In the current digital age, learning is a social activity where learners engage through discussion, collaboration, and peer feedback. It has become a central part of how knowledge is shared and absorbed in the workplace. From group chats to shared content feeds and peer-to-peer mentoring, organizations are turning to LMS platforms that support social features to make learning more engaging and collaborative.
This buyer’s guide explores the best LMS platforms for social learning in 2025. We'll walk through the specific features that enable collaboration, explain why social functionality improves knowledge retention and engagement, and compare pricing across different tiers. Whether you want to spark informal learning, build communities of practice, or scale peer mentoring, this guide will help you find the right LMS to bring people together through shared learning experiences.
Today’s learners expect the same level of interactivity in their training that they experience on social media. Static modules and isolated progress bars don't offer the same value as learning with others. Whether it’s through asking questions, commenting on shared resources, or recognizing a peer’s success, social learning helps employees feel more connected, accountable, and motivated.
In hybrid or remote environments, social learning also fosters team cohesion. When learners share insights, discuss real-life scenarios, or co-create knowledge, training becomes more human and less transactional. An LMS with social features can replicate that experience virtually.
It’s beneficial in industries that rely on frontline teams, cross-functional collaboration, or fast knowledge sharing, such as retail, tech, education, and healthcare. By encouraging learners to contribute and connect, social learning helps knowledge travel faster and farther than traditional top-down instruction.
First, let's take a look at some of the most essential features you will be able to use with any LMS that offers tools that encourage social learning.
| Feature | Explanation |
| Discussion Boards and Threads | Allows learners to post questions, share feedback, and collaborate in course-specific or topic-based spaces. |
| User-Generated Content Tools | Enables learners to upload videos, links, or documents to share knowledge with peers and teams. |
| Activity Feeds and Timelines | Displays real-time updates on course completions, comments, posts, or reactions to foster a live learning space. |
| Peer-to-Peer Messaging | Supports private chats or group discussions among learners for ongoing dialogue. |
| Gamification with Leaderboards | Publicly celebrates top contributors or high scorers to build friendly competition and recognition. |
| Mentoring or Coaching Modules | Let's senior staff mentor juniors, track progress, and provide structured or informal feedback. |
| Social Profiles and Bios | Gives learners a personal identity within the platform, making interaction and networking easier. |
| Live Events or Webinar Tools | Built-in or integrated video tools to host group sessions or collaborative learning events. |
| Like, Comment, Share Features | Mimics social media functionality to encourage reactions and visibility for valuable contributions. |
| Moderation Controls | Gives admins the ability to monitor, edit, or manage social content to keep conversations productive. |
Let's explore some additional benefits of using an LMS that offers social learning tools, including enhanced content relevance, increased learner engagement, and more.
Improves Engagement and Motivation
When learners interact with others, they feel more invested in the training. Comments, reactions, and recognition from peers help maintain momentum and make learning more enjoyable.
Encourages Knowledge Sharing Across Teams
Social learning facilitates the sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and personal experiences, thereby bridging knowledge gaps and breaking down organizational silos.
Builds a Learning Community
A strong social layer in your LMS helps foster a sense of community, where employees feel seen, heard, and valued as contributors. This supports both retention and morale.
Increases Content Relevance
Learners often have insights and examples that trainers might miss. Peer discussions help surface real-life use cases and clarify course material in more relatable ways.
Supports Informal and Continuous Learning
Not all learning happens in formal courses. A social LMS supports learning on the go, allowing users to ask questions, share articles, and initiate conversations whenever needed.
Promotes a Feedback Culture
With peer feedback loops and open comment threads, learners get more input on their work. This can lead to faster improvement and deeper understanding.
However, every decision maker should ensure that they’ve considered all critical factors that might affect the overall performance of their learners or trainees before opting for any LMS platform.
Integration with Collaboration Tools
Verify whether the LMS integrates with platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Zoom to facilitate blended communication and learning.
Community Management Tools
Select platforms that offer features such as group moderation, role-based permissions, or automated flagging to maintain productive social spaces.
Data and Engagement Tracking
Look for platforms that allow you to track social engagement metrics, such as post frequency, comment activity, and top contributors.
Content Discovery and Sharing
A good LMS for social learning should allow users to find, share, and recommend content easily within their learning groups.
Privacy and Security Settings
Ensure the platform has robust permissions and moderation tools to protect user data and prevent misuse of social features.
Scalability and UX Design
Make sure the social features scale with your organization. A clean, user-friendly interface encourages more interaction across teams.
Mobile Access and Notifications
Since many social interactions happen in the moment, mobile-friendly social features and push alerts help keep learners connected and responsive.
Social learning features are often included in mid- to high-tier LMS plans. Entry-level platforms offer discussion boards and basic collaboration features in packages starting at around $200 to $400 per month for small teams.
Platforms like LearnUpon or Docebo offer richer social engagement tools, gamification, and mentoring modules. These generally range from $6 to $12 per user per month, depending on user count and level of customization.
At the enterprise level, systems support comprehensive community building, in-depth analytics, and seamless integrations. These often cost $15 to $25 per user per month, with additional fees for integrations or branding.
Because social features often increase user engagement, the ROI tends to be strong. But always clarify whether social tools are built-in or add-ons, and whether engagement metrics are included in core reporting.
The biggest challenge is moderation. Without proper management, discussion threads can veer off-topic or go quiet. Maintaining active communities requires effort from Learning and Development (L&D) or appointed moderators. Another issue is content quality control. User-generated posts may vary in accuracy, so guidance and standards are essential.
Not all learners are comfortable posting or engaging socially, either, so adoption can be uneven. Ultimately, companies must establish clear usage policies and maintain robust security settings to prevent misuse. Despite these hurdles, with the right culture and tools, social learning can thrive and deliver real business value.
Companies across various industries are utilizing LMS platforms with social learning capabilities to foster stronger learning cultures. In retail and hospitality, social features connect teams across locations. In tech and education, peer forums and collaborative projects are becoming central to knowledge transfer. Healthcare organizations use social modules to discuss case studies or process improvements.
Remote-first teams are primarily reliant on social learning to stay connected. With AI-based suggestions and content feeds now supporting many platforms, organizations are finding it easier to surface relevant discussions and boost participation. The momentum around social learning is only increasing as businesses seek to make learning more human, contextual, and collaborative.