The global shift towards online education has created an unprecedented demand for reliable, powerful, and affordable Learning Management Systems (LMS).
For the millions of users running their sites on WordPress, this means the hunt is on for the perfect WordPress LMS plugin—a tool that can handle everything from course creation to monetization and student management.
This is precisely why so many people are searching for the best free WordPress LMS plugin.
While premium options like LearnDash and LifterLMS dominate the high-end market, most beginners, solo instructors, and non-profit organizations need a solution that is feature-rich without the heavy price tag.
They need a tool that lets them build and sell their first course without spending hundreds of dollars upfront.
Introducing LearnPress—the free, feature-packed LMS built by ThimPress over 15 years. It’s the most trusted and widely-used WordPress LMS solution, and it doesn’t cost a cent to start.
This comprehensive LearnPress review will evaluate its core features, detailed LearnPress pricing review (free vs. paid), ecosystem, and performance to answer the ultimate question: Is LearnPress a good LMS plugin, and is it truly the best free option available for educators, academies, and businesses?
Let’s get started!
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What Is LearnPress?
LearnPress is a dedicated, open-source LearnPress WordPress LMS plugin designed to transform any standard WordPress site into a professional-grade online learning platform.
It is a complete learning management solution built from the ground up to provide a seamless course creation and management experience.
- Developer: ThimPress (15+ years of experience).
- Adoption: A dominant market leader with 90,000+ active installations and over 5 million downloads.
- Cost: The core plugin is FREE and always will be, following the philosophy that “Education should be free.”
- Compatibility: It is built to work seamlessly with any WordPress theme, offering maximum flexibility.
LearnPress is ideally suited for anyone looking to scale their e-learning business: solo instructors, professional coaches, large academies, and corporate training teams.
It provides the essential structure to effortlessly create courses, manage students, and monetize content directly on your site.
LearnPress Key Features: What You Get for Free
One of the most compelling aspects of LearnPress is the sheer number of essential LMS features packed into its free core version.
This makes it an immediate front-runner in the race for the best free WordPress LMS plugin.
Course Creation Tools
The powerful WordPress course builder offers an intuitive experience for structuring your curriculum.
- Curriculum Builder: Easily create a course structure with unlimited lessons and quizzes.
- Multimedia-Rich Lessons: Engage students with diverse content formats, including video, audio, text, and images, all within a single lesson format to cater to different learning styles.
- Content Reusability: Use a Lesson Bank to build and store unlimited lessons for assignment to multiple courses, and a Reusable Question Bank for quizzes.
- Assessment Tools: Create flexible quizzes with multiple question types (multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank). You can set Timed Quizzes for a challenge and enable students to review their past quiz attempts for Progress Tracking.
- Page Builder Support: LearnPress supports both the classic editor, the native Gutenberg block editor (including the new Thim Blocks), and Elementor (via Thim Elementor Kit add-ons), allowing you to design course layouts your way.
Course Monetization Features
The ability to sell courses for free is LearnPress’s killer feature that sets it apart.
- Easy & Instant Checkout: Students can purchase courses in seconds—no sign-up required, significantly reducing friction and boosting sales.
- Built-in Payment: The free core plugin includes seamless integration for PayPal and Offline Payment, allowing you to start selling immediately without paying for an add-on.
- Order Management: Easily monitor course sales, view student purchases, track revenue, and even add manual orders as needed.
- External Checkout: You can redirect students to a custom sales funnel or landing page for a streamlined enrollment process. (Additional payment gateways like Stripe and WooCommerce require premium add-ons).
Course Management Tools
A good LMS must be a powerful administrative tool. LearnPress excels at providing complete control over your platform.
- Full Enrollment Control: Easily manage student access by adding, removing, or pausing enrollments.
- Actionable Insights: Gain detailed reports on student performance, course engagement, completion rates, and quiz results, giving you the data needed to optimize course content.
- Content Access: Decide exactly who can access specific courses with flexible visibility settings.
- Offline Course Mode: A unique feature supporting blended or physical learning. It provides course-specific details like Delivery Type, Location, Schedule, and Start Date, perfect for managing workshops and training centers.
Marketing & Student Engagement Tools
Engagement and discoverability are built into the system to help your courses succeed.
- Lesson Preview: Offer potential learners a “peek inside” your course by providing free lesson previews, building trust and driving conversions.
- Open-Access Courses: Use open-access courses as a funnel marketing strategy to let users explore content freely.
- SEO-Optimized Links: Customize your course URLs for better search rankings and a smoother browsing experience.
- Community Integration: Facilitate communication via the free BuddyPress and bbPress add-ons, turning your platform into a social learning community.
LearnPress Add-Ons Review: Free vs Premium
The strength of the LearnPress WordPress LMS lies in its lightweight core and the massive ecosystem of add-ons (or extensions) that allow you to expand its functionality on demand. This modular approach is key to its flexibility.
Free Add-ons Worth Highlighting
The available free add-ons greatly enhance the core offering, addressing many needs that are premium features in competing plugins:
- LearnPress – Course Wishlist: Allows students to save courses for future purchase.
- LearnPress – Course Review: Enables students to leave ratings and reviews, providing social proof and valuable feedback.
- Student List Add-on for LearnPress: Display a list of enrolled students for a course (can be enabled/disabled per course).
- LearnPress – Prerequisites Courses: Require students to pass specific courses before enrolling in others, structuring the learning path.
- LearnPress Import/Export: Essential for backing up and moving course data between sites.
- BuddyPress/bbPress Integration: Turns your platform into a powerful community-based learning environment.
Premium Add-ons Review
For serious monetization and professional management, you will eventually need the premium add-ons. The LearnPress pricing review shows that most individual add-ons cost between $10–$49. They are grouped by purpose:
| Group | Key Add-ons & Purpose |
| Create Better Learning Experiences | Certificates (Drag & drop builder, $39), Assignments (Homework/Essays, $39), H5P Integration (Interactive content, $29), Random Quiz (Shuffle questions, $29). |
| Earn More & Payment | Upsell (Boost sales via packages, $29), Paid Memberships Pro ($39), Stripe ($39), WooCommerce ($49), Razorpay ($19), Paystack ($10). |
| Manage Courses Better | Content Drip (Schedule lesson release, $39), Gradebook (Track/export results, $39), Frontend Editor (Instructors edit without WP backend access, $49), Co-instructors (Multi-teacher support, $29), Commission (Manage instructor payouts, $29). |
| Live Learning | Live Course (Zoom/Google Meet integration, $19). |
The LearnPress PRO Bundle
Buying add-ons individually can be costly, which is why the LearnPress PRO Bundle is the recommended path for serious e-learning businesses.
The PRO Bundle typically includes 25+ Premium Add-ons (like Assignments, Certificates, Stripe, Content Drip, etc.) at a heavily discounted price, currently listed at around $299/year (a massive saving over the individual price total of over $700). It is the best value for academies, training centers, and professional e-learning sites looking for a complete, enterprise-level solution.
LearnPress Themes & Integrations: How Far Can You Go?
The flexibility of LearnPress is best demonstrated by its seamless integration with the wider WordPress ecosystem.
- Universal Compatibility: LearnPress is designed to work with any WordPress theme.
- Optimized Themes: For the best user and administrative experience, ThimPress offers fully optimized themes like Eduma (#1 selling education WordPress theme), Course Builder, Coaching, and the free EduPress starter theme.
- Page Builders: Full support for both Elementor and the native Gutenberg block editor. This allows for deep customization of course landing pages.
- Monetization & Marketing: Integrates with essential tools like WooCommerce, WPML (for multilingual sites—a top recommendation), and myCRED (for gamification).
- Mobile Learning: The LearnPress Mobile App (built with React Native) allows you to convert your site into a fully synced LMS mobile application for iOS & Android, bringing a modern learning experience to your students.
LearnPress Pricing Review (Free vs Paid)
The core pillar of this LearnPress review is its pricing model—the core reason it is consistently cited as the best free WordPress LMS plugin.
Is LearnPress Really Free?
Yes, the core plugin is 100% free forever.
Unlike many competitors who lock basic course creation features behind a paywall, the free version of LearnPress allows you to:
- Create unlimited courses, lessons, and quizzes.
- Enroll unlimited students.
- Sell courses using the free PayPal integration and Offline Payment.
- Use a suite of valuable free add-ons (Wishlist, Reviews, Prerequisites).
This means a solo instructor can launch and sell courses from day one with zero software cost.
LearnPress Cost Breakdown
| Add-on / Bundle | Price | Description |
| LearnPress PRO Bundle | $299 (Original $710) | Full suite of premium LearnPress add-ons for maximum LMS power, monetization, and flexibility. |
| LearnPress Semi-Pro Bundle | $149 (Original $210) | Includes 5 high-impact premium add-ons for creating and selling courses effectively. |
| WooCommerce Integration | $49 | Sell courses using WooCommerce with full cart and checkout features. |
| Frontend Editor | $49 | Create and edit courses directly from the frontend. |
| Certificate | $39 | Award certificates with drag-and-drop builder and templates. |
| Gradebook | $39 | Track student scores and export results. |
| Assignments | $39 | Assign homework, essays, and tasks within LearnPress. |
| Paid Memberships Pro Integration | $39 | Sell course access via membership levels. |
| Stripe Integration | $39 | Accept Stripe payments for course purchases. |
| Content Drip | $39 | Schedule lesson release based on time or progress. |
| Upsell | $29 | Offer premium upgrades, coupons, and higher-tier packages. |
| Announcement | $29 | Send updates and notifications to enrolled students. |
| WPML Integration | $29 | Translate courses for multilingual audiences. |
| Co-Instructors | $29 | Add multiple teachers to the same course. |
| Commission | $29 | Manage instructor commissions with PayPal withdrawal. |
| 2Checkout Integration | $29 | Accept global payments via 2Checkout. |
| Authorize.Net Integration | $29 | Enable Authorize.Net payment gateway. |
| Random Quiz | $29 | Randomize quiz questions for each attempt/user. |
| H5P Integration | $29 | Add interactive H5P content to courses. |
| myCRED Integration | $29 | Add gamification: points, ranks, badges. |
| Sorting Choice | $19 | Adds “sorting” question type to quizzes. |
| Live Course (Zoom/Google Meet) | $19 | Add live class meetings directly into courses. |
| Razorpay Integration | $19 | Accept Razorpay payments (popular in India). |
| Instamojo Integration | $19 | Accept Instamojo payments. |
| Collections | $19 | Group courses into curated collections or bundles. |
| Paystack Integration | $10 | Accept Paystack payments (popular in Africa). |
| QPay Integration | $10 | Accept Mongolian MNT payments via QPay. |
| PayU Integration | $10 | Accept PayU payments. |
| Student List | Free | Displays enrolled students publicly or privately. |
| Coming Soon | Free | Add “Coming Soon” mode for upcoming courses. |
| Prerequisites Courses | Free | Add required courses before enrollment. |
| bbPress Integration | Free | Add course discussion forums. |
| BuddyPress Integration | Free | Add social networking features to your LMS. |
| Course Review | Free | Enable ratings and student reviews. |
| Course Wishlist | Free | Students can save courses for later. |
| Export/Import | Free | Migrate and back up LearnPress courses. |
| Mobile App | Free | Connect LearnPress with compatible mobile apps. |
Who Should Use Free vs. Paid Version?
- Free Version: Ideal for solo instructors, beginners testing the market, non-profits, or educators who primarily give away their content and only need basic PayPal monetization.
- PRO Bundle/Paid Add-ons: Necessary for professional training centers, schools, and serious e-learning sites that need advanced features like Certificates, Content Drip, multi-instructor management (Co-instructors), and modern payment gateways (Stripe, WooCommerce).
LearnPress Performance: Is LearnPress a Good LMS Plugin?
To answer is LearnPress a good LMS plugin, we must look beyond features and evaluate its overall performance and user experience.
Ease of Use
LearnPress provides an excellent user interface for creating and managing content. The Course Builder is easy to navigate, and the Setup Wizard guides new users through the initial configuration. The strong support for visual builders like Elementor and Gutenberg means no coding knowledge is required to create beautiful course pages.
Flexibility & Scalability
The modular nature of LearnPress makes it highly scalable:
- Multi-Instructor Ready: The Co-instructors and Commission add-ons allow the platform to support multiple educators and handle revenue sharing, making it ideal for academy-level platforms.
- Blended Learning: The unique Offline course features support training centers and institutions that offer physical or blended programs, providing proper management for in-person classes, schedules, and locations.
Customization
LearnPress is extremely flexible. Its compatibility with any theme, combined with dedicated integrations for Elementor and Gutenberg, allows you to match the course aesthetic perfectly to your brand. For developers, it is open-source and provides extensive documentation for its REST API and add-on development.
Support & Documentation
ThimPress provides responsive support and maintains an active development roadmap for the plugin. For premium add-on users, dedicated helpdesk support is available. The large community of 90,000+ active installs also contributes to robust community-driven support via forums and Facebook groups.
Real User Reviews
Testimonials from global users consistently praise LearnPress:
“LearnPress is not just a powerful LMS—it’s also incredibly flexible. The customization options allow you to tailor your learning platform exactly how you want it.” — Unigrant, Australia
“Reliable, Feature-Rich, and Free! LearnPress is hands down one of the best LMS solutions out there. It gives you everything you need without the hefty price tag!” — Data School, Mongolia
“I’ve tried several LMS platforms, but LearnPress strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and advanced features.” — Cuthongthai, Viet Nam
Pros & Cons of LearnPress
Here is a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the LearnPress WordPress LMS plugin:
| Pros (The Upsides) | Cons (The Trade-Offs) |
| Best Free WordPress LMS Plugin: Core is 100% free forever. | Advanced Features are Paid: Features like Content Drip, Certificates, and modern payment gateways require premium add-ons. |
| Free Monetization: Sell courses immediately with the free PayPal integration. | Setup Can Feel Overwhelming: The modular nature (many add-ons) can be daunting for complete beginners compared to all-in-one paid solutions. |
| Huge Ecosystem: Massive library of free and premium add-ons for full scalability. | Best Experience Requires Specific Themes: While it works with all themes, the best visual and functional integration is achieved with premium themes like Eduma or Course Builder. |
| Universal Compatibility: Works with any WordPress theme, Gutenberg, and Elementor. | |
| Blended Learning Support: Unique offline course mode for physical classes. | |
| WPML Recommended: Top choice for building a multilingual educational platform. |
LearnPress vs Other WordPress LMS Plugins (Quick Comparison)
When choosing an LMS, it’s crucial to compare the LearnPress review against top competitors.
| Feature / Criteria | LearnPress | Tutor LMS | LearnDash | LifterLMS |
| Cost Efficiency | Free core plugin with powerful features + affordable add-ons | Free core, but many essential features locked behind paid plans | Premium only (no free version) | Core plugin free but key features require expensive add-ons |
| Ease of Use | Beginner-friendly course builder, simple setup, lightweight | Modern UI, easy to use | Good UI but more complex setup | Simple UI but more manual configuration |
| Course Builder | Drag-and-drop builder + flexible curriculum + unlimited lessons | Drag-and-drop builder | Drag-and-drop builder | No drag-and-drop (form-based builder) |
| Payment Flexibility | Supports many payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe, WooCommerce, etc.) | Limited gateways unless PRO | Native Stripe/PayPal; WooCommerce with add-on | Stripe/PayPal only (others require add-ons) |
| Scalability | Lightweight and optimized for high-course volume | Resource-heavy on large sites | Highly scalable but needs powerful hosting | Moderate scalability |
| Theme Compatibility | 100% compatible with Eduma, Coaching, Course Builder & many LMS themes | Good theme support | Works with most themes | Works with most themes |
| Extendability | Rich add-on ecosystem: Certificates, Assignments, Gradebook, Co-Instructor, Content Drip, Prerequisites, and more | Good add-on library | Many add-ons but expensive | Many features, most premium |
| Community & Ecosystem | Large global user base + most popular LMS theme ecosystem | Growing community | Large community | Smaller community |
| Monetization Options | Sell courses, memberships, bundles, subscriptions (via add-ons) | Similar but requires Pro | Strong monetization but costly | Strong but requires paid bundle |
| Best For | All-in-one LMS for beginners → advanced users wanting power at low cost | New educators wanting modern UI | Large enterprises and universities | Coaches and small course creators |
| Overall Value | ⭐ Best Price–Performance LMS ⭐ | Good but expensive to scale | Very powerful but premium-only | Solid but costly for full features |
Who Is LearnPress Best For?
LearnPress is not a one-size-fits-all, but it is a perfect fit for a wide range of use cases due to its flexibility:
- Solo Instructors & Coaches: Launch your first course with zero cost using the free PayPal integration.
- Academies & Training Centers: The multi-instructor and Gradebook add-ons support large-scale educational management.
- Businesses: Use it for internal employee training (corporate training teams) with role-based access.
- Specialized Schools: Ideal for yoga/fitness studios, music schools, and coding bootcamps that need a platform for both online and in-person classes (via Offline Course mode).
Final Verdict: Is LearnPress the Best Free WordPress LMS Plugin?
After a deep dive for this LearnPress review, the answer is a resounding Yes. For 90% of aspiring course creators, LearnPress is the best free WordPress LMS plugin available today.
It offers the most powerful, feature-rich core experience at zero cost, including course creation, student management, and free PayPal monetization. It is not just a starter plugin; it is an industry-leading ecosystem backed by 15 years of development by ThimPress.
The generous free core and the clear, affordable upgrade path (especially the PRO Bundle) make LearnPress the most flexible and risk-free choice for everyone, from absolute beginners to enterprise-level platforms. If you want a reliable, customizable LMS that allows you to start for free and scale infinitely, LearnPress is the solution.
FAQs About LearnPress
Is LearnPress a good LMS plugin?
Yes, LearnPress is widely considered a very good LMS plugin. It is the most popular free LMS on WordPress, known for its powerful course builder, flexible add-on system, and generous free PayPal integration for selling courses immediately.
Is LearnPress free forever?
Yes, the core LearnPress WordPress LMS plugin is 100% free and always will be. The developers operate on a freemium model, offering the core product for free while selling advanced functionality (like Certificates, Content Drip, and modern payment gateways) as premium add-ons or bundled in the PRO Bundle.
Does LearnPress support Elementor and Gutenberg?
Yes. LearnPress offers full compatibility and integration with both the native Gutenberg block editor and the Elementor page builder, allowing instructors to design highly customized and visually appealing course layouts.
Can you sell courses with LearnPress?
Absolutely. The free version of LearnPress allows you to sell courses using its built-in PayPal integration and Offline Payment options, making it the only top LMS to offer core monetization for free. To accept payments via Stripe, WooCommerce, or other regional gateways (Razorpay, Paystack), you would need the corresponding premium add-ons.
How does LearnPress compare to Tutor LMS?
LearnPress lets you sell courses for free with PayPal right out of the box, making it the most beginner-friendly free LMS plugin. Tutor LMS requires a paid plan to accept payments, offering a more bundled premium experience instead.
Does LearnPress have certificates?
Yes, the ability to award certificates requires the Certificates premium add-on for LearnPress. This add-on includes a drag-and-drop builder and pre-designed templates.
Does LearnPress support offline classes?
Yes. LearnPress features a unique Offline course mode that allows educators to manage physical workshops or blended learning programs by tracking details like Delivery Type, Location, and Schedule.
Read more: 8+ Best Education WordPress Themes for Online Courses
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