Academy LMS vs LearnDash (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Academy LMS if

• Fits if you run WordPress and want the cheapest paid course plugin around
• Works for agencies who need 10 to 200 sites on one license

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a hosted service, as it runs only on your own WordPress site
• Tight if you stay on the free core, because SCORM, H5P, live classes, drip and revenue sharing are Pro
• Watch out: the page does not say what renewal costs after the first year
• Watch out: prices are shown as discounts with a countdown timer, so the list price is the higher one

Pick LearnDash if

• Fits if your business already runs on a WordPress site
• Works for agencies building learning sites for clients, at $599 a year for up to 10 sites

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you don't want to look after WordPress, hosting and updates
• Not for you if you want a free trial longer than a 48-hour demo
• Tight if you let the license lapse, as updates, security patches and support stop
• Watch out: LearnDash isn't sold on its own any more, only bundled with Kadence, Give and The Events Calendar, whether you want them or not

Academy LMS

• It runs only inside a self-hosted WordPress site; hosting and updates are your job.
• Advanced assignments, live classes, SCORM and H5P, drip content and revenue sharing are labeled Pro.
• Licenses include 1 year of support and updates; the page does not say what renewal costs.
• Paid plans are shown as discounts from higher list prices, with a countdown timer on the page.

LearnDash

• LearnDash needs a WordPress site, so you supply and maintain the hosting, theme and updates yourself.
• Every plan bundles LearnDash with Kadence, Give and The Events Calendar; LearnDash is no longer offered on its own on the pricing page.
• Prices follow the number of sites: $350 a year for 1 site, $599 for up to 10 and $999 for up to 100.
• The license renews automatically each year; without a valid license the plugin keeps working but gets no updates, security patches or support.

Academy LMS

Course and lesson builders

Drag-and-drop curriculum with videos, text and downloads, plus an AI course builder for drafting lessons.

Quizzes and question bank

Ten-plus question types with timers, attempt limits and pass marks, and a shared question bank with CSV import and export.

Certificates and grading

A certificate designer with a public verification ID for each certificate; smart grading and advanced assignments are Pro.

SCORM, H5P and live classes

Pro imports existing SCORM and H5P courses and schedules live classes and meetings into the curriculum.

Instructors and revenue sharing

Multi-instructor courses, public instructor profiles, and per-instructor commission splits (revenue sharing is Pro).

Selling and ecosystem tools

Sell through WooCommerce, StoreEngine, SureCart or EDD, or add Kodezen's own community, CRM, mobile app and gamification plugins.

LearnDash

Drag-and-drop course builder

Arrange courses into lessons, topics and assessments, with shared course steps, video progression and a distraction-free focus mode for learners.

Quizzes, assignments and certificates

Quizzes with 8 question types including essays and sorting, assignment management, a certificate builder, and badges and points.

MemberDash memberships

Membership tiers, recurring subscriptions and course bundles are built in, and members manage their own payment details and subscriptions.

AI course outlines

Describe a topic and the AI builder drafts a course outline with lessons and a set of quiz questions to edit before publishing.

ProPanel reporting

Enrollment trends, completion rates, quiz performance and at-risk learners in one dashboard, with weighted grading and custom report cards.

Groups and instructors

Sell seats to organizations whose leaders manage their own teams, and let several instructors build courses from the front end; included in every plan.

Academy LMS

• Individual$99

  per year for 1 site

  All Pro features, 1 year of support and updates. Shown as $99 against a crossed-out $199.

• Business$129

  per year for up to 10 sites

  Same features on 10 sites, shown against a crossed-out $299.

• Business Plus$149

  per year for up to 25 sites

  Same features on 25 sites, shown against a crossed-out $349.

• Agency$199

  per year for up to 100 sites

  Same features on 100 sites, shown against a crossed-out $399.

• Agency Plus$229

  per year for up to 200 sites

  Same features on 200 sites, shown against a crossed-out $449.

LearnDash

• 1 site$350

  per year for 1 site

  Includes LearnDash with MemberDash, ProPanel reporting, groups and instructors, plus the Kadence theme, Give and The Events Calendar.

• 10 sites$599

  per year for up to 10 sites

  The same bundle as the 1-site plan on more sites; the pricing page works it out at $59.90 per site a year.

• 25 sites$799

  per year for up to 25 sites

  The same bundle as the 1-site plan on more sites; the pricing page works it out at $31.96 per site a year.

• 50 sites$899

  per year for up to 50 sites

  The same bundle as the 1-site plan on more sites; the pricing page works it out at $17.98 per site a year.

• 100 sites$999

  per year for up to 100 sites

  The same bundle as the 1-site plan on more sites; the pricing page works it out at $9.99 per site a year.