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Buyer's guide
The best free WordPress LMS plugins, compared
Seven WordPress LMS plugins have a free version worth installing, and several of them can take payments. What separates them is where the paywall sits: checkout, certificates, memberships or content drip. Learnomy puts the first three in its free plugin, with drip in Pro. Here is how all seven compare before you pay anything.
What "free" should mean
A real academy - not a trial. Without paying for add-ons.
A free LMS is only useful if it lets you actually run an academy. That means payments, quizzes, and certificates in the free version - not locked behind a paywall.
Earlier than a shortlist? The WordPress LMS plugin overview covers what the category has to do before any of these are worth ranking. Weighing paid options too? The full roundup of six includes LearnDash and the paid tiers, and if you are already on one of them the LearnDash alternatives page is the honest version of that decision.
Learnomy
No add-ons neededFree includes: Courses, 6 quiz question types, certificates with public verification, Stripe + PayPal checkout, memberships, coupons, instructor commissions, a full REST API
Payments, quizzes, verified certificates, memberships and instructor commissions all ship in the free plugin. Content drip by schedule is in Pro.
Pick it when: You want to take payment, issue certificates and sell memberships without buying anything first.
Masteriyo
Learnomy vs Masteriyo →Free includes: Courses, quizzes, certificates, content drip, a built-in order system and payment gateways
The closest free tier to ours. Its listing puts the order system, gateways, quizzes and certificates in the free plugin, with subscriptions and bundles in Pro.
Pick it when: You want a free tier that sells and drips content, and you do not need memberships yet.
Tutor LMS
Learnomy vs Tutor LMS →Free includes: Course builder, quizzes, native eCommerce
Well liked for its course builder. It has native checkout; certificates, subscriptions and content drip appear in its add-on list.
Pick it when: The course-building experience matters most to you and you are happy to add Pro later.
LearnPress
Learnomy vs LearnPress →Free includes: Course builder, lessons, quizzes, default payment methods
Long-running and lightweight. Default payment methods are free; Stripe, WooCommerce checkout, certificates, memberships and content drip are paid add-ons.
Pick it when: You are running a small, simple course site and want the lightest starting point.
LifterLMS
Learnomy vs LifterLMS →Free includes: Courses, lessons, quizzes, memberships, checkout
A strong free core built to be extended. Its listing describes built-in Stripe and PayPal and puts memberships in the free core; many extras are add-ons or bundles.
Pick it when: Memberships are the centre of your business and you expect to grow into add-ons.
MasterStudy LMS
Free includes: Course builder, quiz builder with eight quiz types, certificate builder, selling
A generous free list, including a certificate builder. Content drip is a Pro add-on, and its listing is not clear on which side memberships sit.
Pick it when: You want a certificate builder and several quiz types free, and can live without drip.
Sensei LMS
Free includes: Courses, lessons, basic quizzes, certificates as a free extension
Made by the company behind WooCommerce. Teaching is free; selling courses needs Sensei Pro with WooCommerce, and scheduled content drip is Pro.
Pick it when: You teach for free, or you already run WooCommerce and plan to buy Pro.
Rival details are taken from each plugin's own wordpress.org listing. Free tiers change, so check the vendor before you decide.
Side by side
What each free version includes
Five things decide whether a free LMS can run a real course business. This is where each plugin stands on them without a paid licence.
| Plugin | Take payments | Quizzes | Certificates | Memberships | Content drip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learnomy | Stripe and PayPal built in | Six question types | Yes, with public verification | Yes | Pro (a per-lesson open date is free) |
| Masteriyo | Built-in order system and gateways | Yes | Yes, per its listing | Subscriptions and bundles are Pro | Yes, per its listing |
| Tutor LMS | Native checkout; listing does not say which parts are free | Yes | Listed as an add-on | Subscriptions listed as an add-on | Listed as an add-on |
| LearnPress | Default methods free; Stripe and WooCommerce are paid add-ons | Yes | Paid add-on | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
| LifterLMS | Stripe and PayPal, per its listing | Yes | In the feature list | Yes, in the free core | Check lifterlms.com |
| MasterStudy LMS | Selling is in the free plugin | Yes, eight types | Builder in the free list | Listing is unclear | Pro add-on |
| Sensei LMS | Selling needs Sensei Pro with WooCommerce | Yes; timer and ordering questions are Pro | Yes, as a free extension | Through WooCommerce, with Pro | Pro |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Where the paywall sits
The feature you need next is usually the paid one
Every plugin here lets you build a course for free. The difference shows up at the second step, when you want to charge for it, hand out a certificate, or sell access by the month.
So before you pick, write down the next two things your academy will need after the first course is live. If one of them is in a plugin's add-on list, that add-on is the real price of its free version. A free plugin you outgrow in a month costs more than a paid one you chose on purpose.
Learnomy's answer is to put selling in the free plugin: checkout, coupons, memberships, certificates and instructor commissions. What it holds back for Pro is the heavier teaching and reporting side, such as scheduled content drip, cohorts and SCORM. The free vs Pro page lists every line.
That is not the right trade for everyone. If scheduled drip matters more to you than memberships, Masteriyo gives you drip free. If your students never pay, Sensei LMS teaches well at no cost.
Video
See a course site running on your own WordPress
FAQ
What is the best free LMS plugin for WordPress?
It depends on what you need before you pay. If you want checkout, certificates and memberships in the free plugin, Learnomy covers all three. Masteriyo is the closest alternative and includes content drip free. Tutor LMS is the pick for its course builder, LifterLMS for membership-led sites, and LearnPress for a small, simple course site.
Is there a truly free WordPress LMS plugin?
Yes. Learnomy is free and includes courses, quizzes, certificates, built-in Stripe and PayPal checkout, memberships, and instructor commissions, with no platform fee. Masteriyo, Tutor LMS, LearnPress, LifterLMS, MasterStudy LMS and Sensei LMS also have free versions, and several of them can take payments too. Check each one for what needs an add-on.
Is there a free eLearning plugin for WordPress that can sell courses?
Several. Learnomy, Masteriyo, LifterLMS and MasterStudy LMS describe selling in their free versions, and LearnPress includes default payment methods. Sensei LMS is the exception in this list: selling courses needs Sensei Pro with WooCommerce.
Can I sell courses for free without transaction fees?
With Learnomy, yes. Built-in Stripe and PayPal direct checkout means you keep 100% of your revenue minus only the payment processor fees. There is no Learnomy platform cut, and WooCommerce is not required.
Which free LMS plugins include certificates?
Learnomy includes certificates with a public verification page. Masteriyo and MasterStudy LMS list a certificate builder in their free versions, and Sensei LMS offers certificates as a free extension. On LearnPress and Tutor LMS, certificates are listed as an add-on.
What makes a free LMS "complete"?
A complete free LMS lets you run a real academy without paying for add-ons. That means a course builder, payments, memberships, quizzes, and certificates in the free version - not gated to a higher tier. Learnomy includes all of these.
Do I need WooCommerce to sell with a free WordPress LMS?
Not with Learnomy. It runs standalone with built-in Stripe and PayPal and bundled Action Scheduler for subscriptions and renewals. WooCommerce is an optional gateway if you already use it.
Start free, the complete way
Courses, quizzes, certificates, payments, and memberships, in one free plugin you own.