Your members complete courses but can't apply lessons because there's no one to discuss implementation with, engagement drops after events, and data showing who's active lives in disconnected systems.
The pain points are clear:
A platform that combines learning, community, and data insights solves these issues, ensuring both you and your members get tangible value through always-on engagement.
In this article, we'll explore the top LMS platforms to help you deliver personalized experiences and build communities where learning never stops.
Let’s start with a quick list of the top platforms we'll compare:
Forj
MapleLMS
Path LMS
Crowd Wisdom
Elevate LMS
We'll cover each in detail later in this guide.
A learning management system is essential for delivering consistent, scalable professional development across all your learner segments.
Your association can use an LMS to host courses, assign certifications, and measure completion rates. You can also use it to provide ongoing professional development that keeps members engaged throughout the year.
Here's why a good LMS matters for your association or professional network:
Every member expects experiences that match their schedules and preferences rather than rigid systems that force them through a restricted learning pathway.
When evaluating platforms, you’ll want to focus on features that drive engagement, including:
Here’s a closer look at the best LMS solutions to consider:
We built Forj specifically for associations and professional networks that understand learning doesn't happen in isolation from community and strategic decision-making.
Our platform brings together the following essential elements:
Here are the core features that make combining these elements possible:
Book a demo today to see how Forj transforms learning for associations and professional networks.
MapleLMS is a simple learning management system with course delivery and basic tracking.
Users can rely on the LMS for essential features such as course creation, progress tracking, and certificate management with minimal complexity.
Organizations choose Maple when they need functional learning without extensive setup, and the vendor provides decent support for technical questions.
The analytics focus on completion rates rather than behavioral insights that predict retention, and you won't find highly personalized learning paths that adapt to individual member journeys.
Path LMS positions itself as a flexible learning platform that supports on-demand continuing education and live event-based learning programs.
Path LMS integrates with association management systems, so you can connect learning records with membership data if your technical team can handle the setup.
The main challenge is that reporting and automation features can be limited. Some users also report problems when they try to copy courses.
Community engagement happens elsewhere since Path LMS focuses mainly on learning, which means members experience learning and networking as separate, disconnected activities.
Crowd Wisdom serves associations and professional organizations by providing personalized learning paths through its recommendation engine, which guides learners toward certifications and career development goals.
Organizations use it to create topic-based discussion spaces where professionals share insights and answer questions.
The vendor targets professional networks and communities of practice, so they understand how members want to connect with peers.
You can organize discussions by interest areas, and the platform makes it easy for members to find relevant conversations.
But the platform lacks behavioral analytics that predict retention or identify at-risk members, and you won't get personalized recommendations based on individual interests or career stage.
Elevate LMS serves associations with course management and event registration tools for online learning.
The platform includes continuing education tracking and basic reporting on enrollments and completions.
Organizations appreciate that Elevate understands association workflows, and the system manages pre-recorded courses and live webinar registrations in one place.
Like MapleLMS and Crowd Wisdom, Elevate lacks sophisticated analytics. You can’t see which experiences drive retention or get adaptive learning paths that evolve based on individual member behavior.
The platform you choose impacts engagement, retention, and revenue for years, so choosing the right LMS requires looking beyond feature checklists.
Here's what you need to do to choose the right one:
Let’s discuss a few questions that come up often when associations evaluate learning platforms:
The four main types of LMS systems include:
Each type requires you to balance flexibility, control, cost, and technical demands.
Modern LMS software systems are typically built with responsive design, though the experience varies. Some platforms offer full app functionality, while others provide mobile-responsive websites.
You can test the actual experience yourself, because members increasingly expect to learn during commutes and breaks.
The recognition of LMS certifications depends on the credentialing organization, not the platform. Your association controls certification legitimacy based on reputation and program rigor.
The LMS delivers content and tracks completion.
The key issue is to work with a partner-vendor that understands association credentialing needs.
You’ll want to select the best learning management system that can transform how your association engages members.
What separates good platforms from transformative ones is their ability to connect learning to relationships that reinforce knowledge.
At Forj, we unify community, personalize learning, and offer behavioral insights. We treat learning as part of the professional development journey.
Our platform combines Forj Learn for flexible learning paths, Forj Connect for peer collaboration, Forj Analyze for strategic insights, and Journey by Forj to integrate every touchpoint.
If you're looking to transform engagement rather than just delivering courses, schedule a call with our team, and let’s transform your members’ learning journeys together.