LMS (Learning Management Software) solutions are being widely used in an ever-increasing virtual economy to offer customized trainings, courses, and any other educational material designed to reach audiences beyond a traditional classroom environment. No longer limited to educational institutions, small businesses across industries are turning to LMS solutions to help archive learning materials for their teams or for an additional revenue stream. Read on to learn more about today’s top LMS solutions for small businesses.
Top Seven Best LMS Software Solutions for Small Businesses
- Graphy– Best Overall
- LearnWorlds– Best for Features
- iSpring Learn– Best for Training
- Tovuti– Best for Learners
- EdApp– Best for Mobile
- Coassemble– Best for Coaching
- Blackboard– Best for Reliability
1. Graphy– Best Overall
PRICING: Three tiers (Scale, Rise, and Launch) with fees ranging from 3%-10% of each transaction. Annual subscription between $4-$10k based on level.
Graphy has one of the best LMS products on the market, after acquiring the popular Spayee brand last year. Users rave about how easy it is to build their own website and learning environment on Graphy from start to finish, offering LMS customers a simplified solution to online learning. You still have to create and teach the classes though!
KEY FEATURES:
- Multimedia options for teaching courses ranging from video, webinar, and e-books, to assignments, audio and PDFs.
- Branded website building and white-label mobile apps
- Integrated payment systems for international sales and teaching scope
REASONS TO BUY:
- Free trial with no credit card required
- Ability to host and teach unlimited classes and learners
- Can offer paid memberships to your audience
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Launch tier has an additional onboarding fee
- No student attendance feature for live classes
- Cost of annual subscription may force small businesses into the Launch tier
2. LearnWorlds– Best for Features
PRICING: Two tiers either $99 or $299 per month, with annual subscription discounts available.
LearnWorlds offers some top-of-the-line features shared by many of the big players in the LMS software space, but at a more reasonable price. Small businesses will find the Pro Trainer Launch package an attractive option to consider when thinking about how to expand and monetize their learning opportunities to wider audiences.
KEY FEATURES:
- Learning capabilities through video, player, audio, and mobile
- Transcripts for video learning
- Easy-to-use drag and drop feature for website building
REASONS TO BUY:
- Free trial with no credit card required
- Over 200 website templates to choose from for almost endless customization of your learning brand
- Live courses with Zoom and Webex integration
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Sheer number of features can be overwhelming for some users who may not know how to take advantage of everything available
3. iSpring Learn – Best for Training
PRICING: Three bucketed tiers ranging from $2.82-$3.62 per active user per month based on total users.
iSpring Learn stands out for its ability to create e-learning courses that endure in a variety of environments for easy access. This platform shines when it comes to automating trainings for staff and tracking employee performance in course completion through a number of different learning styles customized for your small team.
KEY FEATURES:
- Report generation to monitor training and user progress
- iSpring Suite authoring tool enables speedy course and quiz creation
REASONS TO BUY:
- Free trial
- All plans offer unlimited users, paying only by active users
- Mobile app for learning on the go
- 24/7 customer support for all plans
REASONS TO AVOID:
- A user only has to log on once per month to be considered active
- Difficulty customizing report templates
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4. Tovuti– Best for Learners
PRICING: $775 per month for 50 users or less, billed on an annual basis.
Although a bit on the pricier side, Tovuti wins points for its ability to make an LMS solution that’s fun for learners. Small businesses looking to motivate their learners will want to take advantage of the gamification programming as well as other enticing features that will keep their audiences coming back for more.
KEY FEATURES:
- Gamifications keep learners engaged with badges, leaderboards, milestone celebrations, and certifications
- Can import existing content or build your own through the platform
- Lesson gating (requiring learners to complete certain tasks before moving to the next one)
REASONS TO BUY:
- Mobile app
- Coaching support and a tutorial library to get all new clients up to speed
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Hefty implementation fee
5. EdApp– Best for Mobile
PRICING: Free. Paid version starting at $1.95 per user per month
EdApp earns its spot on our list for being one of the best LMS solutions in general, but also because it was designed specifically for the mobile user. Branding themselves as an MLMS (mobile learning management) solution, EdApp targets microlearning experiences for unconventional learning moments on the go.
KEY FEATURES:
- Authoring tool and gamification
- Free course library
- “Brain Boost” repetition strategies for enhanced learner retention
- Reward mechanism to allow learners to win prizes such as gift cards
REASONS TO BUY:
- Strong reported engagement and active learning sessions from users
- Integration with applications such as PowerPoint and Canva
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Deploying an exclusively mobile LMS solution can be limiting for some small business teams
- Fewer privacy features than the competition
6. Coassemble– Best for Coaching
PRICING: Varies by team size. $50 per month for up to 10 users and increases in price beyond 10 users.
Coassemble offers a strong LMS solution for small businesses based on its history as a coaching platform and its ability to create excellent small business training programs. There are multimedia learning opportunities available within the solution, including virtual, hybrid, traditional, and microlearning.
KEY FEATURES:
- Unlimited courses across all plans
- Cloud-based environments means that all updates and upgrades are deployed automatically
- Over 30 screen layouts in addition to template options
REASONS TO BUY:
- Free trial
- No contracts or annual commitments for lowest pricing tiers
- Onboarding support
REASONS TO AVOID:
- E-commerce capabilities require third-party integration
7. Blackboard– Best for Reliability
PRICING: Starts at $9,500 per year, custom quote required.
Although Blackboard is a household name in the education industry, it is also a useful platform for small businesses in other spaces to use for trainings or to host their content for users. Look to Blackboard Learn to meet your business’s needs if a respected brand that has been an industry leader for decades is a priority for you.
KEY FEATURES:
- Cloud-based SaaS deployment allows for automatic and seamless upgrades to tools
- Mass notification options
- Progress tracking for all learners
REASONS TO BUY:
- Free trial
- Strong testing and quizzing features
- Intuitive course navigation and organization
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Mobile app missing some features
- Cumbersome integration with third-party applications
References and Links
- https://financesonline.com/top-20-lms-solutions-for-small-business-for-2018/
- https://graphy.com/pricing
- https://www.getapp.com/education-childcare-software/a/spayee/reviews/
- https://www.tovutilms.com/
- https://www.edapp.com/lms-features/
- https://coassemble.com/pricing
- https://www.blackboard.com/teaching-learning/learning-management
- https://www.getapp.com/education-childcare-software/a/learnworlds/reviews/
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