💰 LMS Pricing Research
Comprehensive analysis of LMS pricing models across course platforms, K-12 systems, and enterprise solutions.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Key Insights
Course platforms charge $29-$499/mo flat fee + transaction fees (0-10%).
K-12 SIS systems typically charge $3-15 per student/year (quote-based).
Enterprise LMS ranges from $4-15 per user/month.
Our sweet spot: Flat monthly fee ($199-699) with no per-student pricing = competitive advantage for growing schools.
Course Creator Platforms
Online course platforms for individual creators and small businesses.
| Platform | Entry Tier | Mid Tier | Top Tier | Transaction Fee | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | $39/mo 1 product, 100 students |
$89/mo 5 products, 1000 students |
$399/mo 100 products, 5000 students |
7.5% → 0% | iOS/Android apps, AI course creation, tax handling |
| Kajabi | $143/mo 5 products, 2,500 contacts |
$199/mo 50 products, 25K contacts |
$399/mo Unlimited products, 100K contacts |
2.9% + $0.30 | All-in-one (email, funnels, website), branded mobile app ($199 value) |
| LearnWorlds | $24/mo Unlimited courses, 3 pages |
$79/mo + memberships, 5 admins |
$249/mo + API, SSO, 25 admins |
$5/sale → 0% | Interactive videos, AI translations, SCORM support |
| Podia | $39/mo Unlimited products |
$89/mo + affiliates, PayPal |
No higher tier | 5% → 0% | Simple pricing, includes email marketing free |
| Skool | $9/mo Unlimited members |
$99/mo + analytics, custom URL |
No higher tier | 10% → 2.9% | Community-first, gamification, lowest transaction fees |
| Circle | $89/mo Unlimited members |
$199/mo + workflows, API |
Custom + AI agents, SSO, branded apps |
7% standard | Community platform with courses, events, live rooms |
K-12 School Information Systems
Enterprise school management systems. Most require custom quotes.
Canvas LMS
- Industry standard LMS
- Mobile apps included
- Mastery-based grading
- Extensive integrations
Est. $4-8 per student/year for K-12
Schoology
- K-12 focused
- Parent engagement tools
- Standards-based gradebook
- Assessment tools
Est. $3-6 per student/year
Alma SIS
- Modern, clean interface
- Private school focused
- Admissions & enrollment
- Fee management
Est. $10-20 per student/year
Gradelink
- Private/parochial focus
- Easy to use
- Basic gradebook
- Parent portal
Est. $3-5 per student/year
Veracross
- Full-suite SIS
- Advancement/fundraising
- Business office tools
- 35+ countries
Est. $15-30 per student/year
Blackbaud
- Full nonprofit suite
- Tuition management
- Donor management
- Financial aid
Est. $20-40 per student/year
Enterprise / Workplace LMS
Corporate training and employee development platforms.
| Platform | Pricing Model | Starting Price | Target Market | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 360Learning | Per registered user/month | $8/user/mo Up to 100 users |
SMB to Enterprise | Collaborative learning, peer-created content |
| Absorb LMS | Quote-based (per user) | Contact sales | Mid-market to Enterprise | eCommerce, compliance, reporting |
| Moodle Workplace | Quote-based or self-hosted free | Free (self-hosted) Cloud: $80-500/mo |
Any size | Open source, highly customizable, plugins |
| D2L Brightspace | Quote-based (per user/student) | Contact sales | K-12, Higher Ed, Corporate | Accessibility focus, adaptive learning |
| TalentLMS | Per user/month with tiers | $89/mo Up to 40 users |
SMB | Simple setup, gamification, videoconferencing |
Pricing Model Analysis
Common Pricing Models
| Model | Pros | Cons | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Monthly | Predictable, scales well | May overpay if small | Teachable, Kajabi |
| Per Student | Scales with school size | Punishes growth | Canvas, Alma, Veracross |
| Transaction Fee | Low barrier to start | Expensive at scale | Skool, Podia |
| Tiered Features | Pay for what you need | Upsell pressure | Most platforms |
Classica Competitive Position
Flat monthly pricing ($199-699) with no per-student fees means schools don't get penalized for growing.
| School Size | Per-Student ($10/yr) | Classica Growth ($399/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 students | $500/year | $4,788/year |
| 150 students | $1,500/year | $4,788/year |
| 300 students | $3,000/year | $4,788/year |
| 500 students | $5,000/year | $4,788/year ✓ |
Break-even at ~480 students. Classica becomes more cost-effective as schools grow.
Feature Tiers (Industry Standard)
What's Typically Included at Each Tier
STARTER ($99-199/mo)
- Basic LMS/Gradebook
- Limited students/courses
- Email support
- Standard branding
- Basic reporting
GROWTH ($299-499/mo)
- Full LMS features
- Custom branding
- Priority support
- Advanced reporting
- Integrations
- Multiple admins
ENTERPRISE ($500+/mo)
- Unlimited everything
- SSO/SAML
- API access
- Dedicated support
- Custom development
- SLA guarantees
- White-glove onboarding
Recommendations for Classica
Recommended Pricing Strategy
Up to 100 students, core features, email support. For new/small schools.
Up to 300 students, full features, priority support, custom branding. Most popular.
Unlimited students, API, multi-campus, dedicated manager. For large schools.
Key Differentiators to Emphasize
- No per-student pricing — Don't punish growth
- Built for classical education — Trivium-organized, not generic
- Beautiful design — Not another ugly enterprise tool
- Privacy-first — FERPA compliant, isolated data, no Big Tech
- Flat monthly fee — Predictable budgeting for schools
- Free migration — We handle the data import