12 Best Cornerstone Alternatives & Competitors to look for in 2024

Cornerstone is a robust software solution that specializes in talent management, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for recruiting, learning, performance management, and HR administration. As a leading player in the industry, it has set a high standard for functionality, user experience, and scalability.

However, the competitive landscape in the talent management software industry is dynamic, with several alternatives vying for attention. Competitors of Cornerstone include:

12 Best Cornerstone Alternatives & Competitors

I have compiled these top 12 Cornerstone alternatives and competitors for 2023 based on my hands-on experience, extensive research, client feedback, and insights from trusted peer reviews.

 1. EdApp

EdApp is a mobile-first learning management system (LMS) that offers microlearning courses and a suite of marketing and loyalty tools for businesses

Key Features:

• Course library with over 1000 editable courses 
• Creator tool with 80+ templates and AI Create feature 
• Admin portal for managing users, content, and data 
• Learner portal for accessing courses anytime, anywhere 
• Course creation services by expert instructional designers

Pros:

• Free for up to 50 active users per month 
• Low commission and customer data ownership 
• Engaging and interactive learning experience 
• Seamless integration with third-party platforms

Cons:

• Limited customization options for branding and design 
• No offline access to courses 
• No live chat or phone support

Pricing:

• Free plan for up to 50 active users per month and unlimited courses 
• Pro plan for $4 per active user per month with additional features such as AI Create, custom domain, and SSO.

Best For:

Retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries that require on-the-job training and skills development. Its best For Cloud-based SaaS platform that works on any device with a web browser

2. Teachfloor

Teachfloor is a social learning platform that allows educators and businesses to create engaging online courses with a mix of live classes, pre-recorded videos, and other content

Key Features:

• Curriculum builder with customizable start and end dates 
• Wall feature for managing student community and discussions 
• Activities module for scheduling assignments and peer reviews 
• Enrollment feature for setting prices and collecting payments 
• White-label course platform with logo, colors, domain, and SSO

Pros:

• Free trial with no credit card required 
• Unlimited students and courses 
• Boosts learner engagement and completion rates 
• Syncs with Zoom for live classes and recordings 
• Embeds content from over 100 software tools

Cons:

• No free plan available 
• Only supports Stripe for payment processing 
• No phone support or dedicated account manager

Pricing:

• Basic plan for $49 per month with up to 5 instructors and 500 GB storage 
• Pro plan for $99 per month with up to 10 instructors and 1 TB storage Enterprise plan with custom pricing and features

Best For:

Education, coaching, consulting, and other industries that offer online courses and programs 56 Cloud-based SaaS platform that works on any device with a web browser 56

3. Compono

Compono is an intelligent hiring and development software that helps businesses make better people decisions. It uses AI to profile the way businesses work and match candidates and employees to the right roles and learning opportunities.

Key Features:

• AI-powered assessment and matching tools 
• Customizable and scalable hiring and development workflows 
• Comprehensive people analytics and insights 
• Integrated learning platform with content curation and creation 
• Seamless integration with third-party platforms

Pros:

• ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified for quality and security 
• Reduces hiring time and cost, and improves retention 
• Enhances employee engagement and performance 
• Supports diversity and inclusion initiatives 
• Offers dedicated success manager and support

Cons:

• No free plan available 
• Pricing is not transparent on the website 
• Limited customization options for branding and design

Pricing:

Custom pricing based on the number of users, features, and integrations

Best For:

Any industry that requires on-the-job training, skills development, and talent management 12 Cloud-based SaaS platform that works on any device with a web browser 12

4. etrainu

etrainu etrainu is an eLearning platform that offers online training solutions for various sectors and topics1

Key Features:

• Pre-built course library and custom course development 1 
• Simple and easy to use LMS 1 
• Integrations with over 5000 apps 1 
• Detailed analytics and reporting 1 
• Secure and compliant data storage 1

Pros:

• Saves time and money in creating and delivering online training
• Increases learner engagement and retention
• Adapts to changing business and training needs
• Supports multiple devices and browsers 2

Cons:

• Limited customization options for branding and layout
• No gamification or social learning features
• No free trial or plan available

Pricing:

• Starts from $99 per month for up to 100 users
• Custom pricing for enterprise plans 3

Best For:

• Disability, Aged Care, Hospitality, Sport, Business, Early Childhood, etc
• Cloud-based

5. OttoLearn

OttoLearn is a gamified microlearning platform that uses adaptive algorithms and spaced repetition to improve knowledge retention and performance

Key Features

• AI-powered content creation and curation 4 
• Gamification features such as leaderboards, contests, points, and rewards 
• Analytics and dashboards to track learner progress and outcomes 4 
• Mobile applications for iOS and Android devices 
• Seamless integration with popular LMS and other tools 

Pros:

• Enhances learner motivation and engagement with fun and interactive activities 
• Personalizes learning experiences based on learner needs and goals 
• Reduces cognitive overload and increases retention with bite-sized content 
• Supports offline learning and push notifications

Cons:

• Requires internet connection for initial login and content updates
• No option to create certificates or badges for learners
• No live chat or phone support available

Pricing:

• Starts from $5 per user per month for up to 100 users
• Custom pricing for enterprise plans

Best For:

Retail, Hospitality, Home & Field Services, Training & Consulting, Higher Education, Community Organizations, etc4

Cloud-based

6. Gnowbe

Gnowbe is a free microlearning creator tool that helps users create online learning experiences in minutes.

Key Features:

• Rapid authoring platform with prebuilt templates and interactive content types 
• Collaborative content creation with multiple users working on the same program 
• Media-rich content with videos, images, gifs, pdfs, and embeds 
• Quiz and survey questions to assess learner understanding and feedback 
• Personalized messaging and customization options for branding and layout 

Pros:

• Enables users to create engaging and effective microlearning programs without coding or special software
• Supports various use cases such as lead generation, customer education, employee training, etc.
• Allows users to share their programs with customizable links or embed them on webpages
• Provides detailed analytics and reports on user engagement and performance 

Cons:

• Limited integrations with other tools or platforms 
• No gamification or social learning features 
• No option to create certificates or badges for learners 

Pricing:

• Free for up to 1000 learners per month with unlimited programs and content cards 
• Custom pricing for enterprise plans with additional features such as custom domains, webhooks, etc. 

Best For:

Any industry or niche that needs to create online learning experiences quickly and easily. Cloud-based.

7. Mini Course Generator

Mini Course Generator is a tool that helps users create interactive mini-courses and micro-learning materials with the help of artificial intelligence.

Key Features:

•  AI course creator that generates a complete mini-course based on a description or a key phrase 
• Super-simplistic card structure that allows users to create content without thinking about curriculum or modules 
• AI-assistant that helps users fill in the content cards with relevant and plagiarism-free information 
• Various content types such as info, quiz, survey, puzzle, group wall, etc. 
• Customization and automation options such as layout, themes, logo, custom domains, webhooks, etc.

Pros:

• Saves time and effort in creating mini-courses and micro-learning materials with AI support 
• Increases learner engagement and retention with interactive and bite-sized content 
• Allows users to place walls anywhere in their programs to collect emails, passwords, or feedback 
• Provides a branded mobile app for users to deliver their content and communities to their audience

Cons:

• Requires internet connection for using the tool and accessing the content 
• No option to create certificates or badges for learners 
• No live chat or phone support available 

Pricing:

• Free for up to 1000 learners per month with unlimited programs and content cards 
• Starts from $9 per month for up to 5000 learners per month with additional features such as custom domains, webhooks, etc. 
• Custom pricing for enterprise plans with additional features such as branded mobile app, white-labeling, etc.

Best For:

• Any industry or niche that needs to create interactive mini-courses and micro-learning materials with AI support.
• Cloud-based

8. Thinkific Plus

Thinkific Plus is a powerful, scalable, and easy-to-use learning platform for enterprises and large businesses.

Key Features:

• Drag and drop course builder with various content types and media options 
• Fully integrated e-commerce with instant access to funds and no transaction fees 
• Course quizzes and surveys to assess learner understanding and feedback 
• Branded mobile app for iOS and Android devices to deliver courses on the go 
• Customization and automation options such as layout, themes, logo, custom domains, webhooks, etc.

Pros:

• Enables enterprises and large businesses to create, market, and sell online learning products at scale Supports various use cases such as revenue generation, customer training, employee education, lead nurturing, etc. 
• Provides a dedicated account manager and customer support team for each client 
• Integrates with popular tools and platforms such as Zapier, Mailchimp, Shopify, Stripe, etc.

Cons:

• Requires a minimum of 100 active students per month to use the platform 
• No free trial or plan available 
• No gamification or social learning features 

Pricing:

Custom pricing based on the number of active students per month and the features required by each client

Best For:

• Enterprises and large businesses that need a powerful, scalable, and easy-to-use learning platform for their online education needs.
• Cloud-based

9. Moodle

Moodle is an open source learning platform that helps educators create effective online courses based on sound pedagogical principles

Key Features

• Flexible and customizable course formats and activities 
• Extensive plugins directory for extra features and integrations 
• Mobile app for iOS and Android devices 
• Support for various assessment methods and feedback tools
• Community forums and events for peer support and collaboration

Pros:

• Free and open source software with no licensing fees 
• Supports multiple languages and accessibility standards 
• Scalable and secure platform that can handle large numbers of users 
• Enables learner-centered and collaborative learning approaches 

Cons:

• Requires technical expertise and resources to install, maintain, and update 
• User interface may look outdated and complex for some users 
• May need additional plugins or customizations to meet specific needs 

Pricing:

• Free to download and use 
• Optional paid services such as hosting, support, training, etc

Best For:

• Education, Non-profit, Government, Healthcare, etc
• Self-hosted or cloud-based

10. TalentLMS

TalentLMS is a cloud-based learning management system that enables companies to quickly create, manage, deliver, and track self-paced, instructor-led or blended training across every department

Key Features:

• Drag and drop course builder with various content types and media options 
• Fully integrated e-commerce with instant access to funds and no transaction fees 
• Course quizzes and surveys to assess learner understanding and feedback 
• Mobile app for iOS and Android devices 
• Customization and automation options such as layout, themes, logo, custom domains, webhooks, etc. 

Pros:

• Easy to use, powerful LMS feature set with a user-friendly interface 
• Supports various use cases such as employee training, customer training, partner training, etc. 
• Provides a ready-made content library with thousands of courses on various topics 
• Integrates with popular tools and platforms such as Zapier, Mailchimp, Shopify, Stripe, etc.

Cons:

• No gamification or social learning features 
• No option to create certificates or badges for learners 
• No live chat or phone support available

Pricing:

• Free for up to 10 users and 10 courses 
• Starts from $59 per month for up to 40 users and unlimited courses 
• Custom pricing for enterprise plans with additional features such as single sign-on, SSL for custom domains, etc.

Best For:

Retail, Hospitality, Home & Field Services, Training & Consulting, Higher Education, Community Organizations, etc. 8^ Cloud-based

11. Litmos

Litmos is a cloud-based learning management system that empowers companies to deliver training anytime, anywhere, across the extended enterprise.

Key Features:

• Built-in content authoring with various content types and media options 
• E-Commerce portal to sell online courses with discounts, preferred pricing, and tax setup 
• Tracking and reporting with dashboards and analytics 
• Social learning and notifications with real-time activity feed and communication tools 
• Task automation with group enrollment, task assignment, and learning paths 

Pros:

• Enables enterprises and large businesses to create, market, and sell online learning products at scale 
• Supports various use cases such as compliance training, onboarding training, employee development, customer training, etc. 
• Provides a dedicated account manager and customer support team for each client 
• Integrates with popular tools and platforms such as Salesforce, Zoom, Shopify, Stripe, etc.

Cons:

• Requires a minimum of 100 active students per month to use the platform 
• No free trial or plan available 
• No gamification or social learning features

Pricing:

Custom pricing based on the number of active students per month and the features required by each client

Best For:

• Enterprises and large businesses that need a powerful, scalable, and easy-to-use learning platform for their online education needs.
• Cloud-based

12. Absorb LMS

Absorb LMS is a cloud-based learning management system that uses artificial intelligence to simplify learning and fuel business productivity.

Key Features:

• AI-powered content creation and curation with Absorb Create and Absorb Intelligence 
• Learner engagement with video assessments, gamification, and leaderboards  
• Reporting and analytics with dashboards and custom reports 
• Mobile app for iOS and Android devices 
• Content libraries with thousands of pre-built courses from leading eLearning content providers

Pros:

• Simplifies learning administration with automation and integration options 
• Personalizes learning experiences with adaptive algorithms and intuitive interfaces 
• Supports various use cases such as employee training, customer training, partner training, etc. Provides award-winning customer service and support

Cons:

• Requires internet connection for using the tool and accessing the content 
• No option to create certificates or badges for learners 
• No live chat or phone support available 

Pricing:

Custom pricing based on the number of active users per month and the features required by each client

Best For:

• Any industry or niche that needs a cloud-based learning management system that uses artificial intelligence to simplify learning and fuel business productivity.
• Cloud-based