There are some significant differences between these 2 LMS plugins. It really depends on your needs. LifterLMS has everything built in, course checkout, membership protection, etc, where WP Courseware requires that you have an e-commerce system in place, and another solution to protect the content. My preference is to have 1 solution, with 1 learning curve, and 1 place to go for support. This is what I personally use LifterLMS because everything is built in and I don't need to further complicate my website. But with WP Courseware, you need to add so many other things to your website, and these are all things that can go wrong at some point.
LifterLMS Vs WP Courseware Comparison 2019
Updated: January 2, 2019
Filed Under: Learning Management Systems
LifterLMS Overview
LifterLMS is a free learning management system for WordPress. They also have paid extensions available to fund the development of the core plugin. It is also the LMS that I use on this website.
WP Courseware Overview
WP Courseware allows you to have online courses on your WordPress website. It's a solution ideal for people that already have an e-commerce platform and a membership plugin and just want to add courses.
LifterLMS Key Features
- Core Plugin Is Free
- Beaver Builder & Divi Integration
- Drag / Drop Course Builder
- WooCommerce Integration
WP Courseware Key Features
- Drag / Drop Course Builder
- Powerful Quiz Options
- Drip Feed Lessons
- Multiple Instructors
LifterLMS Things To Consider
The core plugin is free, but doesn't come with a payment gateway. You will have to purchase the gateway you want, currently, Authorize.net, PayPal, Stripe, and WooCommerce are available for $99 each.
Customizing colors requires custom CSS, but I find it fairly easy to do.
WP Courseware Things To Consider
If you want to sell your courses then WP Courseware will need to be integrated with an e-commerce system, which further adds complexity to your online course website. They do offer integrations with most e-commerce and membership platforms for selling courses, but I think it would be better if this was built in.
Also, when I used WP Courseware last, it did not protect course content, so it also required a membership plugin, which is another system you will need to learn, manage, and maintain.
LifterLMS Coupon / Discount
There are currently no active LifterLMS Coupon or LifterLMS Discounts available. However, if you do purchase LifterLMS through the link on this website, I will give you access to one of my premium training course which normally sells for $49.
WP Courseware Coupon / Discount
There are currently no active WP Courseware Coupon or WP Courseware Discounts available.
LifterLMS Review Summary
LifterLMS is great. The one thing that I think is insane is their pricing model. Yes I am complaining about pricing.
Truth be told, all you really need to buy is 1 payment gateway. The rest is completely optional.
But man, the price of their bundles. I just want to know what they are smoking to come up with this stuff. I think their community and user base would grow so much faster if they had realistic pricing.
WP Courseware Review Summary
WP Courseware is a pretty solid option, but when you factor in all that it doesn't do, you have to decide if it is a deal breaker.
I would prefer if it didn't require an e-commerce platform and a membership plugin because that will be additional cost and learning curve.
It just adds complexity that is a huge turn off for me.
Other LifterLMS Comparisons
LearnPress Vs LifterLMS
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LearnPress Vs LifterLMS
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LifterLMS Vs Sensei
Sensei vs LifterLMS is an easy competition. There is almost no comparison here because you are comparing an innovative LMS …
Other WP Courseware Comparisons
LearnPress Vs WP Courseware
While I am not that enthusiastic about either of these 2, I would personally choose WP Courseware over LearnPress almost solely …
Sensei Vs WP Courseware
Because Sensei is not actively developed, it’s sorta a weird side project, WP Courseware is the better choice between these 2 …
LifterLMS Vs WP Courseware
There are some significant differences between these 2 LMS plugins. It really depends on your needs. LifterLMS has everything built …
LearnPress Vs WP Courseware
While I am not that enthusiastic about either of these 2, I would personally choose WP Courseware over LearnPress almost solely …
Sensei Vs WP Courseware
Because Sensei is not actively developed, it’s sorta a weird side project, WP Courseware is the better choice between these 2 …
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Review Transparency & Ethics
These reviews & comparisons are my opinions based on my usage and testing. Although I have been solicited for paid reviews, I want to make it clear that I have always declined! I have never been paid to write or record any reviews, EVER! For more information on my review process, visit my Transparency Report linked above.
I am defecting from Moodle and exploring WP options for an LMS. I do not really understand the payment gateway issue when one can easily use a PayPal API to accept donations and purchases, even without installing WooCommerce . . . which is really no big deal. What is the fuss about?
Yes but if you want the buyer to automatically have an account created and to be given access to what they purchased, you need a payment gateway.
Hi Adam,
I have a question, regarding drip content on LifterLMS. Can I drip content (particual lessons) for EACH student INDIVIDUALLY? I mean, student A register at 25th of september and get access to lesson 1 at 1st of october. Student B register at 15th of october and get access to lesson 1 at 1st of november?
I hope I was clear enough that you could be able to answer a question.
Yes you can totally do that.
All of these articles on comparing course plugins are super helpful! Researching these plugins has been a bit overwhelming for a fairly new WP user. I’m also not a developer, so want something I can manage myself. I’ve narrowed it down to either LifterLMS or LearnDash. Why did you end up switching to LifterLMS? It looks like your overall review for LearnDash is higher. Thanks!
Glad you are finding them helpful. So I initially was using LearnDash then changed to LifterLMS because at the time LearnDash didn’t have a notification system. They have since added a notification system. Fast forward to today, I still use LifterLMS primarily because it has a voucher system, something that LearnDash doesn’t have.
Right now I am working on a comparison video to make it more clear which system has what.
Great job comparing all this lms plugins. Thank you man!
Your welcome. I will also have some more in-depth videos on LifterLMS and LearnDash coming out soon.
Just wondering … how many individual, paying courses can I place on one umbrella website with Personal LifterLMS? You know … sell course 1 for $97, and course 2 for $197, and course 3 for $297, etc. Thanks.
You can have as many courses and as many course bundles that you want. I have a bunch on this website.
WowWow, Adam … I am really impressed with the courses you have. I bought a domain with InMotion Hosting….EDITED OUT…… in response to one of your online promotions. As I recall, you were going to respond to me with some “free” choices for me to consider. I would really like to know what those are so that I can move foreword with other choices to begin online course development. I really like your straightforward, honest approach to online business …. Thanks in advance. Mitchell Watrous
Thanks for your purchase. Please note that I need you to send me the entire receipt to the email address in the instructions so that I can verify that your purchase was via my link.
Please follow all the instructions on my contact page:
1. Visit https://www.wpcrafter.com/contact/
2. Click on “Course Offers”
3. All the redemption instructions are right there
I look forward to getting you access ASAP!