Best WordPress LMS plugin 2026: Tutor LMS vs LearnDash and more
Four ways to sell courses and memberships on WordPress, by price, free version and renewal.
Short answer: Start with Tutor LMS: its free version builds and sells courses, and Pro is $199 a year. LearnDash ($399 a year, no free version) suits serious course businesses. LifterLMS has a free core with paid bundles. MemberPress is best if you sell memberships first and courses second.
A WordPress LMS plugin turns a site into an online course platform with lessons, quizzes, students and payments.
The right LMS for you
Pick by what you need, not by the longest feature list.
Tutor LMS
Free plugin sells courses; Pro $199/yr for 1 site.
LearnDash
Advanced quizzes and groups; from $399/yr.
LifterLMS
Core free; bundles from $199 the first year.
MemberPress
Paywalls plus courses; from $199.50 the first year.
WordPress LMS plugins: price and sites
Prices from each official pricing page on 17 Oct 2026, excluding tax.
| Plugin | Free version | Paid from | Sites | Renewal | Installs, rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutor LMS | Yes | $199/yr | 1 ($399 for 10) | Same price | 100k+, 4.4/5 |
| LearnDash | No | $399/yr | 1 | Same price | 100k+ (LearnDash’s figure) |
| LifterLMS | Yes (core) | $199/yr | 1 | $398 (full price) | 10k+, 4.8/5 |
| MemberPress | No | $199.50/yr | 1 | Normally $399 | Not on WordPress.org |
Prices in US dollars excluding tax, read on each official pricing page on 17 Oct 2026. LifterLMS says renewals are at full price; MemberPress shows a first-year discount.
Which should you use?
Start free if
- You are testing your first course
- You sell a handful of courses on one site
- You can live without advanced quizzes
Pay from day one if
- Courses are your main business
- You need drip content, certificates and groups
- You sell memberships or bundles
Selling courses from India: what to check
Before you pick a plugin.
Payment gateway
Check Razorpay support: Tutor LMS and others support it through WooCommerce or add-ons.
GST on your sales
Online courses sold in India attract 18% GST once you cross the registration threshold.
Hosting
Course sites need more server power than blogs: start on a plan with daily backups.
Official pricing pages
Captured 17 Oct 2026, so you can compare with what you see today.
WordPress LMS plugin FAQ
What is the best WordPress LMS plugin?
Tutor LMS for most new course creators, because the free version can sell courses. LearnDash for established course businesses that need advanced quizzes and groups.
What is the best free WordPress LMS plugin?
Tutor LMS: 100,000+ installs and a free version with a course builder, quizzes and payments. LifterLMS and LearnPress also have free cores.
Tutor LMS vs LearnDash: which is better?
Tutor LMS is cheaper ($199 against $399 a year) and has a free version. LearnDash is older, with stronger group and reporting features.
LearnDash vs MemberPress?
LearnDash is a course platform; MemberPress is a membership and paywall plugin that also has courses. Many sites use both.
Do LMS plugins renew at the same price?
Tutor LMS and LearnDash list one yearly price. LifterLMS and MemberPress show first-year discounts and renew at full price.
Have you built a course site with these?
Not yet on our own sites. This page compares official prices and WordPress.org data; a hands-on Tutor LMS review is planned.
Methodology
How this page was built, so you can check it.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 Oct 2026 |
| Sources | Each product’s official pricing page and, where marked, our own tests |
| Procedure | We read every price, plan and renewal term for LMS and membership plugins and dated the page; tested pages link to their raw data |
| Limits | Prices change; we re-check them monthly. Some links are affiliate links and never change which product we rank higher |
About this page
Pritam Sonone
Founder of Digital Pritam. WordPress developer and designer, WordCamp Kolhapur 2025 speaker. Builds WordPress sites for clients.
How we checked
- Prices read on each official pricing page on 17 Oct 2026
- Installs and ratings from the WordPress.org API the same day
- Not tested hands-on yet: labelled as a price and feature comparison
Sources: Tutor LMS pricing · LearnDash pricing · LifterLMS pricing · MemberPress pricing
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