Quick summary
Masteriyo is the best overall free LMS for WordPress in 2026. It’s the only free plugin here whose core (non-paid) features cover the needs of most online schools: multiple built-in payment gateways, unlimited courses/enrollments/lessons/quizzes, a certificate builder, SCORM import, AI-assisted course creation, and a built-in e-commerce flow. The other four—LearnPress, Academy LMS, TutorLMS, and Fox LMS—each have clear strengths and specific use cases, but they also reserve important features behind paid upgrades.
Why Masteriyo stands out
Masteriyo’s free tier isn’t a thin demo—it’s usable for launching and monetizing courses immediately. Key free advantages include a drag-and-drop course/lesson/quiz builder, native payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, SureCart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie), cart/checkout/coupons, certificates with QR verification, SCORM import, sequential drip, AI content assistance, frontend dashboards, and a one-click migration tool from other LMS plugins. If you need multi-instructor revenue sharing, cohorts, assignments with gradebooks, or advanced live-session integrations, those are Pro-only. But for most solo creators and small schools, Masteriyo’s free feature set is unusually complete.
1) LearnPress — Best for flexible lesson content
Why pick it: LearnPress has a long track record and lets you build multimedia lessons that mix video, audio, images and text in a single editor. It also offers several useful free add-ons (prerequisites, reviews, wishlist, student list) and a reusable lesson/question bank.
Where it falls short: Monetization in the free version is limited to PayPal and offline payments; many popular features (certificates, drip, assignments, live lessons, other gateways) require paid add-ons or the Pro bundle. If you need flexible lesson layout or specific free add-ons, LearnPress is a solid choice.
2) Academy LMS — Best for building a course marketplace
Why pick it: Academy LMS is the rare free plugin that includes multi-instructor support, revenue sharing, instructor earnings/withdrawal management, and WooCommerce integration without forcing an upgrade—ideal for Udemy-style marketplaces. It also offers a polished video player skin and frontend course/instructor dashboards.
Where it falls short: It paywalls many enterprise features (drip, email notifications, gradebook, SCORM, assignments). Setup is more complex because Academy relies on a companion StoreEngine plugin for payments, so the learning curve and setup time are higher.
3) TutorLMS — Best if commerce/order features are a priority
Why pick it: TutorLMS gives you coupons, tax management, optimized checkout, order/refund handling and separate student/instructor dashboards in the free tier. The course builder is solid and the setup wizard is polished.
Where it falls short: Core learning features like certificates, content drip, assignments, gradebook, live classes, and many gateways are Pro-only. You can launch and sell courses, but you’ll likely outgrow the free plan sooner if you need advanced LMS functionality.
4) Fox LMS — Best for beginners who want a fast launch
Why pick it: Fox LMS is new but covers the essentials: unlimited courses/lessons/teachers, drag-and-drop builder, PayPal payments, sequential lesson drip (per course), quizzes, Q&A, coupons and some custom branding—all in a clean, beginner-friendly interface with helpful tutorials and small setup wizards.
Where it falls short: Revenue sharing, certificates, reviews, advanced drip and additional gateways are Pro-only. If you want granular control or advanced features, Fox will push you toward paid upgrades later, but it’s great for quickly launching with minimal friction.
When to skip the free versions
– If you need multi-instructor revenue sharing and advanced admin for teams, check Academy LMS (free for basic revenue sharing) or upgrade Masteriyo Pro.
– If your site must support many payment gateways out of the box (beyond PayPal), Masteriyo’s free tier is the best option. TutorLMS and LearnPress free plans are limited in payment options.
– If you need gradebooks, assignments, SCORM, cohort management, or advanced drip rules, expect to buy Pro for most plugins—Masteriyo includes some of these (SCORM, certificates, basic drip) for free, but gradebooks/assignments are Pro.
How to choose
1. List the absolute must-haves (example: Stripe payments, certificates, multi-instructor revenue sharing, SCORM).
2. Match those must-haves to the plugins above. Masteriyo is the most complete free option for solo creators and monetization. Academy LMS is the choice for a free marketplace with built-in revenue sharing. LearnPress is best when lesson structure flexibility matters. TutorLMS is focused on commerce features. Fox LMS is best for beginners who want a fast, simple setup.
3. Consider growth: pick a plugin whose paid tier adds the features you’ll likely need later so migration isn’t painful.
Final thoughts
Free LMS plugins can be enough, depending on your goals. Masteriyo offers the broadest, most monetization-ready free feature set in 2026, making it a strong first choice for many creators. If you’re building a multi-instructor marketplace, Academy LMS stands out. For flexible lesson content, consider LearnPress; for commerce-first workflows, consider TutorLMS; and for quick, guided launches, Fox LMS is a good pick.
If you’re unsure which features you truly need, list them and share that list—I’ll help you match the best free plugin to your project.