Best free e learning authoring tool

Want to give it a try? Start your Raptivity Free Trial! Care to see what actual users have to say about why this is one of the best eLearning interactions building tools? Read Raptivity user reviews. Adeptly is an online authoring tool for rapidly building serious learning games. Thus, it is ideal for recording, assessing, and influencing learner behavior. It is one of the first to ever combine multiple styles of learning into a user-friendly and engaging interface. Learn how you can evolve your training.

Read Adeptly user reviews in our directory. Adeptly offers a monthly subscription pricing model. Gomo is an easy-to-use eLearning authoring tool. Yet, it still offers all the advanced features that your learning designers love. This cloud-based eLearning software encourages collaborative working. At the same time, it allows content to be quickly updated and instantly distributed. Start your Gomo free trial. Don't forget to take a look at Gomo Learning reviews in our directory.

Gomo empowers you to create courses that are tailored to your brand. In this way, your teams can work effortlessly on any device. After all, its responsive eLearning comes as standard. They also offer strong multi-language and localized content options. Thus, making this tool a perfect fit for global networks of learners.

Gomo takes the hard work out of creating visually stunning courses that your learners can access anytime, on any device. It offers content authoring-only packages, as well as a combined package with the authoring tool plus flexible delivery options.

All packages feature onboarding support via Gomo Academy, which is full of microlearning videos to get you moving quickly. Enterprise customers receive an enhanced support package with a dedicated customer success manager.

It has been used since by more than customers globally, including, among others, plenty of first-class companies. Visit their website for more info or read user reviews for Netex contentCloud in our directory. Netex Learning has been involved in content authoring for global corporate and EdTech clients since Their training solution capabilities are built around two key tools:.

Editora Moderna wanted to provide an innovative proposal for the educational market in Brazil for the academic year of In order to do this, they decided to digitize all their book collections for all subjects at the pre-university level. They wanted to go beyond simply turning paper content into screen content by enriching the material and offering additional material on paper. Custom design templates: Initially, 3 basic templates were considered for generating HTML5 content, one for each study grade.

However, the diversity of the collections and the actual needs required in the different subjects led to the combination of 26 templates. The digitization began in August The first step was to create solid and well-defined style guides, agreed with the client. The next step was to implement a parsing system of the original contents in InDesign in order to access the plain text with a reference to pagination.

Then, they began the process of pedagogical organization and adaptation of the didactic content to the screen mainly by applying the elements and styles they considered necessary for correct visualization. Finally, they included resources such as images, videos, audios, interactive activities, etc.

Netex also created a system to continuously check content. Their team did so to validate and correct the contents they generated efficiently and quickly. After six months of intense work, a total of books were delivered. More than , pages were digitized. Plus, more than 4, resources were added, including audios, videos, and interactive activities. Editorial Moderna continues to produce thousands of pages each year.

This success story has been the key to expanding the use of contentCloud in Grupo Santillana books production, mainly to other Latin American countries such as Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Argentina. They also provide flexible extra storage plans for those organizations that may have additional needs. Plugins such as Word import, math formula editor, or anti-plagiarism checker are available separately to fit each customer's needs.

HowToo is an award-winning, AI-enabled upskilling platform, allowing teams to create professional-quality training courses in record time. HowToo's cloud-based platform empowers everyone—no matter their prior experience—to create and share beautiful digital learning experiences that affect real change in your workforce. Start your free trial now. Visit our directory to see HowToo reviews.

Do you want to put the power to create into the hands of your team's subject matter experts? With this tool, you can bring back the joy of training with flexible and engaging training solutions. Integrate with your LMS or tap into HowToo's powerful all-in-one platform to create, share, and track your learning. Coassemble is a powerful, all-in-one authoring tool and Learning Management System. This combination allows you to simply share knowledge with your team anytime, anyplace.

As a powerful LMS with seamless User Experience, Coassemble gives you all the tools you need, making it easy to manage your entire training program from a single platform.

Giving you the opportunity to focus on your end learner. After all, that's what really matters! Care to see why it is one of the best eLearning authoring tools? Click here to find out more or visit our directory to read user reviews for Coassemble - Authoring. An intuitive authoring tool like this helps you create mobile-responsive bespoke training content in minutes. Easily done, by using drag-and-drop templates. You can also leverage enrollment links which offer the ability to share courses for self-enrollment.

Coassemble provides award-winning support from real humans who are always happy to help. Coassemble is ideal for corporate training as it is an authoring and LMS all-in-one solution.

Globally recognized LMS experts, including C. Pappas, and our editorial team did a thorough review of each vendor's eligibility and relevant published content articles, eBooks, webinars. Our committee ranked the best authoring tool software based on the following 9 criteria:. After exploring this top list, make sure to read our tips on what you need to consider when opting for an authoring tool to create your training content. An eLearning authoring tool wears many tech hats in your organization.

First and foremost, it allows you to develop content from the ground up. Or even use built-in assets to save time and resources. However, you can also use feature-rich authoring tool software to repurpose existing content and convert legacy resources. In some cases, LMSs have integrated authoring tools. One of the most notable benefits of authoring tools is that they help you design courses that align with current gaps and goals.

For example, you can develop JIT support tools or certification paths to build relevant skills. The best corporate training authoring tools deliver all the features and functionality you need to maximize ROI. They should also come with support services and customer training resources to help you lower the learning curve.

For example, online training tutorials and demos that walk you through the setup process. First and foremost, all of this needs to happen within your budget. Here are the top things you need to consider when choosing an authoring tool for your business. In order to watch this video you need to have advertising cookies enabled.

You can adjust your cookie preferences here. The tricky thing about software selection is that your organization has unique needs and buying requirements. However, there are a few features every organization should add to their must-have list to get top value for money.

Look for these key selling points to pick the right authoring tool solution without regrets. For this reason, the best authoring tools are intuitive and user-friendly. Users can customize their dashboards and use built-in templates to cut development time. Plus, they can update existing content. For example, it might include a ribbon layout with different tabs that allow them to switch between screens quickly. Branching scenario authoring features include templates and predesigned branches that allow you to create immersive learning experiences.

Another critical ingredient is the decision-making points. In most cases, these authoring tools have placeholders that you simply substitute with your own content. You can also change the theme, layout, and images to suit the subject matter. One of the most valuable authoring tool features is content conversion as it gives you the opportunity to turn all those Flash legacy courses into modern HTML5 training experiences. Some tools even include editing tools you can use to spruce up the final product.

For instance, turn that hour-long webinar into a series of bite-sized JIT tools. Drag-and-drop interactions transform static content into a dynamic online training resource. For example, you can develop a serious game wherein users must match policies to respective departments or products to their standout features and real-world benefits.

The possibilities are endless. Simply put, this web authoring tool function boosts learner engagement and participation as it turns passive users into active participants. An integrated assessment or quiz engine lets you create exams in a fraction of the time. Another tie-in feature to look for is customizable grading options. For instance, you can assign points to every question and specify the feedback type. There are 3 common interaction types: open, linear, and passive.

Passive involves no user interaction, while linear formats guide users every step of the way. On the other hand, open interactions are more interactive and dynamic, meaning learners can pave their own path. They can complete the course or activity in any order based on their needs. Different objectives call for different styles. Thus, you should look for authoring tools that support multiple interaction types. The key is knowing which systems deliver the most profitable authoring perks for your organization.

Below is a quick overview of the various deployment types and their benefits as well as a few downsides you should consider before making your final decision. Computer-based training tools that are locally installed typically have more customization options. Many organizations also opt for this deployment type because of the security measures. For example, you may have issues with the office WiFi.

In this case, your employees can still log into the platform offline and design or revise existing content. However, this can be a double-edged sword as remote users may run into accessibility issues. Unless, of course, they have the software downloaded on their local device. Desktop authoring tools are often associated with one-time licensing fees, as well. So, price fluctuations are no longer a concern. That said, you should still count on maintenance fees, add-ons, and new versions of the tool.

Collaborators simply need to enter their username and password to create or update content. Therefore, designers, admins, and SMEs can all work together remotely. For instance, someone can log in and upload their part of the project, then get revision notes from instructors or facilitators.

Most cloud-based authoring tools are based on a subscription model or SaaS. This means that you have to pay a monthly or quarterly fee to access the platform.

That brings us to the most notable downside, which is price increases. For example, the vendor might choose to raise their rates next year and you must reevaluate your software budget or look for another tool if the cost is too steep for your organization.

Undoubtedly, one of the most significant advantages of authoring tools that are open source is creative control.

However, you do need some tech expertise to tackle the task. For example, most open source eLearning authoring tools call for coding know-how.

You must be able to dive into the back-end programming to make the necessary changes. Open source platforms are typically free since you have to put in most of the work. So, there are no licensing fees or subscription plans to factor into the budget. Most platforms do have active user communities for DIY troubleshooting though. Plus, they can also customize employee preferences and fix personal gaps.

Another common application is onboarding training and certification paths. Training companies that develop eLearning resources for clients use authoring tools to widen their profit margin, not to mention, improve client satisfaction scores. Camtasia is popular with developers for creating software simulations quickly and easily that can optionally be made more interactive and exported as SCORM.

It has a low learning curve compared to other video production software like Adobe Premier and can be used by SMEs with little or no training. Koantic offers PowerPoint-like slides as an easy way to create visually stimulating content.

It enables you to easily add background audio, synched interactions, and motion from a library of animations. You can choose from over 18 templates to start building content. It features a drag-and-drop branching tool to provide a simple way to incorporate scenarios into your content without any technical know-how. Adeptly is a gamification focused online authoring tool. It allows you to build games that simulate and test your processes and boost learning outcomes with data-driven games.

Adeptly offers an easy-to-use editor to create unique learning games. You can quickly add any content, create decision trees, and customize scoring metrics. What you see in your thirst. You add your content directly to the course, which means no separate editing panels, no waiting for previews to load, and instant feedback on how your course appears. Raptivity is an online authoring tool that focuses on making learning more fun by offering different types of interactions that you might not see in other tools.

It features responsive interactions and microlearning functionality. Coassemble is a cloud-based LMS with built-in authoring tool features — so it aims to be a one-stop shop for both creating and hosting your courses. The native authoring tool aims to be very easy to use with no coding skills required. The main USPs of Coassemble are the great built-in gamification options and learner-centered content and interaction templates.

Area9 Rhapsode is an adaptive learning platform with LMS capabilities. It uses machine learning, artificial intelligence AI , and cognitive engineering to support various types of learners. Courses authored in Rhapsode adapt to individual students using questions that determine comprehension and learning needs. In addition, students rate their confidence level for each answer they submit.

Composica is a cloud-based e-learning authoring tool for creating online training, compliance, and custom courses collaboratively. Its main USP is its ability to create, import, and edit animations for use within courses.

Additionally, it has some Artificial Reality features that can be used with GPS for real-time coordinates to create in situ AR training. Knowbly is an online authoring tool. Its main unique features are customizable themes and the ability to output courses in the EPUB format. As well, it offers all the standard features you would expect to find in an online authoring tool like a block-based course builder and an easy way to integrate images and other assets into your courses.

You can also customize and configure themes, course elements, widgets, assessment scoring, structure, and navigation. When you do this, you can consider some of the items we touched upon in the article.

That concludes this deep dive into e-learning authoring tool selection. We hope we gave you some food for thought on the distinction between desktop and online authoring tools, and when one or the other might be right for you and your organization. Have you recently chosen an e-learning authoring solution or are you in the process of trying out demos? If so, we would love to get your feedback in the comment section below.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What Is an Authoring Tool? Desktop authoring tools Desktop authoring tools typically offer more advanced functionality, particularly when developing complex, customized packages or software simulations.

Authoring Tool Comparison: Desktop vs. Cloud-Based Desktop Cloud Ease of setup and access Because a desktop install lives on your machine, desktop software is automatically accessible regardless of whether or not you have an internet connection.

If you need access on several machines, which is a common use case nowadays with many people using multiple laptops, a desktop authoring solution will mean you need to purchase several licenses. Cloud-based licensing for online authoring tools works anywhere you have an internet connection. In the current age of remote teams, accessibility from anywhere and at any time is a very nice feature. Key Authoring Tool Features to Look For Next, we will cover some key authoring tool features that you should bear in mind.

Intuitive UI It is very important that the authoring tool you choose has a good workflow and an intuitive user interface that speeds up your course creation rather than slowing you down and generating frustration.

Recently, they have released a cloud-based HTML5 version of the authoring tool called Lectora Online, which gives great flexibility. It can be powerful when you know how to use it, but like others of this ilk, it comes with a steeper learning curve than many of the other tools in the list. There are a ton of pre-built interaction templates available that can be used as they come or tweaked.

Some aspects can be changed via the development interface, but for others you may need to use a graphics package to replace existing images. You can create great-looking elearning content with Lectora; however, you need to be a relatively experienced instructional designer and confident with the tool to do so. The tool then automatically rescales objects to fit on mobile devices. You can then make customizations for each view to fit your desires!

You need to create a new view for each device, which adds a fair amount of time to the build process. The cloud-based version of the tool enables a review and comment feature, which can speed up your iterations and keep comments from multiple stakeholders in one place.

Lectora is an online, cloud-based authoring tool that can be accessed from any operating system. The tool is highly customizable with optional programming elements if you have the knowledge to do so!

Lectora has multiple case studies on their website, including one on their work with the NHS. For a more in-depth comparison check out this Elucidat vs Lectora online review. Or… To understand more about Lectora, check out the Trivantis website. Adapt is an open-source authoring tool that creates responsive HTML5 content.

Developers anywhere can add new interactions to the community. The authoring tool only makes the tried and tested components from the community available to users. You can produce modern, slick-looking content with themes in Adapt, or by making your own themes.

The authoring tool interface is quite nice and is relatively simple to use. Adapt is a complex learning software requiring in-depth technical development to develop compliant elearning courses. It also includes customizable HTML5 content. However, there was no mention of any more recent ones. DominKnow ONE brings together their traditional authoring tool Claro with DominKnow Flow for responsive authoring and screen capture and simulation capabilities.

DominKnow creation software allows you to start out with a range of themes and templates, which can be customized. You can also import your Powerpoint content to then edit within the tool.

There are lots of templates to get you up and running quickly. Being able to reuse parts of a page, copying into another page is a handy time-saver.

The ability to collaborate and review online speeds up the production process compared to desktop tools. Authors can copy a course, the structure, learning objects or pages to create a unique copy of a course, which speeds things up and helps with consistency.

DominKnow course authoring tool also has a translation export and import feature. Want to learn more? Easygenerator is a cloud-based elearning platform that has been around since The clue is in the name…this authoring tool is focused on creating relatively simple elearning content quickly. You can build your own course from scratch and produce responsive designs easily with simple interactions and question types.

Alternatively, you can start using a template, which like off the shelf courses come complete with content. However, the design functionality and interactions available are limited compared to other authoring tools. The workflow guides you through a series of steps to creating a piece of elearning, making it easy to focus on the task at hand and avoid missing anything crucial.

The tool also lacks the ability to reorder answers and switch between multiple-choice and single choice answers. These things slowed our tester down! Expect quick and easy content, with limited output! Easygenerator has been recognized by G2, Capterra and Training Industry. You can find a full list of awards on the Easy Generator website. The output courses are published in HTML5.

With a reasonably low learning curve if you know your way around PowerPoint! Slide-based courses can be adapted and repurposed into more engaging, customized courses.

The end result looks clean and professional, but it still has that PP feel! With that in mind, the level of interactivity and customization is hindered due to PowerPoint integration. For established PP authors, iSpring Suite should have a pretty small learning curve. Allowing the creation of basic, responsive elearning courses quickly and easily.

Being connected directly to the cloud, courses can be uploaded directly online, or saved locally. Although, as you progress further within the tool issues may arise that can hinder production time. Lack of collaboration makes it difficult for teams to be efficient, and with PowerPoint being a prominently Microsoft based software, Mac users can be left out in the cold.

Storing and sending files locally can back the production process complex, making the online upload option the most viable choice. Learning paths can be created, saved and reused in iSpring for quick access. Completed courses can then be uploaded directly into the cloud for learners to access online, or offline!

Courses can be copied and reused, but have no direct links, which can make updating courses at scale an issue. They are the bedrock upon which you can design your subject curriculum and then fill them with animations, images, suitable graphics and more. Such e-learning software also provides the option of including quizzes, concept review tests and more.

Basically, with free eLearning authoring tools, even a layman not in terms of subject knowledge can design a professional online learning course. There are 3 different categories of e-learning authoring software which stand out during elearning authoring tools comparison. They are as follows:. A standalone eLearn software is meant for designing a complex course replete with animations and interactive utilities such as drag and drop functionality.

Unfortunately, such eLearning development tools usually involve a steep learning curve. In these types of eLearning authoring software, users can convert their PowerPoint presentations into eLearning courses, video lectures, interactive quizzes and much more.

Moreover, since many users are familiar with the interface of PowerPoint, designing this using the best authoring tools involves a less steep learning curve. Cloud-based course authoring software provides ease of accessibility. You can start designing courses on your PC, safely back it to the cloud and resume designing on any other device.

All this without compromising on the quality of the interactiveness of your skill improving course. Online learning software has emerged as quite a trend these days. Open source elearning authoring tools ensure that both students and working professionals can upskill themselves from the comfort of their homes. In addition to this, the best elearning software also offers the following benefits.

These tools would help you develop interactive and informative courses. Adobe Captivate elearn software needs no introduction. This eLearning authoring software is suitable for designing your courses as it provides ready to use interactive slides. Moreover, it also houses a vast asset store from which users can download royalty-free images, themes, audio, video and much more.

Cons: Adobe Captivate has a steeper learning curve as compared to other eLearning development tools. Adobe Captivate eLearning authoring software offers a free day trial.

The paid version is available in the following two plans:. Best for: Designing courses with same degree of interactiveness across mobile devices. Articulate Storyline , one of the best elearning authoring software , lets you design creative courses and publish them in a few steps.

The eLearning authoring software allows you to tweak the course based on the screen size. This is considered one of the best eLearning tools for playback, as it automatically removes sidebars while watching a video. Cons: Some users might demand that the software offered compatibility with VR headsets.