# 5 Best Free LMS Software Systems for Teachers | Capterra > Looking for free LMS software that won't break your budget? One of these five systems might be exactly what you need. Source: https://www.capterra.com/resources/free-lms-software-online-teaching --- # 5 Best Free LMS Software Systems for Online Teaching Contributor: Brian Westfall Brian WestfallContributor HR Technology Expert Experience I worked at Capterra for over a decade, becoming a trusted thought leader on all aspects of the HR technology market. I have... [See bio & all articles](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/bwestfall/) Published April 23, 2021 6 min read Table of Contents - [5 top-rated free LMS software systems for online teaching](#5-top-rated-free-lms-software-systems-for-online-teaching) - [You get what you (don’t) pay for](#you-get-what-you-dont-pay-for) ## These software systems can help you quickly transition to an online teaching environment at no cost. Whether you want to lead a live class online, add a self-paced eLearning course to your curriculum, or simply want to digitize your gradebook, a learning management system (LMS) is a great way to bring your classroom into the 21st century. There’s just one problem: With the average LMS buyer in K-12 or higher education spending more than $10,000 a year on their system, the cost of going digital isn’t exactly cheap. Unless you can find room in the budget, a premium LMS may be out of reach. But all hope is not lost. Sharing many of the same features as their more expensive brethren (albeit with some limitations), free software is more than just a band-aid LMS option. Whether you’re a teacher looking for a LMS platform for your classroom or an IT leader seeking a solution for an entire district, free LMS software may have exactly what you’re looking for at no cost. If you’re considering a free LMS for your class, school, or district, we’re here to help. Below are the five top-rated free LMS software systems for online teaching, according to data from real user reviews. This article looks at five highly rated free LMS software options. See the full list of [free LMS software solutions here](https://www.capterra.com/learning-management-system-software/s/free/). ## 5 top-rated free LMS software systems for online teaching **Product** _(click to jump to that section)_ **Average overall rating** (out of 5) [TalentLMS](#1) 4.7 [Google Classroom](#2) 4.6 [Thinkific](#3) 4.6 [CANVAS](#4) 4.5 [Schoology](#5) 4.4 _Products are ordered from highest overall rating to lowest. To learn more about our methodology,_ [_click here_](#Methodology)_._ ### 1\. [TalentLMS](https://www.capterra.com/p/132935/TalentLMS/) #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty \* Analysis Accurate as of date of publication **About TalentLMS** TalentLMS is built to support blended learning curriculums that mix self-paced eLearning and instructor-led online learning. On the self-paced learning experience side, teachers can import existing courses, or create whole new courses from scratch using an included authoring tool, then set customized learner paths to dictate how and when learners can consume them. Features such as discussion forums and personal messaging enhance class interactions. Instructors can schedule real-time webinars to teach students face-to-face. Automated grading eases the burden of assigning homework, while detailed reports and student analytics allow teachers to uncover which students need help and which courses need to be improved. **Limits and the cost to upgrade** Though the free version of TalentLMS has no storage limit, it only supports up to five users and 10 courses, making it an option for only very small classes. The “Starter” package, which allows up to 40 users, starts at $59 per month. _Creating an eLearning course in TalentLMS (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/132935/TalentLMS/)_)_ * * * Read user reviews of TalentLMS * * * ### 2\. [Google Classroom](https://www.capterra.com/p/186631/Google-Classroom/) #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty \* Analysis Accurate as of date of publication **About Google Classroom** Completely free for schools, Google Classroom allows teachers to create classes, distribute and grade assignments, and send feedback to students. Permissions for students, guardians, and co-teachers are customizable, as are the options teachers have to share their screen, share a student’s screen, or lock everything down for something such as a pop quiz. Teachers can augment digital learning through [free apps](https://edu.google.com/products/classroom/apps/?modal_active=none) that integrate with Google Classroom. Different apps can support specific areas of knowledge, add more flair to online courses and presentations, or foster better learner engagement. You can also push grades to your [student information system (SIS)](https://www.capterra.com/student-information-system-software/) if you sign up for a [beta program](https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/9191110?hl=en) and have a compatible system. **Limits and the cost to upgrade** Google Classroom, along with the rest of the G Suite for Education, is completely free with 100GB of storage and no limits on the number of users. G Suite Enterprise for Education, which includes extra features, starts at $48 per user, per year. _The home screen in Google Classroom (_[_Source_](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-classroom/mfhehppjhmmnlfbbopchdfldgimhfhfk)_)_ * * * Read user reviews of Google Classroom * * * ### 3\. [Thinkific](https://www.capterra.com/p/132888/Thinkific/) #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty \* Analysis Accurate as of date of publication **About Thinkific** Billed primarily as a platform for e-learning entrepreneurs to sell their courses, Thinkific is nonetheless a LMS option for teachers who want to set up online courses for their students. Teachers can create and brand their own lessons as they see fit using a drag-and-drop course authoring tool. Thinkific courses support a variety of different content types (text, video, quizzes, downloads, discussions), and teachers can customize their courses to fit their curriculum needs by setting prerequisite lessons, hiding courses from certain students, or creating a drip schedule for courses to become available. **Limits and cost to upgrade** Thinkific is free for up to three courses and unlimited students. For unlimited courses and additional features, Thinkific’s “Basic” package starts at $49 per month. _Previewing a designed online course in Thinkific (_[_Source_](https://support.thinkific.com/hc/en-us/articles/360030739033-The-New-and-Improved-Student-Experience)_)_ * * * Read user reviews of Thinkific * * * ### 3\. [CANVAS](https://www.capterra.com/p/127214/CANVAS/) #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty \* Analysis Accurate as of date of publication **About CANVAS** CANVAS LMS, from Instructure, is an open source LMS solution built to accommodate both K-12 and higher ed institutions. If you can’t afford a school- or district-wide plan, CANVAS offers a Free-for-Teacher option that has all of the course level features you’d expect, including assessments, grading, online learning discussions, and a class syllabus. In addition to getting access to CANVAS Commons Resources, where you can import a bunch of premade assets from other users into your own learning content, the Free-for-Teacher plan supports third-party user authentication, notifications via SMS or email, and basic learner analytics. **Limits and cost to upgrade** The Free-for-Teacher plan only gets you 500MB of storage per course. Support is also limited, as Instructure will only help with deleting accounts, restoring deleted courses, resetting passwords, or making courses public. Pricing for paid plans in CANVAS is not made public. _The dashboard view in CANVAS (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/127214/CANVAS/)_)_ * * * Read user reviews of CANVAS * * * ### 5\. [Schoology](https://www.capterra.com/p/128481/Schoology/) #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Device Compatibilty \* Analysis Accurate as of date of publication **About Schoology** Schoology combines instructional tools, assessments, collaboration features, and advanced analytics into one comprehensive LMS platform. Within the system, teachers can develop and distribute course materials, facilitate discussions, assign tests and quizzes, and even give parents visibility into their child’s progress. Teachers can browse community groups to leverage free resources provided by other instructors and integrate external tools and games into their learning content using Schoology’s app center. A dedicated mobile app allows for anytime access for instructors and students alike. **Limits and cost to upgrade** The “Basic” package of Schoology is free for instructors and learners. The “Enterprise” package, targeted at whole schools and institutions, has more functionality and customized pricing. _A list of course materials in Schoology (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/128481/Schoology/)_)_ * * * Read user reviews of Schoology * * * ## You get what you (don’t) pay for A free learning management system will work great for some, but they’re not for everyone. Severe limits on storage or number of students hinder who can use these systems, and even then, a free system may not have all of the functionality your class, your school, or your district needs. Luckily, there are a number of affordable paid options that can fill the void. Head to our [learning management software directory](https://www.capterra.com/learning-management-system-software/) to compare your options, learn pricing details, and see how users rate each system’s value for money. * * * * * * Looking for Learning Management System software?Check out Capterra's list of the [best Learning Management System software](https://www.capterra.com/learning-management-system-software/) solutions. ### Was this article helpful? * * * ## About the Author [### Brian Westfall](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/bwestfall/) Brian Westfall worked at Capterra for over a decade, becoming a trusted thought leader on all aspects of the HR technology market. He has a passion for helping organizations create great workplaces by leveraging his keen attention to detail and ability to present information engagingly. Before Capterra, he honed his writing skills in journalism, social media content creation, and search engine advertising. ### RELATED READING - [5 Key Learning Management Software (LMS) Features With Top Products That Offer Them](https://www.capterra.com/resources/key-features-of-learning-management-system/) - [How To Choose an LMS With Confidence: Insights From Real Buyers](https://www.capterra.com/resources/learning-management-software-buyer-insight/) - [7 Top-Rated AI Learning Management System Software](https://www.capterra.com/resources/ai-learning-management-system/) - [What Is LMS Software? Key Insights for New Users](https://www.capterra.com/resources/what-is-learning-management-system-software/) - [7 Top-Rated AI Coaching Tools](https://www.capterra.com/resources/top-ai-coaching-tools/) - [Agile Learning: A Comprehensive Guide](https://www.capterra.com/resources/agile-learning/) - [3 Holistic Learning and Development Techniques for Adults](https://www.capterra.com/resources/holistic-learning-for-adults/) - [Capterra Value Report: A Price Comparison Guide for LMS Software](https://www.capterra.com/resources/lms-software-pricing-report/) - [5 Top-Rated Web Conferencing Software for Education](https://www.capterra.com/resources/top-web-conferencing-software-for-education/) To be considered for this report, products first had to meet our LMS software market definition, our definition of free, and our review count minimum. - **LMS software market definition**: In order to be considered an LMS software system, products must have course management and learner tracking functionality. Any LMS systems that don’t cater to schools were removed from consideration. - **Free products**: For the purpose of this article, we classified a product as “free” if it offers a free, stand-alone version of the software—it isn’t a trial version of the software where you must purchase a paid version after a limited amount of time. - **Review count minimum**: Products had to have 20 or more unique reviews over the past year, between April 12, 2020 and April 12, 2021. From there, the five products with the highest average overall user rating at time of writing were selected for inclusion. _Note: The content in this piece provides opinions and points of view expressed by users. It does not represent the views of Capterra._