Learning Management Systems Pricing Comparison 2026
5 products · prices verified daily · ✓ AI-verified 53h ago
The cheapest learning management systems in 2026 is LearnWorlds at $29/mo. We compared 5 learning management systems products — Thinkific, Teachable, Podia, LearnWorlds, Kajabi — with prices verified on April 21, 2026. 1 of 5 offer free plans.
Learning Management Systems in 2026: What the Data Shows
Market Overview
LMS pricing in 2026 has split by use case. Pure course platforms (Teachable, Thinkific) start at $29-39/mo with focus on course creation. All-in-one creator platforms (Kajabi, Podia) bundle courses + email + websites + communities — Kajabi from $71/mo, Podia from $33/mo. LearnWorlds targets enterprise training with deeper features at $29-299/mo. Transaction fees are the critical variable: Teachable Starter charges 7.5% on top of processing, Podia Mover charges 5% — for a $200/course business selling $10k/month, Teachable Starter costs $750/mo in transaction fees alone vs Kajabi's 0% platform fee. Always do the transaction-fee math before committing.
Key Buying Criteria
First: pure courses vs all-in-one creator platform? If you only need to sell courses: Thinkific or Teachable. If you need courses + email marketing + website + communities in one: Kajabi or Podia. Second: transaction fee sensitivity. At $5k+/month in course sales, transaction-fee-free plans (Teachable Builder+ at $69/mo annual, Podia Shaker $75/mo) pay for themselves within weeks. Third: scale. Under 100 students with small catalog: Teachable Starter $29 or Podia Mover $33. 100-1,000 students: Teachable Builder $69 or Kajabi Basic $143. 1,000+ students with community: Kajabi Growth $199. Enterprise training: LearnWorlds Learning Center $299 or Enterprise. Fourth: monthly vs lifetime-value commissions. Some affiliate programs (Thinkific, LearnWorlds) pay recurring; others (Teachable) pay one-time. Factor commission structure into your selection.
Our Recommendation
For solo course creators under $5k/month: Podia Mover at $33/mo annual — cheapest all-in-one (courses + email + website) but 5% transaction fee. For serious course creators above $5k/month: Teachable Builder at $69/mo annual — 0% transaction fees pays for itself at $920/mo revenue. For creator economy businesses (coaches, experts, content creators) needing email + funnels + communities: Kajabi Basic at $143/mo annual — 'operating system for expertise'. For enterprise/corporate training with compliance needs: LearnWorlds Pro Trainer at $99/mo annual or Learning Center $299/mo annual. Avoid LearnWorlds Starter — $5 per enrollment fee makes it economical only for low-volume premium courses.
What to Watch Out For
Teachable Starter's 7.5% transaction fee STACKS on top of payment processor fees (2.9% + 30¢). For a $100 course: 2.9% + $0.30 + 7.5% = $10.70 total fees = effective 10.7%. Upgrade to Builder ($69/mo annual) to eliminate the 7.5% — break-even is ~$920/mo revenue. Kajabi's Starter ($71/mo annual) has a 250-contact limit — you'll exceed this with any real email list and be forced to upgrade to Basic ($143/mo annual). LearnWorlds charges $5 per course enrollment on Starter plan — this compounds fast. A $50 course sold to 20 people = $100 in enrollment fees, basically a 10% tax on top of processing. Kajabi's 'limited-time 50% discount' has been running for years — not really a discount, more a price anchor.
| | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||||
| Starting Price | $49/mo | $39/mo | $39/mo | $29/mo | $89/mo |
| Renewal Price | Same | Same | Same | Same | Same |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 14 days | 30 days | 30 days | 14 days |
| Pricing Model | tiered-with-reducing-fees | tiered-with-transaction-fee | tiered-with-transaction-fee | tiered-with-enrollment-fee | tiered-per-contact |
| Plans | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| | | | | | |
| Features | |||||
| | | | | | |
How We Track Prices
Prices are scraped directly from vendor websites and verified against published pricing pages. We check for changes daily and update this page automatically when prices change. Last verified: 2026-04-21.
All prices shown are in USD, fetched and verified from United States-based servers. Prices in your region may differ due to local pricing, taxes, or currency conversion. We show the lowest available tier unless otherwise noted. Some products offer introductory pricing that increases on renewal — we show both where applicable.
Ad · We earn from affiliate links — you pay the same price. Rankings never influenced by commissions.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
See how learning management systems products stack up against each other — plans, pricing, and features side by side.
Explore Alternatives
Explore Individual Product Pricing
Deep dive into each learning management systems product — full plan breakdowns, renewal prices, features, and our editorial verdict.
More Ways to Explore Learning Management Systems
Quick Pricing Summary
| Product | From | Free Plan | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| $29/mo | No | 8.4/10 | |
| $39/mo | No | 8.7/10 | |
| $39/mo | No | 8.5/10 | |
| $49/mo | Yes | 8.6/10 | |
| $89/mo | No | 8.8/10 |
Learning Management Systems analysis on the StackScored blog
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the cheapest learning management systems in 2026?
- LearnWorlds is the cheapest option starting at $29/mo. Prices are verified daily against the vendor's website.
- Which learning management systems platforms have a free plan?
- Thinkific offers a free plan. See the comparison above for feature limits on each free tier.
- What's the average cost of learning management systems?
- The average starting price across 5 learning management systems products is $49/mo for the lowest paid tier.
- Which learning management systems has the best value for money?
- Kajabi scores 8.8/10 in our analysis with plans starting at $89/mo, making it the highest-rated option in this category. Scores factor in pricing, features, and reliability.
- Do learning management systems prices increase on renewal?
- Most learning management systems providers lock in your rate for the initial term. We verify pricing daily and flag any renewal price increases the moment they appear. Check each product's pricing table for renewal details.
- What hidden costs should I watch for with learning management systems?
- Common hidden costs include onboarding or setup fees, overage charges when you exceed plan limits, monthly billing premiums (annual plans save 15-40%). Our pricing tables show all tiers and per-unit costs so you can calculate your actual spend before signing up.
- How often do learning management systems prices change?
- We verify learning management systems pricing every 24 hours against each vendor's live pricing page. On average, SaaS providers adjust pricing 1-2 times per year. StackScored detects changes the same day they go live.
- Can I switch learning management systems providers easily?
- Switching depends on data portability and contract terms. Most learning management systems platforms offer data export, but migration complexity varies. Check each product's plan details for contract length — avoid annual commitments until you've tested the product. Several learning management systems providers offer free trials to help you evaluate before committing.