Academy LMS vs MasterStudy LMS WordPress (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 MasterStudy LMS WordPress at #7. MasterStudy LMS WordPress 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.
MasterStudy LMS WordPress
MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin – for Online Courses and Education
Learning Management System and eLearning plugin for WordPress. Create easily LMS WordPress website, add and sell Courses, Lessons, Quizzes online.
Who leads on what
MasterStudy LMS WordPress leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
MasterStudy LMS WordPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
MasterStudy LMS WordPress has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Academy LMS is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 120 reviews, against 4.5 from 485 reviews.
MasterStudy LMS WordPress has more reviews behind its score: 485 against 120.
MasterStudy LMS WordPress was updated more recently, on September 4, 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.
MasterStudy LMS WordPress
Pick MasterStudy LMS WordPress 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 MasterStudy LMS WordPress side by side
| Academy LMS | MasterStudy LMS WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| LMS Plugins ranking | #8 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 120 | 485 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 196,005 | 2,025,351 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 14, 2026 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 5, 2021 | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.0.4 |
| 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
MasterStudy LMS WordPress 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 MasterStudy LMS WordPress can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the LMS Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Academy LMS vs MasterStudy LMS WordPress: common questions
Is Academy LMS better than MasterStudy LMS WordPress?
MasterStudy LMS WordPress leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. MasterStudy LMS WordPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Which has more users, Academy LMS or MasterStudy LMS WordPress?
MasterStudy LMS WordPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Academy LMS or MasterStudy LMS WordPress?
MasterStudy LMS WordPress has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Academy LMS and MasterStudy LMS WordPress free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Academy LMS is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. MasterStudy LMS WordPress may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Academy LMS and MasterStudy LMS WordPress
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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