11 Best LMS for External Training in Extended Enterprises

An LMS for external training delivers, tracks & manages learning programs for people outside an organization. Such as external partners, resellers, customers & other stakeholders.

Supporting the needs of a broader audience, beyond employees. Ensuring that extended enterprises educate, onboard & engage their extended network effectively.

By using an external training LMS, companies can improve knowledge sharing, strengthen relationships & boost brand loyalty. All while ensuring consistent standards across their ecosystem.

This blog explores the 11 best LMS for external training programs. Along with their use cases, benefits, features & a step-by-step guide for making an informed decision.

What is External Training in Extended Enterprises?

External training in extended enterprises refers to training programs designed for individuals outside a company’s core employees. Such as partners, resellers, suppliers, customers, or franchisees.

It helps ensure consistency in knowledge, compliance & product usage across the extended network. This type of training enhances brand alignment, customer satisfaction & partner performance. Ultimately driving business growth and operational efficiency.

Use Cases of an LMS for External Training

1.Partner Training for Channel Partner Enablement

2.Supplier & Vendor Training and Compliance

3.Onboarding for Resellers

4.Customer Training & Onboarding

5.Product Training & Franchisee Training

6.Workforce/Enterprise Training

7.Customer Support & Service Training

8.Sales Enablement for External Teams

Benefits of an External Training Management System

1.Improved knowledge retention in external users via structured learning paths & resources

2.Reduced administrative & operational costs with a boost in productivity & sales

3.Simplified compliance management & enhanced partner performance

4.Consistent & standardized course delivery

5.Increased customer satisfaction via faster onboarding & implementation

6.Maximized product usage with an enhanced user experience

7.Scalability with reinforced brand consistency

You might also like to read about the best training software for partners & customers.

Core Features of an External Training LMS

1.Customizable Learning Paths: Allows admins to create journeys based on specific user roles

2.Multi-Tenant Architecture: Supports multiple groups within the same platform

3.Certification & Compliance Tracking: Enables automatic tracking & issuance of certifications, ensuring users meet compliance requirements

4.Advanced Reporting & Analytics: Provides detailed insights via report around learner progress, course completion rates & content effectiveness

5.Branding & White-Labeling: Allows companies to brand the platform, aligned with their brand identity

6.Mobile Accessibility: Enables users to learn on any device, at anytime, from anywhere

7.Content Library Management: Makes it easy to organize, manage, update & distribute resources

8.Gamification Elements: Features like badges, points & leaderboards increase engagement & motivation

9.Integration Capabilities: With CRM, ERP & other business tools, it enables seamless data exchange & user management

10.Multi-Language Support: Supports diverse audiences, expanding reach & usability

11 Best LMS for External Training in 2025

As businesses expand and prioritize educating partners, customers & resellers. The need for a reliable LMS grows on. Hence we bring to you this curated list of the 11 best platforms in 2025.

1.Edmingle

Edmingle offers a comprehensive AI-powered training management suite. It’s robust SaaS LMS solution is tailored for businesses & enterprises of all sizes. Known for its user-friendly interface & powerful integration options. Edmingle makes it easy for organizations to onboard, train & certify external users. Some of it’s key offerings include:

1.100% white-labelled website, landing pages & mobile apps

2.Improved mobile learning accessibility with Android & iOS apps under your own developer account

3.Real-time analytics & reporting with AI-powered feedback analysis

4.Role-based access & permissions for customizable learning paths

5.Multi-tenant architecture for streamlined workflows & training management

But that’s not the end of the list. It stands out as a truly one stop platform for all your training needs. From enrolment to certification, everything on one single platform.

Pros:

1.Support for online, offline, hybrid & blended training models

2.Focus on streamlined learning journeys with end-to-end management of training operations

Cons:

1.The basic plan comes with 2.9% revenue sharing

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra.

To check it’s capabilities & alignment with your need & goals:

2.Paradiso LMS

Paradiso LMS is a feature-rich platform. Allowing organizations to create separate training environments for different external audiences. It supports multiple languages, has strong integration capabilities & includes gamification features.

Pros:

1.Easy to use with good features

2.Cost-effective price

Cons:

1.Doesn’t work with Shopify

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 on Capterra.

3.Skilljar

Skilljar is designed specifically for customer & partner training. Making it a popular choice for extended enterprises. It provides comprehensive tools for creating & managing customer education programs. Along with powerful analytics to track client engagement, satisfaction, adoption & success.

Pros:

1.Robust platform for free, high-quality training at scale

2.Good customer support with proper implementation

3.Very easy to use and set up

4.The reporting dashboard is insightful

5.Customizable with editable CSS

Cons:

1.Customization via code snippets can be difficult to organize

2.Some of the UI elements can be difficult to navigate at times

3.Customization is costly and time consuming

4.Looks old school

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra.

4.Thought Industries

Thought Industries stands out with its focus on customer & partner education. Offering a wide range of features like customizable learning paths & certifications. It has a rich content management system that supports multi-language functionality.

Pros:

1.Satisfactory software with ease of use

2.Responsive customer service

Cons:

1.Limited customization on reporting

2.The site can be confusing to navigate at times

3.Exported data files can be confusing to manage at first & requires some effort to digest & absorb

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra.

5.Absorb LMS

Absorb LMS is a powerful, scalable solution for extended enterprises. With advanced features like automated enrollment, certification management & comprehensive reporting. It simplifies the management of large-scale L&D programs. It has a user-friendly design, offers gamification options & is mobile compatible.

Pros:

1.Ease of access with good customer service

2.Easy to use with good breadth of features

Cons:

1.Limited assessment options (answer types)

2.Reporting structure takes a bit to get used to

3.Difficult to manage blended learning

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra.

6.EducateMe

EducateMe offers an intuitive interface, multi-language support & custom branding options. It allows extended enterprises to create a personalized learning experience. For partners, customers & other external audiences. While easily managing certifications, tracking learner progress & getting detailed analytics.

Rating: Not available.

Explore the 7 best business training software.

7.Learning Pool

Learning Pool is known for its flexibility & robust content management features. It offers a wide variety of learning formats. From video and e-learning modules to assessments & certifications. It’s analytics & reporting tools help organizations measure the impact of their learning programs.

Pros:

1.Good catalogue of online learning & easy to use platform

2.Vast report/data functions, keeping compliance more efficient

3.Good customer service

Cons:

1.The system can run slow as the reports/data gets larger

2.Slight duplication of options on the system can be confusing

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra.

8.eloomi

eloomi provides a seamless learning experience for both employee & external training. With its user-friendly interface & extensive feature set. It helps create interactive courses & track learner progress. Enabling the management of certifications, it also offers gamification elements.

Pros:

1.Easy to use and train with guides

2.Customizable individual courses

3.Intuitive, user friendly UI with gamification features

Cons:

1.The platform lags in speed

2.Lack of mobile app with difficulty in setting up automation

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 on Capterra.

9.Continu

Continu supports both internal & external training. It’s known for its ease of use & mobile accessibility. Alongside it’s integration capabilities with various CRM & productivity tools. It’s customizable learning paths & strong reporting features enhance knowledge retention & engagement.

Pros:

1.Good engagement & tracking

2.User friendly & interactive platform

Cons:

1.Struggles with multitasking

2.Can be a bit clunky

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 on Capterra.

10.Bridge LMS

Bridge LMS provides an engaging learning experience for external stakeholders. Known for its simplicity & a user-focused design. It facilitates interactive training for extended networks like business partners, resellers & customers. Offering a range of content options, performance tracking & social learning features.

Pros:

1.User friendly platfortm with good customer service

2.Good level of functionality & control offered

3.Useful integrations, automation and tracking features

Cons:

1.Certain level of manual operations hamper productivity

2.Potential issues with SCORM files

3.Inability to export course content authored

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra.

11.Litmos

Litmos is known for its robust security, scalability & ease of use. It offers customizable learning paths, gamification & advanced analytics. Supporting multiple content formats, it integrates with various enterprise tools seamlessly.

Pros:

1.Good interface, easy navigation & test/quiz setup

2.Strong reporting & tracking features

3.Good customer support

Cons:

1.Lengthy issue resolution process

2.Potential bugs

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 on Capterra.

These are some of the best options in 2025. Each offering unique strengths to help businesses engage, educate & retain external audiences effectively.

You might also like to read about LMS for member training & associations.

Choosing the Right LMS for External Training

Now that we know about the best available options, comes the most important part. Yes, choosing the right LMS! Here’s a step-by-step guide for business owners & C-level executives:

Step 1: Define Objectives & Target Audience

Step 2: Determine Key Features & Functionality

Step 3: Prioritize scalability & security

Step 4: Assess Integration & Analytical Capabilities

Step 5: Evaluate Customization & Branding Options

Step 6: Consider User Experience, Flexibility & Accessibility

Step 7: Look at Support & Training Resources

Step 8: Analyze Costs & ROI

Step 9: Test with a Pilot Program

Step 10: Make a Decision Based on Data & Strategy

Following this structured approach ensures selecting an LMS that not only meets immediate needs. But also supports an organization’s long-term L&D goals.

Conclusion

In choosing the right LMS for external training in extended enterprises. The options highlighted in this guide represent some of the best platforms in 2025.

Each offering unique features for partner & customer onboarding, certification tracking, and multi-tenant support. By implementing a well-suited LMS, extended enterprises can effectively deliver standardized training. All while boosting engagement & driving long-term relationships across their external networks.

FAQs on External Training Platforms