With the rise of remote and hybrid work, the need for collaborative learning has never been higher.
In this article, we’ll be exploring the realm of social learning, looking into learning management systems (LMSs) that can harness the power of social and collective learning, bringing them into the workplace and enhancing the online learning experience.
Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of February 12th, 2024.
What are social learning platforms?
Social learning platforms are digital e-learning tools that facilitate a more collaborative and community-driven approach to learning and training in the workplace.
They foster a more interactive learning environment by promoting peer-to-peer engagement, real-time communication, and knowledge sharing.
But what exactly is social learning?
Put simply, it’s a methodology that takes into account people’s natural inclination to learn from each other and applies it in virtual training.
Peers can help each other out by sharing ideas, knowledge, and best practices.
It not only reinforces learning in the workplace and deepens understanding but also makes the process more engaging and fun.
Social learning also helps build stronger peer bonds and cultivate an environment of continuous learning.
Some common LMS features that fall into this category include things like live chat, instant messaging, discussion forums, leaderboards, video conferencing, Q&A sections, and other collaboration tools meant to facilitate more informal learning activities.
Let’s now go over the top ten best social LMSs on the market.
10 best social learning platforms to know
We’ve looked over the e-learning market and picked the ten best LMSs with social learning features.
| Software | Best for | Top feature |
| Docebo | User-generated content and knowledge sharing | Discover, Coach & Share |
| 360Learning | Pairing learners with internal experts | Learning Needs forum |
| Absorb LMS | Boosting learner engagement | Gamification elements |
| Mighty Networks | Community-building | Infinite Question Engine |
| Miro | Real-time planning and brainstorming | Virtual whiteboard tool |
| iSpring Learn | Course module creation | Microlearning authoring toolkit |
| LearnWorlds | Group projects and team-based activities | Peer review and feedback feature |
| Sakai | Asynchronous collaboration | Commons feature |
| Paradiso LMS | Synchronous collaboration | Web conference rooms |
| Totara Learning | Uncovering rising talent and subject matter experts | In-depth skill reporting |
Let’s go over each of these tools in more detail, checking their features and functionalities, as well as seeing what real users have to say about them.
1. Docebo
Docebo is a cloud-based LMS for employee onboarding, talent upskilling and reskilling, channel partner and sales enablement, and customer training.
The platform includes several social learning tools such as discussion boards, leaderboards, and Q&A sections.
Most notably, Docebo’s Discover, Coach & Share feature provides a single place where learners can ask questions of company subject-matter experts in real-time. They can also share their knowledge and insights, and use the tool to generate their own learning content, typically in the form of microlearning material such as learning pills.
Users can use the feature to webcam or screen record webinars, record sales calls, and share strategies, best practices, and success stories directly on the platform.
Docebo also comes equipped with mobile learning capabilities for learning on the go. Combined with Docebo’s social learning features, learners can also capture and share content from their mobile devices.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Discover, Coach & Share feature where learners can capture, share, collaborate, and leave feedback on user-generated content.
- Collaboration tools like discussion boards, Q&A sessions, and forums that promote peer-to-peer social interactions.
- Gamification and interactive elements like quizzes, assessments, points, badges, and certifications that help with engagement and knowledge retention.
- Mobile learning feature with branding, white labeling, and offline access that increase flexibility and knowledge sharing.
- AI-powered content authoring tool that automatically transforms long learning materials into bite-sized training content in multiple formats and languages.
What users like
- “It’s easy to set things up in an easy way for the end user but it also has most of the backend stuff of a ‘serious LMS’ that is required for compliance.” — Aimee S.
- “The collaborate and share functionality is good, and there are lots of automations you can set up” — Verified user in pharmaceuticals
- “The capacity to record videos and amend them before publishing, diversity of formats recognized (ppt, Word, pdf, mp4…).” — Sarah F.
What users don’t like
- “The only thing to mention is that Docebo offers a full solution and this is probably not suitable for everyone (e.g. if you need a very simple and basic LMS).” — Jürgen H.
- “One of the notable drawbacks of Docebo is its Instructor Led Training functionality. While the system offers basic ILT features, it lacks the depth and sophistication seen in other areas of the LMS.” — Verified user
- “There is no Recycle Bin. If you delete anything by accident, you have to roll back the entire platform to your 24-hour backup.” — William I.
Best suited for
Docebo is best suited for promoting collaboration between team members through knowledge sharing and user-generated content.
2. 360Learning
360Learning is a learning platform with artificial intelligence and social learning features that help companies with their talent-development initiatives.
The platform lets learners ask questions and internal experts can answer.
360Learning uses AI to identify subject matter experts within the organization and analyze e-learning data to help design and improve training programs, improving the user experience.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- AI tool that tracks content interactions and makes recommendations based on user needs.
- Learning Needs forum where learners can post training requests and experts can provide relevant information.
- Upvoting and sharing feature where learner interaction with the course material prioritizes content based on upvotes.
- Personalized skill paths complete with assessments and certifications.
- SCORM-compliant course authoring tool with templates and co-authoring capabilities.
What users like
- “I like that it is very user friendly, it naturally drives engagement as it [resembles a] social network and it is flexible enough to accommodate different online content.” — Sara B.
- “I highly appreciate 360Learning for its extensive customization capabilities, enabling the creation of unique portals with distinct branding, domains, messaging, and language options.” — Verified user in computer software
- “[It’s a] collaborative tool: authors, trainers, employees, experts can communicate, create and develop training [paths] together.” — Karen P.
What users don’t like
- “The collaborative learning features are great, but they are not currently available when using SCORM. We have been using a combination of SCORM and the native authoring tool, but wish we could use the collaborative learning features more since that’s why we bought them.” — Bob B.
- “The reporting tool is not very flexible, the reports are unclear, too bad there is no reporting summary available in PDF format.” — Karen P.
- “Parts of the tool are not customizable such as the possibility to leave reactions on each lesson.” — Antoine M.
Best suited for
360Learning is best suited for pairing learners with the company’s subject matter experts through AI-powered matching and predesigned forums.
3. Absorb LMS
Absorb LMS is a corporate training platform for employee training and onboarding, compliance training, sales enablement, and customer onboarding.
It includes social learning and gamification features like leaderboards, interactive polls, and news feeds to streamline training, foster friendly competition, and boost engagement.
Absorb LMS also supports mentoring programs through knowledge sharing and user-generated content.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Audio and video recording for creating user-generated content.
- Gamification features that foster friendly competition and boost learning engagement.
- Asynchronous learning capabilities that boost learning flexibility.
- SCORM-compliance that allows companies to import and use SCORM content.
- Mobile learning capabilities for learning on the go.
What users like
- “Absorb LMS is packed with features to set up robust classes rather easily from scratch” — Michelle C.
- “There’s a large amount of functionality laid out in an intuitive way, and it doesn’t have the learning curve or limitations I’ve encountered with other LMS platforms.” — Erin C.
- “The software is easy to use and navigate and has many many different options.” — Sarah V.
What users don’t like
- “Absorb LMS disposes of APIs, but out-of-the-box integrations to other systems seem to be lacking.” — Verified user in computer software
- “Some of the features are difficult to use, or missing. Specifically with regard to Zoom connections, and evaluation.” — Tim G.
- “There are some limitations to reporting specific to our organization.” — Casey S.
Best suited for
Absorb LMS is a good option for increasing engagement through its robust gamification features.
4. Mighty Networks
Mighty Networks is a comprehensive community-building platform specifically designed for content creators and entrepreneurs.
The purpose is to build an online presence by fostering engagement, excitement, and loyalty around the company’s brand in a social media-style environment.
The platform does this through social learning features like discussion forums, commenting, icebreaker questions, polls, and instant messaging.
Companies can also use Mighty Networks to offer members online courses. The platform also includes e-commerce capabilities so that brands can sell their content to members and generate an additional revenue stream.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Welcome checklist that helps guide new members through the first few stages of the process.
- Icebreaker questions that help get the ball rolling and spark conversations.
- Cooperative features that help spark collaboration between community members
- E-commerce capabilities that allow brands to sell their courses and learning programs to generate an extra revenue stream.
- Infinite Question Engine that provides an automatic drip of compelling questions that keep members engaged.
What users like
- “Customizing the site, adding content, and all the options for branding are very helpful.” — Alicia P.
- “Customer support is great and available to both us and our network memberships.” — Cindy L.
- “I love the notifications (opens up a new way to communicate with customers besides email) and I like the calendar/Zoom integration. I’m now scheduling all of my meetings directly in [Mighty Networks] instead of through Zoom.” — Jeremy W.
What users don’t like
- “The inability to handle UPI or bank payments is a challenge for many users to buy on Mighty. Also, not supporting popular chat tools like WhatsApp makes it difficult to get people to start using it.” — Pradipta C.
- “Mighty Networks does not interface well with other databases and websites.” — Kathy G.
- “Few people are familiar with the Mighty [Networks].” — Dr.Frances S.
Best suited for
Mighty Networks is best for companies looking to create communities around their brand.
5. Miro
Miro is a real-time collaboration tool that promotes peer planning and brainstorming activities.
It offers a wide range of features in this regard such as a virtual whiteboard tool where team members can collaborate and work together across multiple devices.
Miro also has live training and Q&A sessions, as well as the ability to customize the platform with the users’ own learning courses and training sessions.
It includes numerous templates with embedded content like tables and videos. Miro is also compatible with multiple devices like desktop, mobile, and interactive displays.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Digital whiteboard tool for team collaboration and brainstorming.
- Mobile learning capabilities for better access and flexibility.
- Customization features that help with user engagement.
- Gamification elements like verified badges for encouraging continuous learning.
- Quizzes and assessments for skill and knowledge verification.
What users like
- “It integrates seamlessly in unison with our HR tools, such as applicant tracking systems, to make candidate evaluation and feedback a collaborative visual delight.” — Jennifer M.
- “Miro is a wonderful tool for all types of project tracking, product development, and abstract discussion.” — Devin S.
- “How flexible it is — you can use it for diagramming, mapping, sharing work, collaborating with others, ideating, mood boarding, and loads of other things too.” — Lauren D.
What users don’t like
- “This program is effective in the case where your requirements are elementary, however, if you want to excel in the areas/workmanship, etc., then another program needs to be used.” — David Antonio O.
- “The limitation to offline use as certain features may be limited without an internet connection. A stable internet connection is crucial for real-time collaboration.” — Snehalata K.
- “Very poor in performing analysis and reporting, the screen sharing option sometimes gets stuck, and the mobile application needs more complementary updates.” — Zeeshan H.
Best suited for
Miro is best suited for real-time collaboration, planning, and brainstorming through features like virtual whiteboard tools, live sessions, and Q&As.
6. iSpring Learn
iSpring Learn is a cloud-based learning platform for compliance training, employee onboarding, and skill development.
It provides an adaptive user portal with a content library and a mobile app with offline learning capabilities.
iSpring Learn also has an authoring toolkit for microlearning content creation like slides, quizzes, surveys, how-to videos, and dialog simulations.
Learners can contact the author of each course or another subject matter expert to ask questions and discuss training.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Microlearning content authoring toolkit that facilitates in-the-moment training.
- Mobile learning capabilities with offline access that provide extra learning flexibility.
- Social learning features where learners can contact subject matter experts to discuss their training.
- Gamification elements that improve engagement.
- Automated notifications that keep learners in the loop about new courses and deadlines.
What users like
- “My favorite feature is the easy and fast creation of lesson pages right from the online portal for both macro and microlearning.” — Derek M.
- “It allows me to create a site for my trainees to take training sessions and quizzes.” — Dan G.
- “The platform is very interactive which makes it easier to implement and design courses. Additionally, it makes learning fun which helps in increased engagement and retention.” — Bhaskar S.
What users don’t like
- “As an administrator, I want the ability to administer my program from a mobile device.” — Ben M.
- “Limitations on adding in iSpring quizzes and interactions in a seamless way.” — Verified user in consumer goods
- “We can’t filter [employers] by language which is making it harder for us.” — Maxime P.
Best suited for
iSpring Learn is a good LMS for engaging learners through the creation and delivery of microlearning content.
7. LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds is a cloud-based LMS for employee and customer training, as well as those in the NGO, coaching, and fitness industries.
It has a built-in drag-and-drop course builder and an assessment builder with 16 different question types.
It can host live sessions, provide interactive videos, and support SCORM content.
It also has discussion boards and forums, team-based activities, peer feedback, and assessment features.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Can host an unlimited number of live sessions.
- No-code mobile app builder that lets companies design branded apps for multiple audiences.
- Discussion boards and forums that promote peer-to-peer collaboration.
- Team-based activities in the form of assigning projects where team members work together
- Peer review feature where learners can review each other’s work and provide feedback.
What users like
- “LearnWorlds comes with a learners section, built-in social media, and an inbox for students to correspond [with] each other. This is super helpful in building community and not forcing folks to use social media.” — Kim C.
- “The platform is not only visually appealing but also intuitively designed, making the process of building and navigating courses a breeze.” — Jen G.
- “The support team is incredibly helpful and responsive, always ready to assist with kindness and precision.” — Max P.
What users don’t like
- “It would be nice to channel communication to learners through a communication platform of choice, instead of being limited to platforms that they partner with.” — William P.
- “The other issue is that we have limitations when it comes to making the school available in multiple languages, especially if the languages have different writing orientations, as in from left to right or right to left.” — Verified user in leisure, travel & tourism
Best suited for
LearnWorlds is best suited for team collaboration purposes through features like peer assessment, feedback, and group projects.
8. Sakai
Sakai is an open-source LMS designed by its adopter community to deliver teaching, learning, and collaboration.
It includes course development and delivery capabilities such as combining quizzes, assignments, videos, and text into e-learning modules and delivering them to learners.
It also includes robust collaboration and communication capabilities that make it easier for learners to keep in touch and support each other.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Course development tool that supports multiple content types.
- Chat feature that allows for real-time text messaging between peers.
- Commons feature that allows users to interact asynchronously in a Facebook-inspired interface.
- Sign-up sheets for various events and activities.
- Discussion forums where admins can moderate and manage discussion topics and groups.
What users like
- “Easy-to-use template for instructors to enter their materials. You can easily make short quizzes with multiple choices or fill in the blanks.” — Mugdha P.
- “It has a complete and advanced online community, which collaborates to be completely useful.” — Amanda Y.
What users don’t like
- “Not a ton of integrations to choose from.” — Verified user in e-learning
- “Unfortunately, the interface is very clunky and often very buggy as well.” — Verified user in higher education
Best suited for
Sakai is best suited for people in higher education looking for a platform that facilitates learner collaboration.
9. Paradiso LMS
Paradiso LMS is a cloud-based online training platform with an impressive course library of over 70,000 off-the-shelf courses and multilingual support.
Trainers can translate content into over 120 languages and include gamification elements to increase engagement and friendly competition among learners.
Paradiso has mobile learning capabilities, as well as robust social learning features like chat rooms, built-in video conferencing, social wall, and video channels.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Off-the-shelf course library with over 70,000 courses.
- Multilingual support in over 120 languages.
- A social wall that acts as an interactive user portfolio.
- Web conference rooms and forums for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
- Integrated chat rooms for one-on-one interactions.
What users like
- “Paradiso LMS presents the opportunity for some very powerful customization.” — Claudia C.
- “They have personalized formats of the courses that have a great design and are easy to configure for people with low web-designing skills.” — Verified user in Information Technology and Services
What users don’t like
- “The site was slow to use, especially when navigating between pages.” — Verified user in education management
- “The software is somewhat limited in reporting capabilities.” — Verified user in education management
Best suited for
Paradiso LMS is a good choice for training diverse and international learners thanks to its robust multilingual support and web conference rooms.
10. Totara Learn
Totara Learn is an open-source enterprise e-learning platform with highly customizable capabilities and robust collaboration features.
Companies can use the platform to build spaces for groups to share knowledge in the form of articles, videos, infographics, and podcasts.
It also includes ratings and comments so learners can interact with each other.
The tool also makes content recommendations based on user behavior and includes robust reporting capabilities able to highlight rising talent and uncover thought leaders in the organization.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Personalized learning capabilities that enhance the user experience.
- Content recommendations that streamline the training process.
- Gamification elements that help boost learner engagement.
- Mobile learning feature for better accessibility and flexibility.
- Robust reporting that can highlight rising talent among the company’s ranks.
What users like
- “Being open source, and having a strong network of partners who supply the end user, Totara allows you to have everything from a very “vanilla” LMS through to a highly customized system that can integrate with 3rd party systems.” — Daniel B.
- “There are lots of features that you can harness in creative ways to give an excellent learning experience.” — Stephanie M.
- “Feature-rich, yet highly flexible, to match users’ specific feature needs.” — Yano N.
What users don’t like
Best suited for
Totara Learn is best suited for uncovering top talent, thought leaders, and subject matter experts through its robust reporting.
Benefits of using a social learning platform
Social learning platforms can provide several benefits to organizations and their employees.
This is especially true given that these technologies can more easily bridge the gap between formal and informal learning methodologies.
Here are the main reasons why organizations should invest in online training platforms with robust social learning features.
Increases learner engagement
Leaderboards, discussion forums, Q&As, and other such collaboration features have the potential to spark engagement among learners and motivate them to continue their training.
In other words, these social learning platforms can help organizations build and maintain a learner-centric company culture.
Provides more accessible learning
Coupled with microlearning and mobile learning capabilities, these social learning platforms can boost accessibility and learning flexibility.
It’s much more effective for learners to share microlearning content over mobile devices than it is to share entire training courses or full webinars.
These micro lessons provide targeted knowledge at the point of need, making it a convenient daily training method between peers.
Encourages relationship-building and teamwork
By design, social learning features work to promote collaboration in the workplace. This is particularly beneficial in organizations with remote or hybrid work where in-person contact is limited.
These platforms offer an environment that facilitates problem-solving and encourages collaboration and camaraderie between team members.
Lets learners choose their own learning path
Learners can decide on their learning journey by having access to flexible content, diverse resources, and peer-to-peer interactions.
This allows them to choose their own training path based on personal preferences and immediate needs.
How to choose the best social learning software
It’s generally good practice to have a plan when on the market looking for a social learning solution.
You shouldn’t just go for the first tool that comes your way unless it gives you a trial period or demo version to try it out, and then you can decide if it’s a good solution for you.
Also, take into consideration the following factors.
Consider your goals
First and foremost, factor in the specific use cases you’ll be needing the platform for.
Whether it’s for employee training and upskilling, customer onboarding, or community building, remember that different social learning features better serve some use cases than others.
Consider the platform’s features
Social media-like features (e.g. news feeds, emojis, likes, and comments) may help with team member engagement and camaraderie, or community building but won’t be as effective for customer training and onboarding.
In that particular case, discussion forums and Q&A sections may be more appropriate.
Consider its ease of use
Don’t let an overabundance of features and functionalities draw you in without first considering the tool’s ease of use.
If it’s too complex or has an unintuitive UI, you run the risk of your learners and trainers not picking it up in the first place.
A good idea is to go on review sites like G2 or Capterra and look over what other verified users had to say about each platform’s usability.
Better yet, if the vendor offers a free trial, check it out for yourself.
Consider pricing and support
Surprisingly enough, pricing and support go hand in hand. Open-source platforms are typically free and offer great customization potential.
The downside is that they offer limited to no support. Users will have to rely on their know-how, internal resources, or a community of other users to set up, manage, and maintain the platform.
Cloud-based SaaS LMSs, on the other hand, typically follow a subscription-based model but offer plenty of customer support, regular updates, and onboarding.
Now over to you
Social learning platforms have the potential to change organizational workflows by promoting interactive and collaborative experiences in the workplace.
They can boost knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer discussions, friendly competitions, and better overall relationships.
This informal style of training can prove to be a more engaging and effective way of acquiring knowledge.
Docebo is one such learning management tool with robust social learning capabilities. It not only helps boost collaboration but also facilitates user-generated content and knowledge exchange.
Schedule a demo with Docebo today and try out its many features and functionalities. Don’t forget to give your other stakeholders a chance to try it out since they’ll also be using it.