WordPress LMS plugin used by universities and corporate training programs for self-hosted courses.
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## LearnDash
LearnDash is a self-hosted WordPress LMS (Learning Management System) plugin designed to help educators, universities, course creators, and corporate training teams build and sell online courses directly on their own WordPress websites. According to vendor docs, LearnDash powers learning experiences for major organizations including the University of Michigan, WP Engine, and Infusionsoft, and claims a user base spanning universities, Fortune 500 companies, and independent course creators.
### Who It's For
LearnDash is purpose-built for WordPress site owners who want full ownership and control over their course content, student data, and revenue — without paying ongoing per-user or percentage-of-sale fees to a hosted platform. It suits higher education institutions, corporate L&D teams, membership site operators, and solo instructors comfortable managing a WordPress environment.
### Headline Value Proposition
Unlike hosted LMS platforms (Teachable, Thinkific), LearnDash runs entirely on your own server, giving you complete data sovereignty, flexible monetization, and deep extensibility via the broader WordPress plugin ecosystem. According to vendor docs, the plugin supports drip-feed content, advanced quizzing, certificates, prerequisite courses, and multi-instructor setups out of the box.
### Key Capabilities
According to vendor docs, LearnDash offers a drag-and-drop course builder, eight question types for quizzes, automated certificate generation, assignment submission with instructor grading, group management for cohort-based learning, and a REST API for custom integrations. G2 reviewers report that the depth of quiz and assessment options is a standout feature compared with competing WordPress LMS plugins.
### Monetization
Vendor docs confirm built-in support for one-time payments, subscriptions, and course bundles via integrations with WooCommerce, Stripe, and PayPal — giving operators flexible revenue models without additional platform fees.
### Ecosystem
LearnDash integrates natively with popular WordPress tools including MemberPress, BuddyBoss, Elementor, and Zapier, and is supported by an active third-party add-on marketplace. According to vendor docs, a cloud-hosted version (LearnDash Cloud) is also available for users who prefer a managed environment.
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Important details to help you make the right choice
WordPress users wanting self-hosted LMS
Not the right fit for teams without a dedicated WordPress developer or ongoing technical resources, as setup, maintenance, and plugin conflicts can quickly overwhelm non-technical course creators. Also a poor match for organizations needing a turnkey, hosted solution with zero infrastructure overhead.
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LearnDash starts at $199 per year for a single site license, with higher-tier plans available for multiple sites. The pricing model covers unlimited learners per site, making it cost-effective for organizations with large student volumes. LearnDash does not publicly advertise a free trial, though a 30-day money-back guarantee is offered on annual plans.
LearnDash is a WordPress LMS plugin designed for building and delivering self-hosted online courses. The platform supports structured learning paths with lessons, topics, and prerequisite course configurations, and is widely adopted by universities, corporate training programs, and independent course creators. Features such as drip-feed content scheduling, automated certificate generation, and assignment submission workflows make it suitable for formal and professional learning environments.
Pricing source: Official pricing page — Last verified: 4/26/2026
LearnDash is best suited for organizations and educators who already operate on WordPress and require full data ownership without per-learner fees or revenue sharing. Universities, corporate L&D teams, and established course creators with large learner bases are among its primary audiences. The platform is less ideal for beginners or those seeking a fully managed, no-code solution with no server maintenance responsibilities.
LearnDash offers extensive compatibility within the WordPress ecosystem, with native integrations for WooCommerce, MemberPress, BuddyBoss, and Elementor. These integrations allow course creators to manage payments, memberships, community features, and page design without leaving the WordPress environment. The ProPanel reporting dashboard also enables group management and detailed tracking of learner progress, quiz scores, and course completion rates.
LearnDash requires WordPress hosting and ongoing technical site maintenance, making it unsuitable for users who prefer a fully managed, no-code platform. The native mobile app experience is also limited, and delivering a dedicated mobile app typically requires third-party add-ons or BuddyBoss integration, as noted by G2 reviewers. Organizations seeking fully hosted alternatives with built-in mobile support may consider platforms such as Teachable, Thinkific, or TalentLMS.
