5 Best Tutor LMS Alternatives for Online Course Creation in 2023

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Updated on: July 2, 2023
Tutor LMS Alternatives

If you are familiar with e-learning production, you know that when it comes to producing an online course, many providers prefer having complete control over their course's earnings and not playing by someone else's rules using platforms like Udemy. That is why using plugins, such as Tutor LMS, makes such an attractive approach. 

That option still has pros, but if you have already used this plugin, paid for its premium version, and want to explore other options to create your courses, read on because we will introduce you to the best Tutor LMS alternatives for online course creation in 2023.

What is TutorLMS

If this is your first time with TutorLMS, let me explain what it is and what it works for. 

TutorLMS is a WordPress plugin that helps you to create courses on your website. Since its introduction in 2019, it has experienced rapid growth due to its user-friendly course builder accumulating over 40,000 installations, making it the market's second most utilized LMS plugin. 

While TutorLMS has received mostly positive reviews, users also have reported a few limitations, particularly related to bugs and customer support. However, some of the preferred features offered by this plugin include

  • Free version.
  • An intuitive interface.
  • An advanced quiz creator.

In addition to that, Tutor LMS also has valuable add-ons such as multi-instructor support, comprehensive reports, assignment features, course prerequisites, certification options, and email capabilities.

tutor lms alternatives 1

TutorLMS features

Tutor LMS offers both a free and paid version; however, no matter what plan you use, it will still provides a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features to create and manage online courses effectively:

  • User-friendly design:
    TutorLMS has a drag-and-drop system and intuitive controls that let you create courses easily.
  • Frontend Course Builder:
    Using the intuitive frontend interface, you can design interactive courses with videos, attachments, summaries, prerequisites, and more.
  • Unlimited Courses and Lessons:
    Create and manage all the courses and lessons you need, including the option to attach videos and other resources to each class.
  • Content Drip:
    You can control the release of course content by scheduling lessons, quizzes, and assignments based on specific criteria.
  • Host Live Classes:
    Conduct live classes by integrating with platforms like Zoom, Google Classroom, or YouTube.
  • Personalized Dashboard for Teachers & Students:
    Tutor LMS has separate dashboards for teachers and students, allowing them to track course progress, receive notifications, and access relevant information.
  • Event Calendar:
    Keep students informed about assignments and deadlines with an event calendar.
  • Earning and Commission Allocation:
    Using the built-in earning and commission allocation feature, you can efficiently distribute course earnings among instructors and deduct fees.
  • Advanced Analytics & Reports:
    Gain valuable insights into course effectiveness, track individual student progress, and access detailed reports on earnings and other relevant data.

Premium Features and Pricing:

Tutor LMS also has a premium version. Its plans, which range from $139.30 per year to $599.30, allow you to access additional updates and features, such as

  • Add as many instructors as you want to individual courses and more to enhance the learning experience for your audience. 
  • Tutor Certificates for issuing completion certificates.
  • Tutor Report for in-depth course analysis.
  • Tutor Email for automated communication. 
  • WooCommerce Subscriptions.
TutorLMS 2 Pricing

Who should use Tutor LMS?

Creating a learning management system has become increasingly valuable in today's digital era. Whether you are an educational institution, corporate trainer, or individual educator, Tutor LMS provides the necessary tools and functionalities to create an engaging and effective online learning platform.

For example, educational institutions like schools and universities can use Tutor LMS to streamline online learning programs. They also can create and manage courses, track student progress, and provide interactive learning experiences.

If you are an educator, remember that this plugin lets you empower you to build and monetize your knowledge besides designing engaging lessons to improve your students' learning process around the globe.

On the other hand, Tutor LMS also offers corporate trainers and businesses a platform to develop and deliver employee training programs effectively. It provides features like content drip, live classes, and analytics to track employee progress and assess the effectiveness of the e-training initiatives.

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Pros and cons of TutorLMS:

From its free version and user-friendly interface to the drag-and-drop course builder, quiz creator, analytics, and support for multiple instructors and certificates, Tutor LMS empowers users to create engaging courses easily, making this plugin a popular choice for online educators and organizations seeking an effective learning management system. 

However, despite its great benefits for creating courses, there are some reviews related to the features that TutorLMS could be improved. So we will show you both sides of the coin.

Note: It's important to note that these cons may only apply sometimes. Users' experiences and opinions may vary, and future updates may address or improve some limitations.

Here are some Tutor LMS pros and cons:

ProsCons
It has a free version. Few additional features in the pro version.
It is easy to use. There are affordable and more feature-rich LMSs on the market.
Drag-and-drop backend course builder. Limited integrations.
Quiz creator. Non-compliance with SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) 
Analytics and reporting tools to track your course performance. Redirect and email delays. 
Different course instructors. Lack of gamification features.
Certificates. Customer support limitations.
Active open-source community and support.

Tutor LMS pros

  • Free version:

    A free version of Tutor LMS is a significant advantage for users, tiny and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with budget constraints. 

    This version allows users to explore and utilize essential features without financial commitment. It is a great starting point for SMBs to build and launch online courses without incurring additional costs.
  • Easy to use: 

    Tutor LMS is praised for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for those with limited technical knowledge. The intuitive design and use can save you time and reduces the learning curve, allowing instructors to focus on creating engaging content and providing a positive learning experience for their students.
  • Drag & drop backend course builder: 

    The backend course builder's drag-and-drop functionality in Tutor LMS allows instructors to easily organize and structure their course content by dragging and dropping elements, such as videos, attachments, and additional resources. This visual approach simplifies course creation and empowers instructors to design engaging and interactive learning experiences.
  • Quiz creator: 

    The built-in quiz creator in Tutor LMS lets instructors create quizzes with various question types and set grading criteria. This tool makes evaluating student performance, reinforcing learning, and providing feedback easy, enhancing the learning experience.
Tutor LMS 4 Quiz Creator
  • Analyze your course performance: 

    Tutor LMS provides instructors with comprehensive analytics and reporting tools to track and analyze the performance of their courses. Creators can gain insights into student progress, engagement, completion rates, and other vital metrics. With these analytics, you can identify areas for improvement, optimize your course content, and ensure your teaching strategies align with student needs.
  • Different course instructors: 

    With Tutor LMS, multiple instructors can be assigned to other courses, allowing collaboration and expertise sharing. This feature is particularly beneficial for educational institutions and organizations with a diverse range of subject matter experts. It enables instructors to collaborate, share responsibilities, and offer students a rich and varied learning experience.
  • Offer certificates: 

    Tutor LMS Pro includes a certificate feature allowing instructors to award students certificates upon course completion. Certificates serve as tangible recognition of achievement and motivate students to complete their courses successfully. In addition, credentials give credibility and value to the courses offered through Tutor LMS.
TutorLMS 5 Certificates 1
  • Active open-source community and support: 

    The open-source nature of Tutor LMS has fostered a vibrant community of users and developers. This community provides valuable support, resources, and updates, ensuring a smooth user experience, contributing to the ongoing development and improvement of Tutor LMS, and promptly addressing bugs and technical issues.

Tutor LMS cons

  • Email delays

    Some users have complained about delays in email delivery, potentially impacting timely communication with students and hindering the smooth operation of the LMS.
  • Customer support limitations

    There have been instances where users have reported slow response times and delays in addressing their queries or issues. This lack of prompt and efficient customer support can frustrate instructors who require immediate assistance or resolution to their problems.
  • Limited integrations:

    Tutor LMS may need to enhance in terms of other third-party tools and platform integration. That can restrict the flexibility and expandability of the LMS, particularly for users who rely on specific integrations to enhance their learning workflows.
  • Few additional features in the pro version:

    The lack of significant functionalities in the pro version may not justify the investment for specific users, making it less appealing for those seeking substantial upgrades beyond the free version.
  • Non-compliance with SCORM:

    SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) is a widely used standard for e-learning content interoperability. Tutor LMS has been criticized for not being compliant with SCORM, which can limit its compatibility with SCORM-compliant content and tools.

  • Lack of gamification features: 

    Gamification elements, such as badges, leaderboards, and point systems, are widespread in modern e-learning platforms as they can enhance learner engagement and motivation. 

    However, Tutor LMS has been noted to need more built-in gamification features, limiting the ability of instructors to incorporate many of those elements into their courses in some cases.

Tutor LMS Alternatives:

Each LMS plugin offers unique features and benefits that cater to specific learning needs. Evaluating them based on your organization's goals is the best way to choose the most suitable option

Here are five alternatives to Tutor LMS:

1. Talent LMS

Talent has a user-friendly interface and affordable monthly pricing starting from $69. It works excellently to simplify training programs' development, deployment, and management for companies of all sizes.

It's known as the #1 most affordable LMS and offers a free trial, making it a favorite among thousands of customers worldwide.

Compared to Tutor LMS, Talent LMS stands out with additional features such as 

  • Assessment Management.
  • Asynchronous Learning.
  • Course Authoring.
  • Mobile Learning.
  • SCORM Compliance.
  • Training Management.

Talent LMS excels in onboarding new employees and skill development for sales and customer service teams. That is why it is well-suited for mid-sized businesses and large enterprises, providing robust capabilities to meet their training needs effectively.

TalentLMS TutorLMS 6

2. 360Learning 

Tutor LMS and 360Learning are both learning management systems (LMS). However, they have some notable differences. 

For example, while Tutor LMS emphasizes user-friendly course creation and management, 360Learning focuses on Learning and Development teams by combining LMS and LXP capabilities. That allows organizations to optimize costs and improve efficiency. 

With collaborative learning Academies and AI-powered features, 360Learning let organizations upskill employees quickly and continuously. Here are some of its features:

  • It supports SCORM and HTML5 packages.
  • It has a mobile application for learning on the go.
  • +30 interface languages. 
  • The starting price for 360Learning is $8 per month, and it provides a free trial to help users explore its features.
360Learning TutorLMS 7

3. LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is a platform that offers a wide range of tools and features to customize your course content, add videos and quizzes, and personalize the appearance of your online school. 

Compared with Tutor LMS, LearnWorlds is a powerful and user-friendly alternative suitable for entrepreneurs and small businesses since it provides various pricing plans, starting with the Beginner package at $29/month. 

Additionally, LearnWorlds lets you sell your courses directly on the platform and offers a fully customizable white-label solution for training employees and managing student enrollments. 

This platform has other essential features like

  • Unlimited courses.
  • Video hosting.
  • Quizzes.
  • SEO-optimized website builder.

Although it doesn't have a free version like TutorLMS and lacks comprehensive course reporting tools, LearnWorlds compensates with its robust sales tools, analytics, and integrations with third-party marketing tools. 

LearnWorlds Tutor 8

4. Absorb LMS 

Absorb is a feature-rich LMS suitable for organizations of various sizes, from small to large. Its emphasis on engaging learning experiences and SCORM compliance makes it compatible with a wide range of e-learning content.

It's important to note that this LMS operates on a paying-per-active-user system, meaning organizations may be charged based on the number of learners who log into the system or take a course during the billing period, resulting in variable pricing depending on usage.

There are several notable differences when comparing Absorb LMS and Tutor LMS:

  • Absorb LMS offers a free trial but does not provide a free version.
  • The platform supports asynchronous learning, allowing learners to progress at their own pace.
  • It provides robust training and eCommerce management features, allowing organizations to monetize their courses.
  • It has alerts and notifications to keep learners informed and engaged.
  • Absorb offers 24/7 live support, ensuring prompt assistance for any technical or training-related issues.
  • It also provides mobile access, allowing learners to access training materials from anywhere using their devices. 
  • It offers an API, which enables seamless integration with other systems and tools. 

On the other hand, Absorb also has some limitations. According to reviews, it has limited assessment options for answering types, which may restrict flexibility in designing quizzes or exams. 

absorb lms tutor 9

5. Thinkific 

Thinkific is an online course creation and LMS platform with a user-friendly interface that provides better game-like elements than Tutor LMS to motivate and engage learners and design engaging courses.

It also supports video conferencing, facilitating live interactions, and virtual classrooms, and it also integrates with various third-party tools, including payment gateways, email marketing platforms, and analytics tools, to provide a more comprehensive course creation and management experience.

Thinkific offers a free trial to get started. Still, it is more affordable than TutorLMS since its paid plans start at $49 monthly, providing additional features such as:

  • Code editor: The Start Plan offers more advanced customization for users with technical expertise to customize and modify the course platform's code, providing greater flexibility in design and functionality for their content.
  • eCommerce: Thinkific provides robust capabilities and features for selling your lessons, such as payment gateways, subscriptions, and bundle courses.
  • Mobile Learning: Thinkific lets students access course materials and complete coursework on mobile devices, enhancing flexibility and convenience.
  • SEO-Ready website templates to help attract organic traffic and potential students.
  • SCORM: This LMS can convert SCORM files to HTML5, expanding compatibility with different course formats.
  • 39 Interface Languages that help creators to provide a localized experience for their students. However, with integrations, the platform extends support to over 100 languages.
  • Dedicated Customer Success Team (Only available in the 'Plus' Plan): This option provides personalized support, guidance, and expertise to ensure the success of larger organizations and enterprises using the platform.
Thinkific Tutor LMS 10

Is Tutor LMS worth it?

As you have seen throughout this article and after comparisons with other LMS platforms, although Tutor may sometimes seem less robust than its competition, you should remember that it is the second most used WordPress plugin for creating courses. It also has a free version that can leverage your business without investing in the short term, as with free trials.

For the rest, Tutor LMS can be a practical choice for users who prioritize ease of use, course customization, and data-driven insights. It is particularly beneficial for educators and organizations seeking an effective learning management system to create and deliver engaging online courses. 

Users who rely less on specific integrations or prioritize SCORM compliance and gamification elements may find Tutor LMS a suitable option to offer their courses.

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Andrea Mercado is a tech-focused journalist and copywriter with over 5 years of experience covering innovation, edtech, AI, and internet trends across media outlets. She is passionate about how technology can democratize access to education and is an avid learner when it comes to emerging tech like AI. Her articles and webinars help readers stay informed on the latest tech developments.
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