LearnDash Pricing 2025: Plan Comparison, Transaction Fees & Cheaper Alternatives

When it comes to building an online course business, LearnDash is one of the most popular names. Unlike hosted course platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi, LearnDash is a WordPress plugin that lets you turn your own website into a professional online school.

It is powerful, flexible, and trusted by universities, training companies, and thousands of course creators. But before you dive in, you’re probably wondering: how much does LearnDash cost in 2025, and is it worth it?

In this article, we’ll break down LearnDash’s pricing plans, transaction fees, and extra costs you need to know about. We’ll also look at some alternatives so you can decide if LearnDash is the right fit for your business.

LearnDash Pricing Plans in 2025

LearnDash has updated its pricing model in recent years. As of 2025, there are two main options depending on whether you just want the plugin or prefer their hosted cloud platform.

Let’s take a closer look at both models.

LearnDash WordPress Plugin Pricing

The traditional LearnDash product is a WordPress plugin you install on your own site. This gives you full ownership and control of your courses, but you’ll also need hosting, a domain, and WordPress set up.

1. LearnDash Plugin 1 Site License ($199/year)

This is the entry-level plan, perfect if you only need LearnDash for a single website.

What you get:

• All LearnDash core features
• Unlimited courses & users
• Drip-feeding lessons
• Quizzes, certificates & assignments
• Memberships and subscriptions
• 1 year of updates and support

Best for:
Solo creators or small businesses running one course website.

2. LearnDash Plugin 10 Site License ($399/year)

If you own an agency, are a coach or a developer running courses for multiple projects, this is the sweet spot.

What you get:

• Everything in the single site plan
• Install LearnDash on up to 10 websites
• 1 year of updates and support

Best for:
Freelancers, agencies, or businesses managing multiple brands.

3. LearnDash Plugin Unlimited Site License ($799/year)

This plan removes all limits.

What you get:

• Everything in the other plugin plans
• Unlimited installs across unlimited websites
• Priority support

Best for:
Large agencies, developers, or organizations running multiple online schools.

LearnDash Cloud Pricing

In 2021, LearnDash introduced LearnDash Cloud, a hosted version of the platform. This removes the hassle of buying separate hosting and setting up WordPress.

Pricing

• $29/month billed monthly
• $25/month billed annually ($299/year)
  
  

What’s included in LearnDash Cloud:

• LearnDash pre-installed on WordPress hosting
• Free SSL certificate
• Daily backups
• Domain setup
• All plugin features (courses, quizzes, memberships, drip lessons)
• Basic website builder tools

Who is it for?

• Beginners who don’t want to deal with tech setup
• Solo creators who want a hosted, ready-to-go course website
• People who prefer predictable monthly payments instead of annual licensing

LearnDash Transaction Fees

One of LearnDash’s selling points is its 0% transaction fees. Unlike Teachable (7.5% fee on the Starter plan) or Gumroad (10% fee), LearnDash does not take a cut of your sales.

However, you will still pay:

• Payment processor fees (Stripe, PayPal, etc.), usually 2.9% + 30¢ per sale.
• Any add-on/plugin costs if you want advanced functionality (see below).

Extra Costs to Keep in Mind

While LearnDash itself is affordable, you should be aware of potential extra expenses:

• Web hosting (if not using LearnDash Cloud): $5–30/month depending on provider.
• Domain name: ~$10–15/year.
• Add-ons/plugins: LearnDash integrates with popular WordPress tools like WooCommerce, MemberPress, and Zapier. Some of these cost extra.
• Themes/design: Premium WordPress themes for LearnDash sites can range from $50–100.

So, while LearnDash Plugin itself is $199/year, a realistic budget for a full LearnDash site might be closer to $300–600/year once you add hosting, themes, and add-ons.

Learndash Free Plan

LearnDash does not currently offer a free plan. However, they provide a 15-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

LearnDash Cloud sometimes includes a trial period for new signups, but the plugin is generally pay-first.

Are There Any Hidden Fees?

Not really, LearnDash is transparent. The only costs are:

• Your plan (plugin license or cloud subscription)
• Hosting/domain (if using the plugin version)
• Payment processor fees
• Optional add-ons

But compared to hosted platforms, you might end up paying a little more upfront if you go the plugin route.

Which LearnDash Plan Should You Choose?

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Beginner, no tech skills? LearnDash Cloud ($24–29/month).
• One WordPress site only? Plugin, 1-site license ($199/year).
• Agency or multiple projects? Plugin, 10-site license ($399/year).
• Developer or large organization? Plugin, unlimited license ($799/year).

Cheaper Alternatives to LearnDash in 2025

LearnDash is feature-rich, but it’s not always the cheapest or simplest option. If you want to compare, here are some alternatives:

1. LifterLMS - Starts Free

• WordPress plugin like LearnDash
• Free core plugin (but limited features)
• Paid add-ons from $99+ each
• Full bundle at $360/year

Best for: WordPress users who want a cheaper entry point than LearnDash.

2. TutorLMS - Free to start

• Free WordPress plugin
• Pro version starts at $199/year (similar to LearnDash)
• Great UI and modern features
• Still growing compared to LearnDash’s reputation

Best for: Creators who want a free start but flexibility to upgrade later.

3. SchoolMaker: Starts at $29/month

• All plans have 0% transaction fee
• Built to drive more course sales
• Provides the best learning experience

Best for: Course creators who want to drive more sales and get the best student outcomes.

4. Teachable - Starts at $39/month

• Hosted course platform (no WordPress required)
• Free plan available (with 10% fee)
• 7.5% transaction fee on Starter plan ($39/month)
• 0% fees on higher plans

Best for: Beginners who want a plug-and-play solution without WordPress.

5. Thinkific - Starts at $49/month

• No transaction fees
• Good for small creators who want predictable pricing

Best for: Course creators who want professional training features with no transaction fees

6. Podia - From $33/month

• All-in-one course, coaching, and digital product platform
• 5% fee on lowest plan, 0% fees on higher plans
• Built-in email marketing and website builder

Best for: Simplicity and community features without needing WordPress.

7. Payhip - Free to start

• 5% fee on free plan, $29/month plan removes fees
• Supports courses, memberships, coaching
• Handles EU VAT automatically

Best for: Absolute beginners who want to launch without upfront costs.

Is LearnDash Worth It in 2025?

Yes it is, especially if you want control and flexibility. LearnDash is one of the best WordPress-based LMS plugins available. It gives you full ownership of your content, no transaction fees, and enterprise-grade features.

Conclusion

LearnDash has built a strong reputation as one of the most powerful and flexible course platforms in 2025. With plans starting at $199/year for the plugin or $24/month for LearnDash Cloud, it is more affordable than most competitors at face value, especially since it charges 0% transaction fees.

The true cost depends on whether you’re comfortable running a WordPress site (and paying for hosting, plugins and add-ons) or if you prefer the simplicity of an all-in-one hosted platform. If you value ownership, customization, and scalability, LearnDash is one of the best LMS tools you can choose in 2025.