15 Best WordPress LMS Plugin based Online Course Builder

Well, I am assuming you are trying to find a WordPress learning management system (LMS) plugin, which is Free or Inexpensive and which can help you create an Online Course.

So I can guarantee, you have come to the right place.

Without even writing a single line of code, you can quickly transform your WordPress website into an online learning platform similar to Udemy by using an LMS plugin.

You can develop, manage, and sell online courses using these plugins directly from your dashboard.

Here I have shortlisted the Top 5 among the 15 I have compared, for your Convenience.

Best Over All

MemberPress

MemberPress is the overall best course plugin for WordPress that lets you create unlimited courses and Sell it.

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Best for Engagement

LifterLMS

LifterLMS has engagement features like achievement badges, certificates, social learning.

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Best for Gamification

LearnDash

LearnDash offers a drip-feed course scheduling feature and Multiple Instructors.

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Best for Assessment

Tutor LMS

TutorLMS, allows to set timers and retake limits for questions. More engaging Assessment.

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Best for Multimedia

MasterStudy

MasterStudy LMS, allows multimedia course creation such as videos, images, graphs, and other files.

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How to Choose the Best WordPress LMS Plugin?

You can offer your Teaching services right from your website with the use of a WordPress LMS plugin. On a single dashboard, it offers a simple way to set up online courses, monitor student progress, and grade assignments.

However, there are some of the features that the best WordPress LMS plugin should offer, as Listed below.

Course Builder:

You may create many types of course content, including videos, gradebooks, and PDFs, with the help of a competent LMS plugin.

Payment Integration:

You need a course plugin that supports smooth integrations with payment methods like PayPal, Stripe, and others if you want to monetize your content.

Student Enrollment:

You should easily register students, create membership plans, and manage them using the best LMS and membership plugins.

Course progress:

Show off your pupils’ accomplishments to the class. This is crucial to maintain user motivation and serve as a small incentive.

Content Dripping:

You can use this function for progressively releasing portions of the course content as the students advance for weekly, monthly, or even annual intervals.

Quizzes and tests:

You’ll need a WordPress LMS plugin that enables you to administer assessments, competitions, and quizzes if you want to enhance engagement in your courses.

Homework Features:

On most platforms, it’s not that difficult to give out assignments, but can students send back homework without any issues and do you have time to assess all of them can be a question.

Gamification:

These are rewards that appear once a particular task is performed or after a course is concluded for improving student participation.

Certificates:

Since people can print out certificates, they are usually much better than email confirmations of Course Completion.

Community Forums:

Integrations with programs like BuddyPress and bbPress are necessary if you want to create a student community for your e-learning platform.

Marketing Tools:

These are in the form of coupons, commission structures, and affiliate programs. The objective is to increase enrollment in your courses by providing incentives and encouraging word-of-mouth.

Automated Emails:

Integrating email marketing systems like MailChimp, Aweber, ConvertKit etc. so that your present students and upcoming Students get continuous mail updates of the Incentives of your course.

Honestly, a single LMS plugin that can do all the above stuff single-handedly is too much to ask for, and Frankly doesn’t exist.

You may need more other Plugins, Add-Ons, and third-party subscriptions to achieve these.

That’s why many Educators prefer All-in-One Educations Platforms like Thinkific, to start their Online Course Creation Journey.

But saying so, the below list of awesome WordPress LMS Plugins is of top-notch quality to serve your Online coaching needs. So let us Dive in deep and explore

Best WordPress LMS Online Course Builder Plugins

1. LearnDash

Learndash LMS was released on January 28th, 2013 by founder Justin Ferriman and is Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. As per Built With websites, 132,494 websites worldwide are using LearnDash. That’s quite Lot of users, don’t you think.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – $199/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Add-on
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: YES
Communication: Notifications/Emails
Membership: YES
Gamification: Paid Add-on
Payments: Free Add-on Community: Free Add-on

The finest WordPress LMS plugin, LearnDash, makes developing and selling courses incredibly simple. It has a straightforward drag-and-drop course builder that enables you to create an infinite number of courses, lessons, tutorials, and quizzes.

PROS

Customizable course design
Advanced quiz options
Supports multiple languages
Integrates with many plugins
Has strong customer support

CONS

Can be expensive
Limited free add-ons
Steep learning curve

2. LifterLMS

LifterLMS was launched on Oct 14,2014 by founder Chris Badgett. This WordPress LMS plugin is being used by 27,103 websites worldwide till date and Growing.

?FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – $149/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Add-on
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: YES
Communication: Notifications/Emails
Membership: YES
Gamification: Add-on
Payments: Add-on
Community: Add-on

LifterLMS is a fantastic option if you’re a WordPress user seeking for a feature-rich course plugin for your website. With training modules, lessons, tutorials, categories, and more, you may create multi-tiered courses.

PROS

Easy to use and setup
Offers multiple payment gateways
Provides extensive course creation options
Includes powerful quiz and assessment tools
Offers integration with third-party tools

CONS

Some features are only available in higher-tier plans
Limited reporting capabilities
Limited customization options

3. Tutor LMS

Using TutorLMS’s straightforward drag-and-drop course builder, you can make and personalize interactive courses. You also have access to a quiz maker, which enables you to make entertaining tests with various question formats.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – $149/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: YES
Communication: Notifications/Emails
Membership: YES
Gamification: Paid Add-on
Payments: Paid Add-on
Community: Paid Add-on

This plugin’s core version, which includes the essential LMS features, is free. You may upgrade to a pro subscription, which includes additional features like content dripping, a grading system, and more, as your business expands.

PROS

Intuitive and user-friendly interface
Supports a wide range of multimedia content
Offers powerful course creation tools
Provides flexible monetization options
Offers detailed reporting and analytics

CONS

Limited integration with third-party tools
Some advanced features require add-ons
Can be slow and resource-intensive

4. MemberPress LMS

MemberPress, one the leading WordPress software for creating membership websites. It’s Ver 1.1 was launched in Sep 2017 by CEO Blair Williams.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – $179.50/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: YES
Communication: Notifications/Emails
Membership: YES
Gamification: Paid Add-on
Payments: Free Add-on
Community: Free Add-on

You can effortlessly build and administer your courses on your WordPress dashboard thanks to its integrated LMS features. You can utilize a visual drag-and-drop course builder to modify your courses, grade books, quizzes, and other features.

PROS

Easy to use and customizable.
Offers drip content feature.
Integrates with popular payment gateways.
Provides advanced reporting and analytics.
Offers a comprehensive membership management system.

CONS

Some features require add-ons.
Limited number of integrations with other plugins.
Does not offer a built-in course authoring tool.

5. Namaste LMS

The free core plugin lets you build a useful learning website. However, if you want access to more sophisticated features, you must upgrade to the Namaste! LMS premium edition. Namaste LMS! is build by Bulgarian based Kiboko Labs Ltd.

?FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – $97/Lifetime
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: YES
Communication: Notifications/Emails
Membership: YES
Gamification: YES
Payments: WooCommerce Dependent
Community: NO

So with that, Namaste! Anyone who wishes to make a free online course should consider using an LMS. If you wish to expand your learning platform, you can buy the pro options.

PROS

Easy to set up and use.
Affordable pricing options.
Built-in payment integration.
Flexible course and quiz creation.
Responsive customer support.

CONS

Limited features compared to other LMS plugins.
No built-in content drip functionality.
Limited customization options for certificates.

6. MasterStudy LMS

StylemixThemes developed the free WordPress LMS plugin called MasterStudy LMS. Amazing online lessons can be created, tailored, and managed on your website with its help. MasterStudy LMS was founded during 2017 and founded by CEO Igor Ligay.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – $59/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: NO
Communication: Notifications/Emails
Membership: YES
Gamification: Paid Add-on
Payments: Paid Add-on
Community: Paid Add-on

MasterStudy Pro, its premium edition, gives you access to additional features like course packages, a point system for rewards, and Zoom classroom integration.

PROS

Easy to set up and use
Wide range of features and customization options
Comprehensive course management tools
Supports multiple payment gateways
Excellent customer support

CONS

Limited integration options with third-party tools
Some users may find the interface overwhelming or cluttered
Expensive pricing for some plans

7. Academy LMS

Academy LMS is very new plugin in the market. Right now it is totally Free and the Pro version is in Beta Stage. Feels like they are of Bangladesh origin and building this LMS, still not sure about their antecedents.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: FREE | Pro Ver: Beta Stage
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: Free-Addon
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: YES
Communication: NO
Membership: YES
Gamification: Paid-Addon
Payments: Paid-Addon
Community: NO

They claim to have a Robust LMS course builder that helps you create courses with video (self-hosted, YouTube, Vimeo), attachments, excerpt, additional data, the benefit of the course, requirement, topic, summary, announcement etc.

PROS

User-friendly interface and easy to use.
Offers gamification and social learning features.
Supports multiple languages and currencies.
Provides detailed reporting and analytics.
Offers a free trial and affordable pricing plans.

CONS

Limited customization options for branding.
Some advanced features require additional plugins.
No built-in video hosting must use third-party services.

8. WPLMS by VibeThemes

WPLMS provides a straightforward yet very effective back end to add rich content to your website, while its shrewd front end draws in and retains students. This is available in Envato market and boosts 26,955 sales and a Review rating of 4.8. Best for people in a tighbudgetet and cannot afford LearnDash.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – $75/Lifetime
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: Free-Addon
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: NO
Communication: NO
Membership: YES
Gamification: Add-on
Payments: Free-Addon
Community: NO

Authors and instructors may easily add, amend, and view lessons thanks to the straightforward lesson management system. You can upload text, PDF, and even media files. To create and manage quizzes, go to the quiz management page on the back end.

PROS

Comprehensive course creation tools.
Multiple payment options available.
Robust reporting and analytics.
Compatible with a wide range of add-ons and themes.
Offers gamification and social learning features.

CONS

Can be overwhelming for beginners.
Some users report slow loading times.
Limited options for customization without coding knowledge.

9. LearnPress

LearnPress is built by Thimpress a WordPress Theme company based in Hanoi, Vietnam and founded by Brian Porter CEO of Thimpress/Learnpress. As of now 159,101 websites are using LearnPress worldwide.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – $149/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: Free-Addon
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: NO
Communication: NO
Membership: YES
Gamification: Add-on
Payments: Free-Addon
Community: NO

LearnPress is a free WordPress LMS plugin that has every feature you may possibly need. LearnPress has a setup process that makes onboarding simple for users of all skill levels, in contrast to the majority of the other LMS plugins on this list.

PROS

Free and open-source.
Lightweight and easy to use.
Supports multiple payment gateways.
Offers a wide range of add-ons and themes.
Has a community of active developers.

CONS

Limited features in the free version.
Some advanced features may require additional add-ons.
Limited documentation and support.

10. Masteriyo

Masteriyo is React.js based LMS system as claimed by the Creators. This is most probably a Nepal-based Zakra themes Product as this is Publicized on their Site. The free version is quite Competitive, and the Pro version comes with Multi-Instructor Support and white-label features.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – $49.75/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: NO
Communication: NO
Membership: YES
Gamification: NO
Payments: Paypal/Stripe
Community: NO

Even a non-techie may add courses, lessons, and quizzes without any effort because to its user-friendly and straightforward course designer. There is good news: you can add as many courses, lessons, and tests as you need.

11. Cluevo

Cluevo is an Austria based company who has developed a SCROM complaint wordpress LMS plugin. They do have a Free version but as usual it has limitations, you need to pay for the Pro version to get the full potential of Cluevo. This was founded by CEO Enver Sonbay in 2018.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site – € 119/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: NO
Communication: NO
Membership: YES
Gamification: NO
Payments: Paid Addon
SCORM format: YES

Cluevo is a Woo-Commerce based LMS Plugin with which publishing SCORM module is simple as a pie. But with videos and podcasts, it moves even more quickly. You may view every course you have taken thanks to the cutting-edge Learningtree.

13. Dozent

Dozent is a Dhaka Bangladesh based LMS Company that has started off recently. There Pricing Page is as of Now not reachable, I can see there are few downloads and Active installs in wordpress Community.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: Free| Pro- Under Development
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: N/A
Quizzes: N/A
Analytics: N/A
Communication: N/A
Membership: YES
Gamification: N/A
Payments: N/A
Community: N/A
Affiliate Creation: N/A

They Claim that “No matter if you’re a solo educator, education institute or corporate organization. Dozent LMS empowers everyone to build their own eLearning platforms.”

They have a Handy Demo tour page that users can navigate and have a feel of the actual setup. But I would say lets give them a Pass for time being, as there are not much Downloads and real users as of now.

PROS

Free and open source
User-friendly interface
Customizable course structures
Supports multimedia content
Built-in quiz and exam creator

CONS

Limited features compared to premium LMS plugins
Fewer customization options than some competitors
May not be suitable for large organizations with complex needs

13. Good LMS by GoodLayers

GoodLMS is developed by WordPress Theme building company Good Layers.

You can get this Plugin from Envato Market and have recorded 1,372 sales so far.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1Site – $32/Lifetime
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: NO
Communication: NO
Membership: YES
Gamification: Paid Add-on
Payments: Add-on
Community: Add-on
Affiliate Creation: YES

This LMS seems to very Basic LMS plugin with a Necessary Course builder to do get the Tasks needed to create a online course. Good LMS is designed to allow you to construct an endless number of online courses with in-depth content, subsections, and timed quizzes at the chapter and subsection levels.

PROS

Intuitive and user-friendly interface.
Advanced course builder with various options.
Great support and documentation.
Customizable and flexible design.
Compatible with popular page builders.

CONS

Limited integration with third-party plugins.
Some features require additional plugins.
No free version available.

14. WP Courseware

When WP Courseware, Co-founded by Ben Arellano was launched in 2012, it was the only WordPress LMS plugin on the market. And they’ve come a long way since then, with 74000 courses been created by this Plugin till date.

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 2 Sites – $129/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: YES
Communication: Notifications/Emails
Membership: YES
Gamification: Paid Add-on
Payments: Paid Add-on
Community: Paid Add-on
Affiliate Creation: NO

Advanced automation tools that send customized emails in response to student activity are included with WP Courseware. You can create personalized feedback messages that can be adjusted to be sent based on students’ performance in order to aid in the improvement of their competency.

PROS

User-friendly interface
Versatile course creation options
Integrates with popular plugins and services
Supports multimedia content
Offers detailed reporting and analytics

CONS

Limited design customization options
No built-in e-commerce functionality
Higher pricing compared to some competitors

15. Sensei LMS

Sensei LMS was built by company Automattic, the same company behind wordpress.com and WooCommerce. This is a powerful premium plugin that transforms your WordPress website into an advanced learning platform

FEATURES

Starter Pricing: 1 Site -$ 149/Year
Transaction fee: 0%
Users: 1
Courses: Unlimited
Students: Unlimited
Instructors: Unlimited
Certificates: YES
Quizzes: YES
Analytics: NO
Communication: NO
Membership: Woo-Commerce Dependent
Gamification: NO
Payments: Woo-Commerce Dependent
Community: YES (Groups)

Sensei is not a fully functional membership plugin. It manages the design and publication of online courses, but you must combine it with membership or eCommerce plugins in order to sell access.

When compared to the other top LMS plugins for WordPress, Sensei is less feature-rich.

Additionally, there aren’t many extensions available to improve basic functionality. I will rather recommend to go with MemberPress, if you want all the use cases to to filled in an ideal LMS plugin.

PROS

Easy to use and intuitive interface
Seamless integration with WooCommerce
Offers a range of quizzes and assignments
Highly customizable and extensible with add-ons
Excellent customer support

CONS

Limited free features, many require purchasing extensions
No built-in discussion forum
Limited tracking and reporting features compared to some other LMS plugins.

FAQ’s

What is a WordPress course builder LMS plugin?

A WordPress course builder LMS plugin is a tool that helps you create and manage online courses on your WordPress website. It offers features such as course creation, student management, assessments, progress tracking, and more.

What are the benefits of using a WordPress course builder LMS plugin?

Using a WordPress course builder LMS plugin can help you create and sell courses online, manage your students and their progress, automate assessments and grading, and provide a more engaging learning experience for your students.

What features should I look for in a WordPress course builder LMS plugin?

When selecting a WordPress course builder LMS plugin, you should look for features such as course creation tools, assessment and quiz functionality, student management, progress tracking, payment integration, and customization options.

Which is the best WordPress course builder LMS plugin?

The best WordPress course builder LMS plugin depends on your specific needs and budget. Some popular options include LearnDash, LifterLMS, and Tutor LMS.

Can I use a WordPress course builder LMS plugin with my existing WordPress website?

Yes, most WordPress course builder LMS plugins are designed to integrate with your existing WordPress website, allowing you to create and sell courses alongside your other content.

Do I need to have technical skills to use a WordPress course builder LMS plugin?

While some technical skills may be helpful, most WordPress course builder LMS plugins are designed to be user-friendly and require no coding or technical expertise. However, it’s always a good idea to check the documentation and support options before selecting a plugin.

How much does a WordPress course builder LMS plugin cost?

The cost of a WordPress course builder LMS plugin varies depending on the plugin and the features you need. Some plugins offer a free version with limited features, while others offer a range of pricing plans based on the number of courses and students you have.

Wrapping Up:

I have explored the top WordPress LMS plugins in the market and it is evident that each plugin comes with its unique features and capabilities.

When selecting the best LMS plugin for your online course business, you should consider your specific requirements such as course creation, management, student engagement, and progress tracking.

With the right LMS plugin, you can provide a user-friendly platform for your students and save time managing course content.

With the right LMS plugin, you can streamline the course delivery process, improve the student learning experience, and boost your revenue.

Choose the best WordPress LMS plugin that fits your needs and take your online course business to the next level.

Business Consultant

Himadri Sengupta

As a seasoned Product Consultant, I have helped numerous businesses turn their product visions into successful realities. Whether you’re a startup looking to launch your first product or an established business seeking to revamp your product line, I can help you achieve your goals..