Design Upgrade for LearnDash vs BuddyPress for LearnDash (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Design Upgrade for LearnDash
7.0K+ active installs
Free
BuddyPress for LearnDash
2.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Design Upgrade for LearnDash has a higher user rating (5/5 from 53 reviews) and leads in active installations (7.0K+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Design Upgrade for LearnDash has accumulated 237K+ total downloads while BuddyPress for LearnDash has 97K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Design Upgrade for LearnDash | BuddyPress for LearnDash | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | ◄ | 3.3/5 |
| Total Reviews | 53 | ◄ | 18 |
| Active Installs | 7.0K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 237K+ | ◄ | 97K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 years ago | ◄ | 5 years ago |
| First Released | 2018 | 2015 | |
| Age | 8 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.6+ | 3.8+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.12 | 1.3.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Design Upgrade for LearnDash
BuddyPress for LearnDash
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Design Upgrade for LearnDash averaged approximately 9 daily downloads while BuddyPress for LearnDash averaged 4.
Recent Reviews
Design Upgrade for LearnDash Reviews
Not worth the paid version
This plugin worked great, but broke down when interoperating with other vital plugins and customizations in our LearnDash install. I didn’t request a refund because the refund policy requires you to “
Worth Buying the Paid version
This plugin is easy to deploy and well worth the cost for the paid version. Styling LearnDash is not really difficult, but this plugin will solve 99% of your challenges with getting the courses, lesso
Great Plugin and Exceptional Customer Service
I debated for a bit before buying the pro version of this plugin but it really is a life saver and makes LearnDash look 1000 times better. I spent 20+ hours being really frustrated trying to make thi
BuddyPress for LearnDash Reviews
No Longer Maintainted
It seems like this plugin is no longer maintained – last update was 4 years ago. Seems to work okay for me except for on a user’s Buddypress profile page. It messes up the Buddypress styles, and the c
BuddyBoss is a SCAM: They get my money and RUN!!!
I hope people help me spread the word, I’m being SCAM by this company and i have all the proof, you can write me if you need to. This people never answer support, part of their refund policy says 21 d
Good, but not perfect.
It’s a shame they have only looked at this from one angle… from users being on Learndash first and wanting to auto create a group / update one Buddypress group. I really wish this worked the other wa
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Design Upgrade for LearnDash or BuddyPress for LearnDash more popular?
Which has better ratings — Design Upgrade for LearnDash or BuddyPress for LearnDash?
Are Design Upgrade for LearnDash and BuddyPress for LearnDash free?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.