Learnomy vs Masteriyo
Both are free WordPress LMS plugins with no platform fees and built-in payments. The difference is depth: quiz types, certificate verification, instructor payout infrastructure, and REST API coverage.
6 quiz types + essay grading
Free, no add-on
Certificate public verification
Free + Open Badges Pro
Stripe Connect payouts
Instructor payouts, Pro
The short version
Similar promise, different depth.
Masteriyo and Learnomy share a lot of the same positioning: free WordPress LMS, no platform fees, no WooCommerce required, keep 100% of your revenue. If you are searching for "free WordPress LMS no transaction fees," both plugins show up for good reason.
Where they diverge is in depth. Learnomy ships a wider quiz engine (six types, essay grading inbox, question bank), certificates with a public verification URL that students can share, instructor payout infrastructure via Stripe Connect in Pro, and 166 REST endpoints with JWT auth in Free. Masteriyo is a clean, modern alternative that is actively growing - if you are evaluating both, the comparison table below shows exactly where the differences land.
Side by side
Learnomy vs Masteriyo
Both are self-hosted, free-core WordPress LMS plugins. Differences reflect free tier capabilities and the depth of Pro or paid features.
| Criteria | Learnomy Self-hosted WordPress | Masteriyo Self-hosted WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + Pro from $104/yr Full LMS feature set free; Pro adds advanced modules | Free + paid tiers Free core with paid plans for advanced features |
| No platform or transaction fees | Yes Processor fees only (Stripe/PayPal); Learnomy takes nothing | Yes Also no platform fees - a shared strength |
| Built-in payments (standalone) | Yes, Free Stripe and PayPal direct checkout, no WooCommerce | Yes Built-in order system with payment gateways |
| Instructor revenue sharing + payouts | Yes, Free + Stripe Connect Pro Commission split free; direct bank payouts via Stripe Connect in Pro | Limited or none Basic instructor support; direct payout infrastructure limited |
| Quiz depth | 6-11 types + essay inbox + question bank Free: 6 types, auto-grade, partial credit, essay grading; Pro: 11 types + bank | Core types Standard question types available; less variety and grading depth |
| Certificate verification + Open Badges | Yes, Free + Open Badges 3.0 Pro Public verification URL, QR code, PDF free; Ed25519 + Open Badges in Pro | Basic certificates Certificate issuance available; public verification and Open Badges limited |
| REST API | 166 endpoints + JWT + offline sync Full API coverage in Free, JWT auth, offline sync support | Limited REST API present but with narrower coverage |
| Cohorts / learning paths / analytics | Pro Cohort management, structured learning paths, advanced analytics in Pro | Limited Growing; basic support in some areas |
Masteriyo features are actively evolving. Verify their current feature set at their official site before deciding.
Why creators pick Learnomy
Where Learnomy goes deeper
01
Deeper quiz engine
Learnomy ships six question types in Free - true/false, single choice, multiple choice, short answer, fill-in-the-blank, essay - with auto-grading, partial credit, and an admin inbox for essay grading. Pro adds five more types and a question bank.
02
Certificates with public proof
Every certificate gets a permanent public verification URL your students can share with employers, LinkedIn, or academic institutions. Learnomy Pro adds Open Badges 3.0 with Ed25519 cryptographic signing for compatibility with badge platforms.
03
Instructor payout infrastructure
Learnomy Free includes commission splits and a withdrawal queue. Learnomy Pro adds Stripe Connect so instructor payouts go directly to their bank account - no manual transfer workflow for the academy owner.
04
Full REST API in Free
166 endpoints, JWT authentication, offline sync. Build a React or mobile frontend, connect to Zapier, or run custom reporting queries against your course data - all without a Pro license.
Honest assessment
Where Masteriyo is a fair alternative
Masteriyo is a legitimate, well-built free LMS. Here is where it competes well or may be a better fit.
Modern, clean interface out of the box
Masteriyo has a polished, modern UI for both course creators and students. If you want a simple, visually clean setup with minimal configuration, Masteriyo delivers a good first impression quickly. Both plugins look good, but Masteriyo is often cited for its builder simplicity.
Fast-growing with active development
Masteriyo is actively developed and has been adding features at a solid pace. If you are evaluating it today and a specific feature is missing, it is worth checking their public roadmap - features may be in progress. For standard course creation and selling, Masteriyo covers the core well.
Comparable no-fees promise
If "no transaction fees, keep 100%" is the primary requirement and you do not need deeper quiz types, certificate verification, or instructor payout infrastructure, Masteriyo delivers on the same core promise as Learnomy. It is a fair starting point if your needs are straightforward.
If quiz depth, certificate verification, instructor payouts via Stripe Connect, or a deep REST API are requirements for your academy, those are where Learnomy goes further.
Common questions
Both Learnomy and Masteriyo are free with no transaction fees. How do I choose?
The core promise is similar: self-hosted WordPress, keep 100% of revenue, no WooCommerce dependency. The differences show up in depth. Learnomy ships 6 quiz types with essay grading, certificates with public verification URLs, instructor revenue-sharing with Stripe Connect payouts (Pro), 166 REST endpoints with JWT and offline sync, and memberships in Free. If those specific features matter, Learnomy goes deeper. If you want a simple, modern free LMS and those details are not priorities, Masteriyo is also a solid option.
Does Learnomy have instructor payout support?
Yes. Learnomy Free supports instructor revenue commissions with a configurable split and a withdrawal queue. Learnomy Pro adds Stripe Connect so payouts go directly to instructor bank accounts, with no manual bank transfer workflow.
How does certificate verification work in Learnomy?
Every certificate Learnomy issues includes a permanent public URL that anyone can visit to verify the certificate. The verifier page shows the course name, completion date, and issuing academy. Learnomy Pro adds Open Badges 3.0 and Ed25519 digital signatures for cryptographic verification compatible with badge platforms.
What is the REST API difference?
Learnomy ships 166 REST endpoints under learnomy/v1 with JWT authentication and offline sync support in Free. This makes it practical to build headless frontends, mobile apps, or automation workflows without a paid tier. Masteriyo has REST API support but with more limited coverage.
Does Masteriyo have cohorts or learning paths?
Masteriyo is growing and some features exist at a basic level, but cohort management, structured learning paths, and advanced analytics are where Learnomy Pro goes deeper. Check Masteriyo's current roadmap for their latest feature status.
Is Masteriyo a legitimate alternative to Learnomy?
Yes, honestly. Masteriyo is a well-built, modern free WordPress LMS with a no-fees approach similar to Learnomy. It is actively developed and growing. If you are deciding between the two, the key question is whether you need Learnomy's deeper quiz types, certificate verification, instructor payout infrastructure, or REST API breadth. If those are not priorities, Masteriyo is a fair alternative to evaluate.
Free WordPress LMS - no fees, no add-ons, no lock-in
Learnomy Free includes six quiz types, certificate verification, memberships, instructor commissions, and 166 REST endpoints. Your data stays on your server.