Choosing the right tools and best platforms for your online course or membership site can be overwhelming, especially with the variety of options available. LearnDash simplifies this by offering three distinct products, each designed to meet different needs. In this article, we’ll outline the pricing details and features of the LearnDash LMS Plugin, LearnDash Cloud, and the MemberDash Plugin, helping you determine which product best fits your needs.

Quick Guide to LearnDash’s Products

LearnDash LMS Plugin A WordPress plugin that allows you to create and sell dynamic courses directly on your website.
LearnDash Cloud A monthly subscription service that includes hosting and LMS features, streamlining the process of setting up and managing your online courses.
MemberDash Plugin A plugin designed to protect your WordPress content and build a flexible membership site, fully integrating with LearnDash LMS.

LearnDash LMS Plugin: Features and Pricing

The LearnDash LMS Plugin is a powerful tool for creating and selling courses on your WordPress site. Here’s what it provides:

LearnDash Cloud: Features and Pricing

Key Features

Creating and managing online courses with LearnDash LMS Plugin is straightforward and efficient. The Drag & Drop Course Builder and AI-powered tools make course creation simple, while easy assignment management and team collaboration features streamline the workflow. Selling options are flexible, allowing you to offer courses through subscriptions, memberships, bundles, or one-time purchases.

The onboarding wizard gets you up and running quickly, and features like LearnDash video progression feature and Focus Mode keep learners engaged. The course dashboard centralizes all course management tasks, and payment integration with PayPal and Stripe ensures smooth transactions. As your needs evolve, the Add-On Marketplace provides additional tools to enhance your LMS.

Pricing:

1 Site: $199 per year

10 Sites: $399 per year

Unlimited Sites: $799 per year

LearnDash Cloud: Features and Pricing

LearnDash Cloud is a hosted solution that simplifies course creation by bundling hosting with LMS features, making it ideal for those who want an all-in-one package.

Key Features

With LearnDash Cloud, you can create as many courses as you need, free from restrictions. The platform simplifies the payment process with seamless Stripe integration, ensuring your transactions are handled efficiently. To help you track your course performance and student engagement, ProPanel analytics and reporting tools have valuable insights.

Designing your courses is made easier with a variety of starter templates, allowing you to jumpstart your projects and customize them to match your brand. Should you need assistance, dedicated support is always available, providing expert help whenever you need it.

Security and performance are prioritized with features like Solid Security Pro, which ensures your site remains safe, and Object Cache Pro, which enhances site performance with top-tier caching. With website hosting and WordPress CMS included, there’s no need for separate hosting solutions, making LearnDash Cloud an all-in-one package that keeps your site secure, up-to-date, and running smoothly.

Pricing

Each pricing tier for the LearnDash Cloud has increasingly advanced features:

Starter: $29 per month

Growth: $49 per month

Pro: $99 per month

MemberDash Plugin: Features and Pricing

The MemberDash Plugin is designed for those looking to create a membership site that integrates seamlessly with LearnDash LMS. It provides tools to protect your content, manage memberships, and streamline billing.

Key Features

The MemberDash plugin is designed to give you full control over your content and membership site. It allows you to protect your valuable content with flexible restriction options, ensuring only the right users have access. You can tailor membership levels to fit different needs, offering various access tiers to suit your audience.

Managing payments and invoices is straightforward with streamlined billing features, while the plugin’s seamless integration with LearnDash LMS provides a unified experience for course creators. MemberDash supports multiple payment gateways, making it easy to accept payments through various methods. Additionally, you can manage billing and give discounts through coupons, enhancing your site’s flexibility.

To help you keep track of your business, built-in reporting tools provide detailed insights into your membership and financial data, allowing you to make informed decisions and optimize your site’s performance.

Pricing

1 Site: $199 per year
10 Sites: $399 per year
Unlimited Sites: $799 per year

Additional Costs and Add-Ons

Beyond the basic pricing plans, there are additional costs associated with using LearnDash. These costs can include premium add-ons, themes, and hosting solutions. While LearnDash has several free add-ons, there are premium options available that can significantly enhance the functionality of your LMS.

Additionally, you might need to invest in an LMS theme, Zoom integration, gamification features, and hosting, depending on your specific requirements. Purchasing bundles can also result in significant savings compared to buying individual add-ons separately.

Additional Costs and Add-Ons

Premium Add-Ons Overview

LearnDash provides a variety of premium add-ons that can significantly enhance your LMS. These add-ons, such as Instructor Role—a custom dashboard with front-end course creation—starting at $80 and Reports for LearnDash starting at $120.

In addition to LearnDash’s official add-ons, various third-party add-ons are also available. These can further boost the platform’s functionality, providing features that cater to more specific needs. Whether you need advanced reporting tools or specific gamification features, these add-ons can provide the necessary enhancements to meet your LMS goals.

Hosting and Themes Cost

When considering the total cost of using LearnDash, it’s essential to factor in the costs of hosting and themes. While LearnDash provides the core LMS functionalities, you will need a suitable theme to enhance the visual appeal and usability of your site. Other costs like LearnDash video hosting costs, web hosting, email marketing, etc should also be considered as part of your budget. The BuddyBoss theme, for instance, costs $228 and is a popular choice for LearnDash users. Alternatively, the Astra theme starts at $49, offering a more budget-friendly option.

Stylish eLearning themes with ready-to-import demos can also be acquired, starting at $100. Moreover, hosting solutions are an important consideration, as they are separate from LearnDash’s standard pricing. Research and select a hosting option that meets the specific needs of an LMS environment to ensure smooth performance and scalability.

Reminder: LearnDash Cloud subscriptions provide a convenient alternative to the standard LearnDash plugin by including hosting along with the LMS features. This option simplifies the process for users, as they don’t need to worry about separate hosting arrangements.

Value of LearnDash Bundles

LearnDash bundles are a comprehensive solution for course creators by combining multiple products and features into one package. These bundles provide significant savings compared to purchasing each component individually, making them a cost-effective option for users. Additionally, these bundles can include LearnDash courses, enhancing the overall value for course creators.

Two notable bundles include the Ultimate Course Creator Bundle and the Student Success Bundle, each designed to meet specific needs of course creators and educators.

Ultimate Course Creator Bundle

The Ultimate Course Creator Bundle is designed to provide all the essential tools needed for comprehensive course creation and management. This bundle includes all four premium add-ons available for LearnDash, with features that enhance content delivery and learner engagement. By opting for this bundle, course creators can save significantly compared to purchasing each add-on individually.

This bundle is ideal for those looking to build and sell courses efficiently. It provides a robust set of tools to create engaging and interactive online courses, ensuring that instructors have everything they need to deliver high-quality educational experiences to their students.

Ultimate Course Creator Bundle Pricing

– 1 Site: $299 per year

– 10 Sites: $599 per year

– Unlimited Sites: $1,399 per year

Ultimate Course Creator Bundle Pricing

Student Success Bundle

The Student Success Bundle is tailored to enhance student engagement and outcomes. It includes tools such as LearnDash LMS, Gradebook, and Notes, which are essential for supporting learner engagement and helping instructors identify struggling learners. This bundle is particularly beneficial for educators who want to focus on student success and improve their learning outcomes.

By providing these supportive tools, the Student Success Bundle helps create a more engaging and productive learning environment. It ensures that students receive the necessary support to succeed, making it an invaluable addition to any educational setup.

Student Success Bundle Pricing

1 Site: $249 per year

10 Sites: $499 per year

Unlimited Sites: $1,099 per year

LearnDash Features and Benefits

LearnDash is packed with features that make it a powerful LMS platform. These features include extensive customization options, over 15 design options for the LearnDash course grid add-on, and various functionalities that enhance the learning experience. LearnDash add-ons, both free and premium, provide additional capabilities, ensuring that users can tailor the platform to their specific needs. Additionally, users can access LearnDash support for any queries they may have.

Advanced Quizzing Capabilities

LearnDash includes advanced quizzing capabilities that allow instructors to create a variety of question types, including multiple choice, true/false, and essay questions. The Advanced Quizzes add-on also includes unique question types like Jumbled Sentences and Swipe Questions, providing complete control over the assessment process.

Students can save their progress on quizzes and return later to continue, making the learning process more flexible. Additionally, features like negative marking and advanced reporting tools help instructors monitor assignments and analyze student performance effectively.

Drip Feed Content

Drip feed content is a powerful feature that allows course creators to release content gradually over time. This approach helps maintain student engagement by creating anticipation for upcoming materials and preventing information overload.

Drip content ensures learners receive information in manageable segments, enhancing their ability to absorb and retain knowledge. This approach also facilitates timely email notifications, keeping students informed about new course content and course updates.

Two Way Communication

Two-way communication is a crucial aspect of any LMS, and LearnDash excels in this area with features like message boards and email notifications. These tools facilitate interaction between students and instructors, enhancing the learning experience.

Message boards allow for creating message boards where students can ask questions and engage in discussions, fostering a sense of community. Email notifications keep students updated on course progress, assignments, and instructor feedback, ensuring that they remain informed and engaged throughout their learning journey.

LearnDash Alternatives

While LearnDash is a powerful LMS plugin, there are several alternatives available in the market. Popular options include LifterLMS, Tutor LMS, and AccessAlly, each including unique features that might cater to different user needs.

If you’re deciding between options, a LearnDash vs Lifter LMS comparison can help highlight key differences. These alternatives provide good options if you’re looking for specific features or pricing structures that better align with your requirements. Compare the features and pricing of these alternatives to determine which one best fits your needs.

LearnDash Alternatives

The Bottom Line

LearnDash offers a range of pricing plans and features designed to meet the needs of various users, from individual instructors to large organizations. By understanding the differences between the products and their features, as well as the additional costs and benefits of premium add-ons and bundles, you can make informed decisions about your LMS setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary differences between the LearnDash pricing plans?

The primary differences in LearnDash pricing plans are the number of sites you can use the plugin on: one site, ten sites, or unlimited sites. The LearnDash Cloud monthly subscription also offers tiered pricing based on the amount of features you desire.

Are there any additional costs associated with using LearnDash?

Yes, using LearnDash may incur additional costs for premium add-ons, themes, and hosting solutions, as these are often not included in the base package. It’s important to budget for these extras to fully utilize its features.

What is the LearnDash Cloud subscription, and how does it differ from the standard plugin?

The LearnDash Cloud subscription offers integrated hosting alongside LMS features, which can simplify course management and provide dedicated support. In contrast to the plugins, it focuses on a comprehensive, all-in-one solution for course creation and learner capacity management.

What are the benefits of the Ultimate Course Creator Bundle?

The Ultimate Course Creator Bundle offers comprehensive tools for course creation and management, along with significant savings compared to buying each add-on separately. This makes it an excellent investment for enhancing your e-learning offerings.

Are there any alternatives to LearnDash that I should consider?

Consider alternatives like LifterLMS, Tutor LMS, and AccessAlly, as each offers distinctive features that may align better with your specific requirements. Exploring these options can help you find the best fit for your learning management needs.

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