LearnDash — WordPress LMS Plugin for Online Courses

LearnDash is one of the most popular learning management system (LMS) plugins for WordPress, used by major organizations and individual course creators. It provides a complete framework for creating, managing, and selling online courses — including course builder, quiz engine, assignment management, certificates, and payment integration. The course builder uses a drag-and-drop interface for organizing content into courses, lessons, topics, and quizzes. LearnDash supports drip-feed content, prerequisites, and course progression rules for structured learning paths. For selling courses, it integrates with WooCommerce, Stripe, and PayPal. It competes with LifterLMS and Tutor LMS Pro in the LMS space, with a focus on corporate training and professional education.

The plugin stores course data as custom post types with hierarchical relationships. It includes a built-in quiz engine supporting multiple question types and automated grading.

Competitive Features

• Course builder — drag-and-drop interface for organizing courses into lessons, topics, and quizzes
• Quiz engine — multiple question types including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, and essay
• Drip-feed content — schedule lesson release based on time or prerequisites
• Certificates — generate custom certificates on course completion
• Assignments — student upload assignments with instructor grading
• Payment integration — WooCommerce, Stripe, PayPal, and 2Checkout integration
• Gamification — points, badges, and course completion tracking

Key Features

• Course hierarchy — courses contain lessons, lessons contain topics, with quizzes at any level
• Quiz types — multiple choice, single choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, sorting, open-ended, essay
• Automated grading — auto-grade quizzes and provide instant feedback with explanations
• Prerequisites — require completion of specific courses before enrolling in advanced ones
• Drip schedule — release lessons on a set schedule or based on time since enrollment
• Group management — create groups of students with shared course access and reporting
• Focus mode — distraction-free course content display with a built-in theme template

Comparison with Competitors

LearnDash vs LifterLMS

Aspect	LearnDash	LifterLMS
Course builder	Drag-and-drop	Drag-and-drop
Quiz engine	Advanced (10 question types)	Good (4 question types)
Drip content	Yes	Yes
Certificates	Yes	Yes
Assignments	Yes	Yes
Payment options	WooCommerce, Stripe, PayPal	Built-in + Stripe, PayPal

Bottom line: LifterLMS is more affordable and includes built-in payment processing without requiring WooCommerce. LearnDash has a more advanced quiz engine and better group management features.

Recommended Stack: LearnDash powers your online courses. For membership management alongside courses, integrate with MemberPress to create member-only course access.

Official Changelog (3 Last Versions)

LearnDash is a premium plugin not listed on WordPress.org.

Version 4.18.0

Release Date: August 10, 2026

• New course builder with drag-and-drop lesson and topic reordering
• Enhanced quiz engine with randomization and question banks
• Added group leader dashboard with student progress reporting

Version 4.17.5

Release Date: July 5, 2026

• Added assignment grading with inline feedback and annotations
• Improved certificate builder with custom layout and design options
• Fixed WooCommerce HPOS compatibility for course purchases

Version 4.17.0

Release Date: June 8, 2026

• New focus mode theme with distraction-free course page template
• Added drip-feed content scheduler with flexible release rules
• Performance optimization for course pages with 100+ lessons

Frequently Asked Questions

Does LearnDash require WooCommerce?

No. LearnDash has its own payment processing through Stripe and PayPal. WooCommerce integration is available for stores that want to use WooCommerce’s payment gateway options.

Can I create quizzes with LearnDash?

Yes. LearnDash includes a comprehensive quiz engine with 10 question types including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, essay, and sorting. Quizzes can be placed at any level of the course hierarchy.

Does LearnDash support certificates?

Yes. You can create custom certificate designs with course name, student name, completion date, and logo. Certificates are automatically generated and available for download when a student completes a course.

What is drip-feed content?

Drip-feed content releases lessons on a schedule rather than making all content available at once. You can release lessons daily, weekly, or on specific dates, encouraging students to progress through the course at a steady pace.

Can I sell courses individually or by subscription?

Both. LearnDash supports one-time course purchases through WooCommerce or Stripe, and subscription-based access through WooCommerce Subscriptions or Stripe billing.