Finding the learning management system (LMS) to suit your training needs can be a complicated process. The perfect solution is likely to incorporate a number of elements into a single platform.
Cloud Assess and Moodle are two long-standing LMS providers that offer all-in-one solutions. In this comparison of Cloud Assess vs. Moodle, we look at the history of the two companies and their use cases and compare their features and pricing.
Comparison Overview (TLDR)
Moodle offers an open-source platform designed for K12 and higher education. This helps educators to reduce the cost of their training initiatives. The software itself is also extensively customisable. However, most institutions don’t have the skills required to set Moodle up easily. Where they save money on the fee for the LMS itself, they spend it on server hosting and outsourcing the development of training materials.
Cloud Assess provides Vocational Education Trainers (VETs), Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), and businesses with an intuitive, all-in-one training platform. Designed for both educators and learners, it simplifies training, assessment, and compliance. Unlike open-source solutions like Moodle, Cloud Assess offers a feature-rich experience without hidden costs, starting at $50 AUD per month.
The platform offers SMS and advanced LMS features for RTOs in Australia, helping businesses, VET providers, and training organisations streamline operations. Features include blended learning, workflow automation, real-time progress tracking, online assessments, compliant reporting, certificate management, and USI validation. These tools simplify student and workforce management while enhancing the learning experience.
Considering different platform options?
We’ve put together a list of alternatives to help you find the right training platform for your team.
Company Background
History of Cloud Assess
Launched in 2013, Cloud Assess was developed as an LMS for VET providers. Since its launch, the company has expanded the platform to incorporate a student management system, accommodate employee training and extend its global reach.
Over its 12-year history, Cloud Assess has transformed from being an LMS to becoming an adaptable all-in-one solution. They offer course management, content management, student management and training management features all under a single convenient dashboard.
History of Moodle
One of the earliest online learning solutions, Moodle was introduced to the world in 2001. The internet, and the world itself, has come a long way in the past 24 years, and so has the platform itself. Moodle has grown from a simple LMS to an advanced learning too. As an open-source platform, it offers as much customisation and functionality as its users’ imaginations and development skills allow for.
Product Offerings & Use Cases
Cloud Assess
Cloud Assess simplifies and automates every aspect of training, ensuring that learning, compliance, and assessments never fall through the cracks. Cloud Assess provides a flexible, all-in-one Learning Management System (LMS) and Student Management System (SMS) platform. It helps businesses, RTOs, and VET providers streamline training, track learner progress, and maintain compliance effortlessly.
“Before Cloud Assess, we were paper-based, which required trainers to manually upload and scan assessments. This was time-consuming, prone to errors, and difficult to manage. We also briefly used Moodle at another organisation, but it didn’t provide the same level of flexibility and efficiency as Cloud Assess.”
The platform supports blended learning, which allows educators and businesses to deliver both in-person and online training. The best part? Cloud Assess can seamlessly integrate with existing student management systems or leverage built-in SMS features such as the AVETMISS reporting and compliance tracking tools.
With Cloud Assess, businesses can improve on-the-job training with digital checklists, real-time evidence gathering, and automated induction to ensure new learners receive the right training from day one. The platform is designed for mobile-ready learning to help employees and students access courses anytime, anywhere.
These features make Cloud Assess a one-stop training solution for:
- VETs that want an LMS to integrate with existing student management systems
- RTOs that need to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and streamline student management
Businesses that want to upskill their workforce to improve productivity, ensure compliance, and adapt to industry changes.
Moodle
Moodle aims to make education and training accessible to all. This is why they have developed an open-source platform that learners and educators can access at no cost. It also makes for an endlessly customisable training environment. This is why the platform is often adapted to accommodate corporate training and professional certifications or to develop courses which can then be resold to a global audience. However, the customisation does come with a steep learning curve, which makes Moodle ideal for:
- K12 and university-level educators who want to access and share free existing courses
- Businesses with in-house IT or development teams to help them customise the platform
- Educators and institutions that want to create training content for resale.
Looking for an AVETMISS-compliance Student Management System (SMS)?
We’ve put together a list of the top 10 Best AVETMISS-Compliance System Management Systems to help you find the right SMS for your team.
Unique Selling Points
Cloud Assess USPs
Train and Assess
Focus on skill development and accommodate a wide variety of assessment methods
Ensure Compliance
Ensure learners meet industry standards and regulatory requirements with trackable modules and AVETMISS reporting.
AI & Automation
Reduces time spent on administrative tasks with AI-driven workflows, content creation and assessment, ensuring a seamless user experience.
User Friendly
Take advantage of a training environment that is easy to use and enhances learner experiences.
Digitise Content
Work with the Cloud Assess team to bring your existing training content into an online platform or do this yourself with our content builder.
Award-Winning Local Support
Get the support you need, when you need it, with friendly and reliable customer support who reply on average within 5 seconds.
Moodle USPs
Open Source
Make use of the learning platform itself at no cost.
Advanced Customisation
Tailor content to meet your unique needs.
Global Support
Take advantage of a large community of learners and educators.
Feature Comparison
| Cloud Assess | Moodle | |
|---|---|---|
| Easily customisable, branded courses and assessments |  | |
| Simplified course enrolment | | |
| Enhance engagement with digital badges | | |
| Accommodates online and offline learning | | |
| Detailed AVETMISS-compliant reporting, analytics and logs | | |
| Built-in quality and plagiarism checker | |  |
| Skills matrix to track skill gaps & development | | |
| Blended learning functionality | | |
| Advanced compliance features | | |
| Simplified course management with revision control | | |
| Student management functionality | | |
Pricing
Cloud Assess Pricing
- For SMEs & Enterprises
Built for frontline teams that don’t sit at desks. Mobile-first training, real-world evidence capture, real-time skills visibility and automated compliance for high-risk industries.
Flat fee, based on employees trained
Scales with your workforce. Every feature included from day one.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Mobile-first app with full offline capability
- Photo, video & audio evidence capture
- Skills matrix across your entire workforce
- Verification of Competency (VOC)
- Automated expiry alerts & renewals
- Site inductions for staff & contractors
- Real-time compliance dashboards
- Integrations, API & Webhooks
- For Registered Training Organisations
Run a compliant RTO end to end. AI-powered assessment creation, intelligent marking, AVETMISS reporting, USI validation and defensible evidence from enrolment to certification.
From $600
/ month
Flat fee, based on learners/students trained
Scales with your learners and enrolments. Every feature included from day one.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- AVETMISS & state-specific reporting
- USI validation & certificate management
- AI assessment creation & marking
- Revision control & mapping for audits
- Enrolment engine with branded webforms
- Quality checks & second-level moderation
- Stripe payments & calendar publishing
Moodle Pricing
Moodle’s Learning Management System (LMS) is an open-source platform designed to provide educators, administrators, and learners with a customisable and scalable system for creating and delivering online courses. It supports a range of functionalities such as course management, assessments, reporting, and learner engagement tools. Pricing for Moodle’s cloud-hosted LMS solutions is available via MoodleCloud, with tiered plans based on user count and storage, or through custom solutions via Moodle Certified Partners.
MoodleCloud pricing is structured across five standard plans, billed annually. The Starter Plan costs $200 AUD per year, followed by the Mini Plan at $340 AUD, Small Plan at $630 AUD, Medium Plan at $1,450 AUD, and the Standard Plan at $2,750 AUD.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cloud Assess FAQs
What is the difference between Cloud Assess and a Student Management System (SMS)?
Cloud Assess is an all-in-one solution that offers basic Student Management System capabilities through various SMS features.
From AVETMISS-compliant reporting to USI validation and certificate management, the platform caters to the needs of small to medium-sized RTOs and other VET providers. However, for institutions that require advanced financial SMS functionality, Cloud Assess also seamlessly integrates with a wide range of popular solutions. This makes it an adaptable platform to meet the needs of VET providers of any size.
Do you integrate with student management and other systems?
On top of offering various student management features Cloud Assess integrates with over 5000 systems, including top RTO student management systems like JobReady, Wisenet, VETtrak and Axcelerate. This makes it easy to adopt the platform and ensure that the systems you use work well together.
How does Cloud Assess ensure compliance with RTO standards and regulations?
Our software has been designed with Australian RTOs and VETs in mind. From the start, we have focused on providing the features and functionalities that training organisations need. This includes AVETMISS reporting, integration with the Unique Student Identifier system, and customisable templates and workflows that align with RTO processes.
We stay up to date with revisions in RTO standards and regulations to ensure that our software evolves as industries do. If you have specific compliance needs, our dedicated customer support team is available to assist.
Moodle FAQs
How can a Moodle site be configured?
Moodle provides extensive documentation through Moodle Docs, which outlines installation, setup, and configuration steps. Also, a community forum is available where users can find answers to common installation and upgrade queries.
Can Moodle be self-hosted, or is hosting available?
Moodle offers multiple hosting options. Organisations can choose MoodleCloud, a hosting service provided by Moodle, or download and host Moodle on their own servers. Alternatively, Moodle Certified Partners and Service Providers offer setup, customisation, and hosting support for those needing additional assistance.
Does Moodle HQ provide support and services?
Moodle HQ develops the Moodle software and offers low-cost hosting plans and resources. However, for full customisation, secure hosting, training, and ongoing support, Moodle relies on Certified Service Providers who assist organisations in tailoring the platform to their needs.
Registered Training Organisations
Stay audit-ready and deliver quality training with powerful LMS and SMS features tailored to the VET sector.
