Academy LMS vs FluentCommunity (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org LMS Plugins top 10: Academy LMS at #8 and FluentCommunity at #9. They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Academy LMS
Academy LMS is the top-rated WordPress LMS plugin — create, sell & manage online courses with AI, quizzes, certificates & multi-instructor tools.
FluentCommunity
FluentCommunity – Ultra-Fast High-Performance Social Network, Community, LMS & Online Courses
Get a fast & all-in-one community plugin. Create unlimited communities, and courses with robust social networking and LMS features.
Who leads on what
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Academy LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in LMS Plugins.
FluentCommunity has more users: 8,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Both are rated 4.9 out of 5 (120 and 90 reviews).
Academy LMS has more reviews behind its score: 120 against 90.
FluentCommunity was updated more recently, on September 3, 2026; Academy LMS on July 14, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Academy LMS
Pick Academy LMS if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
FluentCommunity
Pick FluentCommunity if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Academy LMS vs FluentCommunity side by side
| Academy LMS | FluentCommunity | |
|---|---|---|
| LMS Plugins ranking | #8 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 120 | 90 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 8,000+ |
| Total downloads | 196,005 | 158,110 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 14, 2026 | Sep 3, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 5, 2021 | Nov 7, 2024 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Academy LMS ratings
FluentCommunity ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Academy LMS nor FluentCommunity can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the LMS Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Academy LMS vs FluentCommunity: common questions
Is Academy LMS better than FluentCommunity?
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Academy LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in LMS Plugins.
Which has more users, Academy LMS or FluentCommunity?
Academy LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in LMS Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Academy LMS or FluentCommunity?
FluentCommunity has more users: 8,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Academy LMS and FluentCommunity free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Academy LMS is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. FluentCommunity may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Academy LMS and FluentCommunity
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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