LifterLMS

Open-source WordPress LMS plugin with paid add-ons for selling courses and memberships.

Open sourceSelf-hostableOnline course platforms

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About LifterLMS

LifterLMS is a WordPress plugin for building course and membership sites. The core plugin is free and open source under the GPL, and covers courses, lessons, quizzes, certificates, achievements, drip content, memberships and basic payments. Paid add-ons, sold in yearly bundles by number of sites, add payment gateways, email and CRM integrations, advanced quizzes, assignments, groups and other extras. Because it runs on your own WordPress install, you control design and data and pay no per-sale platform fee, but you also take care of hosting, updates and plugin compatibility. Compared with LearnDash, the free core makes it easier to try, though a serious business usually ends up buying a bundle. It runs anywhere WordPress does. LifterLMS suits WordPress users who want to start free and add features as their course business grows.

Best for: WordPress users who want to start free and add paid course features later.

What works

Free, open-source core plugin
Full control over design, data and hosting
Membership and course features in one plugin

Why people leave

Many important features sit in paid add-ons
You handle hosting and plugin updates
Design depends on your WordPress theme

Top LifterLMS alternatives

See all 5

1
LearnDash
More established WordPress LMS with a large add-on ecosystem.
66.5
2
Tutor LMS
Free WordPress plugin with a front-end course builder and cheaper Pro plan.
62.6
3
Moodle
Standalone open-source LMS for schools and larger training programmes.
59.6
4
Teachable
Hosted option for creators who'd rather not run WordPress.
57.2
5
Podia
Hosted, simple store for courses and downloads with no plugins to manage.
55.3

Why people left LifterLMS

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LifterLMS: common questions

Is LifterLMS free?

Yes. LifterLMS is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

Is LifterLMS open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at gocodebox/lifterlms. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does LifterLMS run on?

LifterLMS is available for Web and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to LifterLMS?

The highest-ranked LifterLMS alternatives right now are LearnDash, Tutor LMS and Moodle. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 LifterLMS alternatives

LifterLMS facts

4 of 4 verified

License: GPL-3.0; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: GPL-3.0 (GNU General Public License v3.0).”
Universe Bundle: $299/year for 5 sites; Checked Oct 25, 2026lifterlms.com(opens source in a new tab); “Universe Bundle normally $598 $ 299 /yr. $299 savings* 5 active sites”
Infinity Bundle: $799/year, unlimited sites; Checked Oct 25, 2026lifterlms.com(opens source in a new tab); “Infinity Bundle normally $1598 $ 799 /yr. $799 savings* Unlimited active sites”
Money-back guarantee: 30 days; Checked Oct 25, 2026lifterlms.com(opens source in a new tab); “All the tools you need to succeed with top-notch support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.”