Buyer's guide
Best LMS plugins for WordPress
Six plugins, compared on the thing that actually decides it: what the free version does, and what you have to buy before you can sell a course. We build one of these, so read the table before the sales pitch.
The whole category at a glance
What you get before you pay.
Nearly every plugin here has a course builder in its free tier. The differences start at quizzes and end at whether you can take a payment.
| Plugin | Course builder | Quizzes | Certificates | Take payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learnomy Ours Free core, optional Pro | Free - Course builder in the free version | Free - Quizzes in the free version | Free - Certificates in the free version | Free - Take payments in the free version |
| LearnDash Commercial only | Paid - Course builder requires a paid tier or add-on | Paid - Quizzes requires a paid tier or add-on | Paid - Certificates requires a paid tier or add-on | Paid - Take payments requires a paid tier or add-on |
| Tutor LMS Free tier, paid Pro | Free - Course builder in the free version | Free - Quizzes in the free version | Paid - Certificates requires a paid tier or add-on | Free - Take payments in the free version |
| Masteriyo Free tier, paid Pro | Free - Course builder in the free version | Free - Quizzes in the free version | Free - Certificates in the free version | Free - Take payments in the free version |
| LearnPress Free tier, paid add-ons | Free - Course builder in the free version | Free - Quizzes in the free version | Paid - Certificates requires a paid tier or add-on | Paid - Take payments requires a paid tier or add-on |
| LifterLMS Free core, paid add-ons | Free - Course builder in the free version | Paid - Quizzes requires a paid tier or add-on | Paid - Certificates requires a paid tier or add-on | Paid - Take payments requires a paid tier or add-on |
"Paid" means the capability exists but needs a paid tier, bundle or add-on. Free tiers change between versions, so check each vendor for current details. This reflects typical defaults at the time of writing, and we build Learnomy, so weigh the row accordingly.
Which one suits you
Pick this one when.
Every plugin here is a reasonable choice for somebody. These are the somebodies.
Learnomy
Free core, optional ProYou want to run and sell a real academy without paying for add-ons first. Courses, six quiz types, verified certificates, memberships, coupons and Stripe or PayPal checkout are all in the free plugin, and it keeps no cut of what you sell.
You want the most established name in WordPress LMS and are happy to buy a licence before testing on a real site. Years of production use, a large integration ecosystem and plenty of agencies who know it well. There is no free version to trial with.
You like a modern front-end course builder and a genuinely capable free tier. Advanced selling and the deeper tooling sit in Pro.
You want a fast, clean free LMS with checkout included and no platform fee. The closest free tier to Learnomy on this list; Learnomy adds deeper assessment and instructor payouts.
You want a widely used free course builder and do not mind buying add-ons as you grow. Payments, certificates and content drip are add-ons rather than core.
You want a strong course-and-membership foundation and expect to buy a bundle. The core engine is solid; most of what you need beyond it is a paid add-on.
Already on LearnDash and wondering whether to move? The LearnDash alternatives page answers that one honestly, including when the answer is to stay.
Only after a free tier, not a shortlist? The free WordPress LMS comparison goes deeper on that half, and the WordPress LMS plugin overview covers what the category has to do at all.
What it costs you
Honestly, where the money goes
We build one of the six, so the fair thing is to be explicit about what that costs you and what it does not.
- Free, and it can actually sell
- The free plugin runs a real academy: courses, six quiz types, certificates with public verification, and Stripe and PayPal checkout built in. Most free LMS tiers stop at the course builder and put payments behind a paid add-on.
- No cut of your course sales
- Whatever LearnDash charges, Learnomy takes nothing on top of it. Your payment processor's fee is the only cut, because checkout runs on your own site.
- No add-on tax
- Certificates, memberships, coupons and instructor commissions are in the free plugin rather than sold back one at a time. Pro adds standards support, cohorts, drip and analytics as one licence.
- A lifetime option exists
- Pro is $149 a year, or $399 once. Stop renewing and the academy keeps running, because the free plugin is what it is built on.
On rival pricing: LearnDash, LifterLMS and the Pro tiers of Tutor LMS, LearnPress and Masteriyo are all commercial, and every one of them runs discounts often enough that a figure printed here would mislead within a quarter. Check each vendor's own pricing page. Checked September 2026 that none of them publishes a free tier matching the one described above.
FAQ
Which LMS is best for WordPress?
There is no single answer, which is why this page compares them on what their free tier actually does rather than ranking them. If you want to run and sell an academy without buying add-ons first, Learnomy is the most complete free tier here. If you want the most established name and are happy to buy a licence up front, LearnDash has the longest track record. If you want a modern builder with a capable free tier, Tutor LMS and Masteriyo both qualify.
Which free LMS is best for WordPress?
Judge a free LMS on whether it can take money, because that is where most free tiers stop. Learnomy and Masteriyo both include checkout in the free version. LearnPress and LifterLMS put payments behind add-ons, and LearnDash has no free version at all.
Is Tutor LMS a WordPress plugin?
Yes, with a free version on wordpress.org and a paid Pro tier. Its front-end course builder is the part people usually like. Advanced selling features sit in Pro.
What are the top 5 LMS platforms?
For WordPress specifically, the names that come up most are LearnDash, LifterLMS, Tutor LMS, LearnPress and Masteriyo, with Learnomy the newer entrant built to ship the paid parts free. Hosted platforms like Teachable, Thinkific and Kajabi are a different category: quicker to start, and they price per month and often take a cut of sales.
How much does a WordPress course cost to run?
On WordPress you pay for software and hosting rather than a slice of each sale. Learnomy's core is free, Pro is $149 a year or $399 once, and hosting for a small academy is a few dollars a month. Compare that with hosted platforms, whose monthly fee and transaction cut both scale with how well the course sells.
Try the row you just read
Courses, quizzes, certificates and checkout, in a free plugin you own. No add-on to buy before you can sell.