SimpliTrain vs. SAP Litmos
Training runs on one price, not stacked add-ons
Litmos delivers solid course content, but the bill doesn’t stop there. Content libraries, integrations, and connectors are priced and contracted separately, per user. SimpliTrain delivers that same course delivery, then keeps going: native ILT and vILT scheduling, real-time reporting, and one flat price from $60 per admin and instructor, not per user.
A Training Management System with one price, not a base rate plus add-ons.
SAP Litmos
Tiered, per user
$3-15+
per user, per month, depending on tier and volume. Content libraries, the Salesforce connector, and other integrations are priced separately.
Flat rate per admin and instructor
vs a base rate plus add-ons
SimpliTrain
Per admin and instructor
From $60
Flat rate per admin and instructor, not per user. Everything included, with nothing else to negotiate as separate line items.
SAP Litmos
Ownership since 2011
3 owners
CallidusCloud (2011), then SAP (2018), then Francisco Partners (2022). Still widely marketed as “SAP Litmos.”
One team, one roadmap
vs three changes of ownership
SimpliTrain
Ownership
Independent
Built and supported as one focused training platform, with no parent-company handoffs.
SimpliTrain vs. SAP Litmos
A complete feature-by-feature breakdown across ILT scheduling, vILT delivery, LMS capabilities, reporting, and pricing.
| Features | SAP Litmos | SimpliTrain |
|---|---|---|
|
ILT and vILT Training Scheduling
|
||
| Session and event scheduling | Yes Established, long-standing ILT module | Yes |
| Instructor and trainer management | Yes | Yes |
| Room and venue allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Native virtual classroom (vILT) | Integration-based Delivered through third-party conferencing tools like GoToTraining, not a built-in classroom | Yes – native |
| Blended learning (ILT + eLearning) | Yes | Yes – native |
| Automated attendance tracking | Yes | Yes |
|
Learning Management System (LMS)
|
||
| Self-paced eLearning delivery | Yes | Yes |
| SCORM, AICC, and Tin Can (xAPI) support | Yes | Yes |
| Learning paths and structured curricula | Yes | Yes |
| Ease of use for admins and learners | Yes A consistently praised strength in user reviews | Yes |
| Analytics and reporting depth | Weak One of the most frequently cited complaints in user reviews; custom reports often need professional services | Yes – real-time dashboards |
| Training data and content portability | Limited Reviewers report being unable to extract original SCORM files once uploaded | Yes |
|
Course Authoring and Content Tools
|
||
| Native course builder | Assembly tool Assembles courses from video, SCORM, and quizzes; not a full interactive authoring suite | Yes – SimpliAuthor |
| AI-assisted course creation | Yes Litmos AI Assistant, added to personalize learning journeys | Yes |
| Built-in content library | Add-on Sold separately as “Content Collections,” not included in the base LMS | Included |
|
Certifications and Compliance
|
||
| Automated certificate generation | Yes | Yes |
| Compliance tracking and reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Audit-ready compliance reports | Limited flexibility Same reporting rigidity flagged elsewhere in reviews | Yes – built in |
| Knowledge checks and assessments | Yes | Yes – native engine |
|
Commercial and Multi-Audience Training
|
||
| Built for internal employee training | Yes | Yes |
| Extended enterprise (train partners and customers) | Yes A genuine strength of the platform | Yes |
| Sell online courses to external learners | No | Yes |
| Payment processing and B2B invoicing | No | Yes |
|
Pricing and Platform
|
||
| Published pricing | Partial Starting ranges are estimated by third parties; final quote requires sales contact | Yes – on website |
| Pricing charged per | Per user Every learner counts toward the bill | Per admin and instructor Not per learner. Add unlimited learners at no extra cost. |
| Estimated cost structure | $3 to $15+/user/mo Plus separate add-ons for content, integrations, and connectors | From $60/mo, flat rate |
| Single-line pricing, no stacked add-ons | No Content, Salesforce connector, and Training Ops are priced as separate line items | Yes |
| Ownership stability | 3 owners since 2011 CallidusCloud, then SAP, then Francisco Partners; still marketed as “SAP Litmos” | Independent |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
Platform history
One team, not three owners since 2011
Litmos has changed hands three times: acquired by CallidusCloud in 2011, folded into SAP when SAP bought CallidusCloud in 2018, then sold by SAP to the private equity firm Francisco Partners in a deal that closed in late 2022. It’s still widely marketed as “SAP Litmos,” even though SAP hasn’t owned the company since 2022. SimpliTrain is built and supported as one focused, independent training platform, with no parent-company handoffs to track.
- SimpliTrain advantage
Pricing and procurement
One flat price, not a base rate plus a growing add-on list
Litmos publishes a starting per-user range, but the total tends to grow from there. Content libraries are sold separately as “Content Collections,” the Salesforce connector and other integrations are priced as their own line items, and per-user rates shift again once you cross volume tiers. SimpliTrain charges one flat rate per admin and instructor, starting at $60, with nothing else to add to the quote.
- SimpliTrain advantage
Reporting and analytics
Reports you can build yourself, not a professional-services ticket
Reporting is one of the most consistently flagged weak points in Litmos user reviews. “Poor Reporting” and “Inadequate Reporting” show up among the platform’s most common complaint tags, and reviewers describe asking for professional services just to get the dashboards they need. SimpliTrain gives training coordinators real-time dashboards on trainer utilization, session fill rates, and completions, built to be used without opening a ticket.
- SimpliTrain advantage
Discover with AI
10 things SimpliTrain does that SAP Litmos does not
Everything Litmos covers for corporate learning, plus the transparent pricing and native training operations it doesn’t come with.
One flat price, no stacked add-ons
Content libraries, the Salesforce connector, and other integrations aren't separate line items, and pricing isn't per user. SimpliTrain is one flat rate per admin and instructor, starting at $60.
A native virtual classroom for vILT
Launch live sessions and capture attendance in the same screen as scheduling. Litmos delivers virtual sessions through third-party conferencing tools like GoToTraining rather than a built-in classroom.]
Real-time dashboards, no professional-services ticket
Trainer utilization, session fill rates, and completion trends are visible instantly. Reporting is one of the most consistently flagged complaints in Litmos user reviews.
One team, not three owners since 2011
Litmos has changed hands from CallidusCloud to SAP to Francisco Partners, and is still marketed under a former owner's name. SimpliTrain is built and supported as one independent platform.
Training data you actually control
Export your course and session data whenever you need to. Litmos reviewers report being unable to extract original SCORM files once they're uploaded.
Course sales and B2B invoicing built in
Sell online courses to external learners and manage payment processing in the same platform. Litmos doesn't handle course commerce or invoicing.
Built specifically for training operations
SimpliTrain is a Training Management System first. Litmos is a corporate LMS with ILT as one feature among many, not the product's core focus.
A real course authoring suite, not just an assembler
Build interactive courses natively. Litmos's course builder functions more as a way to assemble existing video, SCORM, and quiz content than a full authoring tool.
A content library that's actually included
No separate purchase required. Litmos sells its content catalog as a paid add-on called Content Collections, on top of the base LMS license.
A price you can see before you talk to anyone
SimpliTrain's pricing is on the website. Litmos publishes tier ranges, but the final number still requires a sales conversation and depends on which add-ons you need.
Which platform fits your training operation?
SAP Litmos and SimpliTrain solve overlapping problems in different ways. The choice comes down to pricing structure and how central live training is to your program.
SimpliTrain
The right fit if any of these describe your team
- You want one flat price per admin and instructor, without content, connectors, and integrations priced as separate add-ons.
- You run instructor-led or virtual instructor-led training as a core part of your program and want a native virtual classroom, not a third-party conferencing integration.
- You want to build your own reports without opening a professional-services ticket.
- You also sell online courses commercially and need payment processing and B2B invoicing in the same platform.
- You'd rather work with one independent team than a product that's changed ownership three times.
SAP Litmos
Worth evaluating if these describe your team
- You need to train employees, partners, and customers as separate audiences at scale, an area where Litmos is a genuine strength.
- You already have a content library or authoring tool and mainly need distribution, not built-in course creation.
- You're comfortable with tiered per-user pricing and negotiating add-on modules as your program grows.
- You don't need deep, self-serve reporting and are fine looping in support for custom reports.
One price. No add-ons. No surprises.
See exactly what you’ll pay before you sign. SimpliTrain includes ILT and vILT scheduling, reporting, and support in one flat rate, with no content module, connector, or integration priced separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions training teams ask when comparing SimpliTrain and SAP Litmos side by side.
What is the main difference between SimpliTrain and SAP Litmos?
SAP Litmos is a corporate LMS priced on tiered per-user rates, with content libraries, integrations, and connectors typically sold as separate add-ons. SimpliTrain is a Training Management System built for instructor-led and virtual instructor-led training, with one flat rate per admin and instructor and no add-on modules to negotiate. If your team wants a single, predictable price and a native virtual classroom, SimpliTrain is built for that job specifically.
Is SAP Litmos still owned by SAP?
No. SAP sold Litmos to the private equity firm Francisco Partners in a deal that closed in the fourth quarter of 2022. The product is still widely marketed as “SAP Litmos,” but SAP hasn’t owned the company since 2022. Before that, Litmos was acquired by CallidusCloud in 2011, and SAP acquired CallidusCloud (and Litmos with it) in 2018. SimpliTrain is built and supported as one independent training platform.
How much does SAP Litmos cost compared to SimpliTrain?
SAP Litmos does not publish a single price list. Third-party pricing estimates put the base LMS around $3 to $6 per user per month at lower volumes, with content bundles, the Salesforce connector, and other integrations priced separately as add-ons. SimpliTrain publishes flat-rate pricing per admin and instructor, not per user, starting at $60, with everything included in that one rate.
Does SAP Litmos support instructor-led and virtual training?
Yes, Litmos has a long-standing ILT module for scheduling and managing classroom sessions. Virtual delivery, however, runs through third-party conferencing integrations like GoToTraining rather than a built-in virtual classroom. SimpliTrain includes a native virtual classroom built into the same screen as scheduling, with automated attendance and recordings attached to the learner’s record.
Can I export my training content from SAP Litmos?
Reviewers report limitations around data portability in Litmos, including being unable to extract original SCORM files once they’ve been uploaded to the platform, and describe managing custom fields as cumbersome. SimpliTrain is built so training teams can access and export their own course and session data without those constraints.
Why do SAP Litmos reviewers complain about reporting?
Reporting is one of the most frequently cited weaknesses in Litmos user reviews, with “Poor Reporting” and “Inadequate Reporting” among the platform’s top complaint tags on review sites like G2. Reviewers describe needing professional services to build custom reports and dashboards. SimpliTrain gives training coordinators real-time dashboards on trainer utilization, session fill rates, and completions, built to be used without outside help.
Disclaimer: The comparison data on this page is compiled from public domain sources, SAP’s and Francisco Partners’ official announcements, and independent review and analyst platforms including G2, Capterra, SourceForge, Software Advice, and ITQlick as of mid-2026. SAP Litmos pricing estimates are drawn from third-party pricing benchmarks, since Litmos does not publish a single official price list; actual costs vary by user count, tier, and add-on modules selected. All comparisons are made in good faith for informational purposes. We encourage readers to verify all details directly with SAP Litmos before making a purchasing decision.
