LifterLMS vs Sensei LMS (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org LMS Plugins top 10: LifterLMS at #7 and Sensei LMS at #5. LifterLMS leads on 4 of the 6 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 6 measures we track.
Sensei LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #7 in LMS Plugins.
LifterLMS has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 9,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: LifterLMS has 393, Sensei LMS has 40. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
LifterLMS has more reviews behind its score: 393 against 40.
LifterLMS was updated more recently, on October 9, 2026; Sensei LMS on September 29, 2026.
LifterLMS was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 24,321 times against 11,382.
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 want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Sensei LMS
Pick Sensei LMS if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
LifterLMS vs Sensei LMS side by side
| LifterLMS | Sensei LMS | |
|---|---|---|
| LMS Plugins ranking | #7 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 3.5 |
| Reviews | 393 | 40 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 9,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,785,968 | 820,416 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 24,321 | 11,382 |
| Last updated | Oct 9, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 12, 2016 | May 1, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
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 6 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 #7 in LMS Plugins.
Which has more users, LifterLMS or Sensei LMS?
Sensei LMS ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #7 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.
More LMS Plugins comparisons
- Academy LMS vs LifterLMS
- Academy LMS vs Sensei LMS
- FluentCommunity vs LifterLMS
- FluentCommunity vs Sensei LMS
- Masteriyo LMS vs LifterLMS
- Masteriyo LMS vs Sensei LMS
- LearnPress vs LifterLMS
- LearnPress vs Sensei LMS
- LearnPress vs LifterLMS
- LearnPress vs Sensei LMS
- LearnPress vs LifterLMS
- LearnPress vs Sensei LMS
Weekly · free
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.