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O'Reilly Learning vs Totara

Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.

Tech books, courses, and labs.

Open LMS for the workplace.

The verdict

Both O'Reilly Learning and Totara are credible education tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.

Choose O'Reilly Learning if you want a lower starting price (from $49/mo), a longer free trial (10 days) and a higher overall rating (4.6/5). Tech books, courses, and labs.

Totara — Open LMS for the workplace.

O'Reilly Learning vs Totara: side by side

DimensionO'Reilly LearningTotara
Starting priceFrom $49/moWinnerCustom
Free planNoNo
Free trial10 daysWinner
Pricing modelSubscriptionSubscription
Best forDevelopers, EnterpriseEnterprise
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Self Hosted
Rating4.6/5Winner4.2/5

O'Reilly Learning key facts

Vendor
O'Reilly Media
Pricing
Subscription — From $49/mo
Free tier
Free trial (10 days)
Platforms
Web, Ios, Android
Best for
Developers, Enterprise
Editor rating
4.6 / 5
Founded
1978
Headquarters
Sebastopol, California

Totara key facts

Vendor
Totara Learning Solutions
Pricing
Subscription — Custom
Free tier
No
Platforms
Web, Self Hosted
Best for
Enterprise
Editor rating
4.2 / 5
Founded
2010
Headquarters
Wellington, New Zealand

Frequently asked questions

Is O'Reilly Learning better than Totara?

Neither is universally better — O'Reilly Learning edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.

Is O'Reilly Learning or Totara cheaper?

O'Reilly Learning is the more affordable of the two to get started, at from $49/mo. O'Reilly Learning starts at from $49/mo; Totara starts at custom.

Can O'Reilly Learning replace Totara?

Yes for most teams — both are education tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.