Open edX is an open-source learning management system and course authoring platform originally developed by Harvard and MIT in 2012. Now stewarded by Axim Collaborative, a nonprofit founded by its original creators, it powers online learning for over 140 million learners across 196 countries.
Deployed by universities (Stanford, Arizona State University), enterprises (Google, Microsoft, IBM, AWS, McKinsey), government and international organizations (NASA, IMF, Amnesty International), and training providers worldwide, it supports online campuses, instructor-led programs, MOOCs, professional certifications, and corporate training at any scale.
Released under AGPLv3 and Apache 2.0 with no licensing fees, the platform is built on Python/Django, containerized via Docker, deployed using Tutor, and supports Kubernetes for production environments.
The project follows a biannual named release cycle, delivering two major community upgrades each year. The latest stable release is Verawood (June 2026), the 22nd named release. Each release brings new features, security updates, and community contributions.
Key capabilities include built-in course authoring via Studio, XBlock architecture for custom interactive content, LTI 1.3 Advantage Complete certification, SCORM and xAPI support, native iOS and Android apps, analytics powered by Apache Superset and ClickHouse, eCommerce, SAML/OAuth/OIDC single sign-on, and REST APIs.
A global network of verified service providers across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas offers professional hosting, implementation, customization, and support through the official Open edX Marketplace.