5 Best WordPress LMS Plugins of 2023 (Pros and Cons)

The world of online learning is a boon for many tutors and learners. If you are a tutor looking for a platform to take your courses online, you are at the right place.

WordPress is an online platform to host your courses conveniently. It has an array of plugins to handle your content easily and flexibly.

It gives the course creator and students a user-friendly interface. WordPress Learning Management System(LMS) helps skilled trainers create tutorials and lessons with ease.

Cooking, finance, art, technology, journalism, and anything can be taught through LMS plugins. Courses can be free or charged for a fee.

This article tells you about WordPress LMS plugins. Read further to learn how you can choose and customize an LMS plugin to suit your course requirements.

What is WordPress LMS Plugins?

WordPress LMS Plugins are software suites meant for creating and hosting courses online. They handle the technical algorithms and data structures needed to manage your courses.

It is easier than building your course website from scratch.

Some features that WordPress LMS plugins offer are:

• Uploading course content
• Maintaining student accounts
• Content dripping/scheduled topic release
• Lesson timing to prevent skips
• Online tests, score points, and certifications
• Student – tutor interactions
• Payment gateways to pay course fees

Consider these points before choosing an LMS plugin that is the right choice for your course.

1. Business purpose: What age group do your students belong to? What theme would suit their learning style? What are the main features needed?
2. User reviews: Does the plugin have positive reviews? Are the costs feasible? Learn if setup and maintenance are easy for novices.
3. Monetization: Depending on your course complexity what are your money-making scopes? Can you charge a course fee? If free, can you have other sources to monetize from?
4. Fascinating features: From using reward points to purchase courses to getting a job opportunity through the plugin, what add-on features does your course need to stand out?
5. Integration and Upgrades: How seamlessly can your plugin handle periodic upgrades? Does it hamper existing content? Does it have an extra cost?

Top 5 WordPress LMS Plugins

By now, you must be having an idea of the kind of requirements your plugin must fulfill. Once you have structured your course content, it is time to start.

Let us go through the top 5 WordPress LMS plugins to host and organize courses.

1. LearnDash

This is the most suitable LMS plugin for creating course content for business organizations.

Choose from a rich palate of templates that suits your course theme and structure. You can set lesson timers and prerequisites to help students process what they have learned.

The plugin provides rich scope for video content embedding and interactive quizzes. Access to courses can be authorized by a secure attendance system.

An interesting add-on is content dripping – releasing lessons periodically to keep students on track.

Pros and Cons of LearnDash LMS Plugin for WordPress

Pros

• Easy approval of submissions and award points for course content.
• Focus mode during video sessions enhances the course attention.

Cons

• Limited payment options. Third-party integrations are required.
• No free versions.

Pricing

Pricing comes as packages starting at $139.30 per year. One can also bill individual add-ons.

2. LearnPress

If you wish to implement your version of websites like Coursera, or Udemy, this is the plugin to go to. It is one to consider for user-friendly, interactive, and rich multimedia courses.

Like LearnDash, LearnPress also offers content-dripping strategies. Gamification options are made available by converting test scores to points.

These points can be used to buy new courses, get rewards, etc. If you are tight on budget and want a buffet-like experience, this is your stop!

Pros and Cons of LearnPress Plugin

Pros

• Multiple payment gateway options
• Easy drag-and-drop content creation
• Provides a mobile app for on-the-go access.

Cons

• Support for beginners is not up to the mark.

Pricing

It has a free version. Semi-pro bundle pack will cost you $149 per year and the pro bundle starts at $299.

3. Sensei LMS

This is a plugin most suited for courses involving examinations, after-session tests, quiz. Integration with WooCommerce helps sell your courses easily.

‘Sensei blocks’ can be provided anywhere on your course pages. This can be as visuals, interactive multiple choice quizzes, task snippets, etc.

Know another cool feature? It is also possible to convert blog content to structured course content!

Pros and Cons of Sensei LMS WordPress Plugin

Pros

• Provides free high-level features to encourage student access and interaction.

Cons

• Payment gateway support could be enhanced to support more partners.
• Add-on features are lesser compared to other plugins.
• The free version includes essential features of content upload, quiz and certificate generation, and hosting.

Pricing

To sell courses and have interactive blocks you can choose Sensei Pro($15) or Sensei Bundle ($34). Add-ons are priced at $5 per month.

4. Lifter LMS

This LMS plugin targets individuals or beginners who want to start an online course. Rich multimedia support is available for those teaching fitness, musical instruments, etc.

After lesson assessments, certifications on completion are some features included. From simple to top-notch designer themes, you have it all.

To collect course fees, you can integrate with payment portals like PayPal and Stripe.

Pros and Cons of Lifter LMS Plugin

Pros

• Highly suitable for novices. Online community support aids new tutors.
• Recurring payments – for every lesson or period. Helps students come back for more.

Cons

Only the core plugin comes free. To integrate and initiate payments, plan upgrades are needed starting from $199.

Pricing

Free version available. Earth Bundle for 1 active will cost you $199 per year.

Universe Bundle will cost you $360 per year and Infinity Bundle will cost you $1200 per year.

5. Teachable

It does not belong to the WordPress suite. With an easy drag-and-drop UI, the course created here can be integrated with a WordPress website.

It provides similar course creation features to other plugins but as an independent LMS platform.

Payment gateways like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and more provide support for major international currencies.

Quiz creations, coupons, affiliate programs, and email marketing features allow courses to have a better reach.

Pros and Cons of Teachable

Pros

• Provides rich UI to create crystal clear course content.
• The course can be easily added to a WordPress domain or as a subdomain.

Cons

• Possible risk of WordPress removing plugin support in the future.

Pricing

The free version includes course upload, payments, and email support. Add-ons start from $29 per month.

The basic plan starts at $29 per month, the Pro plan at $99 per month, and the Business plan at $249 per month.

Conclusion

WordPress LMS plugins have a lot to offer to all kinds of tutors. Tutors could be individuals, universities, or business organizations.

Teaching a course without online aid is a laborious task. It involves several individuals and records to maintain. The same course taught with an LMS WordPress plugin is very easy.

From current research trends, Sensei LMS and Lifter LMS appear to be winners. This works for small-time tutors as well as university-style courses.

LearnPress is a winner for free hosting of several courses with advanced features. With information gathered here on suitable plugins, there is no more waiting.

Start your course online today!