I am an autodidactic SEO expert who learned everything on the hard tour.
I spent years to put together knowledge from scattered blog posts and YouTube videos. What I really wanted was a learning community that actually worked.
A place where experts shared real strategies and beginners could ask questions without assessment.
The problem was simple, but frustrating.
Most online learning platforms felt one-dimensional and separate. The students would buy a course, consume the content alone and then disappear.
There was no real interaction, community discussion or peer learning that makes knowledge of gluing.
Then I decided to build my own platform. I wanted something like Reddit, but for paid learning communities.
A place where the course manufacturers could exchange Premium content and the students could have meaningful discussions. I needed a WordPress solution that could deal seamlessly both courses and community functions.
After testing dozens of tools and community plugins, I discovered those who actually work.
Some are characterized by the delivery of course deliveries, others shine when building committed communities. While a few manage to do both.
In this article I will share my 7 top picks and help you to select the perfect tool for your learning platform goals.
You will learn key points:
- Which tool creates the best price ratio for beginners for beginners
- How to choose between simple membership points and complete learning management systems
- The advantages and disadvantages of each platform are based on real tests
- Which functions are most important for the commitment of the students and the course turnover
- Price disorders with which you can effectively help the budget
How I test the course tools for WordPress
I don’t take the testing of course platforms easily. I created tests with different combinations of this WordPress -e -Learning tool.
Every time I create actual course content and charging beta users to carry out the learning experience.
My test process focuses on real scenarios. As a result, I don’t just look at function lists or marketing claims.
Instead, I create complete courses with video lessons, quiz and downloadable resources. Then I see how students actually interact with the platform. Check out WP101 for some of my course creation work.
I rate the following every time:
- Light setup – How long does it take for your first course to be live?
- Student experience – Is the flow flow intuitive and committed?
- Content delivery – How well is videos, PDFs and interactive elements?
- Community functions – Can the students connect and learn from each other?
- Mobile experience – Does everything work smoothly on telephones and tablets?
- Payment processing – How easy is it to collect course fees?
- Progress – Can students recognize their progress through courses?
- Support quality – How helpful is the team when problems arise?
I also test the limits of every platform. To do that, me:
- I upload big video files.
- I create courses with hundreds of lessons.
- Then simulate the heavy traffic with several students who also access content.
Ultimately, these real tests reveal which tools really enable their promises.
Why trust isitwp?
At ISITWP we bring WordPress expertise and practical experience with hundreds of course platforms in every industry for a decade.
We did everything from small coaching companies to Enterprise training programs. Our team personally created over 50 course pages like Wp101.com With these exact platforms.
Each recommendation therefore comes from real tests with actual money, real students and months of engagement monitoring, not just feature lists or marketing materials.
We have a complete independence for our recommendations and allow us to give honest, impartial advice that only provides what is really worth for WordPress users.
My top 7 best tools for course for WordPress
After you understand my test process and that when choosing the best WordPress tools for the course for selecting the best course preparation tools, we go to my list.
If you don’t have time to go through the entire article now, you will find a short table with everything you need at a glance.
If you want to skip a tool in the article, simply click on his name in the table.
Let us come into the list.
1. Memberpress – preferably for the simple course building
Key features that I love:
- Native WordPress Block Editor for the course creation
- Seamless member functionality integrated
- Content drips with flexible planning
- Payment gateway integration with large providers
- Student Progress Tracking and Completion Certificates
- Mobile, appealing design that adapts to every topic
Best for:
- WordPress user who want to feel the creation of course lenders like the creation of content they already know.
Free plugin?
Pricing:
- Starts at $ 179/year for basic member functions.
Memberpress surprised me how naturally it integrates into WordPress. If you are satisfied with the WordPress Block editor, feel at home.
It deals with courses such as regular WordPress content, which creates less learning curve and more time.
The block editor integration is brilliant for content manufacturers who think visually. As a result, I put it on my list first because it is easy to use.
For example, I created a course for writing content in which every lesson combined text, pictures and embedded videos with well -known WordPress blocks.
In the end, the students got a clean, distribution-free learning experience that felt like a well-designed blog post.
Personal test experience: The block editor simply makes it easier to mix different ingredients within individual lessons. I am not just me, it estimated that the students felt how trusted the surface.
The member functions also treated subscriptions and one -off payments without any problems.
Professionals:
- Works with your existing WordPress workflow
- No separate course engineer to learn
- Clean, distributor -free student experience
- Excellent topic
- Strong member location functions included
Disadvantages:
- Limited advanced quiz and evaluation options
- Less gamification functions than special LMS plugins
- Basic reporting compared to dedicated course platforms
Take a look at the latest review of the member press here.
Start with Memberpress here.
2. Buddy boss -Am best for community -driven learning
Key features that I love:
- Community forums that are integrated into course content
- Social profiles and networking functions for students
- Mobile app for iOS and Android included
- Gamification with points, badges and successes
- Live streaming integration for real-time sessions
- Extended user profiles with custom fields
Best for:
- Pedagogues who want to build committed learning communities not only provide content.
Free plugin?
Pricing:
- Starts at $ 299 for the 1-SIT license.
Buddy boss changed my understanding of the online learning. It’s not just about delivering content, but also about creating a flourishing learning community.
This elearning platform combines courses with social features that deal with the students. This ensures that they remain together and motivated from each other.
The characteristics of social learning remind me of my vision, originally inspired by Reddit. The students can create discussion groups, exchange progress updates and learn from the other questions.
Personal test experience: The community functions have created an incredible commitment that other LMS platforms simply cannot keep up. As a result, the students naturally formed learning groups.
In addition, they share project screenshots and celebrate the victories of the other. The best thing is that the mobile app kept the talks on the flow of the students up to date when the students were gone from their computers.
Professionals:
- Exceptional features of community building
- Native mobile apps improve commitment
- Ideal for cohort -based courses and group learning
- Professional functions for social networks
- Regular updates and improvements in functions
Disadvantages:
- More complex than simple course platforms than simple course platforms
- Requires hosting that can cope with the community traffic
- University curve for the management of community functions
Take a look at the latest buddy boss evaluation.
3. Learndash – best tool for creating the entire course for the course
Key features that I love:
- Extended quiz engine with several question types
- Course requirements that generate logical learning paths
- Certificates and badges that motivate students
- Task uploads for practical projects
- Integrated forums for course discussions
- Detailed notebook for the persecution of progress
Best for:
- Serious course creators who need professional functions and do nothing to invest time in the setup.
Free plugin?
Pricing:
- Starts at $ 199 a year for a single license.
Learndash is the gold standard for creating WordPress course. I used it to create everything from simple tutorial sites to complex corporate training platforms.
What distinguishes it are his professional functions that actually work reliably.
I like that the platform effortlessly sets the compliance compliance with the scorm with its existing systems. This is important if you create courses for companies or educational institutions.
Personal test experience: The drag-and-drop teaching builder is my favorite learning learning feature. This is because the content organization is intuitive.
The students could upload their work directly through the assignment function. The notebook had me followed who had to struggle and needed additional help.
Professionals:
- Extensive function set for available functions
- Excellent integrations of third -party providers
- Strong support and documentation of the community
- Mobile -reacting design works well
- Treats large courses without performance problems
Disadvantages:
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Needs additional plugins for some functions
- Higher price than simpler alternatives
Start here with Learndash.
4. Thrive apprentice -Am best for conversion -oriented courses
Key features that I love:
- Drag-and-drop-landing page builder with conversion templates
- A/B test functions for sales pages and course content
- Marketing automation integration with e -mail sequences
- Progress tracking with detailed student analyzes
- Extended quiz engine with immediate feedback
- Flexible pricing models, including payment plans
Best for: Marketing-promoted course creators who want to optimize every step of the student trip.
Free plugin?
Pricing:
- Starts at 149 US dollars/ year for the plugin. Or $ 299/ year as part of the Thrive Suite.
Thrive apprentice is built by marketers for marketers. Everything about this platform screams the conversion optimization.
Visitors should convert visitors to A/B test tools that are actually converted into A/B test tools with which they can improve sales.
The convert -oriented design tools blew me away when I tested them for the first time. I have created a seller for a productivity course that included opt-in pages, sales pages and the actual course content.
The integrated approach meant that everything looked coherent and professional.
Personal test experience: I use this tool to create complete marketing funnel and easy to create. The platform edited everything, seamless from bleims to Upsells.
The students move through a carefully designed experience that feels a premium. In addition, the analytics show exactly which lessons the students get most involved.
Professionals:
- Exceptional conversion optimization functions
- Nice, professional design templates
- Comprehensive tools for marketing automation
- Detailed analysis and student behavior tracking
- Part of the larger Thrive Suite ecosystem
Disadvantages:
- Requires thrive suite subscription, not independent
- Can feel overwhelming for non -marketers
- Learning curve for all marketing functions
Start with Thrive Apprentice here.
5. Lifterlms – best for beginners
Key features that I love:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop course manufacturer
- Integrated payment pages and cash register
- Student management system with progress tracking
- E -mail notification system for circuit products
- Course bundle and membership options
- Mobile optimized student experience
Best for:
- First course manufacturers who want to start quickly without technical complexity.
Free plugin?
Pricing: Starts at $ 149.50/year for the basic plan.
Lifterlms convinced me with his beginner -friendly approach. When I installed it for the first time, I had a complete course within two hours.
No technical headache or confusing settings. Simply uncomplicated price creation that works.
The integrated e-commerce functionality is a player for new course creators. You can sell courses, create payment plans and manage students from a dashboard.
The simplicity gives you the confidence of concentrating on content instead of technology.
Personal test experience: The course builder felt familiar, like the use of WordPress’s Block Editor. In this way I can create a clean interface with progress indicators.
In addition, the integrated sales pages were well converted without needing additional design work.
Professionals:
- The simplest learning curve of all tested platforms
- No additional e-commerce plugins required
- Great customer support with helpful tutorials
- Affordable prices for small course creators
- Regular updates and feature improvements
Disadvantages:
- Less extended functions than Enterprise solutions
- Limited adaptation options for experienced developers
- Basic reporting compared to Premium alternatives
Start with Lienterlms here.
6. Member member – best for the administration of the advanced member membership
Key features that I love:
- Complex management of the membership level
- Extended payment processing with flexible billing options
- Customer life cycle -automation and operating instruments
- Detailed reporting and revenue analysis
- API integration functions for custom solutions
- Automated E -Mail sequences for membership loyalty
Best for:
- Extended users who manage complex membership pages with several levels and price models.
Free plugin?
Pricing: Starts at 149 US dollars/year for basic functions.
MemberMouse is the power package for complex member companies. While other platforms focus on creating the course, member mouse is characterized by the administration of the entire customer life cycle.
It is as if a committed member manager has behind the scenes around the clock.
The extended access control functions saved countless hours on a multi -stage learning platform that I built. In addition, different membership levels have activated various course combinations.
My favorite function is how students can bring the middle of the course onto the market and can immediately access premium content.
This is due to the fact that the system has treated everything automatically, including called billing and access adjustments.
Personal test experience: I have created a professional development platform with five membership levels with a member mouse. Each level contained different course combinations and the access level of the community.
I tested how the platform automatically treated upgrades, downgrades and failed payments. And noticed that it was improved immediately on the backend and the front page.
In addition, revenue reports showed exactly which membership levels were best carried out.
Professionals:
- Most expanded member management functions available
- Excellent payment processing flexibility
- Powerful automation reduces manual work
- Comprehensive analysis and reporting
- Strong API for custom integrations
Disadvantages:
- Steeper learning curve as simpler alternatives
- Can be exaggerated for basic course creators
- Requires technical knowledge for advanced functions
Start with a member mouse here.
7. Wish list – best for content protection
Key features that I love:
- Several layers of content protection and security
- Flexible payment gateway integration options
- Extended content planning and drip campaigns
- Sequential content release with requirements
- Integration with large e -mail marketing services
- Affiliate program management integrated
Best for:
- Course manufacturers with high-quality content that primarily prioritize security and access control.
Free plugin?
Pricing: Starts at $ 149.50 /year for the basic plan.
The wish list is the fortress of course protection. If your content is safe and control access, this platform offers bulletproof protection.
The comprehensive content protection impressed me during a high-quality coaching program. The course included proprietary business strategies worth thousands of dollars.
The extended safety functions of Wishlist prevented the unauthorized parts, while the sequential release of content hired the pupils week after week.
Personal test experience: As already mentioned, my favorite wish list are the strict requirements for protecting the content. Content protection is one of the most difficult things that course creators experience.
To combat this, the wish list prevents screenshots, deactivates the copy with the right mouse button and pursues unusual access patterns.
In addition, the students received content when they were planned and the partner program contributed to promoting additional sales by partner advertising campaigns.
Professionals:
- Strongest content protection functions available
- Excellent integration with e -mail marketing platforms
- Flexible content planning options
- Integrated affiliate management system
- White label adaptation functions
Disadvantages:
- Less focus on modern price creation features
- The interface feels out of date compared to newer platforms
Start the wish list here.
How to choose the right tool for creating the course
The selection of the right course creation platform is crucial because it forms the basis for everything else in your online course business.
Your decision should be based on your technical skills, course goals, budget and integration needs instead of being distracted by unusual functions that you may not actually use.
Technical skills
- Beginners should start with simple platforms such as LITTERLMS or member press, which you can get up to run quickly
- Advanced users who enjoy an adjustment
- First concentrate on the quality of content quality, secondly, the platform complexity – you can upgrade again and again later
Price targets
budget
- Budget -friendly options: Lifterlms offers a good value and saves the furnishing time
- Premium platforms such as Learndash and Thrive apprentice More costs, however, offer corporate functions that can improve conversions and student loyalty
- Remember to take your cost of time into account, not just the subscription fees
Integration needs
- E -mail marketing integration is essential. Make sure your platform works with your e -mail service
- Check the compatibility for the payment gateway, especially if you want to offer payment plans or subscriptions
- Bad integrations create problems with the experience of students and additional manual work
That’s it from me! I hope you enjoyed learning more about the best course creators for WordPress. If something is unclear, read the frequently asked questions below.
FAQs: Best tools for creating course for WordPress
Which tool for creating the course is best suited for WordPress beginners?
Lifterlms undoubtedly takes the crown for beginners. I saw how complete WordPress newcomers create their first courses with this platform in less than three hours.
The user interface is known if you have ever used WordPress’s Post Editor.
In addition, the integrated e-commerce functions remove the need for additional plugins. You will not have any problems with the draft from Payment Gateway or Checkout page. Everything works seamlessly together from day one.
Memberpress becomes second for beginners who prefer the WordPress Block -Editor approach. If you feel comfortable with creating blog posts, feel directly at home with Memberpress.
Can I migrate courses between different platforms?
Yes, migration is possible, but rarely painless. Most platforms export content in different formats and make direct transmissions a challenge.
I have helped customers move between systems and it usually requires manual reconstruction.
In my experience, BuddyBoss offers the best export options. You can extract spa structures and student data relatively cleanly. LIFTERLMS also offers a decent export function for basic course content.
For this reason, it is so important to plan your platform selection carefully right from the start. The proper migration costs time and money that is better turned to create new content.
Select a platform with which you can grow instead of getting out quickly.
Do tools work for the creation of course with my existing WordPress topic?
Yes, most modern WordPress topics work well with plugins for the course production. However, some topics offer better integration and styling than others.
I always test the compatibility of the topic before I started customer courses.
What is the difference between LMS and member plugins?
LMS (Learning Management System) Plugins focus on educational features such as quiz, progress tracking and certificates. They are specially created for structured learning experiences.
Member plugins prioritize access control and payment management. They are characterized to protect content and manage subscribers.
Some platforms blur these lines. BuddyBoss combines LMS functions with community tools. Thrive Apprentice multiply the course creation with marketing automation.
How do I protect my course content from unauthorized access?
Content protection includes several security levels. Most platforms offer basic password protection and user authentication.
Advanced protection requires additional measures and a careful selection of the platform.
The wish list offers the strongest content protection functions. It includes screenshot prevention, click-click deactivation and access pattern monitoring.
These functions are important for high -quality content that requires maximum security.
Last thoughts: Should you create a WordPress tool for the course?
Absolutely!
However, remember that successful online courses find the perfect platform. It is about selecting one that fits your skills, goals and budget.
Then you can concentrate on creating amazing content that helps the students achieve real results.
Start with your current level of ability and grow from there.
Choose a tool for creating course that you are most enthusiastic about from this list. Install it this week. Create your first lesson until next weekend.
Your specialist knowledge is valuable and the students are waiting to learn from them.
Resource of resources
If you are still considering your options, read these related articles with which you can make the best decision for your specific requirements:
In addition, you will find other helpful reviews and comparison items with which you can make your decision about the LMS.
These guidelines give you the complete image of which tools and steps are required to set up a successful online learning community.