20 Best Learning Management Systems (LMS) of 2025: Reviewed & Compared
10 Best Learning Management Systems Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 20 tools reviewed.
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Finding the right learning management system (LMS) is no small task. You're likely dealing with a platform that’s clunky, doesn’t engage your learners, or lacks meaningful reporting, leaving you frustrated and unable to demonstrate the impact of your training efforts. Or, even worse, you might not have any LMS software at all.
An LMS is a powerful tool that can help you simplify course creation, deliver engaging training experiences, and track learner progress—all while supporting critical goals like compliance, employee upskilling, and performance improvement. But choosing the right one requires knowing what to look for, and the sheer number of options is easily overwhelming.
With years of experience running an internal learning and development program, I’ve seen firsthand what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to leveraging LMS tools for organizational success. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best LMS options to streamline your search and help you make an informed decision.
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Best Learning Management Systems: Comparison Chart
This comparison chart summarizes pricing, trial, and demo details for my top learning management system selections to help you find the best system for your budget and business needs.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for integrated performance and learning | Free demo available | Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people | Website | |
| 2 | Best for auto-enrollment | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 3 | Best for advanced course authoring | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 4 | Best for customizable LMS needs | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 5 | Best for industry-specific training compliance | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 6 | Best for AI-powered smart features | Free trial + free demo | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 7 | Best on-the-go training for frontline employees | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $29/month (for up to 30 users, billed annually) + $0.5/user/month for each additional user | Website | |
| 8 | Best for authoring and tracking capabilities | 30-day free trial | From $2.87/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 9 | Best for personalized customer support | 14-day free trial | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 10 | Best for its course builder | Free trial + free demo | From $50/month | Website |
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HiThrive
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Guru
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Absorb LMS
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6
Best Learning Management System Reviews
The right LMS doesn’t just deliver training—it transforms it. Below, you’ll find my 10 favorite platforms, each chosen for what makes it shine, from standout features to ideal use cases. I’ve included a quick overview of each, plus screenshots so you can get a feel for the interface before you dive in. Plus, I’ve included some bonus picks at the end to give you even more great tools to consider!
Deel Engage is an all-in-one talent development platform designed for businesses seeking to enhance their employee training, performance management, and career development processes.
Why I picked Deel: I like that Deel bridges the gap between training, performance, and career development with its platform. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including an intuitive learning management system, AI-powered career progression frameworks, and customizable performance reviews.
I especially like the software's AI capabilities, which allow users to quickly build engaging courses using drag-and-drop tools, and integrate elements like images, quizzes, and tasks.
Additionally, its automation features enable automatic assignment of courses based on criteria such as start dates and department roles, ensuring consistent and timely training delivery without manual intervention.
Deel Standout Features & Integrations
Standout features include its customizable performance review system that offers 360° feedback and advanced analytics, such as heatmaps and 9-box grids, to identify skill gaps and track employee progress effectively.
Additionally, the platform’s career development tools help define clear career paths and competencies, providing employees with a motivating roadmap for their growth.
The platform also includes advanced tracking capabilities with pre-built dashboards, allowing managers to monitor course progress and completion rates in real time.
Integrations include various HR systems and tools, like Workday, BambooHR, and Personio. It also integrates with Slack and offers custom integrations through its Open API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integrates with Deel HR
- Training automation capabilities
- Drag-and-drop interface
Cons:
- Platform could have more customizations
- Learning curve for new users
Mitratech Trakstar is a SaaS company that offers a suite of products to help you manage your various HR functions. One of those products is their learning management system (LMS), called Mitratech Trakstar Learn.
Why I picked Mitratech Trakstar Learn: I appreciate Mitratech Trakstar Learn’s auto-enrollment function, which helps expedite the course enrollment process when you have new employees to train.
Rather than enrolling employees individually, you can select a subset of courses (e.g., onboarding) and assign them to groups of employees, teams, or departments to be enrolled with a single click. The LMS then automatically sends out all the online learning materials to your learners by email.
Mitratech Trakstar Standout Features & Integrations
Features include course content creation tools that are some of the easiest to use and most versatile in the industry. Users can create not just simple course content, but also multimedia content, with gamification, quizzes and assessments, and other unique options.
The reporting and compliance features allow HR teams to conduct document compliance training, as well as evaluate departmental success and monitor progress across the entire workforce.
Another standout feature of this platform is that it can be purchased together with the other HR tools offered by Mitratech Trakstar. The company has an applicant tracking system (ATS) for recruiting new hires, a performance management platform for nurturing your existing workforce, and a workforce analytics tool to help you measure the output of your HR initiatives.
This makes it a modular and scalable solution, depending on the needs of your business.
Integrations include ADP Workforce Now, ej4, Paylocity, BambooHR, GoToWebinar, Ramco, Shopify, UKG Pro, Zoom Webinars and many single sign-on (SSO) applications.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to integrate SCORM content from third-party providers
- Training can be linked to employee performance goals
- One of a suite of HR SaaS products
Cons:
- Small list of pre-built integrations
- Pricing details and plan features are not transparent
Bridge is a learning management system (LMS) designed to help organizations deliver engaging training and development programs. It enables you to create, manage, and track learning experiences for employees, partners, and customers.
Why I picked Bridge: One reason I like Bridge is its advanced course authoring capabilities. You can design interactive and engaging learning content tailored to your organization's needs. This feature allows you to create courses that resonate with your team, enhancing their learning experience.
The system also includes tracking and analytics features, providing administrators with reporting tools to monitor course completion and engagement, therefore supporting data-driven decision-making. Bridge even supports skill development with access to a vast database of skills, helping organizations offer relevant content recommendations.
Another notable aspect is Bridge's performance management system. It integrates performance reviews, one-on-one meetings, continuous feedback, and goal tracking into the learning process. This integration ensures that learning and performance are aligned, helping your team apply new skills effectively.
Bridge Standout Features & Integrations
Standout features include a mobile app that lets your team access training materials on the go, ensuring learning isn't confined to the office.
The advanced media feature provides centralized file storage with video recording and editing tools, making it easy to create and manage multimedia content.
Additionally, talent reviews and one-on-ones provide insights into employee strengths and development areas, enabling more targeted and effective training interventions.
Integrations include LinkedIn Learning, OpenSesame, Khan Academy, SlideShare, Slack, Dropbox, YouTube, Vimeo, Kaltura, Panopto, Credly, and Shopify.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integrates performance and learning
- Robust tools for creating and managing training content
- Offers various customization features
Cons:
- Creating initial content can be time-consuming
- Limited pre-made content
Synergy Learning is a specialized learning management software company that partners with organizations to create and customize meaningful and measurable learning experiences. They specialize in platforms like Totara and Moodle LMS, aiming to unlock the full potential of these systems for their clients.
Why I picked Synergy Learning: Its focus on customization means you can have a system tailored specifically for your organization. With Moodle LMS, for example, you get a flexible and scalable LMS, which lets you create and manage courses that enhance staff retention and compliance.
This is particularly useful if your organization has unique training needs or compliance standards to meet. Moodle Workplace takes things further by offering features designed for organizational training and development.
Totara, on the other hand, is about creating engaging learning experiences that boost productivity and performance. It supports every aspect of learning and talent management, which is great if you're looking for a system that educates and also manages talent effectively within your organization.
Synergy Learning Standout Features & Integrations
Standout features include managed hosting services that ensure your LMS is reliable and secure, consultancy and training services to help your team make the most of the platform, and bespoke development options that allow for further customization to meet specific requirements.
Integrations include HubSpot, Power BI, Google Apps, Microsoft Office 365, SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Stripe, PayPal, and Zoom.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Highly customizable learning management systems
- Offers managed hosting and consultancy services
- Client-focused approach ensures tailored solutions
Cons:
- May not be ideal for those looking for a quick-start solution
- Customization options may require additional development
Kallidus Learn is a user-friendly training platform designed to help organizations deliver and manage effective employee learning programs at scale. It serves teams in various industries by supporting compliance training needs and professional development.
Why I picked Kallidus Learn: I chose Kallidus Learn because of how quickly you can get your training programs up and running. The platform includes over 100 ready-to-go courses you can use to launch corporate training at your company quickly. It also offers industry-specific compliance training for key sectors, including construction, manufacturing, consumer services, finance and accounting firms, and healthcare.
Kallidus Learn Standout Features & Integrations
Standout features include blended learning formats (a combination of online, in-person, video, and social learning), plus tools to create segmented course content for each user (or groups of users) to create a more personalized learning experience.
To ensure training compliance, the system also has an auto-assign and reminder feature that sends personalized follow up emails to any employee who hasn't completed their training, to keep your company compliant. The tool also provides customizable reporting tools to monitor training completion and identify gaps.
The platform also supports mobile learning, making it easy for employees to access training from any device.
Integrations include Meta for Business, Microsoft Office, Natural HR, Rewards Gateway, Tazio, and Yammer.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Support team is responsive and helpful
- Caters to all learning styles
- Easy back end management
Cons:
- Course catalogue can be challenging to navigate
- Notifications are not customizable
Absorb LMS is a learning management system with smart administrative features, high quality learner engagement tools, and even ecommerce options to sell your custom built courses online.
Why I picked Absorb LMS: I chose this software for my list because of its powerful artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The system's AI can help you customize the learner experience for each employee. It can anticipate each employee's needs and connecting them to relevant training.
The AI can also support your day-to-day administrative tasks. You can give it simple or complex reporting requests, and it will carry out the work on your behalf. AI is also incorporated into the system's search capability, helping enhance your search results based on your historical choices.
Absorb LMS Standout Features & Integrations
Standout features include the platform's intuitive dashboard with multi-language support. The dashboard is in full accordance with WCAG 2.0 standards, making your online employee development program as inclusive as it is effective.
You can also set up customized learning experiences for different teams and departments within your organization, as well as for partners and other external learners.
The platform supports multiple learning use cases, including compliance-related learning and training, onboarding training, internal upskilling initiatives, and customer-focused training.
Integrations include ADP, BambooHR, ClearCompany, Dayforce, HubSpot CRM, Namely, Salesforce, Webex, Workday, Zendesk, Zoom, and single sign-on (SSO) applications.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Great customer service
- Extensive customization options
- Robust pre-built templates
Cons:
- Resources lack a thumbnail feature
- Limited assessment features
Connecteam is a workplace software provider that offers platforms for training management as well as internal communications and operations for deskless employees.
Why I picked Connecteam: The training management platform provides the tools you need to build, manage, and track your employee training initiatives. However, I included it in my list because of its unique features that create a more engaging training experience for your staff.
You can create fully customized video courses, even if you're not a technical expert or videographer. You can also add quizzes and evaluations to your training modules to ensure people are retaining the key takeaways.
Connecteam Standout Features & Integrations
Standout features of this software include the mobile app, which allows employees to do their training from their mobile device. The training platform (part of their HR & Skills product) also includes employee recognition and rewards, so you can give meaningful recognition when people complete their trainings.
The platform includes compliance features that make it easy to match training with new policies and procedures to prove employees have mastered the new information. You can also export your mandatory training data, as needed, as proof of your corporate compliance (a big plus for safety-sensitive industries).
Finally, another great feature is all the pre-built templates, including industry-specific and topical training modules that are available for you to use.
Integrations include Paychex, Xero, Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll (online + desktop), Google Calendar and others.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Tracks training progress per employee
- Does not require technical expertise
- Keeps an updated database of all courses created
Cons:
- Complex pricing structure
- Integration details are limited
iSpring Learn is a learning management system with advanced features and a scalable pricing structure that makes them a great choice for enterprise organizations.
Why I picked iSpring Learn: The number of advanced features included in this platform are what landed it its spot on my list. It's highly customizable, and even has white-label branding so you can create a unified employee experience across it and your other tools. You can also have your training content translated into other languages using the localization feature.
The software is cloud-based and offers unlimited storage. But if you need the security of on-premise installation, it's available, too. These are all helpful features and functionalities for large-scale enterprise businesses.
iSpring Learn Standout Features & Integrations
Standout features include tools for boosting employee engagement in training programs, such as colorful badges, dynamic leaderboards, and gamification elements in your learning modules.
Another nice feature is the direct messaging tool and a designated Q&A section where learners and course authors can communicate on course material.
The software also offers unlimited administrator roles and helpful user management features such as training groups, user roles, and user invitations.
Plus, you can keep costs low by deactivating users who aren't frequent users so you're only paying for active users. (Deactivated learners will still have their progress data saved, but you'll have to reactivate them again once they need to log back into the system.)
Integrations include ADP, BambooHR, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Power BI, Workday, Udemy, Zoom and others. Additional integrations can be configured using their REST/SOAP API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Well-suited for processes that require extensive training
- 360-degree feedback feature
- Flexible and versatile to suit various training and learning needs
Cons:
- Complicated pricing structure (many modules and add-on options)
- Limited native software integrations
SkyPrep is a powerful learning management system (LMS) that helps organizations train their employees, customers, and partners with ease.
Why I picked SkyPrep: I included SkyPrep because it's well-known for its best-in-class customer support. Every client on a paid plan is paired with a dedicated and knowledgeable Customer Success Manager who creates a personalized action plan to help you get the most out of their LMS system. Whether you're looking for an LMS to onboard employees, train customers on your products, keep up with compliance requirements, or sell your courses online, you'll be well-supported along the way.
SkyPrep Standout Features & Integrations
Some of the software's standout features include role-based training workflows and individual client portals. With these tools, you can craft more personalized learning experiences for your audience. You can also add custom branding to the platform, giving it a familiar feel for employees, clients, or partners.
Integrations include ADP, BambooHR, BigBlueButton, Ceridian Dayforce, Cisco Webex, ClickMeeting, Google Suite, GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams, Office 365, Paylocity, PayPal, Salesforce, Shopify, Stripe, UKG Pro and Zoom. You can also access additional custom integrations using their API, or by connecting a paid Zapier plan.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent course authoring tools
- Easy to set up & learn
- Ability to craft personalized learning experiences
Cons:
- Automatic video captions locked to highest paid plan
- Pricing is not transparent
Coassemble is a versatile Learning Management System (LMS) that integrates course authoring tools and LMS functionalities into one platform. It allows users to create engaging and interactive online training programs with ease, utilizing a variety of templates and drag-and-drop features.
Why I picked Coassemble: Coassemble has an intuitive course builder, which allows users to create engaging, customized, and impactful courses without any coding knowledge. The platform offers a comprehensive library of customizable templates, themes, and multimedia assets, enabling educators to tailor their courses to reflect their unique brand and teaching style. This level of customization ensures that the learning experience is immersive and resonates well with the audience.
Another significant feature of Coassemble is its AI Assistant, which streamlines the creation of quizzes and assessments. This tool aligns assessments with learning outcomes instantly by pulling information directly from the course content, ensuring that learners are tested on what matters most.
Coassemble Standout Features & Integrations
Standout features include a powerful analytics dashboard that provides deep insights into user engagement, completion rates, and quiz scores, allowing educators to enhance learning outcomes effectively. Additionally, Coassemble's AI course generator allows users to create microlearning courses using artificial intelligence, making course creation efficient and engaging.
Integrations include QuickBooks Online, Stripe, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, WordPress, GoTo Meeting, LinkedIn, Zapier, Shopify, Google Calendar, Google Workspace, and PayPal.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Various interactive features
- Custom feedback and reporting options
- Offers a variety of templates and tools for easy course creation
Cons:
- Some users may face a learning curve when creating more complex courses
- Could offer more customization options
Other Learning Management Systems
Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best learning management systems list. They’re also great products and solid options if the LMS systems above didn’t satisfy all your needs:
- Tovuti
For creating virtual classroom experiences
- TeachFloor
For cohort-based learning
- Docebo
For AI course creation
- eloomi
For automated development journeys
- WeSchool
For social learning features
- LearnDash
For hosting courses through WordPress
- SkillSoft
For skills-based development programs
- Constructor Tech
For employee, partner, and customer training
- Learn Amp
For tailored learning pathways
- Eduflow
For peer-to-peer feedback
Related HR Software Reviews
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these other related tools that we've tested and evaluated:
- HR Software
- Payroll Software
- Recruiting Software
- Employer of Record Services
- Applicant Tracking Systems
- Workforce Management Software
Selection Criteria for Learning Management Systems
Selecting the best learning management systems for this list requires a deep understanding of internal learning & development (L&D) and internal training processes, and how common pain points can be alleviated by choosing the right system.
Drawing on my personal experience as an L&D support person — where I organized internal and external training, maintained training and compliance records, and prepared our training-related statistics — I was able to pinpoint the LMS features that add the most value for users on both sides of the table.
Using my experience to guide my final selections, I examined each system in fine detail, using the key criteria below as my framework:
Core Learning Management System Functionalities (25% of total score): To be considered for inclusion in my list of the best learning management systems, the LMS solution had to offer the following basic functionalities first:
- User-friendly course templates and multimedia content creation tools to create internal training materials from scratch
- A pre-loaded course content library that staff can access according to their preferences
- An intuitive user interface (UI) that makes a positive and engaging connection with your active users to create a positive user experience (UX) for them
- Learner reports and analytics that document individual progress, measure overall engagement and assist with compliance management
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score): To help me narrow in on the best employee engagement software out of the numerous options available, I also took note of any unique features, including:
- AI-driven content recommendations or advanced analytics capabilities
- Innovative engagement features such as personalization, gamification, or social learning capabilities
- Tools to customize learning experiences and create tailored learning paths for your employees based on their role or personal interests
- Automatic compliance-tracking features for easy oversight of required or mandatory training, including certification expiry dates
- The ability to support offline learning via mobile devices, for when your employees are off the grid
Usability (10% of total score): To evaluate the usability of each LMS, I considered the following:
- An intuitive design and user interface, with a minimal learning curve to master
- Clear and straightforward content organization, including the ability to create content libraries through drag-and-drop tools
- A good balance between powerful features and ease of use to accommodate all skill levels and create a positive user experience
- Either dedicated mobile apps or a mobile-friendly user interface that supports flexible learning on both Android and iOS mobile devices
- Role-based access controls that are straightforward to configure
The best HR tools are those that meet employees where they are. Whether it’s a learning platform that personalizes development plans or a pulse survey tool that adapts to team-specific needs, the focus should always be on usability and impact.
Onboarding (10% of total score): To get a sense of each software provider's customer onboarding process, I considered the following factors:
- A streamlined setup process and clear configuration guidelines
- The availability of training materials such as videos or interactive tutorials
- Customizable templates to speed up the onboarding process
- Support for migrating employee data into the new platform
Customer Support (10% of total score): To evaluate the level of customer support each vendor offered, I considered the following:
- The availability of multiple support channels, including email, phone, and chat
- The existence of a self-service knowledge base or other self-help resources to speed up troubleshooting
- The overall quality, responsiveness, and helpfulness of the support team during customer onboarding and post-purchase, as inferred from customer reviews
Value for Price (10% of total score): To gauge the value of each software, I considered the following factors:
- The availability of free trials or demos to test the software before purchasing
- Competitive and transparent pricing models that reflect the software's feature depth and explain which features are included at each level
- Tiered pricing plans that cater to different business sizes, from small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) up to enterprise-level organizations
Customer Reviews (10% of total score): Evaluating customer reviews is the final element of my selection process, which helps me understand how well a product performs in the hands of real users. Here are the factors I considered:
- Whether a product has consistently high ratings across multiple review platforms, indicating a broad level of user satisfaction
- Specific praises, criticisms, or trends in customer feedback that indicate the software's strengths or areas for improvement
- Whether customer feedback specifically mentions issues with ease of use, customer support responsiveness, or lacking features
Using this assessment framework helped me identify the learning management systems that go beyond basic requirements to offer additional value through unique features, intuitive usability, smooth onboarding, effective support, and overall value for price.
Tools like LMS systems are great, but don’t rely on them to solve your learning challenges. Focus on what problems you’re solving for your organization and ensure tools are tied to measurable outcomes—like productivity, promotions, or better management skills.
How to Choose a Learning Management System
A learning management system can help you centralize your internal learning resources and create more flexible learning experiences for your employees, based on their needs.
To choose an LMS that best fits your needs, you need to pinpoint your key users and document their specific challenges first.
As you work through your own unique LMS software selection process, keep the following points in mind:
- What problem are you trying to solve? Start by identifying the challenges you're trying to overcome. This will help you clarify the features and functionality the learning management system needs to provide.
- Who will need to use it? To evaluate cost and requirements, consider who will use the software and how many licenses you'll need. For a learning management system, you'll likely want access for your entire workforce, with special access for your HR administrators and managers. Once that's clear, it's also useful to rank the needs of your different users to identify the key priorities for your power users, managers, and employees, to ensure they're all met.
- What other tools it needs to work with? Clarify what tools you're replacing, what tools are staying, and the tools you'll need to integrate with, such as HR management systems, performance management systems, and communication tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. You'll need to decide if the tools will need to integrate together, or alternatively, if you can replace multiple tools with an all-in-one employee learning & development platform.
- What outcomes are important? Review the capabilities you want to gain or improve, and how you will measure success. For example, you may want to offer learning experiences in more flexible formats, gain stronger tools for progress tracking, or improve your compliance rates for internal training purposes. You could compare LMS features until you’re blue in the face but if you aren’t thinking about the outcomes you want to achieve, you could waste a lot of valuable time.
- How it would work within your organization? Consider the software selection alongside your existing workflows and systems. Evaluate what's working well, and any problem areas that need to be addressed.
Remember every business is different — don’t assume that a learning management system will work for your organization just because it's popular.
There’s a major shift coming with AI in L&D. While organizations may initially rely heavily on AI for training, success will depend on professionals who understand learning sciences and can evaluate AI outputs for effectiveness.
Trends in Learning Management Systems (LMS) for 2025
Employee training, upskilling, and cross-skilling are increasingly important as organizations feel the pressure to keep pace with emerging technologies and stay afloat in economically uncertain times.
Learning management systems can greatly contribute to a culture of ongoing development, helping your teams address any weaknesses identified in your skills gap analysis process.
Here are some of the ways these systems are evolving to better address the shifting needs of businesses and their workforce:
- Personalized Learning Paths: LMS platforms are increasingly using AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze user performance and preferences to tailor course content and offer personalized learning paths. This functionality addresses the challenge of diverse learner needs within organizations, enabling more targeted training that improves outcomes and learner satisfaction.
- Mobile Learning and Accessibility: With the rise of hybrid and remote working environments, mobile learning and enhanced accessibility features are becoming increasingly important. This trend addresses the need for flexible learning options that cater to employees working from various locations. Mobile-friendly LMS platforms ensure continuous learning and development, regardless of an employee's physical location.
- Gamification and Interactive Content: Novel and unusual features such as gamification and interactive content are gaining traction. These features make learning more engaging and enjoyable, leveraging competition and rewards to motivate learners. This approach addresses the challenge of learner engagement and retention, a common pain point for HR professionals.
- Microlearning and Bite-Sized Content: The shift towards microlearning reflects a growing understanding of attention spans and the need for flexible, concise training modules. This feature caters to the modern learner's preference for quick, digestible pieces of content that can be easily incorporated into a busy schedule or consumed easily on a mobile device.
- Advanced Analytics and Reporting: For leaders who aim to be strategic partners in their organizations, understanding the impact of learning initiatives is vital. Advanced analytics and reporting capabilities provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your training programs, supporting a data-driven approach for making future program adjustments. These tools can help you monitor key metrics like:
- Training completion rates,
- Assessment and evaluation scores, and
- Engagement with various training modules.
This snapshot of LMS trends shows a clear focus on enhancing the learning experience and making the format and delivery of learning materials more accessible. As these platforms continue to develop, they promise to offer even more innovative solutions to meet the changing needs of learners and organizations alike.
What is a Learning Management System?
Learning management systems (LMS) are streamlined digital platforms for education and training. They provide a centralized space for creating, delivering, and tracking educational content and courses.
LMSs enable efficient learning by offering tools for educators to manage course materials and for learners to access and engage with these resources. The purpose is to simplify the educational process, make it more accessible and effective, and support a diverse range of learning needs.
The modern LMS (Learning Management System) is evolving into a hub for tracking and managing learning paths. Leaders should prioritize tools with AI integrations, customizable learning pathways, and features that foster interactivity.
Features of Learning Management Systems
Learning management systems can do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to offering flexible learning environments, tracking learning progress, and supporting upskilling and employee development. Here are the features I consider essential when reviewing learning management systems:
- Course Management Features: This includes a handful of useful tools such as personalization features, learning paths, and role-based course groupings that will help you curate the most relevant learning materials for learners at the individual, group, job function, or department level.
- Content Management Features: This includes tools for uploading and organizing multimedia materials into libraries, version control for course content, easy integration with external resources, and any other tools that make it easy to update and maintain course materials.
- Assessment and Competency Tools: These are tools that help you ensure that your employees are actually retaining the information they're learning. They include features like skill assessment questionnaires and spot quizzes that measure learning comprehension.
- Learner Engagement Features: Learner engagement features include things like training gamification, employee leaderboards with training scores, and internal communication tools that keep students engaged. Beyond that, some systems allow learners to collaborate within the LMS, ask questions & add comments, or encourage peer-based learning.
- Tracking and Reporting: Comprehensive tracking and reporting capabilities allow educators to monitor learner progress and engagement. This feature is indispensable for identifying areas where learners may need additional support, or for monitoring required or mandatory training for compliance purposes.
- Automated Alerts and Notifications: These features are especially valuable for organizations that have specific training requirements, such as those in safety-sensitive industries. With integrated alerts and notifications, your HR professionals won't have to chase down employees to complete any mandatory training. Instead, the system will do that work automatically on your behalf.
- Collaborative Learning Tools: You don't want your employees being trained in a silo. Instead, the best LMS systems include communication and collaboration features that support social learning, allowing employees to post questions or comments within an internal chat to spark engagement with other colleagues.
- Mobile Compatibility: A mobile-friendly platform ensures that learners can access materials anytime, anywhere. This feature is vital for accommodating the needs of learners who rely on mobile devices for their educational activities. (Make sure the LMS is compatible with both Android and iOS devices to ensure maximum flexibility for all your active users.)
- Customization and Branding: The ability to tailor the look and feel of the platform to match an organization's branding enhances the learning experience. Customization ensures that the LMS feels like a natural extension of the organization's educational offerings.
- Customer Support: Even though LMS systems are very straightforward and intuitive for the most part, you still want to know that the vendor you choose has your back if you need them. That's why I always double-check what kind of support a vendor offers, including customer support by phone, email, or chat.
If you'd like to dig into this more, read our advanced round-up of the best learning management system features next.
It’s not enough to report engagement metrics from an LMS. The real measure of success is how learning translates into on-the-job performance. Are employees solving problems faster? Are teams more aligned? Are managers growing their skills?
Benefits of a Learning Management System
A well-chosen learning management system can function as a cornerstone of your employee development and corporate training environment, giving you the tools you need to deliver, track, and manage your internal training programs. By investing in the best LMS for your needs, you can expect to gain the following benefits:
- Centralized Learning Resources: LMS platforms house all learning materials in one location, making it easier for users to access and for organizations to manage. This centralization ensures that everyone has access to the same information and resources, streamlining the learning process, reducing redundancy, and providing a consistent learning experience for all users.
- Scalable and Flexible Learning: When using an LMS, businesses can easily scale their training programs to accommodate growth and adapt to changing learning needs. This flexibility supports continuous learning and development opportunities, catering to a diverse workforce with varying schedules and learning preferences.
- Enhanced Tracking and Reporting: LMS platforms provide advanced tools for monitoring user progress and measuring the effectiveness of training programs. This capability allows businesses to make data-driven decisions about how to improve and tailor their training initiatives, ensuring they meet their learning objectives and return on investment.
- Improved Learner Engagement and Retention: Interactive features, multimedia content, and personalized learning paths within LMS platforms engage users more effectively than traditional training methods. Enhanced engagement leads to higher retention rates, ensuring that learners not only complete their courses but also absorb and apply the knowledge gained.
- Reduced Training Costs: By reducing the need for physical materials, travel, and instructor-led sessions, LMSs offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional training methods. Organizations can allocate their resources more efficiently, by investing in high-quality online training that delivers measurable outcomes.
As you can see, investing in a learning management system isn't just about adopting new technology. It's about creating a learning culture that covers the needs of all learners, offers greater flexibility and analytics, and reduces operational costs, while streamlining learning processes to make them easily scalable.
By investing in an LMS, businesses can unlock the full potential of their workforce and drive operational success.
For more on this topic, this article covering the benefits of learning management systems is a logical next step.
Costs & Pricing for Learning Management Systems
LMS providers typically offer a range of plans to accommodate the diverse needs and scales of organizations, from startups to large enterprises. These plans are designed to provide flexibility and scalability, ensuring that businesses can find an option that fits their specific training and development requirements.
Below is an overview of common LMS plan options and pricing to help you make an informed decision.
Plan Comparison Table for Learning Management Systems
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Access to basic features, limited user count, and community support |
| Basic | $5-20 per user/month | Basic learning management features, reporting, and email support |
| Standard | $20-50 per user/month | Advanced analytics, customization options, integration capabilities, and phone support |
| Premium | $50-100 per user/month | Full feature access, dedicated support, advanced integration, and personalized training |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom features, enterprise-grade security, a personal account manager, and bespoke training solutions |
When selecting a plan, consider both your immediate and long-term organizational needs. While free and basic plans offer a good starting point for small teams and budgets, standard, premium, and enterprise plans provide the scalability and features to help large organizations fully optimize their training programs.
Here are several common scenarios for when you might want to opt for a more advanced LMS plan:
Increased User Capacity: As your organization grows, the basic plan may not support the number of users you need. Upgrading ensures all employees can access the system without limitations.
Customization Needs: Basic plans often come with limited customization options. Upgrading allows you to tailor the system to fit your company's unique training requirements and integrate your corporate branding elements.
Compliance and Certifications: If your industry has strict compliance and certification requirements, advanced plans offer the necessary tools to ensure you meet these standards, including proactive certification renewal reminders. These features help avoid non-compliance issues and maintain professional standards without requiring a lot of manual involvement by your HR staff —definitely worth paying extra for if this applies to your organization.
Advanced Reporting and Analytics: To track detailed progress and performance metrics, you may need the sophisticated reporting tools offered in advanced plans. This data can help you make informed decisions about your training programs to make them even more effective.
Ultimately, it's important to secure a plan that offers the features you require to satisfy your current needs and solve your challenges without exceeding your budget.
New & Noteworthy Product Updates
Below, I've summarized the most recent release notes and product updates for my top LMS recommendations. Discover what’s now possible through new feature releases, improvements, and updates for web, desktop, and mobile apps. Learn what’s new, if it’s hot—or not, and why it matters for learning, training, and employee development.
2025 Q2: LMS Software Updates
iSpring Learn Update Notes
iSpring Learn recently introduced several enhancements to improve their user experience and system functionality. These updates include email notifications for LMS chats, improved on-the-job training (OJT) session documentation, an integration with Microsoft Entra ID, and a revamped "People" section.
The email notifications for LMS chats ensure users stay informed about unread messages, facilitating timely responses. Enhancements to OJT sessions include location tracking and the ability for observers to attach photos to observation checklists, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance.
On the admin side of the platform, the new integration with Microsoft Entra ID automates user data management and allows administrators to restrict service access as needed. The updated "People" section features larger employee photos and an improved search engine, making it easier to connect with colleagues remotely.
These updates collectively enhance the usability and efficiency of iSpring Learn. The OJT session improvements promote better compliance tracking, while Microsoft Entra ID integration streamlines user management. Plus, the enhanced "People" section fosters a more connected and engaging environment for both new and remote employees.
Verdict: These updates make this learning solution more user-friendly for learners and more efficient for administrators.
Docebo Update Notes
Docebo announced several updates to enhance the user experience and system efficiency, including a new Help article detailing system limits, upcoming changes to the Task list widget, and modifications to course data export functionalities.
The new Help article lists platform limits like storage, API calls, and user quotas. Meanwhile, the Task list widget will be updated so admins can view all transactions through a “View all transactions” link instead of using the old ellipsis menu.
In course data exports, the “Created on” and “Updated on” fields will be removed when selecting custom properties. Instead, admins can manually include details like “Creation date” and “Last updated by.”
Verdict: These changes give admins clearer system guidance, simplify task tracking, and improve reporting. Overall, these updates reduce confusion, streamline workflows, and help users stay within system limits.
Deel Update Notes
Deel recently released several new updates to Deel Learning (part of Deel Engage), to simplify learning management processes within their all-in-one platform.
New features include folders and sub-folders, programs, training certificates, and new workflows with other modules across Deel's platform. These new features, while seemingly minor, add up to a more simplified user experience for employees and administrators.
Verdict: Deel users, both admin and technical, will now have an easier time navigating the system and storing learning documents in one place.
Learning Management Systems: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions you may have about learning management systems, how they work, and how they can add value to your internal HR learning and training initiatives:
Are there different types of learning management systems?
There certainly are, and if you’re in the market for an LMS, you should definitely school yourself in the different types of learning platforms out there.
First, consider the size of your organization. If you’re shopping for an LMS for a large, multi-national organization or enterprise, you’ll want something with robust features, including location-specific customizations and the ability to translate content. In that case, you’ll likely find what you need in my list of the best corporate learning management systems.
If you’re working for a small or medium-sized business (SMB), you can likely get away with something more affordable that offers lean but useful features to organize your training content and track your learner progress. If that sounds like you, take a look at my list of the best LMS for small businesses instead.
Aside from the size of your business, there are other important business needs you should also consider. Ask yourself how you plan to use your chosen LMS. Do you need it primarily to help with your onboarding or health & safety training? Or will it be used more for professional development and upskilling?
Also, how do you want the software delivered to you? Most LMS providers offer their services on a SaaS (software-as-a-service) subscription model where their software is cloud-hosted. However, if your business has tight security requirements, or you’re working for a government or educational institution, a self-hosted LMS may be a more prudent option to pick.
How can I tell which LMS is right for my business?
Before you commit to purchasing an LMS, you need to analyze your organization’s learning needs. Ask yourself the following questions to point yourself in the right direction:
- What are your company’s learning needs?
- Will your training courses be instructor-led or will staff complete the course modules independently?
- Which elements of your current learning and development program are working, and which are not?
- What are your wish list features that you would really like to gain by purchasing a new LMS system?
- Are there any LMS features you don’t want or need?
- What is your realistic budget for purchasing an LMS system?
Consult with other members of your HR department to brainstorm these questions together. Once you’ve settled on your answers, you’ll have a better sense of the ideal type of learning management system for you.
The next step is making a compelling business case for new software and convincing your upper management to approve the financial investment in the LMS software of your choosing.
How popular are learning management systems? Show me some stats!
Learning management systems have a lot to offer, and have surged even more in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Here are some interesting stats related to LMS use that prove this point:
- In 2019, the global LMS market was valued at $8.76 billion. Since then, it is expected to grow to a value of $38.10 billion by 2027!
- Mobile learning, specifically, is expected to reach a market size of $80.1 billion by 2027.
- 66% of learning & development professionals have experienced substantial growth within their role since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 90% of students prefer e-learning content instead of classroom learning.
- 75% of employees prefer video-based training instead of reading text-heavy training information.
- 82% of learning and development professionals say reporting analytics is the most important aspect of using an LMS.
Why is compliance monitoring an important part of LMS software?
Compliance monitoring is an important aspect of most internal employee training programs. This is especially true for organizations working in potentially dangerous industries with employees in safety-sensitive positions. Some training is considered legally mandatory. That’s why you absolutely need an LMS system that automatically tracks training compliance for you.
What does that mean exactly? Basically, you want an LMS system that will chase down incomplete training on your behalf automatically, rather than relying on your HR staff to follow up on loose ends. Some training may come with expiry dates, and you want a system that can automate those reminders as well. On top of that, you want a system that automates compliance reports for you, in case you get audited by a safety inspector unexpectedly.
Can an LMS meet specific industry needs?
Absolutely, many learning management systems can be tailored to specific industry requirements. These platforms often offer customizable modules and content that can align with unique regulatory compliances, operational standards, and learning objectives particular to industries like healthcare, finance, or manufacturing.
It’s all about choosing a system with the right features and flexibility. You want one that can grow and adapt as your industry evolves. Plus, many LMS providers work closely with their clients to ensure their system meets these specific needs, offering custom development or integrations as necessary.
Do learning management systems support mobile learning?
Most modern LMS platforms are designed with mobile learning in mind. They’re built to be responsive, ensuring that courses and materials are accessible on smartphones and tablets. This flexibility is key for supporting a remote or on-the-go workforce, allowing employees to engage with their training anytime, anywhere.
How do learning management systems engage learners?
Learning management systems can help companies engage staff in training and development content with features like:
- Interactive content
- Personalized learning paths, and
- Gamification elements like badges and leaderboards
They often also include social learning features, allowing for discussions and collaboration among peers. Real-time feedback and assessments help learners understand their progress and areas for improvement. By catering to various learning styles and providing flexible access to resources, LMSs create a more dynamic and engaging learning experience.
What are the most important authoring tools to create engaging and effective content?
The most effective authoring tools allow instructional designers and L&D teams to build interactive, visually appealing, and accessible learning content without requiring advanced technical skills.
Key features to look for include intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, multimedia support, interactive quizzes, and the ability to create branching scenarios or adaptive learning paths. These capabilities help keep learners engaged while reinforcing key concepts through active participation.
It’s also important that authoring tools support widely used eLearning standards like SCORM or xAPI, so your content integrates seamlessly with your learning management system. Cloud-based functionality, real-time collaboration, and analytics can also be valuable, especially for teams that need to iterate quickly or track learner progress.
Ultimately, the best tools will align with your content goals, team workflow, and the level of customization you need.
What impact have learning management systems had on online learning in higher education?
Learning management systems have played a central role in the growth of online learning in higher education by providing a centralized platform for course delivery, communication, and assessment.
They’ve helped institutions offer flexible learning options that reach a broader and more diverse student population, including remote learners and working professionals. With features like content repositories, discussion forums, and integrated grading tools, LMSs have helped replicate many aspects of the traditional classroom in a digital environment.
Beyond convenience, LMSs have also supported pedagogical innovation. Instructors can incorporate multimedia, track student engagement, and use analytics to personalize learning experiences or identify at-risk students.
As higher education increasingly embraces hybrid and fully online models, LMSs continue to serve as the digital backbone that connects learners, educators, and academic resources.
Other Learning & Training Software Reviews
With learning, training, and employee development already on your mind, you may also want to take a look at these other related software reviews too:
- Enterprise Learning Management Systems
- Learning and Development Certifications
- Employee Training Software
- Training Management Software for Skill Building
- Onboarding Software for Training New Hires
- Online Training Software for Internal Training
Use an LMS to Make Learning Easy
LMS tools are the easiest way to streamline your learning process and offer new learning resources to your entire organization. They'll help you easily create courses and share them with your teams, or access quality training resources from pre-existing course libraries. You just need to choose a platform that suits your needs.
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