Choosing the right Learning Management System (LMS) is crucial for effective online education and corporate training. With a plethora of options available, finding a free LMS that meets your specific needs can be challenging. This guide explores some of the best “Learning Management Systems Free” platforms in 2024, offering a detailed look at their features and benefits to help you make an informed decision.
1. Blackboard Learn
Blackboard Learn stands out as a robust online LMS platform designed for educators seeking to create engaging and interactive learning environments. This platform empowers instructors to connect with students anytime, anywhere, offering a comprehensive suite of tools to manage and enhance the learning experience. As a free LMS option, Blackboard Learn provides a centralized hub for posting and updating course materials, facilitating student interaction and collaboration, and assessing performance – all within a single, user-friendly interface.
Alt text: Blackboard Learn interface showcasing course management features, a free learning management system.
Blackboard Learn caters to a wide range of educational levels, from kindergarten to university, enabling educators to seamlessly integrate web-based content into their curriculum. It even supports the creation of entire online courses from scratch. Leveraging AI-powered tools, Blackboard Learn enhances course discoverability for students and streamlines the learning journey.
2. ATutor
ATutor is a commendable free and open-source LMS tailored for the educational sector. It’s specifically designed for developing and managing online courses and creating interoperable eLearning content. For educators seeking a cost-effective learning management solution, ATutor offers a powerful toolkit to develop online courses and build engaging LMS-based eLearning experiences.
Alt text: ATutor open-source LMS dashboard, highlighting its accessibility features as a free learning management system.
This LMS software provides a range of development tools for administrators, instructors, and learners, emphasizing adaptability and accessibility. ATutor distinguishes itself with its inclusive design, incorporating assistive technologies to support learners with disabilities. Furthermore, it integrates social networking features, messaging, file storage, LMS tracking, and various communication tools, fostering a collaborative learning environment within this free LMS.
3. MyiCourse
MyiCourse, similar to CourseSites, is positioned as a free learning management system specifically designed for educators aiming to teach online. However, MyiCourse goes a step further by enabling users to establish a virtual institution where they can publish and even monetize educational content. This free LMS platform allows you to create either a “public” college, making your courses accessible to anyone on the internet, or a “private” college, restricting content access to a select group.
Alt text: MyiCourse virtual institution setup, demonstrating its features as a free learning management system for selling courses.
In essence, MyiCourse offers a more sophisticated approach, empowering you to develop customized, interactive courses for employee or student training and engagement. Additional features include branding options, test question creation, customizable certificates, custom registration, and robust monetization capabilities, making it a versatile free LMS for entrepreneurs in education.
4. Coggno
While some LMS options lean towards technical complexity and extensive customization, Coggno differentiates itself as a free learning management system that champions simplicity. Operating more as an educational tool, Coggno provides a straightforward LMS experience. Unlike open-source learner management systems, Coggno offers globally recognized training and LMS administrator certificates and delivers a cloud-based LMS to connect stakeholders. The primary drawback is that Coggno’s courses are not built into the platform but are offered as paid add-ons, diverging from the completely free LMS model.
Alt text: Coggno’s user-friendly dashboard, a free learning management system highlighting its course marketplace.
Coggno’s purchasable courses are priced starting around $4.95 per course. Beyond the cost, these courses lack the editability found in platforms like SC Training (formerly EdApp), limiting authoring flexibility and customization without deeper investment, contrasting with truly free LMS platforms.
5. GoSkills
GoSkills is designed as an LMS platform suitable for businesses of all sizes. While not entirely a free LMS, GoSkills provides a free trial period to explore its features. This corporate LMS integrates gamification elements to foster friendly competition among learners and supports a wide range of content and file types to maintain engaging learning experiences.
Alt text: GoSkills platform showcasing gamification and progress tracking features, a free trial learning management system for businesses.
This cloud-based eLearning platform, accessible on mobile devices, provides a suite of tools to gain insights into learner progress. However, the inability to edit courses within their library and relatively high pricing after the trial period are potential downsides when compared to fully free LMS solutions.
6. Chamilo
Chamilo is a free online learning content management system that empowers users to create individual classes and virtual campuses for learning management system training. Engineered for ease of use and speed, Chamilo includes essential features such as a course catalog, skills management, certificate generation, and SCORM compatibility, making it a strong contender in the free LMS space.
Alt text: Chamilo’s course creation interface, emphasizing its SCORM support as a free learning management system for virtual campuses.
Chamilo prioritizes easy training content creation and provides education management solutions to monitor learner results. Its cloud compatibility allows it to accommodate over 3,000 concurrent learners, making it a viable option for large organizations training numerous individuals simultaneously. However, Chamilo’s limited integration options and a small selection of templates may require more time and effort for content creation compared to other free LMS platforms.
7. Sakai
Sakai is a unique free LMS platform developed through the collaborative efforts of colleges, universities, and commercial firms. Built by and for the community, Sakai offers a responsive design and core features like banner alerts, notifications, lesson tool enhancements, and intelligent feedback.
Alt text: Sakai platform highlighting its responsive design and community focus, a free learning management system for educational institutions.
This platform fosters training, learning, research, and knowledge acquisition. Sakai is a continually evolving platform, constantly improving to meet the needs of its user community. Ultimately, Sakai provides teams of learners with advantages not commonly found in other LMS options, especially within the free LMS category.
8. Schoology
Schoology, by PowerSchool, distinguishes itself among top LMS systems by primarily focusing on student needs. This eLearning LMS facilitates progress tracking, attendance monitoring, instructional material sharing, and grade recording. Its adaptable interface prioritizes enhancing the student experience and addressing their immediate needs, making it a student-centric free LMS option with premium features available.
Alt text: Schoology’s interface designed for student progress tracking and communication, a free learning management system with a focus on student experience.
9. Appsembler
Appsembler’s cloud-based training platform simplifies the creation and delivery of immersive, hands-on learning experiences. They advocate for learning by doing, offering courses and training that emphasize real-world scenarios for skill practice and training development. While similar to other listed platforms, Appsembler requires integration with their platform, which might be a consideration when choosing a free LMS that seamlessly integrates with existing systems.
Alt text: Appsembler platform emphasizing hands-on learning and immersive experiences, a learning management system requiring platform integration.
10. Employment Hero
Employment Hero is an LMS eLearning solution designed to manage HR, payroll, performance, learning, recognition, and employee benefits within a unified platform. If you need a comprehensive HR and learning management system, Employment Hero is a strong contender, though it’s not entirely a free LMS.
Alt text: Employment Hero’s all-in-one HR and learning platform, highlighting its features for employee management and training in a free trial learning management system.
While not completely free, Employment Hero offers a 14-day free trial to explore features such as applicant tracking, paperless onboarding, collaboration tools, HR compliance management, and electronic visa checks.
11. NextThought
NextThought LMS is dedicated to advancing next-generation learning within corporate environments. It effectively incorporates digital social learning aspects like gamification, online communities, and collaborative features such as contextual conversations. NextThought offers tiered monthly and annual subscriptions for its services, along with a free trial before transitioning to paid plans, placing it in the category of freemium learning management systems.
Alt text: NextThought platform showcasing social learning features and corporate training tools, a free trial learning management system focused on collaboration.
12. Acorn
Acorn is a cloud-based LMS software popular among small to midsize businesses and non-profit organizations. SCORM-compliant, customizable, and well-suited for administrative tasks, Acorn offers a robust LMS solution.
Alt text: Acorn LMS dashboard tailored for small businesses and nonprofits, a free trial learning management system with customizable options.
Acorn also supports courseware sales with monetization options. While Acorn subscriptions can be costly, starting at $300 per month, a 60-day free trial is available for those interested in testing its features before committing to a paid plan, positioning it as a premium free trial learning management system.
13. Donesafe
Donesafe is another cloud-based eLearning LMS capable of hosting scalable training for small teams to large organizations. Specializing in Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) functions, Donesafe offers mobile learning features and limited social features like gamification and video conferencing.
Alt text: Donesafe platform emphasizing HSE training and mobile accessibility, a free trial learning management system for safety and compliance.
Donesafe excels in enabling L&D leaders to deploy blended learning content and training resources efficiently. Customized pricing plans are available, accompanied by a free trial period to evaluate the platform’s suitability, making it a trial-based free learning management system for specialized training.
14. Knowmax
Knowmax is recognized as a leading learning management system that extends beyond traditional eLearning LMS functionality. It aims to enhance customer experience by creating and distributing consistent knowledge across customer touchpoints, including contact centers, field teams, and digital channels like chatbots.
Alt text: Knowmax platform designed for customer service training and knowledge distribution, a free trial learning management system for CX improvement.
Knowmax seamlessly integrates with third-party platforms like Zendesk and Salesforce. Each Knowmax plan includes a free trial, allowing users to assess its capabilities before subscription, classifying it as a free trial learning management system with a focus on customer service and knowledge management.
15. Trainual
Trainual is a valuable free LMS tool for providing quick and easy employee training and onboarding without geographical limitations. Building learning materials, such as handbooks and checklists, is simplified with over 150 free pre-built templates.
Alt text: Trainual platform highlighting pre-built templates for employee onboarding and training, a free learning management system with template library.
While lacking SCORM support, Trainual allows embedding images, videos, and multiple-choice questions. It also offers over 30 free Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) templates for documenting organizational policies. Trainual offers a free starting point, with paid plans beginning at $9 per month after the initial free access, making it a freemium learning management system with robust template support.
16. CYPHER Learning
CYPHER Learning presents a user-friendly LMS platform with a visually appealing dashboard. Its drag-and-drop dashboard simplifies course creation and management, enabling course creators to easily handle learning-related activities.
Alt text: CYPHER Learning’s drag-and-drop interface for course creation and management, a free trial learning management system focused on ease of use.
This includes building online classes, managing collaborations, assessing students, and tracking achievement. However, CYPHER Learning is primarily designed for school learning environments, which might limit the utility of features like waitlists for corporate users seeking a free LMS for business training, although a free trial is available.
17. Forma LMS
Forma LMS is recognized in the corporate sector for its extensive features and services. It features a modern and responsive layout, ensuring an engaging user experience with minimal learning curve. Forma LMS supports creating engaging courses in various formats: SCORM, HTML, videos, and assessments.
Alt text: Forma LMS platform for corporate training with modern interface and SCORM support, a free and open-source learning management system.
This platform offers certificate management, leadership support, and virtual classroom management tools, including calendars and event managers. Forma LMS is fundamentally free and open-source, with optional paid upgrades to enhance its feature set, making it a strong contender in the free learning management systems category for corporate use.
18. ProProfs
ProProfs is a free learning management system designed to manage the entire training cycle. As a cloud-based LCMS and SaaS platform, ProProfs allows users to create courses and quizzes, track employee progress, and organize virtual classes.
Alt text: ProProfs platform emphasizing course creation and progress tracking, a free learning management system with cloud-based access.
ProProfs provides a premium library of pre-made courses on topics like compliance and customer service, easily deployable to teams. Accessibility is ensured across desktop and mobile devices, making ProProfs a versatile and accessible free learning management system with a pre-built course library.
19. 360Learning
360Learning is another top-tier LMS solution for workforce management. It offers diverse tools for training employees, including an authoring tool, content integration system, and analytics dashboard. 360Learning also incorporates collaborative learning features like discussion boards, enabling employee interaction with managers and peers.
Alt text: 360Learning platform highlighting collaborative features and analytics, a free trial learning management system focused on workforce engagement.
Requiring no technical skills, 360Learning is ideal for companies transitioning to online training. It offers a 14-day free trial, with team, business, and enterprise subscription plans available post-trial, positioning it as a free trial learning management system with a strong focus on collaborative learning.
20. Looop
Designed for enterprises, Looop is a highly-rated learning management system focused on delivering online learning activities. Emphasizing automation, Looop includes campaigns, user insights, dashboards, and resource builders. Looop’s UX design facilitates the creation of engaging learning materials.
Alt text: Looop platform with automation features and enterprise focus, a free trial learning management system for large organizations.
Looop automates training content delivery across channels like Microsoft Teams and Slack, ideal for organizations using multiple platforms. It also offers SCIM integration for data synchronization and built-in features to measure completion rates and identify learning gaps, making it a free trial learning management system with robust integration and automation capabilities.
21. Auzmor Learn
Auzmor Learn is a cloud learning management system enabling organizations to deliver, manage, and track training materials for employees and stakeholders. It allows course authoring and data storage in one place.
Alt text: Auzmor Learn platform with learner progress dashboards and open enrollment features, a free trial learning management system focused on employee development.
Auzmor Learn provides dashboards for both administrators and learners to track progress. Its open enrollment feature allows employees to self-enroll in courses for continuous learning. While lacking international deployment features, Auzmor Learn is a capable free trial learning management system for employee training and development.
22. Studocu
Studocu is a platform focused on enhancing academic performance. It offers a vast library of educational materials and notes from over 15 million students globally, ideal for exam preparation and study.
Alt text: Studocu platform with student-generated study materials and exam resources, a free learning resource for academic support.
Studocu offers features like saved lists, notifications for new materials, and sharing capabilities, making learning and research efficient. While not a traditional LMS, Studocu serves as a valuable free learning resource for students seeking academic support and study materials.
23. Coconut Learning
Coconut Learning provides a comprehensive learning experience for various organizations, supporting LMS testing, onboarding, reskilling, and expertise updates. Its customized cloud-based LMS includes diverse learning approaches beyond traditional textbooks.
Alt text: Coconut Learning platform with video and live demo support, a customized cloud learning management system for diverse training needs.
Coconut Learning supports training delivery through videos and live demos, and facilitates feedback sessions for engaging learning. Its user-friendly course administration system streamlines information submission and progress tracking, making it a time-saving and versatile learning management system.
24. Sibme
Alt text: Sibme platform for blended learning and team collaboration, a learning management system for professional development.
Sibme specializes in creating blended professional learning solutions for team excellence and long-term growth. This free learning management system supports training information distribution in various formats, team collaboration, and live online meetings. It also enables goal setting and real-time progress tracking, making it a robust free LMS for professional development and team management.
Conclusion
The landscape of “learning management systems free” offers a diverse range of platforms to suit various needs, from education to corporate training. Whether you are looking for a completely free and open-source solution or a free trial of a premium LMS, this list provides a starting point to explore and find the best fit for your specific requirements in 2024. Carefully consider your organization’s size, training goals, and technical capabilities when selecting a learning management system to maximize its effectiveness and impact.
