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10 best LMSs for employee training [2024]

• 15 min read

The e-learning sector is on a constant rise and for a good reason. 

Learning platforms provide employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to do their job better, faster, and more efficiently. 

In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the top ten best learning management systems for employee training, their key features, benefits, and more.

Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of March 26th, 2024.

What is a learning management system? 

A learning management system (LMS) is a software solution specifically designed to provide online training programs to learners. 

LMSs include a wide range of features and functionalities to design, curate, author, and manage training materials and e-learning course modules. 

To enhance the learning experience, they also provide various interactive features and capabilities, gamification elements, collaboration tools, and more. 

Professional learning and training management software also includes multiple e-learning methodologies, techniques, and technologies such as social, mobile, multimodal, instructor-led training, or blended learning, among others. 

These are meant to boost employee engagement with the learning material, increase course completion rates, and improve knowledge retention. 

10 best enterprise LMSs for employee training

Although not exhaustive, this list includes ten of the best LMSs. 

LMS Best for Top feature
Docebo Personalized learning paths Virtual Coach
Moodle Customization Personalized My Course page
TalentLMS Course design Course and content authoring toolkit
Adobe Learning Manager Tracking learner progress Reporting and analytics capabilities
Cornerstone OnDemand Learner skill assessments Skills mapping feature
Articulate 360 Mobile learning Mobile-friendly UI design
CYPHER Learning Multi-language training Auto translator
Blackboard Learn Team member collaboration and communication Built-in social learning capabilities
iSpring Learn Knowledge checks Interactive course content authoring
Google Classroom Basic L&D needs Seamless integrations with Google Workspace tools

We’ve checked their G2 rating score, made a summary of their core features and functionalities, and looked at what their clients had to say about them; both positive and negative.  

1. Docebo

Docebo is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) or cloud-based LMS for talent development, upskilling and reskilling, employee onboarding, compliance training, sales enablement, customer support training, and partner and customer education.

It’s an all-in-one course-authoring and learning portal with a strong emphasis on mobile and social learning. 

With Docebo Shape both instructional designers and learners can turn long-form content like articles, PowerPoint presentations, whitepapers, or case studies into short and engaging learning pills in various formats and a multitude of languages. 

Shape is also AI-powered, shortening the content-creation time from hours to minutes. 

Docebo’s flagship LMS, Learn LMS, also uses AI to create personalized learning paths for specific groups or individuals that automatically adjust based on the company’s business needs.

The Virtual Coach feature makes automated content and online course recommendations based on learner searches and activity. 

It integrates with over 400 third-party applications like Salesforce, Google Workspace, Hubspot, Slack, Teams, PayPal, and more.

It also facilitates a wide variety of training methodologies like blended, multimodal, or microlearning, and makes use of gamification to boost engagement. 

Docebo Content aggregates over 30,000 off-the-shelf courses from top publishers in over 45 languages and allows learners to earn certifications like PMI/PMP, CompTIA, ITIL, Microsoft, HRCI, Six Sigma, and more.

Docebo Learn Data allows companies to track learning metrics and KPIs, while Learning Impact helps with custom reporting, optimizing processes, and better decision-making overall. 

G2 rating

4.3 / 5 (528 reviews)

Top Features

  • AI-powered learning management and course content–authoring capabilities to help streamline administrative workflows.
  • Social and mobile learning functionalities for better learning engagement and knowledge retention.
  • Extensive e-learning course marketplace to supplement corporate training initiatives.
  • Robust data analytics and reporting capabilities that track learner progress and identify skill gaps and areas of improvement.
  • Virtual Coach AI-powered feature that makes content recommendations based on past learner activity and search history.

What users like

  • “Very good usability for admins and end user, and flexibility in the creation of pages and menus for different audiences.” Adriano I.
  • “A good range of customization options and the ability to tailor the system to our use case.” Sam M.
  • “The platform offers many functions: gamification, automatic groups, enrollment rules, a wide variety of notifications, and more.”Adam B.

Best for

Docebo is best suited for personalized learning paths based through its ability to make automated content recommendations to learners based on their past activities. 

2. Moodle

Moodle is an open-source LMS with a high degree of flexibility and customization potential. 

Being open-source, companies can design it in any way they see fit to fulfill all of their needs and requirements. However, they will need to have a dedicated IT team with knowledge of HTML. 

For this reason, it also doesn’t provide customer support. Businesses will have to rely on the tool’s online user community for asking questions and solving problems.

The LMS platform integrates with third-party apps and numerous open-source plug-ins and includes a mobile application for offline access. 

It also includes other features such as video conferencing, quizzes, assignments, gamification, and more. 

G2 rating

4.1 / 5 (388 reviews)

Top Features

  • Access to over 2,000 open-source plug-ins that supplement the learning solution’s capabilities.
  • Course and content authoring functionalities.
  • Online and offline mobile access for better learning accessibility and flexibility.
  • Automated notifications and emails to keep learners in the loop on the latest updates, deadlines, and important information.
  • Multi-language support that helps train diverse audiences.

What users like

  • “Being open source, there’s no limit to what one can add, create, adapt to feed the creativity and suit the needs.”Bruno T.
  • “With API access it is not difficult to pull resources in from other sources (or share resources from Moodle).”Bill M.
  • “It has an extensive community that helps to develop teaching ideas being able to adapt the contents in a more efficient way.”Ulises M.

What users don’t like

  • “Probably the things that still must be improved are loading speeds, especially for content retrieval and easy tools to create the course contents entirely from within the admin interface..”Giovanni S.
  • “Moodle is not mature enough to handle large projects.”Arul Kumar N C.
  • “Inconsistencies in the user interface for different tools. Equation editor has an erratic behavior.”J. Fernando V.

Best for

As a free, open-source platform, Moodle is best suited for small businesses and educational institutions. Alternatively, it can be used by large organizations wanting a dedicated and highly customizable LMS. 

3. TalentLMS

TalentLMS is a scalable enterprise LMS for e-learning course creation, management, and curation. 

Companies can personalize their training programs to fit individual learner needs. It includes templates and a drag-and-drop option in its content editor. 

This simplifies the content and course-authoring process and eliminates the need for third-party authoring tool integration. 

With TalentLMS, companies can include gamification elements, host live webinar sessions, and design interactive quizzes and assignments as well as custom certifications.  

Its higher-tier plans also provide some automation capabilities, custom reporting, or single sign-on (SSO) functionality. 

G2 rating

4.6 / 5 (695 reviews)

Top Features

  • Learner path customization that helps with knowledge retention and engagement.
  • Hosting live in-person training sessions to increase learning flexibility.
  • Certification and achievement tracking for compliance management.
  • Gamification and interactive content that helps increase learner engagement.
  • Learner self-registration for streamlining admin tasks and allowing learners more training flexibility.

What users like

  • “It is flexible to be able to customize the look of the site using the built-in editor and no need to be a professional designer to get up and running.”Chris G.
  • “I believe reporting is one of the strongest points in Talent LMS, as you can get any piece of data easily and in a visual format.”Ahmed M.
  • “I can configure each course with different certificates and paths. I can also have branches for each of our agencies so they each have a unique feel.” Brandie B.

What users don’t like

  • “I wish you got access to the course library on the lower plans.”Verified user in construction
  • “Support has been slow and not always helpful. There are a number of improvements that need to be made, but doesn’t seem like they are open to a lot of feedback for those improvements.”Josh H.
  • “Certification management needs to be improved further. I still haven’t quite figured out how we will handle re-certification if requirements differ from the original. “Nick S.

Best for

TalentLMS is best suited for companies looking to design their courses and content thanks to the system’s built-in course authoring toolkit. 

4. Adobe Learning Manager (formerly Adobe Captivate Prime)

Adobe Learning Manager is a SaaS LMS for employee training. 

It uses AI to identify learner skill gaps and generate personalized learning paths based on its findings. 

The platform has content-authoring capabilities with role-based templates, quizzes and assessments, and instructor-led training. 

It also provides video coaching features, gamification, and custom certifications after course completion. 

Adobe Learning Manager offers access to a content marketplace, can track learner progress, and integrates with the company’s websites, apps, and existing tech stack. 

G2 rating

4.0 / 5 (314 reviews)

Top Features

  • Learning path personalization for better knowledge retention.
  • Employee-performance and role-based reporting that helps with uncovering skill gaps and areas of improvement.
  • AI-powered social learning capabilities for better peer collaboration.
  • Just-in-time learning that helps increase learner flexibility.
  • Online and in-person learning capabilities to suit different learning styles.

What users like

  • “Between the various options of learning paths, certifications, and more we can more rapidly deploy user training successfully.”Connie K.
  • “Easy to assign courses individually and in bulk.”Abhirami L.
  • “Adobe Learning Manager has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create and manage high-quality online courses.”Christian W.

What users don’t like

  • “I would like to see more webinars on the website instructing businesses and users on the best way to use the software.”Emily L.
  • “There is a large learning curve but this is due to the large number of customization options.”Connie K.

Best for

Adobe Learning Manager is best suited for tracking learner progress thanks to its robust reporting capabilities. 

5. Cornerstone OnDemand

Cornerstone OnDemand is a cloud-based and intuitive solution for skill development and learner engagement. 

It provides a course builder with built-in templates, which instructional designers can use to create interactive e-learning content including quizzes, assessments, and surveys. 

Cornerstone OnDemand provides custom certification and mobile learning capabilities. Companies can also use it to automate skill assessments and skill mapping, as well as make use of its augmented-reality training capabilities. 

It has both e-commerce and content marketplace access and integrates with a variety of third-party applications. 

G2 rating

4.1 / 5 (491 reviews)

Top Features

  • Virtual- and augmented-reality training capabilities that help enhance employee training programs.
  • Custom certification management for better compliance with industry-specific regulations.
  • Multi-language support that lets organizations train an international audience.
  • Automated skill assessment and mapping functionality to assess capabilities and assign appropriate training courses. 
  • Multiple learning portals for training different audiences.

What users like

  • “As an Admin, it provides lots of features to automate the experience and leverage the data in the system.”Tina P.
  • “The reporting functionality is excellent, especially since upgrading to Enhanced Reports (Reporting 2.0).”Julie R.
  • “The learning management system is highly customizable and offers a unique experience for each user type.”Marie C.

What users don’t like

  • “Sometimes the system is not behaving as expected or glitches can happen.”Shirley W.
  • “The certification management is very difficult and cumbersome.”Erin L.
  • “The current lack of automation of mundane and repetitive administrative tasks.”Charles P.

Best for

Cornerstone OnDemand is best suited for assessing learners’ skills through the platform’s skill graph and mapping feature. 

6. Articulate 360

Articulate 360 represents a suite of e-learning course content–authoring tools like Storyline, Rise, and Review.

Storyline 360 is a cloud-based e-learning authoring platform for the creation of custom and interactive online learning courses. 

It includes quizzes, simulations, and screen recording capabilities, as well as animations, interactions, and assessments.

Rise 360, on the other hand, is a web-based e-learning course builder geared more toward mobile devices. It includes text, video, multiple-choice, and various interactive graphics as its authoring capabilities. 

Although not as comprehensive as Storyline, Rise allows instructional designers to use course templates and customize them with built-in features. 

They can also import Storyline files and publish them as Rise courses. 

Review 360 is a collaboration web app for gathering feedback from stakeholders on any given project. 

G2 rating

4.5 / 5 (144 reviews)

Top Features

  • Screen recorder and video editor for content creation purposes.
  • Large content library that helps roll out training programs faster.
  • Cloud-based and web-based platforms for better accessibility and learning flexibility.
  • Mobile learning capabilities for training on the go.
  • Text-to-speech functionality to increase the effectiveness of course modules.

What users like

  • “Easy to use, simple layout, organized tools, constant updates, integration with PowerPoint, and programmable features.”Bruno M.
  • “There is an excellent repository of templates available to spark ideas.”Lucie H.
  • “Flexible export options for learning packages in various standards and formats.”Noaman A.

What users don’t like

  • “Text-to-speech feature is not up to the mark. However, they don’t suggest you use it for voice-over.”Sanjay Singh D.
  • “I wish there were more interactive and customizable elements in Rise.”Mike P.
  • “When we insert some high-quality videos it gets stuck and we will not be able to work on it. Sometimes it gets crashed automatically.”Verified user in e-learning

Best for

Articulate 360 is best suited for mobile learning as it provides and delivers content seamlessly on all mobile devices. 

7. CYPHER Learning 

CYPHER Learning offers an LMS specifically designed for learning and development professionals. 

Instructional designers can use it to create custom central hubs for learners that can include gamification and different methodologies such as blended, self-paced, or instructor-led training.

The platform makes use of AI to trigger specific events when tasks are finished, as well as the possibility for learners to create their own learning pathways to help them reach their goals faster. 

The LMS offers a webinar functionality, is optimized for mobile learning, supports over 50 languages, and can automatically translate messages posted on its forums. 

G2 rating

4.4 / 5 (240 reviews)

Top Features

  • Personalized learning profiles based on learner needs, skills, and activities.
  • AI-powered course creation to streamline the authoring process.
  • Robust analytics and reporting to keep track of learner progress.
  • Social and mobile learning for better collaboration and training accessibility.
  • Multi-language support for reaching more diverse audiences.

What users like

  • “The software is fully customizable and can create, configure and manage educational content for organizations that require it.”Pradeep J.
  • “It offers a complete learning solution which makes it possible to personalize training based on individual skills and competency.”Rony H.
  • “Cypher Learning is an excellent LMS with a lot of courses and templates available in the library for enhancing knowledge and skills.”Hamna K.

What users don’t like

  • “Although Cypher Learning has gamification elements, they are somewhat basic.”Cole M.
  • “CYPHER Learning has a lot of functions in it and this can sometimes be very confusing for beginners.”Rony H.
  • “It would be great if there were more tools for customizing sophisticated reports to meet some specific reporting scenarios.”Maxine T.

Best for

CYPHER Learning is best suited for training diverse audiences thanks to its multi-language support in over 50 languages and its ability to translate messages posted on its forums. 

8. Blackboard Learn

Blackboard Learn is a cloud-based LMS with a focus on providing personalized learning experiences. 

It includes a wide range of collaboration tools for messaging, communication, notifications, and announcements. 

Instructional designers can use Blackboard Learn to create, curate, and deliver engaging e-learning training materials with gamification features like badges and leaderboards. 

The platform also includes analytics and reporting capabilities as well as branding, and learner-feedback functionalities.

G2 rating

3.9 / 5 (832 reviews)

Top Features

  • Personalized content and course creation for better learning customization.
  • Social learning capabilities that increase team collaboration. 
  • Customizable feedback options that can identify areas of improvement.
  • Flexible learner assessments to conduct regular knowledge checks.
  • Analytics and reporting capabilities for tracking and measuring relevant e-learning KPIs. 

What users like

  • “It is easy to use and has all of the features I need like auto-grade, the ability to create quiz and text on the fly and allow the student to get involved in the discussion.”Nhat N.
  • “Blackboard Learn offers a broad array of functionalities, including course management, discussion boards, grading systems, and collaboration tools.”Nuzhath F.
  • “Easy to use, and very organized. Makes easier communication between teachers and students.”Lamis L.

What users don’t like

  • “While Blackboard offers a mobile app, some users have reported issues with its responsiveness and overall user experience.” – Nuzhath F.
  • “Sometimes it takes too long to load the documents or lags when all learners log in at the same time for a common use like test or group activity.”Nisarg B.
  • “Some users have reported challenges with the user interface, occasional technical issues, and a learning curve associated with navigating the platform.”Verified user in animation

Best for

Blackboard Learn is best suited for improving team collaboration and communication via its many built-in social learning capabilities. 

9. iSpring Learn LMS

iSpring Learn LMS is a cloud-based LMS for employee and customer training and onboarding, compliance training, and performance appraisals. 

Companies can import external e-learning material into the platform. These include elements such as PowerPoint presentations, videos, Flash and SCORM files, and other similar content. 

Instructional designers can create interactive courses like quizzes, assessments, and role-plays. 

The platform also includes automated course assignments with progress reports, deadlines, and notifications.

It also includes gamification elements, mobile learning, custom, certifications, and social learning capabilities. 

G2 rating

4.6 / 5 (71 reviews)

Top Features

  • Interactive course design functionality with quizzes, assessments, and role-plays.
  • Automated progress reports that keep organizations informed about learner activities.
  • Gamification elements that keep learners engaged with the course material. 
  • Custom certifications to further improve engagement and increase compliance with regulations.
  • Mobile and social learning for better learning accessibility and flexibility.

What users like

  • “It is easy to set up and assign courses, quizzes, and learning tracks to people. Monitoring their progress and getting updates on their progress.”Jamie B.
  • “SSO and integration with MS Active Directory made it easy for our employees to log in and for HR to manage.”Scott F.
  • “The Admin portal features made it fairly simple to organize content.”Verified user

What users don’t like

  • “The page is a bit clunky and navigation can be a bit of a learning curve.”Dan G.
  • “The reporting is a bit confusing. There are either too many options/filters or not enough. Hard to determine which report is useful for the information desired.”Sue P.
  • “It does not offer the same level of course authoring features and flexibility as some standalone e-learning tools.”Jimit G.

Best for

iSpring Learn is best suited for testing learners on their knowledge through quizzes, assessments, and role-plays. 

10. Google Classroom 

Google Classroom is part of the Google Workspace for Education package. It’s primarily focused on academic settings but can also work as an LMS in business.

It has content-management capabilities whereby trainers can upload e-learning training materials from Google Drive. It doesn’t support SCORM or xAPI files, however. 

It also allows for branding but doesn’t include white-labeling capabilities. 

Trainers can assign tasks, assignments, or quizzes, and have the ability to monitor learner progress. The platform includes discussion boards for social learning and mobile accessibility. 

It integrates with Google Calendar and with the other tools that are part of Google Workspace.

G2 rating

4.5 / 5 (1,427 reviews)

Top Features

  • Self-paced learning capabilities for learners to access content on-demand.
  • Google Workspace integrations that make it effective for those working with Google products.
  • Reporting and analytics capabilities to keep track of learner progress.
  • Interactive assignment-creation functionality.
  • Social learning capabilities for learner collaboration and communication. 

What users like

  • “The best feature of Google Classroom for me and my colleagues is definitely its easy-to-use interface and simple UI.”Anish K.
  • “What I like about Google Classroom is that we get real-time updates and announcements with the changes and essential details within our company.”Diana S.
  • “The best feature I like about Google Classroom is its capability to integrate with Google tools like Google Drive, Google Slide, Google Docs, and Google Meet.”Ronit J.

What users don’t like

  • “One common criticism is the limited customization options for the overall look and feel of the platform.”Prince R.
  • “Google Classroom lacks the feature of search bar, which could have made it easier for the students to search for assignments.”Verified user in computer software
  • “It lacks a live interaction feature as well as social media integrations.”Nicolas F.

Best for

Google Classroom is best suited for organizations with minimal L&D needs that already use other Google Workspace tools. 

Benefits of using an LMS for employee training 

The benefits of using an LMS for employee training are the following:

Close skill gaps

In today’s highly dynamic work environment, businesses need to develop a culture of continuous learning. As new trends and technologies emerge, they have to keep up or risk falling behind. 

An ever-widening skill gap is always present and needs addressing before it gets out of hand. An LMS for employee training can provide the level of training necessary to close skill gaps. 

By creating personalized learning paths, expanding the learning base, increasing accessibility, and enabling just-in-time learning, you can boost employee performance and retention, and even improve customer satisfaction. 

Make learning fun 

Many of these platforms also help boost learner engagement, knowledge retention, and even collaboration between peers. They do so by introducing gamification into the learning process. 

The same thing applies to interactive elements that are part of the training content. 

Things like quizzes, assessments, simulations, scenario-based questionnaires, live webinars, or discussion forums, can all help motivate learners, foster collaboration, and make e-learning more fun and engaging. 

Improve product knowledge

An additional benefit of LMSs is that they can also provide product knowledge to employees, aside from learning and development

It’s useful for your workforce to better understand the company’s product or service, regardless of which department they’re in.

This is particularly beneficial when empowering sales teams or when training customer service reps. 

How to choose the best LMS for employee training 

When you’re choosing an LMS to cater to your employee training needs, you should also consider the following areas. 

Is it suitable for your use case?

One important aspect is whether the platform addresses the core needs of your industry or niche. 

Whether you’re in healthcare, finance, manufacturing, or retail, for example, the LMS should have your industry in mind and be able to handle its employee learning program requirements. 

Do its features satisfy your needs?

The same thing applies to the platform’s features and functionalities. It’s generally good practice to compile a list of all must-have LMS features and get in contact with the vendor to make sure they have them included. 

You can also use our free request for proposal (RFP) template to get a quote from vendors. 

Is it a scalable solution?

Scalability is a major factor to consider when choosing an LMS. 

It needs to be able to take on extra work as your business grows without experiencing frequent crashes or causing more problems than it’s worth. 

Does it offer good support?

Lastly, you need to ensure the LMS vendor provides good customer service and support. 

It needs to have a professional team on stand-by able to answer questions and solve issues every time they arise. 

Check for customer reviews and see what they have to say about their experiences with the particular vendor. 

Now over to you

In today’s highly competitive working environment, employee training plays a crucial role in improving performance, retaining top talent, and even forming long-lasting relationships with customers. 

The right LMS can help you achieve these benefits, lower costs, and improve your bottom line. 

Schedule a demo with Docebo today and see if it can handle your employee- training needs.