LearnWorlds Reviews: An Honest Breakdown for Course Creators
Looking for honest LearnWorlds reviews? You're probably comparing course platforms and want to know if LearnWorlds is worth the money before committing. Good news: I've dug through hundreds of user reviews, tested the platform, and gathered real feedback to help you decide.
Here's the bottom line: LearnWorlds is a solid course creation platform with some genuinely impressive interactive video features and strong customer support. But it's not cheap, the interface can feel cluttered, and the Starter plan has some gotchas that might bite you. Let me break it all down.
LearnWorlds Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay
LearnWorlds offers four pricing tiers. All prices listed are for annual billing (which saves you 20%):
- Starter Plan: $24/month ($29 monthly) - but there's a $5 transaction fee per course sale
- Pro Trainer Plan: $79/month ($99 monthly) - no transaction fees, unlimited courses
- Learning Center Plan: $249/month ($299 monthly) - interactive video, white-labeling, advanced features
- High Volume & Corporate: Custom pricing - for enterprises with specific needs
That $5 transaction fee on the Starter plan is the big catch. If you're selling a $50 course, you're losing 10% right off the bat on top of your monthly subscription. For low-volume sellers testing the waters, it might work. For anyone planning to scale, jump to Pro Trainer immediately.
One thing to note: LearnWorlds offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. That's longer than most competitors, so there's no excuse not to test it properly before buying.
Understanding Transaction Fees: When Does the Math Work?
Let's do the real math on that Starter plan transaction fee. If you sell courses at $50 each, the $5 fee means you're paying 10% per sale plus the $24 monthly fee. Sell 10 courses per month and you've paid $74 total ($24 subscription + $50 in fees). Sell 15 courses and you're at $99 - already more expensive than the Pro Trainer plan at $79/month with zero transaction fees.
The break-even point? If you're selling more than 11 courses monthly at $50 each, the Pro Trainer plan becomes cheaper. For higher-priced courses, the math changes: at $200 per course, you only need to sell 3 courses monthly before Pro Trainer makes more financial sense.
Bottom line: The Starter plan only works if you're genuinely testing with very low sales volume. Most active course creators will save money by starting with Pro Trainer.
Hidden Costs to Consider
Beyond the base subscription, there are additional costs that can add up quickly:
- Mobile App: A branded mobile app costs an additional $149-249/month depending on whether you want iOS only or both iOS and Android. This isn't included in any base plan.
- Email Marketing: LearnWorlds doesn't include built-in email marketing for external campaigns. You'll need to integrate with tools like AWeber, Mailchimp, or ActiveCampaign - each with their own monthly costs ranging from $20-100+.
- Payment Gateway Fees: Stripe and PayPal typically charge 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, which applies on top of any LearnWorlds fees.
- Transaction Fees on Starter: As mentioned, $5 per course sale adds up fast.
When budgeting, calculate your true monthly cost including these extras. A "$24/month" Starter plan could easily become $100+ once you factor in transaction fees, email marketing, and payment processing.
What Users Actually Like About LearnWorlds
After analyzing reviews from G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, and other platforms, here are the consistent positives:
Interactive Video Features
This is LearnWorlds' standout feature. You can embed quizzes, clickable buttons, titles, and watermarks directly into your videos. Users consistently highlight this as something competitors don't offer at the same level. One popular use case is "choose your path" interactive videos where learners progress differently based on their choices during the video.
The platform's Interactive Video Editor includes both basic and advanced features. You can add text overlays, images, call-to-action buttons, multiple-choice questions, and hotspot questions directly within video content. The video branching capability allows you to create "choose your own adventure" style learning experiences where buttons take learners to different points in the video based on their selections.
What makes LearnWorlds' video features even more powerful is the AI integration. The platform can auto-generate subtitles and transcriptions in multiple languages, create interactive questions based on video content, generate tables of contents automatically, and provide AI-powered summaries at key moments. This automation saves hours of manual work while improving accessibility and engagement.
The interactive video features work with videos uploaded to LearnWorlds' native hosting, as well as videos from Vimeo or Wistia (though some features like thumbnails and subtitles work best with native hosting). You can customize the video player skin to match your brand, add watermarks for copyright protection, enable chapter markers for easy navigation, and track detailed engagement analytics including watch time and interaction rates.
Customer Support
Across every review platform, LearnWorlds gets praised for responsive, helpful support. Users mention getting answers within an hour, and specific support team members are frequently called out by name for going above and beyond. On Trustpilot, 344+ customers have weighed in, and support quality is the most consistent theme.
Unlike many platforms that offer basic email support, LearnWorlds provides what they call "360-degree support" including US and UK phone support, email support, weekly webinars, and an extensive knowledge base. The Learning Center plan includes dedicated account management and priority 24/7 support.
One reviewer noted: "The support team is patient, knowledgeable, and goes above and beyond with personalized videos and tailored solutions." Another mentioned: "In over two decades in the industry, I've rarely seen customer service this responsive."
The LearnWorlds Academy also provides free training courses for platform users, helping you master features without needing constant support tickets. This combination of self-service resources and responsive human support creates a safety net that's particularly valuable when you're launching time-sensitive courses.
All-in-One Platform
LearnWorlds brings together video hosting, website building, payment processing, and course delivery in a single system. You don't need separate tools for hosting videos or building sales pages. The platform includes over 400 page design templates and integrates with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal.
The website builder features a drag-and-drop page editor with pre-made sections, custom code access for advanced users, global elements for headers and footers, and a responsive design that works on all devices. You can create unlimited pages on higher-tier plans, build sales funnels, set up landing pages with conversion-optimized templates, and maintain a blog for content marketing.
However, it's important to note that LearnWorlds isn't truly "all-in-one" despite marketing claims. You'll still need external email marketing software for newsletters and automated campaigns. The platform integrates with popular tools like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, and AWeber, but these require separate subscriptions.
What LearnWorlds does provide natively: course hosting and creation, video hosting, website and landing page building, payment processing, basic student email notifications, community features, assessments and quizzes, certificates, SCORM compliance, live class integration with Zoom, and basic analytics. This covers about 80% of what most course creators need, with email marketing being the main gap.
SCORM Compliance
If you need to import existing training content or work with corporate clients who require SCORM compliance, LearnWorlds handles this well. Many competing platforms don't support SCORM at all.
SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) is a set of technical standards for e-learning content that ensures compatibility across different learning management systems. LearnWorlds supports both SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004, allowing you to upload SCORM packages created with authoring tools like Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or Lectora.
The platform stores session data so learners can resume where they left off, tracks grades from SCORM quizzes and tests in the gradebook, and handles files up to 400MB. This makes LearnWorlds one of the few popular course platforms suitable for corporate training where SCORM compliance is often mandatory.
For instructional designers who prefer working with dedicated authoring tools, SCORM support means you can create content in your preferred software and import it seamlessly. You can also purchase off-the-shelf SCORM content from third-party providers and upload it directly to your LearnWorlds academy without rebuilding courses from scratch.
AI-Powered Course Creation Tools
LearnWorlds has integrated AI throughout the platform to speed up course creation and improve learning outcomes. The AI Assistant can help with course planning and outline generation, instructional content creation, assessment design with auto-generated quiz questions, marketing copy for sales pages, and personalized learner feedback.
For videos specifically, the AI can auto-generate subtitles in multiple languages, create interactive questions at optimal moments based on content analysis, generate tables of contents for easy navigation, provide automatic summaries of key points, and translate subtitles to reach global audiences. These features are available on the Learning Center plan and significantly reduce the time required to produce professional, engaging courses.
The quality of AI-generated content is generally good, though most users recommend reviewing and editing AI output rather than using it verbatim. The AI works best when you provide clear prompts and context about your course topic and target audience.
Flexible Monetization Options
LearnWorlds supports multiple pricing models to maximize revenue: one-time payments for individual courses, subscriptions for ongoing access, memberships with tiered benefits, payment plans allowing students to pay in installments, course bundles for package deals, and free courses as lead magnets (on Pro Trainer plan and above).
The platform includes built-in tools for creating discount codes and coupons, setting up affiliate programs to incentivize promoters, offering upsells during checkout, creating early-bird pricing for launches, and implementing limited-time promotions. These monetization features help course creators test different pricing strategies and maximize lifetime customer value.
What Users Don't Like About LearnWorlds
No platform is perfect. Here's what frustrates users:
Cluttered Interface
The user interface gets criticized repeatedly across reviews. The dashboard can feel overwhelming, especially for beginners. Icons aren't always intuitive, and finding specific features often requires digging through menus or consulting help articles. One reviewer noted: "I often have to refer to the user guides to figure out where a feature is hiding."
The problem isn't that features don't exist - it's that LearnWorlds packs so much functionality into the platform that the interface becomes dense. New users report a steeper learning curve compared to simpler platforms like Teachable. While the 30-day trial helps, you may spend the first week just figuring out where everything is located.
The dashboard shows analytics, course management, student data, marketing tools, and settings all competing for attention. Unlike more streamlined competitors that hide advanced features until you need them, LearnWorlds presents everything upfront. This is powerful for experienced users but intimidating for beginners.
Some users also report that customer support and tutorials, while responsive, aren't always proactive in helping navigate the complexity. You need to know what to ask for help with, which is difficult when you don't know what features exist.
Limited Marketing Features
Despite positioning itself as an all-in-one solution, LearnWorlds' marketing tools are underdeveloped. There's no built-in email marketing for external campaigns - you'll need to integrate with tools like AWeber or Mailchimp. The funnel templates are basic without automated workflow features.
What LearnWorlds does provide: customizable landing pages, pop-ups for lead capture, basic sales page templates, and affiliate management. What it lacks: email automation for nurture sequences, advanced funnel analytics, A/B testing capabilities, and integrated CRM functionality.
For serious marketers, this means maintaining a separate tech stack. You'll need tools like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit for email marketing ($20-100+/month), potentially a funnel builder like Leadpages ($37+/month), and possibly a CRM for lead management. These additional tools and integration complexity add both cost and technical overhead.
The affiliate management feature is included but basic. You can set commission rates, track referrals, and provide affiliate links, but advanced features like tiered commissions, custom tracking pixels, or detailed attribution reporting require workarounds or third-party tools.
Expensive for Premium Features
The interactive video features that make LearnWorlds special? They're locked behind the $249/month Learning Center plan. That's a significant jump from $79/month, and many users feel forced into higher tiers to access standout features. White-labeling and mobile apps also require premium plans.
Here's what's locked by plan tier:
Starter Plan ($24/month) limitations: $5 transaction fee per sale, only 3 pages, cannot offer free courses, no live classes or webinars, no subscriptions or memberships, limited to 1 admin account, basic integrations only, and limited to 1,000 active learners per month.
Pro Trainer Plan ($79/month) unlocks: Zero transaction fees, unlimited free and paid courses, up to 5 admin accounts, live webinars and classes via Zoom integration, subscriptions and memberships, advanced integrations including Zapier, 20 SCORM packages, custom course player, and support for up to 5,000 active learners.
Learning Center Plan ($249/month) adds: Interactive video with AI features, complete white-labeling, up to 25 admin accounts, unlimited SCORM packages, API and webhook access, bulk user actions, advanced automations, funnel builder, affiliate management dashboard, personalized onboarding, and priority 24/7 support.
For many creators, the features they want most - particularly interactive video - require jumping to the $249 tier. That's $3,000+ annually, which is substantial for solo creators or small businesses. The Pro Trainer plan at $79/month offers good value, but you'll miss the signature interactive video features that differentiate LearnWorlds from competitors.
Community Features Are Basic
If you're planning to build an active community around your courses, LearnWorlds falls short. There's no post tagging, limited moderation tools, no content flagging system, and role-based permissions are limited. It works for basic course support communities but can't compete with dedicated community platforms.
The community features include basic discussion boards, commenting on course content, private messaging between students, and emoji reactions. What's missing: threaded discussions, community gamification elements, event calendars, member directories with profiles, advanced search within community posts, and integrations with external community platforms.
For course creators who want community as a core feature, platforms like Thinkific (with its Communities add-on) or dedicated community platforms like Mighty Networks or Circle offer more robust options. You could integrate LearnWorlds with an external community platform, but that adds complexity and requires students to navigate multiple tools.
File Size Limitations
Downloadable files are capped at 50MB, and filenames must use Latin characters only. If you're sharing large design templates, video scripts, or working with non-English file names, this becomes annoying fast.
The 50MB limit affects PDFs, worksheets, templates, audio files, and other downloadable resources. For video content uploaded to the course video library, larger files are supported, but supplementary resources hit this wall. Workarounds include hosting large files on Google Drive, Dropbox, or AWS S3 and linking to them, but this creates friction and potential broken links.
The Latin characters requirement for filenames is particularly frustrating for creators serving non-English audiences. If you're creating courses in Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, or other non-Latin alphabets, you'll need to rename every file before uploading. This is a technical limitation that feels outdated compared to modern cloud platforms that handle Unicode filenames without issue.
Video Library Organization Issues
One major complaint that appeared in Trustpilot reviews relates to the video library. Users with hundreds of videos report that there's no way to sort, organize, or search the library effectively. No folders, no sorting by date or name, and crucially, no search function.
One reviewer with 400 videos noted: "The video library has transformed my progress from going smooth to being a nightmare. You have absolutely no way of sorting the library in any way. It's just all your videos loaded randomly." For courses with many video-based questions or supplementary materials, finding and assigning the correct video becomes a tedious manual process.
This is particularly problematic during course updates or when creating new courses that reference existing video content. Without proper organization tools, you're left scrolling through hundreds of thumbnails trying to identify the right video file.
LearnWorlds Starter Plan: Worth It?
The Starter plan looks attractive at $24/month, but here's what you're giving up:
- $5 transaction fee on every course sale
- Only 3 pages (homepage, course catalog, after-login page)
- Cannot offer free courses
- Cannot sell memberships or subscriptions
- No live classes or webinars
- Limited to basic integrations
- Only 1 admin account
- Limited to 1,000 active learners per month
- No AI quiz generator access
- No custom course player
The Starter plan makes sense only if you're brand new to course creation and want to test the platform with minimal risk. For anyone serious about selling courses, the Pro Trainer plan at $79/month eliminates transaction fees and unlocks subscriptions, memberships, and live classes.
Consider this scenario: You're a yoga instructor launching your first online course. You have 200 email subscribers and expect maybe 5-10 sales in your first month while you test the market. The Starter plan lets you get started for $24/month plus $25-50 in transaction fees (5-10 sales × $5). Total first-month cost: $49-74.
But what happens when your course takes off? Month two brings 20 sales. Now you're paying $24 + $100 in fees = $124. That's $45 more than Pro Trainer. Plus you still can't offer a free intro course as a lead magnet, run live Q&A sessions, or create a membership program. The limitations start hurting your growth potential.
Better approach: Start with Pro Trainer if you have any serious intentions. The extra $55/month ($79 vs $24) is easily justified by eliminating transaction fees, enabling free courses for list building, and allowing live classes that command premium pricing.
LearnWorlds vs. Competitors
How does LearnWorlds stack up against Teachable and Thinkific, the two most common alternatives?
LearnWorlds vs. Teachable
LearnWorlds offers more advanced course creation features, particularly interactive videos and SCORM support. Teachable has a cleaner interface and is simpler for beginners but lacks the educational depth. Teachable's pricing starts at $39/month (Basic) with 5% + $1 transaction fees on their Free plan. LearnWorlds generally wins on features; Teachable wins on ease of use.
Teachable focuses on simplicity and getting creators selling quickly. Its course builder is straightforward with basic video, text, quiz, and file upload options. The website builder is limited - most Teachable users rely on external funnel builders for high-converting sales pages. What Teachable does well: clean student experience, simple backend, and strong payment processing with built-in tax compliance for EU VAT and sales tax.
LearnWorlds provides more sophisticated learning experiences. The interactive video editor, extensive assessment options, SCORM compliance, and customizable course player create more engaging courses. However, this power comes with complexity. Teachable's simplicity means faster setup and less learning curve.
Pricing comparison: Teachable's Basic plan ($39/month annually) is cheaper than LearnWorlds' Pro Trainer ($79/month) but includes 5% transaction fees. The Pro plan ($119/month annually) eliminates fees and adds features comparable to LearnWorlds Pro Trainer. At comparable feature levels, LearnWorlds is actually more affordable.
Who should choose Teachable: Beginners who prioritize simplicity, creators who need minimal customization, YouTubers and influencers looking to quickly monetize, and those who want faster time-to-launch.
Who should choose LearnWorlds: Professional educators who need advanced course features, corporate trainers requiring SCORM compliance, creators building comprehensive learning experiences, and those who value interactive video capabilities.
LearnWorlds vs. Thinkific
Thinkific offers a genuine free plan (LearnWorlds doesn't) and has slightly better third-party integrations. However, LearnWorlds has superior interactive video capabilities and better assessment tools. Thinkific's paid plans start at $49/month. If you're testing the waters with zero budget, Thinkific's free plan is hard to beat. For advanced course features, LearnWorlds has the edge.
Thinkific's free plan allows unlimited students, 1 course, 1 community, and basic features. This is perfect for testing course creation without financial commitment. However, the free plan limits you to Thinkific branding, no custom domain, and basic features only. Most serious creators upgrade quickly.
Thinkific's interface is arguably the most user-friendly among major platforms. The drag-and-drop course builder feels intuitive, and site customization is straightforward. Thinkific also offers more robust third-party integrations through its app store, making it easier to connect with tools you already use.
Where LearnWorlds pulls ahead: interactive video features that Thinkific can't match, SCORM compliance (Thinkific isn't compliant), more sophisticated assessment options with gradebook functionality, and better page builder with access to custom code. LearnWorlds also includes more learning activities beyond basic video and text - things like eBook creation, slide presentations, and SCORM packages.
Pricing comparison at similar feature levels: Thinkific's Start plan ($49/month annually) compares to LearnWorlds' Pro Trainer ($79/month). Thinkific offers unlimited courses, coupons and promotions, drip content, and Zoom integration. LearnWorlds adds interactive video, SCORM support, more advanced assessments, and better website building for $30 more.
Who should choose Thinkific: Complete beginners who want the easiest platform, budget-conscious creators who want to start free, those building enterprise LMS systems (Thinkific's higher plans are strong here), and creators who need extensive third-party integrations.
Who should choose LearnWorlds: Creators who need interactive video features, those requiring SCORM compliance, educators focused on learning outcomes over ease of use, and course creators who want advanced website building.
LearnWorlds vs. Kajabi
Kajabi is the true "all-in-one" platform with built-in email marketing, automation, and funnel building - features LearnWorlds lacks. However, Kajabi is significantly more expensive starting at $119/month (or $89/month on annual plans with special discounts) and has less sophisticated course creation tools.
Kajabi excels at marketing automation. The platform includes email marketing with visual automation builders, built-in funnel templates, landing page builders with conversion optimization, and comprehensive pipeline management. This makes Kajabi ideal for course creators who need marketing tools and don't want to manage multiple software subscriptions.
However, Kajabi's course creation features are more basic. Limited quiz types (only multiple choice), no interactive video features, no SCORM support, and fewer assessment options compared to LearnWorlds. The course experience is clean and works well, but it lacks the educational sophistication that LearnWorlds provides.
Pricing: Kajabi's Kickstarter plan starts at $89/month (annual only, through partner deals; regular price is $119/month). This includes email marketing, automation, and funnel tools. LearnWorlds Pro Trainer at $79/month doesn't include these marketing features but offers superior course creation. When you add email marketing to LearnWorlds (say, $30/month for ActiveCampaign), you're at $109/month total - comparable to Kajabi but with better course features.
Who should choose Kajabi: Creators who need all-in-one simplicity, those building sales funnels and marketing automation, businesses selling multiple products beyond courses (memberships, coaching, podcasts), and creators with budget for premium tools.
Who should choose LearnWorlds: Educators prioritizing learning experience, those needing interactive video and SCORM, creators comfortable managing separate email marketing tools, and those wanting to save money while getting advanced course features.
Who Should Use LearnWorlds?
LearnWorlds works best for:
- Professional course creators who need interactive video features
- Corporate training teams requiring SCORM compliance and advanced assessments
- Established educators who can justify the $79-249/month pricing
- Creators who value support and want responsive help when issues arise
- Those with technical skills who can handle the steeper learning curve
- Course creators serving global audiences who need multi-language support and AI-generated translations
- Businesses building comprehensive learning academies rather than single courses
LearnWorlds is NOT ideal for:
- Budget-conscious beginners - Thinkific's free plan is better for testing
- Community-focused creators - dedicated community platforms will serve you better
- Marketers who need advanced automation - you'll need external tools anyway
- Those who need simplicity above all - Teachable offers faster setup and cleaner interface
- Creators with extremely large file resources - the 50MB download limit may frustrate you
- Course creators who need robust built-in email marketing - you'll definitely need external tools
LearnWorlds Use Cases: Real-World Examples
To help you understand if LearnWorlds fits your needs, here are specific use cases:
Corporate Training Manager
Sarah manages employee training for a 200-person software company. She needs SCORM compliance because her company purchases off-the-shelf compliance training modules. The LearnWorlds Learning Center plan ($249/month) provides SCORM support, white-labeling to match company branding, detailed analytics for compliance reporting, and integration with the company's HR systems via API.
LearnWorlds works well because: It supports unlimited SCORM packages, provides detailed tracking for compliance requirements, allows bulk user enrollment and management, integrates with SSO for seamless employee access, and offers priority support when issues arise.
Professional Course Creator
Mike is a photography instructor with 5,000 email subscribers. He creates comprehensive courses with heavy video content and wants to maximize engagement. The interactive video features are essential - he uses video branching to create "choose your path" scenarios where students select different photography styles and receive customized instruction paths.
LearnWorlds works well because: Interactive video creates unique learning experiences competitors can't match, the customizable course player maintains his brand, live classes via Zoom integration allow Q&A sessions, and the website builder lets him create high-converting sales pages without external tools. He uses the Pro Trainer plan ($79/month) plus ActiveCampaign for email marketing ($45/month), total cost $124/month.
Yoga Instructor Building a Membership
Jennifer teaches yoga and wants to create a membership program with new classes added monthly. She needs subscriptions, the ability to drip new content automatically, and live classes for real-time instruction.
LearnWorlds works well because: The Pro Trainer plan supports subscriptions and memberships, drip content keeps members engaged over time, Zoom integration enables live classes, and the community features allow members to connect. However, Jennifer finds the interface overwhelming initially and spends two weeks mastering the platform. A simpler platform might have been faster to launch, but the features justify the learning curve.
When LearnWorlds Doesn't Work
Tom is a marketing consultant launching his first digital product. He has 500 email subscribers and wants to test a $47 course quickly. He's not technical and gets frustrated with LearnWorlds' complexity. After a week, he switches to Teachable because: the simpler interface lets him launch in 2 days, he doesn't need interactive video features yet, the Basic plan with transaction fees is cheaper while testing, and the cleaner student experience looks more professional with minimal setup.
For Tom, LearnWorlds was overkill. The features he's paying for go unused, and the complexity slows his launch. Sometimes less is more.
LearnWorlds Mobile App: Is It Worth the Extra Cost?
LearnWorlds offers branded mobile apps for iOS and Android, but this comes at a significant additional cost of $149-249/month depending on your needs. This is on top of your base subscription, making it a substantial investment.
The mobile app provides: Your brand name and logo in app stores, push notifications to engage learners, offline access to course content, native mobile experience rather than mobile web, in-app purchases and subscriptions, and integration with your LearnWorlds academy (courses sync automatically).
However, consider the total cost. If you're on the Pro Trainer plan ($79/month) and add the mobile app ($149/month minimum), you're paying $228/month total. That's approaching the Learning Center plan price ($249/month) which includes more features beyond just the mobile app.
Who should invest in a mobile app: Large course businesses with thousands of students where mobile engagement is critical, corporate training programs where employees need offline access, membership programs where push notifications drive retention, brands where a native app significantly enhances prestige, and businesses that can justify the ROI through increased engagement and retention.
Who should skip the mobile app: Solo course creators just starting out, creators with small audiences (under 500 students), those on tight budgets, and anyone whose students primarily learn on desktop/laptop computers. LearnWorlds' mobile-responsive web interface works well for most creators without the added app cost.
Integration Capabilities and Tech Stack
LearnWorlds integrates with popular tools, but you'll need to plan your tech stack carefully:
Native Integrations
Payment gateways: Stripe, PayPal, Shopify Payments, and EU-specific options. Analytics: Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Google Tag Manager. Live classes: Zoom, Google Meet, Webex, Microsoft Teams. Chat support: Zendesk, Olark, Tawk.to, Freshdesk Chat. Email marketing: Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, AWeber, ConvertKit (via Zapier or native connectors). Calendly for scheduling. Fomo for social proof notifications.
Zapier Integration
The Pro Trainer plan and above include Zapier integration, opening connections to 5,000+ apps. Common Zapier workflows: New student enrollment triggers email sequence in ConvertKit, course completion triggers congratulations email and adds tag in CRM, payment received triggers notification in Slack and adds row to Google Sheets, and quiz failure triggers personalized email with additional resources.
API and Webhooks
The Learning Center plan includes API and webhook access for custom integrations. This is crucial for businesses needing: Custom reporting dashboards, integration with proprietary internal systems, advanced automation workflows, data synchronization with CRM or HR systems, and single sign-on (SSO) implementation.
Recommended Tech Stack for LearnWorlds Users
Here's a typical tech stack that works well with LearnWorlds: LearnWorlds ($79/month Pro Trainer) for course hosting and delivery, ActiveCampaign or AWeber ($30-45/month) for email marketing and automation, Zapier ($20-50/month depending on usage) for workflow automation, Stripe/PayPal for payment processing (pay-as-you-go fees), and Zoom ($15/month or free for small meetings) for live classes.
Total monthly cost: $144-184/month for a comprehensive setup. This compares favorably to all-in-one platforms like Kajabi ($119-199/month) while providing more course creation power and flexibility.
Performance and Reliability
An often-overlooked aspect of course platforms is uptime and performance. You don't want students unable to access courses during a launch or while completing time-sensitive training.
LearnWorlds generally performs well: The platform uses cloud hosting with good global performance, video delivery is smooth with adaptive streaming, uptime is consistently above 99.5% based on user reports, and page load speeds are acceptable though not exceptional. The platform handles traffic spikes during launches reasonably well.
Where performance issues arise: Very large SCORM files (over 200MB) can be slow to upload, the video library can lag when you have hundreds of videos, complex interactive videos with many elements may load slowly on slower connections, and the admin dashboard can feel sluggish when managing courses with 50+ sections.
Security features include SSL certificates for all schools, regular platform updates and patches, GDPR compliance tools, data encryption in transit and at rest, and copyright protection features including watermarks and right-click disabling (though these aren't foolproof). For corporate clients, the Enterprise plan offers enhanced security with SSO, SLA agreements, and dedicated infrastructure.
Getting Started with LearnWorlds: What to Expect
If you decide to try LearnWorlds, here's what the onboarding process looks like:
The 30-Day Free Trial
LearnWorlds offers a genuine 30-day trial with no credit card required. You get access to all core features during the trial, allowing you to: Build your first course, customize your school design, upload videos and test interactive features, set up payment processing, invite beta students to test, and explore the admin dashboard thoroughly.
The no-credit-card policy is significant. Many platforms require payment information upfront, making it harder to cancel. LearnWorlds lets you test commitment-free, which demonstrates confidence in their product.
Setup Timeline
Expect these timeframes for different skill levels: Complete beginners: 2-3 weeks to feel comfortable with the platform, Tech-savvy creators: 3-5 days to launch a basic course, Those migrating from another platform: 1-2 weeks to transfer content and rebuild courses, and Corporate users implementing SSO and complex integrations: 4-6 weeks with support.
The Learning Center plan includes personalized onboarding calls that can significantly accelerate setup, especially for businesses with complex requirements.
Learning Resources
LearnWorlds provides extensive resources to help you succeed: LearnWorlds Academy with free courses on platform features, Knowledge base with hundreds of articles, Weekly webinars with platform experts, YouTube channel with video tutorials, Email support with typically quick response times, and Phone support (US and UK) on higher-tier plans.
However, note that some users report the knowledge base can be hard to navigate. Articles exist for most features, but finding the right article when you don't know the terminology can be frustrating.
The Verdict
LearnWorlds is a capable, feature-rich platform with legitimately impressive interactive video tools and excellent customer support. The main drawbacks are the cluttered interface, premium pricing for standout features, and weak built-in marketing capabilities.
If you're a serious course creator who values student engagement and doesn't mind paying for quality features, LearnWorlds delivers. The interactive video features alone can justify the investment if you're creating immersive learning experiences. The SCORM compliance makes it one of the few viable options for corporate training. And the customer support means you won't get stuck when issues arise.
However, if you're just starting out, need strong community features, or require robust built-in marketing automation, look elsewhere first. Thinkific's free plan is better for beginners, dedicated community platforms serve community-focused creators better, and Kajabi's all-in-one approach suits marketers who need automation.
The sweet spot for LearnWorlds: professional educators and course creators who've outgrown simpler platforms, need advanced features like interactive video and SCORM, have budget for the Pro Trainer ($79/month) or Learning Center ($249/month) plans, can handle complexity in exchange for power, and value responsive customer support. If that describes you, LearnWorlds deserves serious consideration.
Ready to try it? Start your 30-day LearnWorlds free trial - no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LearnWorlds have a free plan?
No, LearnWorlds doesn't offer a free plan. However, they provide a 30-day free trial that gives you access to all core features without requiring a credit card. This is actually better than a limited free plan because you can test the full platform capabilities before deciding. Thinkific offers a permanent free plan if you need a zero-cost option to start.
Is LearnWorlds good for beginners?
Mixed. The platform has a learning curve due to its cluttered interface and extensive features, but customer support is excellent. If you're completely new to course creation, Thinkific's free plan or Teachable's simpler interface might be easier to start with. However, if you're willing to invest 1-2 weeks learning the platform, LearnWorlds offers more powerful features for long-term growth. The 30-day trial gives you time to decide if the complexity is worth it.
What are LearnWorlds transaction fees?
Only the Starter plan ($24/month annual) has transaction fees - $5 per course sale. The Pro Trainer plan ($79/month annual) and above have zero transaction fees. Do the math: if you're selling more than 11 courses monthly at $50 each, Pro Trainer becomes cheaper than Starter even accounting for the higher subscription cost. For most active course creators, Pro Trainer is the better value.
Can I create a mobile app with LearnWorlds?
Yes, but it's an add-on that costs $149-249/month depending on whether you want iOS only or both iOS and Android. Mobile apps aren't included in the base subscription. The app syncs with your LearnWorlds academy automatically, includes your branding, and supports push notifications. However, the cost is substantial - consider carefully whether you need a native app versus LearnWorlds' mobile-responsive web interface which works well for most creators.
Does LearnWorlds integrate with email marketing tools?
Yes, LearnWorlds integrates with Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, AWeber, ConvertKit, and others through Zapier or direct connections. However, these are external integrations - there's no built-in email marketing for external campaigns (newsletters, automation sequences, etc.). You'll need a separate email marketing subscription. Plan on $20-100/month for email tools depending on your subscriber count. This is LearnWorlds' biggest gap compared to all-in-one platforms like Kajabi.
Is LearnWorlds SCORM compliant?
Yes, LearnWorlds supports both SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004. You can upload SCORM packages up to 400MB created with authoring tools like Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or Lectora. The platform tracks grades, stores session data for resuming progress, and handles SCORM content seamlessly. This makes LearnWorlds one of the few popular course platforms suitable for corporate training where SCORM compliance is often mandatory. The Pro Trainer plan includes 20 SCORM packages; the Learning Center plan includes unlimited SCORM packages.
How does LearnWorlds compare to Kajabi?
Kajabi is a true all-in-one platform with built-in email marketing and automation that LearnWorlds lacks. However, LearnWorlds offers superior course creation features including interactive video, SCORM compliance, and more sophisticated assessments. Kajabi starts at $119/month ($89 with annual discount) vs LearnWorlds Pro Trainer at $79/month. When you add email marketing costs to LearnWorlds ($30-50/month), total costs are similar. Choose Kajabi if you want all-in-one simplicity and strong marketing tools. Choose LearnWorlds if course quality and interactive learning are priorities.
Can I migrate from another platform to LearnWorlds?
Yes, but migration requires manual work. LearnWorlds doesn't offer automated import from competitors like Teachable or Thinkific. You'll need to: export your course content from your current platform, recreate courses in LearnWorlds (copy-paste text content, re-upload videos, rebuild quizzes), import student data manually or via CSV, and redirect your custom domain to LearnWorlds. The Learning Center plan includes personalized onboarding support that can help with migration. Plan on 1-2 weeks for a typical migration depending on course complexity. The upside: migration forces you to review and improve your courses during the rebuild.
What happens if I cancel my LearnWorlds subscription?
You can cancel prior to renewal and your school remains active until the end of your billing period. After that, your school becomes inaccessible to both you and students. Your data isn't immediately deleted - you typically have a grace period to export content. However, LearnWorlds doesn't provide easy one-click export of all content. You'll need to manually download videos, copy course text, and export student data. This is a good reason to maintain backups of your course materials outside the platform. If you restart your subscription within 90 days, your school is typically restored as it was.
Does LearnWorlds work in countries outside the US?
Yes, LearnWorlds is available globally. The platform supports multiple currencies for pricing courses, payment processing through Stripe and PayPal works internationally, you can set up your school in any language, and the AI features include multi-language subtitle generation and translation. EU customers should note that VAT is added to pricing unless you provide a valid EU VAT number. The platform complies with GDPR for European users. Customer support includes US and UK phone support, though email support is available 24/7 globally.
How many courses can I create on LearnWorlds?
It depends on your plan. The Starter plan allows unlimited paid courses but no free courses. The Pro Trainer and higher plans allow unlimited both paid and free courses. There's no hard limit on the number of courses, though extremely large schools (100+ courses) may experience some dashboard sluggishness. Most creators find the unlimited course capability valuable because you can organize content into multiple smaller courses rather than one massive course, offer different course bundles and pricing tiers, create free lead magnet courses, and structure learning paths across multiple courses.
What kind of support does LearnWorlds provide?
LearnWorlds offers multiple support channels: 24/7 email support on all plans with typical response times under 4 hours, US and UK phone support on Learning Center and Enterprise plans, weekly webinars with platform experts, extensive knowledge base with hundreds of articles, LearnWorlds Academy with free training courses, and priority support with dedicated account manager on Enterprise plans. Customer support consistently receives praise in reviews with specific support team members called out by name for exceptional service. This is one of LearnWorlds' strongest differentiators from competitors.
Final Recommendation: Is LearnWorlds Right for You?
After extensive research and analysis, here's my final take: LearnWorlds is an excellent choice for professional course creators, corporate trainers, and established educators who need advanced features and are willing to invest time learning the platform. It's not ideal for complete beginners or those who need marketing automation built-in.
The interactive video features are genuinely innovative and can create learning experiences that competitors simply can't match. If engagement and learning outcomes matter more than ease of use, LearnWorlds delivers. The SCORM compliance opens corporate training opportunities that most course platforms can't serve. And the customer support means you won't be left stranded when challenges arise.
However, be realistic about the costs. The Starter plan's transaction fees make it unworkable for anyone selling regularly. The Pro Trainer plan at $79/month is the real entry point for serious creators, and you'll need to budget an additional $30-50/month for email marketing tools. Total realistic cost: $109-129/month. Can your course business support that? If so, LearnWorlds offers excellent value. If not, start with Thinkific's free plan or Teachable's lower-tier options until you're ready to invest in premium features.
The decision ultimately comes down to your priorities: choose LearnWorlds for advanced course features and interactive video, choose Teachable for simplicity and faster launch, choose Thinkific for the free plan and ease of use, and choose Kajabi for all-in-one marketing and automation.
My recommendation: Take advantage of the 30-day free trial. Build a mini-course. Test the interactive video features. Invite a few beta students. See if the interface clicks for you. The trial is generous enough to make an informed decision. If the platform resonates and you can see yourself using the advanced features, LearnWorlds is worth the investment.
Start your LearnWorlds journey: Get your 30-day free trial here and see if it's the right fit for your courses.