As a training professional, I’ve tried multiple free learning management systems (LMS). In specific scenarios, some of these platforms can compete with many paid tools.
Here are my recommended top 10 free LMS systems & software that you can consider when training your teams.
What is a Free Learning Management System (LMS)?
A free learning management system (LMS) is a software platform that enables organizations and educators to create, manage, and deliver online courses and training programs free of charge.
Shortlist of Free Learning Management Systems (LMS)
- ProProfs Training Maker – Best for Easy Online Employee Training & LMS
- EdApp – Best for Creating AI-Generated Courses
- Chamilo – Best for Social Learning
- MyiCourse – Best for Active Community
- Sakai – Best for Self-Paced Modules
- Moodle – Best for Plugins & Integrations
- Alison – Best for Free Online Courses With Certificates & Diplomas
- Open edX – Best for High-Quality Courses from Harvard University
- Schoology Learning – Best for Personalized Learning Cloud
- Google Classroom – Best for K-12 Schools
Let’s now explore each of the tools in detail.
10 Free Learning Management Systems (LMS)
I have listed below the top free LMS platforms based on my extensive research. Additionally, I considered user reviews, feedback, and my first-hand experiences. Also, I have categorized the LMS based on user types.
Free LMS for Business
A free learning management system provides cost-effective solutions for organizations looking to train employees without significant investment. These platforms are ideal for startups and small businesses aiming to enhance skills and knowledge within their teams efficiently.
1. ProProfs Training Maker – Best for Easy Online Employee Training & LMS
I’ll start the list with the tool I currently use – ProProfs Training Maker. I am on a subscription since it’s my go-to LMS tool, but I’ve also tried its free version. Let me tell you, it’s equally impressive.
You get all the premium features in the free version and can add up to 10 learners.
The built-in authoring tool is seamless and makes course creation easy and uncomplicated. It also comes with pre-designed templates so those new to the training world can get started instantly.
Something about this tool that you might not get for free in other tools is that you can add interactive quizzes, polls, surveys, badges, leaderboards, and other gamified elements to create engaging courses.
Integration with Mailchimp, Salesforce, BIGContacts, etc., is seamless, and the advanced reporting feature is a progress-tracking marvel.
It also automates admin tasks, such as grading, LMS certification, self-enrollment, user authentication, and more. This tool allows you to create personalized learning paths.
This is the best free LMS for small businesses and startups with limited training budgets.
What you’ll like:
- You get various content formats, from quizzes and assessments to surveys, videos, documents, and presentations.
- Personalized learning paths and self-paced options for tailored learning experiences.
- SCORM/Tin Can compliance for a smooth learning experience and compatibility with other platforms.
- Single sign-on (SSO) and multi-admin capabilities.
- Add quizzes, surveys, flashcards, and more to create engaging courses.
- You can create courses in as many as 70+ languages.
What you won’t like:
- The free plan is limited to just 10 learners maximum.
- Can’t choose between light or dark mode.
Pricing:
Forever free for small teams. The paid plan starts at $1.97/learner/month for 10+ learners. 15-day money-back guarantee. No hidden charges.
2. EdApp – Best for Creating AI-Generated Courses
At my organization, we are always on the lookout for innovative tools that simplify the course creation process for our instructors. That’s where EdApp by SafetyCulture comes into play. This powerful AI course builder allows you to create engaging courses with just a click of a button.
Whether you’re crafting a lesson from scratch or looking to overcome writer’s block, the “Create with AI” feature offers a seamless solution. It saves you time brainstorming and researching, freeing you up to focus on delivering top-notch educational content.
Our trainers and learners have found immense value in EdApp’s capability to produce bite-sized learning modules. With its user-friendly interface, you can generate courses that are not only effective but also enjoyable. The best part? You don’t need to start from zero every time. You can begin with a pre-existing framework and then enhance it with your insights.
What you’ll like:
- The interface is user-friendly, making it easy to adjust and modify courses.
- Integrates with various services like ADP API, G Suite, Slack, and Zoom.
- Supports multiple languages, enhancing its usability worldwide.
What you won’t like:
- New users might find the platform challenging initially as they learn to design and modify courses.
- Managing a large number of users, such as over 2000, can become complex.
- Users need to tag the database setup, which could be tedious manually.
Pricing:
Free. Paid plan starts from $5/learner/month
Free LMS for Nonprofits
If you are an NGO seeking a free LMS for nonprofits to train your volunteers and staff, consider platforms that help enhance skills and spread knowledge without financial strain. These LMS tools help you manage large groups efficiently while maintaining engagement through interactive learning modules and real-time feedback mechanisms.
3. Chamilo – Best for Social Learning
Chamilo LMS is a versatile, open-source platform for creating and managing online courses. I found its dynamic social learning network incredibly captivating. From messaging to document sharing and video chats, it fosters meaningful connections among learners.
This free LMS software simplifies course management while scalability suits small and large institutions.
What’s more, it’s loaded with academic features, such as an activity dashboard, certification options, and compliance tools, that keep the learning process on track. You can even customize it with branding.
It also offers decent analytics functionality (though less sophisticated than ProProfs) to give insights into learner progress and course effectiveness.
What you’ll like:
- Multilingual support for creating courses.
- SCORM Compliance and certificate management.
- High-level customization for its course templates in terms of themes.
What you won’t like:
- Very few templates to choose from.
- The free version has limited features.
- Lacks a rich plugin ecosystem.
Pricing:
Free with limited features.
4. MyiCourse – Best for Active Community
After trying a plethora of pseudo-free learning management tools, I found this gem – a free LMS for a small business.
Imagine a learning management system that’s as user-friendly as it gets; that’s MyiCourse for you. No tech wizardry is required, just straightforward simplicity.
Whether you’re an independent training professional or a business, it molds to your needs. With customizable courses, multimedia support, quizzes, and mobile-friendliness, it’s like having your own virtual classroom on your terms.
But the lively MyiCourse community, a hub of passionate learners and trainers, won it a place on my list. You can share your queries and resolve your issues in the community, which is active and supportive. Many resources are available to help users get started and learn more about MyiCourse.
Some more exciting features of this free LMS software are public and private course creation, custom banner ads, timed courses, test questions, custom registration fields, and much more.
What you’ll like:
- Accommodates various content formats, from documents and videos to quizzes and surveys, offering diverse learning experiences.
- Brand and customize your courses, creating a cohesive learning environment.
- SSL encryption to ensure data protection.
What you won’t like:
- There’s a limit on the size of multimedia you can add to courses.
- The free plan offers basic features compared to other tools on the list.
- There are complaints about the scarcity of study or lab materials on Myicourse,
Pricing:
Free version available. Paid starts from $50/month for private courses.
Free LMS for Teachers
For those looking for a cost-effective solution to enhance their classroom experience, free LMS for teachers offers a wealth of resources. These systems support the creation and management of educational content, tracking learner progress, and fostering interaction through discussion forums and quizzes.
5. Sakai – Best for Self-Paced Modules
Let me tell you about Sakai, a game-changing free LMS. Sakai empowers trainers and learners with many built-in tools.
I genuinely appreciate its centralized platform, making organizing and delivering training content easy. Plus, the built-in tools like grade entry and file storage are a godsend for managing training materials.
I also created self-paced modules and scheduled courses for my team to complete independently. This way, they could learn effectively at their convenience.
Sakai LMS provides a number of features that make it well-suited for creating and delivering self-paced modules. These features include:
- A content management system that allows instructors to create and edit content easily.
- A learning management system that allows instructors to track learners’ progress and provide feedback.
- A flexible permissions system that allows instructors to control who has access to the modules.
What you’ll like:
- An open-source platform supported by a vibrant community.
- You can customize lessons and modules with resources, quizzes, tests, assignments, links, videos, and more.
- Conditional release feature so you can control access to training materials.
What you won’t like:
- Limited integration with other popular tools.
- Doesn’t automatically save assignments.
- Occasional slowdowns can be frustrating.
Pricing:
Free with limited features.
6. Moodle – Best for Plugins & Integrations
When one thinks of a free online LMS, the first platform that comes to their mind is Moodle.
Yes, Moodle is a popular and open-source learning management software.
But there’s a reason it’s at the end of my list. In its free version, Moodle focuses primarily on academic learning.
Of course, it can be used for training purposes, but it leaves a lot of features for wanting, such as ready-made training templates. To access advanced features, you’ll have to subscribe to Moodle Workspace.
Nonetheless, the LMS offers hundreds of plugins and integrations with third-party platforms and content repositories. You can also automate many manual tasks and create learning journeys specific to different teams.
It also offers features like a personalized ‘my course’ page, access to calendar events and deadlines from the dashboard, convenient file management, and more.
What you’ll like:
- A comprehensive gradebook to track individual learner’s progress and pinpoint areas for improvement.
- Ability to personalize courses to match your business needs and learners’ preferences.
- Mobile app allows learners to access course materials and resources offline.
- Competency-based learning, where you can design and assess learning based on specific skills.
- An active community of learners and trainers
What you won’t like:
- Limited functions in the mobile app.
- Limited functionality for analytics, reporting, and customization.
Pricing:
Open source. Moodle Workspace paid plan starts from $120/50 users.
7. Alison – Best for Free Online Courses With Certificates & Diplomas
Alison stands out as a top choice for trainers looking for a free online learning management system. It offers an extensive range of free online courses, making it ideal for those wanting to expand their knowledge without financial constraints.
With over 5000 courses available, trainers can find resources in nearly any subject area to enhance their expertise or to provide additional learning opportunities for their learners.
Additionally, Alison allows trainers to earn certificates or diplomas after completing courses, which they can then showcase on their resumes or use to demonstrate their commitment to continuous learning.
The platform is user-friendly, ensuring that both trainers and their learners can easily navigate and make the most of the educational offerings. This makes Alison a valuable tool for trainers aiming to enrich their instructional materials and support their learners’ growth.
What you’ll like:
- The platform is accessible on mobile devices, perfect for learning on the go.
- Alison focuses on vocational skills that are directly applicable in professional settings.
- Courses are available in multiple languages, accommodating a global audience.
What you won’t like:
- While courses are free, there is a fee to obtain certificates or diplomas.
- Course quality varies due to different instructors’ expertise levels.
- Not all employers or institutions recognize Alison’s certificates and diplomas.
Pricing:
Free. Paid plans start from $8.60/learner
8. Open edX – Best for High-Quality Courses from Harvard University
As one of the best free LMS systems, Open edX is famous for its wide range of top-quality courses from prestigious schools like Harvard University. It ranks as one of the best free learning management systems (LMS) for those who seek to broaden their knowledge and skills. The platform demonstrates its commitment to high standards through its partnership with HarvardX, offering access to over 160 free online courses.
I value this platform because it makes education accessible to everyone, regardless of background. Learners benefit from lessons taught by leading faculty and engage with the latest research. The flexibility to study at your own pace and from anywhere enhances both personal and professional growth.
Additionally, earning certificates of completion can significantly boost your career by enhancing your employability. Open edX embodies the power of education, making it an excellent choice for anyone eager to learn from top institutions like Harvard University without worrying about cost.
What you’ll like:
- You can receive a verified certificate after completing a course or program.
- edX creates courses in partnership with top institutions like Harvard, Berkeley, and Microsoft.
- The platform offers a range from university-level, self-paced courses to accredited certificates.
What you won’t like:
- The quality and structure of courses can vary.
- Some courses, especially those leading to certification, can be expensive.
- Receiving your certificate after completing a course may take some time.
Pricing:
Free. Paid plans start from $50/month
9. Schoology Learning – Best for Personalized Learning Cloud
As one of the best free LMS, I appreciate PowerSchool’s Personalized Learning Cloud for several reasons. It empowers instructors by providing a comprehensive suite of tools that integrate assessment, curriculum, and learning management. This unified system allows instructors to tailor learning experiences to meet each student’s unique needs.
The platform also saves time for instructors. By centralizing access to curriculum and student performance data, it facilitates efficient planning and resource allocation. Furthermore, PowerSchool fosters collaboration by offering tools that improve communication among school staff, students, and parents.
The cloud’s ability to innovate education through deep insights into learner progress is remarkable. By combining instructional design, delivery, and real-time reporting it helps instructors make informed decisions that can positively impact student learning experiences.
What you’ll like:
- The system promotes active engagement and interaction among teachers, students, and parents.
- Incorporates social networking capabilities to foster collaboration through discussions and group activities.
- The platform supports a broad array of third-party integrations, enhancing its functionality with additional educational tools and content.
What you won’t like:
- Some users find the platform requires a period of adjustment to utilize its features fully.
- Limited options for customizing the visual design of courses.
- Limited offline functionality can be a drawback for users with inconsistent internet access.
Price:
Custom pricing
10. Google Classroom – Best for K-12 Schools
K-12 schools using G-Suite should strongly consider Google Classroom as their free Learning Management System (LMS) of choice. This intuitive platform seamlessly integrates with existing Google tools, minimizing the learning curve for both educators and learners.
As the best free LMS, instructors can leverage Classroom to streamline workflows, create and manage classes, distribute assignments in various formats (including Google Docs and Slides), and provide personalized feedback—all within a centralized and organized hub.
While Google Classroom might not boast the most extensive feature set compared to paid LMS options, it excels in user-friendliness and its tight G-Suite integration. This makes it a perfect choice for K-12 schools looking for an effective solution to manage their learning environments.
What you’ll like:
- Supports personalized learning paths for learners.
- Originality checks to ensure academic integrity.
- Built-in analytics for tracking student performance and engagement.
What you won’t like:
- Users managing multiple Google accounts may find it inconvenient to sign in to access different tools or files frequently.
- The platform could benefit from enhanced personalized reminders for activities beyond just assignment deadlines.
- Faces challenges in seamlessly integrating with external services, potentially limiting its overall functionality.
Pricing:
Custom pricing
Which Free LMS is Suitable for You?
Learning management systems that suit your budget constraints while catering to all your necessary training needs are few and far between. But I hope you can finalize the most suitable tool from my list of free LMS tools.
What’s important is that whatever tool you choose, it should help you enhance your training process. It should allow you complete access to crucial features without subscribing to paid plans. So, my top top picks are as follows:
Option A: ProProfs
ProProfs Training Maker is one such tool I’ve come to rely upon and appreciate. I can use all its advanced features for free, as long as I have up to 10 learners for training. You should try it if you’re a startup or a micro-business. The best part is that it is a free LMS for businesses, NGOs, as well as teachers. So, it’s a flexible and versatile solution.
Option B: Chamilo LMS
Chamilo LMS is best for its vibrant social learning network. Its user-friendly interface and scalability make it ideal for both small and large institutions. It supports multilingual course creation and is accessible on mobile devices, offering essential academic features and customization options.
Option C: Sakai LMS
Sakai LMS is the best LMS for instructors because it has a centralized platform that simplifies the organization and delivery of training content. The integration of essential tools, such as grade entry and file storage, greatly aids in managing educational materials efficiently. Additionally, Sakai’s support for self-paced modules allows learners to study at their own pace, enhancing the overall learning experience.
This was my take on top free learning management systems. I hope you found it helpful
Frequently Asked Questions
What features are included in a free LMS?
The features of the tools I mentioned in my list of free learning management systems vary but often include course creation, content management, user registration, basic analytics, and communication tools like discussion forums. Check out the list of features in a free LMS.
How many users can access a free LMS?
The number of users allowed on a free LMS varies by platform. For ProProfs Training Maker, the limit is up to 10 learners. You may check the specific LMS provider’s website or contact their customer support for precise details on user limits on their free plans.
Is my data secure on a free LMS platform?
Data security can vary, so it’s crucial to review the LMS provider’s security features. Generally, reliable LMS platforms prioritize data security, employing encryption, user authentication, and regular backups to protect users’ information.
Is a free LMS completely free, or are there hidden charges?
Yes, there can be hidden charges in an LMS. It’s important to be aware that while the platforms may not have an upfront cost, operational expenses often occur. These can include technical support, content creation, staff training, and periodic upgrades. Such indirect costs are not immediately apparent but can lead to outlays for an organization using the LMS.
What are the limitations of a free LMS?
A free LMS often comes with constraints such as limited user access, reduced data storage, and minimal customization options. They typically lack advanced features like gamification, personalized learning paths, and comprehensive analytics. Additionally, a free LMS may offer only basic support, which can be a challenge for organizations with growing or complex training needs.
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