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As it turns out, you don’t need much to create and sell courses.
If you already have a WordPress site, you are just a plugin away from building your online school using a WordPress LMS plugin!
Already, 43% of websites use WordPress, 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!
Are you ready to start selling courses? Then you might want to consider using one of the WordPress LMS plugins on this list.
Before we go on, 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 has been created explicitly for creating and selling 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 (like Divi – a popular theme for WordPress users, or Elementor theme builder).
💁 Start your 30-day FREE trial to try LearnWorlds, and find out more information right below, or skip to the WordPress Plugins.
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 solution 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 LMS course plugins:
What makes it 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 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 – one of the most profitable business models today?
While with a WordPress site, you’d need a plug-in like Paid Memberships Pro to do so, 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 and courses 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 January 5th, 2024.
LearnWorlds Support
LearnWorlds support is available 24/7 and the team is always ready to help. It also offers onboarding for new customers, daily webinars and tutorials, and an extended knowledge base.
It features the LearnWorlds Academy, which 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:
Pros
Cons
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.
Plugin #1: LearnDash
How does LearnDash work?
LearnDash is the most popular premium WordPress LMS provider 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 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 collected 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 January 5th, 2024.
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.
Pros
Cons
If you don’t have the technical skills to implement a plugin, try a standalone solution. LearnWorlds offers a 30-day trial.
💁 Compare LearnWorlds vs LearnDash
Plugin #2: LifterLMS
How does LifterLMS work?
LifterLMS is the leading free, open-source WordPress LMS solution. 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:
*Information retrieved from LifterLMS on January 5th, 2024.
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.
Pros
Cons
LearnWorlds supports SCORM files, community, and interactive elements. Try LearnWorlds with a 30-day trial.
Plugin #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 of the 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 January 5th, 2024.
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 4.4 out of 5 by Capterra’s user reviews.
Pros
Cons
Hosting is included in an all-in-one solution, try LearnWorlds for free.
Plugin #4: Tutor LMS
How does Tutor LMS work?
Tutor LMS includes all the features that every WordPress LMS plugin 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 offers premium add-ons and themes with attractive designs and top quality.
Tutor LMS Pricing
Tutor LMS has a Basica free plan and 3 paid pricing plans:
*Information retrieved from TheMeum on January 5th, 2024.
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 3.8 out of 5 by Capterra’s user reviews.
Pros
Cons
All the features, tools, and a built-in community, all in one place. LearnWorlds is better than a WordPress plugin. Try it today!
Plugin #5: Sensei
How does Sensei work?
Sensei is created by Automatic (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 January 5th, 2024.
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 3.7 out of 5 stars.
Pros
Cons
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.
Plugin #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 WordPress LMS plugins offering a free version.
Namaste! LMS Themes
The Namaste! premium theme is most likely what you will need to use 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 January 5th, 2024.
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
Build a professional eLearning website with LearnWorlds, no design or tech skills are needed. Get a trial today!
Plugin #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 and has 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 January 5th, 2024.
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
Avoid technical troubles, multiple plugins, hidden hosting costs, and more with an all-in-one solution. Try LearnWorlds for free!
Plugin #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 January 5th, 2024.
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 offers the opportunity to log in as a regular user with Envato to get more information.
Good LMS Reviews
Envato Market users rate Good LMS with 4 out of 5 stars.
Pros
Cons
LearnWorlds comes with plenty of monetization options from digital downloads to online courses and membership sites. Get a 30-day free trial here.
Plugin #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 January 5th, 2024.
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 with 4 out of 5 stars.
Pros
Cons
All the marketing tools you need to sell your online courses under one roof. Give LearnWorlds a go with a 30-day trial.
Plugin #10: MemberPress
How does MemberPress work?
With MemberPress, you can create powerful WordPress membership sites. As a membership plugin, it offers a solution that allows you to protect your 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 has prepared a dedicated 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 January 5th, 2024.
MemberPress Support
MemberPress Support is available during business hours and online. There is a large knowledge base you can access, or you can submit a support ticket or even 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
💁🏻 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 go on with your research on 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 6 criteria to look out for when selecting a WordPress LMS plugin:
Content Dripping
An LMS plugin that allows content drip is always a good LMS plugin. Drip feeding your course comes in handy when you need to reveal the content of your course section by section. This way, you’re encouraging learners to complete the course following a steady pace instead of in one go and get the most benefit out of it.
Progress Tracking
Progress tracking tools offer the possibility to measure student progress through the course and, if need be, offer to help them out. Also, they set up the right course requirements and help students understand what and how much is expected of them.
Analytics and User Reporting
Growing is the driving force of life and the education you offer needs to live on. One way to ensure it does is to have the analytics and user reporting tool as part of the LMS plugin you choose. This should give you the data and statistics 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.
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.
Flexible Course Design
Is the course design format considered to be too traditional or too modern for your tastes? Does it allow you to create your course the way you imagined? If it’s too restricting and offers limited choice, perhaps it is not the best choice for you.
To avoid this, make sure you become more familiar with your selected tool(s) during the free trial of the plugin (if it offers any) before you are ready to buy.
What is the Best WordPress LMS Plugin for You?
In addition to WordPress eCommerce hosting, choosing the right LMS solution for your courses is equally crucial.
Selecting the best LMS plugin for your WordPress website 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!
Further reading you might find interesting:
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.
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