LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com) vs. Totara LMS

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
Lynda.com (now offered as part of LinkedIn Learning) is an elearning course library acquired and now supported by LinkedIn in May 2015.N/A
Totara LMS
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
Totara Learning, headquartered in Wellington offers the Totara workforce learning management system with core LMS (Totara Learn) integratable social platform (Totara Social), support for instructor led learning, and cloud storage for learning materials, available on cloud.N/A
Pricing
LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)Totara LMS
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)Totara LMS
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Features
LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)Totara LMS
Learning Management
Comparison of Learning Management features of Product A and Product B
LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)
7.6
11 Ratings
10% below category average
Totara LMS
7.7
3 Ratings
6% below category average
Course authoring7.710 Ratings8.13 Ratings
Course catalog or library8.811 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Player/Portal8.311 Ratings7.53 Ratings
Learning content8.711 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Progress tracking & certifications8.911 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Learning reporting & analytics6.510 Ratings7.93 Ratings
Social learning7.28 Ratings7.02 Ratings
Gamification4.33 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile friendly00 Ratings7.13 Ratings
Assignments00 Ratings7.53 Ratings
Compliance management00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Learning administration00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
eLearning Content
Comparison of eLearning Content features of Product A and Product B
LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)
6.4
6 Ratings
26% below category average
Totara LMS
-
Ratings
Multi-Lingual Support6.04 Ratings00 Ratings
Structured Learning7.06 Ratings00 Ratings
Course Searches7.96 Ratings00 Ratings
Historical Metrics5.24 Ratings00 Ratings
Cloud-Based Content6.84 Ratings00 Ratings
Automation & Integration5.73 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)Totara LMS
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Score 9.9 out of 10
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User Ratings
LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)Totara LMS
Likelihood to Recommend
8.9
(39 ratings)
8.0
(3 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
7.0
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.5
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
7.0
(13 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
7.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Configurability
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com)Totara LMS
Likelihood to Recommend
LinkedIn
I've learned hundreds of software applications over the last several decades, and trained teams in offices and one-on-one. At one point, books and trade magazines were a great way to get up to speed with an application, but they've become less and less effective for getting started. Video lessons have some strengths; you can get a rapid overview of a program's capabilities and watch an experienced user using its tools efficiently. On rare occasions they'll even point out bugs that could trip you up, but I wish instructors shared more of those issues. However, it takes a very self-motivated learner to sit through training sessions. Most people don't fit that category, and a subscription may end up gathering dust like a pandemic gym membership. My account is sometimes dormant for months, but then I'll be watching lessons continually the following month. I've often wondered if it was worth it for that reason. I have some friends that voraciously devoured class after Lynda.com class, and built successful careers on that training. But many others never use their account. It's helpful to consider whether you're a self-motivated learner. If not, it may not be the best format for you. More complicated software often can't be adequately introduced in a several-hour-long series of videos. I found Final Cut Pro (7) hard to learn online, also Logic Pro. Other somewhat complicated programs like DVD Pro were a snap to learn, and I learned a lot about PHP and Actionscript programming from Lynda.com. Some web and graphics software is exceptionally explained by real experts, such as Lynda's Photoshop classes, which are the best I've seen on that subject. Many of her web production courses will take you every step along the way to creating your own website, even if you haven't coded before. Adobe and Apple have both published similar project-based tutorial classes in book form, and I think they're a bit more polished, but the video instructor can help move you along through all the content more easily. Learning software seems to work better from an online video than a book these days; it's helpful to already be sitting at the computer where you're able to try everything out as it's explained. Most people don't seem to retain software principles unless they're trying them while learning. A bad instructor can make it difficult to sit through a video class. Lynda.com and others generally have a large variety of content creators, so you're not as limited with instructors as you might be at a University, where the same instructor may teach several related applications. Departmental faculty may have much more targeted and creative applications for your software though, while paid corporate software training can be mind-numbingly bad. Continuing ed classes that I've taken usually seemed to just focus on learning the tools in a software product. They often don't or even can't show you how to apply the software for your purposes as full time faculty at a University might. Some Lynda.com instructors weren't great, but most seemed a cut above the continuing ed and corporate software trainers I've learned from or contracted. The majority of the classes seemed to apply the software for an impressive final project. Redundancy is a real drawback among the online lessons. Often the advanced classes repeat many of the concepts from the introductory "Essentials" courses. If you know an earlier version of an application and just want to learn new features, a book may be a faster route to your goal. I originally suggested the "New Features" lessons that Lynda began to offer for updated releases, and I think they're especially helpful. It's much harder to skim through a video than a page of text, so I'd anticipate having to complement your Lynda.com lessons with other instructional materials. Lynda.com didn't have as many of the "fluff" courses that LinkedIn is now offering. These titles read like articles from Cosmo. They might be better served to offer "How to respond to a connection request from a recruiter who works in a field completely unrelated to you."
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Totara Learning
As a real estate services company with properties (& employees) in six states, Totara LMS is well suited for implementing and our employee learning platform to our many team members that work remotely and cannot benefit from regular in-person learning courses. Totara LMS's comprehensive and customizable reporting system also allows us to accurately review and tell the story of employee performance and talent development, while tailoring this reporting to the needs of different internal stakeholders.
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Pros
LinkedIn
  • Industry expert authors/instructors - you're learning from people with pedigree.
  • Breadth and depth of catalog - not only is there a wide range of topics and disciplines, but there are frequently several levels of depth within each (eg. Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced).
  • Time needed to complete each course AND each section of a course are included - you know what you're getting into from the first click.
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Totara Learning
  • Distribute elearning
  • run exams
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Cons
LinkedIn
  • LinkedIn Learning provides learning paths, but it's left much to be desired. Not enough direction about the why, or learning outcomes.
  • Some courses provide exercises/quizzes. Others do not. There's definitely a missing piece to test comprehension.
  • The library is so large, it's difficult to really build your own learning. I find it better for just-in-time learning.
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Totara Learning
  • Reporting can be a little inflexible - sometimes, the report cannot be customized to have all the columns you need as they are not available from that area of the LMS.
  • Graphic reporting needs some more work to be a bit more professional looking.
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Likelihood to Renew
LinkedIn
It can help all employees learn to strengthen current skills or to learn new skills and then can learn to excel in their current department or they learn a new skills in a new department creating interconnection and cross-departmental value in a company.
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Totara Learning
No answers on this topic
Usability
LinkedIn
Very user friendly, easy to copy and/or download notes offline, and follow up with your instructor is easy as pie. You can even LinkedIn with your instructor and follow up with questions/concerns online and in several forums. Very cool concept and easy to use.
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Totara Learning
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
LinkedIn
The technical team behind LinkedIn Learning (or Lynda.com) knows their job, and they usually solve problems very quickly. While I haven't had many run-ins with them (thus the low rating), I do find that when we call them, the problem gets resolved in a reasonable amount of time. The flip-side of this comment is that we never have needed to call them with a high-priority issue.
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Totara Learning
Easy to access both local support and support/advice from other Totara LMS users as we keep in regular contact as a part of the totara government users group. Our vendor also keeps in touch with this group and a lot of knowledge is shared. It's easy to access the Totara LMS users academy, and one of my administrators has also set up a local forum where they ask each other questions and share knowledge as well. Our vendor is easy to access via our support plan and we have monthly catch-ups with our account manager where we hear about anything new coming up.
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Implementation Rating
LinkedIn
By implementation we are able to achieve 1.Skill improvement 2.Reduced burden on training staff 3.Learning new market leading technologies like Generative AI.
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Totara Learning
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
LinkedIn
Our organization has used different webinars, including ones on LinkedIn, to provide similar insight. But it's a totally different ballgame. Lynda.com offers in-depth tutorials rather than just a 2-hour video broadcast. With lynda.com there are more information and experts, as well as so many different courses fit for every need/want. There is also a lot more flexibility with lynda. You can take it on the go, watch on mobile and at anytime, rather than being tied to a certain time slot.
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Totara Learning
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
LinkedIn
  • I can't think of a negative impact that Lynda.com has when it relates to the extensive library of training software that is available to subscribers. I'm lucky that my job provides a free subscription for instructors. I use Lynda.com to hone in on my technical skills.
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Totara Learning
  • Totara LMS has helped increase our employee retention by 15%.
  • Totara LMS has drastically improved our employee learning and development processes that weren't in place prior to having this system.
  • Totara LMS has decreased the time the onboarding process takes by 1 day.
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ScreenShots

Totara LMS Screenshots

Screenshot of Ensure compliance with programs and pathways to improve safety and reduce business risks.Screenshot of Cater to multiple groups, partners and customers from a single instance of your LMS.Screenshot of The learning management system, trusted by thousands of customers, upskills your workforce the way you want, with the power and flexibility to deliver transformational learning.Screenshot of The Totara Mobile app is developed by Totara for Totara users. Our native app is available for both Android and iOS devices and offers a number of authentication options, including support for both single sign-on and manual login users. Your app login screen can be customized and branded to match your Totara Learn site so learners are offered a familiar and intuitive user experience.