Chamilo
Chamilo LMS is a free, open-source Learning Management System (GNU/GPLv3+) used by 41M+ learners across 79,000+ global installations, primarily monetized through BeezNest Belgium and certified providers offering hosting, support, development, and training services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLugo, Spain
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Chamilo does
Chamilo LMS is a free, open-source Learning Management System (LMS) and Learning Content Management System (LCMS) distributed under GNU/GPLv3+ and certified as a Digital Public Good by the UN-backed Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA). The codebase, written in PHP, supports current and legacy branches (Chamilo 2.0.3 and Legacy 1.11.40, both released June 2026) and is self-hosted by institutions, requiring no licensing fee or renewal. It is used by 41M+ learners across more than 79,000 global installations, with approximately 60% of deployments in corporate environments and the remainder spanning primary, secondary, higher education, government, NGO, and non-profit sectors. Notable technical components include LTI Advantage certification (IMS Global since 2020), SCORM and xAPI interoperability, an OpenAI/ChatGPT-powered plugin for automated test-question generation, BigBlueButton-integrated video conferencing, integrations with Google Drive, OneDrive, ONLYOFFICE, and anti-plagiarism tooling, plus GDPR-compliant self-hosted data sovereignty.
The platform is governed and primarily funded through BeezNest Belgium SRL (VAT BE 0872.265.570), a private Belgian company that has contributed approximately 90% of total development since becoming the responsible publisher in 2014. Effective January 1, 2026, full governance was transferred from the now-dissolved Spanish non-profit Asociación Chamilo to BeezNest, accompanied by a published Charter of Commitment to preserve open-source principles. Founder and director Yannick Warnier, who has led the project since its 2010 inception (with combined project lineage tracing to 2001), remains at the helm.
The business model is freemium-plus-services: the software itself generates no license revenue, while BeezNest and a global network of officially certified Chamilo providers monetize through paid hosting, technical support, custom development, and training. Provider certification (CCHAPA for administrators, CHACOBU for course builders) is administered by BeezNest and requires reciprocal contributions of patches, plugins, and documentation. Demand generation is community-led: free self-serve download via GitHub, a public demo campus (campus.chamilo.net), GitHub-hosted community forums, monthly Chamilotalks video series, annual international ChamiloConference events, and regional ChamiloCamp meetups in Europe and Latin America. Enterprise logos include Teleperformance (200,000+ employees), Rimac Seguros, and Air Calédonie, alongside education deployments such as the CAP-able consortium of six Belgian schools.
Chamilo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chamilo
- Legal name
- BeezNest Belgium SRL
- Website
- https://chamilo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Chamilo LMS is a free, open-source Learning Management System (GNU/GPLv3+) used by 41M+ learners across 79,000+ global installations, primarily monetized through BeezNest Belgium and certified providers offering hosting, support, development, and training services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chamilo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Open-source Learning Management System (LMS)
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Open-Source & Self-Hosted LMS (EDAFAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Core LMS Platforms (Academic & Corporate) (EDAFAAAA), LMS Integrations, Interoperability & Identity (LTI/SCORM/xAPI, SSO, APIs) (EDAFAAAI), LMS Commerce, Licensing & Monetization (eCommerce, Subscriptions, Seat Management) (EDAFAAAK), Vertical/Industry-Specific LMS (e.g., Healthcare, Safety, Aviation, Government) (EDAFAAAM), Learning Technology & LMS/LXP Implementation (BPACANAH)
Keywords
Where Chamilo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lugo
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Chamilo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Professional Services (hosting, support, development, training): BeezNest Belgium and official Chamilo providers generate revenue by offering paid hosting, technical support, custom development, and training services around the Chamilo platform. These services are the primary revenue driver for the ecosystem.
- Software License (free, with optional premium modules): The core Chamilo LMS software is free under GNU/GPLv3+ with zero licensing cost. Future premium modules may be developed to fund the project, but these would target professional actors and not affect daily teaching practice.
- Donations and Membership Contributions: Users can support the project through donations or by joining the Chamilo Association, contributing financially to the sustainability of the open-source project.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time/ perpetual license | Free Open Source (core platform) |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Demo Campus (free trial) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional services (hosting, support, development, training) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Chamilo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chamilo provides a free, open-source Learning Management System / Learning Content Management System (LMS/LCMS) distributed under GNU/GPLv3+ for self-hosted deployment. The platform delivers course management, assessments (including SCORM/xAPI/LTI-compliant content), virtual classrooms, attendance tracking, certifications, and an AI Plugin for automated test question generation. Revenue is generated through professional services (hosting, technical support, custom development, and certified training) delivered by BeezNest Belgium and a global network of officially certified providers.
Product overview
Chamilo LMS is a single unified open-source e-learning platform offered as a free download under GNU/GPLv3+ license. The core product is Chamilo LMS itself, available in current version 2.0.x and legacy 1.11.x branch. The platform is complemented by a professional services ecosystem led by BeezNest Belgium (project steward since January 2026), community support through GitHub forums, free demo access via Chamilo Campus, and professional certification programs (CCHAPA for administrators and CHACOBU for course builders). Community engagement is maintained through monthly Chamilotalks video series, annual international Chamilo Conference events, and regional ChamiloCamp meetups. Version 2.0 introduces an improved admin interface with /api endpoint for developers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chamilo LMS 2.0 Current-generation free open-source Learning Management System distributed under GNU/GPLv3+ for self-hosted deployment. Supports PHP 8.2 and 8.3, includes SCORM/xAPI/LTI interoperability, AI plugin (OpenAI/ChatGPT) for automated test question generation, attendance, portfolio, assessments, certificates, and an /api endpoint for developers. Used by 41M+ learners worldwide.
- Chamilo LMS 1.11.x (Legacy) Legacy maintenance branch of Chamilo LMS supporting PHP 7.4 and 8.3. Continues to receive updates (currently 1.11.40) for institutions that have not yet migrated to the 2.x line. Includes the original AI Plugin, LTI/SCORM/xAPI features, attendance, portfolio, and signature tools.
- BeezNest Belgium Professional Services Paid professional services offered by BeezNest Belgium — the official publisher and primary steward of Chamilo LMS since January 2026 — including managed hosting, technical support, custom development, and certified training (administrator, tutor/teacher, and developer levels). Pricing is quote-based, with hosting available from approximately 100 EUR/year for community projects.
- Chamilo LMS Portal Assistant Certification (CCHAPA) Official paid certification program for Chamilo LMS portal administrators. Candidates are evaluated through complex examinations; minimum passing score is 74%, with successful candidates listed in a public certified-professionals directory.
- Chamilo LMS Course Builder Certification (CHACOBU) Official paid certification program for Chamilo LMS course tutors and content creators, evaluating ability to design and manage virtual courses. Minimum passing score is 74%; certified professionals are listed in a public directory.
Quantifiable outcome
- 41M+ learners worldwide using the platform
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Chamilo
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chamilo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability4 records
Feature16 records
Chamilo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Bâtisseurs NumériquesminorBâtisseurs Numériques, a French digital education organization, co-organized Chamilo-related events in France (Lyon, 2024) focused on dynamic documents and interactive learning content with Chamilo LMS.
- Official Chamilo Providers (International Network)coreA global network of certified private companies offering professional services (hosting, support, development, training) for Chamilo. Providers must pass a certification process administered by the Chamilo Association/BeezNest and contribute patches, corrections, plugins, and documentation back to the community. Contact via [email protected].
- CAP-able Consortium (6 Belgian Schools)minorA professional learning community formed by six Belgian schools using Chamilo LMS to deliver free online remediation courses to students. The project was funded through June 2023 and demonstrated Chamilo's suitability for collaborative educational initiatives in resource-constrained environments.
- FosshostminorFosshost, a non-profit organization providing free hosting services to open-source projects, supported the Chamilo project with infrastructure (virtual machines) for testing environments. This enabled faster testing portals for both Chamilo 1.11 and 2.0, improving beta-user feedback and release quality. Fosshost is supported by sponsoring hosting companies.
- IMS Global Learning ConsortiumcoreIMS Global developed the LTI (Learning Tool Interoperability) standard, with LTI Advantage being the most comprehensive version. Chamilo obtained LTI Advantage certification through IMS Global, enabling interoperability with external learning tools and secure data exchange between LMS and third-party applications.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Chamilo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Canvas (Instructure): Leading proprietary SaaS LMS with strong footprint in higher education and K-12. Competes with Chamilo for institutional LMS contracts where budget allows SaaS, but offers less data sovereignty than Chamilo's self-hosted model.
- Blackboard: Long-established proprietary LMS incumbent with deep K-12 and higher-ed penetration. Competes against Chamilo in academic procurement where institutional switching costs favor incumbent SaaS contracts.
- Docebo: AI-powered enterprise LMS platform serving corporate training at scale. Competes with Chamilo for enterprise L&D budgets where AI personalization, integrations, and SaaS convenience outweigh licensing-cost advantages.
- Moodle Workplace: Commercial corporate version of Moodle with hosted SaaS option. Competes with Chamilo for enterprise LMS deals where customers want the open-source foundation plus commercial support, directly mirroring Chamilo's BeezNest services model.
Direct peers
- Open edX: Open-source learning platform originally built by MIT/Harvard and now stewarded by Axim Collaborative. Competes with Chamilo particularly in higher education and MOOC-scale deployments, with a similar self-hosted/open-source value proposition.
- Moodle: The largest open-source LMS globally, Moodle is the most direct competitor to Chamilo with similar PHP-based architecture, GPL licensing, plugin ecosystem, and dual academic/corporate use cases. Both compete for self-hosted LMS deployments in education and enterprise.
- ILIAS: German-developed open-source LMS widely used in European universities and public institutions. Directly comparable to Chamilo as a self-hosted, GPL-licensed academic LMS with similar interoperability standards support.
- Sakai: Open-source LMS stewarded by the Apereo Foundation, predominantly used in higher education. Shares Chamilo's academic-focused, self-hosted open-source model with similar LTI/SCORM compliance posture.
Emerging players
- LearnDash: WordPress-based LMS plugin targeting course creators and small training businesses. Adjacent competitor to Chamilo in the e-learning platform market, particularly for individual course creators seeking low-cost deployment.
- TalentLMS: SMB-focused commercial LMS with freemium and paid tiers, popular for small business training. Competes with Chamilo in the corporate/SMB segment where ease of setup and SaaS convenience matter more than zero licensing cost.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chamilo social profiles
Digital presenceChamilo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Chamilo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chamilo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Chamilo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chamilo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chamilo
What does Chamilo do?
Chamilo provides a free, open-source Learning Management System / Learning Content Management System (LMS/LCMS) distributed under GNU/GPLv3+ for self-hosted deployment. The platform delivers course management, assessments (including SCORM/xAPI/LTI-compliant content), virtual classrooms, attendance tracking, certifications, and an AI Plugin for automated test question generation. Revenue is generated through professional services (hosting, technical support, custom development, and certified training) delivered by BeezNest Belgium and a global network of officially certified providers.
Is Chamilo a public or private company?
Chamilo is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chamilo founded?
Chamilo was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Chamilo based?
Chamilo is headquartered in Lugo, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Chamilo make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Services (hosting, support, development, training) is the primary driver. The others are software License (free, with optional premium modules) and donations and Membership Contributions.
Who are Chamilo's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Canvas (Instructure), Blackboard, Docebo and Moodle Workplace. Direct peers are Open edX, Moodle, ILIAS and Sakai. Emerging players are LearnDash and TalentLMS.
Does Chamilo have an API?
Yes. Chamilo offers web services available in SOAP or REST formats, delivered with the Chamilo code in the main/webservices/ directory (or at /api endpoint for Chamilo 2+). Documentation is available on GitHub. Developer documentation is at github.com/chamilo/chamilo-lms/wiki.
What industry is Chamilo in?
Chamilo's product category is Open-source Learning Management System (LMS). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAAAL, Open-Source & Self-Hosted LMS, with a secondary code of EDAFAAAA, Core LMS Platforms (Academic & Corporate). Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7370.