Freedom251 › Learning Management Systems
LAMS
by LAMS
What LAMS is
LAMS is software for designing, managing, and delivering collaborative online learning activities. Teachers create sequences of activities in a visual authoring environment, and the demo separates work into Author, Monitor, and Learner areas for creating, tracking, and running sequences. LAMS can operate as a stand-alone e-learning system or connect to an LMS. Listed integrations include Moodle, Sakai, Blackboard/WebCT, .LRN, Microsoft SharePoint, and Tiger Online Training LMS; integrations can provide single sign-on and create courses and users from LMS information. The maker also lists multimedia content, interactive activities, branching paths, live lesson delivery, and learner analytics. The software is available for free download under the GPL, with users responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining it in line with the license. LAMS International offers support, training, hosting, updates, upgrades, integration, and development services, with fees not listed. The maker describes use in K–12, vocational, higher, and adult or community education. It is based at Macquarie University in New South Wales, Australia, and was founded in 2004.
Who it suits
LAMS is suited to educators in K–12, vocational, higher education, and adult or community learning who want to create collaborative activity sequences. It can fit institutions that can self-host and maintain software or integrate it with an LMS.
What it does well
- Visual environment for building learning sequences.
- Can run standalone or integrate with an LMS.
- Integrations can support single sign-on.
- Includes branching activities and learner analytics.
- Available as free GPL software.
What to know first
- Users must install, configure, and maintain it themselves.
- GPL requirements apply to free use.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| LAMS open-source software | Use subject to GPL requirements · users install, configure, and maintain the software themselves | Free |
| Commercial services and licensing | Support, hosting, training, integration, software development, and non-GPL commercial licensing; fees not listed | On request |
As lamsfoundation.org lists them, read 29 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
LAMS provides visual tools for creating and delivering collaborative learning sequences, with standalone and LMS-integrated deployment options.
Facts from LAMS's own pages
- Deployment
- The maker says LAMS can operate as a stand-alone e-learning system or be integrated with an LMS. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Download
- The maker provides a link to download LAMS source code and describes the software as available for free download. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · lamsfoundation.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Macquarie University, New South Wales, Australia · lamsfoundation.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Integration behavior
- LAMS integrations can provide single sign-on and automatically create courses and users from LMS information. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists integrations for Moodle, Sakai, Blackboard/WebCT, .LRN, Microsoft SharePoint, and Tiger Online Training LMS. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes LAMS for education sectors including K–12, vocational training, higher education, and adult or community learning. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Interoperability
- LAMS version 2.2 supports exporting in IMS Learning Design Level A format. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Open source
- The software was released under the GPL, and users may use it without fees if they install, configure, and maintain it themselves while complying with the license. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- LAMS is a tool for designing, managing, and delivering online collaborative learning activities. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Security and privacy
- The Foundation's website privacy statement says personal information is shared only with the LAMS Foundation and Macquarie University and is not released to third parties without prior permission, subject to stated legal exceptions. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Support
- LAMS International offers training, technical support, software updates and upgrades, hosting, and software development services. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- User roles
- The LAMS demo provides access to Author, Monitor, and Learner areas for creating, monitoring, and running sequences. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
- Visual authoring
- Teachers use a visual authoring environment to create sequences of learning activities. · lamsfoundation.org, 29 Sept 2026
Where LAMS stands on Freedom251
- Learning Management Systems#27 of 111
- Education Learning Management#7 of 20
- Interactive Lesson Makers#11 of 31