With the best Tin Can API LMS platforms, you can more easily and effectively track a wide variety of critical data on users’ learning activities to gain greater insight into the effectiveness of your courses and training programs.
Tin Can API (xAPI) is the successor to the good old SCORM format (Sharable Content Object Reference Model). In many aspects, xAPI is surely a step forward since it offers a bunch of advantages over SCORM. For instance, both formats allow you to track test completion and time spent on an assignment.
However, xAPI also provides an opportunity to see in-depth test results, use your content outside of a learning management system, and switch seamlessly between various LMSs. The Tin Can API LMS features a powerful set of reporting tools that allow you to easily generate reports on user activity, course completion, test scores and overall performance. This makes it easy to identify trends in learning and assess the effectiveness of your eLearning program.
As a result, Tin Can API has proliferated within the e-Learning community recruiting more and more supporters among content authors and educators.
In the guide below, we’ve reviewed and ranked the 9 best Tin Can API Compliant Learning Management Systems based on a variety of key factors, including features, ease of use, pricing, and more.
This guide has been fully updated for 2023 to offer you the latest information so you can make an informed buying decision.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost for you, we might get a commission if you click the link and purchase.
What are the Best Tin Can API Learning Management Systems?
1. Talent LMS
Talent LMS is a cloud LMS used to train employees, customers, or students. It’s fully customizable, with granular analytics, notifications, embedded e-commerce, video conferencing, gamification, and a bunch of other features. Talent LMS supports both SCORM and Tin Can. Works smoothly on mobile devices.
Core features
- Easy-to-use, cloud-based system with no need to upgrade or back up data
- Course creation with minimal effort. You can use your presentations, videos, and other online material within the system
- Customizable. As with pretty much everywhere else, you can add a custom domain, logo and color theme
- Comprehensible analytics to track online courses and student/trainee performance
- Flexible assessment types
- Easily create guided learning paths for students
- Gamification options
- Enterprise-friendly features like branch management and Single Sign-On (unified access ID to multiple related systems). A secured encrypted channel for data transmission
Pricing and availability
TalentLMS offers a limited free plan, and also has paid plans that range from $69/month to $569/month depending on the features you need and the payment terms you choose (monthly or annual options available for all plans).
Target audience
With tailored features for enterprises and a focus on security, Talent LMS reaches out to a wide range of customers. The list on their website mentions:
- Businesses of all sizes, from large multinational enterprises to small and medium businesses
- Government agencies and non-governmental organizations
- Traditional educational bodies
- Online-based educational institutions
2. LearnDash
LearnDash is a Tin Can API Compliant LMS designed for the WordPress open-source platform. Effectively, LearnDash is a WordPress plug-in that can transform a WordPress-based website into a learning management system. This is, in fact, a combination of existing WordPress functionality and basic e-Learning course management.
Core features
- Multi-tier courses. Break up courses and training content into topics, tests, and categories
- Custom certificates and points for achievements
- Assignment management. Comment on and approve submitted assignments.
- Makes collaborative learning easy
- E-commerce tools: one-time prices, subscriptions, and shopping cart
- Lesson timers to configure time limits per class
- Convenient reports. Track user progress and quiz results
- Extended compatibility: videos, Articulate & Adobe Captivate files, images, Google Docs, etc.
- Group Management for effective user segmentation and targeting
- Email notifications for easy communication and status updates
- Works with any modern WordPress theme with no extra coding required
Pricing and availability
LearnDash offers three packages:
- Basic (1 site license, basic functionality): $199/year
- Plus (10 site licenses, more features): $399/year
- Pro (unlimited sites, full feature set): $799/year
Target audience
Apparently, the solution is intended for WordPress users only. However, the price is a real bargain and the functionality covers all e-Learning essentials. All in all, a soft option for WordPress fans.
3. Moodle
Moodle is an open-source module-based platform that lets you construct your own custom education solution and develop and manage online courses and training content.
The platform includes plugins for different kinds of content as well as collaborative tools, grading, tracking, reports, etc. Educators can use community-generated plugins for specific tasks. As a matter of fact, there is an ad hoc Tin Can plugin that ensures full compatibility with this format.
Aside from the LMS, the Moodle brand encompasses forums, wiki-based Moodle Documentation, Moodle Tracker, the course-sharing Moodle.net site, Moodle Translation portal, etc.
Moodle is one of the most feature-packed offerings on the market.
Core features
- Modern, intuitive interface for desktop and mobile devices
- Teach and learn from wherever with the mobile app
- Easily measure and monitor student progress
- Connect with third-party platforms like plagiarism detection tools, video conferencing software, and more
- Secure and open-source
- Fully customizable to fit your eLearning needs
- Personalized Dashboard to organize courses and track current tasks
- …and much more!
Pricing and availability
Moodle is a free-to-use open source system, yet you may need to pay for value-added services, such as hosting or support. Prices vary across Moodle partners in different regions, so feel free to check with your local service provider.
Target audience
Moodle is employed globally by dozens of educational institutions. A soft option since it’s usually free, easy-to-use, and can be easily customized for your specific needs in cooperation with the Moodle partner network. The solution appeals to individual educators, small and medium businesses, and non-profit organizations alike.
4. Blackboard Learn
Blackboard Learn is another popular e-Learning environment. Web-based software featuring course management, open architecture, integration with student information systems, and authentication protocols. Blackboard Learn may be installed on local servers or hosted by Blackboard ASP Solutions. One of the first LMSs to adopt xAPI, Blackboard Learn ranks high on our list.
Core features
- Easily share everything in one place
- Built-in plagiarism detection
- Integrates with the tools you use most
- Real-time insights into student performance
- Flexible assessment types
- Accessible for all
- Easy collaboration with other educators and learners
Pricing and availability
Blackboard Learn pricing starts at $9,500/year and offers variable pricing depending on institution size and requirements.
Target audience
Blackboard is definitely on the high end. Extended learning management functionality along with Blackboard Suite tools and services entail significant costs, yet Blackboard’s position on the market remains unshakable. Good fit for larger institutions with solid edu technology budgets.
5. Docebo
Docebo is another xAPI-compliant LMS, or rather an ecosystem of e-Learning features and modules delivered in the cloud. Docebo is available for global customers in 30+ languages.
Core features
- Over 400 integrations available
- Social learning experiences
- Teach and learn on the go with the mobile app
- Easy accessibility for all
- A complete solution for creating, selling, and delivering courses and training content
Pricing and availability
Docebo pricing varies depending on a variety of factors. It’s best to reach out to the company directly for a price quote.
Target audience
Docebo is a cloud-based solution that targets growing organizations that train 300+ customers, partners, and employees monthly.
6. ProProfs
Next on our list comes ProProfs Training Maker, an online course creation and learning management system. As with its competitors, educational institutions and businesses can create web-based tests, surveys, polls and comprehensive educational programs. ProProfs Training Maker works with presentations, PDFs and videos. It’s bundled with elaborate tracking features such as compliance reports. ProProfs supports courses made in third-party e-Learning tools such as Articulate, Adobe and other Tin Can-based solutions.
Core features
- Convenient training management and performance tracking: reports about individuals, groups, offices, branches, etc. Detailed statistics of completed, pending and ongoing attempts for each student/employee
- Real-time tracking of student performance
- AI-powered reporting and analytics on learning progress, performance, engagement, and more
- Centralized, secure virtual classrooms
- Easily assess training programs for ongoing improvement
Pricing and availability
ProProfs is free to try for 15 days. Plans start at $99/month billed annually ($1,182) and vary depending on the number of learners and any add-on features you might choose.
Target audience
Like most competitor solutions, ProProfs targets businesses and educational organizations. HR departments get smart administrative controls for employee training, educators get a tool for course creation with automatic grading and other thrills. Considering the affordable pricing, ProProfs seems to place a stake on the SMB segment.
7. eFront Learning
eFrontPro is an xAPI-friendly learning management system for business and educational courses that works well for both online training and blended learning. eFront Learning seems to favor the business segment and positions eFront Pro as an HR-centric tool to ensure compliance, engage the workforce and support corporate goals.
Core features
- Blended Learning. The system supports a combination of e-Learning and offline training
- Mobile optimized to deliver your courses on any device
- Gamification. Badges, points, leaderboards to keep the audience engaged
- Certifications with varying validity period and skill improvement scenarios
- Curriculums. Instructors may group courses into curriculums and maintain a consistent learning process
- Enhanced collaboration tools: internal email, calendar, forums and video conferences included
- E-commerce. Sell your courses easily
Pricing and availability
Plans start at $1,200/month billed annually.
Target audience
Budget-savvy enterprises that want to cut down on infrastructure costs are a perfect fit. The system has been built with employee training rather than educators in mind. Support for instructor-led activities is also a perk to consider.
8. Litmos
Litmos is yet another xAPI-enabled online training system. The LMS is fully extensible with an API and has been integrated with Salesforce.com, Okta and Box.com. Since 2007, Litmos has been operating in 130 countries and 22 languages.
Core features
- Embedded Course Builder. Content creation tools supporting multiple formats
- Assessment & Quizzes to review knowledge transfer and student performance
- Survey & Feedback. Glean feedback from students with an embedded survey tool
- Reports & Dashboards. Review learner performance and gain insight into training impact
- Instructional Led Training (ILT). Schedule online or offline classroom trainings
- E-commerce. Monetize your courses with built-in e-commerce features or use Litmos’s Shopify integration
- Gamification. Motivate users with awarded achievements (points, badges, etc.)
- Messages & Notifications. Ample notification system with reminders and messaging
- Certifications. Issue completion and learner achievement certificates
- Learning Paths. Put together multiple courses in a logical sequence to create a curriculum plan
Pricing and availability
Litmos comes with a standard 14-day free trial. The paid options are custom-priced based on your needs, so you’ll need to request a quote.
Target audience
Litmos claims to have tailored its solutions for industry-specific challenges. The Litmos products focus on accessibility, security, and scalability and apply in a wide range of verticals. Digital marketing, education, energy, engineering, finance, healthcare, legal, non-profit, retail – just to name a few.
9. Absorb LMS
Last but not least, Absorb LMS concludes our round-up of Tin Can-ready learning management systems. Feature-packed, scalable and visually attractive, Absorb runs neck and neck with the most sophisticated competitor products.
Core features
- Mobile learning made easy. Accessible on all modern mobile devices
- Highly scalable. Absorb claims to support gargantuan user bases of up to 350,000 learners within a single institution
- Branding & Integrations. A customizable product that lets you follow your style guidelines, modify the language of system prompts, reflect your organizational culture and more
- Complete software-as-a-service solution with no infrastructure hassles
- Course creation tools as well as quiz, exam, and survey features
- Web content such as YouTube videos can be embedded into courses
- Manages instructor-led training (ILT), supports popular platforms such as Adobe Connect
- Provides students with a course curriculum consisting of self-learning and instructor-led events
- Includes a content repository, allowing you to upload or insert any documents or relevant resources
- Integrated with Citrix GoToMeeting/GoToWebinar, Cisco WebEx, etc.
Pricing and availability
Plans start at $1,250 per month with an extra $4,000 in one-time setup fees. In addition, many Absorb customers opt for the Mercury Module, a $425/month add-on that allows you to create billboards, release news/polls/surveys, manage leaderboards, and so forth.
Target audience
Absorb LMS is not labeled for any particular business size or industry, however, mid-to-large-size firms appear to fall in the right category. Whereas businesses with under 2,000 still comprise the majority of Absorb’s customers, the company has been making inroads into the Fortune 1000 market.
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A Final Word on Tin Can API LMS Platforms
As you can see, this brief review touches upon the cream of the crop. We are mostly talking sophisticated feature-packed LMSs that stay on the cutting edge. Bringing together these different solutions, the Tin Can format enables:
- E-learning outside of a web browser
- E-learning in native mobile apps
- Platform transition (start on a mobile device, finish it on a PC)
- Tracking games and simulations
- Tracking real-life performance
These are basically the prerequisites for a high-end LMS, and areas where SCORM falls behind. My lifespan forecast for SCORM is somewhere between 2 to 5 years from now, whereas Tin Can seems to lead the game and yield an increasing number of integrations. Let’s keep watching the scene for new performers and technologies as enterprises and educational institutions augment their stock of knowledge.
Have any questions about our guide to the best Tin Can API Compliant LMS platforms? Let us know by commenting below.
