Masteriyo 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: Masteriyo LMS at #6 and LifterLMS at #4. LifterLMS leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Masteriyo LMS
Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates
Complete WordPress LMS plugin. Build & sell online courses with quizzes, certificates, and built-in payments. The all-in-one LMS for course creators.
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 3 of the 5 measures we track.
LifterLMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in LMS Plugins.
LifterLMS has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 5,000+.
Both are rated 4.8 out of 5 (180 and 391 reviews).
LifterLMS has more reviews behind its score: 391 against 180.
Masteriyo LMS was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; LifterLMS on August 24, 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.
Masteriyo LMS
Pick Masteriyo LMS if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
LifterLMS
Pick LifterLMS if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Masteriyo LMS vs LifterLMS side by side
| Masteriyo LMS | LifterLMS | |
|---|---|---|
| LMS Plugins ranking | #6 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 180 | 391 |
| Active installs | 5,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 304,107 | 1,753,624 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 2, 2026 | Aug 24, 2026 |
| First published | Sep 16, 2021 | Feb 12, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 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.
Masteriyo 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 Masteriyo LMS nor LifterLMS can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the LMS Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Masteriyo LMS vs LifterLMS: common questions
Is Masteriyo LMS better than LifterLMS?
LifterLMS leads on 3 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 #6 in LMS Plugins.
Which has more users, Masteriyo LMS or LifterLMS?
LifterLMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in LMS Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Masteriyo LMS or LifterLMS?
LifterLMS has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 5,000+.
Are Masteriyo LMS and LifterLMS free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Masteriyo 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 Masteriyo LMS and LifterLMS
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.