In the current age of digitalization, online learning has become more important than ever before, especially for course creators or those looking to sell their courses. As a result, various e-learning platforms have emerged in the market to meet the increasing demand for online education. These platforms can be broadly categorized into three main options: SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and self-hosted WordPress platforms using LearnDash LMS.
For instance, some popular SaaS platforms include Teachable and Thinkific, which provide an all-in-one solution for course creators to host, manage and sell their courses. On the other hand, Udemy and Skillshare are examples of marketplaces that allow course creators to publish their courses on the platform and access a wider audience.
In this blog, we will discuss why building your online course platform on WordPress using the LearnDash LMS plugin is the best option for you. We will also examine the pain points associated with this option and how to overcome them.
What is LearnDash LMS?
LearnDash LMS is a Learning Management System plugin for WordPress that allows you to create and manage online courses. It is a powerful platform that enables you to create interactive online courses with quizzes, assignments, and multimedia content. With LearnDash, you can easily create and sell your courses online.
Why use LearnDash LMS?
There are numerous reasons why LearnDash is the preferred LMS plugin for WordPress. Some of the benefits of using LearnDash are:
1. The Advantages of Owning Your Online Course Platform
When you choose to build your online course platform on SaaS or Marketplace, you are essentially renting space on their platform. This means that you have limited control over your platform, and you are at the mercy of the platform’s rules and regulations. In contrast, building your platform on Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash means that you own the land. You have complete control over your platform, and you can customize it to your heart’s content.
2. Cost Optimization for Your Online Course Platform
When it comes to building your online course platform, cost is an important factor to consider. Building your platform on Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash can be a cost-effective option compared to SaaS or Marketplace platforms.
Unlike SaaS and Marketplace platforms, which often require monthly or annual fees, they also impose restrictions on the number of courses available in their plans. In order to access a larger number of courses or users, you are typically required to upgrade to higher-priced plans.
Additionally, certain platforms may charge exorbitant percentages for each transaction conducted. Building your platform on WordPress using LearnDash requires a one-time payment. You can have access to unlimited courses and users without incurring any costs per transaction, allowing you to keep your hard-earned money. However, it’s important to note that there may be additional annual fees for Plugins, add-ons, or hosting, depending on your specific needs.
That being said, SaaS and Marketplace platforms may charge additional fees per transaction or based on the number of users, which can increase your overall costs over time. In contrast, with WordPress using LearnDash, you have the option to choose from a wide range of affordable hosting providers to host your WordPress site, allowing you to optimize your costs and keep your platform running smoothly.
3. Custom features development
Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash provides you with complete freedom to customize your platform according to your requirements. You can hire developers to create custom features that cater to your specific needs. This level of customization is not possible on SaaS or Marketplace.
4. Access to a Large Pool of Service Providers for Your Online Course Platform
Building your online course platform on Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash comes with the advantage of having access to a large community of developers and service providers. These experts can assist you with customizations, design, and development, making it easier for you to create a platform that meets your needs.
In addition to developers and service providers, there are also a variety of third-party plugins and integrations available that can enhance the functionality of your platform. This gives you the flexibility to create a unique online course experience for your students.
Some popular developer marketplaces for finding service providers for your LearnDash platform include Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, and Codeable. Additionally, there are agencies that specialize in LearnDash development and can provide you with customized solutions to meet your specific requirements.
5. Large number of third-party plugins
LearnDash has a vast library of third-party plugins that can extend the functionality of your platform. These plugins can help you with features such as gamification, course progress tracking, certificates, and more. Some popular third-party plugins for LearnDash include:
With such a diverse range of plugins available, you can easily customize your platform to meet the needs of your students and enhance their learning experience.
6. Community support
WordPress has a large and active community of developers and users. With its ever-expanding popularity, this powerful platform has fostered a thriving ecosystem of individuals passionate about harnessing its potential. With a multitude of forums, online groups, and social media platforms dedicated to WordPress, you can easily find answers to your questions, troubleshoot issues, and get help from the community.
Additionally, within this vibrant community, LearnDash, a leading e-learning plugin for WordPress, boasts a massive following of over 27,000 members on its dedicated Facebook group alone. By joining this thriving community, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and insights from fellow LearnDash users, further enhancing your ability to create engaging and effective online courses.
7. Extensions into different business dimensions
LearnDash can be extended to cater to different business needs and use cases. For example, you can use the Paid Memberships Pro (PMPro) plugin to create a membership site and charge users for access to your courses. The LearnDash Groups Plus plugin allows you to create B2B courses by assigning courses to groups, allowing you to offer your courses to different companies or organizations. You can even use the WisdmLab’s Instructors Role plugin to turn your platform into a marketplace where instructors can create and sell their courses.
8. Premium and free add-ons by LearnDash
LearnDash also provides some great premium add-ons that are supported by their teams, such as Pro Panel and Groups Plus, as well as some free plugins, such as Course Grid, WooCommerce Integration, and PMPro Integration. These add-ons enable you to create interactive quizzes, award certificates, gamify your courses, implement drip-feed content, and much more. With learndash’s extensive add-on library, you can tailor your e-learning platform to meet your specific needs and deliver a more engaging learning experience to your students.
9. Integrations with Popular CRMs through WP Fusion and other individual integrations
LearnDash seamlessly integrates with popular customer relationship management (CRM) systems through WP Fusion and other individual integrations. This integration allows you to synchronize your e-learning data with your CRM, enabling you to track learner progress, manage enrollments, and personalize communication based on learner activities. By integrating with CRMs, LearnDash helps you streamline your administrative tasks, improve learner management, and enhance overall course effectiveness.
10. Automation of Workflow through Zapier and Automator Plugin
LearnDash provides workflow automation capabilities through integrations with Zapier and the Automator plugin. With these tools, you can automate various aspects of your e-learning process, such as triggering personalized emails based on learner actions, enrolling students in specific courses based on their behavior, or generating completion certificates automatically. By automating repetitive tasks, LearnDash empowers you to focus more on creating high-quality content and engaging with your learners.
11. Mobile App Support through AppPresser and BuddyBoss App
LearnDash offers mobile app support through integrations with platforms like AppPresser and BuddyBoss App. These integrations enable you to transform your e-learning content into mobile-friendly formats, providing learners with the flexibility to access courses on their smartphones or tablets. With mobile app support, LearnDash enhances accessibility, encourages on-the-go learning, and expands your reach to a wider audience.
12. REST API support for custom Apps integration
LearnDash provides REST API support, allowing you to integrate your e-learning platform with custom applications. Whether you want to develop a mobile app, build a custom reporting system, or create a unique learning experience through innovative technology, learndash’s REST API enables seamless communication between your LMS and external systems. This flexibility allows you to extend the capabilities of LearnDash and tailor it to your specific requirements, making it a versatile choice for organizations seeking to create a truly customized e-learning environment.
Pain points associated with Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash
While there are numerous benefits to using Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash, there are also some pain points that you need to be aware of.
You’ll need help in launching if you are a non-techie
If you are not a technical person, you may find it challenging to launch your online course platform on Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash. You may need to hire a developer to help you with the installation, customization, and setup. However, once your platform is up and running, you will have complete control over it, and you can easily manage it using the WordPress dashboard.
Non-technical Creators find it difficult to maintain
Maintaining your Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash platform can be a challenge if you are not technically inclined. You may need to perform updates, backups, and security checks regularly to keep your platform running smoothly. However, you can always hire a developer or use a managed hosting service to take care of these tasks for you.
How to overcome these pain points?
To overcome these pain points, you can take the following steps:
Getting Help with LearnDash Setup and Customization
If you are not technically inclined, you can hire a developer to help you with the installation, customization, and setup of your Self Hosted WordPress using the LearnDash platform. You can find developers on freelance platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr, or you can ask for recommendations from the LearnDash community.
In addition, there are web development agencies such as TeknoFlair that specialize in LearnDash development and can provide professional services to assist you with your LearnDash project. TeknoFlair offers a range of services, including LearnDash installation, customizations, and integration with other plugins and software.
Lastly, the LearnDash community is a great resource for finding help with your project. You can join the LearnDash Facebook group, where you can ask questions and get advice from other users and developers.
Use a managed hosting service
A managed hosting service can take care of the technical tasks such as updates, backups, and security checks for you. They can also provide you with technical support and help you troubleshoot issues with your platform. Some popular managed hosting services for WordPress include WP Engine, Flywheel, and Kinsta.
LearnDash Pricing
LearnDash is a premium plugin, and it offers three pricing plans:
LearnDash offers three pricing plans:
1 site: $199/year
10 sites: $399/year
Unlimited: $799/year
All plans include updates and support.
Why is LearnDash LMS the best LMS plugin for WordPress?
When it comes to choosing an LMS plugin for WordPress, LearnDash is the clear winner. Here are some reasons why:
It offers a wide range of features that cater to different business needs, such as course creation, quizzes and assignments, drip content, course progress tracking, certificates, and more.
It is highly customizable, which means you can easily tailor your course content and user experience to your requirements.
It integrates with a large number of third-party plugins and services, such as payment gateways, marketing tools, CRM software, and more.
It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for you to manage your course content and users.
It offers excellent customer support, with a large community of users and a team of experts who can help you with any issues you may encounter.
Comparing Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash with other online course platforms
Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash is not the only option when it comes to building your online course platform. Here’s how it compares with other popular platforms:
SaaS platforms like Kajabi, Thinkific, and Teachable offer a hosted solution, which means you don’t need to worry about technical tasks like hosting, updates, and security. However, these platforms can be expensive, and you don’t have as much control over your platform as you would with Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash.
Marketplaces like Udemy, Coursera, and Pluralsight offer a large audience and a built-in community, which means you don’t need to spend as much time marketing your course. However, these platforms take a significant percentage of your course revenue, and you don’t have as much control over your pricing and course content as you would with Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash.
Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash offers complete control over your platform, cost optimization, and the ability to customize your platform to your requirements. While there are some pain points associated with this option, you can easily overcome them with the help of a developer, a managed hosting service, or pre-built templates and plugins. Additionally, LearnDash offers affordable pricing plans that cater to different business needs.
Final Words
In conclusion, building your online course platform on Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash is a great choice if you want complete control over your platform, cost optimization, and the ability to customize your platform to your requirements. While there are some pain points associated with this option, you can easily overcome them with the help of a developer or a managed hosting service. Additionally, LearnDash offers affordable pricing plans that cater to different business needs.
If you’re ready to get started with Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash, head over to our website and check out our LearnDash services. We offer a range of services, including LearnDash installation and setup, custom theme development, and plugin integration. Our team of experts can help you build a powerful and scalable online course platform that meets your business needs and exceeds your users’ expectations.
So why wait? Take the first step towards building your dream online course platform today by choosing Self Hosted WordPress using LearnDash and partnering with TeknoFlair. Contact us to learn more about our services or to get started on your project. We look forward to hearing from you!