Softwr

LMS · head to head

Totara vs WorkCast

Totara logo

Totara

LMS

Open source learning, performance and collaboration platform derived from Moodle and sold through partners

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WorkCast logo

WorkCast

Webinars

Enterprise webinar and virtual event platform for global reach

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Totara you cannot buy from the vendor. Every purchase runs through a partner who sets its own hosting, services and support pricing, so identical platforms are quoted at materially different totals and buyers must run a partner comparison as well as a product comparison.; WorkCast listed on UK G-Cloud 14, the WorkCast Corporation's own Virtual Events pricing document offers a 14-day free trial covering the Lite and Pro licence tiers of the WorkCast platform
  • They diverge on capability: Totara covers Organisational hierarchies, WorkCast covers Live webcasting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Totara and WorkCast actually diverge.

Attributes where Totara and WorkCast differ
AttributeTotaraWorkCast
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, LinuxWeb, IOS, Android
CategoryLMSWebinars
FoundedUnknown2007

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Totara

  • Organisational hierarchies
  • Compliance and certification
  • Totara Perform
  • Totara Engage
  • Self-hosting
  • Programs and learning plans

Only in WorkCast

  • Live webcasting
  • On-demand content
  • Virtual events
  • Audience engagement
  • Multi-language support
  • Salesforce
  • Marketo
  • Eloqua

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Totara

  • Health services and government bodies that must evidence mandatory training by job role across a large hierarchynot WorkCast
  • Organisations with data residency rules that require the platform to run on their own infrastructurenot WorkCast
  • Moodle users who need appraisal, competency and compliance features the academic product does not carrynot WorkCast
  • Buyers who want exit rights over the platform code rather than dependence on a single hosted vendornot WorkCast

WorkCast

  • Virtual Eventsnot Totara
  • Webinarsnot Totara
  • Webcastingnot Totara

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Totara

  • You cannot buy from the vendor. Every purchase runs through a partner who sets its own hosting, services and support pricing, so identical platforms are quoted at materially different totals and buyers must run a partner comparison as well as a product comparison.
  • Open source does not mean cheap. Subscription plus partner hosting plus implementation and version upgrade services commonly lands near commercial system cost, and the saving is in control and exit rights rather than in the invoice.
  • The administrative interface carries its Moodle lineage and is dense, so administrator training is a real project cost rather than an afterthought.
  • Major version upgrades are projects, especially where a partner has customised the deployment, and organisations that customise heavily find upgrades slower and dearer over time.
  • The learner facing experience is functional rather than engaging, and organisations wanting a consumer grade learning experience usually front it with something else.

WorkCast

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud 14, the WorkCast Corporation's own Virtual Events pricing document offers a 14-day free trial covering the Lite and Pro licence tiers of the WorkCast platform

Pricing, plan by plan

Totara

On request
  • Totara subscription via partner$undefined/year
    • Sold only through distribution partners
    • Partner sets hosting, implementation and support pricing
    • Source available under the GPL, but subscription required for supported releases

WorkCast

On request
  • Professional$499/month
    • Up to 500 attendees
    • Custom branding
    • Analytics dashboard
  • Business$999/month
    • Up to 2000 attendees
    • Multi-language support
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$2499/month
    • Unlimited attendees
    • Dedicated success manager
    • Custom integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Totara if

  • You need organisational hierarchies.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
  • You also want compliance and certification.
Totara review

Choose WorkCast if

  • You need live webcasting.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want on-demand content.
WorkCast review

Questions people ask

Is Totara or WorkCast better?
Neither clearly leads. Totara starts at On request and WorkCast at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Totara or WorkCast?
Totara starts at On request and WorkCast at On request.
Does Totara or WorkCast run on more platforms?
Totara runs on Web, iOS, Android, Linux. WorkCast runs on Web, IOS, Android.
What is Totara best used for?
Totara is most often used for health services and government bodies that must evidence mandatory training by job role across a large hierarchy, organisations with data residency rules that require the platform to run on their own infrastructure, moodle users who need appraisal, competency and compliance features the academic product does not carry, buyers who want exit rights over the platform code rather than dependence on a single hosted vendor. Of those, health services and government bodies that must evidence mandatory training by job role across a large hierarchy and organisations with data residency rules that require the platform to run on their own infrastructure are not what WorkCast is typically brought in for.
What can Totara do that WorkCast cannot?
Totara covers Organisational hierarchies, Compliance and certification, Totara Perform, Totara Engage. WorkCast covers Live webcasting, On-demand content, Virtual events, Audience engagement.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Totara: Is Totara free because it is open source?

No. The source is available under the GPL, but supported releases require a subscription, and it is sold through partners who add hosting, implementation and support costs.

WorkCast: What are the base pricing tiers for Workcast?

Workcast's Business Plan starts at £95 per month with 2 users and up to 1,000 registrations per month. Business Pro is available on request for 5 users, and Enterprise plans are custom-priced based on your requirements.

Source
Totara: How is it different from Moodle?

Moodle is built around courses and academic delivery. Totara adds organisational hierarchies, role based automatic assignment, recurring certification and appraisal, which is what workplace compliance reporting needs.

WorkCast: What is the contract length for Workcast subscriptions?

All plans require a 12-month subscription term, though monthly payment options are available within that commitment.

Source
Totara: Can we host it ourselves?

Yes. Self hosting is a genuine option and is one of the main reasons regulated and public sector buyers choose it over a hosted only competitor.

WorkCast: Does Workcast offer a free trial?

Yes, Workcast provides a 14-day free trial that allows you to experiment with the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Source
WorkCast: What support do I get with my Workcast plan?

All plans include dedicated onboarding, self-service resources, a learning portal, and 24/5 live support. Enterprise customers receive a dedicated account manager with regular scheduled meetings.

Source
WorkCast: Is there a pay-as-you-go option for one-time webinars?

Yes, Workcast offers a pay-per-use managed service option for single webinars in addition to their subscription plans.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Totara

More on WorkCast

Keep looking

Other head to heads