Academy LMS vs Tutor 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 Tutor LMS at #1. Tutor LMS 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.
Tutor LMS
Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution
A complete WordPress LMS plugin to create any eLearning website easily.
Who leads on what
Tutor LMS leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Tutor LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Tutor LMS has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Academy LMS is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 120 reviews, against 4.4 from 588 reviews.
Tutor LMS has more reviews behind its score: 588 against 120.
Tutor LMS was updated more recently, on August 21, 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.
Tutor LMS
Pick Tutor LMS 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 Tutor LMS side by side
| Academy LMS | Tutor LMS | |
|---|---|---|
| LMS Plugins ranking | #8 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 120 | 588 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 196,005 | 4,485,589 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 14, 2026 | Aug 21, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 5, 2021 | Feb 6, 2019 |
| 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
Tutor 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 Tutor LMS can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the LMS Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Academy LMS vs Tutor LMS: common questions
Is Academy LMS better than Tutor LMS?
Tutor LMS leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Tutor LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Which has more users, Academy LMS or Tutor LMS?
Tutor LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in LMS Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Academy LMS or Tutor LMS?
Tutor LMS has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Academy LMS and Tutor LMS free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Academy LMS is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Tutor LMS may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Academy LMS and Tutor LMS
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.