Visme vs Articulate 360: Your Detailed Comparison Guide for 2025
Businesses can’t survive without data anymore. In fact, 97% of companies now invest in big data and artificial intelligence (AI). A big chunk of this data is internal—knowing how your employees feel, perform, behave and learn.
A Learning Record Store (LRS) helps you track and analyze employee learning data so you know how effective your training programs are and how to improve them further.
In this article, we’ll discuss what a Learning Record Store is, how it works and what it’s for. We’ve also rounded up the 10 best LRS software to help you elevate your training programs.
A Learning Record Store (LRS) is a system that stores, manages and retrieves data about learner experiences, activities and achievements.
It’s part of the Experience API (xAPI) ecosystem—an e-learning specification that makes it possible to collect data from any source or device with the help of a shared format.
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An LRS stores information in a way that’s easy to access, share and analyze. It’s like a centralized database that collects employee training data from various sources and distributes it across external platforms in your organization.
The primary purpose of a Learning Record Store (LRS) is to capture and store data about learning experiences. This includes data on online courses, classroom training, mobile apps and real-world experiences.
An LRS takes a unique approach from traditional learning systems as it helps us get a complete picture of how learning takes place.
Here are some specific functions of an LRS:
1. Implement xAPI standards: The Experience API (xAPI) has strict standards for tracking learner experiences. An LRS stores and manages data as xAPI statements, which makes it easier to share, report and analyze that data with an LMS integration.
2. Connect different learning platforms: The LRS breaks down silos between learning platforms. It collects data from multiple sources and provides a unified access point, creating a connected and comprehensive learning landscape.
3. Enable data analysis and reporting: With the wealth of data stored in an LRS, trainers can analyze learning patterns, program effectiveness and job performance and make informed decisions to improve future outcomes.
4. Support compliance and regulatory needs: In many industries, keeping detailed records of training and development activities is a regulatory requirement. An LRS helps organizations meet these compliance standards by providing accurate and accessible records of all learning activities.
5. Enhance personalized learning: An LRS isn't just about the big picture. It’s also about the individual. By tracking each learner's progress, you can create personalized and engaging learning experiences that improve performance and satisfaction.
Both the Learning Record Store (LRS) and Learning Management System (LMS) directly contribute to the learning process, but their functions and capabilities are entirely different.
An LRS is a system that compiles and stores data about learning activities, whereas a Learning Management System (LMS) is an all-in-one platform used to plan, create, manage and deliver learning experiences.
Many LMS come with an embedded LRS, so when they’re integrated with an xAPI ecosystem, they act as activity providers for the LRS.
An LRS, on the other hand, can be part of an LMS or work on its own. In short, you can operate without an LMS, but an LRS is essential in any xAPI setup.
An LRS enables data collection from a variety of learning experiences, including informal and non-standardized learning activities such as mobile apps, simulations, job performances, instructor-led training sessions and in-person activities.
But an LRS doesn't just store experiences. It also helps you share this valuable data with other platforms for advanced reporting, interpretation and decision-making. You can compare and collate this data to evaluate the impact of your training programs as well.
An LRS works in a specific way. Not only is it a key part of the xAPI ecosystem but it adheres to the xAPI specifications that store learner data in the form of easy-to-interpret statements.
So, whenever a learning activity takes place, whether in an online or offline setting, activity streams are sent and stored in the LRS as xAPI statements.
These xAPI statements are structured in the actor-verb-object format and can include additional context about the activities. Here are some examples:
You can access this data through other LRS, LMS or reporting tools, and even store it as independent transcripts or individual learning records.
Most LRS come with built-in reporting features to measure the effectiveness of your training programs and track overall learner engagement. You can also configure the LRS in a way that allows users to read and write data to the LRS.
An LRS can also live inside an LMS and work within that LMS's capabilities. Or, you can share this data with another LRS, whether inside an LMS or independent of an LMS.
There’s no one-size-fits-all LRS out there. Each Learning Record Store software comes with varying features like scalability, integrations and analytics, and some are better suited for larger or smaller businesses.
Here are 10 best Learning Record Store vendors to support your training needs:
*Disclaimer: The comparisons and competitor ratings presented in this article are based on features available as of Nov 24, 2023. We conduct thorough research and draw on both first-hand experience and reputable sources to provide reliable insights. However, as tools and technologies evolve, we recommend readers verify details and consider additional research to ensure the information meets their specific needs.
Veracity Learning is an incredibly versatile LRS software that supports a wide range of xAPI data types, such as signatures, attachments and documents.
It's known for its ability to connect with other LRS and enable data forwarding and sharing between different systems. Veracity Learning also offers some basic LMS features that lets trainers manage courses and users.
The platform offers multiple solutions targeting unique needs:
For on-premise LRS solutions, Veracity Learning offers a free Lite plan. For Enterprise and White Label pricing, you need to request a quote.
Below is the pricing structure for SaaS-hosted plans:
Educational institutes and organizations that prioritize customizability and scalability.
Watershed LRS is a popular learning analytics platform known for its robust reporting capabilities. The platform can handle a variety of learning experiences, from mobile content to simulations, and offers real-time insights into learner progress. This makes it a powerful tool for data-driven decision-making.
You can also integrate data from external sources like webinars and social media and create custom dashboards to improve training outcomes.
Watershed LRS offers three plans:
Large enterprises that need advanced learning analytics and custom reports.
Instancy is an all-in-one learning platform that blends LRS with a powerful LMS.
The cloud-based learning record system within Instancy’s LMS captures data on web and mobile learning experiences and feeds it into the platform's total learning ecosystem.
Instancy also has the ability to automate learning workflows and uses multimedia-rich and gamified content to make learning more fun and interactive.
Educational institutions with comprehensive e-learning needs.
Learning Pool LRS is the go-to option for data-driven organizations because of its advanced visualization tools like charts, graphs and diagrams.
The platform is 100% xAPI-conformant and allows you to configure business rules to trigger specific data events. This helps to automate and optimize training programs.
If you're looking for a learning record store open source tool, this is exactly what you need.
Apart from its enterprise solution, Learning Pool also offers an open-source solution, known as the Learning Locker, so there’s plenty of flexibility to scale up or down.
Contact for pricing
Data-driven organizations that also need strong content authoring features.
ProProfs is a training creation tool that comes with a built-in cloud LRS. It allows you to create and optimize courses and assessments from a centralized system, which eliminates the need for multiple tools.
It also gives you a complete view of employees' learning paths, making it an ideal choice for organizations focused on in-depth employee training and development.
SMEs looking for an easy-to-use LRS focused on employee training.
Xyleme is a learning content management system that comes with a built-in LRS.
It specializes in collecting content engagement and learner performance data and also offers dynamic dashboards for in-depth analytics.
The platform seamlessly integrates with third-party applications to support diverse learning ecosystems and comes with enterprise-level security features, such as Single Sign-On (SSO), to protect data.
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Organizations that require an LRS with powerful content management features.
SQL LRS by Yet Analytics is completely free under the Apache 2.0 open-source license, so you always have full control over your data.
The platform allows for direct querying of the LRS database and is compatible with any Postgres-ready tool, including Google Looker, Power BI and Tableau.
It also lets you use its AI capabilities to improve learning experiences by creating custom models, dashboards and reports.
Data-driven organizations that require robust SQL-based analytics and AI capabilities.
GrassBlade is another cloud-based LRS that gives you full control over your data.
It integrates seamlessly with various xAPI-enabled platforms, LMS and over 1,000 applications like Zapier, Google Docs and Salesforce.
The platform also comes with advanced reporting capabilities for quizzes and videos, customizable learner groups and filters, and unlimited data storage.
SMEs and educational institutes.
Sponge is a digital learning management platform that offers a suite of features like detailed analytics, integration with other tools and support for a wide range of learning activities.
Their LRS is integrated with Spark LMS, which helps you create training programs and track learner progress with various types of content, including desktop, mobile and simulations.
The platform lets you customize dashboards and focus on metrics that matter most. It also allows you to create detailed, custom reports to aid decision-making and strategy development in the learning process.
Pricing
Advanced data integration and collaborative learning.
Valamis is a complete learning solution geared towards large-scale organizations.
It collects data from online and offline learning experiences and adheres strictly to xAPI standards for seamless tool integration.
The platform also integrates with existing learning ecosystems and offers real-time analytics for quick decision-making. Plus, its mobile compatibility makes learning flexible and accessible.
Starts at €12,000/year
Large organizations looking for a scalable, mobile-friendly LRS.
If you want to track, store and analyze in-depth learning data across extensive and potentially complex training programs involving various sources, you definitely need an LRS. Additionally, an LRS can scale with your needs and help you meet strict compliance standards when it comes to recording and retrieving employee training data.
An LRS integration lets you connect your LRS to other e-learning tools and applications to exchange data. It uses xAPI standards to track and report learning activities across all platforms. For example, you could integrate your LRS with your LMS or a third-party reporting tool to visualize and interpret training data.
To create an LRS, you need a system to collect, store and retrieve learning data in compliance with e-learning standards like xAPI.
However, this requires technical expertise and knowledge of e-learning protocols, which is why organizations prefer choosing pre-built LRS solutions instead of developing one from scratch.
The Experience API (xAPI) Learning Ecosystem is a network of e-learning tools that communicate and share data using the xAPI standard. It tracks and analyzes learning experiences across various platforms and devices to provide a holistic view of learner performance and engagement.
Knowing what an LRS is and how it works can help you choose the right software for your training needs. In this article, we've discussed the different types of LRS.
But why stop there?
Take your corporate training to the next level by expanding your tech stack and integrating a professional content authoring tool like Visme.
Visme’s powerful platform lets you develop interactive and engaging courses, presentations, infographics, videos and all sorts of other training materials.
The best part is you can export your projects in SCORM and xAPI formats to easily integrate with your chosen LMS.
Browse thousands of ready-made training templates and customize them with built-in icons, photos, videos and illustrations using the drag-and-drop editor. Add interactivity and animation, data visualizations and more to spice up your materials.
Finally, collaborate with your team to create amazing, well-rounded courses and apply your branding with the brand kit or AI Brand Wizard.
Ready to try it for yourself? Sign up for free or learn more about how Visme can help you amplify training and development.
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