20 Most Popular Learning Management Systems Available Today

By: Justin Ferriman • December 5, 2016
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formsUPDATED December 5, 2016

Since the original publication of this article a lot has shifted in the learning management system industry. Moodle (while still a popular choice) suffers from the reality that it offers a poor user experience. It is also really difficult to customize… painfully so.

WordPress learning management systems have sprung up since then with LearnDash leading the way.

In fact, in just three years LearnDash has been listed as a Top ELearning Tool by ELearning! Magazine.

The main reason of course is that WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS) and is extremely flexible. It’s why we have customers like Infusionsoft, the University of Michigan, best selling author Michael Hyatt, among others.

If you need a light-weight LMS packed with features but without the hefty price-tag then you need to take a serious look at LearnDash.


In recent years, one thing has become abundantly clear: the learning management system market is growing by leaps and bounds.

I remember the days when the only viable LMS was Blackboard – and the cost for implementation was somewhere to the tune of $25,000.

Well, times have changed (for the better… except for Blackboard) in that there are plenty of new accessible options available, and for multiple different software platforms (for example, the upcoming LearnDash WordPress LMS plugin).

The biggest shift in this market in recent years has not been the technology (although there have certainly been advances), but in the expectations of the consumer.  Today it isn’t enough to offer a piece of software – people want solutions.

They want advice and guidance in the best ways to utilize the functionality of their LMS, and they want it from industry professionals who have “been there, done that”.

The SaaS model of business is evolving as people demand more in regards to the final “S” (SERVICE!).

What I found most striking about the list below is that a good number of these learning management system providers primarily offer a piece of software, and that’s it.

In some cases there is additional support offered, but it comes with a hefty price tag.  Even this support is limited as the account representative is either trying to upsell you, or that person is strictly a programmer who lacks experience in setting up an LMS within an organization.

Is it possible to think that LearnDash could make a list like this one day?  It’s hard to say, primarily because LearnDash is more than a software provider, but we are a specialty shop.

Sure we have the tool to help you reach your organizational goals, but the real value comes in the strategic support we offer in conjunction with the plugin.  Implementing learning programs for Fortune 500 companies across a wide-variety of industries enables us to better serve you.

What are your thoughts on the list below – does anything surprise you?

To read more about this study and how the results were obtained, visit the Capterra website.

 

The Top 20 Most Popular LMS Software Solutions

© 2012 Capterra, Inc.

Justin Ferriman

Justin started LearnDash, the WordPress LMS trusted by Fortune 500 companies, major universities, training organizations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. He is currently founder & CEO of GapScout. Justin’s Homepage | GapScout | Twitter