Online education has received enormous appreciation from people worldwide. Many have benefited from it regardless of their age and profession. Of course, eLearning platforms enable anyone to learn anything right from their homes and at their schedules.
With the Learning Management System (LMS), online education has become much easier and faster. It sets a digital learning environment that allows teachers to create and integrate course materials, align content and assessments, track student’s learning progress, provide certificates, and so on.
Hence, you don’t have to spend days building a course to sell it online. All you need is robust LMS plugins to create engaging and practical courses online. Thus, you can offer better courses to your students and provide value for their money.
Now comes the crucial question; Which WordPress plugin is the best? When it comes to robust WordPress LMS plugins, LearnDash and LearnPress are the most well-known plugins with some excellent features.
Of course, both LearnDash and LearnPress excel in their ways. But, learning the difference between them will help you pick the right plugin that matches your expectations.
Let us compare and study LearnDash and LearnPress by considering several parameters like features, ease of use, course builders, and pricing. Now, let us dive into the detailed comparison of LearnDash and LearnPress.
What is LearnDash?
LearnDash is a WordPress LMS plugin that comes with an intuitive interface. It is known for its simplicity, optimal functionality, and user-friendly features.
LearnDash is one of the most trusted LMS plugins that has managed to gain the trust of nearly 500 universities, top-notch companies, entrepreneurs, and training institutions worldwide.
LearnDash lets anyone create and sell innovative online courses effortlessly. Plus, it comes with plenty of options like puzzles, badges, certificates, quizzes, and more. On the whole, LearnDash enables you to create an e-learning platform all by yourself without hiring any technicians.
What is LearnPress?
LearnPress is yet another popular WordPress LMS plugin that comes free of cost. Yes, the core plugin is free. However, one needs to pay for availing of additional features like payment options, certificates, etc. Users can leverage the free plugin with some paid add-ons.
LearnPress lets you create and sell online courses effortlessly. However, some prior technical knowledge is mandatory with LearnPress, unlike LearnDash.
LearnPress also comes with exciting features that enable you to create engaging courses containing quizzes, puzzles, and so on. It is a highly cost-effective plugin and is ideal for those who are tight on budget.
Now let us do a detailed comparative study of both of these plugins. That will give you a clear insight into which plugin to choose for your project.
Detailed Comparison of LearnDash vs LearnPress
1) Best Features
Best Features of LearnDash
- ⇒ The robust course builder of LearnDash enables you to create dynamic and interactive courses. Plus, its interface is highly intuitive and user-friendly.
- ⇒ It allows you to create courses with assignments. Also, it lets you add private comments on the student’s projects which only they can see.
- ⇒ You can set up front-end user profiles with LearnDash. That enables students to manage their course, track their progress, print certificates, access course materials, etc.
- ⇒ With LearnDash, you can create flexible courses that match your audience’s needs. You can even set specific criteria to ensure that your students take classes in an appropriate order. Plus, you can add interactive forums to your course that lets the students ask their questions.
- ⇒ LearnDash comes with a detailed reporting feature that enables you to know the progress of your students. You can track their marks and their attendance too.
Best Features of LearnPress
- ⇒ LearnPress is ideal if you want to turn your website into a robust and dynamic e-learning platform. It integrates with paid membership pro, allowing you to create memberships for your users.
- ⇒ LearnPress is a highly compatible plugin that works with any WordPress theme precisely. Plus, it also supports WordPress multisite.
- ⇒ With its robust interface, you can create engaging courses effortlessly. Moreover, you will not have trouble selling those courses as the plugin supports multiple payment gateways like WooCommerce, PayPal, Stripe, etc.
- ⇒ LearnPress allows you to release content at timed intervals. It is a beneficial feature that will enable you to provide content depending on your student’s progress. That way, they will find your course insightful.
- ⇒ With its premium add-on feature, you can create certificates for your students through drag and drop. Also, as the plugin comes with BuddyPress support; Thus, you can set up forums on your site and encouraging students to drop their queries.
Both of these two plugins have all the basic features needed to create an online course. However, LearnDash is a step ahead in offering you additional and advanced course-building features.
2) User-friendliness
How user-friendly are these LMS plugins? Yes, the functionality and features matter the most. But, if the interface is very complicated then users may get discouraged to build the course. Hence, now let us know which plugin is easier to use.
User-friendliness of LearnDash
LearnDash is highly user-friendly, and even beginners can start working on it without any assistance. It provides you an exclusive dashboard to build your lessons, quizzes or assignments.
The drag and drop interface lets you export your content to any other platform. Moreover, the pro plans come with a pro panel that offers the best performance and comes with a distinct intuitive interface for beginners.
User-friendliness of LearnPress
LearnPress also comes with an easy-to-use interface that does not demand the users to have much technical knowledge to get started. Like LearnDash, LearnPress also comes with a drag and drop feature to create certificates for students. However, it is not a built-in feature, but you can leverage this feature through add-ons.
The dashboard comes with clearly displayed options. The interface is straightforward to use, even if you are a beginner.
As far as considering the ease of use or user-friendly nature, both LearnDash and LearnPress score equally.
3) Course Creation Options
Ultimately, the purpose of the LMS plugin is to create informative and educative videos. Now, let us see the course options of LeanDash and LearnPress.
Course Creation Options with LearnDash
- ⇒ With its easy drag and drop editor, you can add your content easily and re-use topics & lessons.
- ⇒ LearnDash integrates with any WordPress theme. Moreover, you will get numerous functionalities like drip content, forums, prerequisite courses, gamification badges, and more.
- ⇒ LearnDash provides you a wide selection of themes and page builder plugins. It lets you add quizzes, assignments, and lesson timers. Since it comes with ProPanel, you can construct courses faster.
- ⇒ The course builder for LearnDash saves you a lot of time and enables you to build engaging courses quickly.
Course Creation Options with LearnPress
- ⇒ With LearnPress, you can build courses with regular WordPress websites and curriculum sections, enabling you to manage and organize courses and lessons using drag & drop.
- ⇒ It lets you add quizzes, certificates, drip-fed content, and so on. You can build your courses immediately with its course builder functionality.
- ⇒ With all options available right on the dashboard, thus you can start building your course without any assistance.
LearnDash leads again as it comes with plenty of course options. Though LearnPress comes with various course-building functionalities, still it can’t beat LearnDash’s intuitive course builder.
4) Availability of Course Design Options
The LMS plugin should provide multiple styling and design options to create engaging and interactive classes. No one would want their course to look plain and simple. A well-designed classroom itself will attract more audiences.
Designing Options in LearnDash
As LearnDash integrates with any WordPress theme, you don’t need to switch your theme or look for alternatives. LearnDash allows you to pick any WordPress theme to control the overall design and look.
But, LearnDash does not come with many built-in styling options. Hence, you may have to depend on a third-party tool to create an eye-catching course. Despite a few color and styling options, there is nothing much you can do with your layout and design.
Designing Options in LearnPress
LearnPress comes with many styling and color options. Additionally, the free and the pro bundle work with any theme. But, if you are using their middle-tier plan, then you will have to pick from their LearnPress theme bundle. LearnPress has got a massive collection of themes to use for your course.
When it comes to design and styling options, LearnPress is the clear winner. LearnDash lags in design and styling options.
5) eCommerce and Affiliate Functionalities
Let us see what these plugins have to offer when it comes to eCommerce and affiliate functionalities.
eCommerce and Affiliate Functionalities of LearnDash
LearnDash offers various eCommerce functionalities. It integrates with Paypal, Stripe, and 2Checkout.
But it has limited functionalities as compared to LearnPress. You don’t need to install more plugins for simple setup and for accepting one-time payments from users. However, if you offer users recurring plans, monthly plans, or subscriptions, you have to install additional plugins. It remains the same for affiliate functionalities as well.
eCommerce and Affiliate Functionalities of LearnPress
As LearnPress integrates with PayPal seamlessly, you can sell any courses without any additional integrations or tools. However, you cannot run plans or accept recurring payments with PayPal. You will need different integrations for that.
Moreover, LearnPress comes with various payment integrations and shopping cart add-ons for WooCommerce, Stripe, and multiple other payment gateways.
Plus, LearnPress can also help you with affiliate marketing on your site with a commission add-on. As the affiliate program by LearnPress is not robust, you cannot fully rely on it.
LearnPress overtakes LearnDash for eCommerce support and affiliate functionalities for sure.
6) Pricing Plans
Price plays a crucial role, and it is one of the prime deciding factors. No matter how big or small a purchase we make, we want to spend on worthy things. Now, let us see the price comparison of these two plugins.
Pricing Plans of LearnDash
LearnDash is available as a premium plugin with three pricing plans:
- Basic - $159 for one site
- Plus Package - $189 up to ten sites
- Pro Package - $ 329 up to twenty-five sites
All three plans come with unlimited courses and users, drip-feed lessons, advanced quizzing, course forums, certificates, free integration, and badging email notifications. Additionally, you will also get a year of support and updates and a demo-site template as a bonus.
By getting the Plus or Pro package, you can access ProPanel that makes the course creation effortless. Moreover, as plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, it is a risk-free purchase.
Pricing Plans of LearnPress
LearnPress also comes with three various pricing plans:
- LearnPress Free - It is a freemium version. It comes with unlimited courses, instructors, and students. You do get several features, but you have to opt for premium plans for more exciting features.
- LearnPress Theme Bundle ($49-$69) - With this plan, you get the theme of your choice. You can access almost all the add-ons without paying additional charges.
- LearnPress Pro Bundle ($249) - This allows you to access advanced premium features of LearnPress. This plan is ideal for schools, big institutions, and organizations.
You can go for LearnPress Free or Theme Bundle if you want some of the standard features alone. Opting for the Pro Bundle will give you access to all premium features. LearnPress comes with six months of free support. You have to pay an additional amount to renew your support.
As you can see, LearnDash is pretty expensive than LearnPress. However, LearnDash features are also quite exciting for the price. You can go for LearnPress if you want a simple course building, else invest in LearnDash to avail of its advanced features.
7) Customer Support Services
With constantly changing technologies and features, even the users with excellent exposure may need assistance. Hence, the LMS plugin should come with excellent support and documentation for users.
Customer Support Services of LearnDash
LearnDash comes with a massive library of documentation to guide you step by step. Moreover, it offers email support on weekdays during their business hours. You can rely on their email support if you have a tricky question.
Customer Support Services of LearnPress
With LearnPress, you have to find a solution within their limited documentation. It does not provide any additional customer support. So you have to figure out everything by yourself.
LearnDash is the best choice if you do not have any reliable sources to get assistance. With appropriate documentation and email support, their customer support services are seamless.
Which one is the Ideal Choice for Your LMS?
LearnDash is ideal for you if
- ⇒ You can use various plugins to attain your goals.
- ⇒ You want an intuitive interface and course builder.
- ⇒ You can afford to spend additional dollars to avail of the best features of the LMS plugin.
- ⇒ You want to create a professional e-learning platform.
LearnPress is ideal for you if
- ⇒ You run a small-scale operation.
- ⇒ You are tight on budget and need an affordable LMS plugin.
- ⇒ You want eCommerce and affiliate functionalities in your LMS plugin.
- ⇒ You want better designing and styling options.
- ⇒ You already have some technical knowledge or previous experience. So, you are confident enough to get things done on your own.
Final Thoughts
Both LearnDash and LearnPress have got some cool and exciting features that you can rely on for constructing and selling your online courses. However, always examine your business needs, audience, content, and budget before picking the right LMS plugin. Hopefully, this blog would have given you a clear insight into both of these LMS plugins.
As we have seen a detailed comparison in this blog, you can go for LearnPress if you have prior technical experience or if you need an affordable LMS plugin. You can opt for LeanDash if your business needs a professional e-learning platform or if you want to utilize some of the prime features of LearnDash.
If you have any doubts about LMS plugins or looking for a technical team to build your e-learning platforms, do not wait any further. Connect with Cypherox Technologies for any queries regarding LMS plugins or building a Learning Management System from scratch.
