Are you looking to build a professional online school or training center without breaking the bank?
With the e-learning market exploding, the demand for high-quality Learning Management System (LMS) websites has never been higher.
Whether you are an individual instructor, a university, or a corporate trainer, your choice of WordPress theme lays the foundation for your success.
Today, we are diving deep into a EduPress vs TutorStarter comparison. Both are heavyweights in the free theme market, but they serve different masters.
One is powered by the massive LearnPress ecosystem, while the other serves Tutor LMS.
In this guide, we will break down why EduPress might just be the best education WordPress theme to launch your platform today.
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Quick Overview: EduPress vs TutorStarter at a Glance
Before we get into the technical details, let’s look at the raw numbers. When choosing a TutorStarter alternative, you need to know who backs the software and how widely used it is.
| Feature | EduPress | TutorStarter |
| Developer | ThimPress | Themeum |
| Core LMS Plugin | LearnPress (#1 WordPress LMS Plugin) | Tutor LMS |
| Price | FREE ($0) – Formerly $39 | Free |
| Active Installs | 31,704+ | 10,000+ |
| Page Builder | Elementor & Gutenberg | Elementor & Gutenberg |
| Best For | Schools, Universities, Coaching | General eLearning |
| Free Add-ons | Bundle of 8 LearnPress Add-ons | Basic Core Only |
As you can see, EduPress boasts significantly higher active installations, a testament to its reliability and the power of the LearnPress engine behind it.
What Is EduPress? (EduPress Review)
To understand this comparison, we must first conduct a proper EduPress review.
Overview of EduPress
EduPress is a comprehensive, starter-friendly Education WordPress Theme designed specifically for LearnPress.
While many “starter” themes are stripped-down versions of premium products, EduPress is different. It is a full-featured theme that was previously sold for $39 but is now available completely for free.
It is built to serve a wide range of educational institutions—from large universities and training centers to individual private tutors and coaches.
Key Highlights of EduPress
- Powered by LearnPress: EduPress is built on the foundation of LearnPress, the world’s most popular WordPress LMS plugin with over 100,000 active installs. This ensures your site is stable, scalable, and compatible with the vast LearnPress ecosystem.
- Proven Popularity: With over 31,000+ active installs, EduPress is a trusted solution in the community, updated just days ago to ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress versions.
- Zero Cost, Premium Value: You aren’t just getting a free theme; you are getting a premium product that ThimPress released to the community for free.
Why EduPress Is the Best Free Education WordPress Theme
What truly makes EduPress the best education WordPress theme in the free category is its ecosystem.
It doesn’t just give you a homepage; it gives you a business in a box.
It comes with deeper integration for course creation, selling, and student management than almost any other free competitor.
What Is TutorStarter?
Overview of TutorStarter
TutorStarter is the official free starter theme from Themeum, designed to work with their Tutor LMS plugin.
It was created to provide a unified design system for Tutor LMS users, ensuring that the theme and plugin look consistent.
Core Features of TutorStarter
- Unified Design: It shares the same design language as the Tutor LMS plugin, which helps in maintaining visual consistency.
- Page Builder Support: Like EduPress, it supports both Elementor and Gutenberg.
- Speed Focused: It claims optimization for Google PageSpeed and includes schema-ready pages for SEO.
- Demo Imports: It offers a one-click demo import to set up three modern layout variations.
While TutorStarter is a solid option for those already locked into the Tutor LMS ecosystem, it lacks the massive community support and add-on flexibility that comes with the LearnPress-powered EduPress.
EduPress vs TutorStarter Comparison (Feature-by-Feature)
Let’s get into the details. When we look at EduPress vs TutorStarter, which one offers the better building experience?
1. LMS Ecosystem: LearnPress vs Tutor LMS
This is the most critical difference. EduPress is built for LearnPress, which is an open, flexible system known for its massive library of add-ons. TutorStarter relies on Tutor LMS, which is a more “all-in-one” but often closed ecosystem.
Because EduPress is backed by ThimPress (the creators of the #1 education WordPress theme, Eduma), it inherits a legacy of LMS excellence. If you want a site that can grow from a single course to a global university, the LearnPress foundation of EduPress is superior.
2. Ease of Website Building
EduPress shines when it comes to Elementor integration. It includes specific LearnPress Course Widgets that allow you to drag and drop course lists, featured courses, and instructor profiles directly into your pages. You can style them instantly without coding.
TutorStarter also supports Elementor, but its customization often relies heavily on the WordPress Customizer for headers and footers, which can feel a bit restrictive compared to the drag-and-drop freedom EduPress offers via its pre-built sections.
3. Design & User Experience
A great LMS needs more than just a homepage; it needs functional user areas.
- EduPress: Comes with beautiful, pre-designed Profile Pages for both instructors and students. The dashboard is intuitive, making it easier for students to track their progress, which reduces refund rates and increases retention.
- TutorStarter: Offers a clean design and a nice blog layout, but its user profile sections can feel generic unless you upgrade to paid versions of their plugin.
4. Performance & SEO
Both themes are optimized for speed. However, EduPress takes the lead in structure. Its code is optimized specifically for the hierarchy of education content—Courses > Lessons > Quizzes. This logical structure helps search engines crawl your site more effectively.
Furthermore, EduPress’s responsive design ensures that mobile students—who make up a huge chunk of e-learning traffic—have a seamless experience.
5. Add-ons & Extensibility
This is where EduPress wins the EduPress vs TutorStarter comparison hands down.
EduPress comes bundled with 8 FREE LearnPress add-ons.
Usually, you would have to pay or search for these features, but EduPress includes them to help you build a robust site immediately. TutorStarter generally requires you to purchase Tutor LMS Pro to unlock significant functionality beyond the basics.
Why EduPress Is a Better TutorStarter Alternative
If you are looking for a TutorStarter alternative, EduPress is the logical choice for several reasons.
1. Cost Efficiency:
EduPress is completely free, yet it includes premium-grade features and add-ons. You can launch a selling platform without spending a dime on software.
2. Proven Track Record:
ThimPress has been established since 2007. They understand the education niche better than anyone. EduPress isn’t an experiment; it’s a refined product used by 31,000+ active websites.
3. Documentation & Support:
We know that setting up an LMS can be daunting. EduPress comes with “Well Documented” EduPress guides that walk you through every step, allowing users with zero coding knowledge to set up a professional site.
EduPress UI Kit & Design Advantage
Here is a unique advantage that TutorStarter simply does not offer: the EduPress UI Kit.
EduPress isn’t just code; it’s a design system. ThimPress has released the EduPress UI Kit on Figma. This is a game-changer for agencies and developers. You can download the UI Kit, customize the design in Figma to show your clients or team, and then implement it exactly as it looks on the site.
This bridge between design and development ensures your education website looks consistent, professional, and high-end—something rare in the free theme market.
Who Should Choose EduPress?
EduPress is the best education WordPress theme for:
- Startups & Solopreneurs: If you want to sell courses online but have a limited budget, EduPress gives you the most functionality for free ($0).
- Universities & Schools: The pre-built “Student” and “Instructor” roles and profile pages make managing large user bases easy.
- Elementor Fans: If you love building with Elementor, EduPress’s native widgets will save you hours of work.
- SEO-Conscious Users: The clean code and responsive design give you a head start in Google rankings.
Who Should Choose TutorStarter?
To be fair in this EduPress vs TutorStarter analysis, TutorStarter has its place. It is suitable for:
- Users who have already purchased a lifetime license for Tutor LMS and are committed to that specific plugin.
- Developers who strictly prefer a Gutenberg-first workflow and want a very minimalist starting point.
However, for the vast majority of users who want a feature-rich, flexible, and scalable LMS, TutorStarter feels limited compared to the bundle you get with EduPress.
FAQs About EduPress vs TutorStarter
Q: Is EduPress really free?
A: Yes! EduPress was formerly a premium theme sold for $39, but it is now 100% free for everyone to download and use.
Q: Can I sell courses with EduPress?
A: Absolutely. EduPress integrates seamlessly with LearnPress, allowing you to create courses and sell them using payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and WooCommerce.
Q: Do I need coding skills to use EduPress?
A: No. EduPress is designed for non-tech users. With the One-Click Import and Elementor page builder integration, you can build your site visually.
Final Verdict: EduPress vs TutorStarter – Which One Wins?
After comparing features, flexibility, and value, the winner is clear.
EduPress is the superior choice.
While TutorStarter is a decent companion for its own plugin, EduPress offers a more complete package. It combines the power of the world’s #1 WordPress LMS plugin (LearnPress), the flexibility of Elementor, and a bundle of free add-ons that would cost money elsewhere.
If you want a TutorStarter alternative that gives you freedom, scalability, and a professional design without the price tag, EduPress is the way to go.
Ready to Build Your Online School?
Don’t settle for less when you can have the best for free. Join over 31,000 satisfied instructors and schools who are already using EduPress to power their education businesses.
Start your journey today with EduPress—the ultimate foundation for your online success.
Read more: 7+ Best Eduma Alternatives (Pros, Cons, Should You Switch?)
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