Best LMS Free Trial Winners And What To Consider Before Choosing One
There are multiple reasons why you should make use of a free trial period in order to test every aspect of the LMS in question. It can help you to get a complete picture of how the LMS possibly benefits your organization or company. You might discover that the product is too complicated or that it doesn't, at all, align with your company's goals or roadmap.
On the other hand, you might discover that there is much more value to the LMS than you initially expected. It can grant considerable insight in a, possibly, very short amount of time about the efficacy it can create or further elaborate on within your business. In conclusion, there are plenty of reasons why you should take part in an LMS free trial. And almost none to decline; unless you, by nature, are a naysayer.
Offering A Helping Hand To Each And Every eLearning Professional
If you feel that it's high time you bought a new LMS, you shouldn't rush into a decision—unless you have first taken advantage of LMS free trials. Most LMS vendors give you the opportunity to test-drive the tool before signing on the dotted line. Rather than spending a fortune on a Learning Management System that may not suit your needs, you're able to obtain access to LMS free trials to gain firsthand experience.
For example, by exploring all the functionalities your best LMS contenders offer. Although the evaluation period may take some time, it is definitely worth it, as the risk of investing in the wrong LMS is minimized. If you are currently searching the web to find LMS free trials, you can stop right now. We have done all the hard work for you. Look no further, whilst we proudly present you with a list of the best LMS vendors offering LMS free trials you absolutely need to consider.
Without further ado, we would like to dive into some precautionary measures you could take so as to avoid making mistakes when choosing LMS free trials.
The Best Learning Management System Vendors Offering LMS Free Trials
If you are among the Top Learning Management Systems Offering An LMS Free Trial in 2024, feel free to add this badge to your website!
No more time-limited trials and disappearing progress. Get a full-featured LMS to use as you please, take your time with an unpressured decision, and learn why 70K+ orgs trust TalentLMS to train their teams.
Training feels right from the very first click with TalentLMS.
Start your free account today!
Highlights
- Train, Don't Race
- Create Courses Fast
- Depend On Reliable Support
Highlights
- Train, Don't Race
Unlike limited trials, TalentLMS's free plan comes with all the time you need to offer training. Feel free to make a sound, unhurried choice on suitability.
- Create Courses Fast
You shouldn't have to fight feature bloat and clunky tools to create courses. Drag and drop training or create from scratch in just a few clicks with the intuitive builder.
- Depend On Reliable Support
Train on TalentLMS without dodging calls and emails from pushy sales reps. And when you need help, you can get help from the support team. Yes—even on free plans.
Plans And Pricing
Try for free and upgrade when you're ready.
TalentLMS's forever-free plan is ready to go now and ready to grow with you. Scale to a paid plan whenever you're ready. With 8 accessible tiers (4 with premade training), you'll never pay for features and users you don't need.
Learning Manager is an AI-powered learning platform that offers a 30-day free trial for all its features in the native platform. Trial users can test out course creation, delivery, tracking, administrator features, etc.
Test out the platform of choice for the world's leading organizations.
Read Adobe Learning Manager reviews and discover how other eLearning Industry community members have experienced the software.
Highlights
- Free Trial Of All Features
- Multi-Featured Platform
- Test Out Best-In-Class Automation
Highlights
- Free Trial Of All Features
The free trial version offers trial users an opportunity to test out all the features, create courses, enroll learners, deliver learning, use the content library, and track performance.
- Multi-Featured Platform
Learning Manager offers an array of engagement models such as gamification, social learning, AI-based course recommendations, headless LMS to be integrated anywhere, etc.
- Test Out Best-In-Class Automation
With learning plans and automated learning paths, administrators can automate the entire learning journey of the learner.
Plans And Pricing
Take a test of the award-winning learning platform for 30 days without any obligation to purchase.
Docebo's Learning Management System is easy to use and suitable for both formal and informal learning. You can sign up for a 14-day free trial or take it a step further by scheduling a personalized demo. All you need to do to get started is to provide your business email and then select a password and a URL. You will find that Docebo suits formats like SCORM, AICC, and xAPI among others, turning management and distribution into simple tasks. Another standout feature of Docebo is that it supports social learning and facilitates knowledge sharing within your organization. Online learners even have the ability to upload user-generated content and reach out to in-house experts.
Start your Docebo free trial today!
Highlights
- Train Different Audiences With Ease
- A Multitude Of Integrations And APIs
- Enjoy The Impact Of Learning On Your Business
Highlights
- Train Different Audiences With Ease
Unlike other LMS solutions, Docebo enables you to train internal and external audiences. You can use it to power up your employee training and deliver your extended enterprise learning programs. All from one place. Best of all, you can leverage it for different use cases like:
-
- Employee onboarding
- Compliance training and certifications
- Employee development and retention
- Sales enablement
- Customer training
- Partner training
- Member training
- A Multitude Of Integrations And APIs
Docebo makes it easy to take the headache out of LMS integrations. The system allows you to plug learning into your tech stack fast. In fact, you can do it in minutes, not months. Be it web conferencing, CRM, HRIS, eCommerce, or content authoring, they've got you covered. To check all integrations and APIs, make sure to visit their website.
- Enjoy The Impact Of Learning On Your Business
Docebo offers a custom reporting module. In addition, you can streamline your reporting engine by scheduling and sharing data with the right people fast. Most importantly, trainers and managers can use the data insights to connect learning outcomes to business results.
Plans And Pricing
Docebo's pricing plans are designed to be scalable and accommodate the growing learning needs of enterprise companies. "Growth" is ideal to quickly launch eLearning projects with up to 300 users. The "Enterprise" plan is designed for high-performing organizations looking for an advanced eLearning solution, as it comes with regional cloud hosting, SSO, top-industry SLA, and superior onboarding/implementation.
360Learning fosters internal mobility to solve the talent shortage by empowering companies to upskill from within. Through collaborative learning, companies turn their experts into champions for growth.
Highlights
- Manage Compliance
- Automate Instructor-Led Training
- Co-Authoring
Highlights
- Manage Compliance
Automate mandatory training. Orchestrate compliance training end-to-end with automated enrollment, reminder notifications, certificate expiration alerts, and audit-proof reporting.
- Automate Instructor-Led Training
Create and manage all of your blended learning programs from one platform. Reduce your administrative burden and maximize classroom fill rates.
- Co-Authoring
Collaborate with experts to develop relevant training fast. 360Learning's award-winning authoring tool comes with rich editing and can be used by anyone, no technical training required.
Plans And Pricing
Try 360Learning today with a free trial. Discover how you can leverage your internal experts to upskill from within. Tap into your experts to create training fast. Leverage AI to uncover the skills you need to hire and identify experts to help you fill knowledge gaps.
iSpring Learn is a cloud-based LMS that comes with a set of advanced features for user and content management, course authoring, and reporting. It comes with a 30-day free trial, allowing you to explore its capabilities.
Book a free demo to see the LMS in action and learn how it will help you solve your training tasks.
Make sure to check out the submitted iSpring Learn reviews.
Highlights
- Great Content Authoring Capabilities
- Automated Training Management
- Strong Reporting And Analytics
Highlights
- Great Content Authoring Capabilities
The LMS has built-in tools for creating web-style courses and simple quizzes. It also comes with a robust authoring toolkit for building professional courses.
- Automated Training Management
iSpring Learn will take care of all tedious routines—enroll and re-enroll employees in courses, remind them of deadlines, and send out invitations to upcoming events.
- Strong Reporting And Analytics
You can keep abreast of the overall learning status, see details on how specific people are progressing through courses, and monitor how all the teams are performing.
Plans and Pricing
iSpring Learn is a powerful comprehensive solution for corporate training.
It comes with two types of subscription:
- Business ($2.29 USD per user/month)
- Enterprise ($3.14 USD per user/month)
If you want to test it out, there's a 30-day free trial. After that, you can choose which plan works for your needs.
Deliver fast, efficient training with LearnUpon LMS. Use your trial to delve into LearnUpon and ensure you make an informed buying decision with the knowledge that LearnUpon has the functionality and support you need.
Visit LearnUpon's website and get access to a LearnUpon portal.
Take a look at the submitted LearnUpon LMS reviews.
Highlights
- Knowledgable And Friendly Customer Support
- Setting Up Workflows Is A Breeze
- Easily Create Engaging Training From Scratch
Highlights
- Knowledgable And Friendly Customer Support
Take some time to explore the LearnUpon platform with your Account Manager on hand to help with any questions.
- Setting Up Workflows Is A Breeze
Take the free trial to experience how easy and quick it is to set up workflows; create and manage courses, add and arrange users in groups, enroll learners on a course, and run and schedule reports.
- Easily Create Engaging Training From Scratch
See first-hand how this learner-centric LMS makes training engaging, accessible, and simple to do.
Plans And Pricing
Start with a free trial to test-drive LearnUpon. Then, work together with your Account Manager to decide what plan is best for you. Each includes a number of users and portals. What plan you select will also depend on your feature and support requirements.
Top List Ranking: eLearning Industry's LMS Free Trial Selection Criteria
Globally recognized LMS experts, including C. Pappas and our editorial team, thoroughly reviewed each vendor's eligibility and relevant published content (articles, eBooks, webinars). Our committee ranked the top LMS platforms offering a free trial on the following nine criteria:
- Customer support
- Customer experience
- Software features
- Software innovation
- Customer reviews
- Economic growth potential
- Company's customer retention
- Employee turnover
- Company's social responsibility
Now that you've gone through the best LMS tools featured in this list, please take a moment to dive into the extra insights before you make your decision. You'll find all you need to make the most out of your LMS free trial.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing LMS Free Trials
When trying to figure out which LMS solution to purchase, you come to realize that some vendors don't always stay true to their commitments. Sometimes, you may even notice that there was an exaggeration, in retrospect, regarding the LMS features during the sales process.
The final decision is up to you, the buyer; and this is your advantage. You need to possess a clear idea of what kind of LMS features you need. This is the principal strategy you want to make an LMS work for your business. In today's world of training and learning, there seems to be a wide range of LMS programs. Therefore, making a good evaluation of different tools and LMS features is key. LMS trials are no exception.
That being said, it's not always straightforward which steps you must follow in order to choose the best LMS solution. Keep reading to find out!
Losing Time On Evaluating Unqualified LMS Vendors
For some LMS buyers, purchasing a product might take a huge amount of time due to a wide variety of reasons. With the right consultation, it can take much less. Firstly, you'll need to compose a business case. In the weeks that follow, you'll try to figure out your company's needs. Afterward, you'll check how you can find the resources to fund your project. The actual purchase of an LMS platform happens later on.
Up until this time, you should be able to test a short list of LMS free trials.
However, when you spend time evaluating unqualified vendors, you'll discover that you might make a hasty decision, pressured by time. When the clock starts ticking, and you understand it doesn't stop, anxiety kicks in. This has an impact on your decision-making ability. Don't worry though, there is an easy way to change this.
You can decide if a vendor is worthy of your evaluation by doing thorough research beforehand. The qualification process is really important. After all, you have to determine if looking at 5 or 10 of the 700 vendors is enough.
Reading information from various eLearning industry-related websites and communities, asking salespeople for advice, getting demos, etc. will certainly help. Making a short list of what vendors to examine is key here.
Don't Assume You Know Everything
Have in mind that you need to be prepared before an LMS free trial starts. Successful LMS buyers usually spend at least 3-6 months doing market research before actively contacting vendors. The LMS market is always subject to rapid and dynamic change, making it imperative to stay up-to-date with the newest trends and evolving LMS features. One way to follow what is going on in the LMS market is to keep reading eLearning niche blogs.
Don't forget that there are plenty of LMS directories with user reviews that offer valuable information about each product. You might even be able to research a little deeper by checking some case studies regarding the most successful known LMS implementations. Another solution could be to visit an industry trade show and talk with specific vendors. You could also reach out to your peers and ask their opinion on a recent LMS evaluation experience.
Skipping the research will only land you an LMS that will have poor ROI for you and your business. When you don't assume that you possibly know it all, you will have a better chance of finding an ideal value-for-money LMS.
Focusing Only On Functional Requirements During LMS Free Trials
If you want to make a triumphant decision on the best LMS for your business, you should avoid focusing only on its functional requirements.
There is a ton of material online that will grant access to hundreds of LMS requirements which might be completely irrelevant to you. Instead, you should identify: a) your unique audiences, b) the behaviors you want to change.
Then, all you have to do is to test and evaluate each LMS free trial based on your own preset requirements.
You will need to devise a case that will help your learners find and use the LMS in the best way possible to ultimately leverage relevant content. Essential requirements tailored to your learners' behaviors is what you'll want to focus on. It is also important to deal with the implementation process thoroughly.
An intuitive interface that is user-friendly will surely have better results on your employee engagement.
Conducting a Training Needs Analysis will help you identify what you should improve when it comes to knowledge or skills.
Screen each LMS vendor using your list of requirements. And don't forget to ask if there are any future forecast ideas that could enhance User Experience.
In some cases, ongoing support from your LMS vendor could make or break your final decision. Please, pay attention to all of the above during your LMS free trial evaluation.
Over-Buying For Safety Reasons
Investing in an LMS can be costly. Taking this into consideration, it might be complex to select the right one for your business. This is not an easy task.
Simultaneously, it becomes a time-consuming process. Some buyers and decision-makers tend to over-buy for safety reasons. Others just don't make the right choice because of inexperience or lack of research. Instead of getting the ideal LMS that would delight their learners, they end up with an outdated and inappropriate system. This is exactly what you need to avoid.
It is not wise to overspend for features that you will not use. If there is an equal LMS program that costs less but can still cover your employee training goals, then go for it. The learning objectives and the skillsets which you want to improve will lead you to the proper path. In addition, they will help you further shortlist your LMS free trials.
Choosing The Wrong LMS Features
Sometimes, a business-focused LMS that is more specialized can be the right choice without you knowing it. Good Return On Investment leads to deep customer satisfaction, this is what you should opt for. Think of your company's needs and what you want to accomplish with your LMS. Your course logistics along with your learning objectives can define the strategy you'll follow.
Understanding your user audience is a must. The same goes for the number of users that you intend to train. Decide what kind of content will be most effective and if it can match your learners' needs and skill level. The LMS features you choose should align with the objectives you've set. Last but not least, consider your future needs and if the LMS has an expansion for them.
When you reach the last days of your LMS free trial, you could arrange a meeting with each qualified vendor. This will give you the opportunity to get the answers you need and act accordingly.
License Model Misconception
Each LMS vendor licenses its product in a certain way by taking into account various metrics in combination with user usage. It might sound simple, but this factor is often overlooked. Not paying attention to the small details might lead to costs you haven't calculated correctly. So, before choosing your LMS, pay attention to the license pricing models of your qualified vendors. For example, an LMS vendor might charge by named user. Others charge by active users per registration or even per course purchase. In different cases, a vendor might even charge per log-on session. You have to clarify that you have understood each LMS license model correctly before making your purchase.
An LMS can match your business needs perfectly, but it might not be the right choice due to its pricing structure. Make your decision on what works best for your type of business. For instance, an extended enterprise LMS that charges per active user at a certain time period might be ideal for your employee workforce. On the contrary, a standard user license might cost you more if you neglect to analyze the LMS license model. Always, try to be ahead of the game to avoid overpaying for non-use. There are so many offers regarding an LMS license; that makes it is easier for you to find a pricing model that aligns with your business requirements.
Next Steps
If you feel you could make a valuable contribution for fellow eLearning professionals, please do leave a review of your LMS Software Experience. We love being able to create the Top Learning Management Systems Lists together with our community members. Always improving and fine-tuning who is featured in the top place!
To wrap it up, choosing and making good use of LMS free trials can be a daunting task. There is a number of things to consider in a short time span. However, planning ahead gives you the power to simplify the LMS selection and implementation process. Not to mention, avoid costly trial-and-error by choosing the right tool from the start. For more options, go to eLearning Industry's LMS directory of 560 Learning Management Systems that offer free trials.
Start planning for the deployment of your new Learning Management System right now.
Click on Free LMS Consulting to start the process of identifying the best 5 LMS vendors that better match your organizational needs.
It will only take less than 3 minutes of your time! Then, sit down with your L&D team, and organize all the aspects of your LMS free trials to find the tool that meets your requirements. Finally, we present to you 9 tips to get the most of LMS free trials.
9 Tips To Get The Most Out Of LMS Free Trials
They say the best things in life are free, but only if you know how to take full advantage of the opportunity. For example, trying out a new Learning Management System can help you determine if the tool suits your needs and offers a significant ROI. But you need to know what to look for in order to get the most out of your Learning Management System free trial. Here are 9 top tips to focus on what's really important while you're putting the LMS platform through its paces:
1. Get Your L&D Team Onboard
If you aren't the only one who will use the LMS, it's wise to get your L&D team involved in the selection process. That includes the LMS free trial. Meet with your team to gauge their expectations and figure out which features they require. This is also a good time to get their recommendations regarding tools they've used in the past, as well as to discuss what you hope to achieve during the LMS free trial period. For example, to test out the functionality of the User Interface and see if it meshes with your team's experience levels and skillsets.
2. Determine Which Features And Functions Support Your Desired Outcomes
Most LMSs have certain features in common. For instance, a majority offer some degree of reporting and analytics so that you can track learner performance. However, you still need to create a list of must-have features and functions that align with your desired outcomes. This involves carefully evaluating your goals so that you can create your LMS free trial criteria. In other words, the bare necessities that your new platform must have in order to warrant the investment. From there, you can also create a list of "wants," which includes features you'd prefer to have if they fit your budget, and don't strike out other crucial functions.
3. Add Real Data To The Equation
Now that you've plotted a course of action, it's time to dive into the LMS free trial and add some real data to the mix. Upload online training content and user data to see how the tool holds up. Is it difficult to integrate your existing data due to compatibility issues? Are you able to assign user roles with ease, or is it a time-consuming process? This is also a great opportunity to test out the User Interface and determine if it's user-friendly for your team.
4. Test Out The Customization Features
Incorporate your branding elements and customize the dashboards to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Take the opportunity to evaluate the personalization features, as well. For instance, the individualized online training paths that the LMS allows you to create for every member of your organization. You can also verify that the color scheme, fonts, and other design elements are easy to modify.
5. Try Out The System's Support Services
Some LMS vendors provide 24/7 customer support at no extra charge while others limit their basic support packages to an online FAQ and user forum. Thus, it's important to evaluate the support services firsthand to verify that they meet your needs. For instance, your L&D team might have less experience, in which case they require more one-on-one assistance. Even if the LMS vendor charges extra for toll-free phone support, it's worth it in order to boost the functionality of the Learning Management System.
6. Develop A Sample Project
Develop and deploy a small-scale project that allows you to try out the essential features. Preferably, aspects of the LMS that you will use to design the bulk of your online training content. In fact, you may want to push the LMS platform to its limits in order to gauge how it handles more extreme tasks. For instance, create a fully interactive branching scenario and complementary module. Then, track the results via customizable reports to see how the analytics stack up.
7. Schedule A "Trial Recap" Meeting With The Key Players
Just before the LMS free trial comes to a close, set up a recap meeting with your L&D team to get their input. This also gives you a bit more time to clarify confusions that still exist. For example, your graphic designer is still unsure about the online asset library or the built-in branching scenario templates. As such, you can collectively evaluate that aspect of the LMS to determine if it's up to par. This meeting can help you prepare for the upcoming meeting with the LMS vendor, as well.
8. Invite Real Users To Test Drive The Tool
Invite a select group of corporate learners to access the sample content and provide their feedback. This gives you the chance to see how the LMS operates on the front end instead of just analyzing how it functions in the L&D department. You can use surveys, questionnaires, focus group discussions, or interviews to collect user data.
9. Follow Up With The LMS Vendor
There may be some questions left unanswered after you've explored the LMS platform and tested out the features. Which is why it's wise to schedule a follow-up meeting with the LMS vendor to discuss pricing, additional services, and any other concerns you have. For example, you need to know if there are any ongoing fees you need to consider for support services or upgrades.
These 9 tips can help you explore all the features your LMS contenders have to offer, as well as determine if it's a good fit for your organizational objectives. Just remember, even if it is love at first sight, you should still vet the LMS vendor and research all your options. That way, you avoid buyer's remorse and ensure that you get the best LMS for the value.
Reflecting On Learning Management System Vendors Offering LMS Free Trials: Best Practice
By now, you must be able to realize how very important it is to make maximum use of a free trial (period); where you can experience, for a longer period of time, what the qualities of an LMS are and, more importantly, if they align well with your company's goals and needs. By compiling this list, we hope we have been able to supply you with a great guide on how to filter through a list of LMSs and, ultimately, find one that fits your needs. Feel free to reach out and let us know if we missed anything for this list. Or, perhaps, you would like to leave a review of one of the mentioned LMSs. In any case, we always love to hear from our community!
Let us know all your thoughts!