9 Best WordPress LMS Plugins in 2026 (Compared on Price, Payments, and Features)
While WordPress offers a multitude of Learning Management System (LMS) plugins, many “top” lists often highlight features directly from each vendor’s website. This can lead to the choice of a plugin that lacks essential functionalities like card payment capabilities unless additional purchases are made.
This article aims to provide a practical comparison that addresses the key aspects affecting your expenses and setup: what is genuinely free, the costs associated with payment processing, and what to expect in year two after any introductory pricing has elapsed.
For clarity, Masteriyo is a member of the Themeisle family, the same creators of this blog. Nonetheless, it is included here alongside eight other plugins, with its renewal costs displayed transparently.
If you are interested solely in free options, you can explore our compilation of the top free LMS plugins for WordPress, which delves deeper into free plans, while this guide also encompasses both free and premium plugins.
The summary: For selling online courses using a free plugin, Masteriyo offers integrated Stripe and certificate functionalities at no charge. On the other hand, Tutor LMS enjoys popularity with over 100,000 active installations, featuring front-end dashboards for both students and instructors. LearnDash, established as a premium option, starts at $259 annually. Lastly, LifterLMS is ideal for membership and course combinations, while Academy LMS provides the most economical multi-site licenses.
Quick Picks and Pricing Overview
| Plugin | Best For | Free Version | Initial Cost | Year Two Cost | Lifetime Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masteriyo | Online course sales via a free plugin | Yes | $99/yr (Basic) | Renews at $199/yr | $499 (1 site) |
| Tutor LMS | Marketplaces and multi-instructor environments | Yes | $199/yr | Renewal price not published | $499 |
| LearnDash | Established course providers | $259/yr | Same price (introductory discount) | Not available | |
| LifterLMS | Membership and course combinations | Yes | $199 first year (Earth bundle) | Renews at $398/yr | $10,000 (unlimited sites) |
| LearnPress | Pay only for the required add-ons | Yes | $299 (Pro Bundle; lifetime licence; regular price $710) | Optional: $209.30/yr for updates | Lifetime licence |
| Sensei LMS | Block editor and WooCommerce integration | Yes | $179/yr (Sensei Pro) | Renewal price not published | Not available |
| MasterStudy LMS | Udemy-style marketplaces | Yes | $99/yr (regular price $149) | Renewal price not published | $249 (regular price $379) |
| Academy LMS | Agencies needing multi-site licenses | Yes | $99/yr (regular price $199) | Renewal price not published | $149 |
| MemberPress Courses | Membership sites incorporating courses | $199.50 first year (Launch) | Renews at $399/yr | Not available |
Comparison of Plugins
WordPress.org Activity Stats
| Plugin | Active Installs | Rating | Number of Ratings | 5-Star Rating Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutor LMS | 100,000+ | 4.4/5 | 589 | 82% |
| LearnPress | 70,000+ | 4.3/5 | 597 | 80% |
| LifterLMS | 10,000+ | 4.8/5 | 392 | 93% |
| MasterStudy LMS | 10,000+ | 4.5/5 | 486 | 85% |
| Sensei LMS | 9,000+ | 3.5/5 | 40 | 52% |
| Masteriyo | 6,000+ | 4.8/5 | 183 | 93% |
| Academy LMS | 2,000+ | 4.9/5 | 120 | 95% |
Note: LearnDash and MemberPress are exclusively premium products; therefore, they are not reflected in the WordPress.org statistics.
Payment Processing: What’s Included for Free?
The payment features are crucial for anyone planning to sell courses, yet this is often overlooked in comparisons.
| Plugin | Stripe Functionality on Free Plugin | PayPal on Free Plugin | Transaction Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masteriyo | Yes (includes Mollie and Lemon Squeezy) | Yes | None |
| Tutor LMS | Pro only | Yes | None |
| LifterLMS | Paid add-on ($149/yr) | Paid add-on | None |
| LearnPress | Paid add-on ($39) | Yes | None |
| Sensei LMS | Requires Sensei Pro + WooCommerce | Same | None |
| Academy LMS | Via StoreEngine, an independent free plugin | Via StoreEngine | None |
| LearnDash | Included in all plans | Included | None |
| MemberPress Courses | Included | From the Growth plan (Launch only supports Stripe) | 4.9% on the Launch plan |
Keep in mind: Each option still incurs the payment provider’s standard processing fee (for instance, Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction in the US).
1. Masteriyo: Optimal for Selling Courses with a Free Plugin
Masteriyo offers a free plugin centred around a simple premise: sellers should be able to offer courses without upfront costs for the plugin.
Included for free:
- Payment processing through Stripe, PayPal, Mollie, and Lemon Squeezy, along with WooCommerce and SureCart functionalities.
- A user-friendly drag-and-drop course builder that accommodates unlimited courses and students.
- A feature for creating certificates, automatically generated when students complete courses.
- Live sessions via Google Meet and group seat options for team or class enrollments.
- Revenue sharing with instructors and support for multiple currencies.
Paid Features: assignments, a gradebook, course prerequisites, promotional coupons, subscription services, course bundles, advanced question types for quizzes, and the ability to have multiple instructors for one course.
Cost Structure: The Basic plan is priced at $99 for the first year (renewing at $199), while the Pro plan is $149 (renewing at $299). Notably, Masteriyo does not charge a commission on sales from any plan, so you only incur standard processing fees charged by your payment provider.
Notable Drawback: With just over 6,000 active installations, it has a smaller user base compared to other plugins, resulting in fewer third-party tutorials and add-on options. Additionally, the free plugin limits quiz question types to just three (true/false, single-choice, and multiple-choice) and renewal costs increase significantly after the first year.
Best Fit: Ideal for solo entrepreneurs and smaller academies launching their first courses, especially for those who require card payments and certificates without upfront commitments. For a comparative analysis, refer to our Tutor LMS vs Masteriyo comparison.
2. Tutor LMS: Best for Marketplaces and Multi-Instructor Networks
Tutor LMS is the plugin with the highest number of installations on this list, boasting over 100,000 active users. The latest version, 4.0, has introduced a revamped student interface.
Included for Free: a course builder, unrestricted quiz creation, basic certificates, built-in eCommerce via PayPal and manual payment options, plus front-end dashboards for students and instructors.
Optional Paid Features: Support for Stripe (as well as Mollie, Paddle, and Authorize.net), content drip, assignments, a drag-and-drop certificate builder, and subscriptions. The individual plan costs $199 per year for one site and incorporates all Pro add-ons.
Key Drawback: Card payments through Stripe require a Pro upgrade, and its rating of 4.4/5 is lower than many other plugins listed.
Best For: Multi-instructor schools and online course marketplaces, particularly if you require a mature platform widely adopted by users.
3. LearnDash: Premier Choice for Established Course Providers
LearnDash includes a free version but is renowned as the leading premium LMS for WordPress, incorporating Stripe and PayPal in each plan.
Pricing: Essentials costs $259 annually, Pro is priced at $399, and Elite at $599, with renewal following the introductory pricing. Advanced reporting features require either Pro or Elite plans, and group management is available only on the Elite plan.
Notable Weakness: It is the most costly option for commencing use from this list, with no free version for initial trial.
Best Suited For: Established course providers and training teams, as the renewal cost remains identical to the initial charge.
4. LifterLMS: Ideal for Membership Sites alongside Courses
LifterLMS offers one of the most comprehensive free plugins for course creation, featuring certificates, content drip, prerequisites, memberships, multiple instructors, and four diverse quiz question formats.
Important Note: The free version does not support card transactions. Stripe is a paid upgrade costing $149 annually, as are the PayPal and WooCommerce integrations. Conversely, the Earth bundle ($199 initially, renewing at $398) includes payment gateways.
Key Drawback: Selling functions begin with an initial cost, and renewals for bundles will also increase significantly.
Best For: Businesses that operate membership-style courses and want engaging features from the free plugin, while being comfortable with paying for payment processing.
5. LearnPress: Best for Customised Feature Costs
LearnPress ranks as the second most popular plugin on this list, boasting over 70,000 active installs. The free version includes PayPal, offline payment support, SCORM compatibility, and question banks.
Cost Structure: The majority of additional features are supplied as separate add-ons—for example, Stripe ($39), certificates ($39), content drip ($39), assignments ($39), and WooCommerce ($49). Alternatively, the Pro Bundle available for $299 includes all these features with a lifetime licence for one site and a full year of updates. Renewal of updates post-first year costs $209.30 annually, but this is optional as you’ll maintain your licence regardless.
Key Drawback: Consequently, establishing a complete payment setup necessitates purchasing several add-ons or the bundle.
Best For: Budget-conscious setups where features can be added gradually.
6. Sensei LMS: Great for Block Editor and WooCommerce Integration
Sensei LMS, developed by Automattic, allows for course construction entirely within the WordPress block editor, ensuring a familiar environment for existing users. The free version also boasts quizzes, a distraction-free learning mode, and a free extension for certificates.
Important Note: Selling features are not available with the free plugin; one requires Sensei Pro ($179 annually) and WooCommerce.
Key Drawback: The plugin has received only a limited number of ratings (40, averaging 3.5/5), and lacks built-in payment gateways.
Best For: WooCommerce stores interested in adding courses, alongside internal or staff training needs.
7. MasterStudy LMS: Best for Udemy-Esque Marketplaces
MasterStudy LMS revolves around the marketplace concept, with its free version offering a unique teacher marketplace for earning, commission tracking, and withdrawal requests, complemented by a certificate generator and eight question formats for quizzes.
Pricing Structure: $99 annually for a single site, or $249 for a lifetime licence, both reflecting discounts from $149 and $379 at the time of review. However, features such as content drip, assignments, SCORM, and co-instructor support are available only in Pro versions.
Key Drawback: As of our last review, it had not been evaluated with the latest WordPress version (7.1), and content dripping requires Pro access.
Best For: Multi-teacher course marketplaces, particularly those seeking an attractive, ready-to-use design.
8. Academy LMS: Optimal for Agencies and Multi-Site Licenses
Academy LMS is rated highest within this list (4.9/5) and boasts a robust free plugin, which includes a front-end course creator, eight quiz formats, certificates, instructor revenue distribution, and user dashboards for students and instructors.
Cost Structure: The Individual plan is priced at $99 annually, while multi-site plans remain affordable, starting at just $129 for 10 sites and rising to $229 for 200 sites. Lifetime licenses commence at a mere $149.
Notable Weakness: It is the smallest plugin highlighted here, with just over 2,000 active installations, and payment processing also requires StoreEngine, a distinct plugin.
Best Fit: Agencies tasked with developing course sites for diverse clients.
9. MemberPress Courses: Ideal for Membership-Focused Sites
MemberPress is fundamentally a membership plugin, with the Courses feature integrated into every plan along with its robust membership and paywall capabilities. The entry-level Launch plan, however, limits access to unlimited courses and lessons only; additional functionalities like quizzes, assignments, the gradebook, certificates, and content dripping are accessible starting from the Growth plan.
Cost Structure: Launch is $199.50 for the first year, renewing at $399. A 4.9% transaction fee applies to each payment, in addition to processing fees. The Growth plan ($349.50 the first year, renewing at $699) eliminates this fee while incorporating PayPal alongside added LMS features as previously mentioned.
Key Weakness: Features do not include a free version, and the entry plan’s fee accumulates quickly as sales increase.
Best For: Membership-based sites where courses represent just one aspect of the content provided.
Selection Guidance
Three primary queries can swiftly whittle down your options:
- Will you require card payment functionality from the outset? Masteriyo provides Stripe in its free plugin, while Academy LMS offers it through the StoreEngine plugin. Both LearnDash and MemberPress include this feature, but they are not free.
- Are you focused on a marketplace with multiple instructors? In that scenario, consider Tutor LMS, MasterStudy LMS, or Academy LMS.
- What is your anticipated budget for year two? Review renewal costs rather than just introductory rates. LearnDash maintains the same rate, LearnPress offers a lifetime license (with optional update fees), while Masteriyo, LifterLMS, and MemberPress effectively double their fees.
PRO TIP: Transitioning LMS plugins can be possible but is rarely seamless. If you consider migrating, perform tests using a staging version of your site—with a complete backup—prior to making any changes to the live site with real students.
Curious about the entire budget rather than merely the plugin costs? You may find our course platform fees comparison beneficial. It compiles the costs related to the plugin, hosting, video, and card transaction fees on a sales figure of $30,000, with a calculator for inputting your specific figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tutor LMS is the leading choice with 100,000+ active installations. For premium options, LearnDash stands out. Masteriyo excels as a robust free alternative, providing Stripe and certificate functionalities at zero charge.
Masteriyo, Tutor LMS, LifterLMS, LearnPress, Sensei LMS, MasterStudy LMS, and Academy LMS all offer free versions via WordPress.org. However, LearnDash and MemberPress are exclusive to premium subscriptions. The variations in free versions mainly revolve around payment handling: some are integrated with Stripe, while others require paid additions.
Masteriyo incorporates Stripe within its free plugin, while Academy LMS also supports Stripe through its free StoreEngine plugin. Conversely, Tutor LMS requires a Pro version for Stripe, while LifterLMS and LearnPress charge for Stripe as a paid option, and Sensei LMS necessitates Sensei Pro and WooCommerce.
LearnDash fees are $259 annually for the Essentials tier, $399 for Pro, and $599 for Elite. There is no free version, and the renewal is set at the introductory rate.
LearnDash retains its pricing; however, Masteriyo, LifterLMS, and MemberPress approximately double their year-one costs. In contrast, LearnPress’s Pro Bundle ($299) comes with a lifetime licence, while optional renewal updates post-year one cost $209.30. Lastly, Tutor LMS, Sensei LMS, MasterStudy LMS, and Academy LMS do not publicly disclose renewal charges.
None of the LMS plugins discussed charge transaction fees. MemberPress’s introductory Launch plan, however, imposes a 4.9% fee on all payments. Additionally, you will still incur the standard processing fees applicable through your payment providers, such as Stripe’s rate of 2.9% + 30¢.
Conclusion
- Free plugin for selling: Masteriyo
- Best for marketplaces and multiple instructors: Tutor LMS, MasterStudy LMS, or Academy LMS
- Established premium choice: LearnDash
- Memberships with courses: LifterLMS or MemberPress
- Budget-conscious add-on strategy: LearnPress
- Best for Block Editor and WooCommerce: Sensei LMS
Regardless of your choice, be sure to evaluate the year-two expenses and payment processing costs before making a decision.
Which LMS plugin are you currently using, and would you still choose it if given the chance? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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