Overview

SQL LRS stores xAPI statements, attachments, and documents. It can collect activity from LMSs, AR/VR/XR experiences, and simulations, and support exchanges of learning data with business and AI systems. Its built-in conditional logic can evaluate incoming activity and generate internal statements for validated outcomes, so it can do more than simply retain records.

The self-hosted approach gives organizations control over where the service runs and which supported SQL database it uses. The trade-off is operational responsibility: customers host it themselves, and implementation and support services are quoted separately through Yet Analytics.

Key features

SQL storage and analytics

Documentation lists SQLite, Postgres, MariaDB, and MySQL support. Keeping learning records in structured databases can make them useful to analytics tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Looker, and AI stacks that work with structured data. Apache Superset is also supported, with a visualization demo. This is a practical advantage for teams that want learning activity alongside other SQL data, though it presumes they can manage the database and deployment.

Rules, access, and standards

Conditional logic can assess incoming activity and create internal xAPI statements for validated outcomes. OpenID authentication and API credentials with keys, secrets, and scopes are listed in the documentation, giving teams options for managing access. The maker says the software conforms to IEEE 9274.1.1.

Deployment and security

SQL LRS is distributed through GitHub, DockerHub, and Platform One’s Iron Bank. The maker says its Iron Bank containers have Certification to Field for deployment in Platform One IL2 and IL4 environments, which may matter to organizations working in those settings. It is Apache 2.0 open source and may be used in commercial projects.

Pricing

The SQL LRS plan is free and is self-hosted under the Apache 2.0 license. That makes it a sensible option for organizations able to operate their own service and database without a software subscription. The cost does not include implementation or support services; those require separate, quoted contracts. There is no multi-tenant support, and record export is CSV.

Platforms

SQL LRS supports API, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows environments, with self-hosted deployment. Its availability through GitHub, DockerHub, and Iron Bank gives technical teams multiple deployment routes, but the product is not a hosted service that removes infrastructure work.

Who it's for

SQL LRS suits organizations collecting xAPI records from multiple learning environments and wanting to connect them to business or AI systems through SQL. It is particularly appropriate when a team values control over database and deployment choices and has the capacity to host and maintain the software. It is the wrong fit for buyers who need an LMS, hosted course content, or a product that generates learning activity on its own.

Pros and cons

Pros: Support for four SQL databases gives teams flexibility to use a familiar data stack.
Pros: Conditional logic can turn validated incoming activity into internal xAPI statements rather than limiting the LRS to storage.
Pros: Apache 2.0 licensing permits commercial use, and SQL data can connect to named BI tools and structured-data AI stacks.
Cons: Self-hosting puts deployment and operations on the customer.
Cons: It does not create learning data or host learning content, so it cannot replace an LMS or content platform.
Cons: Multi-tenant support is absent, and implementation and support services cost extra under separately quoted contracts.

Alternatives

For a wider range of Learning Record Store options, browse Learning Record Store Software.

Choose Veracity Learning if a free option that allows up to five LRSs and is based on your infrastructure better matches your deployment needs.

Cluelabs LRS is another free-plan alternative.

xh is a free, open-source command-line HTTP client.

Consider Sereni LRS if you want a free plan with up to 100,000 xAPI statements or events, 1 GB of storage, unlimited LRSs, and reporting and analytics.

TRAX LRS offers a free, open-source Starter Edition with one admin user, one xAPI endpoint, MySQL or PostgreSQL support, and statement exploration.

Jupiter has a free hosted plan for up to one million events per year.

Mosra offers a free launch-period plan with unlimited lessons and its listed features and exports.

Choose SCORM Cloud LRS if you need a paid option with a free trial that is not time-based.

Verdict

SQL LRS is a good choice for technically equipped organizations that want an open-source, self-hosted LRS with flexible SQL storage and a path to analytics integrations. Its main reason to choose it is control over the data and deployment stack; its main reason to look elsewhere is that hosting remains your responsibility and it provides neither an LMS nor learning content.

	SQL LRS	xSTAGE LRS
Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Platforms	api, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	api, Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Deployment	self_hosted	cloud
Multi-tenant support	No	Yes
Record export	csv	csv
cmi5 support		Yes

SQL LRS vs xSTAGE LRS

SQL LRS

xSTAGE LRS