# Canvas LMS vs Paperless-ngx

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | Canvas LMS | Paperless-ngx |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 68/100 | 86/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #2 of 14 in Learning Management System | #3 of 46 in Document Management |
| GitHub stars | 6 889 | 47 299 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +48 | +1 308 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 26 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v3.3.4 · 22 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Ruby | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

Paperless-ngx scores 86/100 against 68/100 for Canvas LMS, so it is the safer default.

Paperless-ngx ships more often: 26 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Canvas LMS.

If you want the quickest setup, Paperless-ngx is easier to run; Canvas LMS needs more configuration.

Paperless-ngx is growing faster right now (+1 308 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Canvas LMS](https://selfhost.directory/project/canvas-lms) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/canvas-lms.md)
- [Paperless-ngx](https://selfhost.directory/project/paperless-ngx) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/paperless-ngx.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/canvas-lms-vs-paperless-ngx