15 Best Learning Management Systems — Review for 2023

Employee training is growing at breakneck speed. Despite slowing slightly during the global pandemic, the corporate training market is set to reach $487.3 billion by 2030. As the industry continues to grow, learning management systems has emerged as the number one  training tool. But, with over 1000 LMS vendors on the market, choosing the right one for your business can be a daunting task.

From educational institutions to multinational corporations, a learning management system (LMS) is the best way to manage training activities. In fact, 40% of Fortune 500 companies use an LMS extensively to stay competitive.

If your business is in the market for all-purpose learning management systems, then keep reading. Our LMS software comparison guide analyzes 15 of the best learning management systems and their key features, and indicates who each one is best suited for.

LMS Comparison Chart

The following table shows a quick side-by-side view of all the learning management systems we reviewed. Further on, we provide a detailed analysis of each learning management system (LMS).

1. iSpring Learn 

iSpring Learn is a cloud-based LMS that has powerful functionality but is extremely easy to use. It comes with a built-in course authoring tool, so you can create courses in minutes. It is also integrated with iSpring Suite, an advanced authoring toolkit that allows you to create professional courses, quizzes, role-plays, and video tutorials.

iSpring Learn features personalized learning tracks, full customization options, strong gamification features, and a native mobile app. As such, it covers the full spectrum of employee training needs. In terms of pricing, it offers a scalable pricing model based on the number of monthly users.

Key features:

• Automated training management workflows
• Detailed reports
• Customized learning paths 
• SCORM compliant
• A native mobile app
• Zoom and MS Teams integration
• Supervisor dashboards
• News feed
• 360-Degree Performance Appraisal module

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

iSpring Learn is ​​one of the best LMS platforms for small to medium businesses. It’s a great all-rounder for enterprises looking to create corporate training programs, such as employee onboarding, compliance training, and soft skills training.

2. Docebo

Docebo is a full-featured cloud-based learning platform. It has 400 integrations and an impressive array of customization features, making it an excellent LMS for large workforces. It also boasts innovative social learning features for creating a learning culture in your organization. The software has a mobile app, so learners can access training materials from anywhere. 

Docebo uses AI-powered technology for virtual coaching, auto-tagging, and content suggestions, making it easier to personalize your employees’ learning experience. AI identifies and tags skills within internal and external content and then recommends content to your workforce based on the skills they want to develop.

Key features:

• Library of automated skills-based training materials from external providers
• Robust customization features
• Native mobile app
• SCORM compliant
• Strong social learning features
• Over 400 third-party integrations
• Custom reports
• Compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA for accessibility

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

Thanks to its impressive customization features, Docebo is a popular option for large businesses. The E-commerce with Stripe integration makes it a great software for enterprises wanting to sell subscriptions to their courses. Since the setup is not as seamless as other learning management systems on this list, it’s best suited for long-term projects. 

3. Canvas

Originally designed for educational purposes, Canvas has a range of features to help instructors manage learning activities. It takes the personalized learning environment found in most academic institutions and recreates it online. As such, the software comes with a wide array of school applications and a community of instructors. In terms of pricing, Canvas is an open-source LMS with a freemium option.

While Canvas has plenty of interesting features, it lacks some basic functionality for employee training. For instance, reporting capabilities are limited and there are no options for certification. Taking this into account, it’s not the best LMS platform for employee onboarding or compliance training.

Key features:

• Mobile-friendly 
• A wide range of learning management tools
• Integrations with various school apps
• Canvas studio for interactive videos
• SCORM compliant
• Social learning forums and discussion boards
• Large community of instructors

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

Despite having a version for business, Canvas is designed for academic use. Many of its features, such as grading assignments and essay writing, are specifically useful for teachers and educators. If your organization is an academic institution such as a school or private university, Canvas has some very useful options that allow you to manage students and coursework. 

4. Adobe Captivate Prime

Adobe Captivate Prime is a sleek learning management system perfect for training internal employees and external vendors. It boasts top-notch social learning features and plenty of options to create a personalized learning experience. What’s more, it enables custom reporting with high visual appeal. 

Adobe Captivate Prime has its own mobile app and offers clients the possibility of creating their own app using Prime API. LMS admin can easily set up recurring training, making it a good option for continuous training and employee onboarding. Plus, the mobile app is intuitive for learners. While it has the capability to manage both internal and external learners, you will need to register a separate Prime account. 

Key features:

• Skills management features
• Single Sign-On with SAML 2.0
• Native mobile app
• Supports SCORM 1.2/2004, AICC, and xAPI
• Excellent social learning features
• Integrations with Zoom and Salesforce
• Custom reports and scheduling
• Documented API that enables you to create your own integration apps

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

Adobe Captivate Prime is good for large businesses looking for an LMS with a user-friendly interface. With some advanced features, this learning management system is a good option for experienced learning and development professionals who want to create experiential learning at scale. However, since there is a strong learning curve with this tool, it’s not a viable option for beginners. Not suitable for academic institutions or E-commerce.

5. TalentLMS

TalentLMS ticks all the boxes. It boasts an impressive onboarding experience, facilitating a quick setup process. It also comes with some nice features for social learning, gamification, and managing ILT training. With TalentLMS, you can split your account into different branches, creating different branding for each. This is perfect for training internal and external employees.

TalentLMS comes with its own course store called Talent Library, although you’ll need to upgrade your subscription to use this feature. The course store is a platform that showcases courses by numerous creators, including bespoke courses created by TalentLMS and other well-known, external providers. You can choose to buy individual courses or a bundle of courses from the provider of your choice.

Key features:

• WCAG 2, Section 508 compliant
• Integrations with Zapier and BambooHR
• Built-in quiz and survey builder
• Custom reporting and scheduling
• Native mobile app
• E-commerce features
• Customizable interface that can be separated into branches
• Allows for multiple types of Single Sign-On connections like ADFS, LDAP, Okta, and OneLogin.

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

Blended employee training programs, such as onboarding and continuous learning. It has a smooth onboarding program, making it great for short-term projects. While TalentLMS is geared for businesses, it is also suitable for academic institutions. Moreover, it integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe, and PayPal for companies wanting to monetize online courses.

6. LearnUpon

LearnUpon is equipped with a complete set of features, making it one of the top LMS platforms on the market. It works well for businesses looking to build, track, and deliver digital training within their organization. What’s more, the software allows you to create branded digital storefronts for selling online courses.

LearnUpon has a powerful range of customization options for businesses that want to deliver training to multiple audiences. For instance, you can create separate learning portals and customize each one to suit that specific audience.

Key features:

• Strong customization features to segment learners by audience
• Branded digital storefronts
• eCommerce features
• Gamification and certification
• User-friendly mobile app
• SAML2/API Integration
• White labeling 

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

LearnUpon is good for large businesses looking to deliver training to employees, customers, or partners. It covers all of the main requirements for employee training and is ideal for short- or long-term projects. As there are limitations in the user roles, it may not be the best bet for businesses with complex organizational structures or a lot of overlap with roles. It is also not a viable option for businesses with a limited budget.

7. eLeap

eLeap is simple to use and has a great support team. As such, it’s a nice option for those getting started in the world of eLearning as it has next to no learning curve. With eLeap, you can create and deliver simple training courses to a small audience of users. However, as a lightweight LMS, it does not have the robust functionality needed for larger organizations or academic institutions.

In terms of features, it offers basic social and personalized learning, gamification, and reporting. In addition, there is a good selection of eCommerce options.

Key features:

• Supports SCORM 1.2
• SSO (available only with Okta)
• Built-in authoring tool and quiz maker
• Webhooks and API – integrates with third-party apps
• Certifications
• Graphical reports
• Wide range of out-of-the-box eCommerce features
• Access to a wide range of pre-built courses on a wide range of topics

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

eLeap is good for small businesses looking to move training online for the first time. It would also work well for a small eCommerce business. Due to its limited reporting and user management features, it isn’t ideal for large organizations. Furthermore, since it doesn’t have any webinar integrations, it’s not suitable for blended learning programs.

8. SAP Litmos

SAP Litmos is a robust LMS with some powerful features. It’s ideal for both academic and business use, making it a good all-around learning management solution. While some aspects of the platform could benefit from an update, the overall usability is great. The platform comes with a nice mobile app and a wide range of monetization features.

SAP Litmos supports 35 languages and is used in 150 countries, making it a great option for multinational businesses with dispersed workforces. It allows large organizations to collaborate, create, distribute, and track online training courses globally while automating time-consuming training tasks.

Key features:

• eCommerce features
• Custom reports and scheduling
• A good range of integrations and add-ons
• Gamification options
• Strong selection of branding options
• Library of off-the-shelf courses

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

SAP Litmos is suitable for conducting employee training and onboarding in companies with more than 150 monthly users. It covers all the bases when it comes to rolling out corporate training at scale. Also, it boasts an intuitive interface for learners and admin, and a full range of sophisticated features for managing learning activities.

9. Moodle

Often considered one of the best learning management systems for educational facilities, Moodle is a popular open-source LMS. While it made its start as a learning management system for education, Moodle is highly customizable. As such, many organizations have shaped it to suit their business.

Moodle offers 2 plans; a free self-hosted version and a SaaS version with a monthly fee, depending on the number of users. Moodle’s powerful customization features include a broad selection of plug-ins and graphical themes that allow one to completely overhaul the platform. However, these features are only available in the self-hosted version.

Key features:

• SCORM compliant
• Hundreds of plug-ins and graphical themes
• BigBlueButton integration for webinars
• Google analytics tracking
• Built-in authoring tool
• Interface supports multiple languages

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

Moodle is perfect for academic institutions, government organizations, and non-profits looking for powerful software on a budget. The free version of Moodle offers some of the most sophisticated customization options available. That said, you will need an experienced Admin to take advantage of these features. Even with the wide range of customization possibilities, Moodle doesn’t tick all the necessary boxes for employee training.

Also read: How to Create a Moodle Quiz: Step-by-Step Guide

10. eFront 

eFront is a multi-purpose LMS with SCORM/xAPI support, eCommerce, and an integrated authoring toolkit. Designed with blue-chip companies in mind, eFront has an impressive list of advanced features, customization options, and security tools. As such, it works for a full range of training scenarios. One of the standout features of this LMS is its potent reporting capabilities. There’s a comprehensive selection of canned reports and the ability to create custom ones.

eFront offers 4 different pricing plans, depending on the number of users. All of the plans include full access to all features, integrations, and courses. There’s also an open-source version for businesses on a budget.

Key features:

• SCORM compliant (​​1.2/xAPI)
• Custom reports
• Mobile app for iOS and Android
• Single sign-on with SAML, LDAP, etc.
• eCommerce
• Self-registration for learners (sign-up via Facebook, Google, etc.)
• Integrations, including Zapier, and OpenSesame
• Plug-in for Salesforce

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

eFront is most suitable for large organizations with over 500 monthly learners. It has the sophisticated functionality needed to build and deliver employee and customer training. Since the initial setup is quite complicated, this LMS is better suited to long-term projects and businesses with a healthy budget. On top of a rich range of features for employee training, it’s a good option for eCommerce.

11. Absorb

Absorb is a cloud-based learning management system for employee training. This powerful learning solution is built to scale and boasts a number of blue-chip companies as clients. Absorb has an intuitive interface and a long list of rich features that allow it to deliver engaging training, such as compliance training, employee onboarding, or plugging skills gaps.

Some standout features include a user-friendly mobile app, robust reporting functionality, rich customization tools, and a built-in authoring tool.

Key features:

• xAPI, SCORM, and AICC support
• Custom reporting and scheduling
• eCommerce management
• Plenty of integrations, including integration with Salesforce, Zoom, and bambooHR
• Third-party course library
• Built-in course authoring tool
• SAML2/API Integration
• Certification 

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

Absorb is appropriate for large enterprises with sufficient budgets. It is one of the top LMS systems on the market and offers an impressive list of features and a scalable learning solution. From education to non-profits, Absorb does it all. However, due to the high price tag and the sheer volume of advanced features, it’s not suited to beginners or businesses with a hefty budget. Since the initial setup can take time, it’s best for long-term projects.

Also read: 

• The 11 Best HR Tools for Streamlining Your Workflow in 2023
• 17 Key Recruiting Metrics and How to Improve Them with Online Training

12. Nimble

Nimble lives up to its name. The initial implementation process is nimble, making it a great option for businesses that want to launch training courses right away. Nimble is a paid LMS that comes with a free course authoring tool. It is user friendly and comes with a nice range of features to get you started. Standout features include the course marketplace and insightful reporting and analytics dashboard. 

Key features:

• Comprehensive reporting and analytics 
• Multi-language support
• A marketplace with a wide range of courses
• Third-party eCommerce integrations
• SAML2/API Integration

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

Nimble is one of the best LMS systems for businesses that want to launch training courses quickly. It’s quick to set up and the learning curve is low, meaning you can start training employees right away. Since it lacks some advanced features and integrations, it’s a better fit for smaller organizations that are getting started in the eLearning world.

13. Looop

Looop is a relatively new kid on the block. That said, it is quickly earning a name for itself as a flexible and accessible LMS. Looop boasts a vast content library, enabling L&D teams to curate learning tracks of both mandatory and off-the-shelf content. Thus, it automates the employee onboarding and continuous training process.

Looop’s user interface is sleek and easy to use. However, it lacks some of the advanced features of other the best learning management software on this list. Looop has some intriguing features that make it a great fit for staff training. In addition, it offers an adaptive pricing model that scales with your business.

Key features:

• User-centric design
• Plenty of integrations, including APIOffice, CRM, and Salesforce
• Customizable learning tracks
• AI-driven, video-based learner testing
• Insightful engagement and ROI analytics 
• Built-in course builder with free templates
•  SAML2/API Integration

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

Looop is geared toward medium to large businesses. The straightforward implementation makes it a great choice for both long- and short-term projects. Looop is not ideal for academic institutions or eCommerce. As a new LMS vendor, it lacks some useful integrations and sophisticated features for corporate learning on a large scale. 

14. Dokeos

Dokeos is a white label learning solution. This flexible learning platform comes with a wide array of customization features so you can adapt it to your brand. 

Dokeos allows you to integrate your own training modules into their library of off-the-shelf course modules. What’s more, the integrated authoring tool comes with a wide range of interactive elements, such as scenario-based quizzes. Dokeos integrates EMA and FDA compliance standards, serving high-consequence industries, such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.

Key features:

• SCORM compliant
• Mobile app
• Off-the-shelf modules that can be edited and built upon
• Built-in course authoring tool
• Comprehensive analytics 
• eCommerce management
• Integrations for specialty industries such as those that are FDA, EMA, and HIPAA compliant 
• Single sign-on

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

Dokeos is a powerful learning management system that is best suited for organizations that need a validated LMS that meets specialized industry and regulatory needs. With that in mind, Dokeos offers stringent security tools, compliance management features, and customization options. Having said that, it’s flexible enough to suit educational institutions too. As an LMS, Dokeos has plenty of useful features, but the overall user experience is a bit clunky, making it less suitable for a large number of users.

15. SkyPrep

SkyPrep is an accessible and scalable LMS for businesses that want to move training online. The software comes with a built-in authoring toolkit so you can create, track, and deliver eLearning throughout your organization. That said, the authoring tool is quite basic and may not cover a full range of training scenarios. 

Nevertheless, SkyPrep is a powerful learning management solution that is suitable for both employee and customer training. With a complete range of features, this all-purpose LMS is a nice option for large enterprises.

Key features:

• SCORM compliant
• Integrated with OpenSesame’s content library
• Custom reports
• Mobile app
• Enables learners to sign in via Facebook, Google, or LinkedIn
• e-Commerce integrations with PayPal, Shopify, and Stripe 
• Supports 19 languages

Pros and cons:

Best suited for:

SkyPrep is appropriate for development programs in small organizations. It’s simple to use, making it an ideal first LMS. Employees and customers can start learning almost immediately, with no complicated setup. The quick learning curve also makes it a great employee onboarding tool. Plus, the in-built content library is a useful tool for businesses that don’t have their own selection of in-house training courses just yet.

LMS Software Buyer’s Guide 

An LMS is a big-ticket item. As such, you will want to do your research before making any decisions. Even experienced L&D professionals can feel overwhelmed with the plethora of online learning management systems that are available. So, take your time and plan.

Rather than asking the question “What’s the best learning management system?”, focus on finding the LMS platform that best suits your specific needs. For instance, some of the top LMS solutions may have an extensive list of advanced features you simply don’t need. Thus, while it may be a great software, it’s probably not the right one for your business. Keeping things simple is usually the best approach.

This section covers the core factors to consider when searching for right learning management system.

What to consider when choosing an LMS

Choosing the best learning management system for your business is no easy feat. From pricing models to key features to technical standards, there’s a lot to consider. To steer you in the right direction, we’ve put together a checklist of key questions to ask when selecting a learning management system.

Factors to consider when choosing an LMS

• Who will use the software? Is the user experience simple enough for your audience?
• How many people will use the learning management system?
• Do you plan to scale the training program in the future? Can the LMS support this?
• What type of content do you plan to deliver?
• What is your budget? Do you have a preferred pricing model?
• Do you have an authoring tool? Is it compatible with the LMS?
• Are there specific metrics or reports that you want the software to provide?
• What sort of integrations/APIs do you need? Does the LMS integrate with your internal systems?
• Is the LMS mobile friendly? Does it come with a native mobile app?
• Are there any other features you want, e.g., gamification, ILT/blended learning, or single sign-on (SSO)?
• What level of ongoing technical support is available from the LMS provider?
• What is the implementation process and associated cost?

These questions are a great starting point. They will empower you to define your needs and avoid common pitfalls when picking learning management software.

How to write an LMS RFP

Once you have answered the questions in the checklist above, you can use this information to build your LMS request for proposal (RFP). An RFP is essentially a list of requirements, desired features, and use cases. Typically, an LMS RFP will include a project summary, an overview of the organizational structure, a proposed budget, deadlines, and other key expectations.

An LMS RFP will help you

• Define your needs
• Prioritize essential features
• Identify critical factors, such as budget, deadline, and user count
• Narrow down your search in a sea of LMSs
• Provide vendors with enough context to ensure the software covers your needs

Want to know more? Our dedicated guide on writing an LMS RFP comes complete with a ready-to-use template.

How to choose an LMS pricing model

As you saw in the checklist above, choosing a pricing model is an important part of the decision-making process. Like the majority of SaaS products, LMS vendors often offer different pricing models. Understanding these pricing models and identifying the best one for you will make it much easier to pick a learning management platform.

Here is a roundup of the standard pricing models you can expect to see:

Active users

This is the most popular pricing model for enterprises training internal employees. An active user is defined as any employee who is actively using the system. Under this pricing model, active users will have access to the LMS system for a specific period of time. Some LMS vendors will also charge for inactive users too, so it’s important to clarify this before purchasing.

Active monthly users

This pricing model asks enterprises to set a maximum number of monthly users and bills based on this number. If your organization goes over this number, you are charged extra. An active user is defined as one who logs in to the learning management system and consumes training materials.

Unlimited use/Enterprise

An unlimited pricing model is the most straightforward option. It offers a set price for your enterprise to have unlimited access to the LMS system by an unlimited number of users. This is a common pricing model for rapidly growing enterprises.

Consumption

This pricing model offers a set number of course registrations for a fixed price. When an employee registers for a course, this counts toward your consumption total. If your business uses up its set quantity of course registrations, it can purchase additional licenses. This is a popular pricing method for B2B and B2C organizations.

The best way to know if an LMS is the right fit for your business is to take it for a test drive. Most LMS vendors offer a free trial or the opportunity to try the learning management system in a sandbox environment. This gives your team a chance to get a feel for the LMS software.

FAQ on LMSs 

Short on time? We’ve answered all of your burning questions about LMSs below.

What is an LMS?

A Learning Management System (LMS) is an online learning platform that helps organizations and educational institutions manage learning activities. A robust LMS offers a range of collaborative tools to manage development programs, such as delivering training courses, gamification to boost learner engagement, reporting to measure training outcomes, and multi-device functionality.

Who typically needs an LMS?

Traditionally, LMSs were used by educational institutions, such as universities, schools, and non-profit organizations, to manage learning programs. However, nowadays, businesses across every sector use LMS systems to manage employee and customer training. Moreover, government organizations utilize LMSs to organize training events, seminars, and courses.

To get a more comprehensive answer, we suggest watching a short video clip:

How is an LMS used in an organization?

A learning management system offers an efficient way to manage employee training, development, and engagement. Organizations leverage learning platforms to store training materials, guides, and other resources so employees can access the content at the point of need. It empowers L&D teams to automate time-consuming training management tasks and make training more accessible.

The company’s LMS administrator oversees the running of the platform, organizing the content, and ensuring that it’s up to date.

Each employee has their own unique profile that is organized by the LMS admin based on their job function, title, and location. LMS admins, such as managers, can assign training courses to employees at an individual or group level.

Upon completion of training courses, L&D teams can extract detailed reports of all training activities. These can be shared with stakeholders to ensure all employees have completed the necessary training.

Is an LMS only for eLearning?

The short answer is no. While eLearning and LMSs go hand in hand, an LMS can also be used to manage blended learning programs and in-person training sessions. On top of tools designed to deliver and track eLearning courses, most LMSs come with features to organize and track instructor-led training.

For example, let’s say your customer care team runs a blended training program for new starts. The training program consists of face-to-face training sessions, online courses, and online assessments. Using a learning management system, you can create a learning path that includes each of these elements. As such, trainees have all of the information about their in-person classes in the LMS, and instructors can mark their attendance and even leave feedback. This means that all training activities are logged in one place and can be tracked.

What type of content can I add to an LMS?

You can add a variety of content types to an LMS. For example, online course content might include slide-based presentations, videos, audio clips, interactive quizzes, and SCORM files. A SCORM file is the technical standard in eLearning. Most authoring tools use this format to package interactive online content in a format that can be read by a learning management system.

While you can add a broad range of multimedia to an LMS, we recommend using SCORM-compliant content. That way, you can make full use of the LMS’ features, such as analytics, tracking, and reporting.

What are the key features to look for in an LMS?

• Intuitive User Interface: An easy-to-use interface ensures smooth navigation for both administrators and learners.
• Content Management: Allows for easy uploading, organizing, and updating of various types of learning materials.
• Customization and Branding: Enables the platform to be tailored to match your organization’s branding and specific needs.
• Course Creation and Management: Tools for creating, organizing, and updating courses, including multimedia integration.
• Assessment and Quiz Tools: Ability to create and manage assessments, quizzes, and assignments with various question types.
• Reporting and Analytics: Provides insights into learner progress, engagement, and performance to inform instructional decisions.
• Integration Capabilities: Compatibility with other tools, such as HR systems, CRMs, and content authoring tools.
• User Management and Roles: Allows for easy creation and management of user accounts with different levels of access.
• Mobile Accessibility: Ensures that the platform is accessible on various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
• Social Learning Tools: Features like discussion forums, chats, and collaborative spaces for peer interaction.
• Gamification and Badges: Incorporation of game-like elements to motivate and reward learners for their achievements.
• Compliance and Certification Management: Tracks and manages compliance requirements and certifications for regulatory purposes.
• Content Security and Privacy: Ensures that sensitive information is protected and complies with privacy regulations.
• User Support and Training Resources: Availability of training materials, documentation, and customer support options.
• SCORM and xAPI Compatibility: Allows for seamless integration of external e-learning content and tracking.
• Feedback and Evaluation Tools: Enables learners to provide feedback on courses and instructors, contributing to continuous improvement.
• Accessibility and Inclusivity Features: Ensures that the platform is usable by all learners, including those with disabilities.
• Multi-language Support: Allows for content and interfaces to be presented in different languages.
• Cost and Pricing Structure: Clear understanding of the pricing model and any associated costs, including licensing and support fees.
• Vendor Reputation and Support: Research on the vendor’s track record, customer reviews, and level of customer support provided.

Final Thoughts

LMSs have become one of the most sought-after corporate tools. From small businesses to multinational organizations, right learning management system can streamline the training process and boost results. With so many options on the market, finding the best LMS platform to suit your organization’s needs isn’t easy. We hope this guide helps you with the decision-making process.

If your business is looking for an all-purpose LMS with powerful analytics, then why not request a free 30-day trial of iSpring Learn today? With access to a full range of features, you can kick-start your digital training program right away.