Top 6 Training Management Software for 2026

Organisations today are running more training than ever before. Compliance programmes are expanding. Onboarding needs to be faster. Managers need support. Technical skills are evolving rapidly. And executive teams are asking sharper questions about value.

Yet many L&D and HR teams are still managing complex training operations through spreadsheets, shared inboxes, and disconnected systems.

This is where training management software (TMS) becomes essential.

A modern TMS doesn’t just help you schedule courses. It centralises planning, automates administration, tracks compliance, supports blended delivery, and critically, helps you connect training activity to measurable organisational outcomes.

In this guide, we’ll explore:

• What training management software is
• The difference between a TMS and an LMS
• The key features to look for in 2026
• A detailed comparison of the top training management software platforms
• How to choose the right solution for your organisation

If you’re an L&D Specialist, HR Manager, Head of People Development, or Technical Training Manager, this guide is designed to help you make a confident, evidence-based decision.

 

Key Takeaways

• Training management software centralises scheduling, administration, compliance tracking, and reporting.
• The difference between LMS and TMS platforms is narrowing — modern systems increasingly combine both.
• Automation, compliance visibility, integrations, and advanced reporting are essential features in 2026.
• The right TMS supports measurable outcomes across risk reduction, retention, productivity, and revenue.
• Kallidus stands out by combining LMS and TMS functionality with an outcomes-led operating model.

 

What is Training Management Software?

Training management software is a platform that helps organisations plan, schedule, deliver, track, and report on training programmes. It centralises administrative tasks such as enrolments, certifications, resource management, and compliance monitoring to improve efficiency, visibility, and measurable impact across employee training initiatives.

 

Learning Management System vs Training Management Software

Historically, the distinction was clear:

• Learning Management System (LMS): Focused on delivering and tracking online learning content.
• Training Management Software (TMS): Focused on logistics, scheduling instructor-led sessions, managing venues, allocating trainers, and handling certifications.

However, modern platforms increasingly combine both.

Today’s organisations need both delivery and operational control in one ecosystem. When evaluating systems, it’s useful to understand essential LMS features and how they integrate with scheduling, compliance, and reporting functions.

The reality is that training operations have become too complex for single-purpose tools.

 

Why Training Management Software matters more in 2026

L&D is under pressure to demonstrate impact.

According to the Brandon Hall Group, organisations with aligned learning and business strategies are significantly more likely to report improved employee performance and revenue growth.

Meanwhile, research from LinkedIn Learning shows that companies with strong learning cultures see higher retention and internal mobility rates.

Executives are no longer satisfied with completion rates. They want answers to:

• Are we reducing compliance risk?
• Are managers more capable?
• Are onboarding timelines shrinking?
• Is performance improving?

Training management software plays a central role in making those outcomes visible and defensible.

 

Key features to look for in Training Management Software

In 2026, basic course tracking isn’t enough. Below are the essential capabilities that differentiate modern systems.

 

1. Compliance and certification management

For regulated industries, compliance visibility is non-negotiable.

Look for:

• Automated certification tracking with expiry alerts
• Recertification workflows
• Audit-ready compliance dashboards
• Role-based mandatory training rules
• Version control for policy-based learning

A robust TMS should enable you to instantly demonstrate that employees in regulated roles are certified and up to date.

 

2. Advanced ILT & VILT management

A true TMS values instructor-led learning and provides:

• Instructor assignment and availability tracking
• Venue and room management
• Capacity controls and waitlists
• Equipment and resource allocation
• Multi-session programme scheduling
• Virtual classroom integrations (Zoom, Teams)

This is especially important for technical training, compliance workshops, and leadership programmes.

 

3. Automated workflows

Manual administration is one of the biggest drains on L&D capacity.

Look for automation such as:

• Rule-based enrolments by job role or location
• Approval workflows
• Automated reminders and notifications
• Waitlist auto-enrolment
• Certification renewal triggers
• Escalation rules for overdue training

Automation restores productivity to L&D teams and reduces error risk.

 

4. Blended learning & learning Paths

Training is no longer single-format.

In most organisations, learning now happens across multiple modalities, contexts, and moments of need. A new hire might complete digital onboarding modules, attend a live virtual session, shadow a colleague on the floor, receive coaching from their manager, and complete a compliance assessment, all within their first month.

That’s not an exception. It’s the norm.

A modern TMS should support:

• Structured learning pathways
• Combined ILT, e-learning, and on-the-job learning
• Milestone tracking
• Prerequisite logic
• Manager approvals within pathways

This is particularly important for onboarding and leadership development programmes.

 

5. Reporting & business-aligned analytics

Executives expect more than completion rates.

For years, L&D has reported on what’s easy to measure: courses launched, attendance numbers, completion percentages, satisfaction scores. These metrics are familiar. They’re simple to extract. And they create the appearance of momentum.

But at the executive level, they rarely answer the question that matters: “Is this making a measurable difference to the business?”

Look for:

• Real-time dashboards
• Role-based reporting views
• Compliance heatmaps
• Exportable audit reports
• KPI alignment tracking
• Time-to-competency metrics

Strong reporting capabilities are essential for proving impact.

 

6. Integrations & ecosystem connectivity

When systems operate in isolation, teams are forced to manually duplicate information across platforms, creating inefficiencies, increasing the likelihood of errors, and undermining overall data integrity.

You should look for integrations with:

• HRIS (Workday, SAP, etc.)
• Payroll systems
• CRM platforms
• Collaboration tools (Teams, Slack)
• Single Sign-On (SSO)
• Content providers

Kallidus offers extensive integrations to ensure seamless data flow across systems.

 

6 Best Training Management Software for 2026

We evaluated platforms based on:

• Depth of TMS functionality
• LMS integration
• Compliance strength
• Automation capability
• Reporting sophistication
• Enterprise scalability
• Integration ecosystem

 

1. Kallidus 

Kallidus offers a comprehensive LMS and TMS solution that transforms organisational learning from basic activity tracking into actionable, measurable outcomes. By combining course delivery, compliance management, performance alignment, blended learning, and reporting in a single platform, it provides a unified approach to workforce development. Kallidus excels in compliance-driven industries, onboarding acceleration, leadership development, and enterprise learning governance, enabling organisations to achieve both operational efficiency and strategic talent growth.

Key features

• Advanced certification management with automated expiry tracking
• Rule-based enrolment and recertification automation
• ILT and VILT scheduling with instructor and venue management
• Structured blended learning pathways
• Executive dashboards aligned to business outcomes
• Manager visibility tools
• Audit-ready compliance reporting
• Workflow automation to reduce manual admin
• Multi-region and multi-brand scalability

 

Integrations

• HRIS systems (e.g., Workday, SAP)
• Microsoft Teams
• CRM platforms
• Content providers
• Single Sign-On (SSO)
• API-based integration framework

 

Pricing

Custom enterprise pricing depending on users, modules, and implementation complexity.

 

Best For / May Not Suit

Best for	May not suit
Enterprises aligning L&D to measurable outcomes	Micro-businesses needing a basic LMS
Compliance-heavy sectors	Organisations wanting standalone authoring tools only
Blended learning environments	Companies with no need for analytics depth

Kallidus helps organisations scale training while maintaining operational control and executive confidence.

 

2. Arlo

Arlo is purpose-built for training providers and organisations delivering instructor-led programmes, particularly those operating commercially.

It excels in ILT coordination and ecommerce capabilities but is less focused on strategic performance alignment or integrated talent development.

 

Key features

• Advanced ILT scheduling engine
• Venue and resource management
• Trainer management tools
• E-commerce functionality (invoicing, payments, discounts)
• Automated communications (confirmation, reminders)
• Customer CRM-lite database
• Public course catalogue management
• Reporting dashboards for utilisation and revenue

 

Integrations

• Zoom
• Salesforce
• Xero
• Stripe
• HubSpot

 

Pricing

Tiered pricing based on course volume and functionality

 

Best for	May not suit
Commercial training providers	Enterprises needing deep HR integration
Revenue-generating course providers	Complex compliance-heavy organisations
ILT-heavy programmes	Companies wanting strategic outcome analytics

 

3. TalentLMS

TalentLMS is an accessible learning management system (LMS) that provides essential training management capabilities, making it ideal for small to medium-sized organisations. Known for its ease of deployment and intuitive, user-friendly design, the platform allows administrators to quickly set up courses, assign learning paths, and track learner progress with minimal technical overhead.

Key features

• Course creation and content hosting
• SCORM and xAPI support
• Basic ILT event scheduling
• Certification issuance
• Gamification features
• Reporting dashboards
• Multi-branch structure

 

Integrations

• Zapier
• Zoom
• Salesforce
• Shopify
• Webhooks

 

Pricing

Free tier available. Paid plans tiered by user count and features.

 

Best for	May not suit
SMEs seeking simplicity	Enterprise ILT complexity
Rapid implementation needs	Highly regulated industries
Online-first delivery	Advanced workflow automation

 

4. Docebo

Docebo is an enterprise learning management system designed to transform organisational learning. Its AI-driven features enhance learner engagement through personalised content, intelligent automation, and data-driven insights, while its extended enterprise capabilities enable seamless training across employees, partners, and customers.

Key features

• AI-powered content recommendations
• Advanced analytics dashboards
• Extended enterprise portals
• Social learning capabilities
• Certification tracking
• Customisable reporting
• E-commerce for external training

 

Integrations

• Salesforce
• Workday
• Microsoft Teams
• Shopify
• API access

 

Pricing

Custom enterprise pricing.

Best for	May not suit
Large global enterprises	ILT-heavy internal logistics
Customer and partner training	Small L&D teams
AI-enabled personalisation	Organisations needing operational TMS depth

 

5. LearnUpon

LearnUpon is a robust learning management system (LMS) designed for organisations that require multi-portal delivery and comprehensive external training support. It enables businesses to create and manage multiple learning environments simultaneously, making it ideal for training employees, partners, and customers across different regions or business units.

Key features

• Multi-portal configuration
• Certification tracking
• E-commerce tools
• Reporting dashboards
• SCORM/xAPI support
• Blended learning options
• API integrations

 

Pricing

Tiered enterprise pricing.

 

 

Best for	May not suit
Multi-audience training	Heavy ILT coordination
Mid-sized enterprises	Complex automation needs

 

6. Access LMS

Access LMS is a learning management system fully integrated within The Access Group’s suite of HR and business systems. This integration enables organisations to seamlessly link learning with employee data, performance management, and broader business processes, streamlining administration and improving reporting accuracy.

Key features

• HR system integration
• Compliance tracking
• eLearning delivery
• Basic blended learning support
• Reporting dashboards
• Learning record management

 

Pricing

Custom pricing within the Access ecosystem.

 

 

Best for	May not suit
Existing Access customers	Organisations wanting standalone flexibility
HR-led environments	Highly complex global enterprises

 

Comparison 

Capability	Kallidus	Arlo	TalentLMS	Docebo	LearnUpon	Access LMS
LMS + TMS Unified	Full	TMS-focused	LMS-focused	LMS-focused	LMS-focused	LMS-integrated
Compliance Automation	Advanced	Moderate	Basic	Strong	Strong	Moderate
ILT Scheduling Depth	Advanced	Advanced	Basic	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Workflow Automation	Advanced	Moderate	Basic	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Ecommerce	Optional	Advanced	Moderate	Advanced	Advanced	Limited
Blended Learning	Advanced	Moderate	Moderate	Strong	Strong	Moderate
Executive Dashboards	Yes	Limited	Basic	Advanced	Strong	Moderate
HRIS Integrations	Extensive	Moderate	Moderate	Extensive	Good	Strong (Access suite)
AI Capabilities	Emerging	Limited	Limited	Advanced	Limited	Limited
Enterprise Scalability	High	Medium	Medium	High	High	Medium
Best Fit	Outcome-driven enterprises	Commercial training	SMEs	Global enterprises	Multi-audience delivery	Access ecosystem users

 

How to choose a Training Management Software

Selecting the right Training Management Software requires a strategic approach that balances organisational goals with operational needs. Consider the following key factors:

1. Training goals: Start by defining the objectives you want the platform to achieve. Are you focused on compliance training, onboarding new employees, leadership development, or revenue enablement programs? Understanding your training priorities will help narrow your options to platforms designed to support your specific learning outcomes.

2. Operational complexity: Assess the complexity of your instructor-led training (ILT) programs. If you manage multiple locations, classes, or cohorts, you’ll need a system that efficiently handles scheduling, resource allocation, and learner coordination. More complex operations demand advanced scheduling and management features to reduce administrative overhead.

3. Automation needs: Evaluate how much manual work the platform can eliminate. Automation capabilities, such as automated learner enrolment, reminders, notifications, and course assignments, can save administrators significant time, reduce errors, and improve learner engagement.

4. Integration requirements: Consider how the TMS fits within your existing technology ecosystem. Does it integrate seamlessly with HR systems (HRIS), customer relationship management (CRM) tools, or other business platforms? Strong integration ensures accurate data flow across systems and a unified view of learning and performance metrics.

5. Reporting depth: Look beyond basic tracking. The ability to generate detailed reports, dashboards, and analytics is essential to demonstrate the impact of training programs on business outcomes. A platform with robust reporting helps you measure ROI, compliance adherence, and performance improvements.

6. Scalability: Finally, consider the platform’s ability to grow with your organisation. Will it support increased learner numbers, additional locations, or international expansion? Scalability ensures your investment remains valuable as your training programs evolve.

By carefully evaluating these factors, organisations can select a Training Management Software that not only streamlines operations but also drives measurable business results and supports a long-term learning strategy.

 

Streamline employee training with Kallidus

Training management software in 2026 must move beyond administration. It must reduce risk, improve retention, restore productivity, and demonstrate performance impact.

Kallidus combines deep training management capability with outcome-aligned reporting and automation.

Run training programs with less admin and more impact. Automate enrolments, streamline coordination, and get full visibility into training performance with Kallidus. See Kallidus in real-time with the Product Tour today.

 

FAQ

What is training management software?

Training management software centralises scheduling, enrolments, compliance tracking, certifications, and reporting in one platform. It automates training administration, reduces manual workload, and provides visibility into training performance and compliance status across an organisation.

 

What is the best training management software?

The best training management software depends on your organisational needs. Enterprises requiring compliance automation, blended learning, strong integrations, and executive reporting often choose Kallidus, while commercial providers may prefer ILT-focused platforms like Arlo.

 

What’s the difference between an LMS and a TMS?

An LMS focuses on delivering and tracking digital learning content. A TMS manages logistics, including scheduling sessions, allocating instructors, tracking certifications, and handling compliance. Modern platforms increasingly combine both into a unified training ecosystem.