Best course authoring software list for 2024: 30 tools
The world of elearning course authoring software continues to expand, offering organisations an array of tools that cater to diverse learning needs, industries, and levels of technical expertise. Whether you're looking for a powerful standalone solution or a user-friendly integrated platform, every tool in this top course authoring software list stands out for its ability to streamline content creation, enhance learner engagement, and support modern training environments.
As mentioned earlier, Lingio is a standout in the realm of integrated course authoring tools. Our AI-powered course creation tool is part of our full-scale frontline employee training platform, making it an all-in-one solution for organisations looking to streamline both content creation and training delivery.
Key content authoring tool capabilities include:
- AI-driven course creation: Simply upload any text document, and Lingio’s generative AI tech instantly converts it into a structured, interactive course. This includes chapters, quizzes, and multimedia components, drastically reducing the time spent on content creation.
- Gamification elements: Incorporate game-like features such as points, badges, and rewards to increase learner engagement and motivation.
- Multi-language and Accessibility Support: Offer training in over 100 languages with built-in accessibility features that meet WCAG standards, ensuring your courses are inclusive and adaptable for global teams.
- Customised learning paths: Adjust the course’s tone, style, and complexity to fit your target audience. Tailor dialogue, characters, and paths to ensure a bespoke learning journey.
Success story: Lingio’s impact on Ambea’s employee training programme
Ambea, Scandinavia’s largest care provider, needed an efficient way to upskill over 31,000 employees in Swedish language proficiency. By leveraging Lingio’s AI-powered course authoring tool, they transformed their training materials into mobile-based, interactive courses tailored to caregiving scenarios.
Key results:
- Rapid content creation: Courses were developed quickly, significantly reducing manual content-building time.
- Customised lessons: Tailored content to fit real-world caregiving needs, improving practical application.
- Mobile-friendly access: Enabled caregivers to train on the go, increasing both flexibility and course completion rates.
“The course is directly relevant to our work. It focuses on language we use daily, making it practical for our routines.” – Heidi Heino, Operations Manager, Villa Dalénum
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Absorb Create is a web-based course authoring software that integrates seamlessly with the Absorb LMS platform. It allows businesses and learning professionals to easily design, edit, and publish interactive elearning courses. With intuitive design tools and AI-driven functionality, Absorb Create streamlines the process to create courses.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Customisable themes and templates: Create visually appealing courses quickly by using pre-built templates, or customise your own to align with your brand.
- Direct LMS integration: Publish your courses to Absorb LMS with a single click, eliminating the need for manual uploads and reducing the risk of errors.
- AI-enhanced course creation: Leverage AI to speed up course development, turning digital content into structured courses in minutes instead of hours.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- Free trial and paid subscription plan information is available on request.
Easygenerator is positioned as a course authoring software for large enterprises. Used by over 2,000 companies, it enables users to transform existing documents into interactive courses from scratch in minutes.
- Streamline audio content creation: Create high-quality audio content using 55 voices across 31 languages, without the need for costly or time-consuming recording.
- Secure collaboration: Work securely with external reviewers by allowing password-protected access and tracking their comments.
- PowerPoint to SCORM/xAPI conversion: Easily transform PowerPoint presentations into interactive SCORM or xAPI courses, making them compatible with 99% of LMS platforms.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 14-day free trial is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $108/month for one author access and up to 10 courses.
Rise is another online course authoring software, part of the popular Articulate 360 suite. Designed to simplify course creation with a block-based interface, Rise allows instructional designers, corporate trainers, and subject matter experts to build mobile responsive content quickly.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Extensive asset library: Access millions of images, templates, and media assets to enhance course visuals and keep learners engaged.
- Collaborative authoring: Work in real-time with your team, sharing feedback and co-developing courses directly within the platform for streamlined production.
- Accessibility compliance: Ensures your courses meet WCAG 2.1 standards, making training accessible to all learners.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 30-day trial for the full Articulate 360 suite is available.
- Paid plans for the suite start at $1499 per user annually.
Gomo Learning is a web-based training course authoring software for creating responsive, multi-device elearning courses. It allows enterprises with global audiences to develop engaging, media-rich courses that work seamlessly across mobile, tablet, and desktop devices. With its collaborative features and advanced interactivity options, Gomo makes building online learning courses simple yet powerful.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Multi-language support: Simplify localisation with built-in translation features, including XLIFF export, making it easy to deliver courses in multiple languages for global learners.
- Live review and feedback: Collaborators and stakeholders can leave real-time feedback and comments directly within the platform to streamline the review process.
- Sub-screens for deeper engagement: Add sub-screens within your content to display additional information or interactive elements when learners click on specific areas, such as hotspots.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- Free trial and paid pricing information is available on request.
dominKnow | ONE is a cloud-based, all-in-one course authoring tool that enables teams to create, manage, and publish content for diverse learning channels. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced content creator, dominKnow offers robust features such as responsive elearning authoring, software simulations, and real-time collaboration to streamline the content creation process.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Built-in software simulations: Easily create interactive step-by-step software simulations, offering learners "Show me," "Guide me," and "Try me" modes, without needing external tools.
- Advanced interactivity: Add animations, transitions, and dynamic effects to create engaging and visually appealing learning experiences.
- Adjustable authoring workspaces: The authoring interface can be adapted based on the user’s role and experience, whether they are beginners or advanced authors.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 14-day free trial is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $1997/year/author.
360Learning is a collaborative learning platform that integrates AI-powered course authoring with subject-matter expert contributions, enabling fast and scalable methods to create online courses. Its unique approach empowers organisations to turn internal experts into course creators, ensuring that learning is both relevant and easily updated.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Integrated video recordings: Record video demonstrations and integrate them directly into courses, making training more dynamic.
- Document-based course builder: Quickly transform existing documents into interactive, engaging courses, streamlining the course creation process.
- Automatic subtitles: Enhance accessibility with AI-generated subtitles for video content, improving training reach across diverse learners.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 30-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $8/user/month.
Coassemble is a versatile course building platform designed to simplify the creation, sharing, and tracking of interactive online courses. Trusted by over 4 million learners and 7,000+ companies globally, Coassemble helps organisations build effective training programmes that engage employees and drive measurable results.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Customisable template library: Jumpstart course creation with access to professionally designed templates. Tailor these to fit various training needs, from onboarding to specialised technical courses.
- User-friendly interface: Designed for both beginners and experienced creators, Coassemble’s intuitive interface ensures that anyone can build impactful training content quickly.
- Course duplication and sharing: Quickly duplicate and share courses across departments or teams, reducing the time spent recreating similar training materials.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A free tool version is available for one creator.
- Paid subscription plans start from $7.5/creator/month when billed annually.
ActivePresenter is a world-class education course authoring software for creating a wide range of elearning content, including interactive courses, video-based tutorials, and software simulations. Known for its versatile features and ease of use, ActivePresenter is trusted by over 10,000 organisations and has been downloaded more than 5 million times.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Slide-based course creation: Build slide-based elearning content easily, using an intuitive editor to arrange text, images, and multimedia elements with minimal effort.
- Multi-state objects and timelines: Use multiple states and timelines to design complex interactivity without needing advanced coding skills.
- Advanced multimedia editing tools: Enhance course visuals with effects, shapes, animations, transitions, and text styles to create polished, high-quality content.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A free version is available for personal and non-commercial use.
- Paid licence pricing for commercial use starts from $199.
SmartCat is an AI-powered platform designed to simplify content creation and translation for global enterprises. While SmartCat is primarily known for its industry-leading multilingual translation capabilities, it also offers a robust AI course authoring tool as part of its wider platform. This course creation feature enables organisations to develop and manage elearning content efficiently, making it ideal for teams seeking to build multilingual training programmes.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Content repurposing: Convert existing documents, white papers, presentations, and other assets into engaging elearning courses, leveraging SmartCat’s content generation capabilities.
- Multilingual course creation: Translate your course content into more than 280 languages with AI-driven translation, ensuring global accessibility for diverse learners.
- AI-generated courses: Create comprehensive elearning courses in under 30 minutes, using SmartCat's AI to generate structured learning content quickly based on existing materials.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 14-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $99/month when billed annually.
Mindsmith is an AI-powered elearning authoring tool that makes creating and sharing interactive lessons quick and easy. While not an LMS itself, MindSmith lets you export courses in SCORM format for seamless integration with any existing LMS. Trusted by over 16,000 instructional designers, it helps organisations build engaging, customisable learning content fast, with AI doing much of the heavy lifting.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- AI-powered course creation: Quickly generate lessons with the help of AI, allowing for rapid content development and customisation.
- SCORM export: Easily export lessons to any LMS supporting SCORM, ensuring smooth integration and progress tracking.
- Collaboration tools: Share review links for easy feedback without requiring a Mindsmith account.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A freemium version is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $31.2/month/individual when billed annually.
CogniSpark AI is one of the new elearning authoring tools that leverages AI to streamline course creation for L&D professionals, corporate trainers, and educators. Ideal for organisations looking to create interactive and responsive training materials, CogniSpark enables users to build professional-grade courses in minutes rather than weeks.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- AI-powered course creation: Build interactive and visually stunning courses in minutes using AI to simplify the process, reducing development time without compromising quality.
- Micro-learning support: Create short, bite-sized learning experiences using AI templates, perfect for quick, targeted training sessions.
- AI video and voiceover generation: Use AI to generate voiceovers and video content with ease, adding professional polish to your courses.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 14-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid pricing information is available on request.
Learner Mobile is a versatile elearning platform designed to support modern learners and organisations by delivering training at the right time. For nearly a decade, Learner Mobile has helped companies of all sizes create and deploy effective training materials. Its built-in course authoring tool allows users to create, customise, and distribute training programmes quickly and easily.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Source-to-course AI tool: Instantly transform documents (PDFs, Word files, PowerPoints) into interactive training materials using AI, streamlining course creation.
- Curriculum creation: Seamlessly connect multiple training modules into structured learning journeys, ensuring comprehensive subject coverage.
- Custom deployment and learner tracking: Assign, deploy, and manage training sessions, set passing scores, track learner progress, and award certifications upon course completion.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 30-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $2.95/user/month for 50-500 users.
Visme is an all-in-one visual content creation platform that allows users to design engaging, interactive content without needing professional design skills. From presentations and infographics to training manuals and course materials, Visme empowers individuals and teams to build and share visually impactful elearning content. With more than 27 million users, including major brands like IBM and Gartner, Visme is widely known for making content creation faster and more affordable.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Interactive course templates: Choose from customisable templates with features like hotspots, pop-ups, and interlinking, making it easy to create engaging, learner-focused courses.
- Branching and interactive navigation: Create learner-driven experiences with branching scenarios, interactive buttons, and navigation that adapts based on user actions.
- Whiteboard and brainstorming tools: Plan and organise content visually with built-in whiteboarding features that aid in structuring course content.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A freemium version is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $12.25/month for individual use when billed annually.
ProProfs Training Maker is a simple yet powerful training management and free elearning authoring tool. Known for its ease of use, it allows users to create custom online training courses in minutes, making it a go-to solution for organisations of all sizes. Trusted by brands like Sony, Dell, and Yale, it simplifies course development for global audiences through its secure, centralised virtual classroom and reporting features.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Ready-to-use course library: Access 100+ professionally designed, customisable courses, allowing for quick content deployment.
- Custom branding & settings: Tailor your courses with over 100 customisation options, including course privacy, notifications, and branding to suit your organisation’s needs.
- Learning paths & course sequencing: Seamlessly connect multiple modules to build comprehensive learning journeys or skill development programmes for learners.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A freemium version is available for up to 10 learners.
- Paid subscription plans start from $1.97/active learner/month when billed annually.
SkyPrep Studio is a user-friendly content authoring tool integrated into the SkyPrep LMS platform, designed to streamline the creation and management of online training for employees, partners, and clients. Used by over 500 organisations globally, SkyPrep supports various industries with its powerful and easy-to-use LMS, making it a popular choice for corporate training, customer education, and skill development.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Customisable branching: Use branching logic to create adaptive learning experiences by customising subsequent questions based on previous answers.
- AI-powered course creation: Leverage AI-driven content blocks to quickly generate impactful and engaging training materials, reducing the time and effort required for course creation.
- Responsive design: Ensure your training materials are optimised for any device, including desktop, laptop, tablets, and mobile devices.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 14-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid pricing information is available on request.
GoSkills combines a robust LMS and a cutting-edge Learning Experience Platform (LXP) to offer a seamless solution for creating, managing, and delivering online training. With over 8,000 organisations using GoSkills, it is recognised for its ease of use and highly personalised learning experiences, making it a leader in corporate training software.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- AI-powered course creation with Genie assistant: Generate custom courses effortlessly by answering a few simple prompts. Genie, its AI assistant, builds everything from course titles and descriptions to engaging lesson content and quizzes, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.
- Seamless LMS integration: GoSkills' course builder is fully integrated with its LMS, enabling easy course management, learner tracking, and certification upon completion.
- SCORM/xAPI export: Easily export courses in industry-standard formats, ensuring compatibility with other LMS platforms.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A freemium version is available making it one of the best free course authoring softwares.
- Paid subscription plans for businesses start from $9.71/learner/month when billed annually.
7taps is the leading micro-learning platform designed to help organisations create, deliver, and track mobile-first bite-sized content quickly and efficiently. With over 15,000 businesses worldwide using 7taps, it is highly regarded for its simplicity, ease of use, and ability to reach learners wherever they are.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Fast micro-learning creation: Create bite-sized courses in under 15 minutes using built-in micro-learning frameworks or pre-made templates.
- AI-powered content generation: Quickly jump-start your mini-course creation process with the help of AI-powered prompts that streamline course development.
- Interactive elements: Embed quizzes, pop-ups, and other interactive features to enhance engagement and retention.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 14-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $99/month/editor when billed annually.
Adobe Captivate is among the best elearning authoring tools that allows users to create immersive and interactive training content. From software simulations and branching scenarios to quizzes and mobile-responsive courses, Captivate is designed for professionals across industries looking to deliver engaging learning experiences. It is particularly popular among instructional designers, corporate trainers, and educators for creating complex courses with minimal effort.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- AI-powered branching: Automatically create learning paths and branching scenarios to guide learners through personalised learning journeys.
- Hotspots: Add clickable hotspots to slides, giving learners access to additional information through callouts or visual cues, enhancing engagement without complex coding.
- Forced navigation: Control learner progression by ensuring they interact with all sections of a lesson or widget before moving on to the next stage.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 30-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $33.99/month for individuals.
Elucidat is a cloud-based elearning authoring platform designed to streamline course creation for instructional designers, subject matter experts (SMEs), and learning and development (L&D) teams. Trusted by global companies like Coca-Cola, Primark, and Bosch, Elucidat allows teams to create engaging, interactive learning content for multi-device use quickly.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Interactive video and polling: Integrate interactive questions within videos and conduct real-time learner polls to increase engagement.
- SCORM/xAPI export: Download courses in SCORM or xAPI formats for seamless integration with various LMS platforms.
- Mass content updates: Quickly replace or update assets across multiple projects at once, ensuring consistency and reducing maintenance time.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 14-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid pricing information is available on request.
iSpring Suite is a PowerPoint-based authoring toolkit that simplifies the creation of interactive courses, quizzes, simulations, and video lectures. Its ease of use makes it suitable for both novice and experienced instructional designers.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Custom characters and role-play simulations: Build fully customisable characters and create role-plays to simulate real-world scenarios for learners.
- PowerPoint to SCORM conversion: Quickly transform PowerPoint presentations into SCORM/xAPI courses, ready for LMS deployment.
- Branching logic in quizzes and role-plays: Customise the learner's journey by creating branching scenarios that adapt based on user inputs in quizzes and role-playing exercises.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 14-day free trial plan is available.
- For business users, paid subscription plans start from $770/author/year.
Synthesia is a cutting-edge AI video creation platform designed to streamline the process of developing training videos. Ideal for L&D professionals, Synthesia allows users to turn written content into dynamic video presentations using AI-generated avatars and voiceovers. With over 50,000 companies leveraging Synthesia to elevate their elearning content, it has become a great option for modernising and scaling video-first corporate training initiatives.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- AI-powered video creation: Convert written content into AI-generated training videos featuring avatars and voiceovers, simplifying video creation without requiring video editing expertise.
- Multi-language voiceovers: Generate consistent voiceovers in over 140 languages and dialects, enabling global teams to create localised training content efficiently.
- AI script generation: Speed up course development by generating scripts with AI prompts similar to ChatGPT.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A freemium version is available with basic features.
- Paid subscription plans start from approximately $16.99/editor with a limit of 120 minutes of video when billed annually.
TalentCraft is an AI-powered authoring tool within the TalentLMS platform, designed to streamline course creation for L&D teams. By leveraging AI technology, TalentCraft enables organisations to generate comprehensive training content with minimal effort, whether it's text-based modules, visual elements, or interactive assessments.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Pre-built templates and AI recommendations: Utilise a wide range of pre-made templates and AI-generated suggestions to speed up the content creation process and ensure consistency.
- Knowledge checks and assessments: Automatically create quizzes and tests to measure learner comprehension and reinforce key concepts.
- Interactive learning aids: Integrate labelled graphics, flashcards, and visual aids to enhance learner engagement and retention.
Ratings for TalentLMS platform:
Pricing:
- A freemium version is available making it a good free elearning authoring software option.
- Paid subscription plans start from $89/month when billed annually.
LearnUpon is a comprehensive learning management system that supports organisations in creating, managing, and delivering training content efficiently. With a focus on simplifying course creation, LearnUpon allows teams to author interactive learning experiences, including SCORM and xAPI-based content, webinars, and blended learning paths.
Key course authoring capabilities include:
- Course catalogue creation: Build a course catalogue with multiple learning paths and allow learners to browse and self-enroll in training programmes at their convenience.
- SCORM content replacement: Swap out SCORM or xAPI files without disrupting existing courses or learner progress, ensuring continuous access to updated training.
- SCORM content validation: During the upload process, the LMS validates SCORM content, enabling you to fix any errors before learners access the material.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- Pricing information is provided on demo request.
Coursebox is an AI-powered course authoring tool designed for organisations, educational institutions, and businesses looking to simplify and accelerate online course creation. Leveraging AI, Coursebox automates key processes like content generation, assessments, and personalised learning experiences, significantly cutting down the time needed to build effective training material.
Key content authoring capabilities include:
- Document conversion to courses: Quickly transform existing PDFs, videos, and presentations into interactive elearning courses, saving time on content creation.
- AI curriculum generator: Produces complete curriculum with assessments and rubrics, giving instructional designers a framework to refine and adapt.
- AI course designer: Generate course outlines and structures, providing editable content suggestions for rapid course development.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A freemium version is available.
- Paid plans start from $17/month with a limit of 200 courses annually.
Lectora, part of ELB Learning, is a powerful course authoring tool offering both cloud-based and desktop options. It enables users to create responsive, accessible courses quickly, making it a top choice for both large companies and government bodies.
Key content authoring capabilities include:
- Pre-built frameworks and templates: Save time with ready-made templates and frameworks that simplify the development process without compromising on customisation.
- WCAG-compliant content: Create accessible eLearning courses that meet WCAG standards, ensuring inclusivity for all learners.
- PowerPoint conversion: Effortlessly transform existing PowerPoint presentations into SCORM-compliant courses by importing slides, adding assessments, and publishing to any LMS.
- Cloud and desktop authoring: Choose between cloud-based or desktop environments to suit team workflows and collaboration needs.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 30-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $117/month when billed annually.
Vyond is an AI-driven video creation platform designed for organisations looking to create impactful training and elearning videos quickly. Widely used across industries like corporate L&D, HR, and internal communications, Vyond makes professional-quality video content accessible to everyone, no prior video production skills required.
Key content authoring capabilities include:
- Brand management features: Ensure consistency with brand colours, logos, fonts, and set video approval workflows to maintain quality across all video assets.
- Pre-built templates and scenes: Access thousands of pre-built scenes, templates, and over 40,000 character actions to quickly create engaging and relevant video content tailored to your training needs.
- Multilingual voiceovers: Easily integrate high-quality voiceovers in over 70 languages to make courses more accessible to global audiences.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A 14-day free trial plan is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $25/user/month when billed annually.
SC Training is a mobile-first, micro-learning platform that streamlines course creation, delivery, and tracking. Designed for frontline teams, SC Training focuses on delivering bite-sized, engaging learning modules quickly. With a focus on speed and ease of use, the platform is trusted by leading companies like Coca-Cola, Audi, and Mizuno to meet the demands of fast-paced training environments.
Key content authoring capabilities include:
- Bite-sized micro-learning templates: Build courses using over 80 ready-made templates designed for quizzes, games, assessments, and more, offering a fun, interactive learning journey.
- AI translation: Instantly translate courses into over 100 languages, making it easier to deliver localised content for global teams.
- AI-powered course creation: Quickly generate entire courses or specific lesson content using the "Create with AI" feature, drastically reducing the time needed for content creation and brainstorming.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- Freemium version is available.
- Paid plans start from $5/learner/month when billed annually making it a great budget course authoring software option.
Loom is primarily a video screen recorder designed for capturing and sharing content quickly, but it has found significant use in creating training materials. Its ease of use makes it ideal for producing instructional videos, tutorials, and employee training content without needing advanced video production skills. With its ability to record your screen, voice, and webcam, Loom helps transform everyday presentations and workflows into engaging learning content.
Key content authoring capabilities include:
- Screen and webcam recording: Capture both your screen and webcam to create engaging, real-time training videos with voiceover and personalisation.
- AI-powered editing: Automate video cleanup with AI tools that remove pauses, filler words, and other distractions, resulting in polished, professional looking training videos.
- Transcription and captions: Automatically generate video transcripts and closed captions, improving accessibility and helping learners review content at their own pace.
- Custom call-to-action buttons: Enhance learner engagement by embedding clickable CTAs that direct users to quizzes, next steps, or related content within the video.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- A freemium version is available.
- Paid subscription plans start from $12.50/creator/month.
Adapt Learning is an open-source tool for creating responsive, multi-device HTML5 content. It features a drag-and-drop interface for building mobile-friendly courses without coding. As an open-source platform, it allows for customisation and is continuously improved by a global community, making it one of the top top free course authoring software.
Key content authoring capabilities include:
- Customisable open-source platform: Developers can extend or modify the framework to meet diverse content development needs, offering full flexibility.
- Active support community: Engage with a global community for ongoing support, resources, and development suggestions to enhance the authoring tool.
- SCORM compliance: Courses created using Adapt can be delivered via SCORM-compliant learning management systems, ensuring compatibility with most LMS platforms.
Ratings:
Pricing:
- Available as a free download under an open-source licence.
