LearnPress vs Sikshya LMS
LearnPress vs Sikshya LMS — broader Pro scope and a lifetime license option.
Compare LearnPress and Sikshya LMS — two WordPress LMS plugins with free cores and different paid models. Sikshya LMS groups everything into Starter / Growth / Scale tiers and offers a lifetime license.
Our take
LearnPress is a long-standing free WordPress LMS with a sizeable user base and an extensive add-on bundle for commerce, gradebook, certificates, and instructor tools. Sikshya LMS replaces the add-on-bundle model with three flat tiers (Starter / Growth / Scale), so the price you pay does not depend on which features you turn on within a tier. Pick LearnPress if you are already running it and the free core covers your needs, or your team is more comfortable with the LearnPress add-on stack. Pick Sikshya LMS if you want a simpler license model, a real lifetime option, and a developer-friendly REST + OAuth 2 surface that the LearnPress free core does not ship with. Please verify any specific LearnPress feature against their current docs before deciding.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Sikshya LMS | LearnPress |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier on WordPress.org Both ship a free core on WordPress.org. | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native PayPal checkout in free Sikshya LMS ships PayPal in the free plugin; LearnPress typically gates PayPal behind the paid add-on bundle. | ✓ | Paid add-on per their docs |
| Basic certificates in free | ✓ | Paid add-on per their docs |
| Stripe + 6 additional payment gateways Sikshya ships Stripe plus six additional gateways (Razorpay, Mollie, Paystack, Square, Authorize.Net, Bank Transfer) on every paid plan under one license. | Starter tier+ | Stripe via paid add-on per their docs |
| Subscriptions / recurring billing | Growth tier+ | Paid add-on per their docs |
| Content drip | Starter tier+ | Paid add-on per their docs |
| Multi-instructor with revenue split | Growth tier+ | Paid add-on per their docs |
| Advanced certificates with QR verification Sikshya's advanced-certificates add-on supports QR-verified URLs. | Growth tier+ | — |
| OAuth 2 + PKCE API for mobile apps Verify against current LearnPress docs — OAuth 2 + PKCE for delegated API access is not a documented free-core feature. | Scale tier | — |
| Multi-vendor marketplace | Scale tier | Via third-party or paid add-on |
| Every paid feature under one license | ✓ | Bundle or individual add-ons per their pricing |
| Lifetime license available | ✓ | Verify in their pricing |
When Sikshya LMS is the right move from LearnPress
- You're on LearnPress's free core and hitting limits — Stripe, certificates, drip, subscriptions ship in Sikshya's paid tiers without a separate add-on bundle.
- You want a lifetime license option instead of an annual add-on subscription.
- You're building a mobile app and need an OAuth 2 + PKCE flow on the REST API.
- You want every paid feature under one license rather than per-feature add-on licensing math.
- You're running an agency and want a 15-site activation pool with white-label admin (Scale tier).
Frequently asked
Can I keep my LearnPress courses if I switch?
Sikshya LMS does not currently ship an automated LearnPress importer. Existing course content lives in custom post types; switching means rebuilding course structure (chapters, lessons, quizzes) in Sikshya LMS or working with our team on a custom data-migration plan. If automated import is a hard requirement, please flag it before committing.
Is Sikshya LMS as widely used as LearnPress?
LearnPress has more installs and a longer track record on WordPress.org. Sikshya LMS is a newer rebuild that prioritises a tier-based license model, a developer-friendly REST + OAuth surface, and broader free-tier scope. If install count is what matters most, LearnPress wins; if model and feature scope matter more, Sikshya LMS has a stronger case.
How does Sikshya LMS pricing compare to LearnPress?
Sikshya LMS uses flat tier pricing: Starter $99/yr, Growth $149/yr, Scale $299/yr (1-site licence) or $599/yr (15-site licence), with lifetime options Starter $349, Growth $499, Scale $999 (1 site) or $1,799 (15 sites) respectively. LearnPress publishes its own bundle and add-on pricing — please verify on their site. The right comparison depends on which paid features you need and whether you prefer flat tier pricing or per-add-on licensing.
Try Sikshya LMS without committing.
The free plugin on WordPress.org is a real product — not a trial. Install it on a staging site and run it side-by-side with what you have now.