Academy LMS vs Sensei LMS (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 Sensei LMS at #5. Sensei LMS leads on 3 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.
Sensei LMS
Sensei LMS – Online Courses, Quizzes, & Learning
Create beautiful and engaging online courses, lessons, and quizzes.
Who leads on what
Sensei LMS leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Sensei LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Sensei LMS has more users: 9,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Academy LMS has 120, Sensei LMS has 40. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Academy LMS has more reviews behind its score: 120 against 40.
Sensei LMS was updated more recently, on August 20, 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 want the score backed by more reviews.
Sensei LMS
Pick Sensei LMS if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Academy LMS vs Sensei LMS side by side
| Academy LMS | Sensei LMS | |
|---|---|---|
| LMS Plugins ranking | #8 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 3.5 |
| Reviews | 120 | 40 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 9,000+ |
| Total downloads | 196,005 | 805,871 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 14, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 5, 2021 | May 1, 2019 |
| 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
Sensei LMS 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 Sensei LMS can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the LMS Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Academy LMS vs Sensei LMS: common questions
Is Academy LMS better than Sensei LMS?
Sensei LMS leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Sensei LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Which has more users, Academy LMS or Sensei LMS?
Sensei LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Academy LMS or Sensei LMS?
Sensei LMS has more users: 9,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Academy LMS and Sensei LMS free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Academy LMS is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Sensei LMS may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Academy LMS and Sensei LMS
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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