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Open eLMS vs TalentLMS: differences to check before you choose

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TalentLMS suits small and mid-sized teams that want to sign up and start training the same day, with a free plan, published monthly prices and a long list of ready-made integrations. Open eLMS suits UK organisations, including the public sector, that want three things from a UK supplier on public sector buying routes: a large library of editable courses, AI course authoring that exports SCORM files, and compliance reporting.

At a glance

Open eLMS TalentLMS
Who makes it Open eLMS Ltd (formerly e-Learning WMB), a UK company founded in 2003. TalentLMS by Epignosis, live since 2012. TalentLMS reports 12,000+ customers and 22M+ learners (2025).
Hosting Hosted LMS and LXP, run for you by Open eLMS. Hosted only on Amazon Web Services (AWS), with servers encrypted using AES-256.
Pricing model Per user, per year, in pounds: Professional £10, Enterprise £35, Enterprise AI £69 (prices on our pricing page, 15/10/2026). Free plan for up to 5 users and 10 courses. Paid plans in US dollars per month: Core from $119, Grow from $229, Pro from $449, priced in user bands. Enterprise starts at 1,000 users and is priced on request. Annual billing saves 20%.
Course library Over 4,500 editable SCORM courses in 28 languages in the Learning Store. Professional includes 200 eLearning credits; Enterprise AI includes unlimited credits. TalentLibrary is an add-on with 1,000+ courses on soft skills, compliance and more. TalentLMS says the courses are "ready to use as they are", and you can combine them with your own material.
AI course authoring Learning Generator builds courses with AI and exports them as SCORM 1.2 or 2004 files, so you can use them in other systems too. TalentCraft generates course sections, lessons and assessments, and translates into 15 languages. TalentLMS says TalentCraft courses "are designed to work within TalentLMS". AI credits vary by plan.
SCORM, xAPI, cmi5 and LTI SCORM 1.2 and 2004 tracked in full (completion, pass/fail, score, time and resume), including Storyline, Rise and Captivate packages. xAPI is used to track video learning. Built to the LTI v1.3 standard. TalentLMS's help centre says it currently supports SCORM 1.2 only. It also supports xAPI and cmi5, lists external LRS support, and includes LTI 1.3 on paid plans.
Single sign-on SAML 2.0 single sign-on (Microsoft Entra ID, Okta and others), plus Google sign-in. SAML 2.0, LDAP and OpenID Connect on paid plans.
Integrations Open eLMS API, plus smart classroom sessions on Teams or Zoom. Around 40 listed integrations across HR, CRM, video conferencing, calendars and e-commerce (including BambooHR, Salesforce, Zoom and Microsoft Teams), plus 1,000+ apps through Zapier. API on paid plans.
Compliance and reporting Compliance reporting with automatic refresher re-assignment, plus forms and sign-off sheets. Custom reports, analytics and automations on paid plans.
UK public sector buying routes Dynamic Purchasing System RM6219 and framework Y25003. Not covered on the TalentLMS pages we checked, so ask TalentLMS directly.
Support Direct from Open eLMS, with a 99.9% uptime SLA. Enterprise plans include 2nd and 3rd line support. Email support on every plan, including Free. Live chat, phone and an account manager are listed for paid plans; check which plan includes which. TalentLMS says it strives for 99.9% uptime.
Security certifications ISO 27001 (certificate 373282021), ISO 9001, ISO 20000 and Cyber Essentials Plus. ICO registration ZB031013. ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and CSA STAR Level 1. GDPR compliant and verified against the EU Cloud Code of Conduct.

Where TalentLMS is a good fit

TalentLMS does a lot well, especially for smaller teams:

  • You want to start today. Sign up, add users and build a course without a sales call. There's a free plan for up to 5 users with no credit card and no time limit.
  • You like clear monthly pricing. Plans and prices are published, and you can pay monthly or save 20% by paying annually.
  • You rely on lots of other tools. TalentLMS lists integrations with HR systems, CRMs, video conferencing and e-commerce tools, plus over 1,000 apps through Zapier.
  • You use xAPI or cmi5 content. TalentLMS supports both, alongside SCORM 1.2.
  • You want AI help inside the LMS. TalentCraft builds course sections, lessons and quizzes, and translates into 15 languages.
  • Security paperwork matters. TalentLMS holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and several other ISO certifications.

Where Open eLMS is a good fit

  • You need lots of content you can change. Over 4,500 editable SCORM courses in 28 languages are included in the Learning Store, so you can edit a course to match your own policies.
  • You want AI-built courses you can take anywhere. Learning Generator exports SCORM 1.2 and 2004 files, which play in other LMSs too.
  • You have SCORM 2004 courses. Open eLMS tracks SCORM 1.2 and 2004 in full, including packages from Storyline, Rise and Captivate.
  • Compliance is a big part of your training. Compliance reports, automatic refresher re-assignment, forms and sign-off sheets are built in, along with smart classroom sessions on Teams or Zoom.
  • You buy through UK public sector routes. Open eLMS is on DPS RM6219 and framework Y25003.
  • You want a UK supplier. Open eLMS Ltd has been a UK company since 2003, holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 20000 and Cyber Essentials Plus, and is registered with the ICO.
  • You budget in pounds, per user. Prices are published per user, per year, in pounds sterling.

Questions to ask both in a demo

  1. Which SCORM versions do you track? Bring a SCORM 1.2 and a SCORM 2004 course and watch both being tracked.
  2. Can we edit the library courses? Ask to change a course live, and check which languages it comes in.
  3. Can AI-built courses leave the platform? Ask whether you can export them as SCORM files if you move LMS later.
  4. What will it cost at our size over three years? Include add-ons such as course libraries and AI credits, and ask for the price in pounds.
  5. Show us our compliance report. For example, mandatory training completion by department, and how refreshers are re-assigned when they expire.
  6. How do we sign in? Show single sign-on working with Microsoft Entra ID or Google.
  7. Which support channels do we get on our plan? Get support hours and response times in writing.
  8. How do we buy it? If you're in the public sector, ask which framework or route applies.

Frequently asked questions

Does TalentLMS support SCORM 2004?

TalentLMS's own help centre says it currently supports SCORM 1.2 only, alongside xAPI and cmi5. Open eLMS tracks both SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 in full. If you have SCORM 2004 courses, test one in each system during your demo.

Is there a free version of TalentLMS or Open eLMS?

TalentLMS has a free plan for up to 5 users and 10 courses, with no time limit. Open eLMS is priced per user, per year, from £10 per user on the Professional plan, and we're happy to show it to you in a demo first.

How do the course libraries compare?

The Open eLMS Learning Store includes over 4,500 editable SCORM courses in 28 languages. TalentLibrary is a TalentLMS add-on with over 1,000 courses that TalentLMS describes as ready to use as they are.

Can I export courses I build with AI?

Open eLMS Learning Generator exports AI-built courses as SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004 files, so you can use them in other systems. TalentLMS says its TalentCraft courses are designed to work within TalentLMS, so ask TalentLMS about export options if that matters to you.

Can UK public sector organisations buy Open eLMS through a framework?

Yes. Open eLMS is available through the Dynamic Purchasing System RM6219 and framework Y25003. If you're considering TalentLMS, ask them which UK buying routes they support.

Which security certifications do Open eLMS and TalentLMS hold?

Open eLMS holds ISO 27001 (certificate 373282021), ISO 9001, ISO 20000 and Cyber Essentials Plus, and is registered with the ICO (ZB031013). TalentLMS lists ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and CSA STAR Level 1. Ask each supplier for their current certificates.

How is pricing different?

Open eLMS is priced per user, per year, in pounds: £10 for Professional, £35 for Enterprise and £69 for Enterprise AI on 15/10/2026. TalentLMS shows monthly prices in US dollars for plans priced in user bands, from $119 a month for Core, with 20% off for annual billing. Check both pricing pages for current prices.

Compare them with your own courses

Bring a SCORM 2004 course and your most-asked-for compliance report to an Open eLMS demo. We'll load the course, run the report and give you the costs in writing.

Sources, checked 15/10/2026

TalentLMS:

Open eLMS: