LifterLMS vs. LearnPress: a comparison

We’re the creators of AccessAlly, an all-in-one WordPress LMS plugin. We realize the marketplace can be overwhelming, so we research and write comparison articles on available options.

If you’re considering LifterLMS vs. LearnPress or either of these vs. AccessAlly, you’ve come to the right place.

As we’ve mentioned, both of these core plugins are free, and from there you choose paid or free add-ons to build your setup.

It’s important to note that while the free core plugin can be a great way to test drive the software, it likely won’t be free for very long due to its limitations. Most people think of the free version as a free trial, knowing that they’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan very quickly.

LifterLMS pricing can be quite deceiving, even its users will tell you that. The core plugin is indeed free, but add-ons and integrations start at $99 per year.

For example, if you want to accept PayPal and Stripe payments, those are $99 each per year, so instead of free, you’re already at $198.

In many cases, it makes sense to upgrade right away on LifterLMS. And to get the full suite of features, you must be on the Infinity plan at $999 per year.

You may find yourself in an uncomfortable limbo if you’ve chosen the middle of the road plan at $299 per year. You may add on a few more add-ons and be paying $699 or $799 per year, just awkwardly below that highest tier, but not getting nearly as much.

LifterLMS’ pricing structure has the ability to back you in a corner where you’re forced to upgrade to get the full benefit of the LMS plugin.

LearnPress has two paid tiers and one free tier. The free version is enough to create a basic online course website. You only pay for the extended features you need. LearnPress allows you to accept payments via PayPal on the free version, which makes it one of the most generous free offerings. You may even be able to stay on the free version longer if you choose LearnPress over LifterLMS.

LearnPress has all kinds of add-ons you may be interested in, such as a frontend editor, assignments, and a Stripe add-on so that you can collect credit card payments. The free version may be great to get you started, but if you need more than 1 basic add-on, it will quickly make sense to upgrade to the LearnPress theme bundle that starts at $49.

The theme bundle cost is based on the theme you select, and once selected, you’ll be able to use some of LearnPress’s add-on features with your chosen theme. The theme will heavily influence the design of your course website. They have various themes for different types of courses and audiences. For example, school and educational themes, coaching themes, and more.

LearnPress has a big theme advantage because they were developed by ThimPress, which is more widely known for their theme development.

The LearnPress pro bundle is a series of premium LearnPress add-ons. With this bundle, you get the power of the LMS with most of its premium add-ons and beautiful out of the box design to build your online course website quickly. It’s $249.99.

Your final pricing here really depends on the features you want to use, how you want to accept payments, and if you’ll be using other systems to make it all happen. When you map out each of your courses, make a list of features you’ll use, how you’ll take payments, and where you’ll store all this information, then map out of the costs of each of those items.

Integrating your tech stack is an essential part of any online course. At the very least, you’ll likely integrate your CRM and at least one payment gateway with your LMS software.

Anytime you can integrate directly through your software, that’s generally better supported than an integration with a third-party plugin tool such as Zapier or WP Fusion.

LifterLMS does integrate directly with MailChimp and ConvertKit on the upper tier. Note that you’ll be paying an additional cost for these on the lower tiers.

You can connect LifterLMS to ActiveCampaign, Infusionsoft, Ontraport, Drip, ConvertKit, AgileCRM, and many more using WP Fusion as the bridge.

Remember that if you’re on any plan, other than the Infinity Plan, you’ll be using add-ons (and paying extra) to get access to these integrations.

You can connect LifterLMS and 1,500+ other apps via Zapier. Third-party connector tools like Zapier work on event triggers, for example, when someone purchases on an order form. That can trigger an event in another system using these third-party tools. And while that is very handy in certain situations, it can become complex, and difficult to troubleshoot if something goes wrong.

LearnPress offers quite a few integrations through their add-ons, as well. Again, these types of integrations are generally better supported compared to a third-party plugin tool.

LearnPress doesn’t work with Zapier, but it can work with WP Fusion to connect to your CRM. This is a one-way integration that could push information to one system, but not a two-way integration where they communicate seamlessly. If you want deep CRM integration to create a unique learning experience for your students, LearnPress won’t suit your needs.

They offer integrations through add-ons with Paid Memberships Pro, WooCommerce, Stripe, Authorize.net, 2Checkout, myCRED, bbPress, and BuddyPress.

With either system you choose, you’ll need to use integrations. The question of which, LifterLMS vs. LearnPress, comes in if you want to rely on third-party tools to connect them, or keep as much as possible within the plugin itself.

If you’re already using MailChimp or ConvertKit and planning to join the Infinity plan, then LifterLMS may be the best choice for you. If you’re comfortable using a third-party connector tool, then LearnPress may work just fine with your current tech stack.

Both LifterLMS and LearnPress offer learning reinforcements to enhance your students’ learning experience.

With both though, be sure to check your tier level. You may find yourself needing to upgrade or pay for add-ons to get the features you desire.

LifterLMS offers quizzes, quiz timers, prerequisites, assignments, student dashboard, discussion areas, achievement badges, and customizable certificates.

Advanced quizzing systems are only available on the Infinity plan, or for an additional cost on the basic one. Advanced quizzing systems allow for multiple quiz question types, like fill in the blank, short or long answer, file upload, and code among other features.

Advanced assignment features include test submissions, task lists, and manual grading which are only available on the infinity bundle or for an additional cost.

Here are some learning reinforcement add-ons that are available for LearnPress: co-instructors, certificates, grade book, prerequisite courses, fill-in-the-blank questions, random quiz questions, and sorting choice add-on.

If you have access to these features in LearnPress will depend on your tier level, or how many add-ons you’re willing to purchase. The Pro tier includes the bulk of these features, but not all of them. Be sure to map out which add-ons you’ll use right away, and others you may grow into.

All in all, the available learning reinforcement features are pretty similar between LifterLMS and LearnPress. The difference will come in the cost to get each and every feature you want. Be sure to map out each to get a final cost.

That being said, they both lack valuable learning reinforcements like gamification, detailed progress tracking, and video bookmarking. All of which AccessAlly has.

LifterLMS has a robust suite of e-commerce functionality that you’d expect from an all-in-one LMS plugin. They can accept credit card payments, one-time payments, recurring payments, payment plans, unlimited pricing modules, PayPal, Subscriptions, upsells, bundles, and coupons.

LifterLMS integrates with Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.Net, and WooCommerce. Be sure to check your plan though, because these integrations cost at least $99 per year to add-on.

With LearnPress, you can use WooCommerce to integrate your country’s currency or use LearnPress’s own natively built payment gateway for 2Checkout, Authorize.net, or Stripe.

LearnPress doesn’t natively support memberships, therefore they don’t natively support recurring payments. They can work with something like Paid Membership Pro though, so your students can pay monthly fees for your course. Adding Paid Memberships Pro to your tech stack is a whole other conversation though.

If you want to run memberships and/or accept recurring payments, then you’ll have to choose LifterLMS over LearnPress, unless you’re willing to work with multiple systems and LearnPress to accept those types of payments.

The short of it is that neither LifterLMS nor LearnPress can support a robust affiliate program.

LifterLMS doesn’t offer an affiliate management feature at all. You must use another platform like AffiliateWP or iDevAffiliate and pay for an integration with LifterLMS. This will up your monthly cost quite a bit, and it won’t even be a seamless affiliate program that’s easily managed from one system.

LearnPress doesn’t have features to support an affiliate management system, either. They do offer an add-on for commissions though. It’s $39 and allows you to manage commission percentages on each course, and withdraw payouts via PayPal.

Even with the LearnPress commission feature, you’re missing out on valuable affiliate management features like a dashboard or home base for your affiliates. Your affiliates won’t be able to log in and see their metrics, like clicks, commissions, and payouts dates. Nor will they be able to find your marketing copy to share your work.

So although the commission feature is nice for simply paying commissions, it’s not a true affiliate program.

• • You’re looking for a membership and LMS plugin all-in-one
  • You’re already using a WordPress website and looking for a WordPress plugin
  • You don’t mind using a third-party tool to connect your course with your CRM
  • You have a need for more advanced quiz functionality

• • You need a bare-bones course website, with no plans for added functionality down the line or are open to a larger tech stack, and using a lot of different plugins to achieve your goals
  • You’re comfortable with tech and don’t tend to need additional support for setup and configurations
  • You’d like to use a theme provided by ThimPress, the creators of LearnPress