Bottom Line Upfront:
Teachable and LearnDash are both great for online courses, but LearnDash stands out for making courses. It’s super user-friendly and lets you create unlimited, customized courses easily.
While Teachable is good too, LearnDash is better if you want more control and creativity in building your courses, especially with its drag-and-drop feature, quiz builder as well as vast integrations.
Contents
- LearnDash vs Teachable Overview
- LearnDash vs Teachable: Design & Flexibility
- LearnDash vs Teachable: Learning Experience
- Teachable vs Learndash: Integrations
- Teachable vs LearnDash: eCommerce functions
- LearnDash vs Teachable: Hosting & Security
- Teachable vs Learndash: Reporting & Analytics
- LearnDash vs Teachable: Customer Support
- Pricing Plans: LearnDash vs Teachable:
- LearnDash Vs Teachable: Pros & Cons
- Final Verdict on Teachable vs LearnDash
LearnDash vs Teachable Overview
LearnDash Overview:
LearnDash is a WordPress learning management system (LMS) plugin that enables you to create multimedia courses on your website.
With LearnDash, you have complete control over the hosting of your content. It focuses on LMS functionality and requires additional plugins and add-ons to enhance its basic capabilities and provide a seamless user experience.
Fortunately, LearnDash offers a comprehensive marketplace of connectors and add-ons to make this possible. Also Read: LearnDash Review
Teachable Overview:
Teachable enables you to create online schools and store a variety of lessons on the platform, which can then be published on the Teachable platform.
The schools can be filled with courses designed to educate students, and individuals can create their schools and use Teachable to teach classes.
This is an excellent option for those just starting online and looking to save money. However, as you gain more experience, exploring solutions that provide greater flexibility and complete control over your content is advisable.For more details, read my Teachable Review in detail.
LearnDash vs Teachable: Design & Flexibility
For me, flexibility is one of the essential aspects because it governs my course design. Let’s see which one offers better designs:
LearnDash
LearnDash is a WordPress learning management system (LMS) plugin that works with any theme or builder plugin.
Most website builders’ built-in course templates and focus modes are compatible. The drag-and-drop editor in the built-in course builder makes it simple to create content and reuse lessons or themes from previous courses.
However, it is limited in terms of the look and feel of your course pages. Aside from a few color options, you won’t have complete control over the course layout and design.
Because LearnDash is a WordPress plugin, you can access many UI/UX and sensitive themes. LearnDash offers a simple drag-and-drop builder for those without design experience who want to create their course (though this tool needs more flexibility).
Furthermore, LearnDash is compatible with any existing theme. If you prefer, you can even create your theme.
Teachable
Teachable’s only disadvantage for brand-conscious businesses is that the basic plan does not allow you to customize themes. Still, the company is expanding to keep up with the popularity of WordPress page builders.
One thing to keep in mind is that you will not be able to remove Teachable’s logo if you sign up for the cheapest pricing tier.
Teachable is an excellent resource for beginners who want to build their websites. Designers can make it look however they want.
However, if you want more control, there are other options. Teachable offers more customization on the business and professional tiers. There are also themes available to help you make your site look good.
There are a few theme options in the Basic package. The course will include Teachable’s watermark if you choose the Basic subscription. Page builders are available in the Pro and Business subscriptions to assist you in making your course look good, and they can even code courses for you.
Winner: LearnDash
LearnDash vs Teachable: Learning Experience
LearnDash
In one crucial way, LearnDash outperforms Teachable. A quiz can be added at any point in the course. There are numerous options with LearnDash, including eight question types and the option for timed tests.
You can also assign homework to students after specific lessons or subjects to keep track of their progress and provide them with report cards.
Progress tracking has been improved in the most recent version of LearnDash. You can see how students are progressing through the course. You can also use LearnDash’s certificates to thank them after they finish a course. This will encourage students to complete the course.
Teachable
Teachable does not have questions or quizzes, but they have multiple choice and accurate/false responses as options; no other types of questions are available on this platform.
When your students complete a course, you can award them with certificates in Teachable. You can also go over their homework assignments with them.
Teachable is more complex than LearnDash, so content is found in a single location, whereas LearnDash contains content in multiple locations and a help desk for homework assignments.
Teachable lets you keep track of your student’s homework. You can also use the website to monitor their academic progress. Students who complete the course successfully will receive report cards and certificates from their teachers.
These reinforcements may be found in the curriculum section of your course. Teachable has some excellent assessment tools, but they need to gain LearnDash. Winner: LearnDash
Teachable vs Learndash: Integrations
Integration options are essential to improve the tool’s productivity and boost its functionality.
Teachable
To integrate Teachable to your preferred email service provider, you must use Zapier, a third-party software. You can also use Zapier or custom APIs to set up webhooks to send updates between your two systems.
You can also use Teachable’s email automation tool to send out specific emails directly from the platform based on user activity.
Its native integrations are currently limited to the following:
- Google Analytics
- Zapier
- Mailchimp
- Sumo
- ConvertKit
- Segment
- Calendly
You’ll need a third-party solution like Zapier or WPFusion to connect your online courses hosted on your WordPress site to your CRM using LearnDash.In either case, there are no native integrations with email service providers such as ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit.
LearnDash
Learndash integrates with various eCommerce platforms, CRMs, payment gateways, and similar tools.
Some of the most popular LearnDash integrations are:
- Mailchimp
- WooCommerce
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Slack
- ConvertKit
- 2checkout
- GamiPress
- Easy Digital Downloads.
Winner: LearnDash
Teachable vs LearnDash: eCommerce functions
Teachable
Teachable supports Stripe, PayPal, and one-time and global discount coupons. Throughout the checkout process, you can also create and sell upsells on the thank you page.
Affiliate marketing is integrated into all of Teachable’s plans. Affiliates can keep track of their referral data and recover their unique links using an affiliate dashboard.
LearnDash
LearnDash has limited built-in e-commerce functionality, but if you have a simple setup and only offer one-time course purchases, you won’t need additional plugins. It natively connects with PayPal, Stripe, and 2checkout.
You’ll need an add-on or a separate plugin to sell subscriptions or offer payment plans with LearnDash. The same is true for affiliate marketing.
LearnDash’s costs and complexity begin to add up at this point. Teachable charges a 5% transaction fee on their lowest tier, whereas LearnDash does not.
Winner: Teachable
LearnDash vs Teachable: Hosting & Security
Let’s see if both these course builders offer hosting options.
LearnDash Hosting
LearnDash’s hosting is called LearnDash Cloud. With LearnDash Cloud, you can create unlimited courses catering to various learners. It’s designed to grow with your business, handling more users as your courses become more popular.
Watch this video to learn more:
The platform is easy to design with a drag-and-drop course builder, allowing custom fonts, colors, and logos.
When it comes to security, it’s important to ensure that all user data is protected and secure. Additionally, you should always update LearnDash when new versions become available, as these updates often include important security patches.
It would be best to consider using an SSL certificate on your LearnDash site to ensure all data is encrypted in transit. It’s also important to have a backup plan to restore your courses if unauthorized access occurs.
Teachable
When using Teachable for your online courses, you must ensure that security and hosting are properly managed. Teachable provides a secure platform with built-in SSL encryption and custom domain mapping so that you can guarantee the safety and privacy of your course content and students’ data.
Teachable has servers located around the world to enforce faster loading times for your content. Additionally, Teachable provides options for image hosting and video streaming so that you can easily upload media to accompany your course material.
You can also customize your course’s look and feel with pre-designed themes or even custom HTML/CSS code if you’re feeling adventurous.
Teachable vs Learndash: Reporting & Analytics
LearnDash
In LearnDash, you can divide students into subgroups. You can obtain even more detailed statistics by running reports on different categories.
You can also use the Gradebook add-on to keep track of your manually graded quizzes and assignments. Learndash reports give detailed insights on time taken by a student and percentage of course completed.
Teachable
Teachable has a dashboard with a lot of data. You can see how much you’ve earned and your student’s grades. You can see how many lectures you have completed, quiz scores, and videos.
If students are enrolled in packs or receiving financial aid, their names will appear on the leaderboard so you can see who is doing well in class. The user’s progress, rank, enrollment, and name are all displayed here.
The information from sales reports is used to show how much money you make.
For example, it will tell you how many affiliates, classes, and discounts there were. It may also show which payment gateway you registered with. There is also a time frame for the report.
As LearnDash does not handle payments, this information about your sales report is easy to find in Teachable, which does.
LearnDash vs Teachable: Customer Support
Teachable
Teachable’s customer service team is available to all clients via email and has extensive knowledge. Live chat is also available for technical and business accounts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. TeachableU, their online course collection, is available to all paying clients.
You’ll also get access to an onboarding webinar when you sign up, which will help you get up and running quickly. LearnDash, on the other hand, is available by email from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
But don’t let this deter you. Email assistance has proven reliable, especially when dealing with more complex issues.
LearnDash
LearnDash offers email support regarding customer support from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. While this may seem limited compared to Teachable’s availability, LearnDash’s email support has been reliable, especially when dealing with more complex issues.
The LearnDash support team is thorough in investigating problems and providing confident solutions. Though Teachable may outperform LearnDash regarding customer service availability, LearnDash’s email support is still an effective and dependable option. Not to forget, their active Facebook community makes it worthwhile.
Pricing Plans: LearnDash vs Teachable:
When we compared the prices of the two platforms, we discovered that LearnDash is the more affordable option. But LearnDash does not offer a free trial, whereas Teachable does with their Professional plan (not for their Basic and Business plans).
LearnDash Pricing Plans
LearnDash charges a yearly fee. Unfortunately, this cost cannot be divided into monthly installments. Each plan includes a 15-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the plugin at your leisure to see if it’s right without risking your money.
You’ll also receive a demo site template to use while learning the ropes before diving in headfirst. The costs are as follows:
$199/year for 1 site
- One site license
- You can create unlimited courses
- You can register an infinite number of users
- Course content protection
- You can drip-feed lessons
- Access to advanced quizzing blocks
- You can issue certificates and badges
- You can run course forums
- Email notifications
- Free integrations
- One year’s worth of support and updates
$399/year for 10 sites
- Everything mentioned above, the ProPanel advanced reporting dashboard and 10 site licenses, are included.
The ProPanel improves your administrative control. This page lets you view real-time student activity and approve, delete, and manage all assignments and essays. Your student’s course progress and quiz scores can also be considered and downloaded.
$799/year for unlimited sites
- Everything from the first two options and unlimited site licenses is included. As you can see, LearnDash does not restrict your access to functionality based on your membership level.
Instead, if you want to expand to more sites, upgrade.
However, LearnDash Cloud may cost extra. This means that if you wish to create a course site on WordPress, you will need to pay for the LearnDash cloud.
Teachable Pricing Plans
Teachable’s pricing is more in line with a standard SaaS model. Its three plans can be paid monthly or annually, with annual billing less expensive.
You can also try Teachable for 14 days for free. You will receive a full refund if you cancel your plan within the first 30 days.
The rates below are based on annual billing to compare LearnDash’s yearly pricing better.
Each Teachable plan includes the following features:
- Unlimited video uploads, course creation, hosting, and student enrollment
- Access to integrated payment processing
- Student management feature
- Students can leave comments on your lectures in a designated comments box
- Basic quizzes
- No additional charge for selling your “Free” courses
- Automatic VAT calculation for EU users
The following are the plans:
Basic: $39 per month (annual) and $59 per month (month)
You can offer courses and live coaching with this package, and you have access to
- A members-only community
- Instant payouts
- You can register two admins
- Email support
- Course creator training
- You can use your custom domain
- You can create coupon codes for customers to use
- You can drip-feed course content
- You get access to integrated email marketing
- Access to third-party integrations
Pro: $119 per month (monthly) and $99 per month (annual)
Transaction costs are eliminated under this plan. You get everything stated in the Basic plan, along with the below-mentioned features:
- Priority product support
- You can grade quizzes
- Advanced reports
- An unbranded website
- You can issue course completion certificates
- Course compliance
- An integrated affiliate marketing platform
- You can register five admins
Pro+: $199 per month (annually) and $249 per month (monthly)
This adds up everything pro plan and
- Manual student imports
- You can register 5 admins
- Bulk student enrollments
- You can set custom user roles
- Advanced theme customization through developer access
- You can host group coaching calls
LearnDash Vs Teachable: Pros & Cons
Here are the pros and cons of LearnDash and Teachable that you must know:
LearnDash Pros
- Features like Zapier and email integration help to speed up and automate the process.
- The cost is reasonable, given the high quality of what’s on offer.
- The LearnDash ProPanel includes vital capabilities such as a drag-and-drop builder.
- ProPanel’s embedded video support greatly assists videos, including reflective seminars and courses.
- LearnDash includes premium add-ons without charging extra for essential features like payment or user management.
LearnDash Cons
- In-depth operations or features may provide complete control, but typical users may encounter specific problems.
- For membership, subscription, and payment, third-party plugins are required in LearnDash ProPanel.
- Although LearnDash offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, trying out the LMS requires additional effort.
Teachable Pros
- Free account available for practice.
- Online courses are easy to create
- Teachable is a self-contained website maintained by the Teachable support team.
- A personal website can be used to offer the online course
- Potential to be a profitable business
- A fantastic support team is on hand to assist you
- Weekly course design instructions are provided
- Flawless hosting
Teachable Cons
- It can be expensive due to additional features
- May not be authorized to use in some classrooms with content chosen by the school
- Teachable do not promote their services to students; the teacher must market to students.
Final Verdict on Teachable vs LearnDash
After exploring the different features and advantages of each e-learning platform, it is clear that either LearnDash or Teachable could effectively provide the necessary services for an optimal online learning experience.
Ultimately, the decision to choose between LearnDash and Teachable will depend on an individual’s specific needs. Both platforms offer numerous robust functionalities and accommodate different levels of learners—from basic to complex courses.
For those looking to maximize their reach with a versatile platform, LearnDash may be the best fit. In contrast, for individuals searching for a relatively more straightforward platform with more intuitive user experiences, Teachable may be suitable.
If I had to choose anyone, I would go with LearnDash.
LearnDash is the clear winner. It is less expensive and includes additional marketing, integrations, architecture, and learning reinforcements.
They lose points for not providing a free trial and having limited customer support options, but LearnDash provides excellent value for money.
That isn’t to say Teachable isn’t available to all teachers.
LearnDash is an excellent option for educators who already have a WordPress website. Teachable may be the best option to create a course from the ground up.
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