Free LMS Software in India: How to Choose the Best Free LMS for Your Institute

Free LMS options at a glance

Sikhami wrote this comparison, and we make Sikhami, so please read it with that in mind. We checked every detail about Moodle, Chamilo, Google Classroom, Canvas Lite and TalentLMS on their own websites on 18 October 2026. Prices and features change, so check them again before you decide. Moodle, Chamilo, Google Classroom, Canvas and TalentLMS are trademarks of their owners; Sikhami is not connected with them.

Open-source LMS: Moodle and Chamilo

Open-source software is free to download, use and change. You, or someone you pay, then runs it on a server.

Moodle

Moodle is free software under version 3 of the GNU General Public License. Anyone can adapt it for commercial or non-commercial use without licence fees. You can install it on your own web server with PHP and a database, buy a MoodleCloud site, or hire a Moodle partner. MoodleCloud has five yearly plans, from Starter (50 users) to Standard (750 users), and a free 28-day trial. Plugins cannot be installed on MoodleCloud.

Moodle has a Quiz with many question types, badges, and a free mobile app for Android and iOS. It can take payment for course enrolment, with a PayPal plugin as standard. Our Moodle alternative page lists MoodleCloud's prices in full.

Chamilo

Chamilo calls itself a free and open-source e-learning platform. Its code is released under the GNU GPL, version 3 or later. You install it on your own server. Its instructions ask for PHP 8.3 to 8.5 and a MariaDB or MySQL database, on a domain or subdomain of its own.

With both, the software is free but running it is not. Count the server, a domain name, backups, updates and security work, or the cost of someone who does it for you.

Free class tools: Google Classroom and Canvas Lite

Google Classroom

Classroom is Google's tool for assignments, grading and quizzes made in Google Forms, and it pairs with Google Meet. Qualifying schools and degree-granting colleges get it at no charge with Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals. People over 13 can also use it with a personal Google Account.

For a coaching institute, one rule matters. Google lists tutoring programmes and for-profit education companies among organisations that do not qualify for Workspace for Education. Teachers can still use personal accounts. These allow 250 teachers and students per class, and Meet group meetings of up to 60 minutes. Our Google Classroom page explains the editions and prices.

Canvas Lite

Canvas is a well-known LMS from Instructure. On 30 September 2026, Instructure launched Canvas Lite, a free Canvas account for individual educators. It includes modules, quizzes, rubrics, SpeedGrader, announcements, discussions, and the Canvas Teacher and Canvas Student mobile apps.

Canvas Lite allows 5 courses, 50 learners per course and 500 MB of storage per course. Course analytics and attendance tracking need a full Canvas licence. Instructure's Canvas page shows no prices for a full licence and asks you to get in touch. The Canvas Lite terms also strictly prohibit commercial use, including paid training programmes. If your institute charges fees, read those terms first.

Free plans of paid LMS: TalentLMS

Some paid LMS products have a free plan. TalentLMS, for example, offers a Free plan for up to 5 users and up to 10 courses, with no time limit and no credit card. Its paid plans are priced in US dollars, and Core, the first paid plan, shows $119 a month. A free plan of this size suits a trial or a very small group. Check the price of the plan you would need as you grow.

Sikhami: free to set up, earns from paid sales

Sikhami is a social network for learners with a full LMS for institutes. Setting up your institute is free, with no subscription and no server. You get video courses from uploaded videos or a YouTube playlist, multiple-choice tests, certificates, batches, attendance, a fee book with receipts and staff roles. Your institute and each course also get a public page that learners can find by category.

Sikhami earns only when a learner buys something paid online, such as a video course. It keeps a share of that sale, and Google Play also takes its fee on purchases in the Android app. Before you save a price, Sikhami shows what you will receive per sale. Classroom and batch fees are paid to you directly, and Sikhami takes nothing from them. Our free LMS page explains every part in detail.

Which free option fits which institute

Each free option was made for a different kind of teacher. Here is a plain match, based on the rules and limits above:

• A school that qualifies for Google Workspace for Education: Google Classroom at no charge, with Google Meet.
• An institute with an IT person or a hosting budget that wants full control: Moodle or Chamilo.
• A single teacher running a non-commercial class or a homeschool group: Canvas Lite.
• A small team that wants to test an LMS before buying: a free plan such as TalentLMS Free.
• A coaching institute that wants free courses and classroom tools, a public page and the option to sell courses: Sikhami.

How to choose a free LMS

1. Do you charge fees? Check that the free option allows commercial use. Canvas Lite's terms do not, and Workspace for Education excludes for-profit education companies.
2. Who will run it? Open-source software needs a server and someone to update it and back it up.
3. How many students and courses? Compare with free-plan caps, such as 5 users on TalentLMS Free or 50 learners per course on Canvas Lite.
4. What tests do you need? Moodle has many question types, Classroom uses Google Forms quizzes, and Sikhami has multiple-choice tests.
5. Do you teach in a classroom too? Check for batches, attendance, fees and receipts.
6. Do you need new students? A private LMS serves students you already have. A public page can help new ones find you.
7. Can you take your data with you? Ask how to export students, marks and content.

Then run a one-week pilot in your top two choices, with one chapter and a few students on their own phones. Our guide to choosing a learning management system has a full checklist.

Good to know about Sikhami before you start

• Sikhami does not give you your own app, your own web address or a website builder. Students use the Sikhami website and Android app with a free Sikhami account.
• Tests are multiple choice with one correct answer.
• Live classes run on Google Meet or Zoom. A batch keeps the link, but the class is not hosted on Sikhami.
• There is no DRM or download protection.
• Video courses are made on the website. Batches, attendance, fees and your team also work in the Android app.
• The fee book records fees you collect yourself. It does not collect batch fees or send reminders.