Academy LMS vs LifterLMS (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 LifterLMS at #4. LifterLMS leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. 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.
LifterLMS
LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes
Complete e-learning platform to sell online courses, protect lessons, offer memberships, and quiz students. WP Learning Management System.
Who leads on what
LifterLMS leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
LifterLMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
LifterLMS has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Academy LMS is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 120 reviews, against 4.8 from 391 reviews.
LifterLMS has more reviews behind its score: 391 against 120.
LifterLMS was updated more recently, on August 24, 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 the review score matters most to you.
LifterLMS
Pick LifterLMS if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Academy LMS vs LifterLMS side by side
| Academy LMS | LifterLMS | |
|---|---|---|
| LMS Plugins ranking | #8 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 120 | 391 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 196,005 | 1,753,624 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 14, 2026 | Aug 24, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 5, 2021 | Feb 12, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Academy LMS ratings
LifterLMS 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 LifterLMS can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the LMS Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Academy LMS vs LifterLMS: common questions
Is Academy LMS better than LifterLMS?
LifterLMS leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. LifterLMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Which has more users, Academy LMS or LifterLMS?
LifterLMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Academy LMS or LifterLMS?
LifterLMS has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Academy LMS and LifterLMS free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Academy LMS is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. LifterLMS is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Academy LMS and LifterLMS
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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