Learning Content Management System: Guide, Differences, Best Software

The eLearning market is witnessing a continuous and remarkable growth of emerging technologies and trends that are transforming the future of corporate training. 

From tools powered by artificial intelligence to gamification and collaborative learning, the learning and development market is expanding, as are the possibilities of the platforms L&D teams are leveraging for course authoring and management.

One of these solutions is the learning content management system (LCMS), designed to help you and your team create and curate your eLearning experiences.

So, let’s go over what a learning content management system is, outline how it differs from a learning management system, and provide a list of ten effective learning platforms that can enhance your course management and overall learning strategy. 

First, we’ll dig into what makes a good learning content management system and the key features to look out for.

What is a learning content management system (LCMS)?

A learning content management system is a platform that gives learning and development teams the ability to create and share eLearning and training content online.

LCMSs are the go-to tools for course authoring, commonly utilized by L&D professionals to develop training courses, reuse course materials, and oversee the entire learning content lifecycle. 

Key features of an LCMS that you should be on the lookout for include:

• Drag-and-drop content creation: Empowers content creators to easily design training content by dragging-and-dropping elements, such as quizzes.
• Multi-format integrations: Compatibility with the common instructional design and course content formats, such as SCORM, PDFs, xAPI, etc.
• Collaborative authoring: Empowers various teams across the organization to work on course creation simultaneously in real-time, including subject-matter experts.
• Templates: Pre-built templates like quizzes and drag-and-drop elements empower teams to easily create eLearning courses, learning paths, and training programs.
• Gamification: Elements designed to boost the learning experience and employee engagement, including elements such as leaderboards, certifications, and badges.
• Responsive design: The authoring tool enables you to ensure that learning materials and user experience elements like dashboards are optimized and accessible on all devices, including mobile devices. 

You might be looking at these features and thinking that learning management systems offer most of these nowadays. So, what are the differences between an LMS and an LCMS?

What is the difference between an LCMS and an LMS?

These days, distinguishing between a learning content management system and a learning management system can be tricky.

An LCMS is used for content creation and management, and an LMS focuses on handling the administrative aspects of L&D, such as tracking and reporting the learning process.

Suppose you've been exploring the learning platform market recently. In that case, you may have observed that most modern and competitive LMSs incorporate the essential features of LCMS solutions to meet the needs and goals of learning and development teams worldwide.

Keeping this in mind, let's examine some of the leading LCMS or LMS platforms that come with essential LCMS features, which can assist you in executing your learning strategy and achieving your organization's business objectives.

Top 10 learning content management systems in 2023

1. 360Learning

360Learning is an all-in-one learning platform combining the features of an LMS, LXP, and collaborative learning Academies into a powerful tool that helps organizations leverage internal experts to share knowledge and scale training.

The platform supports integrations with content, HCM, workflow, and e-commerce partners to enhance your learning and development practice. With 360Learning's AI-powered authoring tool, you can automatically transform existing knowledge files into engaging training content and deliver complete courses in just a few clicks. Faster and smarter content creation helps you greater support critical use cases such as onboarding and compliance, and to upskill your employees to boost business performance.

Create custom quizzes with speed using the AI-powered question generator, which suggests relevant questions based on your course content. With 360Learning’s eCommerce functionality, L&D teams can also market and sell training courses to their clients and customers.

The co-authoring tool also enables you to upskill your workforce at scale by tapping into the expertise of your in-house subject-matter experts. You can also enhance learner engagement and collaboration by leveraging gamification and social learning features such as forums and peer-to-peer feedback in your training courses.

Request a live demo here to see how 360Learning’s platform can increase the impact of your L&D initiatives, while reducing the busywork.

2. SkyPrep

SkyPrep simplifies and improves online training for businesses, eliminating manual tasks and providing a smarter way to train your learners.

The Studio feature is a user-friendly content authoring tool that allows you to integrate your course content with SkyPrep’s LMS or export your training materials as SCORM to other platforms.

You can also leverage interactive learning, such as quizzes and hotspots, and use SkyPrep’s API for full integrations with Unsplash and Youtube. The course authoring also includes optimization and responsive design for any device for blended and mobile learning. 

3. Litmos

Litmos is a cloud-based learning management system with LCMS functionality that aims to streamline and enhance online learning for organizations.

You can ramp up your learner engagement by leveraging functionalities such as video assessments, gamification, and leaderboards. The content authoring tool includes SCORM integration, and you can also design personalized learning paths.

With the eCommerce feature, you can monetize your eLearning content quickly through their dynamic Shopify integration or by leveraging pre-packaged features.

4. TalentLMS

TalentLMS is a training solution that offers a range of features to improve the training experience, including course creation, analytics, and integrations with different tools.

First, the course creation functionality means you can upload SCORM or xAPI formatted eLearning content while empowering you to design new courses from the ground up or redeploy training materials you’ve used before. 

The user-friendly interface means that you can drag and drop a wide range of media to your online courses, such as videos, and use quizzes and surveys to assess the impact of your training programs and increase employee retention. TalentLMS functionality also includes the ability to create custom certifications for all your compliance training efforts.

5. Absorb

Absorb is an LMS that offers user-friendly features for managing users and creating interactive courses.

Their course creation feature allows you to design impactful eLearning courses and track learner progress through checklists and assessments. You can also market your training materials through the eCommerce feature. 

An engagement functionality also leverages formats like video and webinars and elements such as certificates and badges that learners can upload onto social platforms. And your learners can take your training programs wherever they are with the Absorb Learn mobile app, ramping up your blended learning strategies. 

6. Docebo

Docebo is a learning platform offering various LCMS features to create engaging and effective eLearning content.

With Docebo, you can easily leverage platform functionalities, including automation, eCommerce, and certifications to support your growing L&D initiatives.

Their AI-based learning technologies help you design impactful and personalized learning activities ranging from modules to learning paths. 

And to obtain accurate metrics and plan future learning strategies, you can utilize survey features incorporating advanced elements to engage employees effectively.

7. Auzmor

Auzmor is an LMS with LCMS functionality designed so you can easily launch, track, and report on any training from one location, accessible from any device.

To start, it offers a feature that allows you to involve your in-house specialists in the course management process easily. They can provide feedback throughout the entire process in a fast and efficient manner.

You can also deploy widgets and gamification elements with access to more than seven forms of quizzes and assessments. This can be part of a blended learning approach, including personalizing course materials and learning paths. 

8. Freestone

Freestone LMS is designed to deliver live webinars and on-demand courses as part of course management and a complete learning process.

Designed for a technology and mobile learning-focused process, Freestone empowers you to quickly develop your eLearning courses through turnkey webinars, webcasts, and on-demand streaming content.

When it comes to compliance, you can design and implement compliance training, which can include certification programs. At the same time, interactivity tools let you measure learner metrics such as participation and real-time polling to ensure your learning activities have an impact.

9. CoreAchieve

CoreAchieve is known for its easy-to-use interface and impactful training modules.

They make it easy to create and curate training programs from the ground up, adding elements such as course completion metrics or quizzes. 

The platform comes with SCORM support for both importing and exporting learning materials. Using templates, you can personalize your training materials to meet the specific needs of each learner, and you can deploy customized certifications to demonstrate the completion of compliance training.

10. iSpring Suite

iSpring Suite is a feature of the iSpring LMS specifically designed for course authoring. 

First, you can use iSpring Suite in PowerPoint and convert your presentations into eLearning content like SCORM, which is ready for mobile devices and can be implemented straight into the learner’s workflow. 

Because these courses are SCORM, xAPI, and cmi5 compliant, you can use them in any modern LMS, and they will have a highly responsive design for any device, ranging from desktops to smartphones. 

Using the templates provided by iSpring Suite, you can create quizzes at a pace for increasing employee engagement and ramping up the impact of your course authoring and management efforts. 

Which LCMS is right for you?

As we wrap up, the LCMS solution that works best for your company will depend on the specific business goals your learning strategy aims to achieve.

As you explore your options, look for a platform with various features not restricted to LMSs and LCMSs. Whether your efforts focus on blended learning or online learning, we recommend a collaborative approach with social learning features so you and your team can make the biggest impact. 

Also, check out and compare pricing plans, as every platform has different options and subscription tiers–and you want to choose the provider that best suits your organization’s budget and L&D needs.