Best WordPress Plugin For Online Courses

WordPress is an amazing tool to build your online course website. But with millions of plugins out there, it can be hard to find the right one.

That’s why we’ve decided to put together a list of the best WordPress plugins for online courses. Whether you’re using a page builder, hosting your videos on YouTube, or selling your courses directly from your site, we’ve got you covered!

So without further ado, here’s our curated guide of the top 5 plugins for WordPress course creators!

Best WordPress Plugin For Online Courses

Best WordPress Plugin For Online Courses

1. Tutor LMS

Tutor LMS is one of the most popular additions to the world of WordPress LMS plugins. In a very short time, they have amassed an army of 50,000+ eLearning enthusiasts. It comes packed with unique features like the frontend course builder, drag-and-drop course creator, certificate builder, and continuous development support from the parent company, Themeum.

Tutor LMS screenshot
Tutor LMS

The core plugin is free, while the premium plan starts at $149 for a single-site license. With it, you get access to multiple premium addons like Certificates, Course Previews, Multi-Instructor, Frontend Course Builder, Content Drip, and more. You can also use integrations with Google Classroom for robust communication, Zoom for live video classes, and Elementor for a fully customized course-building experience.

Tutor LMS also boasts a secure platform with top security and coding practices. It has a growing list of integrations with ecommerce plugins, page builder plugins, as well as other popular ones like GamiPress, BuddyPress, and so on.

The Key Features in This WordPress LMS Plugin

  • With the Pro version, you get access to the frontend course builder. This enables a novice WordPress user to ignore the backend course builder and create courses right from the front end of the site.
  • Comes with separate frontend dashboards for students, instructors, and admin. Each dashboard shows different settings based on different role types.
  • Tutor LMS comes with a drag & drop certificate builder that lets you create certificates to award your students.
  • Covers all types of course content media with support for text-only content, audio courses, videos, and Live Classes with Zoom integration.
  • 10+ question types in the Quiz Builder for creative and insightful quizzes.
  • Q/A and Student Forums for each course to boost communications.
  • Enable/disable fully customizable triggered emails to send to your students and instructors for events happening on your Tutor LMS site. You can edit the emails using the built-in email template editor too.
  • Tutor LMS Notification add-on allows you to send site-wide notifications for events based on your LMS site.
  • Covers all monetization plans with support for ecommerce plugins like WooCommerce, EDD, Restrict Content Pro, and Paid Membership Pro.
  • Fully customizable site-building experience with support for page builders like Oxygen and Elementor.
  • The admin and the instructor dashboard both will help track and monitor earnings, give an overview of their LMS analytics, course details, earnings, statements, and more.
  • Comes with useful add-ons like Certificates, Assignments, and Gradebook in the premium version.
  • Tutor LMS also provides one-click migration tools if you’re planning to switch platforms. They currently support LearnDash and LearnPress, but they’ve stated that the supported platforms list will grow steadily.
  • Tutor LMS is available in 27+ languages. So it is a truly multi-lingual supported tool if you are building for a global audience.
  • The event calendar provides an overview of all that is happening and helps the user take necessary preparations.

2. LearnDash

LearnDash is used by many Fortune 500 companies and major universities because of its overall speed, feature set, and impressive online course design. the majority of the must-have features we talked about previously in this article are covered by LearnDash, so I would consider this as a full suite with tools for content dripping, selling courses, rewarding learners, and activating triggers based on actions.

The pricing is set on an annual basis, so it’s fairly affordable in the short term. For instance, you pay $159 for the first year to support one website with all the features available in LearnDash. For a 10-site license that price jumps to $189 per year, with 25-site support sitting at $329. One downside to LearnDash is that there’s no free trial. However, the good news is that you can cancel within 30 days if you don’t like it.

LearnDash WordPress LMS plugin
LearnDash WordPress LMS plugin

We’ll talk about the key features below, but they are organized into four categories: courses, monetization, administration, and technical. It’s also worth noting that LearnDash is mobile compatible for learning on the go. Also, the customer support is provided by industry leading experts through a sophisticated ticketing system.

The Key Features in This WordPress LMS Plugin

  • Includes an option to create multi-tier courses where you break up the courses into more advanced experiences. For example, you may want to have quizzes and different lessons along the way.
  • Offers tools for drip feeding your content based on a schedule. You can also add lesson timers to ensure that everyone spends a certain amount of time on each lesson.
  • There’s no need to integrate with a forum plugin, since dynamic forums are already built into LearnDash.
  • LearnDash shows a gradebook to your students along with course points for whenever a user completes a certain part of the course. This pairs nicely with the certificates and badges.
  • Market your courses with several monetization tools like a shopping cart, memberships, subscriptions, course bundles, and course licenses.
  • LearnDash has automated email notifications and detailed reporting.
  • Allows for user profiles and group management–this is perfect for any group work you would like to assign.
  • LearnDash has support for most media types like videos, audio, images, Adobe Captivate files, and Google Docs.
  • It’s also multisite enable, just in case you’d like to run LearnDash on a network.
  • Let users create their own courses on your WordPress site using the premium Front-End Course Creation add-on.

3. Lifter LMS

Lifter LMS is a respectable alternative to LearnDash, but the pricing starts at $299 per year for a full LMS bundle. However, if you’d like to buy add-ons individually, you might be able to save some money, since they are each sold for $99. I don’t really see the point to this, since three add-ons already get you to that $299 price for the package, which includes dozens of the modules for that same price.

Boost the user experience of your online courses with lightning-fast load times. Try Kinsta for Free.

However, we like Lifter LMS for its unique integrations with WooCommerce, MailChimp, and AffiliateWP. If you’re already using one or two of the many Lifter LMS integrations, it might make sense to consider Lifter LMS over LearnDash. In addition, a $1, 30-day free trial is provided, so there’s more incentive to test Lifter LMS before paying full price.

LifterLMS WordPress plugin
LifterLMS WordPress plugin

Lifter LMS is also known for its services, where you pay for a bundle with items like sample courses, sample quizzes, certificates, and a fully configured website. This might come into play for those who aren’t that technical but have the content ready to launch.

The features are more or less the same as LearnDash, but there are a few notable differences. For instance, Lifter LMS includes a graphics pack with backgrounds and other design elements. You can also collect customer testimonials to help you sell the courses in the future. Another reason the Lifter LMS plugin looks interesting for beginners is because of its integrations with Divi and Beaver Builder. These drag and drop editors remove the need to mess with code, and they deliver a more visual design experience.

The Key Features in This WordPress LMS Plugin

  • Lifter LMS provides a direct WooCommerce integration for selling your courses individually or as bundles.
  • The drag and drop course building tools and integrations are bound to attract beginners and those who want the easiest design experience possible.
  • The main plugin is free, so you can technically build a simple online course website without paying a dime. The only add-on you would have to pay for is one of the payment gateways.
  • The customer support includes technical support, live office hours, and plenty of free training courses.
  • The Lifter LMS course builder offers options for all types of multimedia, a beautiful course builder, drip content, and quizzes.
  • Moving platforms is a breeze since Lifter LMS provides a course import and export tool.
  • Create discussion areas and social profiles for your students to interact with each other and their teachers.
  • You get a wide variety of marketing and moneymaking tools like recurring payments, multiple gateways, unlimited pricing models, and coupons.
  • You can implement a tool called “social learning,” which unlocks the power of Facebook likes to improve how students view your courses and interact.

The Lifter LMS even team recommends Kinsta for LMS hosting. 👍

4. LearnPress

LearnPress serves as the simplest and cleanest choice in the world of WordPress LMS plugins. The plugin is completely free to use, but you most likely have to pay for a LearnPress compatible theme. The main downside is that the customer support isn’t as dedicated as you might find with a premium LMS. That said, most of the basic LearnPress add-ons are free, and the email support reps respond to you within 24 hours. You can also opt to pay for premium add-ons for items like certificates, co-instructor support, and WooCommerce support.

LearnPress WordPress plugin
LearnPress WordPress plugin

Each LearnPress course can be created with quizzes and lessons as the students move through the curriculum. You might have to activate a few add-ons, depending on how advanced you need to make your online course website. For instance, there are add-ons for bbPress, BuddyPress, course reviews, wishlists, importing/exporting, and prerequisites to courses.

The Key Features in This WordPress LMS Plugin

  • LearnPress includes a landing page template for linking from ads and talking about course descriptions, curriculum, and more.
  • You can create a beautiful page that markets to people who might want to become instructors.
  • LearnPress supports a large collection of payment gateways including 2Checkout, Authorize.net, and Stripe.
  • The core LMS plugin is free, so you have the opportunity to make a simple, yet in-depth online course. You’ll probably then spend around $50 on a theme and around $30 for a payment gateway integration. The good part about this is that you’re not stuck paying a yearly recurring fee.
  • LearnPress allows for multiple instructors, where two or three teachers manage one course.
  • A badges and point system is available to gamify your courses.
  • Content dripping is provided, along with random quizzes, paid memberships, and a WooCommerce add-on.

5. Sensei

Sensei comes as an extension for WooCommerce, so it’s a practical addition to an eCommerce store that wants to include online videos and courses. The basic premise is simple: you create courses, write lessons, and add quizzes. User registration is also included, and it’s a simple process when adding other WooCommerce elements (like physical products) in with the courses.

Sensei LMS WooCommerce plugin
Sensei LMS WooCommerce plugin

The pricing starts at $129 and goes up to $279 depending on how many sites you want to implement it on. This price is only good for one year, so it’s required to upgrade annually. The seamless WooCommerce integration is the bread and butter of Sensei, especially since it’s made to work with all WooCommerce themes. Overall, Sensei is built around the intuitiveness of WordPress, so the beginner user shouldn’t have any problems making a course like they would a regular WordPress post.

You should also consider the fact that Sensei doesn’t need a WooCommerce theme in order to function properly. The majority of well-coded WordPress themes combine nicely with Sensei, so it’s only a matter of how advanced you’d like your eCommerce functionality to be.

The Key Features in This WordPress LMS Plugin

  • The extension merges well with WooCommerce and WordPress, and the user experience isn’t much different than making a WordPress page or post.
  • The majority of WordPress themes on the market integrate fine with Sensei.
  • The user registration is done through WordPress, so once again, those familiar with WordPress should find Sensei easy to learn.
  • The WooCommerce integration allows you to instantly charge for a course, whether it be as a subscription or on an individual basis.
  • The simple course analytics provide information on grading, course completion, and students registered.
  • The quizzes aren’t anything special when it comes to design, but several templates are offered for things like true/false, single line, file upload, and multi-line tests.
  • Sensei displays random quizzes based on a bank of questions you set prior to launch.
  • Quiz grading can be set to automatic or manual.

best lms plugin for wordpress free

1. LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin

LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin

WordPress LMS Plugin – LearnPress is a comprehensive WordPress LMS Plugin for WordPress, just like WordPress Moodle or Moodle for WordPress if you know what Moodle is. This is one of the best WordPress LMS Plugins can be used to easily create & sell courses online. Each course curriculum can be made with lessons & quizzes which can be managed with easy-to-use user interface. With this WordPress LMS plugin, you can quickly and easily create education, online school, online-course websites with no coding-knowledge required.

LearnPress is free and always be free, but it has premium high quality WordPress Plugin which will probably help you make money from your WordPress based LMS, try and see how it is. LearnPress WordPress Online Course plugin is lightweight but super powerful with lots of add-ons to empower its core system.

2. LearnDash (Premium)

LearnDash (Premium)

The Most Trusted WordPress LMS

The #1 choice of Fortune 500 companies, major universities, training organizations, and entrepreneurs worldwide for creating (and selling) their online courses. Easily create & sell courses, deliver quizzes, award certificates, manage users, download reports, and so much more! By using LearnDash you have access to the latest e-learning industry trends for creating robust learning experiences. Best Free LearnDash Compatible WordPress Themes

Manage Your LMS with Ease

With LearnDash you are always in control. Use the simple yet powerful administration capabilities to manage your users and courses with ease.

3. ProProfs LMS

pro cloud lms free

The World’s Easiest LMS WordPress Plugin for Creating Courses and Quizzes

Transform your WordPress website into an elearning portal by creating, sharing, or selling online courses, lessons, and tests easily. Installing and using the ProProfs plugin with WordPress is as easy as it gets.

Premium Library

The LMS offers a premium library of 100+ courses and default templates on a range of corporate training topics. These resources are designed by professionals, and they are easily customizable and ready to use.

Easy Course Assignment & Tracking

Using the add-on, you can easily add courses or quizzes and assign them to learners right from your WordPress dashboard. Best, you can track learning progress and derive insightful reports from the same dashboard.

4. LMS by LifterLMS – Online Course, Membership & Learning Management System Plugin for WordPress

LMS by LifterLMS – Online Course, Membership & Learning Management System Plugin for WordPress

LifterLMS is a powerful WordPress LMS plugin that makes it easy to create, sell, and protect engaging online courses and training based membership websites. LifterLMS works with any well-coded WordPress theme and all the popular WordPress page builders (like Elementor, Beaver Builder, Divi, etc.). As an engaged WordPress community member, LifterLMS actively encourages and helps other great plugins integrate with LifterLMS like Affiliate WP, Monster Insights, WP Fusion, the most popular form plugins, GamiPress, Astra Pro, the Course Scheduler, and many more. You can also connect your WordPress LMS website to 1,500+ other apps via Zapier. LifterLMS is one of only 11 WordPress plugins listed in the Zapier app directory.

LifterLMS strikes a beautiful balance in being an all-in-one solution while also integrating with other best of breed technologies relevant to course creators and membership site owners.https://www.youtube.com/embed/jDVvkipF_pg?feature=oembed

5. MasterStudy LMS – WordPress Course Plugin

MasterStudy LMS – WordPress Course Plugin

Online education is a growing field within the education industry. Online courses have become a popular way for people to advance in life or in their respective fields without needing to spend too much money.

If you are interested in marketing your skills and knowledge in this way, then you will need an effective way to connect with potential customers.

A good way of reaching out to such learners is by building a website. However, most regular sites don’t have the functionality to allow for online learning – that is where WordPress LMS plugin come in.

Learning Management System (LMS) plugins allow you to create and run online courses like Udemy with WordPress. You will want to make sure though that you are choosing the very best LMS plugin for your online learning website. These will provide end-to-end services that include tools and features for managing your online course content, handling subscriptions, running and grading quizzes, accepting payments, and more.

MasterStudy LMS is a powerful online education, course, and learning management system plugin for WordPress that is available free of charge. It is suitable for use with WordPress 4.6 and above.

6. Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution

Tutor is a complete, feature-packed and robust WordPress LMS plugin to create & sell courses online easily. All the features of this learning management system hits all the checkpoints for a full-fledged online course marketplace. You can create challenging and fun quizzes, interactive lessons, powerful reports and stats making Tutor potentially the best free WordPress LMS plugin. Manage, administer and monetize your education, online school, and online courses without having to write a single line of code. Tutor LMS is the easiest and best LMS plugin for beginners and anyone none technical.

Create, customize, manage, and sell online courses by building a functional e-learning website with this free LMS plugin for WordPress.

Conclusion

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines

Leave a Reply

Flux Resource Help Chat
Send via WhatsApp