LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… vs Design Upgrade for LearnDash (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning…
10K+ active installs
Free + Premium
Design Upgrade for LearnDash
7.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Design Upgrade for LearnDash has a higher user rating (5/5 from 53 reviews) while LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… leads in active installations (10K+ vs 7.0K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… has accumulated 1.6M+ total downloads while Design Upgrade for LearnDash has 237K+. Design Upgrade for LearnDash has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 67%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… | Design Upgrade for LearnDash | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 386 | ◄ | 53 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 7.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.6M+ | ◄ | 237K+ |
| Support Resolution | 67% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 4 days ago | ◄ | 3 years ago |
| First Released | 2016 | 2018 | |
| Age | 10 years | 8 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.9+ | 4.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free + Premium | Free | |
| Latest Version | 9.2.2 | 2.12 |
Rating Breakdown
LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning…
Design Upgrade for LearnDash
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… averaged approximately 300 daily downloads while Design Upgrade for LearnDash averaged 9.
Recent Reviews
LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… Reviews
Powerful LMS Without the Price Tag
After leaving a big, expensive LMS I couldn’t justify long-term, LifterLMS was the perfect solution. Setup was straightforward, and it handles everything my learners and I need. Paired with Paid Membe
Excellent Support for an excellent product
This is a great LMS with many features and flexibility. But absolutely and unusually great instruction and support. LifterLMS offers tons of instructional videos, documentation, and even weekly “Ask
Great Product. Flexible and Powerful
Lifter LMS is the ideal solution for a variety of learning settings, consistently meeting and exceeding expectations. From support and documentation to features and connectivity, it’s in a class of it
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
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… or Design Upgrade for LearnDash more popular?
Which has better ratings — LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… or Design Upgrade for LearnDash?
Are LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… and Design Upgrade for LearnDash free?
Which plugin has better support — LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning… or Design Upgrade for LearnDash?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.