Learnomy vs Tutor LMS
Tutor LMS has a modern UX and AI course creation tools. Learnomy matches that modern feel - built on the WordPress Interactivity API - while including payments, memberships, and commissions in the free tier, with Pro starting at $104 vs $199.
Learnomy
- Free core, Pro from $104/yr
- Payments + memberships + commissions free
- 166 REST endpoints, Interactivity API
Tutor LMS
- Free + Pro from $199/yr
- AI course creation in Pro
- Dedicated frontend course builder
The short version
Core difference in one paragraph
Tutor LMS and Learnomy are both modern WordPress LMS plugins with good UX and active development. Tutor LMS's distinctive edge is AI-assisted course creation and a visual frontend builder for instructors who prefer to stay out of wp-admin. Learnomy's edge is what ships in the free tier - payments, memberships, instructor commissions, 6 quiz types, and verified certificates - plus a newer architecture built on custom tables and the WordPress Interactivity API. At the Pro tier, Learnomy starts at $104/yr vs Tutor LMS's $199/yr for equivalent one-site coverage.
Side by side
Learnomy vs Tutor LMS
Pricing reflects publicly listed plans as of mid-2026. Verify current pricing at tutorlms.com before purchasing.
| Criteria | Learnomy Free + Pro from $104/yr | Tutor LMS Free + Pro from $199/yr |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + Pro from $104/yr Payments, memberships, commissions, certs in Free; Pro adds 16 modules | Free + Pro from $199/yr $199 (1 site) to $799/yr (unlimited); most advanced features in Pro |
| Built-in payments (Stripe + PayPal) | Yes, in Free Direct checkout, no WooCommerce required | Yes (WooCommerce + direct) Multiple gateways supported; advanced checkout in Pro |
| Memberships included | Yes, in Free One-time and recurring membership plans built in | Via Pro or third-party Membership gating typically requires Pro or additional plugin |
| Instructor revenue sharing | Yes, in Free Configurable commission splits per course or per instructor | Pro or marketplace add-on Multi-instructor commissions via Pro or marketplace extension |
| Quiz types | 6 Free / 11 Pro True/false, MCQ, fill-in-blank, essay free; 5 more in Pro | Multiple types in Pro Good quiz tooling; full type set unlocks in Pro |
| Certificates + public verification | Yes + Open Badges in Pro Permanent URL, QR code, PDF, IMS Open Badges (Pro) | Yes Certificate builder available; verification setup varies |
| AI course creation | Not included No built-in AI course builder currently | Yes, in Pro AI-assisted course and content creation in Pro (genuine advantage) |
| Frontend course builder | Admin-side builder Streamlined wp-admin course creation | Dedicated frontend builder Visual frontend course builder without wp-admin (genuine advantage) |
| REST API | 166 endpoints, JWT auth Every data type: courses, enrollments, certs, memberships, transactions | Yes REST API available for core data types |
| Architecture | Custom tables + Interactivity API 40 custom tables, WordPress Interactivity API for reactive UI | Established WP stack Custom post types and post-meta; modern UX layer on top |
Pricing and features verified as of mid-2026. Check tutorlms.com for current plans before purchasing.
Why creators pick Learnomy
Modern architecture. More included free.
01
Payments + memberships + commissions in Free
Stripe and PayPal direct checkout, recurring and one-time membership plans, coupon codes, and instructor commission splits all ship in Learnomy Free - no WooCommerce, no add-on.
02
Pro from $104/yr vs $199/yr
Learnomy Pro starts at $104/yr for one site with cohorts, learning paths, content drip, advanced analytics, Stripe Connect payouts, and all 16 Pro modules included. Tutor LMS Pro starts at $199/yr for the same single-site coverage.
03
Built on modern WordPress architecture
Learnomy uses 40 custom database tables for its data model and the WordPress Interactivity API for reactive UIs. This means faster queries at scale and no client-side framework dependency for interactive student-facing components.
04
6 quiz types free, 11 in Pro
True/false, single choice, multiple choice, short answer, fill-in-the-blank, and essay question types ship in Free with five player templates. Pro adds matching, ordering, numeric, math, and calculated types.
05
Certificates with public verification links
Every Learnomy certificate gets a permanent public URL and QR code. Employers and institutions can verify completion without contacting you. Pro adds IMS Open Badges for portable credential sharing.
06
166 REST endpoints for developers
Every data type in Learnomy is accessible via learnomy/v1 with JWT auth. Build custom mobile apps, external reporting dashboards, or deep integrations with your marketing stack.
Honest assessment
Where Tutor LMS is the better choice
Tutor LMS has genuine advantages worth knowing about before making a decision.
AI course creation in Pro
Tutor LMS Pro includes AI-assisted course and content generation. If you want an AI tool to help you outline, draft, or populate course content directly from within the plugin, Tutor LMS has this and Learnomy does not.
Dedicated frontend course builder
Tutor LMS ships a visual, drag-and-drop course builder that runs on the frontend without navigating wp-admin. For instructors and agencies that hand course creation to non-technical users, this is a real UX advantage.
Larger existing user base and theme integrations
Tutor LMS has a larger installed base today, which means more third-party theme compatibility, more community tutorials, and more peer support in WordPress communities. Learnomy is newer and still building that ecosystem.
If those specific features are not in your requirements - and for most course creators they are not - Learnomy includes more in its free tier and costs less at the Pro level.
Common questions
How does Learnomy pricing compare to Tutor LMS?
Tutor LMS Pro starts at $199/yr for one site and scales to $799/yr for unlimited sites. Learnomy Pro starts at $104/yr for one site. Both have free core plugins; the key difference is what the free tier includes and what Pro costs at each scale tier.
Does Learnomy include payments in the free plugin?
Yes. Learnomy Free ships direct Stripe and PayPal checkout without requiring WooCommerce. Tutor LMS Free includes WooCommerce-based checkout and some direct gateways, but the full payment feature set is typically unlocked in Pro.
How do the two plugins compare architecturally?
Both are built on WordPress, but Learnomy uses 40 custom database tables instead of post-meta storage for its core data, and uses the WordPress Interactivity API for reactive front-end UIs. This gives Learnomy better query performance at scale. Tutor LMS has a mature, widely-tested architecture that works well for most use cases.
Does Learnomy have a built-in frontend course builder like Tutor LMS?
Learnomy has a streamlined admin-side course builder optimized for speed. Tutor LMS has a dedicated frontend course builder that many instructors prefer when they do not want to work in wp-admin. If a visual, frontend-first course creation experience is essential, note this difference.
Does Learnomy have AI course creation?
Tutor LMS Pro includes AI course creation features. Learnomy does not currently ship an AI course builder. If AI-assisted content creation is a priority, Tutor LMS has this advantage.
Can I verify certificates from Learnomy?
Yes. Every Learnomy certificate has a permanent public URL and QR code for verification. Learnomy Pro adds IMS Open Badges support. Tutor LMS also issues certificates; verification capability varies by setup.
Try the free Tutor LMS alternative
Download Learnomy free. Payments, memberships, instructor commissions, and verified certificates are all included - no Pro upgrade required to get started selling.