One post tagged with "Learning-management-system"

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What is an LMS​

An LMS, which stands for Learning Management System, is basically a digital hub where people can create, share, and track learning or training materials.

Think of it as an online classroom or training center. It's used by anyone from large uni's to smaller coaches, one person coaching businesses, online trainers, personal trainers, and nearly anyone sharing learning content or resources with their clients and students. LMS's can also be used just by you to manage your class, be it in person or digital.

Core Uses:

• Makes Learning Easy to Organise: You can build courses, upload videos, add quizzes, and organize everything in one place.
• Delivers Content Online: Learners can log in from anywhere on their computer or phone to access lessons, watch videos, or take tests.
• Track Student Progress: The system keeps tabs on who’s completed what, how everyone is doing in for example; quizzes, and even sends reminders if someone falls behind.
• Communciations: Many LMSs have forums, chat, or messaging so students and instructors can ask questions, share ideas, or work together.

Best Free LMS for Small Business​

Some of the best LMS's that are free, are open source. Unfortunately, with everything in this life, free doesn't always mean free. Whilst the software itself is free, the cost to implement these open sources platforms can come in hosting costs, development or configuration. They're great if you have a very large course and need a lot of flexibility and configurability. As one Redditer puts it:

"..real LMS systems are expensive to implement, tough to get right and require the dedication of a development and support team to help you get the most from your learning platform investment.There are plenty of free-ish options (WordPress. Moodle, etc.) but you trade off spending money for spending time configuring and managing the solution. You shift the cost from an LMS license fee to server hosting fees, sys admin costs, plugin fees, etc."

That said if you're looking for a low cost, low time/stress LMS for your small business. The best bet is via WordPress which will cost you a domain and hosting anywhere from $15+ a month.) using a Plugin like LifterLMS or LearnDash

LifterLMS​

LifterLMS includes:

• Course creator.: Simple to use course builder with quizes, Lessions and Sections.
• Memberships and Payments: You can lock down your course so your students need to pay and you can collect payments via Stripe, WooCommerce or other payment gateways.You can offer ourses or even full site access through flexible membership options. Features include automatic enrollment, exclusive member pricing, and more. Students can pay using credit cards, set up recurring payments, or choose from custom pricing plans to suit their needs.
• Student Engagement: Keeping students motivated and satisfied is key to retention and success rates. With LifterLMS, you can boost engagement by awarding achievement badges, fostering social learning communities, enabling direct messaging, offering private coaching, and much more.

Pros and Cons of LifterLMS

LifterLMS Pros

• The drag-and-drop course builder is pretty easy to use.
• It's really great for video based lessons and has great integrations with YT and Vimeo.
• It offers lots of payment options from cards, recurring, and is highly customisble.
• The student part of the LMS has great UI and is really easy to use.
• Managing pricing and student access it pretty easy.
• Built-in analytics, certificates, and engagement triggers help you track student performance and boost motivation

LifterLMS Cons

• Costs can add up fast if you need several add-ons or advanced features. Payment gateways and email integrations are sold separately, and bundles can be pricey compared to other plugins like LearnDash.
• The initial setup isn’t always straightforward. Even with lots of documentation, some users find getting started a bit confusing and wish onboarding was clearer.
• Free users get limited support, while priority is given to those with paid bundles. This can be frustrating if you run into issues and don’t have a paid plan.
• Some users have noticed performance slowdowns on larger sites, and there can be compatibility hiccups with certain PHP versions.
• The free version is missing many advanced features, so you’ll likely need paid extensions if you want a more complete learning platform

LearnDash​

Is another WordPress plugin, which is also free. That said it's limited to content and course creation, you will need to download plugins to do marketing, hosting videos, and to accept payments. If you're a small course creator it may work but it suffers from a similiar issue as Lifter. You'll need to stitch together alot of plugins and that adds complexity.

That said it's pretty simple to setu[ and use, cheap and has decent engagement and learning retention tools.

LearnDash includes:

For Leaners

• FocusMode (to avoid distractions), video progression (allows learners to restart where they left off.) Automated notifications (instant feedback wqhen they achieve a score), and challenge exams.

For Builders

• Drag & drop course builder super easy to use and no coding whatsoever (pheww.)
• AI course builders, assignment management, course dashboards, course dashboarhs, advanced quizes with lots of quiz question types, virtual and in person lessons and dynamic content delivery (drip feed lessons or set linear progressions.)

LearnDash Pros

• Great for boosting student retention and course completion rates
• User-friendly interface integrated directly into the familiar WordPress dashboard
• Built-in student certification tools
• Optional managed hosting and security services available for an additional fee
• Intuitive course builder featuring a hassle-free drag-and-drop design

LearnDash Cons

• Focuses solely on learning management, without any additional functionalities (marketing, payments etc)
• Costs can quickly add up, as essential integrations often require significant extra investment
• Does not provide video hosting or built-in payment processing capabilities
• Tracking analytics can be challenging due to reliance on multiple integrations
• Missing advanced features such as high-converting funnel templates, CRM tools, or integrated help desks
• Lacks access to a third-party marketplace for professional services

Moodle​

Moodle provides a completely free, open-source LMS with unlimited courses and users for maximum control over your training infrastructure. The platform supports extensive customization through plugins and includes a mobile app with offline access capabilities.

Pricing: Free open-source software (hosting and support costs only).

Moodle Pros:

• Completely free with unlimited users and courses
• Full customisation capabilities
• Extensive plugin library
• Fantastic mobile app with offline access

Moodle Cons:

• Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain
• Self-hosting adds costs and complexity
• Can be complex for beginners to run
• Dated user interface

TalentLMS​

TalentLMS offers a flexible learning platform with intuitive course creation tools and frickin awesome gamification elements. The system includes AI-powered content generation, comprehensive mobile access, and customizable learning paths for streamlined employee development.

Pricing: Free plan for up to 5 users and 10 courses. Paid plans start at $69/month (Core), $109/month (Grow), and $139/month (Pro), with 20% discount for annual billing.

TalentsLMS Pros:

• Flexible pricing with a decent free tier
• Intuitive interface designed for small businesses
• AI-powered course creation tools
• Gamification elements that increase engagement

TalentsLMS Cons:

• Flex add-on costs extra for managing fluctuating user numbers
• Limited customisation on lower-tier plans
• Mobile app experience not as robust as desktop version

iSpring Learn​

iSpring Learn delivers distance learning with minimal setup time and includes a PowerPoint-based course editor. The platform supports mobile learning with offline access and features integrated content development tools for creating interactive materials.

Pricing: Starting at $2.94 per user monthly (billed annually), with pay-per-active-user model.

iSpring Pros:

• Straightforward pricing with no hidden fees
• Excellent mobile learning with offline access
• PowerPoint-based course editing for easy content creation
• Clean, intuitive interface

iSpring Cons:

• Full functionality requires separate purchase of iSpring Suite
• Limited built-in interactivity options
• Less robust community features than some competitors

Coassemble​

Coassemble specialises in code-free course development with interactive elements and AI-powered creation tools. The platform focuses on microlearning with a login-free experience (using MagicLink).

Pricing: Free plan for single creator. Solo plan at $10/month, Pro plan at $15/month, Business plan at $25/month.

Coassemble Pros:

• Strong AI-powered course creation
• Code-free course development with a lot of flexibility
• Login-free learner experience
• Mobile browser compatibility

Coassemble Cons:

• No dedicated mobile app
• Limited reporting capabilities on lower tiers
• Fewer integrations than enterprise solutions

EasyLMS​

EasyLMS focuses on compliance training with robust certification features and assessment tools. The platform includes customizable certificates, randomized questions, and strong accessibility compliance for inclusive learning experiences.

Pricing: Flat-fee model: Business Owl ($105/month), Corporate Owl ($159/month), Enterprise Owl ($275/month) with annual discounts.

EasyLMS Pros:

• Excellent certification and compliance features
• Flat-fee pricing instead of per-user costs
• Strong accessibility features (WCAG 2.1 compliant)
• ISO 27001 certified for security, which makes it a fantastic tool for bigger organisations or if you sell to larger clients.

EasyLMS Cons:

• No dedicated mobile app
• Limited customisation options
• User interface feels a tad 90s compared to newer platforms

Groundwork1​

Groundwork1 delivers training directly to email inboxes, eliminating the need for additional software or logins. The system supports various content types from videos to quizzes, all accessible through familiar email interactions.

Pricing: Starts at $29/month for up to 50 people ($0.58 per employee).

Groundwork1 Pros:

• Email-based delivery eliminates need for new software
• Extremely affordable for small teams
• Automated reminder system
• No login barriers for employees

Groundwork1 Cons:

• Limited interactive content types
• Basic reporting capabilities
• Less comprehensive than traditional LMS platforms

Connecteam​

Connecteam combines learning management with powerful communication tools specifically designed for non-desk teams. The platform includes onboarding workflows, in-app chat, and a comprehensive recognition system to boost engagement.

Pricing: Free plan for up to 10 users. HR & Skills plans start at $29/month for first 30 users.

Connecteam Pros:

• All-in-one platform combining training and communication
• Mobile-first design ideal for non-desk teams
• Built-in recognition and rewards system
• Comprehensive onboarding workflows

Connecteam Cons:

• Can be overwhelming with too many features
• Additional costs for users beyond initial 30
• Steep Learning curve for administrators

LearnWorlds​

LearnWorlds combines sophisticated learning tools with marketing features to help businesses create and sell courses. The platform includes white-labeling options, AI course creation tools, and robust monetization features for selling educational content.

Pricing: Starter ($29/month with $5 transaction fee), Pro Trainer ($99/month), Learning Center ($299/month).

LearnWorlds Pros:

• Easy to use and flexible course monetisation features
• Complete white-labeling options
• AI-assisted course creation
• Branded mobile apps (add-on)

LearnWorlds Cons:

• Transaction fees on starter plan
• Higher entry price than some competitors
• Learning curve for utilizing all features

Gurucan​

Gurucan delivers a comprehensive platform with strong branding control across web and mobile experiences. The system includes membership features for recurring payments, branded mobile apps, and live session capabilities for real-time learning.

Pricing: Creator ($39/month), Expert ($99/month), Pro ($149/month), Guru ($199/month).

Gurucan Pros:

• White-label mobile apps without coding
• Strong membership and subscription features
• Live session and webinar capabilities
• Marketing automation tools

Gurucan Cons:

• Higher price point for mobile app features
• Limited third-party integrations
• Less intuitive interface than some competitors

Deel Engage​

Deel Engage combines learning management with performance tools and features AI-powered content creation. The platform can generate micro-courses in seconds and includes automation features that save time for resource-constrained teams.

Pricing: $20 per employee per month.

Deel Engage Pros:

• AI course builder generates content very quickly
• Combined learning and performance management
• Strong automation features
• Solid compliance tracking

Deel Engage Cons:

• Limited customisation options
• No free tier available

360Learning​

360Learning focuses on collaborative learning where employees can contribute content and identify training needs. The platform transforms how training is created and shared, with AI-powered authoring tools and bottom-up learning approaches.

Pricing: Team plan at $8 per registered user monthly (up to 100 users), custom Business plan for larger teams.

360Learning Pros:

• AI-powered authoring tools
• Bottom-up learning approach
• Comprehensive feedback and analytics

360Learning Cons:

• Limited features on Team plan
• Custom pricing needed for larger organisations
• Learning curve for collaborative approach

SkyPrep​

SkyPrep delivers a clean, modern interface with knowledge reinforcement tools and extensive integration capabilities. The platform features a customizable dashboard with modular functionality and innovative learning tools like Knowledge Booster for content reinforcement.

Pricing: Tiered plans include Lite, Premium, and Enterprise with dedicated support options.

SkyPrep Pros:

• Clean, intuitive modern interface
• Knowledge reinforcement tools
• Extensive integration capabilities
• Strong customer support

SkyPrep Cons:

• Limited pricing transparency
• Some advanced features only available on higher tiers
• Less innovative than newer platforms

Tovuti LMS​

Tovuti LMS features extensive gamification options and AI-powered course creation to make training more engaging. The platform includes over 40 interactive content types and access to thousands of ready-to-use training resources through an optional content library.

Pricing: Subscription-based with small, medium, and corporate business options.

Tovuti LMS Pros:

• 40+ gamified content options
• Cloud-based with no downloads required
• AI course generation
• Extensive ready-to-use content library

Tovuti LMS Cons:

• Limited pricing transparency
• Steep learning curve for administrators
• Some features require additional subscriptions

Thinkific​

Thinkific enables businesses to create, market, and sell online courses with strong monetization features. The platform includes AI tools for course outlines and quizzes, plus robust analytics to track business performance and learner engagement.

Pricing: Multiple plans from Basic to Plus with 14-day free trial.

Thinkific Pros:

• Complete platform for creating and selling courses
• Strong marketing and sales tools
• AI course outline and quiz generators
• 100+ integrations with standard applications

Thinkific Cons:

• More focused on selling courses than internal training
• Advanced features require higher-tier plans
• Limited gamification options

TalentCards​

TalentCards specializes in microlearning through a card-based system delivering bite-sized training to smartphones. The platform can generate complete microlearning courses instantly and uses spaced repetition algorithms to help employees master difficult material efficiently.

Pricing: Free plan for up to 5 users. Standard ($50/month for 50 users), Premium ($75/month for 50 users).

TalentCards Pros:

• Specialised microlearning approach
• AI-generated content in seconds
• Mobile-first design for frontline workers
• Content translation into 100+ languages

TalentCards Cons:

• Limited to card-based learning format
• Less comprehensive than full LMS solutions
• Limited customization options

Conclusion Finding Your Ideal Small Business LMS​

Before making your decision think about:

• Budget constraints: Evaluate not just initial costs but long-term scalability as your training needs grow, open source may see an easy option but may drain time resources and cost more in the mid term.

• Content creation needs: Assess whether you need sophisticated authoring tools or just uploading your own content.

• Learning experience: Determine if mobile access, gamification, or self-paced options matters to you?

• Administrative requirements: Consider reporting capabilities, compliance features,payments and certification tracking