LifterLMS alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave LifterLMS: many important features sit in paid add-ons, and you handle hosting and plugin updates. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces LifterLMS, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. LearnDash currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Moodle	Open source	Yes	Web, Self-hosted, iOS +1	4 of 4	59.6
2	Teachable	Paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	5 of 5	57.2

1. MoodleTop pick
Best for: Schools, universities and organisations that want a flexible LMS they fully control
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from LifterLMS
Standalone open-source LMS for schools and larger training programmes.
Pros
Free and open source with no licence fees
Very flexible, with thousands of plugins
Strong quiz, grading and permission features
Cons
Interface feels dated next to modern SaaS tools
Needs admin skills to host, theme and upgrade
Quality of community plugins varies
Visit Moodle Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Moodle a good LifterLMS alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Languages
Courses in 42 languages
Checked Oct 25, 2026moodle.com(opens source in a new tab)
Open source
Free to download, modify and share
Checked Oct 25, 2026moodle.com(opens source in a new tab)
Hosted option
MoodleCloud, with a free trial
Checked Oct 25, 2026moodle.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Teachable
Best for: Solo creators who want a simple hosted course store with payments and tax handled
PaidWeb, iOS, Android
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from LifterLMS
Hosted option for creators who'd rather not run WordPress.
Pros
Quick to set up a course and checkout
Handles global payments and sales tax
Student apps for iOS and Android included
Cons
Entry plan charges a transaction fee on sales
Low product limits on cheaper plans
Email marketing and funnels are basic compared with Kajabi
Visit Teachable Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Teachable a good LifterLMS alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Starting price
$39/month billed monthly (Starter)
Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
7 days
Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free plan
No
Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starter transaction fee
7.5%
Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)
Builder plan price
$89/month billed monthly
Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best LifterLMS alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best LifterLMS alternative for most people

LearnDash

More established WordPress LMS with a large add-on ecosystem.

Best LifterLMS alternative for a free option

Tutor LMS

Free WordPress plugin with a front-end course builder and cheaper Pro plan.

Best LifterLMS alternative for open source

Moodle

Standalone open-source LMS for schools and larger training programmes.

Best LifterLMS alternative for self-hosting

LearnDash

More established WordPress LMS with a large add-on ecosystem.

Best LifterLMS alternative for iPhone and Android

Teachable

Hosted option for creators who'd rather not run WordPress.

Best LifterLMS alternative for working in the browser

Podia

Hosted, simple store for courses and downloads with no plugins to manage.

LifterLMS alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to LifterLMS?

LearnDash ranks first right now. More established WordPress LMS with a large add-on ecosystem. Tutor LMS and Moodle follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to LifterLMS?

Yes. Tutor LMS (open source) and Moodle (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to LifterLMS?

Yes: Tutor LMS and Moodle. Tutor LMS and Moodle can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from LifterLMS?

The complaints we hear most: many important features sit in paid add-ons; you handle hosting and plugin updates; design depends on your WordPress theme.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces LifterLMS, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.