10 Best Self-Hosted Learning Management Systems (LMS) for 2025

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

10 Best Self-Hosted Learning Management Systems (LMS) for 2025 Table of Contents

1. Learning Management Systems Statistics 2. Learning Management Systems Trends 3. Evaluating LMS Customizability and Open-Source Alternatives

List of LMS Software

Learning Management Systems Statistics

We are now in an age of a global society where everything is accessible remotely, including the best possible education. Forty-six percent of tertiary institutions in the United States offered distance learning to foreign students in 2020. To help them deliver their curricula over the internet, 75% of colleges and universities have purchased or are preparing to buy education technology like learning management systems (LMS) (Vlasova, 2022).

Since 2020, demand for LMS has surged. Institutions are grappling to meet the expectations of remote and foreign students to have a smooth online learning experience. But what is a learning management system, really? What makes a good LMS? What are the top options? This article looks at the leading LMS for schools and what makes them the preeminent solutions.

Learning management systems are not a new technology. An electronic learning management system was first introduced in the late 1990s. Although at the time, people did not refer to them as LMS. Instead, users knew them as learning platforms, course management systems, and instructional management systems.

The adoption of educational technology has been gradual. And it was only during and after the COVID-19 pandemic that demand ballooned to greater heights.

LMS Industry Statistics

The LMS market size 2027 is expected to reach $21.1 billion (Research and Markets, 2023).
The industry’s estimated value at the end of 2022 was $8.1 billion (Research and Markets, 2023).
Venture Capital investments in EdTech grew to $16.1 billion in 2020 (Holon IQ, 2021).
In comparison, investments in EdTech in 2010 were $500 million (Holon IQ, 2021).
This means that EdTech VC grew three times since 2010 (Holon IQ, 2021).
China beat the United States in EdTech VC funding, as the former put in $27.8 billion while the latter put in $13 billion from 2010 to 2020 (Holon IQ, 2021).
34% of United States and Canadian institutions use Canvas (Hill, 2022).
Moodle has a 21% market share in North America (Hill, 2022).
20% of North American educational institutions utilize Blackboard (Hill, 2022).
D2L is being used in 14% of U.S. and Canadian institutions (Hill, 2022).

LMS Adoption & Distance Learning Statistics

30% of global acquisition for learning management systems is by tech companies (Pangea, 2020).
42% of U.S. organizations report an increase in their earnings after implementing e-learning (Pangea, 2020).
Only 6% of K-12 educators say that their district does not use an LMS.
Latest statistics on learning management systems also show that 85% of teachers use digital learning tools to provide students with additional learning exercises.
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), Liberty University, Western Governors University (WGU), and Grand Canyon University (GCU), the four largest online education providers, increased their total enrollment by 11% on average (Diaz-Infante, et al., 2022).
Around 11.8 million students enrolled in at least one distance learning course in fall 2020 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022).
Meanwhile, 7 million undergraduate students enrolled in distance education courses exclusively in the same period (NCES, 2022).
The number of students enrolled in remote learning courses in 2020 (7 million) was 186% higher than in 2019 (2.4 million) (NCES, 2022).
2.3 million graduate students were enrolled full-time for an online degree in 2020 (Diaz-Infante, et al., 2022).
12 million undergraduate students were enrolled full-time for an online degree in 2020 (Diaz-Infante, et al., 2022).

Hurdles to Distance Learning Adoption

Though 90% of the global student population learned remotely because of COVID-19 lockdowns and movement restrictions, the transition to online learning was not without challenges.

463 million schoolchildren could not be reached by digital and broadcast remote learning programs enacted due to school closures (UNICEF, 2020).
Only 49% of schoolchildren in Eastern and Southern Africa could not be reached by digital and broadcast learning programs in their countries (UNICEF, 2020).
22.5% of U.S. households are without broadband internet access (McNally, 2021).
265,331 still use dial-up Internet at home (McNally, 2021).
Globally, only 55% have an Internet connection (Broom, 2020).
Only 36% of residents of lower-middle-income countries have access to the Internet (Vegas, 2020).
In 2022, there are approximately 5.3 billion people, or 66% of the global population, who are using the Internet (International Telecommunication Union, 2023).

Learning Management Systems Trends

Generative AI—this is the latest tech trend that is sweeping the world today. ChatGPT, OpenAI’s language model, was the first to take the world by storm. Now, it has invaded many niches, including education. It has, in fact, caused a headache for educators as they face the challenge of identifying which papers were written by the students themselves and which ones were written by AI. So, what does this have to do with LMS?

Generative AI

Generative AI does not have to be a complete bane for educators. It can also be a boon when harnessed well. Especially in LMS, it can be quite useful. For one, developers can integrate it to enable instructors to provide personalized feedback and guidance to students. Software can harness the power of generative AI in generating adaptive quizzes and assessments that match students’ levels and interests.

Further, developers can employ generative AI to produce high-quality learning materials. They can make them diverse and fascinating and turn them into various media like images, videos, infographics, and interactive modules (Clemons, 2023).

Connectivity with Other Systems

Nowadays, organizations are taking a holistic approach to learning. This means they demand learning management systems that can do more than just house courses and perform tasks like reporting and calculating passing rates. What organizations are looking for now, are integrated systems that can distill information from multiple sources. Additionally, they are looking for the inclusion of performance development, career maps, skill journeys, and the like in a new-generation LMS (Lowenthal, 2021).

Some learning management systems already do this on some scale, as it has become one of the integral features of LMS.

Badges and Gamification

Gamification is known to improve students’ performance. In fact, one study showed that students improved their performance by 89.45% with gamified lessons compared to lecture-based education (Verma, 2023).

This trend has been around for a while, but it continues to be relevant. Developers and educators continue to find ways to make lessons more interesting to learners. The simplest way to do so is to give out badges for completing a lesson. This can motivate learners to move on to the next lesson or to try the lesson again in case they did not get the badge they wanted. LMS examples that follow have this gamification feature for student engagement.

Evaluating LMS Customizability and Open-Source Alternatives

Selecting the right Learning Management System (LMS) requires institutions and organizations to think beyond just the surface-level features. A crucial yet often overlooked factor is how customizable the platform is and whether open-source solutions could provide a better fit for unique requirements. Customizability ensures that the LMS can grow with your needs, incorporating new tools, integrating with existing systems, and adapting to various learning methodologies or compliance demands. This is particularly important in industries with specific regulations or educational institutions with distinct curriculum structures.

Open-source LMS platforms like Moodle or ATutor often lead the pack in customizability. They empower administrators with the flexibility to modify code, leverage community-driven extensions, and tailor the user experience to exact specifications. While proprietary software might lock you into predefined functionalities that may not fully suit your needs, open-source models allow freedom of innovation without significant additional costs.

Furthermore, for organizations debating whether to choose a paid or open-source LMS, the question often comes down to budget constraints and IT capabilities. Open-source platforms typically require an in-house technical team to set up, manage, and maintain the system, but they can drastically cut licensing expenses and adapt seamlessly to niche organizational requirements. If these pros align with your institution's goals, exploring the best open source LMS platform options could result in a more tailored and cost-effective solution.

Ultimately, the value of customizability and open-source flexibility transcends mere usability or gamification; it opens doors to continuous improvement in teaching and learning efficiency. Schools, corporate entities, or enterprises navigating industry-specific needs should weigh these factors carefully during their LMS evaluation process.

How Can Integrated Communication Tools Enhance LMS Solutions?

Modern LMS platforms benefit from integrating advanced communication tools that facilitate real‐time learner–instructor interactions and collaborative engagements. Seamless integration with voice, video, and text applications can enhance responsiveness and support across digital learning environments. For instance, incorporating reliable solutions such as VoIP solutions ensures clear, uninterrupted audio communication, which is pivotal for virtual classes and remote training. This integration not only streamlines support and feedback mechanisms but also reinforces community building within the platform, contributing to an overall enriched learning experience.

The Deciding Factor

There is an increasing demand for e-learning systems because of the sudden pivot towards online distance learning. While the concept and technologies have been around for decades, this demand has only been driven further because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adoption has accelerated as well, which is both a boon and a bane. It is beneficial because it means students outside of a school’s borders can access high-quality education. But it is also a kind of a curse because institutions were thrust into decisions they were not fully ready for.

This means institutions may not have ended up with the best learning management system for them. There are plenty of considerations when choosing a solution because so much time, money, and effort are put into implementing them that administrators may not want to change them even if they were counterproductive. In that case, organizations and schools may be missing out on features that could help learners and instructors alike.

Organizations must assess their needs and requirements carefully and make sure that their learning management systems can handle those. If they have one implemented currently, they must reevaluate that against their technical requirements and budget. Moreover, institutions must take time to conduct learning management system comparison to find which one works best. Of course, teachers and students themselves need to be in on the learning management systems review, too. As for the corporate setting, where LMS helps in onboarding and training, companies must be sure to use employee onboarding best practices.

Key Insights

Surge in LMS Demand: The demand for Learning Management Systems (LMS) has significantly increased since 2020, driven by the need to meet the expectations of remote and international students for seamless online learning experiences.
Market Growth: The LMS market is projected to reach $21.1 billion by 2027, up from an estimated $8.1 billion in 2022, reflecting a rapid adoption of educational technology.
EdTech Investments: Venture capital investments in EdTech have grown substantially, from $500 million in 2010 to $16.1 billion in 2020, with China leading the way at $27.8 billion compared to the U.S. at $13 billion.
LMS Adoption in North America: LMS usage is widespread, with 34% of U.S. and Canadian institutions using Canvas, 21% using Moodle, 20% using Blackboard, and 14% using D2L.
Remote Learning Trends: The number of students enrolled in at least one distance learning course rose to 11.8 million in 2020, a 186% increase from 2019.
Global Accessibility Challenges: Despite the rise in online learning, significant challenges remain, such as limited internet access, with 22.5% of U.S. households lacking broadband and only 55% of the global population having internet connectivity.
Emerging LMS Trends: Key trends include the integration of generative AI for personalized feedback and adaptive assessments, enhanced connectivity with other systems for holistic learning, and the continued use of gamification to improve student engagement and performance.

FAQ

What is a Learning Management System (LMS)? A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software platform designed to deliver, manage, and track educational courses and training programs. It facilitates the administration, documentation, reporting, and delivery of educational content.
Why has the demand for LMS surged since 2020? The demand for LMS has surged due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated a rapid transition to online learning. Institutions needed to provide a smooth and effective online learning experience for remote and international students, driving the adoption of LMS platforms.
What is the projected growth of the LMS market? The LMS market is projected to grow from an estimated value of $8.1 billion in 2022 to $21.1 billion by 2027, reflecting a significant increase in the adoption of educational technology.
How has EdTech investment changed over the years? EdTech investment has grown dramatically from $500 million in 2010 to $16.1 billion in 2020. China has been a significant contributor, investing $27.8 billion compared to the U.S.'s $13 billion from 2010 to 2020.
Which LMS platforms are most commonly used in North America? In North America, 34% of institutions use Canvas, 21% use Moodle, 20% use Blackboard, and 14% use D2L for their LMS needs.
What are some challenges in adopting distance learning globally? Major challenges include limited internet access, with 22.5% of U.S. households lacking broadband and only 55% of the global population having internet connectivity. Additionally, 463 million schoolchildren globally could not be reached by digital or broadcast remote learning programs during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
What are some emerging trends in the LMS market? Emerging trends include the integration of generative AI for personalized feedback and adaptive assessments, enhanced connectivity with other systems for a holistic approach to learning, and the use of gamification to improve student engagement and performance.
How does generative AI benefit LMS platforms? Generative AI can benefit LMS platforms by enabling personalized feedback and guidance for students, creating adaptive quizzes and assessments, and producing diverse and high-quality learning materials in various media formats.
What role does gamification play in LMS platforms? Gamification in LMS platforms involves incorporating game-like elements such as badges, points, and leaderboards to enhance learner engagement and motivation. It has been shown to significantly improve student performance and learning outcomes.
How can organizations ensure they choose the right LMS? Organizations should assess their specific needs and requirements, compare different LMS platforms based on their features and capabilities, involve teachers and students in the decision-making process, and consider factors such as budget, technical requirements, and ease of use.

References:

Broom, D. (2020, April 22). Coronavirus has exposed the digital divide like never before. Retrieved from World Economic Forum.
Clemons, A. (2023, April 3). Leveraging generative AI in eLearning development. Retrieved from eLearning Industry.
Education Intelligence Unit. (2023, May 19). $16.1B of global EdTech venture capital in 2020. Retrieved from HolonIQ.
Hill, P. (2022, February 1). State of higher ed LMS market for US and Canada: Year-end 2021 edition. Retrieved from Phil Hill & Associates.
International Telecommunication Union. (2023). Statistics. Retrieved from ITU.
McNally, C. (2021, August 17). Nearly 1 in 4 households don’t have internet—and a quarter million still use dial-up. Retrieved from Reviews.org.
Pangea, A. (2020, January 20). Top learning management system (LMS) statistics for 2020 you need to know. Retrieved from e-Learning Infographics.
Raj, N. (2023, February 10). LMS trends in 2023. Retrieved from eLearning Industry.
Research and Markets. (2023, March 17). Global corporate learning management system (LMS) market report 2022: Growing demand for blended learning and adoption of cloud-based corporate learning management system solutions to drive sector. Retrieved from GlobeNewswire News Room.
Vegas, E. (2020, April 14). School closures, government responses, and learning inequality around the world during COVID-19. Retrieved from Brookings.

AUG 6, 2025

10 Best Self-Hosted Learning Management Systems (LMS) for 2025

List of LMS Software

TalentLMS

iSpring Learn LMS

SkyPrep

Absorb LMS

360 Learning

eFront

Connecteam

iSpring Suite

TalentCards

LearnWorlds

GoSkills LMS

LearnDash

BrainCert

Gurucan

Chamilo

Groundwork1

Amploo

Blackboard

Domestika

NEO LMS

Workleap LMS