Question 1

What is Total Cost of Ownership?

Accepted Answer

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) accounts for all direct and indirect costs of a software system over its lifetime. Beyond the license fee, TCO includes hosting, implementation, training, ongoing support, and maintenance. Our calculator estimates these costs for OpenEduCat Free, Enterprise, and typical proprietary alternatives so you can make an informed comparison.

Question 2

How is OpenEduCat's pricing different from per-student models?

Accepted Answer

Most proprietary education systems charge per student per year, meaning costs scale linearly as enrollment grows. OpenEduCat uses tiered user-pack pricing ($299-$4,369/year) rather than per-student pricing, so a school with 5,000 students pays the same as one with 4,000. The Free Edition is entirely free with no per-student fees.

Question 3

What's included in the Free Edition?

Accepted Answer

The OpenEduCat Free Edition is free and open-source under LGPL. It includes core SIS modules: student management, admission, attendance tracking, course management, exam management, and timetable scheduling. You get the full source code and can self-host on your own infrastructure with community forum support.

Question 4

Are there hidden costs with OpenEduCat?

Accepted Answer

No. Our calculator transparently includes hosting (if self-hosted), implementation, and training as separate line items. Enterprise Edition support is included in the license. The only additional costs would be optional add-on modules or custom development, which are clearly listed in our shop. There are no per-user overage fees or surprise renewal increases.

Question 5

Can I switch from Free to Enterprise later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OpenEduCat is designed for direct upgrades. You can start with the Free Edition and add Enterprise modules as needed. Your existing data, configurations, and customizations carry over. Many institutions start with Free for a pilot program and upgrade to Enterprise as they expand usage across departments.

Cost Category	OEC Free	OEC Enterprise	Proprietary
License (annual)	$0	$1,397	$10,000
Hosting (annual)	$1,200	Included	Included
Implementation (one-time)	$5,000	$8,000	$15,000
Training (one-time)	$2,000	$5,000	$10,000
Support (annual)	Free	Included	$1,800
Total (1 Year)	$8,200	$14,397	$36,800

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