LearnWorlds vs. SamCart | Obeydul Haque

LearnWorlds is an all-in-one online course platform designed specifically for creating, marketing, and selling engaging and interactive courses. It focuses on delivering a robust learning experience with advanced course authoring tools, a drag-and-drop website builder, and built-in analytics for tracking learner progress. LearnWorlds is SCORM-compliant, making it suitable for both individual creators and large enterprises looking to deliver professional training or educational content. Its emphasis on customization, interactive elements, and white-label branding makes it a favorite for those prioritizing a polished, learner-centric experience.

SamCart, initially launched as a checkout and e-commerce solution, has evolved into a broader platform that supports selling digital and physical products, including online courses. Founded in 2014 by Brian and Scott Moran, SamCart is designed to simplify the sales process with customizable checkout pages, one-click upsells, and order bumps to maximize revenue. While it added course creation capabilities in 2021, its primary strength lies in optimizing conversions and streamlining the purchasing process for entrepreneurs, digital marketers, and small businesses.

Core Functionalities

LearnWorlds: A Learning Management System (LMS) Powerhouse

LearnWorlds is built from the ground up as a learning management system (LMS) tailored for course creators. Its core functionalities include:

Course Authoring: LearnWorlds offers a robust course builder with support for multiple content types (videos, eBooks, quizzes, assessments, and downloadable files). Its standout feature is the ability to create interactive videos by adding text, images, questions, or subtitles directly within the platform.
Website Builder: A drag-and-drop website builder allows users to create fully branded online academies with custom domains, multiple pages (e.g., homepage, blog, sales pages), and interactive widgets—no coding required.
Mobile App: LearnWorlds provides a white-label mobile app for iOS and Android, enabling students to access courses on the go with a branded experience.
Engagement Tools: Features like gamification, certificates, discussion forums, and drip-fed content enhance learner engagement and retention.
Analytics: Advanced analytics provide insights into learner progress, course performance, and sales metrics, helping creators optimize their offerings.

SamCart: Conversion-Focused E-Commerce

SamCart’s core strength lies in its e-commerce and checkout optimization tools, with course creation as a secondary feature. Its key functionalities include:

Checkout Pages: SamCart excels at creating high-converting checkout pages with customizable templates, one-click upsells, order bumps, and cart abandonment recovery to boost sales.
Course Creation: The Courses App, introduced in 2021, allows users to build courses with video, audio, text, and downloadable content. However, its course builder is less robust than LearnWorlds, with limited customization options for course layouts.
Sales Pages: SamCart supports single-page sales pages but lacks a full-fledged website builder, making it less suitable for creating comprehensive websites.
A/B Testing: Advanced A/B testing capabilities help optimize checkout and sales pages for higher conversions.
Affiliate Management: SamCart offers built-in affiliate tools to incentivize partners to promote products, with tiered commission structures.

Pricing and Plans

LearnWorlds Pricing

LearnWorlds offers four pricing tiers, with discounts for annual subscriptions:

Starter ($24/month, annually): Includes core course creation tools, a custom domain, and basic integrations. Charges a $5 transaction fee per course sale.
Pro Trainer ($79/month, annually): Adds live classes via Zoom, no transaction fees, and advanced affiliate management.
Learning Center ($249/month, annually): Includes 20 admins, advanced analytics, and premium support.
High Volume & Corporate (Custom Pricing): Tailored for enterprises with SCORM compliance and bulk course uploads.

LearnWorlds provides a 30-day free trial, allowing users to test the platform without a credit card. The transaction fee on the Starter plan can be a drawback for high-volume sellers, but higher tiers eliminate this cost.

SamCart Pricing

SamCart offers three main pricing plans, also with annual discounts:

Launch ($49/month, annually): Includes basic checkout features, templates, and course creation tools. Suitable for beginners selling digital or physical products.
Grow ($99/month, annually): Adds subscription management, upsell options, and CRM integrations for scaling businesses.
Scale ($199/month, annually): Includes advanced features like A/B testing, affiliate management, and cart abandonment recovery.

SamCart offers a 7-day free trial but does not charge transaction fees on any plan, making it more cost-effective for high-volume sales. However, its higher-tier plans are pricier than LearnWorlds’ mid-tier options.

Pricing Comparison

LearnWorlds is generally more affordable at the entry level ($24 vs. $49), but its transaction fees on the Starter plan can add up. SamCart’s lack of transaction fees and unlimited product creation make it appealing for those selling multiple products or courses. For advanced features, LearnWorlds’ Pro Trainer plan ($79) is more budget-friendly than SamCart’s Scale plan ($199), but SamCart’s checkout optimization tools may justify the cost for conversion-focused sellers.

Ease of Use

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is designed to be user-friendly, with an intuitive dashboard and drag-and-drop interfaces for course and website creation. The platform’s course builder is straightforward, allowing creators to upload content, customize layouts, and add interactive elements with ease. However, the extensive feature set can create a slight learning curve for beginners, particularly when navigating advanced tools like analytics or the mobile app builder. LearnWorlds’ help center, webinars, and 24/7 support (on higher plans) help mitigate this.

SamCart

SamCart’s interface is streamlined and beginner-friendly, especially for creating checkout pages and simple courses. The Courses App is relatively basic, resembling a text editor, which makes it easy to set up but limits customization. The platform’s focus on simplicity means it’s quicker to learn than LearnWorlds, but users needing a full website or advanced course features may find it restrictive. SamCart’s knowledge base and email support are adequate but less comprehensive than LearnWorlds’ resources.

Ease of Use Verdict

SamCart wins for simplicity, particularly for users focused on quick setup and sales. LearnWorlds, while slightly more complex, offers a richer feature set that justifies the learning curve for creators prioritizing course quality and branding.

Course Creation and Delivery

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds excels in course creation, offering a comprehensive suite of tools to build engaging and interactive courses. Key features include:

Content Variety: Supports videos, eBooks, quizzes, assessments, and SCORM/HTML5 files, with the ability to edit videos directly on the platform.
Customization: Creators can personalize course layouts, add interactive elements (e.g., pop-up questions), and use templates for eBooks and certificates.
Drip Content: Flexible drip scheduling ensures content is released on a set timeline or based on learner progress.
Learner Engagement: Gamification, discussion forums, and certificates keep students motivated.
Mobile Accessibility: The branded mobile app ensures a seamless learning experience on smartphones.

LearnWorlds’ focus on learning outcomes makes it ideal for creators who want to deliver professional, high-quality courses.

SamCart

SamCart’s course creation tools are functional but less advanced. Key features include:

Content Types: Supports video, audio, text, and downloadable files, with integration with Wistia for unlimited video hosting.
Drip Scheduling: Offers flexible drip options, including specific days of the week or days after enrollment.
Quizzes and Worksheets: Basic tools to track student progress, but less robust than LearnWorlds’ assessments.
Course Library: Allows cross-selling by showcasing other courses on student dashboards.

SamCart’s course builder is suitable for simple courses but lacks the interactivity and customization of LearnWorlds. Its focus remains on selling rather than delivering a premium learning experience.

Course Creation Verdict

LearnWorlds is the clear winner for course creation, offering more advanced tools, interactivity, and customization. SamCart is better for creators who prioritize quick setup and sales over course depth.

Marketing and Sales Tools

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds provides a robust suite of marketing tools integrated into the platform:

Website Builder: Create SEO-optimized sales pages, blogs, and landing pages with customizable templates.
Sales Funnels: Built-in funnels and pop-ups drive conversions without external tools.
Affiliate Program: Manage affiliates to promote courses, with detailed tracking and commission settings.
Email Marketing: Basic email tools integrate with third-party providers like Mailchimp or ConvertKit for advanced campaigns.
Payment Options: Supports multiple payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal) and subscription models.

While LearnWorlds’ marketing tools are comprehensive, they may not match the sophistication of dedicated marketing platforms like Kartra or ClickFunnels.

SamCart

SamCart’s marketing capabilities are centered on maximizing conversions:

Checkout Optimization: One-click upsells, order bumps, and cart abandonment recovery increase average order value.
A/B Testing: Test checkout and sales pages to optimize performance (available on higher plans).
Affiliate Management: Robust affiliate tools with tiered commissions and integration with platforms like ClickBank.
Email Integrations: Connects with email providers like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and ActiveCampaign for follow-up campaigns.
Cross-Selling: Promotes additional courses or products during checkout or on student dashboards.

SamCart’s focus on checkout optimization makes it a powerhouse for driving sales, but its lack of a full website builder limits its marketing scope compared to LearnWorlds.

Marketing Verdict

SamCart excels in checkout optimization and conversion-focused tools, making it ideal for maximizing revenue per sale. LearnWorlds offers broader marketing capabilities, including website building and funnels, which are better suited for building a comprehensive online presence.

Analytics and Reporting

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds provides detailed analytics to track both learner and business performance:

Learner Analytics: Monitor student progress, quiz results, and engagement metrics.
Course Insights: Analyze course completion rates, revenue, and sales trends.
Visualizations: State-of-the-art graphs and reports help identify areas for improvement.

These tools are particularly valuable for creators looking to optimize course content and learner outcomes.

SamCart

SamCart’s analytics focus on sales and conversions:

Sales Metrics: Track revenue, conversion rates, and average order value.
Checkout Performance: Monitor A/B test results and cart abandonment rates.
Student Progress: Basic tracking of course completion and quiz results.

SamCart’s analytics are less comprehensive than LearnWorlds’, particularly for learner engagement, but sufficient for sales-focused businesses.

Analytics Verdict

LearnWorlds offers superior analytics for course creators, with detailed learner and course insights. SamCart’s sales-focused analytics are effective but lack depth for educational purposes.

Integrations

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds integrates seamlessly with a wide range of tools:

Payment Gateways: Stripe, PayPal, and others.
Marketing Tools: Google Analytics, Zapier, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Intercom.
LMS Features: Zoom for live classes and SCORM for enterprise compliance.
WordPress: Single sign-on (SSO) plugin for WordPress sites.

These integrations make LearnWorlds highly versatile for both educational and marketing needs.

SamCart

SamCart also offers robust integrations, particularly for e-commerce:

Payment Providers: Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net.
Email Marketing: Mailchimp, Constant Contact, ActiveCampaign, and more.
Marketing Automation: Keap, Drip, and Zapier.
Membership Platforms: Thinkific, Kajabi, and OptimizePress.

SamCart’s integrations are tailored to sales and marketing, but it lacks LMS-specific integrations like SCORM.

Integrations Verdict

LearnWorlds has an edge for course creators due to its LMS-focused integrations, while SamCart’s integrations are better suited for e-commerce and marketing.

Target Audience

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is ideal for:

Course Creators: Educators, coaches, and trainers focused on delivering high-quality, interactive courses.
Enterprises: Businesses needing SCORM-compliant training platforms.
Branding-Focused Creators: Those wanting a fully branded online academy with a custom domain and mobile app.

SamCart

SamCart is best for:

Digital Marketers: Entrepreneurs prioritizing sales conversions and checkout optimization.
Small Businesses: Sellers of digital or physical products, including simple courses.
Conversion-Driven Creators: Those focused on maximizing revenue through upsells and affiliate marketing.

Pros and Cons

LearnWorlds

Pros:

Advanced course creation tools with interactive elements.
Full website builder for branded online academies.
White-label mobile app for iOS and Android.
Detailed learner and course analytics.
SCORM compliance for enterprise use.

Cons:

Transaction fees on the Starter plan.
Slight learning curve for advanced features.
Limited email marketing capabilities compared to dedicated tools.

SamCart

Pros:

No transaction fees on any plan.
High-converting checkout pages with upsells and order bumps.
Easy-to-use interface for quick setup.
Strong affiliate management tools.
Flexible drip scheduling for courses.

Cons:

Limited course creation and customization options.
No full website builder.
Higher pricing for advanced features.

Which Platform Should You Choose?

Choosing between LearnWorlds and SamCart depends on your priorities and business model:

Choose LearnWorlds if you’re focused on creating high-quality, engaging courses and building a branded online academy. Its advanced course authoring tools, website builder, mobile app, and analytics make it ideal for educators, coaches, and enterprises prioritizing learning outcomes. The platform’s affordability and SCORM compliance also make it suitable for both small creators and large organizations.
Choose SamCart if your primary goal is maximizing sales and conversions. Its checkout optimization tools, one-click upsells, and affiliate management are perfect for digital marketers and small businesses selling simple courses or other digital/physical products. However, it’s less suited for creators needing a comprehensive LMS or full website.

Conclusion

LearnWorlds and SamCart serve different niches in the online course and e-commerce space. LearnWorlds is a feature-rich LMS designed for delivering exceptional learning experiences, making it the better choice for course creators who prioritize education and branding. SamCart, with its conversion-focused tools, is ideal for entrepreneurs and marketers looking to streamline sales and boost revenue. By evaluating your goals—whether it’s creating engaging courses or optimizing sales—you can select the platform that aligns with your vision. Both offer free trials, so consider testing them to see which fits your workflow best.