For most training providers, the question is no longer whether to use a training management system (TMS), but which one is the right fit. As training programmes grow in scale and complexity, managing courses, trainers, registrations, and reporting manually quickly becomes unsustainable.
With so many platforms on the market, identifying the best training management system for your organisation can feel overwhelming. Yet the right choice can save time and resources, streamline day-to-day administration, and improve the overall learner experience.
In this blog, we've compared five leading training management systems, examining their core capabilities, standout strengths, and ideal use cases. Whether you're managing hundreds of courses across multiple regions or looking for a straightforward solution to replace spreadsheets and manual processes, you'll gain a clearer view of which TMS is the best fit for your organisation.
What is a training management system?
A training management system is an integrated software platform designed to plan, schedule, manage, and report on the operational and logistical aspects of training programmes. Unlike a learning management system (LMS), which focuses on delivering and tracking learning content, a TMS is built to support the day-to-day running of a training business.
For training companies, a TMS functions as a central hub for managing complex workflows between training delivery and commercial operations.
The value of a TMS comes down to three things:
- Scalability: Managing hundreds or thousands of training courses across multiple locations and time zones from one central system, without needing to grow the admin team at the same rate.
- Administrative efficiency: Automating repetitive tasks like instructor allocation, session approvals, bulk enrolments, and issuing certificates, cutting down on manual work and errors.
- Commercial training workflows: Managing bookings, process payments (including multi-currency payments), tracking course profitability and reporting more efficiently, helping you maintain control over revenue and margins.
Much of this efficiency comes from automation. Instead of relying on manual processes, a well-built TMS can take care of time-consuming tasks. This not only saves time, but also reduces errors and frees up teams to focus on delivering high-quality training.
Best training management systems for training providers in 2026
Choosing the right training management system starts with understanding how well a platform’s features match your organisation’s size, delivery model, and commercial goals. Not every TMS is built for the same type of training provider, and what works for one business may not suit another.
In 2026, five platforms stand out as leading options for commercial training providers:
- Accessplanit
- Administrate
- Arlo
- Dante
- Training Orchestra
Accessplanit
Accessplanit is a highly configurable training management software built to centralise the end-to-end operations of commercial training providers. It acts as a single operational hub, bringing together course management, customer data, bookings, finance, reporting, and integrations so training businesses can scale without adding unnecessary administrative complexity.
Accessplanit core capabilities and key features
End-to-end course and resource management
- Flexible centralised management of courses, sessions, trainers, venues, equipment, and availability
- Supports classroom, virtual, and multi-session programmes
Registrations and payments
- Online course catalogue with 24/7 booking
- Multi-currency payments, vouchers, discounts, and optional extras
- Automated invoices, receipts, and confirmations
Delegate and customer management
- Central learner and customer records from enquiry to certification
- Automated communications, including reminders, joining instructions, and follow-ups
Reporting and insights
- Pre-built reports and dashboards
- Advanced business intelligence via Power BI integration
Learning delivery
- Built-in LMS supporting blended delivery models
Accessplanit USPs and Strengths
Its primary strength lies in its configurability. Users can customise dashboards and workflows to fit their unique organisational needs rather than adjusting their business to fit the software.
It also features a built-in LMS and supports group bookings, making it a versatile choice for providers offering both public and corporate training.
Best for
Mid-market to large training providers who deliver hundreds or thousands of courses and need a system that can grow with their administrative complexity.
Administrate
Administrate is an enterprise-grade training management system, purpose-built for organisations delivering complex, high-volume instructor-led and virtual instructor-led training (ILT and vILT) at scale.
Administrate’s core capabilities and key features
Course and programme management
- Course, credential, badge, and learning path management
- Structured programmes combining multiple modules and events
People and resource management
- Centralised management of learners, instructors, roles, calendars, and assets
- Credentials, achievements, and permissions tracking
Enterprise scheduling and automation at scale
- AI-powered scheduling designed for high-volume, complex instructor-led training
- Automated conflict detection for instructors, resources, and sessions
Sales and monetisation
- Sales pipeline and opportunity management
- Flexible pricing models, including subscriptions and tokens
Reporting and integrations
- User-friendly drag-and-drop reporting and enterprise analytics
- Open API for custom workflows and system integrations
Administrate USP and strengths
Administrate’s primary differentiator is its ability to plan, schedule, and optimise instructor-led training at true enterprise scale. By automating up to 90% of complex administrative work within the first 90 days, it replaces manual scheduling, enrolment, and resource coordination with intelligent, AI-driven automation.
Combined with deep enterprise integrations, flexible learning paths, and an open API, Administrate provides large, global, and regulated training organisations with the control, visibility, and scalability needed to align training delivery with wider business and L&D objectives.
Best for
Best suited to large enterprises and global training organisations operating in complex or regulated environments such as industrial engineering, software, healthcare, aviation, and professional certification, where training is business-critical and operationally demanding.
Arlo
Arlo is a purpose-built TMS designed for commercial training providers who prioritise saving time and increasing sales targets. It is widely recognised for its high user ratings and extensive library of native integrations.
Arlo provides a set of integrated tools designed to help training providers sell, manage, and deliver courses more efficiently.
Arlo's core capabilities and key features
Online registrations and payments
- Smart, conversion-focused registration forms for public and private courses
- Flexible pricing rules for paid and free events
- Integrated invoicing and online payments
Website integration and online sales
- Embedded, fully branded training catalogue
- Real-time updates to availability, pricing, and course details
CRM and learner management
- Built-in training CRM for contacts, organisations, certificates, and documents
- Full communication and engagement history
Marketing and automation
- Audience segmentation based on learner behaviour and course activity
- Targeted email campaigns with ROI tracking
Trainer-friendly delivery tools
- Instructor App for attendance, grading, and real-time delivery tasks
Integrations
- Extensive native integrations across CRM, finance, marketing, and virtual delivery
Arlo USPs and strengths
Arlo’s core strength lies in its web-first, sales-focused approach to training management. It supports instructor-led, virtual, blended, and self-paced learning models. Unlike more operations-heavy or enterprise scheduling platforms, Arlo is designed to maximise registrations and revenue through seamless website integration, automated workflows, and built-in marketing tools.
Transparent, usage-based pricing and no long-term contracts further differentiate Arlo, making it a flexible and accessible option for growing training businesses.
Best for
Arlo is a great solution for commercial training providers, franchises, professional bodies, and associations that rely on strong online visibility, automated registrations, and integrated marketing to drive growth.
It is particularly effective for organisations delivering instructor-led, blended, compliance, and professional training across sectors such as health and safety, IT, leadership, construction, and education.
Dante
Dante is a UK-based training management system designed to give training providers a professional, cost-effective, purpose-built platform without the cost, complexity, or long-term contracts associated with enterprise software. Dante provides a comprehensive set of tools for managing courses, delegates, tutors, and finances from a single interface.
Dante’s core capabilities and features
Course scheduling and resources
- Visual drag-and-drop calendar for course planning
- Resource availability tracking to prevent double bookings
Registrations and payments
- Integrated online booking for in-person and online training
- Automated payments, invoices, and profitability visibility
CRM and customer management
- Training-specific CRM for enquiries, bookings, contracts, and certificates
- Customer-specific pricing and commercial terms
Trainer-friendly delivery tools
- Tutor Portal and mobile app for schedules, attendance, and results
- Permission-based access for internal and external tutors
Automation and documentation
- Automated emails, certificates, and renewal reminders
- Branded document and email templates with engagement tracking
Finance and credit control
- Customer credit limits, payment terms, and automated reminders
Dante USPs and strengths
Dante’s key differentiator is its fair and fixed pricing model, which does not penalise growth by charging per delegate, booking, or feature tier. With rolling monthly contracts and no lock-in, it offers great flexibility. This is complemented by a dedicated Tutor Portal and app, designed specifically to support training delivery in the real world. Dante also stands out for its excellent customer support, making it ideal for training providers seeking reliability without enterprise overhead.
Best for
Dante is best suited to small and medium-sized training providers, independent training businesses, and organisations delivering professional, compliance, or vocational training.
It is an excellent fit for teams that want robust scheduling, CRM, and financial controls in a single system, without complex implementations or escalating costs.
Training Orchestra
Training Orchestra is an award-winning training management system purpose-built to optimise the back-office operations of instructor-led and virtual instructor-led training (ILT and vILT). Rather than replacing a learning management system, it sits alongside existing learning platforms, providing a dedicated layer for scheduling, resourcing, budgeting, and operational control across large, complex training environments.
Training Orchestra core capabilities and features
Course scheduling and resources
- Graphical scheduling and coordination for large-scale ILT and vILT sessions
- Instructor and resource assignment across locations
Task and workflow management
- Course-linked task lists and operational checklists
- Visual progress tracking and status indicators
Instructor collaboration
- Dedicated instructor portal for schedules, learning materials, and communication
- Real-time notifications and task alerts
Budgeting and cost management
- Real-time tracking of training budgets, costs, and utilisation
- Multi-region and multi-currency financial oversight
Reporting and analytic tools
- Custom and standard reports covering delivery, cost, enrolment trends, and training ROI.
Training Orchestra USPs and strengths
Training Orchestra’s core strength lies in its ability to complement an existing LMS by delivering enterprise-grade ILT logistics, scheduling, and financial oversight. It excels in handling complex regulatory training requirements, global budgets, and extended enterprise scenarios, managing everything from course planning through to order and invoice tracking.
Best for
Training Orchestra is best suited to large training companies and organisations that deliver employee training at scale and instructor-led training programmes across multiple regions.
The best training management systems at a glance: A side-by-side comparison
| TMS | Primary focus | What it’s best at | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessplanit | End-to-end operational management | Highly configurable management of complex commercial training operations | Mid-market to large training providers managing high volumes of public and corporate courses |
| Administrate | ILT/vILT scheduling and automation at scale | Automating complex instructor-led training with advanced planning and control | Large enterprises and regulated organisations delivering business-critical training |
| Arlo | Online registrations, sales, and marketing | Driving course bookings and revenue through a web-first, sales-focused TMS | Commercial training providers, associations, and franchises focused on growth and visibility |
| Dante | Scheduling, CRM, and financial control | Fair fixed pricing with strong commercial controls and support | Small to medium training providers wanting simplicity without enterprise complexity |
| Training Orchestra | ILT operations, logistics, and budgeting | Coordinating complex instructor-led training operations alongside an existing LMS | Large organisations and extended enterprise environments delivering ILT across regions |
What is the best training management software?
There is no single “best” training management system. The best TMS depends on your training model, scale, and operational complexity. Some platforms are better suited to high-volume instructor-led training with complex scheduling and resource management, while others focus on online bookings, CRM, and selling training efficiently.
The right choice should reduce manual workload and free your team to focus on what matters: delivering high-quality training that keeps learners coming back. Ultimately, the best training management software is the one that fits your specific use case and reduces admin while supporting your long-term growth.
How Coursecheck extends your training management system
To get the most value from even the best training management systems, many providers pair them with a dedicated evaluation platform like Coursecheck. This enables post-training feedback to be captured consistently at scale, supporting ongoing quality improvement.
Coursecheck integrates with all leading training management systems, allowing key training data to be automatically synced so feedback requests are triggered at the right time. For example, Coursecheck's off-the-shelf integration with Arlo syncs course schedules, instructors, and upcoming events into Coursecheck via Arlo’s API.
Learners receive pre-populated surveys or QR codes for course feedback, while results appear instantly in Coursecheck’s dashboards, flagging any issues in real time. This approach is used at scale by organisations such as ACI Learning, who replaced paper-based training evaluation with automated feedback processes, saving around 20 hours per week and improving data accuracy.
Integrating Coursecheck with your TMS primarily saves time and reduces manual effort, while Coursecheck itself enables you to turn learner feedback into a continuous improvement tool and marketing asset.
If you want to go beyond administration and understand how your training is actually landing, book a demo of Coursecheck.
We’ll show you how training providers use Coursecheck to capture accurate learner feedback at scale, integrate seamlessly with their training management systems, and turn insight into measurable improvement and credible evidence of impact.
Best training management systems: frequently asked questions
What is the typical cost of a TMS?
The cost of a training management system (TMS) varies widely depending on features, scale, and pricing model.
In practice, pricing typically falls into three broad ranges:
- Entry-level / SMB platforms: from around £50–£150 per month, often with fixed pricing and core features for scheduling, bookings, and basic CRM.
- Mid-market solutions: from £300–£1,500 per month, offering more advanced automation and reporting.
- Enterprise platforms: £10,000+ per year, often priced via custom contracts based on users, volume, regions, or functionality, and designed for complex, global ILT operations.
What are the two types of training management software?
There aren’t just two types of training management software. Within TMS platforms themselves, there are several types, typically ranging from administrative systems (focused on scheduling and logistics) to commercial systems (built to sell and manage external training), employee/internal training systems, and more modular platforms that can be configured to support multiple use cases. The right type depends on who you train, how you deliver training, and how complex your operations are.
What is the difference between an LMS and a TMS?
A Learning Management System (LMS) and a Training Management System (TMS) support different aspects of training and solve different problems.
An LMS is designed for learning delivery and tracking. It focuses on the learner experience by hosting course content, managing assessments, tracking completion, and supporting online or asynchronous learning. LMS platforms are well suited to digital learning programmes, but they typically don’t handle the operational or commercial side of training.
A TMS, by contrast, is built to run training as a business. It manages the logistics and administration behind training delivery, including course scheduling, registrations, payments, instructor coordination, venues, resources, and reporting. For training providers delivering instructor-led training (in person or virtual), a TMS acts as the system of record for operations, revenue, and compliance.
In practice, many training organisations use both: an LMS to deliver learning content, and a TMS to manage the commercial and operational processes that sit around training delivery.