12 Best Learning Record Store (LRS) in 2024: Free & Paid

If you’re serious about e-learning, you should know about learning record store (LRS).

I’ve been working in the e-learning industry for over a decade, and in my opinion, LRSs are the key to unlocking the full potential of your online training.

LRSs let you easily track and analyze learner’s progress and performance by storing learning data from online courses and activities. They also help you link training data to business goals. You can use LRSs to assess training effectiveness, improve training quality, and boost ROI.

But how do you choose the best LRS for your needs? Many options have different features, integrations, analytics, usability, security, and scalability.

That’s why I’ve researched and listed the 12 best LRSs to boost your training ROI.

Before we get to the details of these list, let’s discuss about what is a LRS.

What Is a Learning Record Store?

Learning Record Store (LRS) software are repositories of learning data. They record learning events in a ‘noun, verb, object’ format, such as: ‘Peter completed an onboarding course.’

They follow the xAPI specification, which is a standard for tracking learning activities on and off an LMS. An LRS system is the core of any xAPI ecosystem and can store and access learning records from an LMS or another LRS.

Numerous organizations rely on LRS to improve their training programs. It has become the mainstay of effective training, better employee performance, and business growth based on learning data.

Watch: What Is xAPI (Experience API) aka Tin Can API – Features and Benefits Explained

Let’s start with a quick comparison of these tools.

A Quick Comparison Table

List of the Best Learning Record Store Software

My experience, extensive research, and peer recommendations have helped me compile this list of learning record store platforms. I have also taken into account unbiased reviews from independent sources.

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

ProProfs Training Maker is a training-making tool with a built-in cloud LRS. Whatever training you deploy, you can bring in all your data under a single roof from other e-learning platforms and store it in ProProfs Training Maker. It combines tools for creating, delivering, and tracking all learning activities.

I am fascinated by how it tracks and reports learners’ activities throughout all training programs. The ability to import data as zip files from other LMS, portals, and mobile devices further enhances the value of the system.

I’ve seen training managers record interactions and view reports as Tin Can statements. You can check the test scores and whether your learners have read a PDF, watched a video, or clicked on an image.

As an LRS plus LMS, ProProfs enables you to create courses and assessments, and once your learners take them, you can view the reports in the LRS. So, it’s an all-in-one solution that will help you fulfill all your e-learning needs.

What you’ll like:

• ProProfs has a user-friendly interface and simple setup process.
• It provides powerful reporting and statistics for in-depth performance analysis.
• It provides real-time data access, management, and reporting; you can view and analyze the data in the LRS dashboard or export it to other applications.
• It comes with a course authoring tool, a virtual classroom environment, and a library of professionally designed training courses on compliance, employee skills, leadership, and more.

What you may not like:

• Dark and light mode options can be added to improve user experience.
• ProProfs doesn’t integrate with other LMS since it is designed to be a standalone system.

Pricing:

Forever FREE plan for small teams (up to 10 learners). Paid starts at $1.99/learner/month with a 15-day money-back guarantee. No hidden charges.

2. Veracity Learning – Best for Educational Institutions

Veracity Learning is a versatile and robust learning record store (LRS) that can store and retrieve xAPI statements from various sources and platforms. It can handle different types of xAPI data, such as attachments, signatures, and documents.

It also allows you to import and export data to and from other LRSs. You can use Veracity Learning LRS in different ways, depending on your needs and preferences. You can install it on your own server, host it on the cloud, customize it with your own branding, or use it as a lightweight version.

Thanks to its compatibility and interoperability features, you can also exchange data with other LRSs seamlessly.

Veracity Learning LRS can even integrate with offline education, meaning that it can capture data from real-world learning activities, such as field trips, experiments, presentations, and assessments.

This can help educational institutions measure the impact of their education programs on students’ performance and outcomes in a comprehensive way.

What you’ll like:

• Veracity Learning is an official xAPI-conformant LRS that fully supports all types of xAPI data, including statement signatures, binary attachments, and document stores.
• It has robust analytics and multiple dashboard interfaces for learners and instructors, with special support for common xAPI profiles such as SCORM.
• You can create custom dashboards and embed reports in other applications.
• You can create and manage courses, classes, and users within the platform.

What you may not like:

• It doesn’t offer all the features and functionalities of a full-fledged LMS, such as grading, assessment, feedback, etc.
• It’s not very user-friendly or intuitive for beginners or non-technical users.

Pricing:

Free (100 MB storage limit). Paid plans start at $100/month.

3. Instancy – Best for Blended Learning

Instancy is more than just a learner record store. It is a complete learning ecosystem that allows you to track and store all the learning experiences of your learners, whether they occur inside or outside your learning management system (LMS).

With Instancy, you can store all the learners’ activities and progress in one central location and access them anytime, anywhere. You can also enhance the quality of learning by delivering engaging and personalized content on various platforms, such as mobile devices, web apps, or other external systems.

Instancy is the best LRS for blended learning because it offers a comprehensive solution that integrates with a total learning ecosystem. It automates the learning workflow by assigning the next course modules, recommending the best learning paths, and providing feedback and support.

It also adds gamification and multimedia elements to make the learning experience more fun and interactive. Moreover, it supports eLearning standards and data interoperability using xAPI, enabling seamless communication between content and learners’ progress reports.

What you’ll like:

• Instancy integrates with various platforms and systems, allowing you to track and store your learners’ learning experiences in one central location.
• It automates learning workflow and provides feedback, saving time and effort for both learners and instructors and enhancing the learning outcomes.
• Adds gamification and multimedia elements, increasing learner engagement and motivation and improving retention and recall.
• Supports eLearning standards and data interoperability, enabling seamless communication between content and learners’ progress reports.

What you may not like:

• Requires internet connection and xAPI compatibility
• Some users have reported privacy and security issues.
• May be costly and complex to implement for small organizations

Pricing:

Starts at $2/user/month  

4. Xyleme  – Best for Content Management

Xyleme is an xAPI LRS that collects detailed content engagement and learner performance data. This data helps organizations to evaluate their training programs and identify knowledge gaps.

Based on the data analysis, organizations can make necessary improvements in their training programs to enhance learning and engagement.

Xyleme is also ideal for content management, as it provides robust analytics and dynamic dashboards to identify trends and areas for improvement and seamless integration with external business tools and applications.

This LRS software has a powerful dashboard that offers more than just pass-and-fail metrics. The dynamic dashboards allow you to analyze content and monitor user trends. The xAPI integration enables the smooth transfer of data and gives a holistic view of how learners have interacted with your content.

The enterprise-level security features, such as Single Sign-On (SSO) and regulatory compliance support, make it one of the best LRS systems on the market.

What you’ll like:

• Collects detailed data to evaluate training programs and identify knowledge gaps.
• Provides robust analytics and dynamic dashboards to optimize content and delivery methods.
• Integrates seamlessly with external business tools and applications to support diverse learning ecosystems.
• Offers enterprise-level security features, such as SSO and regulatory compliance support, ensuring data protection and privacy.

What you may not like:

• Requires technical expertise to set up and manage
• May not be compatible with older or legacy systems
• May be expensive for small or medium-sized organizations

Pricing:

Custom pricing 

5. Sponge  – Best for Collaborative Learning

Sponge is a powerful system that tracks and stores all your learning and business data. It is integrated with Spark LMS, a popular software used by leading companies like PayPal and IKEA.

Sponge helps you create training programs for your employees and teams, and monitor their learning experiences and outcomes. You can track their progress with various types of content, such as desktop, mobile, games, or simulations.

You can also launch content outside your LMS and get insights into how your learners interact with it.

Sponge LRS also supports collaborative learning and fosters social skills, problem-solving, and critical thinking. It allows you to track and measure the collaboration among your learners, such as how they share feedback, exchange ideas, and co-create content.

You can also create personalized learning paths for each learner based on their preferences, goals, and performance.

What you’ll like:

• Sponge works seamlessly with Spark LMS, a trusted and widely used software for managing learning.
• It keeps track of and stores all your data related to learning and business in a safe and easy way.
• Gives you insights into how your learners interact with and engage with content outside your LMS.
• Measures how learners collaborate with each other, such as giving feedback, exchanging ideas, and creating content together.

What you may not like:

• Some users complained that the LRS is not compatible with some content formats or platforms, such as SCORM, Moodle, or Adobe Captivate.
• The interface is a bit confusing and the documentation is not up to the mark. 

Pricing:

Custom pricing  

6. Valamis  – Best for Large Enterprises

If you’re a large enterprise, Valamis is an amazing option for you. It offers a user-friendly and flexible platform that supports both xAPI and SCORM standards.

You can use Valamis to collect and store data from various online and offline learning experiences, such as e-learning courses, webinars, simulations, games, VR/AR, and more.

You can also convert SCORM packages into xAPI statements to track and aggregate learning data easily.

Valamis is capable of streaming and handling a large amount of data without losing any of it, thanks to the Kafka stream processing software. It also ensures high performance and scalability, as it can handle big data, fast and in real-time, and adjust to your needs and traffic.

With Valamis, you can access insightful metrics that help you identify the gaps between learning, performance, and business outcomes. You can also get personalized learning recommendations, compliance tracking, and effectiveness measurement.

Valamis is built and managed by data experts who ensure the security, reliability, and quality of the LRS.

What you’ll like:

• Valamis is a complete learning solution that includes a learning experience platform (LXP), a content authoring tool, and an analytics dashboard.
• It is a robust and scalable platform that can handle large amounts of data and traffic.
• Modern and intuitive user interface that makes it easy to navigate and use the LRS
• Social learning features that enable you to collaborate and communicate with learners and instructors

What you may not like:

• Valamis requires a lot of customization to fit specific needs and may not work well with existing systems.
• It is expensive compared to other LRSs.

Pricing:

Starts at €12,000/year

7. Learning Locker  – Best for Data-Driven Organizations

Learning Locker by Learning Pool is the best LRS system for data-driven organizations that want to record and collect vast learning data from multiple sources. The platform offers great visual insights in the form of graphics, diagrams, and charts to help you better understand and analyze your aggregated data.

It’s 100% compliant with xAPI and ready to deliver the results that today’s organizations need. The modern UI and backend ensure that all data is more tactile, accessible, and useful than before.

You can use XAPI as the central storage point and gather learning data from internal and external sources, such as Moodle, Canvas, Slack, Salesforce, and more. Learning Locker offers numerous integrations, giving you more flexibility and convenience in managing your learning data.

You can also leverage the best-in-class automation features, such as workflows, triggers, and actions, to streamline your processes and enhance your learning experience.

Learning Locker supports flexible deployment as it supports enterprise and open-source options, allowing you to scale up or down as per your needs.

What you’ll like:

• Learning Locker lets you store and access a lot of learning data from various sources
• You can see your data in a visual way with graphs, charts, and diagrams.
• You can automate your processes and enhance your learning experience with features like workflows, triggers, and actions.
• You can get support from a friendly and knowledgeable team of experts.

What you may not like:

• Online documentation is not clear when it comes to creating queries.
• Requires some technical knowledge to set up and configure.

Pricing:

Starts at $115/month

8. Watershed  – Best for Modern Enterprises

Watershed lets you easily track and explore learning outside of an LMS. It’s a great choice for xAPI enthusiasts, L&D practitioners, and modern enterprises. At least, that’s what my impression was after I took a demo with the LRS.

It allows you to integrate data from multiple sources and platforms, such as webinars, surveys, assessments, and social media.

You can also create custom dashboards and visualizations to monitor and improve your learning outcomes. This LRS xAPI conformant software enables developers to perform data search, data stats and debugging.

For L&D practitioners, this tool can help track learning activities through robust reports, which lay the foundation for effective learning and training analysis. This LRS serves as a record system where you can accumulate all the data for your learning programs.

Using it you can measure the impact of your programs and maintain all learning records as xAPI statements. The best part about this software is that you can store all the data as xAPI statements, even if it was delivered through a non-xAPI source.

What you’ll like:

• An intuitive report explorer that allows users to create and explore beautiful reports.
• Handy features like customizable templates, dashboard, and snapshot sharing.
• Real-time aggregation of data from various sources
• It provides a comprehensive learner transcript that shows each learner’s activities across the entire ecosystem.
• It is an open learning analytics platform that allows users to integrate with other tools and systems.

What you may not like:

• Not enough pre-built visualization formats or formatting capabilities.
• It requires some technical skills and knowledge to set up and use.

Pricing:

Free (limited reporting capabilities). Paid plans start at $4,083/month.

9. Rustici  – Best for Third-Party Integrations

Rustici is an LRS that supports the ADL xAPI standard and it can seamlessly integrate with various learning systems and platforms. What I find truly fascinating about it is that it lets users choose which xAPI statements they want to store and which they don’t, and manage multiple tenants within one database.

You can also use Rustici to exchange reports and data with other LMS and LRSs, and trigger actions based on xAPI statements. The LRS also allows you to create, distribute, and monitor training programs using any e-learning standard, such as SCORM, cmi5, AICC, or PENS.

Rustici is a great LRS for third-party integrations because it offers content connectors, which are ready-made plugins that make it easy to search and import content from third-party libraries directly into Rustici Engine.

This way, you can access a wide range of learning content from different sources and track the results using the same APIs as other Rustici Engine courses.

However, Rustici is not a complete LMS solution, so if you need more features and functionalities for your learning needs, you might want to consider other options. But if you already have an LMS and want to leverage the power of xAPI and third-party content, then Rustici is an excellent choice.

What you’ll like:

• Rustici LRS is ADL-conformant and ensures compliance with the xAPI standard.
• It supports multi-tenant databases and allows you to set up different configurations for each tenant.
• It lets you trigger events based on statements received and programmatically respond to incoming data.
• It has a delightful support team, developers and xAPI experts who provide assistance throughout the integration process and ongoing maintenance.
• Rustici LRS is updated as the xAPI standard evolves, so you never have to worry about keeping up with the changes.

What you may not like:

• Rustici LRS is not an all-in-one tool that combines an LMS and an LRS, so you need to integrate it with your existing learning platform or application.
• It’s also not a learning analytics platform that provides advanced reporting and visualization of the xAPI data, so you need to use another tool like Watershed for that purpose.

Pricing:

Starts at $48,231 for 500 users

10. OnPoint Digital – Best for Mobile and Offline Learning

OnPoint Digital LRS is a cutting-edge software that combines the best of both worlds: LMS and xAPI. It is designed to support mobile and offline learning, as well as social and informal learning.

It allows learners to access content anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Whether they are online or offline, learners can sync their data with the LRS and continue their learning journey seamlessly.

With OnPoint Digital LRS, you can track and analyze not only the content progress and assessment results of your learners, but also their UX navigation patterns, social interactions, and other learning activities.

OnPoint Digital LRS also provides you with powerful dashboards and analytics tools that enable you to measure the effectiveness of your training programs and the performance of your learners. It’s the ultimate solution for learning in the digital age.

What you’ll like:

• OnPoint Digital LRS allows customization of UX/UI and mobile app for both iOS and Android devices with online or download play capabilities.
• It supports installs with hundreds of users in one location to 250K+ learners across the globe.
• It offers specialized solutions for various use cases and industries on a project/short or program/long-term basis.
• It delivers end-to-end learning experiences with the help of mobile, social/game-enabled, AI/ML-driven, and xAPI-extended learning solutions.
• It enables you to check, manage, and create insightful reports from the data collected by xAPI statements.

What you may not like:

• Some users have reported technical issues or bugs that affect the performance of the system.
• It may have some compatibility issues with certain browsers or devices.

Pricing:

Starts at $9500

11. Yet Analytics SQL LRS – Best for AI Automation

At one time, I was seeking a powerful, flexible, and open-source xAPI Learning Record Store for a colleague of mine when I stumbled upon Yet Analytics SQL LRS.

SQL LRS is a free and Apache 2.0 licensed LRS that supports multiple SQL database management systems, such as Postgres and SQLite. This means you can easily query your xAPI data using SQL and integrate it with any Postgres-ready tool, such as Google Looker, Power BI, Tableau, and more.

Moreover, SQL LRS lets you harness the power of AI to enhance learning experiences and outcomes. You can leverage advanced analytics and machine learning to create custom models, dashboards, and reports that suit your specific needs and goals.

You can also automate data ingestion, processing, and visualization using SQL scripts and workflows.

SQL LRS is also deployable anywhere, including cloud, on-premise, and mobile environments. You can have full control over and access your data without relying on third-party vendors or cloud services.

SQL LRS is also fully conformant with the IEEE 9274.1.1 standard for xAPI, which ensures interoperability and quality of your data.

What you’ll like:

• SQL LRS is flexible and allows users to connect to and use various business intelligence (BI) tools and dashboarding platforms of their choice.
• It ensures complete conformance with the xAPI specification and IEEE P9274.1.1, which prevents data errors and inconsistencies.
• It can be deployed anywhere, including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, on-premise, and even on mobile devices.
• It is free to use and has an Apache 2.0 license, which means users can modify and distribute the software as they wish.

What you may not like:

• SQL LRS only supports Postgres, SQLite, and H2 as SQL flavors, which may limit its compatibility with some BI tools and data management systems.
• It does not provide its own BI and visualization tools, which means users have to rely on external platforms for data analysis and reporting.
• SQL LRS does not offer phone support or live chat for customer service, making it difficult to resolve issues quickly.

Pricing:

Free (no support available). Custom pricing for the paid version.

12. GrassBlade Cloud LRS – Best for SMEs and Training Institutes

GrassBlade Cloud LRS is the ultimate solution for SMEs and training institutes that want to optimize their eLearning data. It is a cloud-based service that gives you full control over your data, unlike many other LMS where your data is in the hold of the LMS provider.

You can easily download, pull, or transfer your data to another LRS using Experience API, which ensures the security and privacy of your data, as well as its usability for various purposes.

GrassBlade Cloud LRS also supports xAPI, cmi5, and SCORM standards, which are the most widely used specifications for eLearning content. These standards enable you to create and deliver interactive and engaging eLearning content across various platforms, such as WordPress, Moodle, LearnDash, and H5P.

Moreover, GrassBlade Cloud LRS offers rich and detailed reports on learners’ performance, progress, and engagement, which help you measure and improve your learning outcomes.

What you’ll like:

• GrassBlade Cloud LRS is easy to use and set up, with a simple and intuitive interface.
• It supports various e-learning formats and authoring tools, such as HTML5, xAPI, cmi5, SCORM, Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, iSpring Suite, and more.
• It integrates well with other platforms and services, such as WordPress, LearnDash LMS, SurveyMonkey, Zapier, and more.
• It has a mobile app for iOS and Android devices that allows users to access learner data anytime and anywhere.
• It has a responsive and helpful customer support team that provides timely and effective solutions.

What you may not like:

• Limited customization options for some reports or dashboards.
• Compatibility issues with certain browsers or devices.
• It may have some bugs or glitches that affect the functionality or performance of the software.

Pricing:

Starts at $144/year

Which Is the Best LRS Software Platform?

The right learning record store software can help you achieve your training goals and maximize your ROI. But to find it, you have to take into account various factors, such as functionality, security, scalability, integrations, and more.

To help you out, I have picked three options for you.

ProProfs Training Maker

This training-making tool has a built-in cloud LRS. It allows you to create and deliver engaging courses, quizzes, surveys, and assessments. It supports xAPI and SCORM standards, and lets you track learner progress and performance with AI reports. ProProfs also offers 100+ professionally designed courses for compliance and skill training.

Veracity Learning 

This is a robust and versatile cross-platform LRS for retrieving xAPI statements. It enables you to collect data from any source, such as mobile apps, games, simulations, etc. It also provides powerful analytics and visualization tools to help you measure learning outcomes.

Learning Locker

This open-source LRS helps you store, manage, and analyze learning data. It supports both xAPI and SCORM formats and integrates with various platforms, such as Moodle, Canvas, Totara, etc. It also offers dashboards, reports, and alerts to help you improve learning experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an LRS work?

An LRS lies at the center of a learning ecosystem and gathers data from all the learning systems, apps, and content.

Here’s how it works in an employee training system:

• As soon as an xAPI-enabled software experiences learning activities, it sends activity streams to an LRS where they are recorded as xAPI statements.

• Using an xAPI-compliant LMS, another LRS, or a reporting tool, you can easily access the data stored in the LRS.

• You can store data in an xAPI learning record store as discrete learning records or bulks of transcripts.
• You can configure the learner record system to provide users access to the data stored there.

What is the difference between LRS and LMS?

An LMS (learning management system) lets you create, manage, share, track, and analyze online courses and assessments. An LRS (learning record store), on the other hand, is a database that stores, reports, and transfers data about learning activities using a standard format called xAPI. LMS and LRS can work together or separately, depending on your needs. When they work together, an LRS can provide more detailed and granular data to an LMS, such as data on informal learning. When they work separately, an LRS can give you more flexibility and control over your learning data from multiple sources and systems.

What are the benefits of an LRS?

An LRS brings the following benefits to the table:

• Better Data Collection: An LRS can help you capture different kinds of data comprising both formal and informal learning experiences from inside and outside a learning environment.
• Flexibility: It’s intuitive and flexible enough to function as a standalone system or within an LMS platform.
• Wide Applications: You can use learning record store software across different industries, including education and businesses, via various platforms that speak the same language.
• Real-Time Assistance: Learners, instructors, admins, and teachers can access learning data in real-time, regardless of time and place.
• Improved Learning: Learning based on data interoperability adds more value through a deeper understanding of learners’ experiences and needs. You can access, view, and act on the aggregate data collected from different systems.

How do I choose the right LRS for my organization?

While choosing an LRS, make sure you consider key factors such as functionality, scalability, security, reliability, and system integrations. If you want to choose the best LRS, then look for a vendor that provides a conformant LRS since they are put through rigorous testing. This way, you can rest assured that your LRS follows the xAPI specification.

What is the cost of an LRS?

Different vendors charge you different prices depending on the model. For instance, the seat-based model takes into account the maximum number of users. The analyst-based model is priced according to the number of users who maintain the system’s data, and the usage-based model is priced as per the total number of xAPI statements sent to an LRS.