Canvas LMS
Learning management system from Instructure, released under AGPL-3.0 for anyone to run.
Instructure publishes its LMS under AGPL-3.0 with wiki install guides.
Canvas LMS is the open-source release of the learning management system Instructure maintains. It suits schools and companies with a developer or sysadmin who can run a Ruby and PostgreSQL application.
What it is
The README describes Canvas as a modern open-source LMS maintained by Instructure and released under the AGPLv3 licence. Installation is documented on the project wiki, with a Quick Start and a Production Start guide.
Who it's for
It suits institutions with technical staff who want a mainstream LMS they control. It does not suit someone who wants a one-click install; the quick start itself says it is not suitable for production.
Key features
Instructure-maintained
The company behind Canvas publishes and maintains the open-source code.
Docker setup script
An automated Docker script targets macOS and Ubuntu development setups.
Manual install guide
The wiki walks through Ruby, PostgreSQL, Node and Yarn setup.
Production guide
A separate Production Start page covers a real deployment.
AGPL-3.0 licence
Anyone may run and study it; service changes must be shared.
Wiki documentation
Install and configuration steps live on the GitHub wiki.
Up and running in 3 steps
Our honest verdict
What's great
- Maintained by the company that builds Canvas, not a community fork.
- AGPL-3.0 lets you run and modify it without licence fees.
- Separate Quick Start and Production Start guides exist.
- A Docker script is provided for macOS and Ubuntu development setups.
Where it falls short
- The quick start requires Ruby 3.1 (3.2 and later are not supported) and PostgreSQL 14, and is not suitable for production.
- The Docker script recommends 150 GB of disk, 8 GB of RAM and a quad-core CPU.
- The README gives little detail on features; you must read the wiki.
- AGPL-3.0 means sharing changes if you offer it as a service.
Pricing & license
Free under AGPL-3.0. The only cost is running it yourself; no hosted plan was read in the repo or its wiki.
Open remote AI-training roles
870 open remote AI-training roles, updated November 14, 2026; most pay $20–$170 an hour. Zekai lists them free; the application goes to the employer’s platform.
Alternatives
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Use it, or have us set it up
FAQ
Is Canvas LMS free to self-host?
The code is AGPL-3.0, so there is no licence fee. You pay for the server and the time to run it.
Which versions does the quick start need?
It names Ruby 3.1, PostgreSQL 14 and Node with Yarn, and says Ruby 3.2 or later is not supported.
Is the quick start production-ready?
No. The guide warns it is not suitable for production; use the Production Start guide.
