Open edX® Pricing, Built for the Future

The Open edX platform is trusted by Harvard, edX, and institutions around the world for its flexibility and proven track record. Getting its full long-term value takes the right partner: one who designs for years of growth, not just a successful launch. This page breaks down what that costs, and why.

Typical Investment

Every project is different, but we believe in setting expectations early. Most OpenCraft clients invest between €30,000 and €150,000+, depending on scope, scale, and customization. But the size of your project isn't necessarily the best indicator of whether we're a good fit. 

We take on work of any size, including small, one-off tasks. What matters most is whether your organization has the budget to properly set up and maintain your instance, not just fund our part of it. Ongoing partnerships often involve investments of €30,000+ per year. Large-scale platforms and multi-year builds can exceed €100k.

Why OpenCraft Costs More

You can build an Open edX platform for less, and many teams do. A significant number of them come to us later to fix, rebuild, or replace what was delivered. We're more expensive because we optimize for long-term success, not the lowest short-term cost. Much of our work gets contributed upstream, where it has to pass one of the highest code review standards in open source. Here's what that means for you:
Work with Senior Talent Only
You work directly with experienced Open edX architects, engineers, and designers. No junior staff, no hand-offs, no learning curve on your dime.
Built to Survive Upgrades
The Open edX platform releases major updates regularly. We architect systems to stay maintainable across releases, cutting long-term technical debt and keeping you current without a costly rebuild.
Open edX® is Our Core Business
We work with the Open edX platform full-time, not as a side gig. Our team designs and adapts it for clients, contributing upstream and staying up to speed with its evolution.
Institutional-Grade Reliability
We support universities, governments, and organizations where platform reliability and resilience is essential. Our processes are built for stability, scalability, and continuity.
Deep Platform Expertise
We understand the Open edX platform at a systems level: its architecture, release cycles, and ecosystem constraints. That depth lets us make decisions that hold up over time, not just at launch.
Long-Term Partnership
We optimize for 3–5+ years of success, and often longer, not just initial delivery. It's a mindset that shapes how we design, build, and advise, starting from day one.

The Long-Term Payback

Investing more upfront in your Open edX platform pays off over time. Because we build to the same quality standards as the wider Open edX project, your platform costs less to maintain at each upgrade, often paying back the difference several times over across 5–10 years. That may not matter much for a one-year project, but for the timeframes universities and school systems plan around, it makes a significant difference.

The Real Cost of a Cheaper Option

A lower upfront cost often leads to a higher overall cost. Open edX platforms rarely run into trouble at launch. Problems tend to surface later, sometimes years down the line, as each release drifts further from the original setup.
Many of our clients come to us after a rough experience with another provider. Common outcomes when teams choose a lower-cost vendor:
  • Platforms become difficult to upgrade, or break during upgrades
  • Customizations break, or lock you into one vendor
  • Poor documentation and fragile codebases
  • No product or UX strategy, just reactive feature requests
  • High team turnover and inconsistent quality
  • Missed timelines and costly delays
  • Costs that spiral, sometimes ending in a full rebuild

How Pricing Works

Our pricing is simple and transparent, with flexible options that scale with your needs. See the following options to find the right fit for your organisation.
DESIGN & DEV
€185–205
Per hour, based on commitment level. 

Senior-level expertise only, at the same rate across all roles.
MAINTENANCE
€1435–2255
Per month for ongoing maintenance.

Covers upgrades, security patches, and platform stability.
HOSTING
€200–300
Per month for 1000 active users.

Scales with actual usage rather than a flat instance fee.
SETUP
€4100–6150
One-off fee for initial installation.

Mobile apps, SSO, and other add-ons are scoped separately.
Need custom design and development?
Costs scoped to your requirements
From product strategy and UX/UI design to custom features, dashboards, and integrations, work is scoped around your specific goals rather than a fixed package. Costs vary depending on complexity and scope.

Is OpenCraft Right for You?

We're a good fit!

  • We work best with organizations that treat their Open edX platform as mission-critical, not a side project

  • Universities and higher education institutions building programs meant to last

  • Governments and public sector organizations where reliability is essential

  • Enterprise learning platforms scaling for growth

  • Funded edtech companies building long-term products, not one-off MVPs

We're not the right partner if:

  • You're looking for the lowest upfront cost
  • You need a quick demo
  • You plan heavy customization without long-term maintenance
  • You're not planning for ongoing platform evolution

Request a Project Assessment

Not sure what your project will cost, or where the risks lie? Fill out the form below, and we'll help you estimate realistic costs, identify potential failure points, and define a sustainable approach.

Request a Project Assessment

Your title at the organization you represent.
Describe the problem or goal, target users, and desired outcome. Include any key requirements or constraints, and let us know if you're replacing an existing solution or creating something new.

Get in touch

We'd love to hear from you! Send us a message and a member of our team will get back to you.
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edX and Open edX® are trademarks of edX Inc
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