Open edX

Open edX is the free, open-source platform powering MIT and Stanford online courses, trusted by 55M+ learners globally. For ambitious indie hackers building platforms at scale, Open edX offers unlimited courses, users, and features with enterprise-grade reliability. The platform includes advanced features: course sequencing, progress tracking, badges, certificates, A/B testing, cohort management, and xAPI support.\n\nThe trade-off is setup complexity—most indie hackers use Open edX through marketplace providers (like ABC LMS at $1/user/month) rather than self-hosting. Self-hosting requires DevOps expertise and costs $5,000-$10,000+ for custom setup. Best for technical indie hackers building venture-scale edtech companies or those comfortable with provider partnerships. Overkill for simple courses but unmatched if you're building the next Skillshare.