LearnDash is one of the most popular WordPress learning management system (LMS) plugins out there, trusted by universities, businesses, and thousands of independent course creators.

But with so many course platforms available in 2025, from all-in-one tools to simpler solutions like SchoolMaker, is LearnDash still worth using? Or is it too complicated compared to the newer, hosted platforms?

In this detailed review, I’ll break down what LearnDash does, its standout features, pricing, pros and cons, who it’s best for, and whether or not it’s the right choice for your online course business this year.

What is LearnDash?

LearnDash is a WordPress plugin that turns your website into a full-featured learning management system (LMS). Once installed, it allows you to:

• Build and host courses on your own WordPress site
• Create lessons, topics, quizzes, and assignments
• Sell access to your courses with one-time or recurring payments
• Manage students and track their progress
• Integrate with popular tools like WooCommerce, Stripe, Zapier, and email marketing platforms

Unlike hosted platforms (like Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi), LearnDash doesn’t live on its own website. Instead, it runs inside your WordPress site, giving you more control over design, customization, and ownership of your content.

This makes LearnDash especially appealing to creators who already use WordPress or want full flexibility over their course platform.

What Makes LearnDash Stand Out?

LearnDash has been around for years, but in 2025 it continues to be a favorite for creators who want more control over their courses. Here are the main reasons why.

Full Control on WordPress

Because LearnDash runs on WordPress, you fully own your website, content, and data. Unlike hosted platforms where you’re renting space, LearnDash gives you long-term independence.

You can customize your course site with any WordPress theme or page builder (Elementor, Divi, Gutenberg, etc.), and add plugins for extra functionality.

This level of flexibility is hard to match.

Advanced Course Building

LearnDash is one of the most powerful tools for creating structured online courses. You can:

• Organize content into courses, lessons, and topics
• Add quizzes, assignments, and certificates
• Drip lessons over time or lock them until prerequisites are completed
• Track student progress in detail

For educators who want more than just “upload a video and call it a course,” LearnDash provides the depth you need.

Monetization Options

LearnDash gives you several ways to make money from your courses:

• One-time payments
• Subscriptions and memberships
• Bundled course packages
• Course licenses for institutions (great for B2B training)

You can also connect LearnDash with WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads to add even more payment options.

Community & Engagement Features

With the help of add-ons, you can turn LearnDash into more than just a course site. For example, you can add discussion forums (bbPress or BuddyBoss), gamification (with badges and points), or even full membership sites.

This flexibility makes it a great choice if you want to build a learning community around your content.

Scalability

One of LearnDash’s biggest strengths is that it can handle both small creators and large institutions. Whether you’re running a 10-person coaching program or a university-level eLearning site with thousands of students, LearnDash is designed to scale.

What Are the Downsides of LearnDash?

Of course, LearnDash isn’t perfect. Here are some of the drawbacks you need to know about before choosing it.

Requires WordPress

LearnDash only works on WordPress. If you don’t already have a WordPress site or don’t want to deal with hosting, themes, and plugins, it may feel overwhelming. Hosted platforms like SchoolMaker are easier for complete beginners because everything is handled for you.

Can Get Expensive

While LearnDash itself isn’t too expensive (we’ll cover pricing below), you’ll likely spend more money on:

• WordPress hosting
• A premium theme or page builder
• Extra plugins for advanced functionality

The cost can add up compared to an all-in-one platform.

Learning Curve

Because LearnDash is so flexible, there’s also more to learn. Setting up your site, customizing it, and integrating tools requires some technical know-how. If you’re not comfortable with WordPress, it may take longer to get everything running smoothly.

Limited Built-In Marketing

LearnDash is great for course delivery, but it doesn’t come with advanced marketing features like email automation, funnels, or built-in landing pages. You’ll need third-party tools to handle those parts of your business.

LearnDash Pricing in 2025: How Much Does It Cost?

As of 2025, LearnDash offers three main pricing plans:

• 1 Site License – $199/year
• 10 Site License – $399/year
• Unlimited Sites License – $799/year

All plans include:

• Unlimited courses
• Unlimited users
• Quizzes, certificates, and assignments
• One year of updates and support

If you want ongoing updates, you’ll need to renew your license each year.

It’s also worth mentioning LearnDash Cloud, a hosted version that bundles WordPress hosting, a theme, and LearnDash together for $29/month. This is great for creators who want LearnDash’s power without the hassle of setting up WordPress from scratch.

Pros and Cons of LearnDash

Pros

• Full ownership and control of your content (self-hosted on WordPress)
• Extremely powerful course builder with quizzes, certificates, and drip content
• Flexible monetization options (one-time, subscriptions, memberships)
• Integrates with tons of third-party tools
• Scales from solo creators to large institutions
• LearnDash Cloud option for easier setup

Cons

• Requires WordPress knowledge (or willingness to learn)
• Can get expensive with hosting and add-ons
• Limited built-in marketing tools
• More setup time compared to plug-and-play platforms

Who Should Use LearnDash?

LearnDash is best for:

• Educators and trainers who want structured courses with quizzes, assignments, and certificates
• Entrepreneurs who want full control over branding and customization
• Businesses that need employee training or customer education programs
• Course creators who already use WordPress and want to expand into eLearning

If you value flexibility, scalability, and control, LearnDash is one of the best LMS platforms in 2025.

Who LearnDash Might Not Be For

LearnDash may not be the best fit if:

• You’re a complete beginner with no experience using WordPress
• You want an all-in-one platform with built-in email marketing and funnels
• You need a quick, easy way to launch a single course
• You don’t want to deal with hosting, plugins, and maintenance

In these cases, a hosted platform like SchoolMaker might be better.

Final Verdict: Is LearnDash Worth It in 2025?

Yes, if you’re serious about building a professional online course business and you value control, flexibility, and scalability, LearnDash is absolutely worth it in 2025.

It may not be as beginner-friendly as some of the plug-and-play platforms, but once you set it up, it’s incredibly powerful. You get the freedom to design your course site exactly how you want, integrate it with your favorite tools, and scale without worrying about limitations.

However, if you’re just starting out and want something simple, LearnDash might feel overwhelming. In that case, a platform like SchoolMaker could be a better entry point.

FAQ

Can I sell courses with LearnDash?
Yes. You can sell one-time courses, subscriptions, memberships, and even bulk licenses for institutions.

Does LearnDash take a percentage of sales?
No. You keep 100% of your revenue (minus Stripe/PayPal processing fees).

Do I need WordPress to use LearnDash?
Yes, unless you choose the LearnDash Cloud plan, which bundles hosting + WordPress + LearnDash together.

Is LearnDash good for beginners?
It depends. If you’re familiar with WordPress, it’s great. If not, there’s a learning curve.

Can LearnDash handle large numbers of students?
Absolutely. LearnDash is used by universities and corporations, so it scales well.

Conclusion

LearnDash has proven itself as one of the most powerful LMS solutions available in 2025. It’s not for everyone, but if you want control, ownership, and flexibility, it’s hard to beat.

For beginners who want an easy, all-in-one tool, hosted platforms may be better. But for creators and educators who are ready to build a professional, customizable online learning business, LearnDash is still one of the top choices in 2025.