Types of learning management systems

There  are  many  LMSs  available  depending  on  your needs and budget. There are even free systems such as open source software that by definition are 'open' i.e. the source  code  is  freely  available  for  you  to  use  and  to adapt to your own needs. Many users of open source software  will make  improvements  or  use  add-ons  for their own needs, and then put it back out into the community for others to use. Open source LMSs  can grow  rapidly  if  they  get  enough  interest  and  input. While you may not get any official support for an open source LMS, there will usually be a strong community base online with forums or email lists where you can ask for and offer help.

Of course there are also commercial LMSs. If you're paying  for  an  LMS  then  you'll  get  a  more  robust product, you're also likely to get good documentation and you'll probably have a good level of support as well. A commercial product may be more stable and bug-free than a free version, but of course there are always exceptions to that rule so it's a good idea to read reviews of various LMSs before you make your choice. Check out the features to ensure that everything you need is included.

You'll also need to consider whether to use a deployed solution or a hosted system. A deployed solution system will generally be set up on computers within your premises and behind your firewall. A deployed solution (or Internal System) may incur extra costs as the setting up of the system is likely to be done in-house rather than remotely. An installed system may also require more maintenance and support than you're able to provide unless you have a dedicated IT team ready to support it. It is vital your system stays up and running so before you choose this option make sure you have people with the relevant skills available who will be willing to fix problems as soon as they occur.

With a hosted or SaaS (Software as a Service) LMS a lot of the work is taken off your hands, the system runs on someone else's server so you don't have to worry about server load or maintenance. The system will be set up by your provider and they should also take care of backups, or at least offer you a simple interface to schedule your own backups. A hosted service is normally up and running   as   soon   as   it’s   ordered   since   the   service provider will be used to the procedure. In some cases it can even done automatically by the system upon electronic request. They'll also be able to implement any updates and fixes remotely for you.

A deployed solution will have a greater initial cost as you'll have the software and installation to pay for, but it may  be  more  cost  effective  in  the  long  run.  With  a hosted  system  you'll  have  less  to  pay  initially,  no software purchase costs, no installation fees and limited technical problems but over the years you may end up paying  out  more  than  if  you'd  opted  for  an  installed LMS.

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