creators. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and supports course creation without an internet connection. Authors can combine text, images, video, and activities, then add interactive multiple-choice questions and other course content. The software is distributed under the GNU GPL v3.0 or later, making it a fit for teams that want an offline authoring environment with an open-source license.
The product's free desktop model keeps the core authoring software accessible without a paid plan. Its published capabilities include templates, educational game assets, plugin and extension support, and exports to PDF and single HTML. Premium templates and asset-library access are offered separately, but they are not required for the desktop authoring software. This structure suits educators and small course teams that value local production and control over their authoring setup, while organizations seeking a cloud-first workflow should consider a different product.
SCORM support is a practical strength: Open eLearning exports SCORM 1.2 packages and handles mastery scores and lesson status for those packages. Moodle and Chamilo are named integration targets, giving authors a path to use exported courses in established learning management systems. The trade-off is focus rather than breadth. Assessment capabilities center on interactive multiple-choice questions, and SCORM export does not extend beyond version 1.2. Choose Open eLearning for free, offline, open-source course creation with standard LMS packaging; choose an alternative if you need broader assessment authoring or newer SCORM support.
Open eLearning pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free, open-source desktop authoring on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Creates multimedia courses with activities and interactive questions
- Exports SCORM 1.2 packages, PDF, and single HTML
- Where it doesn't
- Assessment options center on interactive multiple-choice questions
- SCORM export is limited to version 1.2
- Desktop authoring requires local installation rather than internet access
Open eLearning fact sheet, pricing and score →
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