How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- WordPress plugins give you full ownership and no revenue cut, but you pay for hosting, maintenance, and add-ons separately.
- Hosted platforms cost more per month, yet they remove hosting, security, and update work, which suits creators without technical help.
- Transaction fees matter more than monthly price at low sales volume. A cheap plan with a 7.5 percent cut can cost more than a pricier plan with no cut.
- Quiz depth, certificates, drip content, and memberships are not equal across tools. Check the exact plan that includes the features you need.
- Migration is the hidden cost. Export courses, quizzes, student progress, and payment history before you commit to a switch.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 LifterLMS | WordPress users who want a free core plugin | $199 per year | Yes |
 Tutor LMS | WordPress creators who sell through WooCommerce | $199 per year | Yes |
 Teachable | beginners who want a course live quickly | $29 per month (billed annually) | Free trial |
 Thinkific | educators who want a clean hosted course site | $36 per month (billed annually) | Free trial |
 Kajabi | course businesses that want marketing, sales, and courses in one place | $143 per month (billed annually) | Free trial |
 Podia | creators selling courses plus downloads and memberships | See website | Free trial |
 LearnWorlds | businesses that need interactive video and branded schools | $29 per month (billed annually) | Free trial |
 MemberPress | WordPress membership sites that also sell courses | $199.50 per year | No |
 Sensei LMS | WooCommerce stores that want courses beside products | $179 per year | Yes |
 Masteriyo | WordPress creators who want a modern builder at a low price | $99 per year | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best LearnDash alternatives
Starting price$199 per year
Free planYes
LifterLMS is the closest WordPress-native rival to LearnDash, with one clear advantage: the core plugin is free. You can build courses, offer memberships, and sell through a payment add-on without buying a bundle on day one. That makes it a good test bed for a creator who already runs WordPress and wants to keep full control of the site, the student data, and the revenue.
Bundle pricing needs a close read. The Earth bundle is often listed near $199 for the first year, with a higher renewal price, and advanced reporting and some add-ons sit on higher bundles. You also pay for hosting, security, and updates yourself, as with any WordPress plugin. LifterLMS fits creators who value ownership over convenience and who are comfortable managing a WordPress site.
What we like- Free core plugin with courses and membership basics
- No revenue cut on your sales
- Flexible add-on bundles
Watch out for- First-year bundle pricing rises on renewal
- Reporting is limited on lower bundles
- Setup needs WordPress skill
Starting price$199 per year
Free planYes
Tutor LMS pairs well with WooCommerce, which is why many WordPress sellers choose it over a hosted platform. The free core covers course creation, lessons, and quizzes, while Pro adds certificates, content dripping, assignments, and gradebook tools. Multi-instructor support and commission handling are stronger here than in several rivals, which helps marketplaces and team-taught schools.
The trade is polish and upkeep. Templates are solid, but matching a specific brand design can take custom work, and you remain responsible for hosting, backups, and plugin updates. Tutor LMS is a strong LearnDash alternative for WordPress users who want modern course tools without leaving WooCommerce, provided someone on the team can manage the site.
What we like- Free core plugin
- Strong course builder and quiz tools
- Good multi-instructor and commission features
Watch out for- Some advanced features need Pro
- Design customization can take time
- Hosting and maintenance are yours
#3Teachable
Best for: beginners who want a course live quickly3.8/5 on
G2 (52 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit teachable.com
Starting price$29 per month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial
Teachable is built for speed. A creator can upload videos, structure lessons, set a price, and start selling without touching hosting or plugins. Payment processing, student accounts, and basic email tools are included, which removes several separate subscriptions that WordPress creators juggle. For a first course or a side project, that simplicity is hard to beat.
Fees are the catch. The Starter plan carries a transaction fee on each sale, so a creator selling regularly should compare the total cost against a higher plan with no fee. Design options are also narrower than WordPress, and advanced quizzes, certificates, and community features sit higher up. Teachable suits beginners and solo creators who value a fast launch over full control.
What we like- Very fast setup
- Built-in payment processing
- Simple student management
Watch out for- Starter plan takes a 7.5 percent transaction fee
- Customization is limited
- Advanced features need higher plans
#4Thinkific
Best for: educators who want a clean hosted course site4.5/5 on
G2 (416 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit thinkific.com
Starting price$36 per month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial
Thinkific gives hosted creators a polished student experience without the WordPress maintenance burden. The course builder handles video, text, quizzes, and assignments in a clear layout, and paid plans take no transaction fee, which makes revenue math simple. Communities and memberships are available, so a creator can add discussion and ongoing access without a second platform.
Marketing is where Thinkific lags behind all-in-one rivals. Email automation, funnels, and sales pages are more basic, so creators who rely on complex launches may still need external tools. Plan limits also matter: some features that look core in demos sit on higher tiers. Thinkific fits educators who care most about course quality and student experience, and who already have a marketing setup they like.
What we like- Clean course builder and student experience
- No transaction fees on paid plans
- Good lesson and community options
Watch out for- Marketing tools are thinner than Kajabi
- Lower plans limit some features
- Pricing has changed often
#5Kajabi
Best for: course businesses that want marketing, sales, and courses in one place4.1/5 on
G2 (93 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit kajabi.com
Starting price$143 per month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial
Kajabi is the all-in-one option for creators who sell courses as a business, not as a side project. Courses, memberships, coaching, email marketing, landing pages, and a website live in one system, so a launch does not need five separate tools stitched together. There are no transaction fees on paid plans, and templates shorten the work of building a sales funnel.
Price and scope are the limits. At $143 a month on annual billing for the entry plan, Kajabi costs more in a year than most WordPress plugins, and a creator with one small course will not use most of the toolkit. Setup also takes longer than Teachable, because there is more to configure. Kajabi makes sense when course revenue already covers the subscription and when marketing automation is part of the daily work.
What we like- Courses, email, funnels, and websites in one platform
- No transaction fees
- Strong templates for launches
Watch out for- Highest price on this list
- Overkill for a single course
- Learning curve for the full toolkit
#6Podia
Best for: creators selling courses plus downloads and memberships4.4/5 on
G2 (23 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit podia.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Podia keeps the product simple on purpose. A creator can sell a course, a download, and a membership from one dashboard, send email to buyers, and host a basic site without hiring a developer. That breadth helps creators whose income comes from several small products, not just one flagship course. The interface is friendly, and the learning curve is short.
Depth is the trade. Quizzes, assignments, certificates, and drip schedules are more basic than in LearnDash or Tutor LMS, and design control is limited. Podia is not the best choice for a school with graded assignments and complex learning paths. It is a good choice for a creator who values simplicity and a single home for several product types.
What we like- Simple setup for courses, digital products, and memberships
- Built-in email marketing
- No transaction fees on paid plans
Watch out for- Course features are simpler than LearnDash
- Customization is limited
- Advanced quizzes and certificates need higher plans
#7LearnWorlds
Best for: businesses that need interactive video and branded schools4.7/5 on
G2 (397 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit learnworlds.com
Starting price$29 per month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial
LearnWorlds stands out for video-led courses. Interactive video lets students answer questions, take notes, and jump to sections inside the video itself, which suits training companies and schools that teach through demonstration. Branding options are stronger than most hosted rivals, so a school can present a fully branded site and app without WordPress work.
Pricing needs care. The entry plan is affordable, but transaction fees and feature limits vary by tier, and some advanced tools need higher plans. Setup also takes more time than a simple Teachable launch, because interactive video and branding options reward planning. LearnWorlds fits training providers and branded schools where video quality and presentation drive sales.
What we like- Interactive video with quizzes and notes
- Strong branding and white-label options
- Good mobile apps
Watch out for- Entry plan limits and fees need a close read
- Setup is heavier than Teachable
- Costs rise with advanced features
#8MemberPress
Best for: WordPress membership sites that also sell courses4.6/5 on
G2 (281 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit memberpress.com
Starting price$199.50 per year
Free planNo
MemberPress started as a membership plugin, and its Courses add-on has grown into a capable LMS. The combination suits a business that sells access first and courses second: a coaching program, a community, or a membership library with lessons inside. Access rules, dripping by date or completion, quizzes, assignments, and certificates cover most school needs, and CoachKit adds cohort and milestone tools on higher plans.
It is not a free starting point, and course features still feel like part of a membership system rather than a standalone LMS. WordPress hosting and updates remain your job. MemberPress is the right LearnDash alternative when memberships, community, and coaching matter as much as courses, and when you want all of that under one WordPress plugin.
What we like- Memberships, courses, community, and coaching in one plugin
- Strong access rules and dripping
- No revenue cut
Watch out for- No free core
- Courses are an add-on to a membership plugin
- WordPress maintenance is yours
#9
Sensei LMS
Best for: WooCommerce stores that want courses beside products
Visit senseilms.com
Starting price$179 per year
Free planYes
Sensei LMS, from the WooCommerce team, fits stores that want to add courses to an existing shop. Products and courses share the same checkout and customer accounts, which removes a separate sales system for a store owner. The free core covers basic courses, while Pro adds interactive blocks, quizzes, and more course tools. For a WooCommerce seller, that integration is a practical advantage.
Limits show up for schools. Multi-instructor support is basic, with a co-teacher role rather than full commission management, and some advanced features need extensions. The ecosystem is also smaller than LearnDash or Tutor LMS, so niche add-ons may be missing. Sensei suits a store owner adding courses as a second product line, not a school built around many instructors.
What we like- Tight WooCommerce integration
- Free core plugin
- Clean course and quiz tools
Watch out for- Multi-instructor support is weak
- Advanced LMS features need Pro and extensions
- Smaller ecosystem than LearnDash
#10
Masteriyo
Best for: WordPress creators who want a modern builder at a low price
Visit masteriyo.com
Starting price$99 per year
Free planYes
Masteriyo is a newer WordPress LMS with a modern builder and a low entry price. The free version lets a creator test course creation before paying, and the Basic plan starts well below LearnDash and several rivals. The builder feels current, with a clean editing experience for lessons, quizzes, and course pages, which helps creators who found older WordPress LMS interfaces dated.
The ecosystem is the risk. Fewer third-party add-ons, templates, and community answers exist than for LearnDash, LifterLMS, or Tutor LMS, so unusual requirements may need custom work. As with any WordPress plugin, hosting and maintenance are yours. Masteriyo is a smart budget pick for a new WordPress course site, provided you test the exact features you need during the free trial period.
What we like- Low entry price
- Modern React-based course builder
- Free version for testing
Watch out for- Smaller ecosystem and community
- Some features need paid add-ons
- Long-term track record is shorter than rivals
How we chose
We compared vendor pricing pages, documentation, and public reviews on G2, Capterra, and Reddit, and we checked renewal prices and transaction fees rather than first-year offers alone. We included both WordPress plugins and hosted platforms, because LearnDash buyers split into those two groups. We favored tools with a free version or trial, clear quiz and certificate features, and a realistic path for migrating courses and students.
Picking between WordPress and hosted
WordPress ownership is valuable, but only if someone maintains the site. Budget for hosting, backups, security, and plugin updates, and add the cost of any add-ons you need for certificates, assignments, or payment gateways. A plugin that looks cheap at $99 a year can cost more once hosting and add-ons are included.
Fees, students, and migration
Model revenue, not just subscription cost. A 7.5 percent fee on $2,000 of monthly sales is $150 a month, which can exceed the price gap between plans. Check student limits, storage, and video hosting rules too, since hosted plans often cap those. Before migrating, export course content, quiz questions, student progress, and order history, and test a small course on the new platform with real students.
Features to test in a trial
Build one full lesson with video, a quiz, a certificate, and a drip rule, then enroll a test student and complete it. That single test reveals gaps in quizzes, certificates, email notifications, and progress tracking faster than a feature checklist. Also test checkout on mobile, since many students buy and learn on phones.
Frequently asked questions
Is LearnDash itself a good choice, or should I switch?
LearnDash remains a strong WordPress LMS with deep quiz and course tools. Switch only if you need a free core, tighter WooCommerce integration, a hosted platform with no maintenance, or an all-in-one marketing toolkit that LearnDash does not provide on its own.
Which LearnDash alternative is free?
LifterLMS, Tutor LMS, Sensei LMS, and Masteriyo all offer free core versions, with paid plans for advanced features. Hosted platforms here offer trials rather than permanent free plans, so WordPress plugins are the free starting point.
Do hosted platforms take a cut of my sales?
Some do on entry plans. Teachable Starter takes a transaction fee, while Thinkific and Kajabi paid plans generally do not. WordPress plugins usually take no cut, though your payment gateway still charges its own processing fee.
Can I migrate courses and students from LearnDash?
In most cases you can migrate course content and student accounts, but quiz results, progress, and certificates often need manual work or a migration tool. Export everything first, and test migration with one course before moving a full school.
Which alternative is best for selling memberships?
MemberPress is strongest for memberships plus courses on WordPress, while LifterLMS also handles memberships well. On hosted platforms, Kajabi and Podia cover memberships, though with less granular access control than a WordPress membership plugin.
Do I need WordPress to use these alternatives?
No. Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi, Podia, and LearnWorlds are hosted platforms that need no WordPress site. LifterLMS, Tutor LMS, MemberPress, Sensei LMS, and Masteriyo are WordPress plugins and require a WordPress site and hosting.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://www.lifterlms.com/pricing
- https://www.tutorlms.com/pricing
- https://www.teachable.com/pricing
- https://www.thinkific.com/pricing
- https://www.kajabi.com/pricing
- https://www.podia.com/pricing
- https://www.learnworlds.com/pricing
- https://www.memberpress.com/pricing
- https://www.senseilms.com/pricing
- https://www.masteriyo.com/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.