Learnomy vs LearnPress
LearnPress offers a free core with a large add-on ecosystem. Learnomy ships payments, certificates, memberships, quizzes, and instructor commissions in the free plugin - no add-ons needed.
Built-in Stripe + PayPal
Free, no add-on
Certificates + verification
Free, no add-on
REST API endpoints
166, JWT auth, Free
The short version
Both are free WordPress LMS plugins. The difference is what "free" includes.
LearnPress is one of the most widely installed LMS plugins in the WordPress repository. Its free core covers basic courses and lessons. Most of the features site owners actually need - advanced payments, certificates, content drip, assignments, and expanded quizzes - sit behind paid add-ons or bundle packages.
Learnomy's free plugin was designed so that the answer to "is this free?" is simply yes for the features that matter most. Stripe checkout, PayPal, memberships, coupons, six quiz types, certificates with public verification, and instructor commissions are all included at no cost. Pro adds advanced modules - cohorts, learning paths, advanced quizzes, Stripe Connect, content drip - for academies that need them.
Side by side
Learnomy vs LearnPress
Comparison reflects the free tier of each plugin and typical add-on requirements for LearnPress. Features vary across LearnPress bundle versions.
| Criteria | Learnomy Self-hosted WordPress | LearnPress Self-hosted WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + Pro from $104/yr Everything below is Free unless noted Pro | Free core + paid add-ons Most advanced features need individual add-ons or bundles |
| Built-in payments (Stripe/PayPal) | Yes, Free Direct checkout, no WooCommerce required | Basic only free; more via add-ons Full gateway support requires paid add-ons |
| Certificates + public verification | Yes, Free Permanent verification URL, QR code, PDF download | Paid add-on Certificate module is a separate purchase |
| Quiz types | 6 Free / 11 Pro True/false, choice, short answer, fill-in, essay, plus 5 Pro types | Basic free; more via add-on Advanced question types require a paid quiz add-on |
| Memberships | Yes, Free Monthly, annual, and lifetime membership plans built in | Add-on or 3rd-party required Native membership support needs extra plugin or add-on |
| Instructor commissions | Yes, Free Configurable revenue split + withdrawal queue | Paid add-on Multi-instructor revenue sharing is a separate purchase |
| REST API | 166 endpoints + JWT Full API coverage for every data type in Free | Limited Basic REST coverage; not a primary integration path |
LearnPress add-on availability and pricing may vary. Verify current bundle pricing at their official site before purchasing.
Why creators pick Learnomy
A genuinely complete free tier
01
No add-on sprawl
Everything Learnomy ships in Free - payments, certificates, memberships, commissions, quizzes, REST API - is bundled. You do not buy one add-on for certificates, another for payments, another for quizzes.
02
Certificates students can verify
Every Learnomy certificate carries a permanent public URL your students can share with employers or institutions. The verifier shows the course, the date, and the issuing academy.
03
Multi-instructor out of the box
Open your academy to guest instructors. Set their commission rate, let them publish courses, and pay out via the withdrawal queue - all in Free, no marketplace add-on required.
04
Deep REST API in Free
166 endpoints, JWT authentication, offline sync support. Build a mobile app, headless frontend, or Zapier integration without touching Pro.
Honest assessment
Where LearnPress is a better fit
Learnomy is not the right choice for every situation. Here is where LearnPress has a genuine advantage.
Larger community and longer history
LearnPress has been around for much longer and has a large install base. That means more community-built free themes, more forum threads, and more third-party tutorials and integrations built around it. If a mature ecosystem of community resources matters to you, LearnPress has the advantage.
More dedicated LMS themes available
Because LearnPress has been around longer, there are more free and premium WordPress themes designed specifically around its templates and shortcodes. If you want a theme purpose-built for LearnPress's course archive pages and layouts, the selection is broader than what currently exists for Learnomy.
If you need a complete free feature set - payments, certificates, memberships, quizzes, REST API - without purchasing add-ons, Learnomy is built to deliver that from day one.
Common questions
Is LearnPress truly free?
The LearnPress core plugin is free, but many of its most-used features - including advanced payment gateways, certificates, content drip, assignments, and expanded quiz types - require paid add-ons or bundles. The total cost depends on which add-ons your academy needs.
Does Learnomy Free include payments, or do I need a paid add-on?
Learnomy Free ships with built-in Stripe and PayPal checkout - no add-on, no WooCommerce dependency. You can sell courses, memberships, and bundles immediately on the free version.
How do certificates compare between the two?
Learnomy Free issues certificates on course completion with a permanent public verification URL, a QR code, and PDF download. LearnPress certificates are available as a paid add-on.
Does Learnomy have a REST API?
Yes. Learnomy ships 166 REST endpoints under the learnomy/v1 namespace with JWT authentication in Free. This makes it straightforward to build custom frontends, mobile apps, or integrations without a paid tier.
Is LearnPress more established than Learnomy?
LearnPress has a longer history and a large free user base, which means more community themes and third-party tutorials built around it. Learnomy is newer but ships a more complete free feature set out of the box. Which matters more depends on your priorities.
Can I run multi-instructor courses with Learnomy Free?
Yes. Learnomy Free supports an instructor role with revenue commissions and a withdrawal queue. Multiple instructors can publish courses and receive their share of earnings without a paid add-on.
Try Learnomy Free - no add-ons needed
Payments, certificates, memberships, quizzes, and instructor commissions are all in the free plugin. No add-ons, no bundles to buy.