Table of Contents
As it turns out, you don’t need much to create and sell online courses. At least from a technical aspect.
In fact, if you have a WordPress site, you might be closer than you think.
So, can you use WordPress as an LMS? Not exactly, but you are just a plugin away from building your online school using a WordPress LMS plugin.
Already, 43% of websites use WordPress[1], and the plugin ecosystem is mature enough, which means you have many options for software to build your online business. While that’s great, picking the one that fits your needs is not an easy task. Thankfully, we’re here to help.
Before we go on with our WordPress LMS plugin comparison, we’d like to present you with a more comprehensive solution that will save you from the technical headaches and complexity of a WordPress plugin—LearnWorlds.
LearnWorlds has been created explicitly for creating and selling online courses, so you don’t need multiple plug-ins to get a fully functional tool. It takes care of all the technical aspects, such as hosting, technical support, and free updates.
As for website building, LearnWorlds features a powerful drag-and-drop website builder with a wide variety of customizable themes and templates, so you don’t need to search for additional add-ons such as Divi, a popular theme for WordPress users, or the Elementor theme builder.
💁 Start your 30-day free trial to try LearnWorlds.
WordPress plugin comparison at a glance
Before we review WordPress LMS plugins in detail, here’s a bird’s-eye view of their features, audience, and starting price.
An all-in-one solution: LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds is a standalone Learning Management System, but it does offer a WordPress plugin to seamlessly connect the login system of your website with the LMS part.
How does LearnWorlds work?
LearnWorlds is an all-in-one AI-powered learning platform that offers course creators the ability to build an online school and includes all the essential tools under one roof. While most plug-ins require additional add-ons to become fully functional, LearnWorlds already has everything you need.
Below are some of the most advanced features and benefits LearnWorlds offers over WordPress course plugins:
What makes LearnWorlds the perfect choice as an online learning platform is that it hasn’t only got all the features that any LMS plugin can offer, but a lot more that have proven extremely useful to course creators like you.
The platform also offers you absolute freedom to monetize your knowledge and sell your online courses as you like, build your own LMS website, and pivot from one business model to another. Do you want to sell:
✅ Unlimited courses, asynchronous or cohort-based?
✅ Digital products?
✅ Online coaching?
✅ Shift to a membership site?
With a WordPress website, you’d need a plug-in like Paid Memberships Pro to do so, but with LearnWorlds? This option is readily available.
And if you already have a WordPress site? With the LearnWorlds’ SSO WordPress plugin, you can implement a Single-Sign-On (SSO) to connect your WordPress site with your online school just as easily and quickly without having to pay a developer to do it.
LearnWorlds pricing
LearnWorlds offers a 30-day free trial and 4 subscription options:
*Information retrieved from LearnWorlds on May 2nd, 2025. Annual discount applies.
LearnWorlds support
LearnWorlds support is available 24/7. We also offer onboarding for new customers, daily webinars and tutorials, and an extended knowledge base.
The LearnWorlds Academy offers free courses with insightful instructional design and marketing tips, as well as an online community, an inspirational blog, and additional free resources like ebooks, templates, and checklists that you can access and download easily.
LearnWorlds reviews
LearnWorlds is rated 4.7 out of 5 by Capterra’s user reviews.
This is what LearnWorlds customers are saying:
Caption: “Of the four platforms that I have used, LearnWorlds is by far the best in every way.”
Caption: “Great support, smart features. A platform that delivers.”
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Customizable, built-in website templates
- SCORM-compliant
- White-label option
- AI-assistant with pre-built prompts
- Mobile app builder (no code and native)
- Interactive videos and eBooks, multimedia support
- Flexible and frictionless checkout & payment options
- Intuitive front-end and backend UI
- eCommerce and bulk enrollment options
- One-to-one and group sessions
- In-depth school analytics (both real-time and scheduled reports)
- Μarketing and sales tools and multiple integrations (including Zapier)
- Assessment builder with quizzes, exams, assignments, surveys, gradebooks, certificates, and more
- Multi-purpose form builder
- NPS survey and Qualification questions
- Built-in online community with discussions, groups, and blog
- Affiliate Management Tool to build your own branded affiliate program
Cons
- Does not support TinCan
- Has no pre-built sales funnels
- Limited gamification options (badges)
- Learning curve
If you think LearnWorlds is a good choice for you, why not take our 30-day trial and give it a test drive for free?
💁 Not sure where to start? Check this step-by-step guide on how to create and sell courses with LearnWorlds.
WordPress LMS plugins
Up next, let’s review the 10 most popular LMS plugins for WordPress sites.
1. LearnDash
How does LearnDash work?
LearnDash is one of the most popular eLearning solutions for WordPress in the market. With it, you can design, promote, and sell online courses. Currently, it’s used by Fortune 500 companies and prestigious universities. Thanks to its speed and its drag-and-drop course builder, the course creation process is relatively easy and enjoyable.
LearnDash themes
There are many themes you can choose when using Learndash. WP Mayor has compiled a list of the 10 best themes for your online school. Astra, Social Learner, and Invent are some of the most impressive ones.
LearnDash pricing
LearnDash Plugin has 3 pricing subscription options:
*Information retrieved from LearnDash on May 2nd, 2025.
LearnDash support
LearnDash support is available during business hours. Alternatively, you can browse their knowledge base to find helpful guides and articles.
LearnDash reviews
LearnDash is rated 4.6 out of 5 by Capterra’s users.
Caption: “LearnDash makes course creation very simple and integration features are also great.”
Caption: “LearnDash is supereasy to use.”
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers membership, course subscriptions, and one-time pricing options
- Test and management tools (grade books, student metrics, and profiles)
- Compatible with any WordPress theme and multi-sites
- Support for multiple types of media
- Compatible with PayPal and Stripe payment gateways
- Monetization tools like shopping cart, memberships, course bundles, and course licenses
- Automated email notifications and detailed reporting
- Drip-feed learning modules and certificates
- Extra extensions and premium add-ons
Cons
- Doesn’t have a free trial (but you can cancel within 15 days)
- Needs a third-party plugin to offer comprehensive payment options
- Needs a plug-in to add promotional features, like coupons and affiliate marketing
- Multiple hidden costs due to add-ons make it hard to estimate your budget
- No onboarding
👉Explore popular LearnDash alternatives in our blog post.
2. LifterLMS
How does LifterLMS work?
LifterLMS is a free WordPress LMS plugin. It comes with content management tools that help you offer individual courses, training-based membership websites, and MOOCs. LifterLMS allows you to build an online school that can be enriched with add-ons, meeting the unique needs of individuals, small groups, and niche markets.
LifterLMS themes
There is a large variety of themes you can choose from with LifterLMS. Find them on their website and pick the one that works the best with your subject, industry, or business. Consultancy, entrepreneurial, feminine, and more themes are among the available choices.
LifterLMS pricing
LIfterLMS core plugin is free to use. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and has 3 paid subscription packages, billed annually:
*Information retrieved from LifterLMS on May 2nd, 2025.
LifterLMS support
LifterLMS support is available during business hours. If you’re using LifterLMS and have an inquiry, you can submit a ticket and expect to get an answer within 12 hours. As a free user, you can seek help in the community forum.
LifterLMS reviews
LifterLMS is rated 4.8 out of 5 by Capterra’s user reviews.
Caption: “I liked LifterLMS because it was fairly easy to use.”
Caption: “The software is smooth and never glitchy. Always an excellent experience.”
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Has a free trial
- Automated mailing system
- Gutenberg editor to build content blocks
- Certificates and achievement badges
- Integration with PayPal, Stripe, WooCommerce, and Authorize.net.
- Graphics pack with backgrounds and other design elements
- Integration with drag-and-drop editors
- Integration with marketing tools
Cons
- Can get expensive as you buy add-ons
- Not SCORM-compliant
- Limited assessment options
- No built-in payment gateways.
LearnWorlds supports SCORM files, community, and interactive elements. Try LearnWorlds with a 30-day trial.
3. WP Courseware
How does WP Courseware work?
WP Courseware by FlyPlugins is one of the most promising LMS WordPress plugins out there, with some of the top universities in the world and enterprise training sites having chosen it.
WP Courseware themes
WP Courseware is compatible with most WordPress LMS themes or landing page builders on WordPress. The WP Courseware favorites are the Beaver Builder, Genesis Framework, and Dynamik Website Builder.
WP Courseware pricing
WP Courseware has 3 subscription packages:
Information retrieved from FlyPlugins on May 2nd, 2025.
WP Courseware support
WP Courseware offers email support only. You can access their FAQ and support page to find relevant articles. If you’re already a user, you can submit a ticket or sign in to the Member portal.
WP Courseware reviews
WP Courseware is rated 4.5 out of 5 by Capterra’s user reviews.
Caption: “It’s solid enough and functional enough that I couldn’t be persuaded to use anything else.”
Caption: “Being able to create my own course without the headache of coding has been such a relief.”
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Instructor and student gradebooks and certifications
- Integration with PayPal and Stripe
- Automated emails to students based on their activity
- Advanced testing tools, like timers and retake limits
- Multiple integrations available
- Streamlined course creation process.
Cons
- Not SCORM-compliant
- Doesn’t have a free trial
- No gamification
- Clunky user interface
- Limited onboarding resources
- Not SCORM-compliant
- Doesn’t have a free trial
- No gamification
- Clunky user interface
- Limited onboarding resources
4. Tutor LMS
How does Tutor LMS work?
Tutor LMS includes all the features that every WordPress Learning Management System should have. This solution ticks off the prerequisites of an online course marketplace since it allows you to create courses and monetize education. You can do all of this without the need to code.
Tutor LMS themes
Tutor LMS offers premium add-ons and themes with attractive designs and top quality. Browse their theme collection on their website and choose the one you like the most.
Tutor LMS pricing
Tutor LMS has a Basic free plan and 3 paid pricing plans:
*Information retrieved from TheMeum on May 2nd, 2025.
Tutor LMS support
Tutor LMS support is available 24/7, but you can visit the support page on their site to get your answers.
Tutor LMS reviews
Tutor LMS is rated 3.9 out of 5 by Capterra’s user reviews.
Caption: “Very customizable with loads of integrations. “
Caption: “It makes building our electronic library possible.”
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Drag-and-drop course builder
- Course progress and performance tracking
- Revenue and purchase history data
- Interactive lessons
- Advanced quiz creator with 10 question types
- Add-ons like multi-instructor, reports, assignments, course prerequisites, certificates, email, and course previews
- Integration with Easy Digital Downloads and WooCommerce
Cons
- It is not SCORM-compliant
- No gamification options
- Needs integrations to allow multiple payment gateways
- Limited customer support
All the features, tools, and a built-in community, all in one place. LearnWorlds is better than a WordPress plugin. Try it today!
5. Sensei LMS
How does Sensei work?
Sensei is a WordPress education plugin created by Automattic (creator of WordPress.com and Woocommerce), which makes it a reliable option, to begin with. Instead of a plugin, it comes as an add-on for WooCommerce and follows its practice. Sensei is flexible and easy to use. To start using it, you simply add a Sensei LMS page on your site.
Sensei themes
Most of the well-coded themes in the market will work fine with Sensei. What’s great is that it doesn’t need a WooCommerce theme to function properly. There are over 80 themes to choose from.
Sensei pricing
Sensei has a free plan to help you get started. If you want a premium version, the prices are:
*Pricing information retrieved from SenseiLMS on May 2nd, 2025.
Sensei support
Sensei support is available online. If you are a customer, you can submit a support request. If you are not, you can go through the FAQs or fill out an inquiry form.
Sensei reviews
WordPress users rate Sensei LMS with 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- You can start using the plugin completely free
- Ability to create quizzes and drip content, offer certificates, and track course progress
- Learning Mode to enhance student engagement and focus
- Monetization options through WooCommerce
- Quizzing system with multiple choices, question banks, fill the gap, and multimedia-based questions
Cons
- No free trial (only a 14-day refund guarantee)
- No bundles that offer all the features in one place
- Buying individual extensions can be expensive
- WooCommerce integration can be hard for beginners
Looking for an all-in-one solution without needing to integrate multiple plugins? LearnWorlds is an all-in-one, standalone solution and includes hosting for your online courses.
6. Namaste! LMS
How does Namaste! LMS work?
Namaste! is a free plugin that offers premium add-ons and features that you can get at a cost. It works as a free, open-source LMS for WordPress, and its core system is powerful and easy to use. It is one of the few eLearning WordPress plugins offering a free version.
Namaste! LMS themes
The Namaste! premium theme is likely what you will need for the design, starting at $67. You can browse through free WordPress themes that work with Namaste! LMS on ThemesInfo.
Namaste! LMS pricing
Namaste has a free version and offers the possibility to upgrade to a paid ‘pro’ version. The pro version includes a year of premium support and upgrades and starts at $67.
It offers individual bundles:
All plans include a 60-day refund guarantee and a lifetime license.
*Information retrieved from Namaste! on May 2nd, 2025.
Namaste! LMS support
Namaste! has a dedicated support site where you can get help on how to use the plugin and install other extensions. It also offers documentation on how to create courses. You can also get help from the WordPress forums or watch their demo once you create an account.
Namaste! LMS reviews
WordPress users rate Namaste! LMS with 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- File and course protection tool
- Integrates well with other free plugins
- Simple and user-friendly for beginners
- Ability to enable shopping carts for premium courses; WooCommerce or WP Simple Cart plugins
- Course-completion certificates and awards/badges
- Analyzes students’ performance using the grading system
- Progress bar that shows students how they perform in courses
- It supports Stripe and PayPal as payment gateways.
Cons
- It doesn’t offer a free demo
- Add-ons and features are fairly limited for this plugin
- Doesn’t offer much room for experimentation in terms of the use of course materials and quizzing methods
- Needs to integrate with other tools to offer complete functionality
Build a professional eLearning website with LearnWorlds, no design or tech skills are needed. Get a trial today!
7. LearnPress
How does LearnPress work?
LearnPress is a popular choice among WordPress LMS plugins. It comes with a free version, which means all essential features are free. You can get add-ons at a cost depending on how advanced you want your school website to be. It is rather easy to use with an intuitive interface that looks like the WordPress dashboard.
LearnPress themes
Choose your theme from the LearnPress theme collection wisely because the add-ons you get can only be used for the specific theme you choose.
LearnPress pricing
Apart from the free version, there are two paid plans:
*Information retrieved from LearnPress on May 2nd, 2025.
LearnPress support
LearnPress support is offered online and via email. Their email support representatives usually respond to you within 24 hours. Their Help Center includes a knowledge base, documentation, user guides, and a ticket history forum.
LearnPress reviews
WordPress rates LearnPress with 4.3 out of 5 stars based on user reviews.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free plan
- Theme demos
- Frequently updated to address bugs and improve security
- Great option for beginners
- Integration with BuddyPress, bbPress forums
- Free add-ons include Wishlist, course reviews, and prerequisite courses
- Built-in automatic email system that allows you to send quiz results to participants
- Supports payment gateways such as PayPal, 2Checkout, Authorize.net, and Stripe
- Management tools for tracking students, grades, and course content
Cons
- Might be expensive to get all the features and add-ons at once
- Needs premium add-ons to offer the drip feed and certificates capability
- Limited customer support
- Poor code quality & technical issues
Avoid technical troubles, multiple plugins, hidden hosting costs, and more with an all-in-one solution. Try LearnWorlds for free!
8. Good LMS
How does Good LMS work?
Another popular choice in this list is Good LMS. Good LMS is the only viable WordPress LMS plugin on the CodeCanyon marketplace. It does everything other LMS plugins do, with the difference that it is cheaper than the majority out there. Overall, it is very easy to work with, and its design is similar to WordPress blog posts, so WordPress users will find it easy to navigate.
Good LMS themes
You will most likely need to purchase a suitable theme from the WordPress collection if you’re using Good LMS. Visit Colorlib to choose your favorite one.
Good LMS pricing
Good LMS costs $32 for a regular license, which gives you future updates and 6 months of support from GoodLayers. If you want to extend your support for one year, you need to pay an extra $10.13.
*Information retrieved from CodeCanyon on May 2nd, 2025.
Good LMS support
The GoodLayers support includes articles and guides that you can access to get help, a ticket, and a quote support system, and allows you to log in as a regular Envato user to get more information.
Good LMS reviews
Envato Market users rate Good LMS with 3.93 out of 5 stars.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Demo/walkthrough of how the plugin works
- Allows you to build quizzes, courses, and certificates
- Excellent choice for those who want to build a course marketplace
- One of the cheapest plugins in the market
- Course ratings and teacher commission settings
- Coupon code creator that helps you attract more students
- Integration with Paypal, Stripe, Paymill, or Authorized.net.
Cons
- No drag-and-drop builder
- It’s unclear whether it offers reporting capabilities or not
- Similar to the Udemy marketplace, with limited monetization options
LearnWorlds comes with plenty of monetization options from digital downloads to online courses and membership sites. Get a 30-day free trial here.
9. MasterStudy LMS
How does MasterStudy work?
MasterStudy is a newcomer compared to the others on this list. It’s a plugin that is easy to install and makes managing online education more enjoyable. MasterStudy offers three types of lessons – text, video, and slideshow. It has a messaging and announcement system that offers inclusiveness and boosts student engagement.
MasterStudy themes
The plugin works with any WordPress theme you choose, but they have their own premium theme collection, which will take your website to the next level.
MasterStudy pricing
MasterStudy is a free LMS plugin, but it also has a paid ‘pro’ version. It offers a free Starter plan, additional premium add-ons, and priority support with its paid plans:
*Information retrieved from Stylemixthemes on May 2nd, 2025.
MasterStudy support
MasterStudy has 24/7 (Live Rep) and online support. You can also log in to the WordPress forum and get help from the discussions.
MasterStudy reviews
WordPress users rate LearnPress 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Has a message board that acts as an online community
- Simple to use when creating and managing courses
- Supports diverse course materials, including videos, graphs, and slides
- Fast page loads and smooth page transitions
- Built-in course ratings and course-completion certificates
- Allows you to set up payment for recurring subscriptions with PayPal and Stripe
Cons
- Not SCORM-compliant
- No gamification features
- Most of its add-ons come at a price
👉 All the marketing tools you need to sell your online courses under one roof. Give LearnWorlds a go with a 30-day trial.
10. MemberPress
How does MemberPress work?
With MemberPress, you can create powerful WordPress membership sites. As a membership plugin, it allows you to protect your online course with gated content that you can share with specific members or a closed community.
MemberPress themes
If you’re struggling to choose a theme for your membership site, MemberPress offers a list of membership themes they recommend for use. The team also has an article on how to select a theme that encourages you to take into account your business or school needs, website features, and functionality.
MemberPress pricing
MemberPress has 3 subscription packages:
*Information retrieved from MemberPress on May 2nd, 2025.
MemberPress support
MemberPress Support is available during business hours, while they also offer an extensive knowledge base for self-service onboarding and support. Alternatively, you can hire a MemberPress expert to help you out directly.
MemberPress reviews
MemberPress is rated 4.8 out of 5 by Capterra’s user reviews.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Gated content
- Unlimited members and memberships
- Automatic upgrade and downgrade prorations
- Full subscription and transaction management
- Gutenberg blocks
- Content-dripping and access expiration
- Comprehensive reporting, custom registration and account fields, and built-in integrations.
Cons
- No free trial or free version
- No certificate builder
- No drag-and-drop builder
- A bit complicated to set up
- No live online learning or webinars, only documentation
- Works best when combined with a WordPress LMS plugin
💁🏻 Looking for a modern website? LearnWorlds includes a state-of-the-art site builder and hundreds of templates for elearning, try it here.
What should you look for in a WordPress LMS plugin?
As you search for the best WordPress LMS plugin, make sure to pay attention to those capabilities that make it appropriate for use and a good fit for your requirements.
Here are 7 criteria to look out for when selecting a WordPress LMS plugin as an online learning platform:
Content authoring
The best Learning Management Systems, whether standalone or LMS plugins, should offer built-in content authoring tools that allow you to create well-structured, engaging online courses with multimedia content, quizzes, and certificates.
Bonus points for tools that support drip-fed content, so you can control the pace your learners move through the online course and ensure they have absorbed essential information before they move on to more difficult topics.
Analytics and reporting
One way to ensure your online courses meet learner expectations and effectively convey knowledge is to draw reports from your LMS. This should give you the data you need to adjust or improve your strategy as you think is necessary.
Built-in community
Offering your learners opportunities to connect and exchange knowledge improves not only learning but also engagement with the course. Choose an LMS plugin that offers this capability and allows you to build an online community, including learner groups and discussion forums.
Assessment and certificate builder
The ability to create and issue certificates is of huge importance and is a must-have feature for any LMS plugin. Certificates are a great incentive for learners who study hard to pass a course. Offering a certificate is also a way to recognize their dedication and provides proof of examination and course completion.
Here’s what Kevin Gallagher, owner of wpONcall, says about the importance of certificates:
“Having managed over 2,500 WordPress websites over the past 15+ years, I’ve worked extensively with LMS plugins for clients across various industries. The most useful LMS feature I’ve consistently seen is the certificate generation system.
For a professional training company client, implementing automated PDF certificates with custom branding increased their course completion rates by 42% — students were motivated by having tangible proof of their achievement.”
Kevin Gallagher, Owner, wpONcall
White label
It’s important that you’re able to do more than simply customize the typography and colors in your online school. With white labeling, you will be able to remove the plugin branding and create a learning environment where only your branding is visible to enhance engagement and strengthen your brand image.
Monetization tools
Another must-have, since most course creators want to sell their online courses. Look for integrations with shopping carts, the ability to offer coupons and discounts, and support for different selling models, like one-off payment or subscriptions.
SCORM
SCORM compatibility ensures your content is interactive and compatible on other Learning Management Systems, and that learner progress can be monitored. It’s a must-have feature because as much as you love your current online learning platform, you might need to migrate to another in the future. Without SCORM compliance, you will have to build all your content from scratch.
💡Pro tip: Make sure you test your selected tools, if possible even with a small group of learners, by leveraging free trials and freemium models.
What is the best LMS Plugin for WordPress?
In addition to WordPress eCommerce hosting, choosing the right LMS solution for your online courses is equally crucial.
Selecting the best LMS for WordPress is kind of a big deal because the right one will help you create, manage, and sell online courses with ease, and will be able to respond to the highest standards you’ve set for yourself or your business.
The ultimate goal when using any LMS tool is to be able to offer a learning experience that is valuable, memorable, and highly rewarding.
Get your 30-day trial with LearnWorlds today, and discover for yourself how easy it is to build your online school.
Resources:
Androniki Koumadoraki
Androniki is a Content Writer at LearnWorlds sharing Instructional Design and marketing tips. With solid experience in B2B writing and technical translation, she is passionate about learning and spreading knowledge. She is also an aspiring yogi, a book nerd, and a talented transponster.
Back to blog
Scroll to top
Related Articles
