5 Best LMS for Nonprofits (Free & Paid)

The rise of online learning can help nonprofits expand their reach, boost engagement, and save costs. However, the benefits depend on selecting the right learning tool that meets your needs.

In this article, we’ll review some of the best LMS for nonprofits and learn which features make a real difference, so let’s jump right in!

Key Benefits of LMS for Nonprofits

A learning management system (LMS) helps nonprofits share knowledge with donors, volunteers, and the community in a more organized and efficient way. It also allows for flexible education and training, ensuring everyone can learn at their own pace.

Here’s what a good LMS for nonprofits can do for your organization exactly:

• Onboard and train staff more effectively.
• Train volunteers with ease and consistency.
• Provide valuable educational resources to the community.
• Create a streamlined way to deliver essential information to those you serve.

Without further ado, let’s explore some of the best LMS for nonprofits on the market and find the perfect fit to support your nonprofit’s needs.

Best LMS for Nonprofits: Our Top 5 Picks

Check out our top LMS options for nonprofit organizations. We’ll show you the strengths and weaknesses of each tool and how they can help your organization with training and education.

1. Coursebox AI (Best LMS for Nonprofits Overall)

Coursebox AI is a top choice for nonprofits that need a quick and easy creation of online courses. What’s great about this platform is that it offers different pricing plans, including a free one for nonprofits, and each one provides useful features for nonprofits.

The platform is AI-powered and one of the best AI tools for personalized learning, making course creation a breeze. This helps educators and trainers create training videos and other types of content quickly without needing advanced technical skills.

Other valuable features include a user-friendly interface and flexible publishing options, making Coursebox AI the best LMS for nonprofits overall.

It’s perfect for training volunteers, educating staff, or running community programs on a budget. You can even sell online training courses and raise funds for your organization.

Pros:

• Simple to use, even if you’re not very tech-savvy
• Quickly creates course structures using AI, saving precious time
• Features like quizzes and videos keep learners engaged and motivated
• Courses can be private, public, or exported to other LMS platforms
• Includes a free plan and affordable subscription options
• Responsive customer support

Cons:

• Lacks customization tools
• There might be some learning required to understand all the features
• Ongoing costs could be a concern for some nonprofits

Pricing:

• Free FOREVER plan
• Paid plans start at $83/monthly/billed annually

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf4cmUi3nmg&ab_channel=Coursebox

2. Moodle (Best Open-Source LMS)

Moodle is a flexible, open-source LMS that provides a wide range of features like course management, collaborative activities, and various assessment methods—all for free.

Nonprofits can customize Moodle to fit their goals, and the platform’s plugin system adds extra functionality without breaking the budget.

However, Moodle can be difficult to use, especially for those without technical skills. It also looks and feels outdated compared to newer LMS platforms.

Despite these issues, Moodle is a solid choice for nonprofits with dedicated teams or resources to handle setup and customization.

Pros:

• Tailor courses to fit your nonprofit’s goals
• Feature-rich without cost
• Includes course management, collaboration, grading, and plugin integration
• Create rich content and diverse assessments
• Adds functionality while keeping costs down

Cons:

• The user interface is outdated
• Requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance
• Issues with scalability for large users

Pricing:

• Free version
• Free trial
• Paid plans start at $120/50 users/annually

3. 360Learning (Best LMS for Collaborative Learning)

360Learning is a user-friendly LMS that provides great tools for creating content and collaborating. It includes a simple editor, flexible assignments, and sharing features, making it suitable for various learning experiences.

Although it may not be the first choice for nonprofits, 360Learning is strong in collaborative learning, which supports both online training and specialized courses.

However, it might lack some community features and reporting tools. It may also not be as cost-effective as other options. Despite these drawbacks, 360Learning is suitable for nonprofits that value collaboration and need a range of learning options.

Pros:

• Simple tools for creating content and managing assignments
• Excellent for interactive learning and sharing
• Works well for different types of training and courses

Cons:

• Occasional glitches
• Lacks strong tools for building a community
• Limited reporting and management tools

Pricing:

• No free plan
• 30-day free trial
• Paid plans start at $8/user/monthly

4. EducateMe (Best Comprehensive LMS)

EducateMe is the best LMS for corporate training and nonprofits because it is easy to use and offers great flexibility. It excels in management, reporting, and collaboration.

The platform has strong cohort learning features, including group assignments and peer review tools, making it perfect for educational projects, special programs, and volunteer training for different groups.

It includes a robust content editor that handles multiple formats, allowing for varied learning materials. The management tools of this platform help streamline operations, manage cohorts, and scale programs efficiently.

The pricing of EducateMe is clear and support is available to address specific needs.

Pros:

• Simple to use with flexible features
• Effective for group assignments and peer reviews
• Supports various formats for creating different types of content
• Helps with operations, managing cohorts, and scaling programs
• Tracks student attendance and learning impact
• Clear cost-per-student model
• Responsive help for specific needs

Cons:

• Lacks detailed analytics tools
• Pricing might be a problem for very tight budgets
• Fewer advanced features or integrations

Pricing:

• No free plan
• Free trial
• Paid plans start at $100/40 users/monthly

5. LearnWorlds (Best Interactive LMS)

LearnWorlds is one of the best interactive eLearning software that combines course creation with marketing tools. It offers great customization options and supports various content formats, including SCORM. You can use the platform’s easy-to-navigate video editor to add interactive elements like images, text, and questions.

It’s ideal for self-paced learning, making it a good fit for volunteer onboarding and training courses for groups. However, LearnWorlds can be challenging to use, lacks community features, and might be too expensive for those with tight budgets.

Large organizations like UNICEF and Green Learning have used LearnWorlds for their courses.

Pros:

• Integrates course creation and marketing tools
• Supports diverse content formats and course development
• Suitable for volunteer onboarding and group training

Cons:

• There’s a steep learning curve for features
• Doesn’t include tools for building communities
• Slower customer support response

Pricing:

• No free plan
• 30-day free trial
• Paid plans start at $24/monthly

BONUS: Google Classroom (Best Free LMS for Nonprofits)

Google Classroom is a straightforward platform focused on collaboration and assignments. It is free, making it a great choice for nonprofits with limited budgets. It integrates seamlessly with G Suite tools like Google Docs, Google Forms, Google Meet, Google Drive, and Google Calendar.

The platform is easy to use for creating, distributing content, and collaborating in real time. It works well for organizations already using Google Workspace. However, Google Classroom has some limitations, such as fewer options for reporting and course management.

Pros:

• No cost, interactive, and ideal for tight budgets
• Works well with Google Docs, Forms, Meet, Drive, and Calendar
• Simple tools for creating and sharing content

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Better suited for K-12 education
• Less advanced in tracking progress and management
• Lacks comprehensive management tools
• Lacks advanced course creation tools

Pricing:

• Free plan
• Pricing not disclosed

How to Choose the Right LMS for Nonprofits

Choosing the right LMS for a nonprofit is different from finding one for a business or school. Nonprofits focus on their mission, have tight budgets, and need specific learning tools. Having said that, when choosing the right AI LMS for your nonprofit organization, consider the following key factors:

• Mission fit: Look for a platform that supports your mission. It should help you engage the community, automate tasks, and spread your message. Features that allow customization to show your nonprofit’s identity matter.
• Learning needs: Consider what you need the LMS for—training, raising awareness, or onboarding volunteers. Make sure it has versatile features like good content editors and access management to handle different learning goals.
• Group learning: If your nonprofit works with groups, look for a system with tools for engagement, communication, and group assignments, such as Coursebox AI. It should support collaborative learning.

Which Option Speaks to You?

Choosing the best LMS for nonprofits is not a walk in the park because you must factor in learning needs and budget. If you want a flexible and easy-to-use tool, Coursebox AI is a great choice.

Our platform has a user-friendly interface, strong engagement tools, excellent support, and clear pricing plans, making it ideal for project-based work and volunteer training.

The rest of the options also have their strengths, offering comprehensive authoring tools and integration features. For nonprofit organizations with tight budgets, free options like Google Classroom can be useful, though they may vary in complexity.

We suggest booking a demo of Coursebox AI and the rest of the platforms listed above so that you can test them out yourself and determine which one fits your needs best.