Short answer
Masteriyo is the strongest free LMS for WordPress in 2026: its free core includes multiple payment gateways, unlimited courses/enrollments, certificates, SCORM import, content drip, and an ecommerce suite — without forcing an immediate upgrade. The other four plugins below have real strengths for specific use cases but lock important features behind paid plans.

Overview
I tested five of the best free WordPress LMS plugins and compared what you actually get for no cost, where each plugin shines, typical limitations of the free plan, and the kinds of sites each is best suited for. The plugins reviewed: Masteriyo, LearnPress, Academy LMS, Tutor LMS, and Fox LMS.

1) Masteriyo — Best overall free LMS
Why choose it
Masteriyo’s free edition gives you a complete, usable LMS that supports monetization without an immediate paywall. It’s the closest thing to a fully functional free LMS: unlimited courses, lessons, quizzes, several built-in payment gateways, certificates, SCORM import, AI-assisted course creation, and a native ecommerce workflow.
Free plan highlights
– Drag-and-drop course, lesson, and quiz builder; unlimited courses/sections/lessons
– Built-in ecommerce (cart, checkout, coupons, order management) — not dependent on WooCommerce
– Native gateways: Stripe, PayPal, Surecart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie
– Certificate builder with QR verification; SCORM import
– AI-assisted course generation (OpenAI), sequential drip, frontend dashboards, course Q&A and reviews
– One-click migration from other LMS plugins and page builder compatibility
When to skip the free version
If you need multi-instructor admin with revenue sharing, cohorts, prerequisites, gradebooks, assignments, or live-session integrations, those require Pro. If multi-instructor admin is critical and must be free, Academy LMS or Fox LMS might be better fits.
User experience
A balanced dashboard that’s feature-rich yet reasonably easy to navigate. Connecting Stripe and OpenAI is straightforward, and you can produce a basic course quickly. The Pro upgrade is genuinely optional rather than mandatory for core functionality.
Pro extras (selected)
Multi-instructor revenue sharing, advanced drip/prereqs, assignments and gradebook, cohort learning, advanced quiz types, Zoom integration, white label, advanced certificate templates.
Note: Masteriyo is part of the Themeisle product family.

2) LearnPress — Best for flexible lesson content
Why choose it
LearnPress is mature with a long track record and works well for organizations that want flexible lesson formatting (video, audio, text, images together) and many free add-ons.
Free plan highlights
– Unlimited courses and lessons; each lesson can mix multimedia like a regular post
– OpenAI integration for course creation, reusable lesson and question banks
– Quizzes with common question types and timed tests
– Built-in checkout with PayPal and offline payments; preview lessons and open-access courses for marketing
– Useful free add-ons (prerequisite courses, course reviews, wishlist, social integrations)
When to skip the free version
Monetization options beyond PayPal and offline payments require paid add-ons. Certificates, assignments, drip content, and many other features are sold separately — when you need those, Masteriyo may be a better free alternative.
User experience
Generally pleasant, but the WordPress admin dashboard can feel dated and it’s not always obvious where the modern course builder lives. Once you find the builder, the experience is solid.
Pro extras (selected)
Certificates (drag-and-drop), assignments, gradebook, content drip, live sessions (Zoom/Meet), extra payment gateways, WooCommerce and WPML integrations.

3) Academy LMS — Best for multi-instructor marketplaces
Why choose it
If you’re building a Udemy-style marketplace where instructor earnings, withdrawals, and commission management are central, Academy LMS offers those multi-instructor capabilities for free and pairs well with WooCommerce or its StoreEngine payments.
Free plan highlights
– Frontend course and instructor/student dashboards, frontend lesson editing
– Multi-instructor revenue sharing, earning and withdrawal management
– Video lessons from multiple sources and a unified “Academy Player” skin
– Built-in analytics, course reviews, Q&A, certificates (basic), CSV import/export
When to skip the free version
Many features are Pro-only: content drip, email notifications, gradebook, SCORM, assignments, and advanced security. Also requires learning how the Academy plugin and the StoreEngine payment plugin interact, which adds setup complexity.
User experience
Powerful and thorough but has the slowest on-ramp. Two-plugin setup increases complexity, though both include setup wizards. Good choice if you’re committed to a marketplace model and can tolerate the learning curve.
Pro extras (selected)
Advanced quiz types, drip, prerequisites, Zoom/Meet integration, assignments and gradebook, SCORM, white label, bulk enroll, extensive integrations.

4) Tutor LMS — Best commerce features in free tier
Why choose it
Tutor LMS gives many commerce-adjacent features in the free tier (coupons, tax, order management) while holding back some learning-specific features. It’s strong for sites where commerce tools are a priority.
Free plan highlights
– Unlimited courses, students, instructors; coupon and tax management; order management and refunds
– Accept payments via PayPal or via WooCommerce integration
– Course and instructor/staff dashboards, Q&A, lesson comments, multimedia lessons
When to skip the free version
Certificates, content drip, assignments, gradebook, subscriptions, live classes, and many integrations are Pro-only. If you need certificates or advanced learning features for free, consider Masteriyo or LearnPress.
User experience
Setup wizard is clean and promising, but some admin tasks (like adding instructors) require using the regular WordPress user tools, which can feel disjointed. Course building itself is good.
Pro extras (selected)
Live classes, drip, certificates, advanced quiz/reporting, site-wide memberships, additional payment gateways and extensive integrations.

5) Fox LMS — Best for beginners who want a quick launch
Why choose it
Fox LMS is a newer, simpler option focused on fast setup and ease of use. It includes multi-instructor support and some niceties like coupons and basic custom branding in the free plan.
Free plan highlights
– Unlimited courses/lessons/students/instructors; drag-and-drop builder
– Sequential lesson drip within a course, quizzes, Q&A, course announcements
– PayPal payments, Elementor/Gutenberg compatibility, coupons and custom permalinks
When to skip the free version
Free Fox lacks certificates, course reviews, broader payment gateways, and site-wide drip — those require Pro. If you want deep configuration and granular control, Fox may feel limited.
User experience
Very beginner-friendly with clear wizards, tutorial links, and a compact admin. Good for quick launches or site owners who need handholding instead of complexity.
Pro extras (selected)
Certificate builder, AI lesson builder, revenue sharing, Stripe/WooCommerce integration, advanced quizzes, course wishlist and bundles, gamification.

Is a free LMS plugin enough?
Yes — depending on your project. If you want to launch and monetize with minimal upfront cost, Masteriyo is the closest to a complete free LMS in 2026. LearnPress is great when you want flexible lesson composition and useful free add-ons. Academy LMS is the top pick for building a multi-instructor marketplace without paying up front. Tutor LMS favors commerce features, while Fox LMS is best for fast, simple launches and beginners.
How to choose
1. List the features you absolutely need (payments, certificates, multi-instructor, drip, SCORM, assignments). 2. Pick the LMS whose free plan covers the essentials. 3. Consider ease of setup and long-term upgrade path if you expect to grow.
If you want help mapping your specific needs to one of these plugins, tell me the type of courses you plan to run, how you want to sell them, and whether you need multi-instructor or corporate/group features, and I’ll recommend the best match.

Quick verdict

Masteriyo is the strongest free LMS for WordPress in 2026. Its core free features let you build, publish, and monetize courses without being forced to upgrade immediately. Other solid free options — LearnPress, Academy LMS, Tutor LMS, and Fox LMS — each shine in specific use cases, but most reserve important functionality behind paid add-ons.

Overview of the five plugins

1) Masteriyo — Best overall free option

Why it stands out
– The free core is unusually complete: multiple payment gateways, certificates, SCORM import, content drip, and unlimited courses/lessons/students.
– Built-in ecommerce (cart, checkout, basic coupons) without requiring WooCommerce.
– AI-assisted course creation (OpenAI), a one-click migration tool, and frontend dashboards.

Free features (high level)
– Drag-and-drop course/lesson/quiz builder with unlimited content
– Native Stripe, PayPal, Surecart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie gateway support
– Certificate builder with QR verification, SCORM import
– Quiz types, sequential drip, course Q&A, reviews, page builder compatibility

When to skip the free version
– If you need multi-instructor admin with revenue sharing, cohorts, robust gradebooks, assignments, or live-session integrations, those require Pro.

User experience
– Clean, clear admin menus; quick to set up Stripe and OpenAI; building a sample course is fast and intuitive.

Pro adds
– Multi-instructor revenue sharing, advanced drip/prerequisites, assignments and gradebook, advanced quiz types, Zoom lessons, white-label, extra integrations.

Note: Masteriyo is part of the Themeisle family and maintained by the same team that supports WPShout.

2) LearnPress — Best for flexible lesson content

Why it stands out
– Long track record and flexible lesson editor: each lesson can combine text, video, audio, and images in one place.

Free features
– Unlimited courses/lessons, AI integration, reusable lesson and question banks, quizzes, PayPal/offline payments, preview and open-access courses.
– Useful free add-ons like Coming Soon, Student List, Prerequisite Courses, Course Review.

When to skip
– Monetization beyond PayPal and many common LMS features (certificates, drip, assignments) are sold as paid add-ons; consider Masteriyo if you want more gateways and free certificates.

User experience
– Pleasant course builder; the admin has some legacy screens and the path to the modern builder could be clearer, but it is beginner-friendly once found.

Pro/add-ons
– Certificates, assignments, gradebook, drip, live integrations, many payment gateway add-ons, WooCommerce and WPML support.

3) Academy LMS — Best for multi-instructor marketplaces

Why it stands out
– Native multi-instructor/marketplace features in the free version: revenue sharing, instructor earnings and withdrawal management, and WooCommerce integration.
– Academy Player for consistent video presentation.

Free features
– Frontend course builder and dashboards, multi-source video lessons, multi-instructor revenue features, basic certificates, quiz builder, CSV import/export, analytics, and webhooks.

When to skip
– Many advanced features (drip, email notifications, assignments, gradebook, SCORM) require Pro. If you don’t need marketplace tools, other plugins may be a better free fit.

User experience
– Powerful but has a steeper on-ramp because payment collection often requires the companion StoreEngine plugin and learning how the two integrate.

Pro adds
– Advanced quizzes, notifications, drip/prerequisites, Zoom/Meet, assignments, SCORM, white label, AI tools, bulk enrollment.

4) Tutor LMS — Best if commerce/order management matters

Why it stands out
– Strong commerce features in the free tier: coupons, tax handling, optimized checkout flows and full order management.

Free features
– Unlimited courses/students/instructors, PayPal payments or WooCommerce integration, coupon and tax management, quiz builder, separate dashboards, Q&A, video lesson support.

When to skip
– Many LMS staples like certificates, content drip, assignments, gradebook, subscriptions and live classes are Pro-only. You may outgrow the free plan faster.

User experience
– Clean setup wizard and straightforward course creation, but some admin details (e.g., adding instructors) require using WordPress user management.

Pro adds
– Live classes, advanced quizzes, certificates, multi-instructor messaging, many payment gateways, site-wide memberships, advanced integrations and notifications.

5) Fox LMS — Best for fast, beginner-friendly launches

Why it stands out
– Newer but easy to use; covers essential features to start and monetize quickly and offers multi-instructor support in the free version (revenue sharing is Pro).

Free features
– Unlimited courses/lessons/students/instructors, drag-and-drop builder, quizzes, sequential drip per course, instructor and student dashboards, PayPal payments, coupons, custom permalinks.

When to skip
– Free version lacks certificates, reviews, and site-wide drip — these require Pro. Monetization beyond PayPal needs an upgrade.

User experience
– Simple and guided with video tutorials and mini setup wizards for things like quizzes. Great for beginners who prefer fewer options.

Pro adds
– Certificates, AI lesson builder, Stripe/WooCommerce integration, revenue sharing, advanced quizzes, wishlist, bundles, gamification, notifications.

Is a free LMS plugin enough?

Yes — for many projects. The right free plugin depends on your priorities:
– Choose Masteriyo if you want a complete free toolset with multiple gateways, certificates, SCORM and drip built in.
– Choose LearnPress if you want flexible multimedia lessons and useful free add-ons like prerequisites.
– Choose Academy LMS if you need marketplace-style multi-instructor revenue features out of the box.
– Choose Tutor LMS if commerce/order features (coupons, taxes, refunds) are top priority.
– Choose Fox LMS if you want the simplest, fastest route to launch.

Next steps

Make a checklist of the features you absolutely need (gateways, certificates, drip, multi-instructor, SCORM, live class support). Test the free plugin that matches those must-haves and only upgrade if you outgrow the free offering. If you want help matching requirements to a plugin, ask here or leave a question in the comments and someone from the team will help.

Quick verdict
Masteriyo is the best free LMS plugin for WordPress in 2026. It gives the most usable feature set in its free core: multiple payment gateways, certificates, SCORM import, content drip, no limits on courses/students, and a drag-and-drop course/quiz builder. The other free options — LearnPress, Academy LMS, Tutor LMS, and Fox LMS — all have useful strengths but require paid add-ons to unlock significant functionality.

Why Masteriyo wins
– Truly functional free core: Stripe, PayPal, and other gateways are available without paying. Certificates, SCORM import, course drip and a built-in ecommerce flow are included. There’s no artificial cap on courses, lessons, or enrollments.
– Usability: clean admin layout, frontend student/instructor dashboards, and page-builder compatibility. AI-assisted course creation (OpenAI) and a one-click migration tool are useful extras.
– When to upgrade: Pro is needed only for advanced features like multi-instructor revenue sharing, cohorts, assignments/gradebook, advanced quizzes, white-labeling, Zoom lessons and 2FA.

Note: Masteriyo is part of the Themeisle family and developed by the team that supports WPShout.

1) Masteriyo — best for launching and monetizing without upfront cost
Free highlights: drag-and-drop course/quiz/lesson builder, unlimited courses/sections/lessons, built-in ecommerce (cart, checkout, coupons), Stripe/PayPal/Surecart/LemonSqueezy/Mollie, certificate builder with QR verification, SCORM import, AI course creation, content drip, frontend dashboards, course Q&A and reviews, page builder support.
When to skip free: need for multi-instructor admin, cohorts, prerequisites, assignments/gradebook, or native live-session integrations — those require Pro.
User experience: balanced and intuitive dashboard; quick to connect Stripe and OpenAI; course creation can be fast with AI assistance.
Pro unlocks: multi-instructor revenue sharing, advanced drip/prerequisites, assignments and gradebook, advanced quiz types, Zoom lesson type, white-labeling, PDF/audio lessons, HubSpot integration.

2) LearnPress — best for flexible lesson content and many free add-ons
Free highlights: long track record; lesson editor that combines video/audio/text/images in one lesson; reusable lesson and question banks; quizzes (MCQ/TF/fill); built-in PayPal and offline payments; free add-ons such as Coming Soon, Student List, Prerequisite Courses, Course Review, Wishlist, bbPress/BuddyPress integrations; OpenAI integration.
When to skip free: most monetization and advanced features (Stripe, certificates, assignments, drip, live classes) are separate paid add-ons or sold as bundles. If you need those without add-ons, consider Masteriyo.
User experience: enjoyable course builder but a slightly fragmented admin (classic wp-admin vs modern builder). Setup wizard exists; navigation could be clearer.
Paid add-ons: certificates, assignments/gradebook, content drip, live classes (Zoom/Google Meet), many payment gateways, WooCommerce, multilingual support.

3) Academy LMS — best for multi-instructor marketplaces (free multi-instructor tools)
Free highlights: multi-instructor revenue sharing, instructor earnings/withdrawals, WooCommerce and StoreEngine integration, frontend course builder and dashboards, Academy Player to standardize video presentation, basic certificates, Q&A, wishlist, import/export via CSV, webhooks and analytics.
When to skip free: several features are Pro-only — content drip, email notifications, prerequisites, gradebook, assignments, SCORM, Google reCAPTCHA. Also requires the separate StoreEngine plugin for payments which increases setup complexity.
User experience: powerful but the slowest on-ramp; two-plugin setup (Academy + StoreEngine) takes time to learn. Good for marketplaces if you’re willing to invest setup time.
Paid add-ons: advanced quiz types, notifications, SCORM, Zoom/Meet integrations, assignments/gradebook, white-labeling, bulk enroll.

4) Tutor LMS — best if your priority is commerce/order tools
Free highlights: unlimited courses and instructors, PayPal support or WooCommerce integration, coupon and tax management, full order management and refunds, quiz builder, student/instructor dashboards, Q&A and lesson comments, video lesson support and migration tool.
When to skip free: many LMS staples are paywalled — certificates, drip, assignments/gradebook, live classes, bundles, subscriptions. You can launch commerce-first sites but will outgrow the free plan faster.
User experience: excellent setup wizard and a strong course builder, but some admin flows (e.g., adding instructors) are less obvious and require WordPress user-role handling.
Paid add-ons: live classes, content drip, certificate builder, multi-instructor features, many gateways (Stripe, Razorpay, Paddle, etc.), detailed reports and email automation.

5) Fox LMS — best for beginners who want a simple, guided start
Free highlights: clean, beginner-friendly UI, unlimited courses/lessons/students/instructors, drag-and-drop builder, sequential lesson drip (within a course), unlimited quizzes, Q&A and announcements, PayPal payments, coupons, custom permalinks, compatibility with Elementor/Gutenberg/Classic editor.
When to skip free: free tier lacks certificates, reviews, site-wide drip and expanded monetization gateways (beyond PayPal). Revenue sharing is Pro-only.
User experience: simplest to set up; dashboard includes tutorial links and mini setup wizards that help newcomers build quizzes and courses quickly.
Paid add-ons: certificate builder, AI lesson builder, Stripe/WooCommerce, course reviews, advanced quizzes, gamification and notifications.

Is a free LMS plugin enough?
Yes — for many creators and small schools a free LMS is sufficient to publish courses, enroll students and accept basic payments. The right choice depends on what you must have immediately versus what you can add later:
– If you need multiple payment gateways, certificates, content drip and SCORM without paying, Masteriyo is the standout.
– If you want flexible, multimedia lessons and useful free add-ons (prerequisites/reviews), LearnPress is a good fit.
– If you plan to run a multi-instructor marketplace and need free revenue-sharing tools, Academy LMS is the best free pick for that use case (expect a steeper setup).
– If commerce/order features (coupons, tax, refunds) are your priority, Tutor LMS gives a strong free commerce foundation but paywalls many LMS features.
– If you want the easiest onboarding and a guided, minimal setup, Fox LMS is ideal for beginners.

How to decide quickly
List the non-negotiable features for your project (payment gateways, certificates, multi-instructor revenue sharing, drip, SCORM, live classes). Pick the plugin whose free version covers most of those items. If unsure, Masteriyo is the safest place to start for a balanced free feature set.

If you’d like a personalized recommendation, tell me: What kind of courses are you building, how many instructors will you have, and which payment gateways or integrations do you need?

Short verdict
Masteriyo is the best free LMS plugin for WordPress in 2026. It gives the most useful core features without forcing an immediate upgrade: multiple built-in payment gateways, certificate creation, SCORM import, content drip, AI-assisted course creation, and no limits on courses, lessons, or enrollments. The other four—LearnPress, Academy LMS, Tutor LMS, and Fox LMS—each have clear strengths for specific needs but gate some important functionality behind paid add-ons.

What I tested: the five best free options
Below are condensed notes from hands-on testing and feature comparisons to help you choose the right free LMS for your project.

1) Masteriyo — best overall free choice
Why choose it: A generous free core that supports launching and monetizing without paying first.
Free plan highlights:
– Drag-and-drop course, lesson and quiz builder with unlimited courses/lessons.
– Built-in ecommerce (cart, checkout, coupons) and native gateways: Stripe, PayPal, Surecart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie.
– Certificate builder (QR verification), SCORM import, sequential content drip.
– AI-assisted course creation (OpenAI integration) and one-click migration from other LMS plugins.
– Page builder compatibility and optional WooCommerce integration.
When to skip/free won’t cover you: Multi-instructor revenue sharing, cohorts, gradebook, assignments, advanced prerequisites and some live session integrations are Pro-only.
User experience: Clean admin UI that balances depth and clarity. Fast to set up — connecting Stripe and OpenAI is straightforward.
Pro upgrade adds: multi-instructor revenue sharing, advanced drip/prereqs, assignments/gradebook, Zoom lessons, advanced quiz types, white labeling and more.

2) LearnPress — best for flexible lesson content
Why choose it: Mature project with a decade of use; lessons use a standard editor so you can mix video, audio, text and images in one lesson.
Free plan highlights:
– Unlimited courses/lessons, reusable lesson & question banks.
– Quiz support (MCQ, true/false, fill-in-the-blank) and timed quizzes.
– PayPal and offline payment built-in; many free add-ons (prerequisites, reviews, wishlist, bbPress/BuddyPress integrations).
– OpenAI integration for course creation.
When to skip: Monetization and advanced features (Stripe, certificates, drip, assignments) require paid add-ons or bundles.
User experience: Solid and approachable; the wp-admin dashboard feels slightly old-school but the modern course builder is powerful once you find it.
Pro/paid add-ons: certificate drag-and-drop, assignments/gradebook, content drip, live classes (Zoom/Meet), many gateway integrations and WooCommerce support.

3) Academy LMS — best for instructor marketplaces
Why choose it: Built-in multi-instructor marketplace features in the free version (revenue sharing workflows and instructor withdrawal management).
Free plan highlights:
– Frontend course builder, instructor/student dashboards, basic certificates.
– Multi-instructor revenue sharing and earnings/withdrawal tools.
– Academy Player to unify video presentation, WooCommerce support via StoreEngine.
– Built-in analytics, course reviews, Q&A, CSV import/export for lessons.
When to skip: Many advanced features (drip, assignments, gradebook, SCORM, notifications) are Pro-only.
User experience: Powerful but has a steeper on-ramp because payments and some commerce features are handled by a companion plugin (StoreEngine). Good for marketplace builds if you’re willing to invest time.
Pro adds: advanced quizzes, email/push notifications, SCORM, group/cohort features, Zoom/Meet integration and lots of integrations.

4) Tutor LMS — best if commerce/order features matter
Why choose it: Strong commerce features in free plan (coupons, tax settings, order management) and good foundational LMS tools.
Free plan highlights:
– Unlimited courses/students/instructors, basic quiz builder and dashboards.
– PayPal payments or integrate WooCommerce for more gateways.
– Coupon and tax management, refunds and order controls.
When to skip: Certificates, drip, assignments, gradebook, live classes, subscriptions and many advanced features are Pro-only.
User experience: Excellent setup wizard and clean course builder, but some admin tasks (like adding instructors) require using the WordPress user system rather than a smooth built-in flow.
Pro upgrades add: live classes, certificate builder, content drip, multi-instructor tools, many payment gateways and advanced notifications.

5) Fox LMS — best for simplicity and fast launches
Why choose it: Newer but focused on making a quick, easy-to-use LMS with the essentials in the free tier.
Free plan highlights:
– Unlimited courses/lessons/students/instructors, drag-and-drop builder.
– Sequential lesson drip (per course), unlimited quizzes, Q&A, course announcements.
– PayPal payments, coupons, custom branding and compatibility with popular page builders.
When to skip: Certificates, course reviews, cross-course drip, advanced quizzes and other commerce gateways require Pro.
User experience: Minimal and friendly — good for beginners or those who want to launch fast with less configuration.
Pro adds: certificate & AI lesson builders, content drip, revenue sharing, Stripe/WooCommerce integration, reviews, bundles, gamification.

Is a free LMS enough?
Yes, for many small schools, solo instructors, nonprofits, or early-stage projects a free LMS works well. Choose based on the features you can’t live without:
– Choose Masteriyo if you want the most complete free toolkit for launching and monetizing (multiple gateways, certificates, SCORM, no limits).
– Choose LearnPress if you need maximum flexibility inside each lesson and value free add-ons like prerequisites and reviews.
– Choose Academy LMS if you’re building an instructor marketplace and need multi-instructor revenue tools out of the box.
– Choose Tutor LMS if detailed commerce/order management matters more than built-in certificates or drip.
– Choose Fox LMS if you want a simple, beginner-friendly path to get online fast.

Decision checklist
List the must-have features for your project (payment gateways, certificates, drip, multi-instructor support, assignments, SCORM, live sessions). Match that list to the free features above. If several required items are paywalled, factor the Pro cost or consider a different plugin.

If you want personalized advice
Tell me which features you must have (example: Stripe + certificates + cohorts + Zoom) and I’ll recommend the best free plugin or whether upgrading to Pro or combining plugins is the most practical path.

Summary
Masteriyo stands out as the best free LMS plugin for WordPress in 2026. Its free core includes built-in payment gateways, unlimited courses and students, certificates, SCORM import, content drip, and an AI-assisted course builder — features many competitors reserve for paid tiers. The other four free options — LearnPress, Academy LMS, Tutor LMS, and Fox LMS — each have specific strengths for particular use cases, but they also gate several useful features behind paid upgrades.

How to use this guide
If you want to launch and monetize courses without buying an LMS right away, prioritize plugins that include the payment options and course features you need in their free versions. Below are concise breakdowns of the five best free choices in 2026, with their free highlights, when to skip, user experience notes, and what you get if you upgrade.

1) Masteriyo — Best overall free LMS
Free highlights
– Drag-and-drop course, lesson, and quiz builder with unlimited courses, sections, lessons, and quizzes.
– Built-in eCommerce (cart, checkout, coupons, order management) independent of WooCommerce.
– Native one-time payment gateways: Stripe, PayPal, SureCart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie.
– Certificate builder with online verification, SCORM import, sequential drip, and OpenAI ChatGPT course generation.
– One-click migration from several other LMS plugins and page-builder compatibility.

When to skip the free version
Choose Pro if you require multi-instructor revenue sharing, cohorts, prerequisites, advanced gradebooks, or live-session (Zoom) native lessons. Free multi-instructor admin is limited compared with Academy LMS and Fox LMS.

User experience
The admin balances depth and clarity: a labeled top menu and distinct submenus make navigation straightforward. Connecting Stripe and OpenAI is quick, and building a basic course can be done in about half an hour.

Upgrade adds (Pro)
Multi-instructor revenue sharing, advanced drip/prerequisites, assignments and gradebook, advanced certificates, cohort tools, white label, additional lesson types (PDF, audio, Zoom), advanced quiz types with AI generation, and integrations (HubSpot, 2FA).

Note: Masteriyo is part of a product family maintained by a team connected to the original review source.

2) LearnPress — Best for flexible lesson content
Free highlights
– Course builder with multimedia lessons that mix video, audio, text, and images in a single lesson.
– OpenAI integration, reusable lesson and question banks, quizzes (timed), PayPal and offline payments, course previews and open-access options.
– Several free add-ons: Coming Soon, Student List, Prerequisite Courses, Course Review, Wishlist, and forum integrations.

When to skip the free version
Monetization beyond PayPal and offline payments is limited in free. Many features (certificates, assignments, drip) are sold as paid add-ons; you may prefer Masteriyo if you need broader free functionality.

User experience
The free plugin includes a classic wp-admin dashboard and a separate modern course builder. The split can be confusing at first, but the builder itself is user-friendly once located. OpenAI integration is quick to enable.

Upgrade adds (Pro / paid add-ons)
Certificate builder, assignments and gradebook, content drip, live course integrations (Zoom/Meet), additional gateways, WooCommerce integration, multi-instructor/commission features, and many third-party integrations.

3) Academy LMS — Best for multi-instructor marketplaces
Free highlights
– Frontend course builder and dashboards, multi-instructor support with revenue tracking and withdrawal management, built-in analytics, basic certificates, Q&A, wishlist, course previews, and WooCommerce/StoreEngine support.
– Academy Player to unify video presentation across sources.

When to skip the free version
Many advanced features are Pro-only: drip, email notifications, prerequisites, detailed gradebook, SCORM, assignments, and spam protection. Academy is strongest when multi-instructor revenue sharing is the central requirement.

User experience
Powerful and granular, but has a steeper on-ramp. You typically install Academy LMS plus StoreEngine for payments; learning how they interact takes extra time. If you need marketplace features and are willing to invest setup time, it rewards with flexibility.

Upgrade adds (Pro)
Advanced quiz types, notifications, content drip, prerequisites, Zoom/Meet integrations, assignments/gradebook, SCORM, white label, team/group features, and many marketing integrations.

4) Tutor LMS — Best for commerce and order management
Free highlights
– Unlimited courses, students, and instructors; coupons, tax settings, full order management with refunds; PayPal or WooCommerce checkout; quiz builder; separate instructor/student dashboards; Q&A and lesson comments.
– Migration tool to import from other WordPress LMS plugins.

When to skip the free version
Tutor’s free tier handles commerce well but paywalls many standard LMS features: certificates, drip, assignments, gradebook, bundles, live classes, and advanced gateways. If you need certificates and drip for free, look to Masteriyo or LearnPress (with add-ons).

User experience
Setup wizard is polished and helpful, and course creation is smooth. Some dashboard workflows (e.g., adding instructors) can be non-obvious and require use of the core WordPress user roles.

Upgrade adds (Pro)
Live classes, content drip, certificates, advanced quizzes and reports, multi-instructor messaging, many payment gateways and subscriptions, memberships, push notifications, and AI-assisted course creation.

5) Fox LMS — Best for quick launches and simplicity
Free highlights
– Unlimited courses, lessons, students, and instructors, drag-and-drop course builder, sequential lesson drip per course, quizzes, Q&A, announcements, PayPal payments, coupons, and user-specific dashboards.
– Compatible with Elementor, Gutenberg, and the Classic Editor.

When to skip the free version
Free tier lacks certificates, public course reviews, and site-wide drip; multi-instructor revenue sharing and additional gateways require Pro. Choose a different option if you need granular configuration or more advanced free features.

User experience
Designed for beginners: fewer options and clear setup wizards make it fast to launch. The dashboard links to documentation and video tutorials, which helps non-technical users get started quickly.

Upgrade adds (Pro)
Certificate and AI lesson builders, revenue sharing, Stripe and WooCommerce integration, reviews/ratings, advanced quizzes, attachments, bundles, email notifications, and gamification.

Is a free LMS plugin enough?
Yes — depending on your goals. Free plugins can be sufficient to launch, test, and monetize courses, but trade-offs exist: payment gateways, certificates, drip, assignments, and multi-instructor features are commonly paywalled. Masteriyo minimizes those trade-offs by offering many of these features in its free core, making it the best pick for most solo course creators or small schools who want to monetize immediately without upfront plugin spend.

How to choose
1. List must-have features for your project (payment gateways, certificates, drip, multi-instructor, SCORM, AI creation, live classes).
2. Pick the plugin whose free tier covers most of those must-haves.
3. If a particular paid feature is essential (e.g., Zoom integration, advanced gradebook), evaluate upgrade costs and roadmap.

Quick recommendation summary
– Masteriyo: Best overall free choice for launching and monetizing with minimal upfront cost.
– LearnPress: Best if you want flexible multimedia lessons and useful free add-ons like prerequisites.
– Academy LMS: Best for building a multi-instructor marketplace with built-in earning/withdrawal features.
– Tutor LMS: Best if commerce/order features are a priority and you’re okay buying add-ons later.
– Fox LMS: Best for absolute beginners who want the fastest, simplest launch experience.

Still unsure? Identify the three non-negotiable features for your course site and I can recommend the best plugin for that specific combination.

Short answer: Masteriyo is the best free LMS for WordPress in 2026. The other plugins on this list are solid in specific scenarios, but many reserve key features behind paid upgrades. This guide summarizes five free options, what they include in their free core, where they fall short, and which use case each suits best.

1) Masteriyo
Why it stands out: Masteriyo’s free core is unusually generous. It supports multiple built-in payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Surecart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie), unlimited courses/lessons/quizzes, certificates, SCORM import, content drip, an ecommerce suite (cart, checkout, basic coupons), and AI-assisted course creation via OpenAI. There’s also a one-click migration tool for LearnDash, LifterLMS, Tutor LMS, MasterStudy, and LearnPress.
Free highlights: drag-and-drop course/lesson/quiz builder; native checkout and order management; certificates with QR verification; sequential drip; quiz question types; front-end dashboards, Q&A, reviews; page builder compatibility.
When to skip free: multi-instructor revenue sharing, cohorts, prerequisites, gradebooks, assignments, and native live-session integration (Zoom) require Pro. If those are essential, consider Academy LMS or Fox LMS for some free multi-instructor features.
UX notes: The admin balances depth and clarity—feature-rich but easy to navigate. Connecting Stripe and OpenAI was straightforward and quick for building a first course.
Pro adds: multi-instructor revenue splits, advanced drip and prerequisites, assignments + gradebook, cohort pricing, advanced quiz types, PDF/audio lessons, white labeling, Zoom lessons, and integrations.

2) LearnPress
Why it stands out: A long-standing, battle-tested free LMS that uses a standard editor for lessons so video, audio, text, and images can coexist in one lesson. It’s a good fit for schools and nonprofits wanting a no-cost path to publish courses with light monetization.
Free highlights: unlimited courses/lessons, multimedia lessons, reusable lesson/question banks, quizzes (MCQ, true/false, fill-in), PayPal and offline payments, some useful free add-ons (Coming Soon, Prerequisites, Course Review, Wishlist).
When to skip free: payment options beyond PayPal, certificates, assignments, content drip, and many other conveniences are paid add-ons. If you need richer monetization and those features without add-ons, Masteriyo is the better free choice.
UX notes: The course builder is modern and usable, but the wp-admin dashboard can feel dated and it’s not always obvious how to reach the newer builder.
Pro/add-ons: certificate builder, assignments/gradebook, content drip, live classes, Stripe and other gateways, WooCommerce integration, co-instructor and commission add-ons.

3) Academy LMS
Why it stands out: The free version uniquely supports a multi-instructor marketplace model with revenue sharing, instructor earnings/withdrawals, and WooCommerce integration—features many competitors hide behind paywalls. It also includes a unified Academy Player for consistent video presentation.
Free highlights: front-end course builder and dashboards, multi-instructor revenue and withdrawal management, basic certificates, quizzes, analytics, CSV import/export, and course previews.
When to skip free: content drip, email notifications, prerequisites, gradebook, assignments, SCORM, and some security features are Pro-only. Also, payments typically require using the companion StoreEngine plugin.
UX notes: Powerful but a slower on-ramp. You’ll often manage two plugins (Academy LMS + StoreEngine), and configuring how they interact takes extra time.
Pro adds: advanced quiz question types, notifications, content drip, Zoom/Google Meet, assignments and gradebook, SCORM, white label, and many integrations.

4) Tutor LMS
Why it stands out: Tutor LMS gives many commerce-focused features for free—coupon handling, tax controls, full order management and refunds—making it attractive if e-commerce controls are a priority.
Free highlights: unlimited courses/students/instructors, PayPal checkout or WooCommerce products, coupon and tax management, quiz builder, separate student/instructor dashboards, and lesson comments/Q&A.
When to skip free: certificates, content drip, assignments, gradebook, subscription support, live classes, and many integrations are Pro-only, so you may outgrow the free plan quickly if you need those.
UX notes: Setup wizard is excellent, and course building is solid; but some instructor management requires using standard WordPress user roles rather than an intuitive front-end flow.
Pro adds: live classes, drip content, certificate builder, multi-instructor messaging, many payment gateways, advanced analytics and notifications, and OpenAI integrations.

5) Fox LMS
Why it stands out: Newer and simpler, Fox LMS focuses on ease of use and gets the essentials right in the free tier: unlimited courses, lessons, quizzes, sequential lesson drip (within a course), coupons, custom branding elements, and PayPal payments.
Free highlights: drag-and-drop builder, user-specific dashboards, Q&A and announcements, Elementor/Gutenberg compatibility, and built-in tutorials and mini wizards to guide beginners.
When to skip free: course certificates, course reviews, site-wide drip, advanced quizzes, revenue sharing, and gateways beyond PayPal require Pro. It’s best for quick launches and beginners.
UX notes: Minimalist and friendly—great for people who want to get an e-learning site live fast with lots of guided help.
Pro adds: certificate builder, AI lesson builder, Stripe and WooCommerce support, revenue sharing, course bundles, reviews, email notifications, and gamification.

Is a free LMS plugin enough?
Possibly—but it depends on your needs. If you want to launch and monetize without paying upfront, Masteriyo is the most complete free option (multiple payment gateways, certificates, SCORM, content drip). If you need a flexible lesson editor and useful add-ons, LearnPress is a dependable choice. For building an instructor marketplace where revenue sharing in the free tier matters, Academy LMS is the standout. If commerce controls (coupons, taxes, order refunds) are your focus, Tutor LMS supports that well in its free core. For simplicity and fast setup, Fox LMS is the friendliest option.

How to choose
1. List the features you absolutely need (payment gateways, certificates, SCORM, multi-instructor revenue sharing, drip, assignments, gradebook, live sessions).
2. Pick the free plugin that includes most of them in the core, or one that lets you add the missing features without a costly upgrade.
3. Trial the plugin on a staging site—connect your payment gateway, build a short sample course, and confirm the instructor/student workflows.

Quick recap
– Masteriyo: Best overall free LMS for monetization without paying upfront.
– LearnPress: Best if you want flexible, multimedia lessons and useful free add-ons.
– Academy LMS: Best free option for multi-instructor marketplaces and revenue management.
– Tutor LMS: Best if commerce/order features are the priority.
– Fox LMS: Best for quick launches and beginner-friendly setup.

If you’d like, tell me your specific project (number of instructors, payment methods, need for certificates or assignments, cohort management, live classes), and I’ll recommend the plugin that fits your use case and the likely upgrade path if you grow.

Short verdict
Masteriyo is the strongest free LMS plugin for WordPress in 2026. Its free core includes multiple payment gateways, unlimited courses and students, certificates, SCORM import, content drip, and AI-assisted course creation — all without forcing an immediate upgrade. The other four plugins below each have real strengths, but most rely on paywalled add-ons for important functionality.

At-a-glance: the five finalists
– Masteriyo — best overall free option for launching and monetizing without an upfront spend.
– LearnPress — long track record; flexible lesson editor and many useful free add-ons.
– Academy LMS — best for marketplaces and multi-instructor revenue sharing in the free tier.
– Tutor LMS — strong commerce and order features in the free plan; some learning features are Pro-only.
– Fox LMS — simplest and easiest for beginners; good basic feature set with helpful onboarding.

1) Masteriyo (best overall free LMS)
Why it stands out: Masteriyo’s free core is unusually generous. It doesn’t cap courses, lessons, quizzes, or enrollments and includes multiple native payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Surecart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie). You get a drag-and-drop course/lesson/quiz builder, a built-in ecommerce flow, certificates (with QR verification), SCORM import, AI-assisted content generation, sequential drip, frontend dashboards, and import tools to migrate from other LMS plugins.
Free highlights
– Unlimited courses, sections, lessons, and quizzes
– Native one-time payment gateways and cart/checkout management
– Certificate builder, SCORM import, AI course creation
– Quiz types, lesson preview, course Q&A, page builder compatibility
When to skip the free plan
If you need multi-instructor admin with revenue sharing, cohorts, detailed gradebooks, assignments, or built-in live sessions, those are Pro-only. For free multi-instructor administration, consider Academy LMS or Fox LMS.
User experience
Clean dashboard with clear menus; easy to connect Stripe and OpenAI for AI features. Good balance between depth and usability.
Pro adds
Multi-instructor revenue sharing, advanced drip and prerequisites, assignments and gradebook, cohort/group features, Zoom lessons, white-labeling, advanced quiz types and integrations.
Note: Masteriyo is part of the Themeisle family and the team also supports WPShout.

2) LearnPress
Why it stands out: A mature plugin with a decade-long track record. LearnPress uses a single, standard editor for lessons so you can mix video, audio, text and images freely in the same lesson — handy if you want flexible multimedia lessons.
Free highlights
– Unlimited courses and lessons with multimedia support
– Reusable lesson and question banks
– Quizzes (timed, multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank)
– PayPal and offline payment built in, plus a number of free add-ons (prerequisites, reviews, wishlist)
When to skip the free plan
Many monetization features and enhancements (Stripe, certificates, content drip, assignments) are sold as paid add-ons. If you want more gateways and certificates out of the box, Masteriyo is a stronger free option.
User experience
Generally easy to use, though the admin includes both an older wp-admin area and a newer course builder — the access path could be clearer, but once found the builder is user-friendly.
Pro adds
Certificate builder, assignments and gradebook, advanced payment gateways, live integrations, and more extensions.

3) Academy LMS
Why it stands out: Free multi-instructor and revenue-sharing features make Academy LMS a compelling choice for building a marketplace where instructors sell courses and withdraw earnings.
Free highlights
– Frontend course and lesson builders, frontend dashboards
– Multi-instructor revenue sharing and earnings/withdrawal management
– WooCommerce integration and a custom course player for unified video appearance
– Basic certificates, Q&A, course preview, built-in analytics
When to skip the free plan
The learning curve is steeper and several features (content drip, assignments, gradebook, SCORM, notifications) are Pro-only. You’ll also need to install a separate StoreEngine plugin to handle native payments, which adds setup complexity.
User experience
Powerful and granular but slower to set up because of the multi-plugin setup. Strong choice if you need instructor/marketplace features and are willing to spend time configuring it.
Pro adds
Advanced quiz types, content drip, email/push notifications, SCORM, Zoom/Meet integrations, white-labeling, and team/group training tools.

4) Tutor LMS
Why it stands out: Tutor LMS’s free tier includes solid commerce tools (coupons, tax, refunds) and good course-building basics. It’s a reasonable free choice if commerce and order management are priorities.
Free highlights
– Unlimited courses, students, and instructors
– PayPal payments or WooCommerce integration
– Coupons, tax management, order handling and refunds
– Student/instructor dashboards, Q&A, lesson comments
When to skip the free plan
Many commonly expected learning features are paywalled: certificates, content drip, assignments, gradebook, subscriptions and live classes are Pro additions. You may outgrow the free plan sooner than with Masteriyo.
User experience
Clean setup wizard and a strong course builder, but some admin workflows (e.g., inviting instructors) are less streamlined and require using WordPress user roles.
Pro adds
Live classes, certificates, content drip, advanced payments and many integrations including OpenAI.

5) Fox LMS
Why it stands out: Newer and simpler, Fox LMS focuses on straightforward setup and helpful onboarding. It’s ideal for beginners who want to launch quickly without getting overwhelmed.
Free highlights
– Unlimited courses, lessons, quizzes, students, instructors
– Drag-and-drop builder, sequential lesson drip, Q&A, announcements
– PayPal payments, coupons, custom branding options, compatible with Elementor/Gutenberg
When to skip the free plan
Certificates, reviews, content drip (beyond basic sequential drip), Stripe and WooCommerce support are Pro-only. If you want granular controls, Fox may feel minimal.
User experience
Very beginner-friendly with tutorial links and mini wizards in the dashboard. Great if you want the fastest path to launch.
Pro adds
Certificate and AI lesson builders, Stripe/WooCommerce, revenue sharing, advanced quizzes, gamification and notifications.

Is a free LMS enough?
Yes — many sites can launch with a free LMS if you pick one that matches your priorities. Quick guide:
– Choose Masteriyo if you want to monetize from the start with multiple gateways, certificates and SCORM without upgrading.
– Choose LearnPress if you need flexible multimedia lessons and useful free add-ons.
– Choose Academy LMS if you’re building a multi-instructor marketplace and need revenue/withdrawal features out of the box.
– Choose Tutor LMS if commerce/order management is your top priority and you’re willing to add learning features later.
– Choose Fox LMS if you want the quickest and simplest path to launch and prefer a guided setup.

Final tip
List the features you absolutely need (payment gateways, certificates, SCORM, multi-instructor revenue sharing, drip, assignments, live classes) and pick the plugin whose free tier covers most of them. If you want help mapping your requirements to a recommendation, share your must-haves and I’ll suggest the best fit.

Short answer: Masteriyo is the best free LMS for WordPress in 2026 if you want a truly usable, monetizable platform without paying up front. The other four—LearnPress, Academy LMS, Tutor LMS, and Fox LMS—each have clear strengths for particular projects, but most restrict important features behind paid upgrades.

Overview
– Masteriyo: Best overall free option. Multiple payment gateways, certificates, SCORM, AI course help, and no caps on courses or students in the free core.
– LearnPress: Mature and flexible lesson content (mix video/audio/text in each lesson) with many free add-ons; limited built-in monetization in the free package.
– Academy LMS: Best for launching a multi-instructor marketplace out of the box (revenue-sharing and instructor payouts free), but requires StoreEngine for payments and hides other features behind Pro.
– Tutor LMS: Strong commerce tools in the free plan (coupons, tax, order/refund management), but many learning features—certificates, drip, assignments—are Pro-only.
– Fox LMS: Newer, simple and beginner-friendly with multi-instructor support and useful freebies (coupons, branding), but lacks certificates, reviews and more advanced features unless you upgrade.

1) Masteriyo
Why it stands out: The free core includes most features small to mid-sized online schools need without forcing an upgrade. You get a drag‑and‑drop course/lesson/quiz builder, unlimited courses/sections/lessons/quizzes, a built-in e‑commerce flow (cart, checkout, coupons), native payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Surecart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie), a certificate builder, SCORM import, AI-assisted content via OpenAI, sequential content drip, and a one‑click importer from other LMSs.
When to skip the free version: If you need multi‑instructor revenue splitting, cohort management, prerequisites, assignments+gradebook, or live session integrations (Zoom native), those are Pro features.
User experience: Dashboard balances depth with clarity; the builder and integrations (Stripe, OpenAI) are quick to set up. Many essential features are ready without add-ons.
Pro upgrade adds: multi‑instructor revenue sharing, advanced drip/prerequisites, assignments & gradebook, advanced certificate templates, cohorts, white‑label, more quiz types, Zoom as lesson type, and other enterprise features.

2) LearnPress
Why it stands out: A long history and a good fit where lesson structure flexibility is important—each lesson uses a standard editor, so video, audio, text and images can coexist easily. It also offers a number of useful free add‑ons (Coming Soon, Student List, Prerequisite Courses, Course Review, Wishlist, bbPress/BuddyPress integrations).
When to skip the free version: The free core gives only PayPal and offline payments. Certificates, drip, assignments, and many payment gateways require paid add‑ons or a bundle—so if you need full monetization or advanced learning features, you may outgrow the free plan.
User experience: Generally friendly; there is a split between the classic wp-admin dashboard and a newer course builder which can cause a small learning curve.
Pro/paid add‑ons add: certificate builder, assignments & gradebook, drip scheduling, live integrations (Zoom/Google Meet), more payment gateways, WooCommerce integration and other professional add‑ons.

3) Academy LMS
Why it stands out: Built-in multi‑instructor marketplace features—revenue sharing, instructor earnings and withdrawal management—are available in the free plugin, making it a strong free choice for Udemy‑style sites. The Academy Player gives a unified video experience across sources.
When to skip the free version: Several important features are Pro‑only (content drip, email notifications, prerequisites, gradebook, SCORM, assignments, and advanced security). Also, payments require the separate StoreEngine plugin which increases setup complexity.
User experience: Powerful and granular, but has a steeper on‑ramp because you often work across two plugins (Academy LMS + StoreEngine) and the admin is more complex.
Pro adds: advanced quiz types, notifications, drip/prereqs, Zoom/Meet integration, assignments & gradebook, SCORM, white‑label, and many integrations.

4) Tutor LMS
Why it stands out: The free plan gives strong commerce features that many other free LMS plugins charge for—coupon management, tax handling, optimized checkout and order/refund controls. It’s capable of launching a monetized marketplace.
When to skip the free version: Core learning features like certificates, content drip, assignments, gradebook, subscriptions, live classes and course bundles are paid features. If you need those learning‑centric tools for free, consider Masteriyo or LearnPress (with add‑ons).
User experience: Setup wizard is excellent, and course creation is straightforward. Some admin flows (adding instructors or advanced settings) can be less intuitive and require using WordPress user roles.
Pro adds: live classes, drip, certificate builder, advanced quiz/reporting, multi‑instructor tools, many payment gateways, AI course generation, push/Email notifications and membership features.

5) Fox LMS
Why it stands out: Lightweight, modern, and approachable—good for beginners who want to get a site live quickly. Free plan includes unlimited courses/students/instructors, drag‑and‑drop builder, sequential lesson drip within a course, quizzes, Q&A, course announcements, coupons, and PayPal payments.
When to skip the free version: Certificates, course reviews, cross‑site drip, revenue sharing, and broader payment gateways (beyond PayPal) require Pro. If you want many granular options, Fox is deliberately simpler.
User experience: Clean and easy, with helpful tutorial links and small setup wizards. Great for creators who value speed and hand‑holding over detailed customization.
Pro adds: certificate builder, AI lesson builder, content drip, revenue sharing, Stripe/WooCommerce support, reviews, advanced quizzes, notifications and gamification integrations.

Is a free LMS plugin enough?
Yes, often—but it depends on your project. If you want to validate an idea, publish a handful of courses, and accept payments without upfront plugin costs, Masteriyo is the most complete free option. If your priority is flexible lesson content and lots of small free add‑ons, LearnPress is a good fit. If you need a marketplace with instructor payouts built into the free layer, Academy LMS is uniquely helpful. For commerce-first sites that need robust checkout/order tools in the free plan, Tutor LMS works well. For beginners who want a fast, guided launch, Fox LMS is the easiest.

Recommendation process
1. List the features you cannot live without (payment gateways, certificates, multi‑instructor revenue sharing, drip, assignments, live sessions, SCORM). 2. Pick the plugin whose free core covers most of those needs. 3. If a critical feature is Pro‑only for your top choice, compare the upgrade cost vs switching to an alternative whose free version includes the feature.

If you want a single pick to start with: Masteriyo provides the best balance of free features and monetization options for most creators in 2026. If your use case is specialized (marketplace payouts, flexible multimedia lessons, or commerce-first workflows), choose Academy LMS, LearnPress, or Tutor LMS respectively.

If you’d like, tell me the specific features you need (payments, SCORM, multi‑instructor, live classes, assignment grading, etc.) and I’ll recommend the best free plugin or a cost‑effective upgrade path.

Short answer
Masteriyo is the best free LMS plugin for WordPress in 2026. Its free core includes the key features most online schools need—multiple payment gateways, unlimited courses and enrollments, certificates, SCORM import, content drip, and AI-assisted course creation—without forcing you to upgrade immediately. The other four plugins below each have strong use cases, but they put important functionality behind paywalls more often than Masteriyo.

Quick overview of the five contenders
– Masteriyo — Best overall free option for building and monetizing courses without an upfront spend.
– LearnPress — Longstanding, flexible lesson content model and useful free add-ons; monetization gateways are limited in free tier.
– Academy LMS — Best for building a multi-instructor marketplace (revenue sharing and instructor withdrawal in free tier); steeper setup and some features paywalled.
– Tutor LMS — Good commerce and order features out of the box; many learning features (certificates, drip, assignments) are Pro-only.
– Fox LMS — Easiest to use for beginners, includes multi-instructor basics and coupons for free; fewer advanced controls without Pro.

1) Masteriyo
Why it stands out
Masteriyo’s free version gives you a fully functional LMS that can actually be used to sell courses without forcing an upgrade. It supports multiple native one-time payment gateways in the free core, unlimited courses/sections/lessons/quizzes, certificates with QR verification, SCORM import, OpenAI (ChatGPT) assisted content generation, and a one-click migration tool for other LMSs.
Free core highlights
– Drag-and-drop course, lesson and quiz builder with no hard limits.
– Built-in ecommerce (cart, checkout, basic coupons, order management) and native Stripe, PayPal, SureCart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie support.
– Certificate builder and SCORM import.
– AI-assisted course generation via OpenAI.
– Sequential content drip, frontend dashboards, course Q&A and reviews, lesson previews.
– Page builder compatibility and optional WooCommerce integration.
When to upgrade
If you need multi-instructor administration with revenue sharing, cohorts, full gradebooks, advanced assignments, or live session integrations (Zoom), those are Pro-only features.
User experience
The dashboard balances depth and usability, with clear menus and a fast setup if you already have Stripe/OpenAI. Creation is quick: a basic course can be assembled in under an hour. There is an optional disclosure that Masteriyo is maintained by a team related to WPShout.
Pro highlights (summary)
Multi-instructor revenue sharing, advanced drip/prerequisites, assignments with grading, cohort features, white labeling, additional quiz types, Zoom lessons, PDF/audio lessons, and more integrations.

2) LearnPress
Why choose it
LearnPress has a long track record and is reliable for organizations or individuals who want flexible lesson content that can mix video, audio, text and images in a single lesson. It also offers several useful free add-ons that extend capability.
Free core highlights
– Course builder with unlimited courses and multimedia lessons.
– OpenAI integration, reusable lesson and question banks.
– Quizzes (multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank), timed quizzes.
– Instant checkout with PayPal and offline payment; ability to redirect to external checkout funnels.
– Free add-ons like Coming Soon, Student List, Prerequisite Courses, Course Review, Wishlist, bbPress/BuddyPress integrations.
When to upgrade
Monetization beyond PayPal and many learning features (certificates, content drip, assignments) require paid add-ons or a Pro bundle. If you need broad monetization gateways and certificates without buying add-ons, consider Masteriyo instead.
User experience
Overall friendly and simple. There’s a slight disconnect between the classic wp-admin dashboard and the modern course builder, but once located the builder is easy to use.
Pro highlights (summary)
Drag-and-drop certificate builder, assignments and gradebook, content drip, live course integrations, Stripe and other payment gateways via paid add-ons, and WooCommerce integration.

3) Academy LMS
Why choose it
Academy LMS is tailored for marketplace-style sites: its free version includes multi-instructor support with revenue sharing and instructor earnings/withdrawal management plus WooCommerce/StoreEngine integration. If you plan to run an Udemy-like marketplace, Academy LMS offers free tools that many competitors reserve for paid tiers.
Free core highlights
– Frontend course builder, instructor/student dashboards, frontend lesson editing.
– Multi-instructor marketplace features, revenue sharing, earning withdrawals.
– Academy Player to unify video presentation across sources.
– Basic certificates, course reviews, Q&A, wishlist, analytics, and basic quiz builder.
When to upgrade
Many advanced learning and admin features are paid: content drip, email notifications, prerequisites, assignments, gradebook, SCORM, and security options are in Pro. Also payment handling can require the StoreEngine companion plugin which adds setup complexity.
User experience
Powerful but has a steeper on-ramp. You’ll likely use two plugins (Academy LMS plus StoreEngine) for payments, and the two-plugin flow can take longer to understand and configure. For patient admins building a complex marketplace, the tradeoff is worthwhile.
Pro highlights (summary)
Advanced quiz types, notifications, full drip and prerequisites, Zoom/Google Meet, assignments and gradebook, SCORM, white labeling and integrations with CRMs and membership tools.

4) Tutor LMS
Why choose it
Tutor LMS is a commercially mature option that exposes many commerce-related features in its free tier—coupon handling, tax and order management, personalized dashboards—while hiding other learning features behind Pro licensing. It’s solid for stores where commerce tooling is a priority.
Free core highlights
– Unlimited courses, students and instructors, basic quiz builder.
– PayPal payments or WooCommerce product conversion for other gateways.
– Coupon and tax management, full order management and refunds.
– Student and instructor dashboards, Q&A, lesson comments.
When to upgrade
Certificates, advanced quizzes, content drip, assignments, gradebook, live classes and many gateways are Pro-only. If you need certificates and drip without upgrading, Masteriyo or LearnPress may be better free choices.
User experience
Setup wizard is clean; course creation is straightforward. Some admin tasks (like adding instructors) rely on WordPress user role management rather than a fully integrated frontend flow, which can confuse users expecting a single cohesive dashboard.
Pro highlights (summary)
Live classes, advanced certificates, content drip, more payment gateways, subscriptions, bundles, and deep integrations including OpenAI for course generation.

5) Fox LMS
Why choose it
Fox LMS is newer but focused on simplicity and speed to launch. Its free tier covers the essentials for starting and monetizing courses (PayPal payments, coupons, basic multi-instructor support) and is beginner-friendly with guided setup helpers.
Free core highlights
– Unlimited courses/lessons/students/instructors, drag-and-drop builder, sequential lesson drip within a course.
– Quizzes, Q&A, course announcements, user-specific dashboards.
– Coupons and custom course permalinks; PayPal payments supported.
When to upgrade
Certificates, course reviews, cross-course drip scheduling, multiple payment gateways and revenue-sharing are Pro features. If you prefer more granular controls and advanced training features, other plugins may be a better fit.
User experience
Very approachable and simplified—fewer settings means faster setup. The dashboard includes tutorials and mini wizards that make building a first course or quiz easy for beginners.
Pro highlights (summary)
Certificate builder, AI lesson builder, Stripe and WooCommerce integration, revenue sharing, advanced quizzes, course bundles and email/notification features.

Is a free LMS plugin enough?
Yes—if your requirements are modest: a handful of courses, simple monetization, or testing a course idea. Masteriyo is the most complete free option for launching and monetizing without an upfront plugin cost. If your priorities are a marketplace with instructor revenue sharing, Academy LMS’s free tier is attractive. If you want flexible multimedia lessons and helpful free add-ons, LearnPress is solid. Tutor LMS is strong on commerce features, while Fox LMS is ideal for beginners who want a fast, guided setup.
How to choose
1) List must-have features (payment gateways, certificates, drip, multi-instructor, SCORM, gradebook). 2) Pick the plugin whose free core covers most must-haves. 3) If you hit a missing feature but otherwise like the plugin, check Pro pricing and whether a paid add-on makes sense.
If you want help mapping your exact needs to one of these plugins, tell me what features you must have and what you can live without, and I’ll recommend the best fit.

Short verdict
Masteriyo is the strongest free LMS for WordPress in 2026. It offers the most useful core features without forcing an immediate upgrade: multiple native payment gateways, certificates, SCORM import, content drip, AI-assisted course creation, and no limits on courses, lessons, or students. The other four plugins—LearnPress, Academy LMS, Tutor LMS, and Fox LMS—each have meaningful strengths for specific use cases, but they also lock important functionality behind paid add-ons more often than Masteriyo does.

Overview
This guide compares five of the best free WordPress LMS plugins in 2026 and explains which one fits different needs: Masteriyo, LearnPress, Academy LMS, Tutor LMS, and Fox LMS. For each plugin I summarize the free plan highlights, when the free plan is insufficient, the real user experience, and which premium features matter if you upgrade.

1. Masteriyo
Why choose it
Best for launching and monetizing an online school without paying up front. Masteriyo’s free core is unusually complete and practical for most small and growing e-learning businesses.

Free plan highlights
– Drag-and-drop course, lesson, and quiz builder with unlimited courses, sections, lessons, and quizzes.
– Built-in e-commerce (cart, checkout, coupons, order management) that doesn’t require WooCommerce.
– Native one-time payment gateways: Stripe, PayPal, SureCart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie.
– Certificate builder with QR verification and SCORM import.
– AI-assisted course creation (OpenAI/ChatGPT integration).
– Sequential content drip and one-click migration tools (imports from several LMS plugins).
– Page builder compatibility and optional WooCommerce integration.

When to skip the free version
If you need multi-instructor revenue sharing, cohorts, advanced gradebooks, assignments, prerequisites, or native live-session integrations (Zoom), those are Pro-only features.

User experience
Masteriyo balances depth with clear navigation. Setup is straightforward and the course builder plus AI features let you create an initial course quickly.

Key Pro features
Multi-instructor revenue sharing, advanced drip and prerequisites, assignments and gradebook, cohort tools, advanced quiz types, white-labeling, Zoom lessons, PDF/audio lessons, 2FA, and hub integrations.

Note: Masteriyo is part of the Themeisle family.

2. LearnPress
Why choose it
Best for flexible lesson content and a mature track record. LearnPress lets you mix video, text, audio, and images freely inside a lesson and offers many small free add-ons.

Free plan highlights
– Unlimited courses and lessons with a standard content editor that supports multimedia in every lesson.
– OpenAI integration for course creation assistance.
– Reusable lesson and question banks; quizzes with timed options.
– Built-in PayPal and offline payments; external checkout redirects.
– Useful free add-ons (Coming Soon, Student List, Prerequisite Courses, Course Review, Wishlist, bbPress/BuddyPress integrations).

When to skip the free version
Monetization beyond PayPal and offline payments and features such as certificates, content drip, and assignments typically require paid add-ons or the Pro bundle. If you need Stripe, certificates, SCORM, and other features cheaply, consider Masteriyo.

User experience
LearnPress is solid and beginner-friendly, though the admin interface feels split between an older wp-admin dashboard and a separate modern course builder. Once you find the builder, the workflow is smooth.

Key Pro/add-on features
Certificate builder, assignments and gradebook, content drip, live course integrations, multiple gateway add-ons, WooCommerce integration, and multi-instructor/commission add-ons.

3. Academy LMS
Why choose it
Best for building an instructor-driven marketplace where multi-instructor revenue sharing and instructor earnings/withdrawal management are core needs.

Free plan highlights
– Frontend course builder and frontend dashboards for students and instructors.
– Multi-instructor functionality with revenue sharing and withdrawal tools.
– Academy Player to unify video presentation (YouTube, Vimeo, self-hosted).
– WooCommerce integration and a variety of marketplace-focused features (reviews, wishlist, announcements).
– React-based SPA admin and built-in analytics.

When to skip the free version
Many advanced LMS features (content drip, email notifications, gradebook, assignments, SCORM, prerequisites, Google reCAPTCHA) are locked behind Pro. Academy LMS is great for a marketplace, but if you need many of those other features for free, Masteriyo may be a better fit.

User experience
Powerful and granular, but slower to set up. Payments and commerce often require managing a second plugin (StoreEngine), which adds complexity. If you can invest setup time, you get fine-grained control for multi-instructor platforms.

Key Pro features
Advanced quiz types, email and push notifications, content drip, Zoom/Google Meet integrations, assignments/gradebook, SCORM, WPML, white-label, bulk enroll, and many third‑party integrations.

4. Tutor LMS
Why choose it
Best for commerce-focused needs: coupons, optimized checkout, tax management, and order handling are well supported in the free plan.

Free plan highlights
– Unlimited courses, students, and instructors; basic quiz builder.
– PayPal payments or WooCommerce product conversion for checkout.
– Coupon and tax management, full order management with refunds.
– Separate dashboards for students and instructors, Q&A, lesson comments.
– Migration tools to import from other LMS plugins.

When to skip the free version
Many standard LMS features are paywalled: certificates, content drip, assignments, gradebook, subscriptions, live classes, and more gateways. You may outgrow the free version faster than with other plugins.

User experience
Setup wizard is polished and clean, and the course builder is well designed, but some workflow elements (like adding instructors) can require using the WordPress user system rather than a unified frontend flow.

Key Pro features
Live classes (Zoom/Google Meet), content drip, certificates, advanced quizzes and reports, multi-instructor messaging, many more payment gateways, memberships, and extensive integrations (including AI tools).

5. Fox LMS
Why choose it
Best for absolute simplicity and a quick launch. Fox LMS keeps the interface minimal and includes some normally paid features (coupons, custom branding) in its free plan.

Free plan highlights
– Unlimited courses, lessons, students, and instructors; drag-and-drop builder.
– Text and video lessons, sequential lesson drip within a course.
– Instructor and student dashboards, unlimited quizzes, Q&A, course announcements.
– PayPal payments and compatibility with Gutenberg, Elementor, and Classic Editor.
– Coupons and per-course discounts available for free.

When to skip the free version
Certificates, course reviews, site-wide drip schedules, advanced monetization beyond PayPal, and revenue sharing (on multi-instructor sites) require Pro.

User experience
Very beginner-friendly and hand-holding with tutorial links and mini wizards. Great for those who want to get a course live fast with minimal complexity.

Key Pro features
Certificate builder, AI lesson builder, content drip, revenue sharing, Stripe/WooCommerce, course reviews, advanced quizzes, email notifications, and gamification.

Which free LMS is right for you?
– Choose Masteriyo if you want a truly usable free product that supports multiple payment gateways, certificates, SCORM, content drip, and AI course creation.
– Choose LearnPress if you want flexible, multimedia lessons and a mature ecosystem of small add-ons (and don’t need broad gateway support out of the box).
– Choose Academy LMS for a Udemy-style marketplace where multi-instructor revenue management is critical and you’re prepared for a longer setup.
– Choose Tutor LMS if commerce controls (coupons, taxes, optimized checkout) are your priority and you can add certificates and advanced LMS features later.
– Choose Fox LMS if you need a fast, simple, beginner-friendly solution that gets you selling courses quickly.

Final considerations
A free LMS can be enough depending on your goals. The main trade-offs across these options are how much commerce, multi-instructor, assessment, and advanced admin functionality you need versus how much complexity you’re willing to manage. Inventory the features you require (payments, certificates, SCORM, prerequisites, drip, assignments, revenue sharing) and pick the plugin that includes most of them in the free tier.

Need help deciding?
If you’re unsure which plugin fits your exact project, describe your use case (course type, how you want to sell, number of instructors, need for certificates/SCORM/live sessions) and I’ll recommend the best option and next steps.

P.S. If you’re also trying to speed up your WordPress site, check out short crash courses and guides on performance—improving loading times can significantly boost course sales and student satisfaction.

Short verdict
Masteriyo stands out as the best free LMS plugin for WordPress in 2026: its core free plan includes essential monetization and course features without forcing you to upgrade immediately. LearnPress, Academy LMS, Tutor LMS, and Fox LMS each have useful strengths and specific use cases, but most reserve important functionality behind paid add-ons.

Overview of the five best free options
This summary highlights what each free plugin does best and where it’s limited.

1) Masteriyo — Best all-around free LMS
Why it wins: Masteriyo’s free core gives you a truly usable LMS: drag-and-drop course/lesson/quiz building, unlimited courses and enrollments, multiple payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Surecart, Lemon Squeezy, Mollie), certificates, SCORM import, content drip, frontend dashboards, and AI-assisted course creation. It also provides a one-click migration tool for other LMS plugins.
Free plan highlights:
– Unlimited courses, lessons, sections and quizzes with a visual builder
– Built-in e-commerce (cart, checkout, basic coupons) not dependent on WooCommerce
– Multiple native payment gateways
– Certificate builder with QR verification and SCORM import
– AI course generation via OpenAI and one-click migrations
When to upgrade: You’ll need Pro for multi-instructor revenue sharing, cohorts, prerequisites, assignments with gradebook, advanced quiz types, PDF/audio lessons, Zoom lessons, and white labeling.
User experience: Clean admin layout with logical menus; quick to connect Stripe/OpenAI and build a basic course.

2) LearnPress — Flexible lesson content structure
Why choose it: LearnPress has a long track record and is good when you want every lesson to include mixed media (video, audio, text, images) in a single editor. It also offers a number of useful free add-ons.
Free plan highlights:
– Multimedia lessons using a standard editor (no separate “video” vs “text” types)
– Reusable lesson and question banks
– Quizzes (timed, various question types) and basic checkout with PayPal/offline payments
– Free add-ons like course review and prerequisites
When to upgrade: Most advanced monetization (Stripe and other gateways), certificates, drip content, assignments and live sessions are sold as add-ons or a Pro bundle. If you need broader built-in payment options, Masteriyo is more complete for free.
User experience: Good once you find the modern course builder; the wp-admin dashboard can feel a bit split between classic and modern interfaces.

3) Academy LMS — Best for multi-instructor marketplaces
Why choose it: Academy LMS’s free plan is strong for building a Udemy-style marketplace: front-end instructor/student dashboards, multi-instructor revenue management, earnings/withdrawal tools, and a unified “Academy Player” for consistent video presentation.
Free plan highlights:
– Frontend course builder and dashboards, instructor earnings and withdrawals
– Multi-source video lessons and basic certificates
– WooCommerce integration and StoreEngine for payments
– Analytics, Q&A, wishlists, and CSV import/export for lessons
When to upgrade: Pro unlocks content drip, prerequisites, gradebook, assignments, SCORM, email notifications, and many integrations. Setup requires managing both Academy LMS and the StoreEngine plugin, which lengthens the on-ramp.
User experience: Powerful and granular, but the learning curve and dual-plugin setup require patience.

4) Tutor LMS — Commerce-friendly with trade-offs
Why choose it: Tutor LMS exposes a lot of commerce features in its free tier (coupon management, tax handling, optimized checkout), making it useful for store-focused sites. However, it paywalls many standard learning features.
Free plan highlights:
– Unlimited courses, students, instructors and a capable course builder
– PayPal payments or WooCommerce integration
– Coupon and tax management, Q&A, and separate instructor/student dashboards
When to upgrade: Certificates, content drip, assignments, gradebook, live classes, subscriptions, and many gateway options require Pro. If you want a free LMS that leans toward e-commerce features, Tutor fits that niche.
User experience: Strong setup wizard and course builder, but some admin tasks (like manually adding instructors) are less intuitive and require using WordPress user roles.

5) Fox LMS — Best for simple, fast launches
Why choose it: Fox LMS is newer and more streamlined. It’s designed for beginners who want a quick setup with essential features, including multi-instructor support (revenue sharing is Pro), coupons, and basic branding options.
Free plan highlights:
– Unlimited courses, lessons, students, instructors
– Drag-and-drop builder, sequential lesson drip, unlimited quizzes
– PayPal payments, user-specific dashboards, and coupon system
When to upgrade: Certificates, reviews, drip in the free plan are limited; Stripe and WooCommerce require Pro. It’s a good choice for those who want minimal complexity.
User experience: Very beginner-friendly with tutorial links and mini setup wizards; less granular control than other plugins.

Is a free LMS enough?
A free plugin can be perfectly adequate depending on your goals: small course catalogs, light monetization, or initial validation of an idea. To decide, list the must-have features for your project (payment gateways, certificates, SCORM, content drip, multi-instructor revenue, assignments/gradebook, live sessions) and match them to the plugin that includes most of those tools for free.
Quick recommendations
– Best overall free option: Masteriyo — if you want to launch and monetize now without paying for core features.
– Best for flexible lesson content: LearnPress — if you want mixed-media lessons in a single editor and useful free add-ons.
– Best for marketplaces: Academy LMS — if revenue sharing and instructor payout tools are central.
– Best for commerce features: Tutor LMS — if coupons, tax and order management are priorities.
– Best for fast, simple launches: Fox LMS — if you want a beginner-friendly, low-friction setup.
Final note
All five plugins involve trade-offs. Masteriyo minimizes those trade-offs most effectively in 2026, but certain edge-case features remain paid across the ecosystem. Start by prioritizing the features you can’t do without, test the free versions, and then upgrade only when your needs or revenue justify it. If you want help choosing the best fit for a specific plan or use case, describe your project and needs and I’ll recommend the most suitable plugin and setup steps.

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.