A learning management system (LMS) is software that allows businesses host, deliver, and track employee training and certificates. An LMS allows workers to complete training or eLearning courses and keeps track of where they’re in the training process. The learning system can print or save certificates once employees complete training.
We analyzed 5 small-business-appropriate learning management system vendors who are low cost and simple to prepare and use.
Greatest Learning Management Systems (LMS) Summary Table
| Business | Best For |
|---|---|
| TalentLMS | Best overall LMS Because of low price, a free version, and Fantastic customer testimonials |
| Moodle | Best free SCORM-compliant open source LMS to get do-it-yourselfers |
| SkyPrep | Best LMS for companies Using Google programs |
| Skillsoft | Greatest LMS for quality and number of contained e-learning classes |
| LearnLinq | Best LMS for simplicity of installation and ease of use |
How We Evaluated Learning Management Systems
Small business owners don’t typically have extra employees, so we concentrated on Learning Management Systems that may be administered without a full-time trainer. We narrowed it down to five LMS vendors based on price, ease of installation and management, ease of use for workers, and the capability to host both instructor-led and elearning classes.
The five sellers reviewed here offer cloud-based providers accessible from a worker’s personal computer or mobile device. They are also SCORM compliant, so they can host most standard elearning content which includes text, video, tests, quizzes, and surveys.
A few of the methods below let you make your own training lessons. Other people provide classes for you to choose from, either as part of this package or in an additional fee. In addition you have the choice to purchase and upload additional content from any supplier with SCORM-compliant elearning lessons.
1. Best Total LMS for Smaller Businesses: TalentLMS
Supply: TalentLMS, TalentLMS Training Options
We recommend TalentLMS as the most effective overall learning management program due to the very low cost, classes included, and powerful capabilities. There’s a free version for those who have fewer than 5 employees/users, and even if you need a paid version, it is more affordable than most of the other LMS programs on the market.
You can create your own learning content, or pick from TalentLMS’ Course Marketplace of eLearning classes. The free version gives you 10 courses to begin with. Access to built-in classes saves you time and money since you don’t have to look for, buy, and upload training material from class providers. Customization with your company logo, and single sign on (SSO) for user authentication can also be included. You can even sell classes to clients or online through Paypal or Stripe together with the ECommerce alternative.
Along with the standard LMS attributes, TalentLMS also has video conferencing, a training calendar, private messages, and discussion forums for informal learning — allowing your employees to reach out to and learn from peers and experts.
TalentLMS Pricing
The purchase price of TalentLMS ranges from $0 to the free version to approximately $200/month with no installation fees and is based upon the number of consumers. If you have fewer than 5 employees and 10 courses, you are able to keep the free version — no time limitation! The annual plans are cheaper, but you could also sign up for monthly billing should you need to spread your expenses over 12 weeks.
You have the choice to try any strategy before you buy without supplying a credit card. TalentLMS does not charge for articles storage, unlike lots of the other LMS systems. The pricing below shows limits on the number of active users at each price point. If you go over these limits, you would pay a $4 per user fee that month (by way of example, if you have seven users, you’d pay $8 per month).
| Free | Small | Basic | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 No credit card needed |
$29/month charged yearly |
$99/month billed annually |
$199/month billed annually |
| Number of Users | 5 | 25 | 100 | 500 |
| Number of Built-In Courses | 10 | Endless | Endless | Unlimited |
What You Can Do in TalentLMS
Core characteristics of TalentLMS include:
- CSV Bulk User Upload
- Constructed Course Authoring
- Course Marketplace
- Automations
- Social Learning
- Videoconferencing
- Gamification
- Learner Portal and Learning Paths
- Custom Branding
- 300+ Integrations
- Blog and Knowledge Base
Everything you need to host and monitor training is already assembled into TalentLMS, and very few of these features require that you update to a pricier plan.
What’s Missing from TalentLMS
Though TalentLMS is a good product, there is no telephone service. End users and administrators have to submit an application request in the learning portal. If you want SSO, you need to update to the Basic package. And if you want customized reports and automation, you will need to update to the Plus package. Otherwise, it’s all there, even in the free version.
2. Greatest Free Learning Management System (LMS): Moodle
Resource: Moodle, User Screenshot
We recommend Moodle as the most effective free learning management system. It is user supported and very popular (with more than 70K clients and almost 90M consumers ). It has a robust community forum, an easy to use interface, personalized dash, and contains some wonderful extra LMS features such as a calendar and user notifications. The site is customizable and secure, and it is a great alternative if you’re somewhat tech-savvy and don’t wish to have to pay for an LMS.
Moodle describes itself as a’content management system’ along with being an LMS.
Moodle Pricing
Moodle is the very best free LMS we discovered. No other free LMS comes close with regard to features and popularity.
What You Can Do in Moodle
Core features of Moodle comprise:
- Volume data upload
- Free class content accessible
- SQL database integration
- Automated email reminders
- Multiple languages
- Robust user community and resource center
- Custom branding
As it’s been built with input from the user community, Moodle has amazing features even if its interface appears less slick than others. It’s used by big industries and teachers as well as small companies. It has a wonderful resource center with answers about how to do just about anything in Moodle.
What is Missing from Moodle
While Moodle is a strong LMS, its path authoring options aren’t the best. You either have to make your own classes using applications like MS PowerPoint, Articulate, or even Captivate, or you need to upload free courses created by other Moodle users. You might also do an internet search using keywords like’SCORM classes available’ or’Free courses for Moodle’ to find Moodle-compatible courses created by other vendors. The problem here is that there’s no guarantee of their quality of user-generated classes.
In addition, Moodle doesn’t have a back-end database to your employee list, which means you can not just upload your list of employees who need training with a CSV or Excel file. You need to upload your employee list to a SQL database such as MySQL, MariDB, and PostgreSQL. Moodle also doesn’t have immediate integration with any HR applications or Payroll system. And there is currently no societal learning element allowing students to reach out to specialists on social networking. And, ultimately, if you would like to market classes via PayPal, you will want to do a little research about the best way best to set up the code from the app. To put it differently, it’s likely to do lots of stuff on Moodle, but not always simple unless you have got some programming abilities.
3. Best LMS for Businesses Using Google Apps: SkyPrep
Source: Skyprep, LMS Administrative Screen
We recommend SkyPrep for businesses using Google apps because it is simple to upload and import employee data in the LMS from Google Sheets. It’s also competitively priced and provides a fantastic user experience. It’s easy to install by letting you import users from Google Sheets and upload your own classes or classes found everywhere. Even though they do not have their own class catalogue, they integrate with OpenSesame where you are able to find and upload courses, many at no or low price.
Like the other LMS systems we examined it contains encryption of sensitive information, and has security (https) on all webpages. In addition, SkyPrep supports 8 languages and like TalentLMS, provides your company the choice to sell courses using Paypal or Stripe.
SkyPrep Pricing
The selection of pricing for SkyPrep was between $79 and $649 based on the amount of employees that you need to train (when we contacted them, SkyPrep gave us a small business cost of $79 for 25 users, although that price wasn’t posted on their site ). They give a free 30-day trial which doesn’t require you to use a charge card.
Their pricing includes user access for a limited number of administrators — people who can assign courses, publish reports, etc.. If you want phone support, you ought to select a package that includes it. Social learning is not contained in SkyPrep, but is available as an additional service called BoostHQ Social Learning Platform that costs between 0-$49 month, and $1 per user per month.
| FSB Small Business Quote | Starter | Advanced | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79/month | $249/month billed annually | $449/month billed annually |
$649/month each billed yearly |
| Clients | 25 Active users | 100 Active users + 2 Admin Roles |
250 Active users + 5 Admin and Manager Roles | 500 Active users + 20 Admin and Manager features |
What You Can Do in SkyPrep
SkyPrep’s core features include:
- CSV Bulk User Upload
- Constructed Course Authoring
- Course Content via OpenSesame
- Social Learning through BoostHQ
- Automated email reminders
- Learning Course and Learning Tracks
- Employee Self Service
- User Website
SkyPrep offers the sort of features that many LMS offer, though a number of the features like SSO require you to update to the Premium package. It integrates with Google, Facebook, and lots of other social media systems.
What is Missing from SkyPrep
SkyPrep has a lot of nice features and has been a close runner around TalentLMS. However, there is a limitation on information storage depending on the package purchased, so in the event that you have a good deal of courses or your classes have lots of video/media, then you might have to update. And although SkyPrep integrates with OpenSesame’s complimentary classes, they don’t have their own class catalog, and you may need to pay for content when the free courses do not meet your requirements. In order to get SSO, you ought to update to the Premium package.
4. Finest LMS for eLearning Course Options: Skillsoft
Source: Skillsoft, User Interface
Skillsoft supplies tens of thousands of high quality e-learning classes with video and animations to choose from, including certificate classes and e-learning lessons in IT, HR and project administration. There is a reason 7K customers have selected Skillsoft. I chose Skillsoft for one small employer that I worked with based on the top-notch catalog of lessons that might be quite expensive to buy individually. Consequently, if you want to provide regular ongoing training in several of regions to your employees, Skillsoft is a fantastic value.
Skillsoft provides administrative and user support 24/7 by telephone, email, or live chat — which I’ve found and used to be very responsive. All packages offer custom branding.
Skillsoft Pricing
Skillsoft pricing starts at $500/month for 25 users and gains based on the amount of users and the quantity and kind of classes you select. The Select bundle lets you choose from 300 self-paced e-learning courses from Skillsoft’s company, IT, and project management standards. The Select Plus bundle adds leadership ebooks and videos.
Certification classes, like workplace security or sexual harassment training, will also be available from a different catalogue at a different cost. Skillsoft doesn’t offer you a complimentary package, but they do have a 14-day free trial if you want to look it over.
Skillsoft is unique in that, should you obtain a package of 300 Skillsoft classes, you get the LMS and all the training course tracking features it includes.
| Select | Select Plus | Particular | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $500/month | $651/month | Call for pricing. Demands a Setup Session. |
| Users | 25 | 25 | Varies |
| Built-In Course Content | 300 Courses Contained | 300 Courses + 100 Leadership Videos and Books |
Depends on how many and exactly what kinds of classes chosen; lets you add your course material. |
What You Can Do in Skillsoft
Skillsoft’s main features include:
- Bulk user upload
- Course content included
- Automated email notifications
- Learning Plans
- Social and Collaborative Learning
- Integrates with multiple applications
- Merchandise Knowledge Base and Website
For no additional cost, you could also add eCommerce having another Channel Agreement or Social Learning using their InGenius add on.
What’s Missing from Skillsoft
Skillsoft contains just about every single course that a small company would need included with its LMS. However, what’s missing is the ability to incorporate your own proprietary learning/e-learning classes such as a product video or your new hire orientation program, without needing to pay an additional hosting fee depending on the total amount of storage you use. Additionally, the Select bundle doesn’t include SSO or any HR program integration. Like content hosting, those features need an update to the expensive Unique bundle.
5. Finest LMS for Ease of Setup & Ease of Use: LearnLinq
Resource: LearnLinq, Example of Course Library
We included LearnLinq within our comparison as a rising star among LMS systems. While not as well-known or attempted and tested as the others, it had been designed specifically for small and midsize companies. Users give it great reviews for being quick to implement, simple to manage, and consumer friendly for employees, with intuitive visual menu icons. It includes all the basic LMS features, and almost all users in companies with over 50 employees said they’d recommend it. Their consumer support is via the net and phone.
LearnLinq Pricing
LearnLinq is based in Europe, so pricing is currently in Euros. The costs vary from approximately $240-$1200 USD/month depending on the number of users (we did not change the cost chart below to US Dollars because international currency exchange rates fluctuate). LearnLinq has a free 30-day trial, with no credit card required.
| River | Lake | Sea | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | 200$/month | 750$/month | 1000$/month |
| Clients | 100 | 500 | 1000 |
What You Can Do in LearnLinq
Core characteristics of LearnLinq comprise:
- Data may be imported from Excel
- Course creation with EasyGenerator
- Self Service Learning Portal
- Learning course with progress monitoring
- Email invitations and reminders
- Integrates with HR Systems
- Knowledge Base and FAQs
- User Community on Facebook
LearnLinq has a modern look and feel and lots of users stated that LearnLinq is simple to use and quick to implement. It integrates with SAP, and has useful online tools such as text chat and movie tutorials to assist you get started.
What is Missing from LearnLinq
LearnLinq is located in the Netherlands and new in 2017. While it supports US clients, most of the testimonials were from European users using LearnLinq for under 6 months. They notedthat some features are still in development. It doesn’t yet have strong reporting, videoconference integration, or social understanding, but these things are in their roadmap. The drawback I found for US business owners would be LearnLinq’s sales and support isn’t currently 24/7, so I needed to wait until the following business day for text chat and email responses.
Bottom Line: Best Learning Management Systems (LMS)
For the value as well as the features, TalentLMS has been our favourite learning management program. But in case you have programming capability, you might find Moodle to be a fantastic free alternative that meets all your needs. Skyprep costs more, but it does offer telephone support which might be more important than price for you, and it’s easy for Google Apps users. All three of those had access to courseware either via their catalog or via free content websites. But if top notch eLearning classes is what you need right away, then SkillSoft is probably your best choice. And if you want something simple without all the bells and whistles, then you might want to try out the newcomer LearnLinq, that includes rave reviews for the usability.
In the end, the LMS you choose is dependent upon your business requirements. Once you pick one, drop us a comment. We’d love to learn which LMS you picked and why.
