It’s never simple to pick an e-Learning platform. When you start an e-Learning company, this is one of the first and most important decisions you’ll have to make.
A sound LMS system should offer you adequate tools to teach your students in the early days properly and scale to meet your growing needs as your business grows.
This is where open-source e-Learning solutions such as Moodle and WordPress+LearnDash come in. They have all of the required capabilities for developing any e-Learning site, and their open-source nature allows you to adapt the platform to your changing needs.
Now the issue is, which of these two options should you choose? In this article, we’ll compare LearnDash vs Moodle so you can figure out which platform is ideal for you.
LearnDash
Check out
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Moodle
Check out
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| Starts at $199 | It is absolutely free.. |
LearnDash is a WordPress learning management system that allows you to create multimedia courses straight on your website. |
Moodle is the world's best LMS because it is supported by a global community of developers |
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It is based on WordPress, which has always been known for its simplicity and ease of use. |
If you want complete control over every aspect of your site with this LMS, you need to have a basic understanding of coding. |
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The costs are totally justified given the functionality and flexibility offered by LearnDash |
Moodle is completely free of cost because it’s an open-source platform. |
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It has dedicated support teams that take care of their users very well |
Great customer support but lacks a personal touch |
| Check out | Check out |
Looking for the perfect Learning Management System (LMS) to help expand your online course or virtual training program? Consider LearnDash or Moodle, which are popular choices that offer effective solutions.
These are two popular choices that can make a difference. I’ll compare LearnDash and Moodle to help you determine which one might be better for you.
In this post, I will compare LearnDash vs Moodle in terms of their features, pricing, user experience, and more to help you decide which LMS plugin works best for your business needs.
Whether you’re new to online teaching or want to switch from a tool you already use, this comparison will help you better understand these two options!
Bottom Line Upfront:
I believe that LearnDash is an excellent WordPress plugin for anyone looking to create courses online. It’s a versatile tool that suits individual course creators and institutions starting their online education journey.
What’s impressive is that it covers most of your needs, offering features you might have to pay extra for with other plugins.
The recent addition of the course builder is a real game-changer, especially if you already have your course content prepared. With that in place, you could have your online courses up and running within just a few hours.
Contents
- LearnDash vs Moodle: Which One To Choose? (Pros & Cons Compared)🤷♀️
- Features👉
- Features Unique to LearnDash
- Features Unique to Moodle
- Fundamental Difference🔥
- Basic Structure Difference😉
- Content Creation and Management
- LearnDash vs Moodle: Ease of Use
- Customer Support✅
- Selling Your Courses
- Gamification
- eCommerce Integration🙌
- LearnDash vs Moodle Pricing Plans
- PROS and CONS🤓
- LearnDash vs Moodle: Frequently Asked Questions👌
- How does LearnDash stack up against Moodle?
- Is it possible to use Moodle with WordPress?
- Is it possible to charge for Moodle courses?
- Who should make use of LearnDash?
- Is it possible to use LearnDash without using WordPress?
- Is LearnDash easy to use?
- Is Moodle safe to use?
- LearnDash vs Moodle Final Verdict: Which One is Better, LearnDash or Moodle?🙌
LearnDash vs Moodle: Which One To Choose? (Pros & Cons Compared)🤷♀️
One of the most significant distinctions between LearnDash and Moodle is that the former is not a full-fledged learning management system in and of itself.
Instead, it extends the capabilities of a robust, scalable, and adaptable CMS platform (WordPress) to serve as an excellent LMS platform.
It has a learning curve because most of its functionality is taken from WordPress, a general-purpose CMS for all websites.
Moodle is a full-fledged LMS with every aspect of its functionality built specifically for creating e-learning. This substantially decreases the amount of technical knowledge required to access your LMS.
Another significant distinction is the nature of both services.
On the other hand, LearnDash is a paid plugin for the open-source WordPress open-source CMS, whereas Moodle is open-source software. While it is built on open-source platform features and capabilities, it is not an open-source solution in and of itself.
Check my in-depth comparison of WP Courseware vs. LearnDash if you want another comparison.
Features👉
While both LearnDash and Moodle have all of the functionality that every e-learning site needs, it’s only logical that one of them has more than the other because they’re two distinct products. The following is a list of their features:
Common features
- Compatibility with eLearning Standards: Moodle LMS and LearnDash LMS are compatible with eLearning standards such as SCORM and xAPI.
- Free and Open-Source: Both platforms are free and open-source software, allowing users to customize and adapt to their specific needs.
- Activity Management: Both platforms include features for activity management, such as quizzes, assignments, and assessments.
- Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning: Both platforms allow for the delivery of live lessons through synchronous learning or recorded classes through asynchronous learning.
- Dashboards: Both platforms provide dashboards for students, professors, and administrators.
- Gamification: Both platforms offer the integration of gamification elements to enhance the learning experience.
- Blended and Mobile Learning: Both platforms offer blended and mobile learning options.
Features Unique to LearnDash
E-Commerce capabilities and a knowledgebase to assist new users in learning how to use the software. Allows you to create subscriptions and distribute them effortlessly using Mailchimp, Stripe, and other popular services. Moodle does not provide these functionalities.
Working with WordPress also allows LearnDash to take use of all of WordPress’s 58,000+ plugins and themes.
Features Unique to Moodle
To engage your learners using smartphones, use video conferencing and a mobile app. These functionalities aren’t available in LearnDash, so you’ll have to rely on extensions or other third-party applications to get them.
Fundamental Difference🔥
One of the most significant differences between LearnDash and Moodle is that the former is not a standalone learning management system.
Instead, it expands the capabilities of a robust, scalable, and adaptable CMS platform (WordPress) to serve as an excellent LMS platform.
It has a learning curve as a significant portion of functionality is derived from WordPress. It would be best if you first learned how to use WordPress before you could use LearnDash.
Moodle LMS, on the other hand, is a full-fledged LMS with every feature designed specifically for the creation of e-learning. This significantly reduces the amount of technical knowledge needed to access your LMS.
The nature of both services is another significant distinction.
LearnDash is a paid add-on for the open-source WordPress CMS, whereas Moodle is free software. Despite being built on open-source platform features and capabilities, it is not an open-source solution in and of itself.
Basic Structure Difference😉
LearnDash is a WordPress plugin that allows educators to create courses quickly and easily. It offers many customizable features, such as learner profiles, certificates, advanced quizzes, and more.
Moodle LMS is a Learning Management System focused solely on e-learning. It is user-friendly and easy to use, even for those who are not experts in LMS.
Additionally, it functions as a Content Management System, allowing users to design and build their e-learning platform without needing an additional CMS such as WordPress.
As an LCMS (Learning and Content Management System), Moodle LMS prioritizes content and learning management.
Content Creation and Management
LearnDash and Moodle have enough features to help you create and organize professional course content.
There is no doubt, however, that WordPress is the best content management system available.
It is the most popular CMS created for various reasons, including its excellent content generation and organization features.
Unsurprisingly, LearnDash outperforms Moodle LMS regarding course content because they use the same features.
There are no restrictions on what you can do with your course content on this platform. It’s yours to design, organize, and display however you want!
It’s versatile enough for that, and even if the feature(s) you want isn’t included, there’s a good chance you’ll find a suitable extension to fill the gap.
Because of WordPress, LearnDash also provides many relevant themes that you can use to make your e-learning site look professional.
Moodle LMS, on the other hand, has a lot of tools to let you build and arrange your course content however you want, but it doesn’t have as many themes as LearnDash to give you the freedom to design your site however you want without knowing how to code.
This is only possible with WordPress and LearnDash.
LearnDash vs Moodle: Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, both LearnDash and Moodle have user-friendly interfaces with readily available instructions and videos to assist in navigation.
LearnDash is built on WordPress, a platform that has long been praised for its ease of use and simplicity.
However, LearnDash has an advantage due to its foundation on the widely-used and user-friendly platform WordPress. With a large community of developers and supporters, LearnDash offers a more intuitive backend interface and a variety of plugins to customize the platform without coding knowledge.
In contrast, Moodle requires a basic understanding of coding for complete control over the site’s features. As a result, LearnDash may have a shallower learning curve compared to Moodle.
Customer Support✅
In the e-learning industry, customer service plays a crucial role. Technical issues can cause disruptions to your website and delay learning for your students.
Therefore, it is essential to consider the level of support offered by different e-learning platforms. LearnDash and Moodle have dedicated support teams that assist users, but LearnDash has an added advantage.
Being built on WordPress, which powers 30% of the internet, LearnDash has access to a vast pool of talent and resources. This means that solutions to most issues can be found in the LearnDash and WordPress forums, reducing the need for direct support.
On the other hand, while Moodle LMS also has a dedicated community of users in its forums, the chances of finding a solution may be lower.
Selling Your Courses
This is one area where LearnDash excels while Moodle needs to catch up. While it is an excellent LMS, it was never designed to be used as an e-commerce platform. Moodle does not include a feature that allows you to sell your courses because the team that created it was primarily focused on e-learning.
It’s ideal if you’re willing to teach others for free. When you decide to offer your courses, you’ll need something other than your Moodle LMS (maybe a dual system based on WordPress or a Moodle extension that enables limited e-commerce functionality).
LearnDash, on the other hand, is free of this problem. It is built on WordPress, which already has a good e-commerce plugin, WooCommerce, to help you sell your courses.
Life becomes easier when you don’t have to manage two different systems. Furthermore, WooCommerce’s capabilities far outperform any Moodle plugin currently available.
Gamification
Both LearnDash and Moodle have excellent gamification capabilities that may be used to boost your students’ interest in learning. Both of them have reward points, certificates, awards, badges, and other standard gamification elements.
Both include a collection of plugins that allow for even more advanced gamification elements, such as a ranking system, automated achievements, cognitive games, and more. As a result, both are on par when it comes to gamification.
eCommerce Integration🙌
Moodle LMS is a rigid LMS platform that does not allow you to sell your courses. There is no eCommerce integration on this LMS platform.
You must instead rely on third-party integration solutions to connect your website to a content management system (CMS), most commonly WordPress.
You can now sell your products online with the help of WordPress and eCommerce plugins such as WooCommerce. This means you’ll have to coordinate the administration of two platforms.
LMS LearnDash: Payment methods can be easily connected with the help of specialist eCommerce plugins such as WooCommerce, EDD, Stripe, and others. Keeping track of multiple platforms to sell courses is optional.
LearnDash vs Moodle Pricing Plans
Pricing is another spot where LearnDash and Moodle differ considerably from one another.
While LearnDash is a commercial platform that costs $199 per year.
LearnDash’s premium extensions are more expensive than Moodle’s, but the fees are well justified, considering Learndash’s capabilities and versatility.
The expensive charges of LearnDash and its extensions are a disadvantage if you can’t pay them; otherwise, users rarely complain about them.
LearnDash charges an annual subscription fee. Sadly, there’s no option to break this expense down into monthly payments. In addition, each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can check it out without risking your money.
It includes a demo site design to help you learn the ropes before diving head-first! Following is a list of the costs:
Basic: $199
- One site license
- You can create unlimited courses
- You can register an infinite number of users
- Course content protection
- You can drip-feed lessons
- Access to advanced quizzing blocks
- You can issue certificates and badges
- You can run course forums
- Email notifications
- Free integrations
- One year’s worth of support and updates
Plus: $399
- Includes ProPanel advanced reporting dashboard and ten site licenses
- Allows for real-time monitoring of student activity
- Ability to approve, remove, and manage assignments and essays
- View and download student course progress and quiz scores
Pro: $799
- Includes everything from the Plus plan
- Unlimited sites
- Scalable options for growing over more sites.
Moodle is a free, open-source platform.
PROS and CONS🤓
LearnDash
Pros
- It includes a focus mode that works well with page builders and provides a professional look.
- Offers a wide range of pricing options
- The new course builder is user-friendly, and adding blocks, courses, lessons, and other elements is simple.
- Several plugins are available to expand the LMS, with no additional fees for essential features like payments or user administration.
- The Astra theme is lightweight and easy to customize.
Cons
- Register to access documentation, FAQs, sample courses, and support.
- It requires a significant learning curve to use it effectively
- No free trials are available
Moodle
Pros
- Strong language support
- Provides various ways to track progress and report on it
- Offers a range of activities such as peer evaluation workshops, real-time chat, and wiki forums
- Administrators can add or build features as needed with the modular, plugin-based design
- Open-source and free-to-use
Cons
- Limited themes and plugins available compared to LearnDash
- Lacks e-commerce capability
- Setup is complex
Quick Links
LearnDash vs Moodle: Frequently Asked Questions👌
How does LearnDash stack up against Moodle?
LearnDash is a WordPress plugin that incorporates cutting-edge learning techniques. More than simply a plugin, we provide people and organizations interested in creating online courses with practical and experience-based help. Moodle is a learning platform that allows educators, administrators, and students to construct customized learning environments using a single, resilient, secure, and integrated system. You may either install the program on your web server or contact one of our Moodle Partners for help.
Is it possible to use Moodle with WordPress?
Yes! Using the Edwiser Bridge plugin, you can easily integrate Moodle and WordPress. The best aspect is that, if it still needs to be, you can make it entirely compatible with your Moodle theme.
Is it possible to charge for Moodle courses?
You may charge for your courses using Moodle and PayPal. Anyone interested in purchasing a system must create an account on your website. You can enable sign-up.
Who should make use of LearnDash?
Anyone who wants to use WordPress to create a learning management system. This includes, but is not limited to, WordPress developers with clients who wish to an LMS, training businesses, and educational institutions.
Is it possible to use LearnDash without using WordPress?
LearnDash is a WordPress plugin, which means it will only function with WordPress and nothing else. WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS). LearnDash takes those features and enhances them to include e-learning.
Is LearnDash easy to use?
For third-party add-ons, go with recognized developers like those listed on their website. It would be best if you used LearnDash: LearnDash was more user-friendly and versatile, and its interface with WordPress gave it access to a larger audience.
Is Moodle safe to use?
Moodle is built to be highly secure. However, many depend on the web server, Moodle’s configuration, and the Moodle Administrator’s frequent package upgrades.
LearnDash vs Moodle Final Verdict: Which One is Better, LearnDash or Moodle?🙌
Ultimately, when choosing between LearnDash and Moodle as your LMS plugins, there is no right or wrong answer. Each offers advantages and disadvantages that each should weigh carefully before committing.
Although LearnDash offers a superior user experience with rich features such as its drag-and-drop interface, content programming capabilities, and membership options, these features come at a cost.
However, Moodle offers an economical version for those on a tight budget still looking to provide a quality learning experience. Both LMS plugins offer everything you need to power up your website, but they are unique.
Ultimately, it’s up to you which one you choose and how you decide on the best route for your online learning needs.
However, if you want to use Moodle to create a large e-learning marketplace, you’ll likely have to tinker with its open-source code to meet your needs (like many international universities have done).
Finally, the decision is based on your platform expectations, technological expertise, and target audience.
What platform are you planning to use? Please notify us by leaving a comment.
