If you’re a coach and if you’re planning to create your own course on WordPress anytime soon it’s time you start looking for the right LMS tool for your business.
With dozens of LMS plugins available, Tutor LMS and Creator LMS are one of the two popular options, both offering a generous set of free features to help you build and deliver online courses without upfront cost.
Because let’s be real, at the start, you may not want or need a bunch of features and the investment for a pro tool. So the obvious question most beginners ask is:
“Which free version is better for launching my online courses?”
This article gives you a clear, side-by-side comparison of Tutor LMS Free and Creator LMS Free, focusing entirely on what’s included in their free plans so you can make an informed decision without needing to upgrade to Pro right away.
You’ll learn:
- What each plugin offers in the free version
- How their course builders, quizzes, student management, and monetization work
- Which plugin is easier to set up
- The strengths and limitations of each
- And ultimately, which free LMS is better for your specific use case
Let’s begin with a quick overview of both plugins and what you get for free.
Why Start With a Free Version?
Trying out the free version of an LMS is honestly the easiest way to see if the platform feels right for you without pulling money out of your wallet.
With free versions of tools like Creator LMS and Tutor LMS, you can play around with the basics: create courses, set up lessons, add quizzes, and get a feel for how everything works.
It’s a great way to understand the interface, see what’s easy (or not), and figure out if it matches the way you want to teach.
Plus, starting for free helps you test whether the plugin works smoothly with your WordPress setup. You can experiment, try different course ideas, and get a sense of what’s possible before committing to anything.
If you’re new to online course creation or just exploring your options, the free version is a no-pressure way to get started and see what sticks to your preference.
Creator LMS & Tutor LMS: At a Glance
Before we begin, let’s quickly introduce the two WordPress LMS plugins.
Tutor LMS was released in 2019. So it has been quite a few years since they have been serving the users. On the other hand, Creator LMS was just released in 2025, so it’s a relatively new plugin. However, it has a diverse range of features.
Both plugins offer multiple free and pro features that can serve any kind of coach or trainer.
However, in the following sections, we have prepared a head-to-head comparison of each feature and module of the plugins in depth.
Let’s have a look,
Creator LMS Free & Tutor LMS Free Feature Comparison
Initial Setup
Both Creator LMS and Tutor LMS offer setup wizards to help you get started quickly with their LMS platforms.
Both offer a thorough onboarding process that includes user profiles, quizzes, basic installations, and other important components.
While the system configures everything in the background, you may choose the features you want in your e-learning platform during the setup process. This is particularly useful for new users.
| Feature | Creator LMS Free | Tutor LMS Free |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Wizard | ✅ | ✅ |
| Direct Migration From Other LMS | ✅ | ❌ |
| Theme | ❌ (Upcoming) | ✅ |
Course Builder
Tutor LMS has its own course builder that has a 3-step process where you can create a course with basic settings, add curriculum, and Additional settings. The entire thing is built in a separate builder.
Creator LMS also has a similar approach. It has a separate builder where you can add content, settings and publish. But Creator LMS provides a cleaner view than Tutor LMS. Everything looks organized, including lessons, quizzes, etc.
Course Creation
| Feature | Creator LMS Free | Tutor LMS Free |
|---|---|---|
| Separate Course Builder | ✅ | ✅ |
| Chapters / Topics | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lessons (Video, Text) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Audio Lessons | ✅ | ❌ |
| Lesson Preview | ✅ | ❌ |
| Course Prerequisites | ✅ | ❌ |
| Lesson Specific Files | ✅ | ✅ |
They both offer separate quiz builders in the free version as well.
However, the features vary between the two plugins. Creator LMS offers more types of quizzes and in classic quizzes in your courses. On the other hand, Tutor LMS offers more options in the settings.
You’ll find the details in the following table,
Quiz Builder
| Feature | Creator LMS Free | Tutor LMS Free |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz Builder | ✅ | ✅ |
| Question Types (Multiple answers, True/False, long text) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fill in the gaps | ❌ | ✅ |
| Short Text | ✅ | ❌ |
| Single Choice Answers | ✅ | ❌ |
| Add Images and videos in the Questions | ✅ | ❌ |
| Character Limit | ❌ | ✅ |
| Time Limit | ❌ | ✅ |
| Randomization | ❌ | ✅ |
| Allowed Attempts | ✅ | ✅ |
| Quiz Grade Calculation | ✅ | ✅ |
Now, on to the course settings, both tools offer a variety of settings for a course to be published. However, a significant part of having certificates after course completion is lacking in Tutor LMS.
Course Settings
| Feature | Creator LMS Free | Tutor LMS Free |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail (Image, Video) & Details | ✅ | ✅ |
| Password Protection | ✅ | ✅ |
| Student Capacity | ✅ | ✅ |
| Public Course Without Enrollment | ✅ | ✅ |
| Course Duration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Course Level | ✅ | ❌ |
| Pricing (Free, Paid, Sale) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Course Materials | ✅ | ✅ |
| Certificates | ✅ | ❌ |
| Categories and Tags | ✅ | ✅ |
That’s it for the Course Builder and its in-depth feature comparison.
Now, let’s move on to the payment settings of both tools.
Native eCommerce
Tutor LMS used to depend on WooCommerce for payments, but now it has a native eCommerce. But, Creator LMS has a built-in cart system from the start and you don’t have to be dependent on any other tools.
| Feature | Creator LMS Free | Tutor LMS Free |
|---|---|---|
| Built-In Cart | ✅ | ✅ |
| WooCommerce | ❌ | ✅ |
| Taxes Setup | ✅ | ✅ |
| Coupons | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stripe Payment Gateway | ✅ | ❌ |
| Mollie Payment Gateway | ✅ | ❌ |
| PayPal Payment Gateway | ❌ | ✅ |
| Multi-Currency Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| Manual Payment | ✅ | ✅ |
| Checkout Layout | ✅ | ❌ |
| Order Dashboard | ✅ | ✅ |
Analytics & Reports
Now that we have covered the basic course building free features from both the tools, the next step is Analytics. One of the important things post-course publication is analyzing course metrics and how you can do better in the next one, or optimize the current one.
Unfortunately, Tutor LMS does not provide any analytics or reports in the Free version. Whereas Creator LMS offers limited but necessary reports and analytics for you to measure your results.
| Feature | Creator LMS Free | Tutor LMS Free |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Day Earning Report | ✅ | ❌ |
| All-Time Course Earning (Individual Courses) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Course Details | ✅ | ❌ |
Student Engagement
Tutor LMS offers public announcements and Q&A in the free version, while Creator LMS offers more personalized communication methods in the free version.
| Feature | Creator LMS Free | Tutor LMS Free |
|---|---|---|
| Course Reviews | ✅ | ✅ |
| Customizable Automated Emails | ✅ | ❌ |
| Q&A | ❌ | ✅ |
| Annoucements | ❌ | ✅ |
Course Design, Control & Settings
Now, let’s move on to more configuration settings. Creator LMS free version offers limited customization for showing your courses in the frontend and how students will view the course details.
On the other hand, Tutor LMS offers a bit more extra profile views in the Free version.
The following table has the details.
Course Design Settings
| Feature | Creator LMS Free | Tutor LMS Free |
|---|---|---|
| Course Listing Page Layout | ✅ | ❌ |
| Search Bar | ✅ | ❌ |
| Course Filter & Sorting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Course List / Grid | ✅ | ❌ |
| Course Per Page | ✅ | ✅ |
| Course Details Page Layout | ✅ | ❌ |
| Page Features | ❌ | ✅ |
| Branding Colors | ✅ | ✅ |
| Gutenberg & Elementor | ✅ | ✅ |
| Divi Builder | ❌ | ✅ |
| Oxygen Builder | ❌ | ✅ |
| Bricks Builder | ✅ | ❌ |
Now, if we talk about course controls, Tutor LMS offers more options in controlling the course settings. It has built-in instructor profile which is lacking in Creator LMS.
Default Course Settings
| Feature | Creator LMS Free | Tutor LMS Free |
|---|---|---|
| Course Archive Page Customization | ✅ | ✅ |
| Checkout Page Customization | ✅ | ❌ |
| Student Dashboard Customization | ✅ | ❌ |
| Terms & Conditions Customization | ✅ | ✅ |
| Student Registration Customization | ❌ | ✅ |
| YouTube API Key | ❌ | ✅ |
| Permalink Settings | ✅ | ✅ |
| Spotlight Mode | ❌ | ✅ |
| Course Autocomplete | ✅ | ✅ |
| Course Retake | ❌ | ✅ |
| Instructor Profile and Settings | ❌ | ✅ |
| Marketplace | ❌ | ✅ |
Creator LMS Free vs Tutor LMS Free: Which Platform Should You Choose in 2026?
Now, both plugins have their strengths and weaknesses in the free version. Tutor LMS focuses on a larger audience who want marketplaces or want to run a business individually.
On the other hand, Creator LMS focuses solely on the creators who have just started and want to run a course business by themselves without being dependent on anyone or any other platforms.
Both Creator LMS and Tutor LMS offer solid free versions, but they are built with different philosophies in mind:
- Creator LMS Free focuses on giving creators everything they need to launch and sell courses with minimal setup and without spending too much.
- Tutor LMS Free provides a flexible foundation when you want to integrate additional add-ons and want to build a marketplace.
Instead of competition, I’d suggest you go through the features listed here for both the plugins and check out which suits your business more. Both have a range of free features that can kickstart your course business right away.
Saying that, why don’t you start with Creator LMS first?
Expert Recommendation – As a Product Manager
If I had to give a practical recommendation:
– New creators, coaches, and small businesses should start with Creator LMS Free, because it removes friction and gives course sellers essential tools without forcing upgrades.
– Agencies, designers, or teams who want to build marketplaces may prefer Tutor LMS Free, as its builder flexibility and ecosystem suit more complex projects.
