Best Forj LMS Alternatives for Associations

Is Forj LMS Still the Right Fit for Your Association?

Forj is positions as a solution that blends learning and community, encouraging social learning. While that idea resonates with many associations, some are finding that the learning management side of the platform hasn’t kept pace with the market. Forj’s LMS and community tools are in fact two distinct products. However, they are often marketed together, which can sometimes confuse organizations. As education programs grow more complex and outcomes-driven, many associations are starting to re-evaluate whether their current platform can support what comes next.

Why Associations Are Exploring Forj LMS Alternatives

1. Community and LMS: Two Different Products, One Unified Pitch

Forj’s offers both a community platform and a learning management system. While these are separate products, they may be positioned as one seamless product via their website. This approach may work well for associations were membership drives revenue. However, for education and CE focused teams, the distinction becomes important. Some users report that the LMS experience feels secondary compared to the more mature and regularly updated community platform.

This doesn’t make Forj a bad fit for an organization, but it does suggest that associations prioritizing learning outcomes may want to look more closely at platforms built with education at the core.

2. Ownership Structure May Influence Focus Areas

Like multiple platforms in the space, Forj is backed by private equity. While ideally this brings resources and scale, in practice it usually does not. It can also shift product strategy toward faster-growth areas like community, versus long-term investments in LMS enhancements.

For associations depending on their LMS to deliver CE, certification, or compliance-driven education, it’s worth asking whether the roadmap aligns with those priorities.

3. Pace of LMS Development Feels Uneven

As Forj evolves its platforms, updates to the LMS appear to be more incremental compared to what's happening on the community side. Associations that need more advanced LMS capabilities like complex CE requirements, deeper reporting, complex learning paths or AI enabled features, may find themselves limited.

This is especially relevant for organizations offering continuing education or managing professional certifications, where even small platform gaps can create real workflow challenges.

What to Look for in a Forj LMS Alternative

If your association is considering other options, here are a few things to prioritize:

• LMS-First Design – Platforms that focus exclusively on learning often have a deeper breadth of features
• Support for Continuing Education and Certification – Includes credit tracking, automated certificates, and  potentially integrations with systems like ACCME PARS or CPE Monitor.
• Member System Integration – Seamless connection with your AMS or CRM to streamline reporting, enrollment, and personalization.
• Monetization Tools – Sell courses, issue discounts, allow Netflix style subscriptions and integrate with multiple payment gateways.
• Robust Reporting – Insight into learner behavior, completions, revenue, and program effectiveness using AI.

Top Forj LMS Alternatives for Associations

1. Oasis LMS

Best For: Associations and nonprofits with continuing education, certification, or credentialing programs

Oasis LMS was built for associations. It offers tools for CE delivery, assessment, credit claiming, and credential tracking, while being nimble enough to allow ad hoc configurations. With deep AMS integrations, customizable eCommerce, and support for compliance-focused programs, it’s a strong fit for associations that want their LMS to grow alongside their strategy.

Highlights:

• Advanced support for CME/CE workflows
• Integrated with certification systems like PARS, JA-PARS, and CPE Monitor
• Practice improvement and multi-step learning pathways
• Built-in eCommerce and content gating features
• AI enhanced insights

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2. MapleLMS

Best For: Organizations seeking open-source flexibility with strong support

MapleLMS is a feature-rich platform that offers continuing education support, SCORM compliance, and deep integration capabilities. Its flexibility appeals to associations that want more control over design and workflows, with support for certifications and eLearning standards.

3. Elevate LMS

Best For: Associations focused on event-based learning and webinars

Elevate LMS is ideal for organizations that deliver a lot of education via webinars, virtual events, or on-demand recordings. It offers solid learning tools and engagement features. However, for complex CE needs or AI features it may not fit the bill.

Final Thoughts: Align Your LMS With Your Learning Mission

Forj offers a compelling solution for associations looking to build stronger communities and for some, that approach works well. But for others, particularly those with complex or credentialed education programs, the need for a purpose-built LMS becomes clear over time.

If your organization is experiencing limitations with your current LMS functionality, support, or roadmap alignment, now may be the right time to explore alternatives that put learning first. Whether you need to track CE credits, support certification pathways, or generate non-dues revenue through eLearning, the right LMS can help you scale with confidence.

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