H5P
MIT-licensed interactive content format from Tromsø, free to self-host or available as a hosted service with LMS plugins
Quick Overview
| Company | Joubel AS (H5P Group) |
|---|---|
| Category | Course Authoring Tools |
| Headquarters | Tromsø, Norway |
| Founded | 2013 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Norway (EEA) |
| Data Location | Self-hosted, or H5P.com hosting (location not verified) |
| Open Source | MIT |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes - open-source plugins for Moodle, WordPress and Drupal |
| Main Features | 50+ content types, interactive video, quizzes, branching scenarios, drag and drop, embed codes, LTI integration, content hub, AI Smart Import on Premium |
| Pricing | Open source free; H5P.com Pro, Premium and Enterprise plans without prices on the page (23 Oct 2026) |
| Best For | Teachers and training teams who want interactive exercises inside an LMS they already run |
| Replaces | Articulate Rise quizzes, Articulate Storyline interactions (simple cases) |
Detailed Review
H5P began as a prototype for Drupal in January 2013 and has an MIT-licensed core. The h5p.org privacy policy names Joubel AS as the operator, registered in Norway with its office in Tromsø, and says H5P Group drives development there.
It is a content layer rather than a course builder: you create a quiz, an interactive video or a branching scenario and place it inside the LMS or website you already use.
Open Source and Hosted
The project describes itself as a completely free and open technology licensed under the MIT license. You can run it yourself through plugins, or buy the hosted H5P.com service, which lists Pro, Premium and Enterprise plans.
The Premium plan adds AI Smart Import, multilingual generation and a layout builder.
Content Types
The Pro plan lists more than 50 content types, including live-engagement types for polls and competitions, embed codes, an OER content hub and external LRS access. Editing is WYSIWYG with drag and drop.
Detailed learner reports and resume functionality are a paid add-on and need the LTI interface of your LMS.
Fit with Existing Systems
H5P.com advertises plug-ins for Brightspace, Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Sakai and Open edX. That fits organisations whose LMS already holds learners and grades.
It is less suited to teams who need a standalone course builder that outputs a complete SCORM course.
Limitations to Consider
H5P builds interactive objects, not complete courses with navigation and a course structure, so the course shell still comes from your LMS.
The hosted H5P.com plans show no prices on the pricing page, and we could not open the H5P.com privacy policy (the help centre returned an access error), so the contracting entity of the paid service is verified only through the Norwegian Joubel AS page on h5p.org. Reporting beyond basics is an add-on that needs LTI. For a full SCORM course builder see Easygenerator.
Who Should Use H5P
Schools, universities and training teams on Moodle, WordPress, Drupal or another LMS who want free or low-cost interactive exercises under an open licence.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- MIT licence, free to use and self-host
- More than 50 content types on the Pro plan
- Plugins for Moodle, WordPress and Drupal; LTI for other LMSs
- Norwegian company in Tromsø
- AI Smart Import on Premium
Cons
- Content objects, not a full course builder
- Hosted plan prices not shown on the page
- Drill-down reporting is a paid add-on needing LTI
- Paid service entity not confirmed in the pages we could open
Alternatives to H5P
Other European course authoring tools worth comparing before you decide:
Easygenerator
Netherlands · Rotterdam course builder priced per author, not per learner
imc Express
Germany · AI authoring from Saarbrücken that drafts courses from existing documents
hihaho
Netherlands · Interactive video layer for training films, from Assen
Genially
Spain · Córdoba tool for interactive slides, quizzes and learning content
See all European course authoring tools or compare them directly against Articulate Rise quizzes on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The technology is licensed under the MIT license and is free to use, according to h5p.org. The hosted H5P.com service is paid and lists Pro, Premium and Enterprise plans.
The h5p.org privacy policy says the site is owned and operated by Joubel AS, registered in Norway, with its office in Tromsø.
H5P itself creates interactive content objects that sit inside an LMS. If you need SCORM export from a desktop editor, Lumi lists HTML, SCORM and H5P export.