The 5 Best Employee Training and Development LMS Systems 2023

The majority of millennials say professional development is an important aspect of their career path. Providing your employees with a clear direction on how to advance their careers is a win-win for both you and your staff.
Best Overall
Simplilearn
Simplilearn
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
Custom pricing
  • pro
    Live instructor-led training (ILT) sessions
  • pro
    Intuitive interface
Best for Certifications
Expert Rating
ExpertRating
4 out of 5 stars
4.0
Starting from$19.99/course
  • pro
    Pay-as-you-go
  • pro
    Pre-employment testing
Best Budget Deal
Talent LMS
TalentLMS
4 out of 5 stars
4.0
Starting from$0.00/mo.
  • pro
    Plenty of customizations
  • pro
    Free options
Most User-Friendly
Skillsoft
Skillsoft
4 out of 5 stars
4.0
Starting from$29.00/user/mo.
  • pro
    Simple operation
  • pro
    Mobile-friendly application
Best for Salesforce Users
Litmos
Litmos
4 out of 5 stars
4.0
Custom pricing
  • pro
    Salesforce integration
  • pro
    24/7 live customer service

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

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Bottom line: Simplilearn is our top pick thanks to its large catalog of courses via diverse learning environments (like self-study and in-person options). ExpertRating excels at entirely online certifications, while TalentLMS is superb for tiny budgets. Skillsoft delivers a super user-friendly interface, and SAP Litmos is a natural choice if you're also a Salesforce user.

If you have more time: While in-house training still improves career development, small and midsize businesses should consider investing in a learning management system (LMS) platform to improve employee skills and performance—but which system is right for you? Whether you’re in human resources, upper management, or any other department, take a look at our reviews below. We break down five of the best employee development programs in the game.

Simplilearn: Best overall

Best overall
Simplilearn
Simplilearn
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5

Custom pricing

If you’re in need of powerful features and a highly specialized catalog of certifications, Simplilearn should be your go-to option.

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

With Simplilearn, users can choose between a variety of learning options, including live online learning with instructors, in-person classroom instruction, and self-study. The platform’s blend of interactive, self-paced, and applied learning makes it easier for employees to achieve their career goals. As another unique feature, Simplilearn offers CloudLabs, a virtual space where learners can test projects.

Pricing differs depending on what specific course you choose, and there are plenty of different courses for a wide variety of industries.

Pros
pro Flexible learning options
pro Simple interface
pro Certificates recognized by accrediting organizations
Cons
con Expensive classes
con Restricted catalog depth
con Limited money-back guarantee

ExpertRating: Best for online certifications

ExpertRating makes it easier for individuals to get certified in their specific expertise. In fact, each year, more than three million individuals across the globe obtain an ExpertRating certification.

Best online certifications
Expert Rating
ExpertRating
4 out of 5 stars
4.0

Starting from $19.99/course

In addition to testing and online certifications for individuals, ExpertRating offers employee skill testing, pre-employment testing, and in-depth reporting options for businesses so you know you’re getting the most out of your employee training and development plan.

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

With ExpertRating, developers can seamlessly integrate over 800 skill tests into their company’s website, portal, or software. If your team needs assistance with integration programming, ExpertRating’s engineering team can send you sample codes to get the ball rolling.

While a test session starts at $9.99, ExpertRating also offers a pay-as-you-go pricing plan along with volume discounts. The more you buy, the more you’ll save in the long run.

Strengths
pro Robust API
pro Cost-effective courses
pro Comprehensive reporting
Weaknesses
con Complaints on discrepancies
con Confusing interface
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TalentLMS: Best for low budgets

Most affordable
Talent LMS
TalentLMS
4 out of 5 stars
4.0

Starting from $0.00/mo.

For those on a small budget, TalentLMS delivers plenty of value, although many courses lack depth and advancement opportunities.

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

If your business is looking for an affordable yet functional learning management software, consider TalentLMS. It offers a free plan for companies who have fewer than five users and under 10 courses in their library.

When you’re ready to scale your business and expand your web-based training, upgrade to its Starter ($69 per month), Basic ($149 per month), Plus ($279 per month), or Premium plans ($459 per month).

TalentLMS offers courses in a wide range of industries, including automotive, supply chain, defense, real estate, hospitality, and manufacturing—just to name a few. And managers have the option of uploading videos, virtual presentations, and documents to provide employees with a personalized and full-branded learning experience.

In addition to its affordable pricing and video integration, TalentLMS provides a comprehensive reporting feature that records the completion percentage of a training course.

Strengths
pro Free lower package
pro Easy and intuitive interface
pro Strong customer support
Weaknesses
con Few customizations
con Limited social learning features

Skillsoft: Most user-friendly

Most user-friendly
Skillsoft
Skillsoft
4 out of 5 stars
4.0

Starting from $29.00/user/mo.

When you want to learn, Skillsoft makes education and training easy to grasp. Plus, its flat-rate all-inclusive pricing offers value and an advantage over per-course competitors.

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

As a cutting-edge e-learning management platform, Skillsoft aims to improve the performance of employees through rich content libraries.

Skillsoft offers 120,000 pieces of content, including more than 65,000 videos, 7,000 courses, and 46,000 book options, so employees will never run out of learning material. Whether you’re seeking business, digital, IT, or compliance learning solutions, Skillsoft covers everything LMS-related to help your business improve by offering professional development to your employees. Plus, users have access to a wealth of demos, webinars, case studies, and white papers.

In terms of pricing, Skillsoft offers the option to pay for extra modules, including reporting, hosting, and instructor-led training. And you can request a demo or sign up for a 14-day trial to determine if Skillsoft is right for your specific business needs.

Bullhorn
Fun Fact:

According to Skillsoft, 86% of end users apply what they learn in six weeks or less.

Strengths
pro 100% cloud-based operation
pro 14-day free trial
pro Simple interface
Weaknesses
con Inflexible corporate LMS
con Somewhat pricey options

SAP Litmos: Best for Salesforce users

Ideal for Salesforce users
Litmos
SAP Litmos
4 out of 5 stars
4.0

Custom pricing

SAP Litmos is a no-brainer if you already use Salesforce since the two software titles connect seamlessly. But even if you aren't signed up with Salesforce, Litmos's 2,500+ integrations make it a data powerhouse to stay on top of your budget and learning progress.

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

SAP Litmos LMS is unique because it’s the only employee development system that offers a partner version with Salesforce.

Beyond Salesforce, Litmos LMS supports a variety of third-party integrations with DropBox, Google, Shopify, WebEx, and HR systems. In addition to its convenient integrations, Litmos offers more than 2,500 online courses for sales and service training as well as security and external compliance training.

Managers can create detailed and custom reports by pulling data from courses, users, modules, activities, and more. And those customized reports, which can be viewed as a list or a chart, can be exported or emailed on a regular basis.

Litmos LMS pricing varies by the number of users, making it easier for businesses to scale.

Strengths
pro Third-party integrations
pro Affordable costs
pro Accommodation for larger companies
pro 14-day free trial
Weaknesses
con Complaints of poor latency
con No user roles

Honorable mentions

If you’re looking for an employee development system tailored to medium and enterprise-level companies, consider the following options.

Lynda

Lynda, created by LinkedIn, offers a content library with more than 6,000 expert-led online learning courses. Users will also have access to LinkedIn’s premium career features, which include InMail credits and salary and job insights.

Lynda is a subscription-based LMS platform with reasonable and affordable pricing. If you’re not sold on Lynda, opt for its generous one-month free trial.

Degreed

Degreed offers job and skill development options for both individuals and businesses. Not only does Degreed offer relevant learning materials for a range of industries, it also provides managers with a comprehensive view of employee learning and development. Plus, its enterprise learning platform seamlessly integrates with existing proprietary content.

Degreed has a point system based on the resources’ quality, difficulty, duration, and modality. For example, a one-page article is worth less than a 200-page e-book. This benchmarks your team’s productivity and growth.

Unfortunately, pricing information isn't listed on the website. But after digging a bit more, we found that Degreed is a subscription service that’s priced per user per month.

360training

With over 6,000 online courses, 360training claims to be a one-stop shop for all things career development. Its industry solutions include HR and compliance, food and beverage, industrial skills, power and utilities, and environmental health and safety. With 360training, your employees can refine their critical-thinking skills and decision-making skills to advance their career development.

Because 360training offers a wide range of courses, it’s impossible to provide you with a single price quote. However, based on our research, course pricing ranges from free to over $100. Keep in mind that pricing will vary depending on the depth, length, and complexity of the course.

Everything you need to know about learning management software

Have you recently decided you need to utilize a learning management software? Start here to learn the basics.

Benefits of learning management software

A learning management system (LMS) helps companies create and manage educational courses, lessons, and other training materials to help employees improve and develop in their career. By using an LMS, businesses can also reduce distractions in the workplace, stay up to date with compliance regulations, and track employee training and performance.

Important learning management system features

When researching learning management software, it’s important to look for must-have features, including the following:

  • A modern interface
  • Unlimited scalability
  • Mobile-friendliness
  • Third-party integrations
  • Multi-tenancy
  • Strong reporting tools

Ways LMS systems complement employee development plans

Managers, business owners, or team leaders should create a solid employee development plan to re-energize the company while facilitating greater employee engagement. But how do you develop an effective employee training program?

First, make long-term goals more manageable by breaking them into smaller steps. Second, track the employee’s progress and outline areas of improvement. In some cases, extra training might be necessary to improve performance. Finally, although feedback doesn’t have to be constant, it’s important to schedule regular check-ins to evaluate progress.

A learning management software not only benefits the business owners, but it also offers a number of employee benefits, including increased satisfaction, better morale, higher salaries, and increased job performance.

Developmental goals employees should shoot for

To have a successful workplace, employees should set several short- and long-term goals, such as these:

  • Managing time better
  • Building and improving relationships with coworkers
  • Increasing knowledge of their specific industry
  • Improving listening skills

Development goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.

Advantage of software over less-structured methods for career development

The number one advantage of an LMS is that it can save businesses time and money. Even small companies with a limited budget can still enjoy the benefits that an LMS has to offer. In addition, a quality LMS leads to highly skilled and well-trained employees, which results in higher productivity rates, improved customer satisfaction, and increased revenue.

HR experts weigh in

Icon Quote  Dark
The most important aspect to any employee development program is the implementation of the behavior change sought in the training. Every employee development program should be objective-based, behavior-focused, fun, and measurable. Also, identifying the root cause of the problem you seek to solve is usually the most challenging step. Often, business leaders see a problem with sales or service and think more training is the solution. They expect the activity of training to create improved performance. Unfortunately, it’s never that easy.
Icon Quote  Dark
The most important aspect of an employee development program is the relevance to job applications. Employee development programs should be reversed-engineered with exceptional job performance as the goal. When subject matter in a curricula is aligned with day-to-day tasks, the training program can naturally engage participants with hands-on learning. Hands-on learning leads to greater retention of how to do their job and causes the participants to want to understand the why behind the how.
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The most important aspect of any employee training program is remembering that your employees are human! When you’re designing a training program, remember that to truly change behavior, you have to empower your employees, help them practice the behaviors you want to see, and focus on making the training a part of the overall company culture you want to create.
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Learning and development programs are one of the best investments employers can make to improve employee retention. These programs are a win-win for both the employer and the employee—employees benefit because they are upleveling their skill set, which improves performance and leads to increased engagement and satisfaction in their role, increasing retention.
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Individual plans are more dynamic in nature than a corporate university or group trainings. Generally, for all of them, request and give feedback often and in real time along the way—upon completion of each module, class, or individual goal met. If something isn’t working or goals are at risk, review and take action or make changes where possible.
Christina Owczarski
Christina Owczarski
Icon Quote  Dark
As an organization, we have taken steps to make our employees’ development an important part of our culture. Every employee receives an onboarding plan that consists of training and development tasks that help them to be successful as they ramp up in their new role. This has proven to be extremely effective in recruiting and retaining key talent and even enticing former employees to return. We have seen higher retention levels for those groups that received an effective new hire onboarding and training program.

The takeaway

Overall, the popular and robust Simplilearn learning management software is the best choice for most small businesses. But depending on your business’s needs, one of our other favorite LMS platforms may work for you.

For example, if you want a no-nonsense, budget-friendly choice, TalentLMS is our top pick for affordability. Meanwhile, Skillsoft is a beautiful user-friendly platform suitable for all backgrounds.

Looking for more tools to help your employees succeed at work? Hop over to our article on the best workforce management software for small businesses.

Methodology

We carefully analyzed each platform's overall value for the money, suitability for people of all technical abilities, customer service quality, course availability, support for in-person and online learning options, and affordability, among other factors.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Sarah Ryther Francom
Written by
Sarah is Business.org’s senior content editor. She has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing business-focused content. As the former editor-in-chief of Utah Business magazine, Sarah oversaw the state’s premier business publication, developed several custom publications, and managed all business-to-business content. She also co-authored a business book with FJ Management CEO Crystal Maggelet. Sarah is passionate about helping small-business owners reach sustained success.
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