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Forma LMS
by Forma LMS
What Forma LMS is
Forma LMS is an open-source learning management system built around corporate training. Organizations can use it for employee learning, training for partners and sellers, or as a hub for selling courses. Courses can combine SCORM multimedia, HTML pages, and embedded videos with assessments, scores, and prerequisites. Course catalogs, learning paths, classroom and blended courses, and activity tracking support different training formats. Administrators can create custom reports and schedule their delivery, while customizable templates are used for automatically generated PDF certificates. A single installation can serve multiple clients with separate templates and URLs.
Forma LMS supports API access, single sign-on, LDAP authentication, and scheduled CSV imports and exports. Plugin integrations include SAML or OIDC access, WooCommerce, SCORM or xAPI learning objects, and web conferencing platforms such as BBB, WebEx, and Microsoft Teams. LDAP user synchronization is not natively supported. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License. The public stable release, version 4.1.44, is free to download for registered users; version 4.2.1 is available only to association members and contributors and requires PHP 8.2. Free community forum support and professional services from Forma partners are available.
Who it suits
Forma LMS suits organizations managing employee, partner, or seller training, as well as those using courses to reach customers. It may also fit teams that need learning paths, reports, certificates, or one installation serving multiple clients.
What it does well
- Supports SCORM, HTML, and embedded-video course materials.
- Includes assessments, scores, and course prerequisites.
- Provides custom reports and scheduled report delivery.
- Generates PDF certificates from customizable templates.
- One installation can serve multiple clients with separate URLs.
What to know first
- LDAP user synchronization is not natively supported.
- Version 4.2.1 is restricted to association members and contributors.
- Hosting version 4.2.x requires PHP 8.2.
Limits
The free public stable release is version 4.1.44 and is available to registered users. Version 4.2.1 is limited to association members and contributors; hosting that 4.2.x release requires PHP 8.2.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Forma LMS 4.1.44 | Public stable release · free download for registered users | Free |
| Forma LMS 4.2.1 | Latest stable release · available only to Association Members and Contributors | On request |
As formalms.org lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Forma LMS website.
- Choose the public stable 4.1.44 release and register to download it, or check eligibility for version 4.2.1.
- Prepare a supported server environment; version 4.2.x requires PHP 8.2.
- Install the self-hosted platform on a supported server environment.
- Create courses using SCORM multimedia, HTML pages, or embedded videos.
Verdict
Choose Forma LMS if you need an open-source platform for organizational training with course management, reporting, and certificates. The public 4.1.44 release is free for registered users; organizations seeking 4.2.1 need association-member or contributor access.
Questions
Is Forma LMS free?
Yes. The public stable release, version 4.1.44, is a free download for registered users.
Who can access version 4.2.1?
The listed latest stable release, 4.2.1, is available to association members and contributors.
Is Forma LMS open source?
Yes. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License.
What integrations does Forma LMS support?
It describes API access, single sign-on, LDAP authentication, scheduled CSV import and export, and plugin integrations such as WooCommerce, SAML or OIDC, SCORM or xAPI, and web conferencing platforms.
What platforms can run Forma LMS?
It is listed for API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows. Version 4.2.x requires PHP 8.2 and supports Linux, Windows, macOS, Unix, or Sun server environments.
Facts from Forma LMS's own pages
- API access
- Yes · docs.formalms.org, 22 Sept 2026
- Assessments
- Built-in assessment features manage scores and prerequisites, and the platform can automatically generate PDF certificates with customizable templates. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Certificates
- Yes · docs.formalms.org, 22 Sept 2026
- Course content
- Courses can include SCORM multimedia, HTML pages, and embedded videos, with built-in assessments, scores, and prerequisites. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Course management
- The platform supports course catalogs and learning paths, classroom and blended courses, and activity tracking with SCORM compatibility. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Distribution limit
- The latest stable release, Forma LMS 4.2.1, is restricted to Association Members and Contributors, while version 4.1.44 is publicly available as a free download for registered users. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2017 · formalms.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · docs.formalms.org, 22 Sept 2026
- Hosting requirements
- Forma LMS 4.2.x requires PHP 8.2 and supports Linux, Windows, macOS, Unix, or Sun server environments. · docs2.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Native integration options include an API, single sign-on, LDAP authentication, and scheduled CSV import and export tasks. · formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- LDAP limitation
- LDAP authentication is supported natively, but LDAP user synchronization is not. · formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Learner experience
- The interface is modern and responsive, and supports course materials including SCORM multimedia, HTML pages, and embedded videos. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The association statute says Forma LMS is distributed under the GNU General Public License. · formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The Forma LMS project is led and maintained by forma.association, created in January 2017 by the project founders. · formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Multi-client
- A single installation can serve multiple clients with different templates and URLs. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Other integrations
- The maker describes plugin-based integrations including SAML or OIDC access, WooCommerce, SCORM or xAPI learning objects, and web conferencing platforms such as BBB, WebEx, and Microsoft Teams. · formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker describes GDPR-related features for managing privacy policies and consent, and notes that organizations still need appropriate procedures and policies. · formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Forma LMS is an open-source learning management system built around corporate training needs. · formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Release access
- The download page lists Forma LMS 4.2.1 as available to association members and contributors, and 4.1.44 as a public stable release with free download for registered users. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Reporting
- Administrators can create custom reports and schedule regular report delivery to administrators or customers. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Reporting and certificates
- Forma LMS supports custom reports and automatically generated PDF certificates with customizable templates. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- The Forma LMS 4.2 release announcement says its PHP 8.2 transition updated core dependencies to reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities in older library versions. · forum.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
- SSO support
- Yes · docs.formalms.org, 22 Sept 2026
- Support
- The download page offers free community forum support and professional services from Forma partners. · docs.formalms.org, 11 Oct 2026
Where Forma LMS stands on Freedom251
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