On the hunt for a new LMS? Maybe you’ve worked with SumTotal, which was recently acquired by Cornerstone, and want something in the same vein—or maybe you’re ready to try a whole new approach. Either way, this guide has a little something for everyone.
To help you find the best fit for your organization, we’ve analyzed the top SumTotal alternatives on the market. Below is a high-level overview, followed by a detailed breakdown to help you select a platform with the features and flexibility to elevate your learning programs in 2025 and beyond.
| Company | G2 rating | Best For | Pricing |
| Docebo | 4.3/5 (663 reviews) | Enterprises looking for a highly scalable and personalizable AI learning platform that can tackle multiple use cases including onboarding and talent development | Upon request |
| Absorb LMS | 4.6/5 (702 reviews) | Corporations searching for an LMS with flexible learning formats and high configurability | Median price is $19,777 |
| SAP Success Factors | 3.9/5 (683 reviews) | Businesses looking for a human capital management solution with some employee learning capabilities | Lowest contract starts at $18,328 |
| Canvas LMS | 4.4/5 (1,800 reviews) | Organizations looking for an educational software | Upon request. Has a free trial. |
| 360Learning | 4.6/5 (481 reviews) | Companies seeking an LMS focusing on collaborative learning | Starts at $8 per registered user per month |
| Axonify | 4.7/5 (154 reviews) | Organizations looking for a learning solution focusing on frontline training | Upon request |
| LearnUpon | 4.6/5 (183 reviews) | Businesses looking for a simple to use LMS that can tackle multiple use cases | Median contract value is $30,064 |
| Talent LMS | 4.6/5 (784 reviews) | Companies searching for a comprehensive LMS that excels in employee training | Starts at $1,428 per year |
| Workday | 4.1/5 (1,649 reviews) | Businesses looking for an AI-powered human capital management solution that can also help with onboarding and talent development | The median contract averages $48,201 |
| iSpring Learn | 4.6/5 (112 reviews) | Companies looking for an LMS solution focused on employee training | Starts at $770 per author per year |
Why look for an alternative to SumTotal
There are plenty of reasons learning leaders start exploring new learning software solutions. Sometimes it’s about keeping up with growing teams or shifting business goals. Other times, it’s about finding a better fit for how people learn today.
Changing business demands
As your organization evolves, your learning strategy needs to keep pace. Whether you’re expanding into new markets, adopting new technologies, or navigating hybrid work, you may need a platform that’s more agile, scalable, and aligned with your goals.
More transparency and control over costs
If your current solution has unpredictable pricing or features you’re not using, it might be time to reassess. Many teams are looking for platforms that offer better value, clearer pricing models, and stronger ROI.
Greater need for speed and customer support
When critical training is on the line, fast, reliable support matters. Delayed responses or clunky update cycles can slow things down—so it’s no surprise that responsive customer service and smoother product updates are top priorities.
Modern learning expectations
Today’s learners expect more: personalized experiences, intuitive interfaces, and learning that fits into the flow of work. Static course catalogs and basic tracking features no longer cut it. Teams are looking for platforms that support AI-driven recommendations, smart content creation, and seamless integrations with the tools they already use.
Top 10 SumTotal alternatives on the market
When looking for a new LMS or learning platform, the most important step is matching the learning solution’s strengths to your unique goals. We’ll help you cut through the noise by breaking down the standout features for each alternative, empowering you to choose the learning system that will truly move your organization forward.
Docebo
Best suited for: Enterprises looking for AI-driven, highly scalable, personalized learning solutions that can tackle multiple use cases from employee onboarding and training to customer education and partner enablement
About Docebo
Looking for a learning platform that actually keeps up with your growth? Docebo’s got you covered. Built for enterprises that are scaling fast and thinking big, Docebo’s AI learning platform blends the power of an LMS with the flexibility of an LXP—so you get the best of both worlds.
From AI-powered personalization and adaptive learning to social learning features, gamification, and workflow automations, Docebo helps you create engaging learning experiences and take the manual work off your plate. It also plays nicely with your tech stack, thanks to powerful APIs, webhooks, and seamless integrations.
But here’s the real magic: Docebo doesn’t just manage learning—it makes it smarter. With robust analytics and AI baked in, you can connect the dots between learning and business impact, while delivering experiences your people actually want to come back to.
Key Features:
- Harmony Search (AI Chat): Natural language content exploration with direct answers in chat format
- Creator (AI Content Generation): Rapid creation and translation of training materials with AI-generated content, assessments, and AI avatar video presenters
- Auto Tagging and Skill Assignment: Automated content categorization and skill mapping for improved discoverability
- Personalized Content Recommendations: AI-powered suggestions for learners, managers, and administrators
- Extended enterprise capabilities for training employees, customers, and partners
- Advanced customization and white-labeling options for branded learning experiences
- Comprehensive analytics and reporting with business impact measurement
- Mobile learning supported by custom branded mobile applications
- eCommerce functionality so you can monetize your learning programs
- Plenty of common and custom integrations through APIs and webhooks with common apps like human resources information systems (HRIS)
| What users like |
| “It is a robust platform with options for many different use cases. We are able to manage one domain for our external customers as well as another for our internal users.” — Mateo J. “Docebo provides a highly customizable platform that allows us to tailor the learning experience to reflect our company’s branding and voice. With HTML/CSS customization, catalog control, and flexible navigation, we’ve been able to create an environment that feels integrated with our internal tools. The API and bulk CSV options make it easier to automate and scale learning operations efficiently. The support team is exceptional—responsive, knowledgeable, and proactive in helping us navigate both routine tasks and complex issues.” — Avery G. |
Absorb LMS
Best suited for: Corporations searching for an LMS with flexible learning formats and high configurability
About Absorb LMS
Absorb LMS is a cloud-based, AI-powered learning platform that makes it easy to scale training—whether you’re onboarding employees, enabling partners, or educating customers. With loads of customization options, it’s built to flex around your needs, no matter the audience.
Want to create your own content or pull from a ready-made course library? You can do both. Absorb’s intuitive tools help you deliver engaging learning experiences without the hassle. And with smart automation and personalization features, it lightens the admin load while keeping learners motivated and on track.
If you’re looking to scale training efficiently and still keep it tailored, Absorb LMS has you covered.
Key Features:
- Create AI: Uses generative AI to research, structure, and design courses with interactive elements like animations, videos, and quizzes
- Intelligent Assist: AI-powered tool that processes natural language requests to access reports and action screens instantly
- Absorb Skills: Smart course recommendations and skills-gap identification with Absorb Skills
- Absorb Adapts: AI ranks search results based on learner behavior to prioritize relevant content
- eCommerce functionality allows monetization of learning content
- Plenty of integrations with common apps
- Mobile learning and reporting and analytics
| What users like | What users don’t |
| “Absorb is a very user-friendly interface. It is easy to navigate, and the design is eye-appealing.” — Lynn M. “My favorite features of the LMS are the Manager Experience and the overall ease of use of the LMS. The system is relatively intuitive. I have learned and mastered 3 different LMS and this was this easiest to learn. “ — Thadd A. | “I would say the biggest area that we were challenges was in setting up integrations with other applications. Absorb has all of the capabilities but offer little to no technical support on creating the integration call to other applications.” — Elias M. “The reporting features are lacking and in need of changes/updates.”— David G. |
SAP SuccessFactors
Best suited for: Businesses looking for a human capital management solution with some employee learning capabilities
About SAP Success Factors
SuccessFactors is a full HCM suite that blends an LMS with talent development, performance management, and workforce analytics. Its talent-intelligence hub uses AI to recommend courses, track progress, and keep you compliant in even the most complex regulatory environments.
SAP SuccessFactors delivers enterprise-grade human capital management with deep learning and development tools that scale easily across global teams. If your organization already leans on the broader SAP ecosystem, SuccessFactors slots right in—connecting workforce management, payroll, and AI-powered learning so data flows smoothly from hire to retirement.
Key Features
- Interactive organizational chart and position management
- Guided enrollment and global consolidated benefits reporting
- Comprehensive time management
- Localized legal and regulatory compliance
- Automated notifications
- Pre-built analytics dashboards
- Agentic AI for automated workflows and cross-collaboration
| What users like | What users don’t |
| “I like that I can see my employment history, wage information, and other company related information all in one place.” — Dylan B. “It is very easy to use & also cloud-based based so you can access it from anywhere.” — Anurag C. | “The software can be quite complex as locating the right features in this comprehensive all-in-one tool can be a challenging task. Another downside of SAP SuccessFactors is its limited customization capabilities and reporting functionalities. “ — Megha N. |
Canvas
Best suited for: Organizations looking for an educational software
About Canvas
Think of Canvas as your digital classroom gone pro—an LMS built for both education and business settings, offering flexibility, reliability, and adaptability at scale. Whether you’re running virtual, hybrid, or in-person training, Canvas keeps everything organized, mobile-ready, and accessible from anywhere
With seamless integrations (think Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, and more), Canvas easily fits into your existing tech stack. It also comes with powerful automation tools that simplify grading, manage deadlines, and even translate messages into 100+ languages—saving time for instructors and admins alike.
Key Features
- SpeedGrader: Fast, efficient grading with in-line feedback tools
- Full-featured mobile app for learning on the go
- Discussion boards & collaboration tools to support social learning
- AI-powered tools to summarize discussions, translate messages, and streamline grading
- Personalized learning paths
- Canvas Studio: Interactive video learning with embedded quizzes and comments
- Seamless integrations connect with 1,000+ tools (Zoom, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
- Analytics & reporting: Built-in insights plus access to raw Canvas Data for custom dashboards
| What users like | What users don’t |
| “I love how user friendly it is and that it has so many possibilities.” — Marina V. “Canvas provides our audience with a professional development learning experience that reflects the way they would be learning in higher education. “ — Rachel H. | “It requires a lot of training and development to onboard. Help guides are often too general or have too much information on them.” — Stephanie V. “Canvas LMS could use some more individual customization to each business.” — Liam M. |
360Learning
Best suited for: Companies seeking an LMS focusing on collaborative learning
About 360Learning
360Learning is a collaborative learning management system that enables organizations to create, deliver, and track training programs using internal expertise. The platform combines AI-powered authoring tools with social learning features to help companies build comprehensive learning ecosystems for employees, customers, and partners.
360Learning transforms traditional corporate learning by empowering internal experts to create and share knowledge directly within your organization. The platform specializes in collaborative learning and AI-powered course creation, making it ideal for companies looking to scale training through employee-generated content. This approach reduces dependency on external training vendors while building a more engaged learning culture.
Key Features:
- AI-powered course builder with automated content generation and smart question suggestions
- AI recommendations based on employee skills and behavior
- Skills-based learning with automated catalog skills-tagging
- Advanced user management with SSO integration and automated enrollment capabilities
- Comprehensive analytics and reporting with manager dashboards and compliance tracking
| What users like | What users don’t |
| “360Learning excels in its simplicity for creating content, allowing us to swiftly develop captivating training modules.” — Saad E. “The user experience is easy and intuitive, making adoption much easier.” — Sylvia R. | “When there is a problem (error, glitch, bug, etc.), there’s no direct chat to the 360Learning team. We submit a ticket and then it takes about 2-5 days to hear back from someone.” — Dana F. “I would love to see even more options to personalize the look and feel of the platform to better align with our brand guidelines. “ — Ingrid C. |
Axonify
Best suited for: Organizations looking for a learning solution focusing on frontline training
About Axonify
Axonify is a modern, user-friendly training platform built for frontline teams who need fast, engaging, and effective learning in the flow of work. Whether you’re onboarding new employees, rolling out critical updates, or building long-term skills, Axonify delivers bite-sized, personalized training that fits into busy schedules—no classroom required.
With mobile access, powerful analytics, and seamless integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams and SuccessFactors, Axonify helps organizations keep their workforce informed, engaged, and ready to perform—especially when every moment on the floor co
Key Features
- AI-powered microlearning: Short, daily training sessions personalized through adaptive algorithms
- Reinforcement learning: Uses spaced repetition and retrieval practice to improve long-term retention
- Personalized learning paths: Tailors content based on role, knowledge gaps, and performance
- Gamification: Points, badges, leaderboards, and virtual rewards to drive engagement
- Mobile-first experience: Accessible on smartphones, tablets, POS systems, and kiosks
- Analytics: Tracks learning metrics and links them to business outcomes
- Axonify Nudge: Sends real-time updates and messages in 60+ languages
- Content marketplace: 800+ pre-built topics plus options to create or customize content
| What users like | What users don’t |
| “It features straightforward administration, incorporates robust communication, and now includes AI for the knowledge base—all accessible within the app.” — Jeff P. “Implementing the system at all three of our distribution centres was a breeze! The reports, data, customizable exports, leaderzone, and rewards platform are just some of my favourite features.” — Crystal H. | “There are so many pieces of Axonify, and sometimes I find that the reports in Admin Zone do not match the reports in LeaderZone, which can cause some confusion and misunderstandings between our learning department and the field managers.” — Elizabeth L. “The backend of the planform for Admins is a bit complex and some of the workflows can be redundant/confusing.” — Raisa V. |
LearnUpon
Best suited for: Businesses looking for a simple to use LMS that can tackle multiple use cases
About LearnUpon
Think of LearnUpon as mission control for training: build courses, assign them to the right audience, and watch real-time results roll in—all from one place. Its flexible portal structure lets you keep employee content separate from customer or partner learning, each with its own branding and reporting.
LearnUpon delivers an intuitive learning management system that makes it easy to create, deliver, and track training across multiple audiences—employees, customers, and partners alike. Its multi-portal architecture and emerging AI-powered features help you spin up branded learning sites in minutes and personalize every learner’s experience.
Key Features
- Course authoring with AI-powered content generation
- AI-driven personalized learning paths
- AI coach that prompts learners to reflect, ask questions, and stay engaged
- AI-generated course and module summaries
- Drag-and-drop course builder with SCORM, xAPI, and video support
- Unlimited branded portals to serve different audiences under one roof
- Granular reporting and dashboards
- Integrations with popular HRIS, CRM, and collaboration tools
| What users like | What users don’t |
| “I like the overall UX. Easy to find the information, you can schedule your classes, limit access only to the target audience, and allow reviews in your courses to learn more about the learner experience.” — Carlos M. “LearnUpon is consistently updating, making a better user experience, adding great features and their support is great!” — Jenny B. | “Our eCommerce page does not look how I would want it to – I would like more branding options.” — Mandana B. “The standard reports available can sometimes be limited.” — Siobhan W. |
TalentLMS
Best suited for: Companies searching for a comprehensive LMS that excels in employee training
About Talent LMS
TalentLMS is a comprehensive learning management system designed for organizations of all sizes to deliver effective employee onboarding, compliance training, and continuous learning programs. The platform supports both internal workforce management and extended enterprise LMS capabilities for training partners and customers.
The platform specializes in user-friendly course creation and AI-powered content generation, making it ideal for companies seeking an intuitive LMS solution. With built-in gamification and mobile learning capabilities, TalentLMS keeps learners engaged across all devices.
Key Features:
- AI-powered content creation through TalentCraft for rapid course development
- Mobile learning with offline content access and responsive design
- Gamification elements including badges, points, and leaderboards to boost engagement
- White-label customization to match your organizational branding
- Multi-language support for global training initiatives
| What users like | What users don’t |
| “The user interface is clean, and it’s easy for both admins and learners to find what they need. “ — Anusha P. “Love the ease of use and the small learning curve to get everything up and running. “ — Katie B. | “Reporting capabilities are very basic. Unable to create reporting on courses grouped together to form a curriculum. Creating courses also uses the most basic of software so not as dynamic learning as would like.” — Shani M. “Some of the AI functionality can be improved upon.“ — Katrina L. |
Workday
Best suited for: Businesses looking for an AI-powered human capital management solution that can also help with onboarding and talent development
About Workday
Workday offers both a comprehensive human capital management (HCM) platform and learning management system so you can go beyond time tracking to support employee development, compliance training, and upskilling across the entire workforce. Built for medium to large enterprises, the Workday LMS integrates seamlessly with the broader Workday suite, making it easy to align learning with talent, employee performance, career growth strategies and other business needs.
With Workday Skills Cloud, companies can identify skill gaps, recommend targeted training, and uncover growth opportunities for the right competencies using AI-driven skills intelligence. Learners benefit from personalized, curated learning paths, while administrators gain real-time, actionable insights into progress and outcomes. From built-in compliance tracking to AI-powered recommendations, Workday Learning empowers organizations to deliver scalable, strategic learning that adapts to evolving workforce needs.
Key Features
- Native integration with HCM software
- Workday Skills Cloud to identify skill gaps and growth opportunities
- Personalized learning paths
- Real-time actionable insights
- AI-driven skills intelligence
- Built-in compliance
| What users like | What users don’t |
| “It is one of the best user-friendly, which allows you to learn, achieve skills without hassle. “ — Raviraja M. “I love that it is easy for me to communicate with the people that I need to for what I need in my company.” — Carolyn K. | “Localizing content is not an option in a single content object, you have to create multiple courses for the different languages and then good luck assigning that out to a global audience, tracking it, making sure you don’t assign someone the wrong language since they won’t have a choice, and then report completion on audits- not possible. “ — Trevor P. |
iSpring Learn
Best suited for: Companies looking for an LMS solution focused on employee training
About iSpring Learn
iSpring Learn is a cloud-based learning management system designed to help organizations deliver streamlined employee onboarding, compliance training, and professional development. Ideal for small businesses to mid-sized organizations, iSpring Learn is quick to implement and easy to use, making it a great choice for teams that need to get training programs up and running fast.
The platform supports seamless integration with iSpring Suite, a powerful authoring tool for creating interactive courses, quizzes, and role-play simulations. With automated training workflows, mobile accessibility, and detailed reporting and analytics, iSpring Learn helps administrators save time while keeping learners engaged. Its user-friendly interface, flexible content delivery, and scalable features make it a practical, efficient solution for growing organizations looking to build a culture of continuous learning.
Key Features
- iSpring AI: Build courses, create content, generate assessments with AI
- AI chatbot: Quick easy to find tech support of the platform
- AI assistant: Support tool for iSpring AI to help you turn learning objectives into high-quality courses faster
- Collaboration-enabled course authoring with templates and design for interactive quizzes and assessments
- Video studio to create video lessons
- Interactive role-play simulation embedded in course creation
- iSpring Learn App for mobile learning
| What users like | What users don’t |
| “It provides the option to create and customize your own training programs, ensuring flexibility to meet various learning needs.” — Sonnya J. R. “Good interface, many opportunities to create high-quality courses, it’s convenient to track employee progress, it’s great that you can purchase the Suite and create awesome materials.” — Kira A. | “The downsides for iSpring Learn is that I’ve found limitations with the reporting capabilities. “ — Emma M. “We would like ‘some’ ability to customize some features to match the uniqueness of our organization. “ — Angela J. |
Choosing the right platform
Choosing your next learning platform is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a complicated one. The right choice comes down to what you want to achieve—from your specific learning goals to the scale of your organization.
Look beyond the feature list and focus on your real-world needs. Think about how you’ll onboard new hires, support your partners, and customize the experience to reflect your brand, turning learning into a true strategic advantage.
SATO Holdings saw what a difference the right platform makes, cutting their new-hire ramp-up time in half and slashing early turnover. When you’re ready to see how AI-powered learning can deliver that kind of impact for your organization, explore why more than 3,800 companies trust Docebo. Book a demo today.
FAQs about SumTotal alternatives
Do these alternatives support easy migration from SumTotal?
Leading alternatives like Docebo provide dedicated migration teams and automated tools to transfer your user data, course catalogs, and completion history. Most providers offer detailed roadmaps and hands-on support to ensure a smooth transition. Make sure to double check with your LMS or learning platform vendor about these capabilities.
Related reading: LMS migration
What happens to existing SumTotal course content when switching platforms?
Course content built with industry standards like SCORM and xAPI will transfer directly, maintaining its functionality and tracking. Platform-specific customizations or unique integrations may need to be rebuilt in the new system.
Are there free trials for these alternative platforms?
Nearly every major LMS provider offers a free trial, ranging from short self-service access to extended, guided evaluations in a sandbox environment. The scope and duration of the trial vary significantly by provider.
