5 Best Learning Management Systems under $100
What is a LMS?
In today’s eLearning-driven world, having the right LMS is critical for anyone offering online education or training. Whether you’re an educator, a business owner managing employee training, or an individual course creator, finding an affordable yet feature-rich platform can make all the difference. Post-pandemic, the demand for flexible, cost-effective LMS solutions has skyrocketed as organizations of all sizes move to online and hybrid learning models. However, many are hesitant to invest in expensive software.
In this blog, we’ll break down the top 5 LMS platforms that offer powerful tools for course creation, learner management, and engagement—all for $100 or less per month. From drag-and-drop course builders to interactive quizzes, certifications, and seamless payment integration, these platforms will help you deliver high-quality online learning experiences while staying on budget. Let’s dive into the best LMS options that offer exceptional value without breaking the bank.
Criteria for Evaluation
For each LMS we review, we will look at:
1. Pricing
We detailed each LMS’s pricing and provided free options up to about $100 per month. We also looked at the platforms’ transaction fees and the payment processors they integrate with. Most payment processors charge around 2.9% + $0.30 for each successful transaction, but this varies from country to country.
2. Ease of Use
A user-friendly LMS minimizes the learning curve for both instructors and learners, providing everyone with a smooth experience. We looked at the ease of the onboarding and setup process, such as the platform’s intuitiveness, availability of templates to get started, and its customer support ratings.
3. Learner Engagement and Measurement Tool
Engagement is the key to a successful learning experience. We assessed the learner engagement features available in each LMS. These include tools such as discussion forums, interactive content, social learning tools, and collaborative activities. We also looked at the options for testing learners’ knowledge. This is an important feature to verify knowledge retention and measure your learner’s satisfaction with the learning experience you provided.
4. Certificates
We reviewed each LMS’s capability to issue course progress reports and completion certificates, which can enhance the value of the learning experience for learners and organizations alike.
Review of the 5 Best Learning Management Systems under $100
1. Thinkific
Pricing:
Thinkific offers three pricing options under $100 per month and they all include a 14-day trial to test the platform. Each plan includes unlimited courses and students. The Basic plan is $49 per month (or $36/month when billed annually). The Start plan comes in at $99 per month (or $74/month when billed annually). There is a 5% transaction fee at the Basic and 2% at the Start plan. Thinkific integrates with Stripe and PayPal.
Thinkific offers Thinkific Payments, a Stripe-powered payment processor that is part of its TCommerce suite of selling features. It allows users to streamline financial and selling processes like accepting payments, issuing refunds, setting up subscriptions, etc. Please note that some countries do not have access to Thinkific Payments.
Ease of Use:
Getting started with Thinkific is quite easy with the drag-and-drop course builder and a variety of templates to choose from. You can also use Thinkific to build an entire website or to integrate learning content with your existing websites, such as WordPress. With Thinkfic, you’ll have the ability to easily upload various types of content, such as videos, presentations, quizzes, and documents, and organize them into structured courses. This platform also offers customization options, allowing you to brand your courses with your logos, colors, and designs to maintain a consistent brand identity. It includes a Thinkific Academy course for free.
One of the differentiating features of Thinkific from other popular LMS platforms is the ability to upload SCORM content, like Articulate Storyline and Articulate Rise course materials. While these aren’t tools that every course creator will need, they are one of Thinkific’s unique selling points.
Learner Engagement and Measurement Tools:
With Thinkific, you can create multiple-choice question quizzes to check for learner understanding, as well as increase engagement by integrating different tools found in their Engagement and Assessment App Library. These tools allow for gamification, customized assessments, and announcements. You can also receive feedback from learners using the survey feature. The Basic and Starter plans both come with one Community to use as a collaborative space for learners to interact and for you to support them.
Certificates:
Thinkific makes providing certificates easy by automatically generating assessments for course completion. These digital certificates are sleek, verified, and secure, and they are easy for learners to share on LinkedIn.
Pros:
- User-friendly course creation
- Customizable website and branding
- Has a variety of templates to start from
- Accepts SCORM content
Cons:
- Some users report it’s not as customizable as other platforms.
- There is no marketplace to boost sales.
2. Teachable
Pricing:
Teachable offers four pricing plans, with two falling under $100 per month. There is a free plan that allows you to publish one of each product type (course, coaching, and downloads) and a limit of 10 learners. You’ll have access to the no-code course builder and web pages, with a few additional features included. There is a $1 + 10% transaction fee with the Free plan.
Next is the Basic plan. The Basic plan starts at $59 per month and is billed monthly ($39/month billed annually). It includes essential features for course creation and selling and unlimited learners, but it has a 5% transaction fee.
Ease of Use:
Teachable is known for its intuitive user interface, making it relatively easy to create and manage your online courses. For course creation, Teachable features a drag-and-drop functionality. It offers a library of tutorials and resources to help you get started.
Learner Engagement and Measurement Tools:
Teachable provides basic evaluation tools such as quizzes and assessments to measure student progress and engagement. It also includes student discussions and feedback features, allowing for instructor and learner interaction.
Certificates:
Teachable offers the ability to issue certificates to learners upon course completion at the Pro Level ($159/month billed monthly or $119/month billed annually). You can customize the certificates with your own branding and design, adding a professional touch to the learning experience. However, certain certificate features may incur additional costs.
Pros:
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
- Has a free plan to start trying out the platform
Cons:
- Customization options are slightly more complex to navigate
- Lack of advanced assessment tools
- Transaction fees are included in the lower-tiered plans
- Course completion certificates are not included in the plans under $100
3. TalentLMS
Pricing:
TalentLMS offers a variety of pricing plans to fit anyone’s different needs and budgets. Falling under our $100 threshold, you can sign up for their “Forever-Free” plan with very basic features for up to 5 learners and 10 courses or a Starter plan for $119/month billed monthly or $89 per month billed annually. The Starter plan allows for 1-40 learners, unlimited courses, unlimited email support, and a custom homepage. Bonus points: There are no transaction fees, and TalentLMS offers a 10% discount to registered nonprofit organizations.
Ease of Use:
TalentLMS prides themselves on their very simple and user-friendly interface, earning recognition for Easiest Setup Enterprise for Spring 2023. You can easily set up online and in-person training sessions with self-registration, build courses from scratch or reuse content you’ve already created. With paid plans, you are able to customize your homepage to fit your branding with a drag-and-drop website builder. Additionally, TalentLMS offers clients access to a library of more than 900 pre-built courses authored by experts that provide learners with the skills they need for the workplace.
Talent LMS also accepts SCORM content. The site definitely has more of a corporate feel, whereas Thinkific feels more commercial, so that might be a differentiating factor for you.
Learner Engagement and Measurement Tools:
With TalentLMS, you can assess learner knowledge with quizzes, surveys, and assignments. Their pre-built, 15-minute courses feature fun characters and celebrity cameos to capture learners’ attention.
Certificates:
You can assign a certificate to each of your courses. When learners complete the course, they will receive the related certification. You have the option to design a custom certificate or use a premade one from their library.
Pros:
- Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- Access to 900+ pre-built courses
- Several types of learner communication tools
- Free plan that offers up to 10 courses and 5 users to get started
- Accepts SCORM content
Cons:
- Customers report some delays in customer support response during peak times
- Customization options are limited compared to some competitors
4. LearnWorlds
Pricing:
LearnWorlds offers a variety of pricing plans for different budgets. They have a Starter plan that is $29/month billed monthly* and a Pro Trainer plan that is $99/month billed monthly. The Starter plan offers unlimited paid courses. The Pro Trainer plan offers unlimited free and paid courses.
Ease of Use:
The website builder is easy to use, and users have reported that they were able to get their website up in a few hours. They have a robust help center, and email support is available 24/5 on the Starter plan and 24/7 on the Pro Trainer plan. Video library is available at all plan levels, which makes it easy to use your videos across all courses.
Learner Engagement and Measurement Tools:
Exams and quizzes are available at all levels, with higher levels offering more assessment options. LearnWorlds allows users to create private groups for discussions and interaction with learners. A built-in social network feature allows users to post, like, and comment.
Certificates:
LearnWorlds offers the option to provide personalized certificates to learners at the Pro Trainer level. There is an option to issue the certificate following a special secure exam.
Pros:
- The Starter plan offers unlimited paid courses, while the Pro Trainer plan offers unlimited free and paid courses
- Users have complimented the support response time
- Assessment builder at all plan levels
Cons:
- *There is a $5/course sale charge at the Starter plan
- Some users report the community area can be buggy
5. LearnDash
Pricing:
LearnDash is a WordPress-based Learning Management System (LMS) plugin that allows users to create and manage online courses directly within their WordPress website. They have two pricing models depending on whether or not you currently have a WordPress website or not. If you have a WordPress site you’d like to add All options fall under $100 per month!.
The subscription for the LearnDash LMS (if you have a current website you want to add the plugin to) is billed annually:
- 1 site – $199/year ($16/ month)
- 10 sites – $399/year ( $33/month)
- Unlimited sites – $799/year ($66/month)
The subscription for LearnDash Cloud (if you do not currently have a WordPress website but want to have one):
- Starter: $29/month billed monthly
- Growth: $49/monthly billed monthly
- Pro: $99/month billed monthly
Ease of Use:
LearnDash is known for its ease of use, especially for users familiar with WordPress. It offers intuitive course creation and customization options, making it easy for you to build and manage your online courses.
Learner Engagement and Measurement Tools:
LearnDash provides several evaluation tools, including quizzes, assignments, and interactive content, to assess learner progress and engagement. It also offers discussion forums and social learning tools to enhance learner engagement and collaboration.
Certificates:
The LearnDash plugin offers customizable certificate templates and automatic certificate generation based on course completion.
Pros:
- No transaction fees
- Seamless integration with your already existing WordPress Site
- Has a lot of customization options
Cons:
- Requires some advanced tech skills for those unfamiliar with WordPress
- Some advanced functionalities may require additional plugins or customization.
- Limited customer support options
Summary
Finding a reliable and cost-effective Learning Management System doesn’t have to break the bank. The five options we’ve highlighted—Thinkific, Teachable, TalentLMS, LearnWorlds, and LearnDash—offer a variety of features under $100 per month to suit different needs, from ease of use to learner engagement tools and certification options. Whether you’re an educator, small business owner, or course creator, these platforms provide scalable solutions to help you deliver high-quality learning experiences without overspending.
