15 Best LMS for Small Businesses in 2024 [Free & Paid]

As a startup founder and trainer, I know that life isn’t always smooth sailing for small business owners when it comes to ongoing employee training & development.

To help make things easier, I’ve compiled a list of the 15 best LMS systems for small businesses (free and paid). It will assist you in delivering customized learning programs.

Ready to take your small business on a BIG learning adventure? If yes, continue reading.

What Is an LMS for Small Businesses?

A learning management system (LMS) is a web-based platform that streamlines employee training for small businesses. It acts as a central hub to manage, deliver, and track training programs. Small businesses can efficiently onboard new hires, ensure compliance with regulations, and upskill their workforce, even with limited resources. LMS features like automated course delivery, progress tracking, and reporting make training more manageable for small businesses.

What Are the Benefits of Using LMS Systems for Small Businesses?

Small businesses face several training hurdles without an LMS. Delivering consistent training, especially for remote teams, can be expensive and logistical. Tracking progress manually is tedious, and updating physical materials is a hassle. Scaling training for new employees or skills is difficult, and capturing valuable knowledge from experienced staff can be challenging.

This is where an LMS for small businesses can help. Let’s explore those advantages.

• Consistent Training: Deliver training efficiently to remote or dispersed teams as it saves time and money on scheduling and logistics.
• Easy Tracking: Track employee progress and measure knowledge retention effortlessly to ensure everyone is on the same page.
• Scalable Training: Easily adapt programs to accommodate new employees or skills as your business grows.
• Improved Knowledge Sharing: Capture and share valuable knowledge from experienced staff in a central location.
• Centralized Resources: Maintain and update training materials in one central location as it ensures that everyone has access to the latest information.
• Increased Compliance: Ensure employees are up-to-date on compliance requirements by easily tracking completions and certifications.
• Reduced Costs: Save time and money on training materials and delivery by centralizing resources and eliminating the need for physical materials.

What Features Should a Small Business Look for in an LMS?

With all these advantages in mind, it’s clear that a small business LMS can be a powerful tool for small businesses. But what specific features should you look for in an LMS platform? Here are some key functionalities to consider:

1. Easy Course Creation: Look for an LMS with intuitive tools that let you use text, videos, images, and even pre-built templates (trust me, these are lifesavers) to build awesome training materials. A drag-and-drop interface makes it easy, even if you’re not a tech whiz.
2. Learning Paths: Not everyone on your team needs the same training. This feature of an LMS system for a small business lets you create structured learning paths that act like personalized roadmaps for each role or department.
3. Mobile-Friendly Design: We all know how busy things can get in a business. A mobile-friendly LMS ensures your team can access training materials and complete courses anytime, anywhere, even during their commute!
4. Assessment Tools: How will you know if your training is sticking? Assessment tools like quizzes and discussions are like built-in progress checks. No more wondering if your training is effective – you’ll have the data to prove it!
5. Reporting and Analytics: No more guesswork! Reporting and analytics features give you valuable data on employee progress. This information helps you identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions about future programs.
6. Gamification Features: Let’s face it, traditional training can sometimes feel…well, a bit dull. Gamification features like points, badges, and leaderboards can make learning more engaging and interactive.
7. Social Learning: Features like discussion forums and collaboration tools can facilitate knowledge sharing and create a collaborative learning environment. Your team will benefit not only from the training materials but also from each other’s experiences.

How to Choose the Right Small Business LMS: 6 Things to Know

Now that we’ve explored some fantastic LMS features, let’s dive into how to choose the right platform for your small business. Here are some steps to guide you through the selection process:

1. Identify Your Training Needs: First things first! Think about the specific skills and knowledge you want your team to develop. Are you onboarding new hires? Do your sales reps need product training? Identifying these needs will help you narrow your LMS options and ensure the platform has the features to support your goals.
2. Consider Your Budget: The pricing of an LMS can vary depending on features and the number of users. Be realistic about your budget and look for a platform that offers good value for your money. Some LMS providers offer free trials or tiered pricing plans, so you can find one that fits your needs and financial constraints.
3. Ease of Use: Remember, you and your team will be using this platform every day. Choose an LMS with a user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate for everyone, regardless of their technical expertise. A good LMS should be intuitive and allow you to create and manage courses without much training.
4. Scalability: Think about the future! As your small business grows, your training needs might evolve. Choose an LMS that can scale with you, accommodating new employees and potentially even new departments or training programs down the line.
5. Customer Support: Let’s face it, even the most user-friendly platform might have occasional hiccups. Solid customer support is essential. Look for an LMS provider with reliable customer support options, whether by email, phone, or live chat, to ensure you get the help you need if you run into any problems.
6. Free Trial or Demo: Don’t just take their word for it! Many LMS providers offer free trials or demos. This is a fantastic opportunity to test-drive the platform, get a feel for its features, and see if it fits your team well.

Here’s a short video on how to choose the right LMS:

List of 15 LMS Systems for Small Businesses

I’m thrilled to share how I personally curated this list of the top 15 learning management systems for small businesses. I tried each system myself, gathered recommendations from industry experts, and conducted thorough online research to ensure you have the most effective and user-friendly options. Let’s explore these choices together!

1. ProProfs Training Maker – Best for Easy Online Employee Training & LMS

Creating a course from scratch might take several days or weeks. But not anymore!

Thanks to ProProfs Training Maker, the best LMS for small businesses with a library of hundreds of premium courses. With this easy-to-use and scalable LMS, I can start training my team in minutes. You can access pre-made courses on workplace safety, compliance, company policy and procedure, employee skills, sexual harassment prevention, etc., and give your employees a 360-degree learning experience.

• Engaging Learning: It offers various features, such as mobile learning, gamification, quizzes, flashcards, and offline learning.
• Seamless Integrations: I can easily integrate it with the systems and tools I already use. Plus, the third-party integrations with Salesforce, Mailchimp, SugarCRM, and Zoom give me flexibility.
• Customization Power: I can personalize the learning experience with over 100 customization options for privacy, security, branding, design, and more.
• Easy Content Creation: Uploading existing videos, presentations, and PDFs directly into courses is a breeze.
• Interactive Assessments: Engaging quizzes and assessments help me gauge learner understanding and motivate them.

While this LMS tool boasts a comprehensive feature set at a competitive price, there’s one area I’d love to see improvement: a dark viewing mode. Many users, myself included, prefer a dark interface for its eye-friendliness, especially during extended learning sessions. Hopefully, the developers will consider adding this functionality in future updates.

Pricing:

Forever free for small teams. Paid plan starts at $1.99/learner/month for large teams.

2. Absorb LMS – Best for Complex Training Needs

Absorb LMS is a feature-rich system designed to scale your business – from small teams to large enterprises. It offers a library of pre-built courses from industry experts so you can quickly train your team with high-quality content. The tool is accessibility-focused, ensuring everyone on your team can participate in learning initiatives.

Here’s what I find particularly appealing about Absorb LMS:

• Streamlined Verification: I can improve the verification process for learners by using e-signatures, adding a layer of trust and accountability.
• Interactive Learning: Absorb LMS allows learners to rate courses and interact with peers, fostering a more engaging and collaborative learning environment.
• Monetization Potential: The integrated e-commerce platform opens doors to potentially generate revenue by selling online courses you create.
• Motivational Recognition: Awarding learners with certificates and badges can boost morale and celebrate their achievements.

A small point to consider: Currently, Absorb LMS doesn’t allow scheduling courses for future assignments. Additionally, frequent feature updates, while intended to improve the platform, might require some adjustments from the admin side.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

3. Moodle – Best for open-source

I know cloud-based LMS are a hit among most small and mid-sized businesses due to their flexible pricing and 24/7 access.

However, if you are specifically looking for an open-source platform, I have a great option in store – Moodle LMS.

Since it is an open-source platform, I can control how it looks, feels, and functions. Admins or developers can use this free LMS for small businesses to easily customize everything from the interface to data security and privacy.

Here’s what I like about this tool:

• Stay Connected: The system keeps learners in the loop with email and mobile notifications, ensuring they never miss important updates or deadlines.
• Fight Plagiarism: I can easily connect Moodle with plagiarism detection tools, helping to maintain academic integrity within my courses.
• Mobile Learning on the Go: The mobile app makes learning flexible and convenient. Learners can access courses and materials anytime, anywhere.
• Global Support Community: It’s fantastic that this LMS has a supportive global community behind it. This community offers a wealth of resources and expertise that can help me build a robust learning platform.

I find that the tool’s requirement for users to manage server maintenance and data backups can be quite burdensome. This responsibility adds significant work and requires technical knowledge, which might not be my forte or interest. The limited integration options restrict my ability to connect seamlessly with other vital tools and platforms for my operations. I believe improving these aspects would greatly enhance its value.

Pricing:

Free (excludes commercial offerings like Moodle Workplace and Moodle Cloud)

4. CYPHER Learning LMS – Best for automated learning

Whether you are an educator, teacher, trainer, HR professional, or course creator, CYPHER Learning will help you bring out the best in you and your learners.

CYPHER Learning is a strong contender if you’re looking for an LMS that automates the grunt work of learning management. Their AI engine streamlines tasks like course creation, personalized learning paths, and even adaptive content delivery.

• Powerful Integrations: Zapier integrations are a lifesaver! They automate all those repetitive tasks that used to eat up my day. Now I can focus on more important things.
• Breaks Down Language Barriers: The Universal Translator is a game-changer. You won’t have to struggle to communicate with colleagues from different backgrounds. It streamlines communication and fosters a more inclusive work environment.
• Keep Learners Engaged: Gamification badges and points are a fun way to stay engaged. They make learning and development feel like a game, motivating me to keep improving myself.
• Personalized Learning: The personalized skill recommendations are spot-on. It’s like having a personal coach who suggests the training I need to advance my career.

While CYPHER excels in many areas, there’s always room for improvement. Two areas to consider are security and bulk actions. Compared to some competitors, CYPHER’s security features might be a bit lighter. Additionally, performing bulk actions on certain items can be cumbersome.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

5. Docebo LMS – Best for Complex Enterprise Training

Docebo LMS caters to the complex training needs of large enterprises. Its features, like AI-powered learning paths, social learning tools, and extensive integrations, help manage a high volume of learners and content.

Its AI support will help your team save time they would have otherwise spent on course creation and recommendation.

• Learn from the Best- Docebo isn’t just about top-down training. It lets our company’s superstars share their expertise through social learning. It’s a fantastic way to learn from the best and each other.

• Sell Courses: Docebo isn’t limited to internal training. I can actually create and sell online courses! This is a great way to share my knowledge with a wider audience and earn some extra income.

• Gamified Learning: Learning shouldn’t feel like a chore. Docebo’s leaderboard system makes racking up knowledge points and completing courses a fun competition.
• Seamless Integration: Docebo isn’t an island. It seamlessly connects with the tools we use daily, like Slack, Zoom, and Shopify, making learning even more convenient.

I would love to see them expand their integrations and APIs. Right now, the options feel a bit limited, which can be a pain if you use a lot of specialized tools. Additionally, the pricing can be a bit steep. Don’t get me wrong, the value is there, but it might be a tough pill for smaller companies to swallow.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

6. iSpring Learn – Best eLearning software for PowerPoint

Spring Learn is the ultimate platform for businesses looking to streamline their training with PPT-based courses. If you’re a fan of using PowerPoint for training, this LMS will become your go-to tool. It’s designed to make creating and delivering PowerPoint courses easier and more efficient than ever.

Spring Learn specializes in converting your existing PPT presentations into interactive online courses. It’s the perfect solution for businesses that already have PowerPoint training materials in place but want to deliver them in a more dynamic and trackable way. No need to reinvent the wheel—just enhance what you already have!

• PPT Conversion Made Easy: Got a bunch of PowerPoint slides? No problem! Spring Learn converts them into interactive eLearning courses without losing your original design or flow.
• Interactive Elements: Spring Learn allows you to do just that, turning your basic presentations into engaging and interactive experiences.
• Automated Progress Tracking: Set up automated reports that keep you updated on course completions and learner performance.
• Customizable Templates: Spring Learn offers ready-made templates to help you create professional-looking courses in minutes. 

While Spring Learn excels at delivering PowerPoint-based courses, it could benefit from more advanced customization options for interactive elements. Still, it’s an incredibly powerful tool for those who rely heavily on PowerPoint for training.

Also Read: Top 6 iSpring Alternatives & Competitors in 2024

Pricing:

Starts at $2.99/user/month

7. 360Learning – Best for Collaborative Learning

360Learning can revolutionize your training process by automating repetitive tasks and fostering collaboration across your team. This platform makes collaborative learning the heart of your training. With AI and collaboration tools, it enables your employees to become content creators, helping you upskill fast and continuously—all from within your organization. Imagine reducing course creation time from months to just 17 minutes!

• Automated Course Management: Enroll learners, track attendance, and set up automated notifications with ease. No more manual work!

• Seamless Collaboration: Want to create high-quality courses? 360Learning’s private forum allows course authors to brainstorm and share ideas, making teamwork smoother than ever.

• Custom Surveys: Gather direct feedback from learners with customizable surveys. Understanding their needs has never been easier.

• Fast and Cost-effective Course Creation: With 360Learning, anyone can create courses—quickly and cost-effectively. The days of relying solely on the L&D team are over.

While 360Learning streamlines learning and automates logistics, it’s not just about the tools. One thing I’d love to see is more gamification elements—points, badges, or leaderboards could definitely take learner engagement to the next level.

Pricing:

Starts at $8/user/month

8. Litmos – Best for External Training

As someone who constantly juggles tasks and deadlines, Litmos feels like a breath of fresh air. It keeps all my training needs in one place, so I can access courses and certifications whenever I have a spare moment on any device. No more hunting down scattered resources or waiting for in-person sessions. Plus, the interactive format keeps things engaging, and the bite-sized content makes it easy to fit learning into my busy schedule.

• Track everything: Course completions, content popularity, test averages, and other metrics—all in one place to see my progress and identify team needs.
• Ready-to-use courses: No time to build content from scratch? No problem! Litmos offers pre-made courses on compliance and leadership, saving me tons of time.
• Gamification for the win: Badges and leaderboards make learning fun and engaging, fostering friendly competition among colleagues.
• AI-powered video assessments: Creating assessments used to be a chore, but Litmos uses AI to streamline the process, saving me time and effort.

Litmos hits most of the marks for me, but there are a few areas where improvement can be made. The user interface feels a bit dated, and I’d love to see a more modern design. Additionally, the current system with only two user roles is limiting. I could tailor permissions for different teams and needs with a more flexible role structure.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

9. LearnUpon – Best for Delivering Impactful Training

As an educator and trainer, I always look forward to the reporting functionalities of any LMS system for small businesses. The reason is simple—better reports lead to better decision-making and learning. That is why I like LearnUpon.

The tool offers custom reports and analytics, which help me track relevant learning metrics such as exam results, survey responses, learner progression, training histories, and more.

Apart from the above, the other things that impress me are:

• Simplified Content Integration: Embedding Google Docs and Sheets directly into courses is amazing! No more hunting down separate files or worrying about version control.
• Seamless Live Training Delivery: The ability to launch live training sessions and webinars right from Litmos is a lifesaver. It eliminates scheduling headaches and makes training accessible to everyone.
• Enhanced Integrations: Litmos integrates seamlessly with the tools I already use, like Zoom and Teams. This keeps everything centralized and avoids the hassle of switching between platforms.
• Centralized Learner Tracking: Tracking learner scores and status within Litmos is a huge time saver. I can easily see how everyone’s doing and identify areas needing additional support.

While LearnUpon offers a robust feature set, there are a couple of things to consider. The Essential plan, for instance, lacks crucial integrations and white labeling functionalities that would be beneficial for a more comprehensive training experience. Additionally, the course search function could be more streamlined. Navigating and finding relevant courses sometimes feels like a time-consuming exercise.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

10. Canvas LMS – Best for K-12

Creating interactive lessons used to be a chore, but Canvas LMS has changed that! It provided me with a toolbox full of engaging features that allowed me to personalize the learning experience and keep learners motivated with feedback and progress tracking.

• Engaging Activities: Discussions, polls, and collaborative projects let learners work together and share ideas.
• Customizable Courses: I can design courses with points and badges for a game-like feel or set up discussion forums for in-depth conversations.
• Easy Feedback: Automatic grading for quizzes and assignments saves me time. I can then provide personalized comments to each student.
• Seamless Integration: Canvas works well with other tools I use, like Zoom and Google Drive. This saves time and avoids switching between different programs.

There’s a bit of a learning curve with this business LMS, and some customization requires technical know-how. Also, it’s important to note being the best LMS for business, it has its limitations. Many essential features are only available in paid plans, and setting things up can be a bit complex for trainers who are new to the platform.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

11. SkyPrep – Best for event staff training 

SkyPrep truly shines when it comes to training event staff. Its streamlined management and user-friendly interface make it simple for trainers and learners to focus on effective learning. This platform has proven invaluable for my organization, especially when rapid and accessible training is essential.

• Automated Grading: The automated grading system is a major time-saver in our training processes.
• Extensive Content Library: Our trainers utilize the extensive content library to enhance course materials.
• Custom Branding: We personalize the learning environment with our organization’s branding.
• Real-Time Tracking: Monitoring learner progress is straightforward with real-time tracking.

While SkyPrep serves us well, I see room for growth in its analytical capabilities to evaluate training outcomes better. Additionally, expanding the variety of interactive content could further engage and educate our event staff.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

12. Tovuti LMS – Best for FedRAMP requiring agencies 

Tovuti LMS is industry-leading software specifically optimized for Federal, Government, and State Local Education (SLED) sectors. The platform has gained a reputation for its robust capabilities and user-friendly design, which help government entities effectively enhance their training programs. With a focus on compliance and integration, Tovuti LMS meets the stringent requirements of FedRAMP, providing secure and reliable learning environments.

• FedRAMP Compliance: Ensures secure cloud services that meet federal security requirements.
• Dizi AI Assistant: Automates course and quiz creation, significantly reducing development time and costs.
• Extensive Partnerships: Collaborations with organizations like NIH and FEMA underscore its capability to handle complex governmental needs.
• Advanced Integration Capabilities: Offers seamless integration with AWS and GCP SaaS instances, enhancing system compatibility and performance.

While Tovuti LMS delivers powerful solutions for governmental training needs, the platform could further improve by expanding its virtual reality e-learning options. More immersive learning experiences would provide innovative training methods that could enhance user engagement and knowledge retention.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

13. Trakstar Learn – Best for content & delivery for easier upskilling

Trakstar Learn stands out as my go-to tool for content creation and delivery, especially when it comes to upskilling my team efficiently. Its intuitive design and comprehensive features enable me to create engaging and educational content that meets my organization’s diverse needs. I find it incredibly effective for delivering training that ensures my team learns and applies new skills effectively. The top features included are:

• Rich Content Creation Tools: I use these tools to create interactive and impactful learning modules.
• Automated Learning Paths: These help me design structured upskilling programs tailored to individual or departmental needs.
• Real-Time Feedback and Reporting: This feature lets me track progress and pinpoint areas where learners may need additional support.
• Mobile Compatibility: Ensures my team can learn on the go, which is crucial for accommodating busy schedules.

While Trakstar Learn is instrumental in our learning and development strategy, it could add more advanced gamification elements to increase learner engagement. Additionally, expanding its range of integrations with other HR tools would streamline my workflows and enhance the overall user experience.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

14. Braincert – Best for gamification

BrainCert’s gamified LMS offers an engaging and interactive approach to eLearning. It transforms the learning experience into an adventure that motivates learners to excel and achieve. This platform provides a suite of tools that not only facilitate learning but also make it a rewarding experience for both learners and instructors.

• Award Points for Achievements: BrainCert allows instructors to automatically award points to learners for completing various educational activities, such as lessons, assignments, and assessments.
• Badges for Recognition: Instructors can award custom or preloaded badges to learners who achieve specific milestones or demonstrate exceptional skills. This acts as a form of recognition and motivates learners to strive for excellence.
• Track Rewards and Discounts: The platform enables instructors to offer discounts on courses and track these incentives, ensuring transparency and accountability in promotional activities.
• Leaderboards for Competitive Learning: BrainCert includes a leaderboard feature that displays learner rankings based on their progress and achievements.

Pricing:

Forever free plan (charges 8% transaction fee). The paid plan starts at $36.00/month.

15. Blackboard – Best for community-based learning 

We’ve been using Blackboard Learn a lot around here, and it’s pretty much the backbone of our educational programs—from kids in school to professionals honing their skills. It’s our go-to because the tool excels in community-based learning with features like discussion boards, group management, and integrated wikis and blogs.

What’s great about Blackboard Learn is how it turns any educational challenge into a community project. Everyone gets to chip in, share ideas, and grow.

• Comprehensive Assessment Tools: Instructors can easily create and manage quizzes and exams.
• Customizable Learning Experiences: Trainers can modify the layout and content of their courses to suit their learners’ needs better.
• Secure Learning Environment: Blackboard Learn prioritizes security, ensuring all student data and course materials are protected against unauthorized access.
• Multimedia Integration: The platform supports a variety of media formats, allowing for dynamic and interactive learning sessions.

As much as we love Blackboard Learn, it’s not perfect. The navigation can feel like a maze sometimes, especially if you’re new. Plus, making courses feel just right can be a bit clunky for those who aren’t tech wizards. And if you’re trying to log in from your phone? That could definitely go smoother. A few tweaks here and there would make a huge difference in making learning even more accessible.

Pricing:

Custom pricing

Which LMS System for Business Is Right for You?

When discussing the “best” LMS for small businesses, it’s crucial to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, I can help you find the right small business LMS tailored to your needs. Here are my top three picks:

Option 1: ProProfs Training Maker
This LMS system for small businesses is perfect for easily creating online employee training. ProProfs offers a library of hundreds of ready-to-use courses covering various topics, from workplace safety to sexual harassment prevention. The platform is user-friendly and supports mobile learning, extensive customizations, and seamless integrations.

Option B: Absorb LMS
Absorb LMS shines for businesses with complex training needs. It features a vast library of expert-created courses and a variety of interactive tools to enhance learning engagement. This platform supports e-signatures for course verification and includes an e-commerce platform, which can be a great way to generate additional revenue by selling courses.

Option C: Moodle
If you prefer an open-source LMS, Moodle is a solid choice. It offers the flexibility to customize everything to suit your business’s specific needs. Moodle supports mobile learning and integrates with plagiarism detection tools. While it does require some technical know-how for server management, its global support community is a fantastic resource for help and advice.

If you want to explore the rest of the tools and their features, go through the whole list, which will be discussed later in this blog.

Ready to Choose the Best LMS for Small Businesses?

As you consider your options for the best LMS for a small business, think deeply about the unique needs of your team. What features are non-negotiable for you—ease of use, scalability, integration capabilities? Reflect on how each system could potentially revolutionize your training processes. It’s not just about managing learning; it’s about transforming it to align with your business goals.

Remember the perfect LMS should fit your current needs and grow with your business. Are you leaning towards a particular system yet, or are there still questions lingering in your mind? Maybe there’s a feature you wish to see that hasn’t been covered.

Let’s keep the conversation going. What do you think would make an LMS ideal for your specific business needs?