Note: This is a guest post in collaboration with WISDM Labs.
LearnDash has completely revolutionized the e-learning business. Being the most in-demand WordPress LMS plugin, it makes creating and launching online courses absolutely simple and affordable.
To make knowledge affordable to everyone, it’s now easier than ever to open up a course website using any of the hosted or self-hosted learning management systems (LMS) available in the market. In fact, currently, the number of LMS users is estimated at 73.8 million, according to research.com.
LearnDash alone powers 118k+ e-learning websites and is trusted by some of the top businesses and organizations! This makes sense because it’s power-packed with features. The core LearnDash plugin offers everything from course creation, management, and reporting to marketing and sales.
Additionally, LearnDash is self-hosted and open source. It offers a lot more control and flexibility than most closed source platforms like Thinkific or Teachable. Now, talking about all the pros and cons of hosted and self-hosted platforms is beyond the scope of this article.
But you get the picture, right?
So if you want complete access and control over the content of your eLearning website and are serious about launching a course website using the best CMS – WordPress, then LearnDash is a no-brainer!
But it does beg one question. If LearnDash is such a superior LMS, then why do you need any extra plugins?
Recommended: Cloud-Based vs. Open Source Training Management System – Pros and Cons
Why do you need plugins with your LearnDash WordPress LMS?
Well, honestly that is one of the best things about LearnDash.
Built on WordPress, LearnDash is self-hosted and open source. Meaning it is HIGHLY flexible and customizable. Meaning you are not restricted by the options and features offered by your hosted platform.
You can choose the way you want to present your courses and you decide however you want to sell them. If you feel like you need to add an extra layer of security to your LMS, then you can just install an extra plugin for security. This is often not possible with other hosted options like Teachable.
Not only this but you can custom create a plugin or a feature to extend the functionality of your LMS as the source code is open and can be tweaked! Note: You may need to hire a LearnDash developer if you don’t have the expertise.
But you won’t be at the mercy of the limited features and support offered by a hosted LMS platform.
In short, with add-ons and extensions, there’s no limit to what you can achieve with your LearnDash LMS.
And to help you decide which one can fit your needs, we have shortlisted some free and premium add-ons that are just hands down amazing!
So let’s take a look!
The 5 Best LearnDash WordPress Plugins
1. Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash
It’s easily one of the most popular and useful addons to install. The Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash is an all-in-one must-have solution for all LearnDash users.
Developed by the team at Uncanny Owl, this plugin is known to improve the learning experience by adding login redirects, resume capabilities, and content visibility, along with other modules that every site needs!
Additionally, it’s the translation and multisite ready.
Key Features
- The free version adds up to 16 modules and the Pro up to 25 modules
- Trusted by 30,000 LearnDash users
- Enhances the learning experience as well as development workflow
2. Instructor Role for LearnDash
The WISDM Instructor Role for LearnDash is another must-have and powerful add-on that supercharges your LMS and equips it for multiple instructors. Using this plugin you can add unlimited instructors or course authors to create and teach courses on your LMS without sharing any admin privileges.
It also takes care of instructor payments and offers seamless communication between instructors and learners on the LMS itself.
Key Features
- Personalized dashboard for admins and instructors
- Automatic calculation of instructor commissions and payouts
- Option to track and manage learner progress reports
- Best for creating a course marketplace
- Comes with a 15-day money-back guarantee
3. Design Upgrade Pro for LearnDash
Even though there are tons of LearnDash themes to give your course website a branded look, this plugin will never go out of style! Design Upgrade Pro from Escape Creative is a powerful and professional design tool that can completely redesign every aspect of your LMS,
It comes with a free version using which you can redesign 30+ different aspects of LearnDash. With the premium add-on, you can choose from tons of options like buttons, individual course pages, navigation pages, course content lists, progress bars, etc. to customize your website and make it visually appealing.
Not only is it suitable for new and advanced LearnDash users but also perfect for designers and developers to work with!
Key Features
- Restyle 90+ different aspects of your LMS
- 110+ customizable options
- Compatible with most LearnDash themes
- No custom code or knowledge of CSS is needed
Note: Besides customizing your LearnDash website, this plugin can also override third-party add-ons to enhance the look and feel of your site. It integrates perfectly with our Ratings, Reviews, and Feedback as well as Group Registration plugin for LearnDash.
WooCommerce is the best eCommerce plugin that can turn your WordPress website into an online store. It is highly customizable, offers tons of features and options to sell digital products online. So if you’re thinking about expanding your business by monetizing your online courses, then WooCommerce may be your best bet!
Using the WooCommerce integration for LearnDash you can sell your courses in a shopping cart, accept payments using most of the popular payment gateways, and create a custom checkout process. And one more thing, it’s free!
Key Features
- Sell subscriptions, memberships, course bundles, etc.
- Customers get auto-enrolled into the courses after successful payment
- Automatically removes users after the refund or cancellation
- Free to download
Read More: Taking WooCommerce LearnDash Integration to the Next Level
5. BadgeOS
Gamification is not only fun but also engaging and motivating. Every time a learner finishes a step in their course, they feel a sense of accomplishment when they receive a badge or a certificate!
BadgeOs for LearnDash is a plugin that simplifies rewarding learners for various LearnDash activities.
You can create several types of achievements like completing an assignment, commenting, logging in, or even completing a combination of tasks. You can set multiple triggers with required steps and manage those steps too.
BadgeOS also allows learners to share those achievements on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Key Features
- Lets you award achievements, ranks, and points
- You can design custom badges for any achievement
- Learners can store their badges in a backpack
- Trusted by over 200,000 WordPress users
- It’s free!
Best LearnDash WordPress Plugins Roundup
LearnDash is an impressive LMS plugin for anyone looking to create and launch online courses. And along with extensions, you can do more than just create courses, you can create an experience not only to provide value to your learners but also to increase your ROI.
There are a lot of plugins and extensions available to add that extra edge to your LearnDash site. The ones you choose will depend upon your needs, your learner’s expectations, and your overall business model.
You’ll definitely need at least one or two plugins to give your website that extra edge and stay competitive.
Again, here are the 5 best LearnDash WordPress plugins that we think you must check out:
Design Upgrade Pro for LearnDash
So what are you waiting for? Try these plugins out and let us know about your experience in the comments below.
