Comparison
Far LMS vs Tutor LMS: an honest comparison
Both plugins have a free version and a paid one. Here is how they differ on price, payments and features, and when Tutor LMS is the safer choice.
In short: Tutor LMS is a widely installed free WordPress LMS (90,000+ active installations on WordPress.org) with paid plans from $199 a year that unlock all Pro add-ons and many payment gateways. Far LMS is a smaller plugin focused on Stripe, with a free version for one-time sales, no commission and a built-in CRM in Pro.
At a glance
| Feature | Far LMS | Tutor LMS |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes: unlimited sites, one-time Stripe sales, no time limit | Yes: free core on WordPress.org, no time limit |
| Price per year (checked November 2026) | Free €0; Basic €290; Pro €590 (founder’s price €390); Agency €1,190. Or monthly: €35, €69, €139 | From $199/year (Individual, 1 site); lifetime plans from $499 |
| Sites per license | Basic and Pro: 1 site; Agency: up to 10 (Free: unlimited) | Individual: 1; Business: up to 10; Agency: unlimited |
| Subscriptions and memberships | Yes, from Basic | Subscriptions add-on (premium) |
| Quizzes and certificates | Yes, from Basic (quizzes, assignments, certificates) | Quiz builder, assignments and certificates are listed; check which need Pro |
| Payment gateways | Stripe (Payment Links or Checkout) | PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, Paddle, 2Checkout (Verifone), Mollie, Klarna, Razorpay, Paystack, Alipay and manual payment |
| Commission or fee charged by the vendor | None. Stripe’s own fees apply | No vendor commission stated on the pricing page |
| Built-in email marketing and CRM | Yes, in Pro (contacts, campaigns, automations, landing pages) | Not listed; email notifications are |
| Refund guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Where Tutor LMS is stronger
Tutor LMS has far more users: WordPress.org shows more than 90,000 active installations, so there are more tutorials, reviews and community answers. Its free plugin also lists many features, including a quiz builder, assignments, certificates, a drag-and-drop certificate designer and multi-instructor support, although the page does not say which of them need Pro.
If you sell outside the Stripe world, Tutor LMS is the clear winner. Its pricing page lists a long set of gateways, and the paid plans include all Pro add-ons.
If you want to teach in several formats, Tutor LMS lists live lessons, H5P and SCORM content, a Kids mode and multi-instructor courses. Far LMS focuses on video lessons, downloadable materials and a clean classroom, and it does not list those formats.
- More payment gateways: PayPal, Authorize.net, Paddle, 2Checkout, Mollie, Klarna, Razorpay, Paystack, Alipay and others.
- Features Far LMS does not list: H5P and SCORM support, live lessons with Google Meet, Zoom or Jitsi, multi-instructor courses, social login and an AI course generator.
- A migration tool for LearnDash, LearnPress and LifterLMS, according to the WordPress.org page.
- Lifetime licenses, if you prefer to pay once.
Where Far LMS is stronger
Far LMS is built around one payment provider, Stripe, and around the whole selling journey: Payment Links or Checkout, subscriptions with fair proration, gift vouchers and discount codes, an on-site checkout with a sales funnel and reminders for abandoned payments.
It also includes a CRM in the Pro plan: contacts, segments, email campaigns, automations, landing pages and forms. Tutor LMS lists email notifications, but we did not find a CRM on its pages.
The free version of Far LMS includes the virtual classroom with its video player, student dashboard, protected materials, lesson search, resource-library mode and white-label design. Quizzes, drip content and certificates start in Basic, and the CRM and the sales funnel start in Pro. The features page shows the plan of every feature, so you can check it before you install anything.
- Pro plan with CRM, campaigns, automations and landing pages in the same license.
- Retention tools: cancellation flow with pause, “continue where you left off” and a first-month email.
- Unlimited sites in the free version.
- Interface in English, Catalan and Spanish.
Price and licensing
Tutor LMS lists Individual at $199 a year for one site, Business at $399 for up to 10 sites and Agency at $799 for unlimited sites, plus lifetime options (checked November 2026). Every paid plan includes all Pro add-ons. Far LMS lists Basic at €290 a year (or €35 a month), Pro at €590 (€69 a month; founder’s price €390 a year) and Agency at €1,190 (€139 a month) for up to 10 sites, excluding VAT.
Tutor LMS lists the lower entry price for a single site ($199 against €290). The difference is in what you get: Tutor LMS gives you more gateways and learning formats, while Far LMS gives you a CRM and a Stripe-focused sales funnel.
Who should choose which
- Choose Tutor LMS if you need gateways other than Stripe, SCORM or H5P, live lessons, several instructors or a lifetime license.
- Choose Far LMS if you sell with Stripe and want subscriptions, marketing tools and a retention flow in a single plugin.
- Not sure? Start with the free Far LMS or read the guide to selling courses on WordPress.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tutor LMS free?
Yes. The core plugin is free on WordPress.org with no time limit, and paid plans unlock the Pro features and add-ons. Far LMS also has a free version, which sells with one-time Stripe payments.
Which has more payment gateways?
Tutor LMS. Far LMS works only with Stripe. If your students need a different gateway, choose Tutor LMS.
Does Far LMS take a commission?
No. Payments go to your Stripe account and Far LMS keeps 0%. Tutor LMS’s pricing page does not state a commission on your sales either.
Can I switch from Tutor LMS to Far LMS?
Far LMS can import students from other membership plugins. Write to us with your case and we will tell you what carries over.
Which one is better for a first online course?
Both have a free version. If you will sell only with Stripe and want a simple classroom, Far LMS is enough to start. If you already know you need PayPal, SCORM or live lessons, start with Tutor LMS.
Sources (checked 14 November 2026)
Competitor facts come from the official pages below. Prices are in US dollars, exclude taxes and change often, so check the vendor’s pricing page before you decide. Far LMS facts come from this website.
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