Decent Inexpensive LMS

Reviews Forum
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So I’ve gotten some limited budget approval for an LMS. Budget is very tight, and I completely understand that I’m not going to get all of the bells and whistles. For this initial project, I just need basic SCORM compatibility, but going forward I would like to find something that is intuitive enough that my users can design without having to get support from IT.

I’ve got 120 end users and a budget of around $3k annual. I know that’s not much, but it is what it is.

Requirements: Simple to use, SCORM import, SSO capable (SAML2), easy setup with no setup fee. Huge plus if it could integrate directly into Teams.

Shortlist:

Coassemble - within our budget. Course creation seems pretty simple. Still running through the trial, but haven’t heard a ton of feedback either way.

EdApp - love the mobile forward design, but I worry that it focuses too heavily on mobile while my users would mainly be completing training on desktops. For example, the designer doesn’t even have an option for desktop preview other than using custom resolution. I also found the designer to be a bit confusing for just adding basic data.

TalentLMS - bills itself as having everything, but I keep seeing reviews saying that the platform seems very dated and that a lot of the huge number of features are broken (ie you can group users, but you still have to assign courses individually).

For some reason, it seems that there are two price ranges at my size -either around $3k annual or $10k+ annual. Some were much more than expected. Absorb, for example, is often suggested as a budget option, but came back at $13k annual plus a $3500 setup fee.

Would appreciate any feedback on the oneson my shortlist and any other options that would fall in our budget and still be tolerable to use.

Edit: I’m not currently considering self-hosted/open-source/wordpress solutions. I don’t have the time to build something like this out and maintain it.

7 Likes
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For that budget I’d suggest learning some Wordpress, and then buying the LearnDash plugin. Might need another plugin just for SSO.

That’s the only way to get those features in your budget. But Wordpress is a unique ecosystem and this will take a lot of time to setup and maintain if you are new to it. In the end: You’ll have job security, but also deserve a raise that you probably won’t get.

2 Likes
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If you have access to hosting, you could check out Moodle. Open source, free, and well established. Hosting for that sort of thing (Linux based) is super cheap… well within your budget.

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I’m currently looking at Learn Amp, which has Teams integration plus a bunch of others, as well as some pretty neat collaborative features including integrated socials (reviews/discussions/FAQs) and content submission (learners can upload content, either as suggested courseware or in support of 1-to-1 evaluation check points).

I’ve also shortlisted 360Learning and Rise.com, both of which have some neat functionality, and have lined up a free trial of TalentLMS because of its free forever tier that would allow me to test it indefinitely rather than time-boxing it to a couple of weeks.

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For the budget, I would suggest taking a look at Thinkific, as apart from the SCORM reporting, it has all the features you mentioned. Plus, they recently launched an app store, allowing developers to create software on top of their platform, which is a huge game changer. Also, there might be an app that allows for the SCORM integration. Take a look at their pricing/features breakdown in details.

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There’s also apps like Rise and HowToo that have the basic sentiments of an LMS but without the high cost of TalentLMS and EdApp

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Thanks - I’ll check them out. I did a fairly detailed trial in TalentLMS and it handled everything I threw at it with no issues. Even had a few features I wasn’t seeing in the more expensive options. It feels a bit dated, but I was able to theme and add company logos to the point that it’s fairly slick. Seems like it will be fine for everything we’ll need without having a dedicated team to produce training. Came in under budget as well.

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Hey there! If you are still in search of such an LMS that also has a very simplistic whiteboard with drawing features, a media player, and many more, I would recommend VEDAMO. They have a free trial, too.

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Absolutely thrilled to hear about your LMS journey! With your resourcefulness and determination, I’m confident you’ll find the perfect fit for your needs.

Coassemble seems like a fantastic choice with its user-friendly course creation and SCORM compatibility.

While EdApp has a mobile-forward design, it’s great for on-the-go learning.

TalentLMS offers a wide array of features to explore. And don’t forget to explore other budget-friendly options; there’s a gem waiting to be discovered!

Also, do check out our eLearn by AMBC corporate LMS - it’s a top-notch solution designed to elevate your learning experience with ease and efficiency. Happy learning ahead!