Online courses have become a core part of the digital economy, allowing individuals to learn new skills, advance their careers, and explore new hobbies from home. For creators, entrepreneurs, and experts, this trend presents a massive opportunity. If you have expertise to share, creating an online course is one of the most effective ways to build a scalable business.
To do this on your own website, you’ll need a Learning Management System (LMS). While you could start a simple blog to share knowledge, an LMS plugin transforms your WordPress site into a professional, fully-featured online school.
We’ve tested and compared the top WordPress LMS plugins on the market to help you choose the right one for your goals.
What is a Learning Management System (LMS) Plugin?
A Learning Management System (LMS) plugin is a piece of software that adds a complete “online classroom” framework to your WordPress site.
It gives you the tools to create, manage, deliver, and even sell online courses. This includes features for:
- Building a curriculum with lessons, topics, and modules.
- Creating advanced quizzes, assignments, and timers.
- Tracking student progress and issuing grades.
- “Dripping” content (scheduling lessons to release over time).
- Awarding certificates and badges for course completion.
- Managing student enrollments and processing payments.
An LMS handles the entire educational infrastructure, allowing you to focus on creating high-quality content.
LMS vs. Membership Plugins
A common confusion for new creators is the difference between an LMS plugin and a membership plugin.
- A Membership Plugin is a gatekeeper. Its main job is to restrict access to content (pages, posts, files) based on a user’s subscription level.
- An LMS Plugin is a classroom. Its main job is to structure content into a course and manage a student’s progress through it.
Editor’s Note: In the past, you needed both plugins. Today, that line is very blurry. Top-tier membership plugins like MemberPress now include their own robust LMS features. Conversely, top LMS plugins like LearnDash have built-in membership and payment features.
Our advice: If your main business is selling courses, choose a dedicated LMS. If your site is a broader community and courses are just one of the benefits, a membership-first plugin like MemberPress may be a better fit.
How We Tested the Best WordPress LMS Plugins
To build this list, we evaluated each plugin based on the criteria that matter most to course creators, demonstrating our hands-on experience:
- Course Builder: How easy is it to create a curriculum? We looked for intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces.
- Student Experience: What does the “classroom” look like for the student? We prioritized “focus modes” and clean, navigable layouts.
- Monetization: How easy is it to sell your course? We looked for built-in Stripe/PayPal support and flexible options (one-time, subscriptions, bundles).
- Core Features: Does the plugin include essentials like content dripping, advanced quizzing, and certificates?
- Integrations: How well does it connect with other essential tools, like email marketing services and page builders?
10 Best WordPress LMS Plugins
Here are our top picks for the best WordPress LMS plugins, updated with current features and pricing.
1. LearnDash
Best for: Serious educators, universities, and professional training organizations.
LearnDash is arguably the most popular and feature-rich LMS plugin on the market. It’s an industry standard for a reason, offering robust, scalable tools. Its drag-and-drop course builder is powerful, allowing you to create complex, multi-layer courses.
Key Features:
- Advanced Quizzing: 8+ question types, question banks, timers, and flexible display options.
- “Focus Mode”: A distraction-free learning portal for students.
- Drip-Feed Content: Delivers lessons on a set schedule (e.g., “7 days after enrollment”).
- Monetization: Built-in options for one-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships, and course bundles. Integrates with Stripe, PayPal, and 2Checkout.
- Dynamic Forums: Create course-specific forums where students can interact.
Price: Starts at $199/year for a 1-site license.
2. LifterLMS
Best for: Creators focused on building an engaged community with memberships and coaching.
LifterLMS is a powerful all-in-one solution that offers a generous free core plugin. You can create, manage, and protect courses with the free version. Its real power comes from its premium add-ons, which add features like advanced quizzes, assignments, and group features, or its built-in engagement tools.
Key Features:
- Robust Free Version: The core plugin is free and allows for course creation and member management.
- Excellent Community Features: Designed to build engagement through memberships, automated emails, achievement badges, and coaching add-ons.
- Monetization: Sell courses, bundles, and memberships. Integrates with Stripe, PayPal, or WooCommerce.
- Private Coaching: You can sell one-on-one coaching upsells directly.
Price: The core plugin is free. Individual add-ons are available, or all-in-one bundles start at $199/year for the Earth Bundle.
3. LearnPress
Best for: Users on a strict budget who are comfortable mixing and matching add-ons.
LearnPress is the most popular free LMS plugin in the WordPress repository. The core plugin is lightweight and 100% free, but you will almost certainly need to add its premium add-ons to build a professional, monetized school. It’s an “a la carte” system, which can be good or bad depending on your needs.
Key Features:
- 100% Free Core Plugin: You can create a full course with lessons, quizzes, and questions for free.
- Vast Ecosystem: A large marketplace of free and premium add-ons (like content drip, certificates, and co-instructor support).
- Theme Integration: Designed to work with any standard WordPress theme, but works best with their own themes like “Eduma.”
- Monetization: Relies on add-ons for payments, including PayPal, Stripe, and WooCommerce integration.
Editor’s Note: The cost of premium add-ons for LearnPress (like the “LearnPress Pro Bundle”) can quickly add up, often matching the price of an all-in-one premium plugin like Tutor LMS or LearnDash.
Price: Core plugin is Free. The “LearnPress Pro Bundle” of all add-ons is available for a one-time fee of $299.
4. MemberPress
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want one plugin to manage both memberships and courses.
As we discussed, MemberPress is a top-tier membership plugin that now includes a full-fledged LMS feature called Courses. If you’re building a complete membership site and want to offer courses as a key benefit, this is arguably the best all-in-one solution.
Key Features:
- All-in-One: Combines powerful content restriction (paywalls) with a course builder.
- “Classroom Mode”: A beautiful, distraction-free course interface that works with any theme.
- Powerful Access Rules: Unmatched flexibility for creating complex membership levels, bundles, and upgrade paths.
- Drag & Drop Builder: A simple, visual curriculum builder integrated directly into the WordPress block editor.
Price: The “Courses” feature is included in all plans, starting with the Basic plan at $179.50/year. You will need the Plus plan ($299.50/year) for quizzes and certificates.
5. Tutor LMS
Best for: Beginners and multi-instructor marketplaces who value a modern, user-friendly design.
Tutor LMS is a fast-growing plugin known for its beautiful, modern interface and powerful free version. Its standout feature is the intuitive frontend course builder, which allows instructors to create and manage their courses without ever seeing the WordPress backend. This makes it a top choice for creating a “Udemy-style” marketplace.
Key Features:
- Excellent Free Version: The free plugin is packed with features, including a course builder, quizzes, and video lessons.
- Frontend Course Builder: The best on the market. Instructors can sign up and build courses entirely from the frontend.
- Advanced Quiz Builder: A visual drag-and-drop quiz creator with 10+ question types.
- Monetization: Built-in monetization via WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads.
Price: Core plugin is Free. Pro plans (which add certificates, assignments, and content drip) start at $199/year.
6. WP Courseware
Best for: A solid, reliable option with one of the most intuitive drag-and-drop builders.
WP Courseware is one of the original WordPress LMS plugins and remains a strong, reliable choice. Its visual drag-and-drop course builder is exceptionally intuitive, making curriculum creation simple. It includes all essential features in one package, so you aren’t hunting for add-ons.
Key Features:
- Visual Drag-and-Drop Builder: A best-in-class visual builder for structuring courses.
- Powerful Quiz Features: Create advanced quizzes with timers, retake limits, and question banks.
- Built-in Monetization: Integrates with Stripe and PayPal out of the box. No WooCommerce required.
- Content Drip: Flexible content dripping by date or interval.
- Certificates & Badges: Built-in tools for awarding downloadable, customizable certificates.
Price: Starts at $159/year for a 2-site license.
7. Sensei LMS
Best for: WooCommerce users who want a simple, clean LMS from the creators of WordPress.
Sensei LMS is built by Automattic, the same company behind WordPress.com and WooCommerce. As you’d expect, its integration with WooCommerce is seamless. It’s a simpler, cleaner option. The free core plugin provides the basics, while Sensei Pro adds the features you need to sell courses and make them interactive.
Key Features:
- From Automattic: Built with WordPress best practices in mind.
- Seamless WooCommerce Integration: The best choice if you already run a WooCommerce store.
- Interactive Blocks: The Pro plan adds interactive blocks like flashcards, image hotspots, and checklists.
- Distraction-Free “Learning Mode”: A clean interface for students.
Price: The core plugin is Free. The Sensei Pro bundle (which includes all payment and interactive features) starts at $179/year.
8. MasterStudy LMS
Best for: Creators who want a feature-packed plugin with a modern design at a great value.
MasterStudy LMS is a comprehensive plugin that balances a rich feature set with a user-friendly, modern interface. It’s an excellent value, bundling features that other plugins often charge extra for, such as Zoom integrations and an assignments add-on.
Key Features:
- Modern UI: A clean, attractive frontend experience for students.
- All-in-One Features: The Pro version includes advanced features like assignments, grade books, and live-streaming (via Zoom/Google Meet).
- Monetization: Built-in support for Stripe and PayPal, plus deep integration with WooCommerce.
- Course Marketplace: Strong features for creating a multi-instructor marketplace.
Price: Core plugin is Free. The Pro version starts at $79/year for a single site.
9. Namaste! LMS
Best for: Budget-conscious users who strongly prefer a one-time payment.
Namaste! LMS is a lesser-known but solid plugin with a unique and compelling pricing model: one-time payments. The core plugin is free, and the Pro module (which adds most of the key features you’ll need) is available for a lifetime fee. This makes it the most affordable long-term option on this list.
Key Features:
- Lifetime Pricing: Its biggest selling point. Pay once and use it forever.
- Core Features: The Pro module includes content dripping, file protection, assignments, and certificates.
- Grading System: Includes a robust grading system with points and badges to gamify the learning experience.
- Integrations: Connects with WatuPRO for advanced quizzing and WooCommerce/Stripe/PayPal for payments.
Price: Core plugin is Free. The Namaste! Pro module (with key features) starts at $67 (One-Time Payment).
10. Teachable
Best for: Beginners who want an all-in-one hosted platform and want to avoid WordPress.
This is the “odd one out” because it is not a WordPress plugin. Teachable is a standalone, hosted platform. You build and host your entire school on Teachable’s servers. It’s a great option for those who are intimidated by WordPress, hosting, and plugins. You can easily link to it from your existing WordPress blog.
Key Features:
- All-in-One Hosted Platform: They handle the hosting, security, and updates.
- Extremely Easy to Use: The most beginner-friendly option on this list.
- Built-in Tools: Includes email marketing, affiliate management, and advanced analytics.
- Handles Payments & Taxes: Can automatically handle EU VAT and other complex sales tax issues.
Editor’s Note: The main trade-off is control vs. convenience. You don’t “own” the platform as you do with WordPress, and the entry-level plan charges transaction fees. For more options like this, see our list of Teachable alternatives.
Price: Starts with the Basic plan at $39/month (billed annually), which includes a 5% transaction fee. The Pro plan ($119/month) has 0% transaction fees.
Our Final Verdict: What’s the Best WordPress LMS Plugin for You?
After reviewing the top 10 plugins, it’s clear there’s no single “best” one. The right choice depends entirely on your budget, technical skill, and business model.
Here is our expert recommendation:
- Best Overall (Power & Scale): LearnDash. It’s the most powerful, feature-complete, and scalable solution for serious course creators and professionals.
- Best All-in-One (Membership + Courses): MemberPress. If your primary goal is a membership site and courses are part of the package, its all-in-one approach is the most streamlined.
- Best for Beginners & Marketplaces: Tutor LMS. Its powerful free version and modern frontend builder offer the best user experience and value.
- Best Free Option: LearnPress or LifterLMS (Core). Both offer a solid foundation for free, but be prepared to buy add-ons as you grow.
No matter which plugin you choose, an LMS site is resource-intensive. You will need fast and reliable WordPress hosting and a plan to optimize your site’s speed to ensure your students have a smooth, buffer-free experience.
