LifterLMS 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: LifterLMS at #4 and Sensei LMS at #5. LifterLMS leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
Sensei LMS
Sensei LMS – Online Courses, Quizzes, & Learning
Create beautiful and engaging online courses, lessons, and quizzes.
Who leads on what
LifterLMS leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
LifterLMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #5 in LMS Plugins.
LifterLMS has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 9,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: LifterLMS has 391, Sensei LMS has 40. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
LifterLMS has more reviews behind its score: 391 against 40.
LifterLMS was updated more recently, on August 24, 2026; Sensei LMS on August 20, 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.
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.
Sensei LMS
Sensei LMS does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
LifterLMS vs Sensei LMS side by side
| LifterLMS | Sensei LMS | |
|---|---|---|
| LMS Plugins ranking | #4 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 3.5 |
| Reviews | 391 | 40 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 9,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,753,624 | 805,871 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 24, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 12, 2016 | May 1, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 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.
LifterLMS 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 LifterLMS nor Sensei LMS can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the LMS Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
LifterLMS vs Sensei LMS: common questions
Is LifterLMS better than Sensei LMS?
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 #5 in LMS Plugins.
Which has more users, LifterLMS or Sensei LMS?
LifterLMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #5 in LMS Plugins.
Which is rated higher, LifterLMS or Sensei LMS?
LifterLMS has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 9,000+.
Are LifterLMS and Sensei LMS free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. LifterLMS 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 LifterLMS and Sensei 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.