If you work with resellers, agencies, distributors, or affiliates, you’ve probably already felt the pain: partners want to help you grow, but they can only do that if they actually understand your product. That’s where partner training software comes in.
This isn’t the most glamorous corner of the ecosystem world, but it’s one of the most misunderstood. A lot of people assume they can repurpose their internal LMS, drop in a few PDFs, and call it a day. But partner training has very specific needs, and the right software makes a huge difference in how quickly partners become productive.
Here’s a clear breakdown of what partner training software is, how it compares to a standard LMS, what kinds of companies use it, and how to choose the right tool.
What is partner training software?
Partner training software is a platform designed to educate external audiences—resellers, VARs, consultants, service partners, affiliates, or distributors. The goal is simple: teach partners how to position, sell, implement, or support your product.
Think of it as an LMS that’s purpose-built for people who don’t work at your company, don’t attend your all-hands, don’t know your acronyms, and don’t have an internal IT person resetting their password.
The outcome you’re going for: partners who can represent your product confidently and accurately.
How is partner training software different from an LMS?
A traditional LMS is built for internal employees. A partner LMS or partner training platform is built for external audiences.
Here’s the simplest way to think about it:
- LMS = the tool. A system for creating, delivering, and tracking courses.
- Partner training = the objective. Educating people who don’t work for you but represent your product.
A standard LMS can deliver training, but it often struggles with the realities of partner programs: permissions, branding for multiple partner tiers, deal certifications, reseller curriculum, blended product + sales training, and reporting that ties performance to revenue.
Some LMSs do support external learners, but they’re not all optimized for it.
Why train partners at all?
A well-trained partner is a multiplier. They:
- Sell more effectively because they understand the product.
- Reduce support burden because they’re not guessing or misconfiguring things.
- Drive higher retention because customers onboard faster and get answers from someone who knows what they’re doing.
- Represent your brand consistently in conversations you’ll never hear.
If you’re investing in a partner program at all, training is one of the first levers that drives actual results.
What types and sizes of companies need partner training?
Partner training software tends to be valuable for:
- Mid-market and enterprise SaaS companies with established reseller or service partner programs.
- Companies with distributed global partners who need asynchronous, multi-language training.
- Any business selling a technical or complex product where the ramp-up time is long.
- Companies with formal certifications, partner tiers, or revenue goals tied to partner performance.
And the partners themselves vary widely:
- Resellers and VARs who position and sell your product.
- Agencies and consultants who implement or customize your product.
- Affiliates and influencers who need basic messaging, not deep product training.
- Distributors who require compliance or policy training.
The more responsibility a partner has in the sales or delivery process, the more structured your training needs to be.
Top features to look for in partner training software
If you’re evaluating tools, these features tend to matter most:
1. External-friendly access and permissions
Partners need easy logins, user management, and role-based access. If it’s hard to get into, they won’t use it.
2. White-labeling and branding
Your partners should feel like they’re entering your ecosystem, not someone else’s platform with your logo slapped on top.
3. Certification and assessments
Tests, quizzes, and certifications help you enforce training standards and tie access or deal eligibility to completion.
4. Structured learning paths
You need to guide partners through a sequence—product basics, sales training, compliance, implementation—not just drop a library of content on them.
5. Analytics and progress tracking
You should be able to see who completed what, where partners are getting stuck, and how training correlates with revenue.
6. Multi-language support
If you have global partners, this is nonnegotiable.
7. Content hosting in multiple formats
Videos, slides, text modules, SCORM, quizzes—partners learn differently, and your tool should support that.
8. Ease of content creation
You don’t want to hire a full-time instructional designer just to upload a course. Simple authoring tools matter.
9. Mobile-friendly learning
Many partner reps are on the go. If training only works on desktop, expect low adoption.
10. Integrations with PRMs or partner portals
Your partners shouldn’t have to jump between eight systems. A training tool that embeds into your partner portal is ideal.
Benefits and pitfalls of using a generic LMS for partner training
Benefits
- Already familiar to internal enablement teams
- Cheaper if you already use one
- Stable, proven technology
- Easy to repurpose existing internal training
Pitfalls
- Often confusing for external users
- Limited permissioning for multiple partner organizations
- Branding is usually shallow
- Hard to measure partner performance vs revenue
- Content structure may not match reseller or agency workflows
- Licensing for “external learners” can get expensive fast
A generic LMS works fine for basic training, but it usually breaks when your program scales.
Can you use a PRM for partner training?
Some partner relationship management tools (PRMs) include lightweight training or certification modules. They’re great if you want everything in one place, especially for:
- Basic product knowledge
- Program onboarding
- Simple sales readiness
But most PRMs aren’t full learning platforms. If you need advanced course design, quizzes, SCORM compliance, or multi-step certifications, you’ll still want a true training tool.
7 partner training software tools to consider
Here’s a balanced mix of LMS and partner-focused platforms:
1. LearnUpon
Best for: Mid-market SaaS with large partner programs
Highlights: External user management, certifications, scalable course delivery
Pricing: Starts around $1,000–$2,500/month depending on number of learners
2. Docebo
Best for: Enterprise companies with global partner networks
Highlights: AI-assisted content, multilingual support, deep reporting
Pricing: Custom pricing; typically enterprise-level
3. WorkRamp
Best for: Companies wanting one system for internal and external training
Highlights: Modern UI, certifications, learning paths, partner-specific modules
Pricing: Starts around $25k/year
4. MindTickle
Best for: Sales-led organizations with strong enablement culture
Highlights: Sales readiness, playbooks, certifications, revenue correlation
Pricing: Enterprise, custom quotes
5. Thinkific Plus
Best for: Companies wanting simple, branded partner academies
Highlights: Fast setup, strong video hosting, good for non-technical partners
Pricing: Custom, generally more affordable than enterprise LMS tools
6. Allbound
Best for: Teams already using a PRM who want basic training included
Highlights: Partner onboarding paths, certifications, gated content
Pricing: Starts around $1,000–$1,500/month
7. Magentrix
Best for: Organizations wanting a combined partner portal + basic LMS
Highlights: External communities, content hosting, certifications
Pricing: Custom; mid-market friendly
If your partner ecosystem is growing, partner training software is one of the most reliable ways to increase partner performance, reduce friction, and protect your brand. The right tool depends on how complex your training needs are, how many partners you have, and how tightly training should connect to revenue.
