7 September 2022
10 Best LMS Plugins for WordPress [Free & Paid]
Looking for the best LMS plugins for WordPress? If yes, you come to the right post.
LMS plugins allow you to create and sell online courses like popular LMS websites Udemy and LearnDesk. Plus, a good WordPress LMS plugin has everything you need to manage your online courses, run and grade quizzes, accept payments, and more.
So, in this article, we’ll look at the best LMS plugins for WordPress to help you decide which is best for your needs.
Starting a Learning Website With WordPress
There are lots of website builders and online course platforms out there that you can use for your course creation. However, we recommend WordPress because it offers maximum flexibility and freedom.
There are two types of WordPress versions, and it’s important not to confuse them.
First, there is WordPress.com, a hosted platform, and then you have WordPress.org, also known as self-hosted WordPress.
To start a learning website, you will need WordPress.org since it offers more features and flexibility. It also lets you install any WordPress LMS plugin. For a detailed comparison, see our complete article on WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
To start a LMS website with WordPress.org, you’ll need a domain ($10-20/year) name and WordPress hosting ($5 to $20/month). Plus, if you want to get paid for online courses, you’ll also need an SSL certificate ($60/year) so you can accept online payment safely.
If you are just starting to create online courses, this is a lot of money.
If you’re working on a tight budget, we recommend Bluehost. It is one of the best hosting providers and is also officially recommended by WordPress.
With Bluehost, you can start creating and selling online courses for just $2.95/month.
If budget isn’t an issue and you want the best website performance, then we recommend using a managed WordPress hosting service like DreamHost or WP Engine.
After you’ve purchased hosting, you will need to install WordPress on your website.
All of the hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation, so you should start your website within minutes.
Having said that, let’s look at the best WordPress LMS plugins to create your learning website.
The 10 Best WordPress LMS Plugins
Here are some of the best LMS WordPress plugins to help you start your own WordPress course platform.
1. LearnDash
When it comes to WordPress LMS plugin options, LearnDash is one of the most well-known names. It’s a popular product used by many companies and even universities worldwide to create engaging online courses via an online learning website.
The drag-and-drop course builder is a core feature of LearnDash. This online course builder functions similarly to a page builder when it comes to creating a website. It’s simple to use and lets you quickly create courses with a logical hierarchy, including all course material and quizzes.
LearnDash has all the features you need in LMS plugins, including tests and quizzes, certification support, course tracking, and more. Some of these features are included in the core plugin, and they don’t charge extra.
One best things about LearnDash is the gamification element. You can earn Course Points by completing an online course. Collect more points, and you can unlock free courses or content or other incentives. It’s a very cool feature that may be quite useful in the proper hands.
Furthermore, if you want to make money from your online teaching, LearnDash provides various options. If you want to sell memberships, LearnDash integrates with MemberPress.
Additionally, if you have an online store, you’ll be happy to hear that LearnDash works with popular WordPress eCommerce plugins, like WooCommerce.
When it comes to collecting your payments, LearnDash accepts payment through a number of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and 2Checkout.
If you decide to use LearnDash, you should also check out their starter WordPress LMS themes, which include several free LMS themes.
Key Features:
- Drag and drop course builder
- Pre-designed course templates
- Complete LMS with lots of features
- Supports content dripping and scheduling
- Options for quizzes and assignments
- Compatible with many other WordPress plugins
- Includes forum elements
- Automated email notifications
- Zapier integration
Pricing:
LearnDash does not offer a free plan. However, it offers affordable plans starting at $199/year, making it a low-cost solution for LMS support.
2. MemberPress Courses
MemberPress is the best membership plugin for WordPress. It also includes built-in features for creating and managing online WordPress courses.
MemberPress has a Classroom Mode, so you don’t have to spend hours creating a completely personalized online classroom. Classroom Mode handles the design for you, so your courses always look beautiful.
MemberPress automatically adds an easy-to-navigate design to your online training. As a result, your students will always know what to do next and can complete their course without confusion.
The MemberPress course builder is built on top of the WordPress block editor.
This means you can use the WordPress tools you’re already familiar with to add lessons, topics, categories, embed videos, images, and more.
Additionally, the course builder fully supports custom CSS, allowing you to customize the look of your online courses.
You can monitor each student’s progress from the WordPress dashboard and determine how close they are to finishing their course.
Additionally, you can use MemberPress to build free courses or earn income by selling membership subscriptions.
MemberPress also includes a strong content-dripping feature that allows you to show restricted content to members after a certain time.
These subscriptions allow you to restrict who gets access to certain courses. For example, you may set up a single membership level that grants users access to all of your courses.
Alternatively, create unique membership levels for each course.
Regardless of how you sell your courses, MemberPress may accept payments through PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and other methods.
Furthermore, it integrates with a number of popular third-party tools that you may already be using to grow your audience, capture leads, and increase sales. These include free email marketing services like Brevo and GetResponse, and CRM tools like HubSpot and Salesforce, among others.
Learn more in our complete MemberPress review.
Key Features:
- Fully featured Learning Management System
- Drag and drop course builder
- Flexible content restriction, including content dripping
- Integrates with ConvertKit, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, etc.
- Support for most major payment gateways
- Subscription management built-in
- Compatible with any WordPress theme
- Forum integration with bbPress
- Integration with other WordPress plugins
Pricing:
MemberPress does not offer a free plan. Paid plans start at $179.50/year and include a comprehensive set of LMS features.
3. LifterLMS
LifterLMS is the best LMS for WordPress users looking for a feature-rich online course plugin for their site. It allows you to create LMS courses with training modules, lessons, tutorials, categories, and more.
With LifterLMS, you can simply build courses that are customized to your preferences. You can even use it with a page builder like Elementor to customize your LMS training platform to match your brand.
LifterLMS allows you complete control over your courses using content dripping, course prerequisites, and group memberships.
LifterLMS, like LearnDash, focuses on engagement by offering significant features like achievement badges, certificates, social learning, etc.
Furthermore, LifterLMS offers a great collection of add-ons that you can use to manage affiliates, integrate with eCommerce plugins, and more.
If you want to monetize your online courses, LifterLMS can accept one-time or recurring payments with a credit card or through popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe.
Overall, LifterLMS is ideal for anyone who wants to create and sell an online membership course on their website.
Key Features:
- Build unlimited courses with a drag-and-drop course builder
- Drip-feed course content on a set schedule
- Integration of email marketing providers
- Options to sell course bundles
- Personalized email notifications
- Offers course discussion areas like lesson comments, forums, etc
Pricing:
Since the core version is free to use, this is a free LMS plugin for WordPress. Moreover, its premium plans start at $149.50/year.
4. Tutor LMS
Tutor LMS is the latest addition to the list of the best WordPress LMS plugins. Due to its extensive feature set, it has also become a well-liked learning management system plugin.
TutorLMS allows you to design and personalize interactive courses using a simple drag-and-drop course builder. Additionally, you have access to a quiz maker, which allows you to make entertaining tests with various question formats.
Furthermore, you can use this LMS plugin to define timers and retake restrictions for your questions. This improves the overall user experience.
Tutor LMS also includes an LMS theme, complete support, good documentation, and access to paid add-ons for additional functionality.
The plugin core version is free and includes the basic LMS functionalities. As your business expands, you may upgrade to a pro plan, which includes extra features such as content dripping, a grading system, and more.
Key Features:
- Frontend drag & drop course builder
- Ready to use LMS WordPress themes
- Powerful quiz creator to create custom-tailored quizzes
- Course completion certificates
- Personalized dashboard for teachers & students
- Advanced analytics and reports
- access courses anywhere, anytime, through mobile devices
- Easy integration with Elementor, Divi, etc., to create the best eLearning platform.
Pricing:
Tutor LMS offers a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $199/ year for additional features.
5. LearnPress
LearnPress is a free WordPress LMS plugin. Unlike most of the other LMS plugins on our list, LearnPress includes a setup process that makes onboarding simple for users of all levels.
It is simple to reuse your content using LearnPress. You can use lessons and quizzes from one course within another. Even better, you may export your content to any other WordPress site that uses LearnPress.
After creating a course, you can make it available for free or charge a fee, which can be a one-time or recurring payment. LearnPress also allows you to publish some lessons as a free preview, which may encourage visitors to purchase the whole course.
Key Features:
- Work with any WordPress themes
- Supports WordPress multisite
- Export and import your courses to LearnPress powered website
- A bunch of add-ons for advanced features
- Integrations with WooCommerce and membership plugins
- User-generated review for social proof
Pricing:
LearnPress free version is available on WordPress.org. You can buy the premium add-ons separately or purchase the LearnPress Pro add-ons bundle for $299.
6. Sensei LMS
Sensei is a powerful LMS Plugin for WordPress created by the same team that built WooCommerce and Jetpack. It is versatile and simple to use, and it adheres to the same best practices as WordPress and WooCommerce.
Sensei allows you to build courses right within the WordPress editor, allowing you to continue to work with the tools you’re used to.
Furthermore, you may add different types of content to your courses, such as photos, slideshows, image galleries, and videos. This can help your students study more effectively and have a more enjoyable experience.
Moreover, Sensei allows you to run quizzes and assignments, grade them automatically or manually, and even award students badges and certificates. There is also an instant messenger, allowing you to speak directly with students and help them in real-time.
To sell your courses and collect payments, you need to use WooCommerce. You can then build a WooCommerce product and connect it with your Sensei course.
Key Features:
- Work with any WordPress themes
- Integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce plugins
- Course progress tracking
- Certifications for completed courses
- Quiz creation and grading feature
- Course expiration feature
- Advanced Quiz features
Pricing:
The free version of Sensei LMS is available on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $179/year for additional features.
7. WP Courseware
WP Courseware is another excellent WordPress LMS plugin that includes a drag-and-drop course builder. This comprehensive builder includes several features you may use to create small or large online courses.
When you publish a course, WP Courseware will automatically build a listing to advertise that course on your website and encourage students to join.
Every course may contain many modules, units, and quizzes. WP Courseware allows students to download courses in any format, including PDF, media files, and text, to promote offline study.
If you want to build a guided learning experience, WP Courseware offers both course prerequisites and course tracks.
If you wish to sell your online training, WP Courseware offers comprehensive monetization features. This includes a shopping cart that you can connect straight to PayPal or Stripe to begin selling your courses as either a one-time purchase or a monthly subscription.
Key Features:
- Drag and drop course builder
- Supports content dripping and course prerequisites
- Grades and certificates built-in
- Automated notifications
- Built-in shopping cart functionality
- Extra features available with addons
Pricing:
WP Courseware licenses start at $159 a year for two sites with one year of support and updates.
8. Teachable
Next is Teachable, another drag-and-drop course creator. Teachable, unlike the other LMS on our list, is not a WordPress plugin. Instead, you can use Teachable on a subdomain or a custom domain name or just add a link to your school’s page.
Teachable hosts your course and offers you all the LMS tools you need to create engaging online courses. It also has built-in email marketing integration and a strong sales page builder for promoting your new training business.
Teachable features built-in statistics and advanced data reporting to help you fine-tune your training. This allows you to track student involvement and adjust your courses to increase sales, signups, and course completions.
In terms of payments, Teachable will handle all the course fees for you. You will then receive your payment using a channel such as PayPal, Stripe, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and others.
Key Features:
- User-friendly interface to create multimedia-rich courses quickly and easily.
- Customizable course templates to create a course the way you want it to.
- Integrates with many payment gateways such as PayPal and Stripe.
- Manage your students and track their progress through your courses.
- Affiliate program integration to incentivize others to promote and sell your courses.
- Reporting and analytics to track student progress, sales, and other metrics.
Pricing:
You can try Teachable’s free plan to get started. After that, the basic plan starts at $39/month.
9. Thrive Apprentice
Thrive Apprentice is another excellent WordPress online course-building plugin with membership site features.
With its 55+ pre-made course templates and a user-friendly drag-and-drop course builder, Thrive Apprentice makes it easy for you to create well-organized modules, chapters, and lessons.
You can use text lessons, video lessons, audio lessons, or a combination of the three to keep students engaged.
There is also a resource area where you can easily post new learning resources such as websites, PDFs, and more.
It also has customizable content dripping features, which allow you to release lessons at regular intervals for each student.
Furthermore, with its Conditional Display feature, you can also show personalized content to different users to boost conversions.
With its fully functional member management dashboard, Thrive Apprentice can also assist you in managing a membership site. In this section, you can quickly give or cancel user access to courses or membership items based on their membership type.
Key Features:
- Easy course creation with drag-and-drop builder.
- Seamless integration with other Thrive Suite products.
- Support for multimedia content (videos, audio, PDFs)
- Customizable certificates for rewarding students upon completion of their course.
- Highly customizable content dripping.
- Detailed student management and progress tracking.
Pricing:
You can purchase Thrive Apprentice as a standalone plugin for $199/year. Alternatively, you can get the whole suite of Thrive Plugins, which includes Thrive Leads, Thrive Architect, Thrive Quiz Builder, and more, for $499/year.
10. WishList Member
WishList Member is an adaptable and user-friendly WordPress plugin for creating membership subscription websites. It also includes a robust learning management system, CourseCure, for building online courses.
You can build your whole course in minutes with the lightning-fast course builder. In addition, it includes professionally created page templates to guarantee that your course looks great out of the box.
If you need a more unique look, WishList Member works with popular front-end website builders such as Elementor or Divi to fully customize your course design.
It has advanced features such as built-in, automated progress monitoring that your students will see as they work through the lessons.
In addition, WishList Member has amazing features that will make your students’ learning experience more enjoyable and interesting. Students may earn badges and points for activities such as completing a course, passing a quiz, leaving a comment, and more.
Using the membership features, you may manage who gets access to your online courses. For example, you may grant access to members at specific membership levels or offer pay-per-course access.
WishList Member also works smoothly with leading payment gateways, email marketing services, and other essential tools.
Key Features:
- Drip content scheduling for controlled access.
- Create multiple membership tiers with unique access privileges.
- Connect with popular email marketing services and payment gateways.
- Restrict access to course materials to specific membership levels.
- Easily manage and monitor members within the course.
- Track member progress and engagement with detailed reports.
Pricing:
WishList Member starts at $149.50/year.
Which WordPress LMS Plugins Is Best for You?
We’ve seen some of the best WordPress LMS plugins on the market. You can choose any of these LMS plugins based on your needs.
If you need help in deciding which one is best for your WordPress website, here are some of our suggestions:
- MemberPress: The best LMS WordPress plugin, complete with industry-standard LMS features and membership functions. Additionally, it provides helpful extensions that improve the essential features of your WordPress website.
- LearnDash: This learning management system plugin lets you build an unlimited number of courses and add gamification to increase student engagement.
- LifterLMs: It gives you access to comprehensive course creation and management capabilities, allowing you to deliver courses easily.
And that’s all! We hope this list helps you find the best LMS plugins for your WordPress site.
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