What Is The Most Popular eLearning Authoring Tool And How To Choose Right One?

Do you like taking online courses? Do you wonder how these interactive lessons, training modules, creative quizzes, and assessments are created? The answer is eLearning Authoring tools. eLearning authoring tools play a vital role in this era of remote learning and distance learning. Teachers, freelancers, corporate trainers, and individual creators use these to create learner-friendly digital courses.  This article provides a comprehensive guide on eLearning authoring tools and lists the top 10 eLearning authoring tools.

What Are E-Learning Authoring Tools?

eLearning Authoring tools are software applications to create engaging content for educational purposes. The software tools have built-in designs, templates, and visuals that are used to create creative lessons, training materials, quizzes, and videos. 

In this era of remote learning or distance education, students feel comfortable learning in their own space. Remote learning helps students excel in their studies. Traditional training methods often lack flexibility and personalization. E-learning tools solve this problem by enabling customized content delivery that suits individual learners’ needs. Even Corporate trainers use these tools to train employees. 

eLearning authoring tools do not require any specialized skills to use, no coding skills, or technical skills. These tools are creator-friendly also.  These are integrated with learning management systems to monitor access. Learning management systems are different from eLearning authoring tools. Learning management systems deliver and monitor online content, whereas eLearning authoring tools are used to create online content.

Key Features of E-Learning Authoring Tools

• Interactive Content Creation: The tools allow the creation of interactive content as it has built-in drag-and-drop options, animations, and quiz templates.
• Multimedia Integration: You can add videos, audio, images, or even 3D objects to make lessons more engaging.
• Templates and Themes:  The tool has Pre-designed templates to save time and maintain consistency.
• Collaboration: It allows you to work with teammates in real time on cloud-based tools.
• SCORM and xAPI Support: It follows eLearningStandards to ensure your content is compliant and works with other systems like an LMS.
• Responsive: The tools are responsive and user-friendly, allowing creators to create compelling video lessons or materials.

Standards For E-Learning Authoring Tools

Most e-learning tools follow specific standards to ensure compatibility and reusability. Here are the most common ones:

1. SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model): This ensures your content works across different LMSs and tracks learner progress.
2. xAPI (Experience API): A newer standard that captures a wide range of learning activities, both online and offline.
3. AICC (Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee): An older standard, still in use in some corporate environments.
4. cmi5: Combines SCORM and xAPI, offering modern capabilities with backward compatibility.

These standards ensure that the content you create can be used and tracked seamlessly across platforms.

Types Of E-Learning Authoring Tools

1. Cloud-Based Tools

• Access from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Great for teams that need to collaborate remotely.
• Example: Articulate Rise.

2. Desktop-Based Tools

• Installed directly on your computer.
• Often more powerful but less flexible than cloud-based options.
• Example: Adobe Captivate.

3. Open-Source Tools

• Free to use and highly customizable.
• Ideal for those with technical expertise.
• Example: Adapt Learning.

Top E-Learning Authoring Tools in 2024

1.Articulate 360

Articulate 360 is the leading e-learning authoring tool for creating content courses, especially for workplace training. It is now integrated with Artificial intelligence to speed up the content creation to 9x faster without compromising on engagement, integrity, and interactivity. Other products of the software are Storyline 360, Rise 360, Rech 360, and Review 360.

Features:

• It has a large content asset library with 13+ million images, templates, royalty-free videos, content, and visuals 
• You can create assessments, quizzes, summaries, and animations within a few clicks with the help of AI.
• You can access expert training and get reviews from stakeholders in one place.

Who Can Use It?: Corporate businesses, educators, and freelance course creators.

Cost: Starts at $1,749 per user annually. You can request a free trial by contacting the company.

Website: Articulate 360

2.Adobe Captivate

Adobe Captivate is another authoring tool to create engaging and interactive courses. The interface has multiple design options, a rich media library, widgets, and ready-to-go slides. The tool is smarter and responsive by default. 

Features:

• The team can collaborate, share, review, and comment easily.
• SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, AICC, and xAP
• It supports a video grid that allows creators to streamline multiple videos in a single frame. 
• Easy integration with Adobe learning management system.
• It has various multimedia and interactive elements.

 Who Can Use It?: students, teachers, business, and non-profit organizations.

Cost: $33.99/month per user. You can request a free trial.

Website: Adobe Captivate

3.Camtasia

Camtasia is a powerful screen recording application. The tool, with AI assistance, captures high-quality video, camera, audio, and mic. It is an all-in-one solution for video editing and screen recording.  You can also create video scripts and change the layouts and background with artificial intelligence.

Features:

• Camtasia Reve used to change the layout, refine and share the videos within minutes
• Camtasia assets have high-quality video, audio, and image assets.
• You can generate natural sounding voice with AI

Who Can Use It?: Students, teachers, business, government, and freelance content creators.

Cost: $134.91 

Website:https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/

4.iSpring Suite

iSpring Suite is an online training software that is a perfect eLearning authoring tool for every industry, from education to healthcare. You can create effective and engaging courses quickly with these tools. It is a great tool for beginners who are familiar with PowerPoint.

Features:

• You can create powerful tutorials or courses by just converting your PPTs.
• The course is SCORM compatible and integrated with any LMS.
• You can create presentations, quizzes, role-plays, and interactions.

Who Can Use It?: Schools, small businesses, and educators.

Cost: Starts at $770 per user annually. You can get a free trial also.
Website: iSpring Suite

5. Lectora Inspire

Lectora Online is another award-winning eLearning authoring tool that helps to make online courses with only three steps.  You can also convert presentations into courses in three steps. 

Features:

• Lectora asset library has eLearning assets, healthcare assets, stock assets, and presentation templates.
• It has. Ready-made frameworks that help to build responsive courses accessible on desktop and web.
• You can embed immersive learning scenarios like VR  with CenarioVR.
• You can embed games using Training Arcade to make lessons interactive.
•  Best for large-scale projects

Who Can Use It?: Corporate trainers and businesses with global teams.

Cost: Starts at $899 per user annually. You can get a 30-day free trial.

Website: Lectora Online

6. Elucidat

Elucidat is an eLearning authoring software to create engaging courses quickly and easily.  You can easily create, engage, and manage your courses with this tool. 

Features:

• You can localize content at a large scale using Translation Suite.
• Streamline using auto-translation authoring capabilities.
• SMEs can generate high-quality content at
• Pre-built templates and branding options.

Who Can Use It?: Anyone from SME to business

Cost: Custom pricing based on needs.

Website: Elucidat

7. Thinkific

Thinkific is an AI-powered platform for creating and selling digital learning courses. It is a great platform for creators and educators to create digital downloads, coaching courses, and webinars. 

Features:

• Create digital courses with AI.
• Sell courses easily with group ordering, payment, and report management in one place.
• Sell digital courses on top global platforms like Spotify.

Who Can Use It?: Entrepreneurs, educators, creators, and businesses.

Cost: The basic plan starts at $36/m. You can get a 14-day free trial.

Website: Thinkific

8. Adapt Learning

Adapt Learning is an open-source or free eLearning authoring tool known to create responsive courses compatible with any device. You do not need programming language knowledge to use this software.

Features:

• Adapting the framework helps to build content quickly.
• Multi-device responsive design.
• Free to use and modify.

Who Can Use It?: Developers, small businesses, content creators, and educators.

Cost: Free.

Website: Adapt Learning

9. H5P

H5P is a free, open-source eLearning authoring tool for creating rich and interactive HTML5 content that can be reused on any LMS platform. The H5P plug-in does all the work of course creation.

Features:

• You can create quizzes, presentations, videos, games, and advertisements.
• Easy to embed in CMS  and LMS like Canva, moodle, Blackboard, and others With the H5P plugin.
• It is a mobile-friendly application.
• Free and accessible to everyone. 

Who Can Use It?: Schools, independent educators, and small businesses.

Cost: Free.

Website: H5P

10. Gomo Learning

Gomo Learning is cloud-based eLearning software that makes course creation simple and easy.  The software uses generative AI and other emerging technologies to create and tailor courses.

Features:

• Auto-translation, multi-language, and localisation features help courses to compete in global networks.
• You can tailor content according to job location and job role.
• Support SCORM standards to distribute courses in different LMS.

Who Can Use It?: Corporations, educators, and remote teams.

Cost: Custom pricing based on authoring, authoring× delivery.

Website: Gomo Learning

How To Choose The Right E-Learning Authoring Tool

When choosing a tool, consider the following:

1. Ease of Use: Beginners should look for intuitive tools like iSpring Suite or Camtasia.
2. Compatibility: Ensure the tool supports SCORM or xAPI for LMS integration.
3. Budget: Free tools like H5P are great if you’re on a tight budget.
4. Features: Pick a tool that matches your content needs (e.g., video-based, interactive, or responsive design).
5. Support and Community: Look for tools with strong customer support or active user communities.

Benefits Of Using E-Learning Authoring Tools

1. Time-Saving: Pre-made templates and easy-to-use interfaces speed up course creation.
2. Cost-Effective: No need to hire expensive designers; these tools make it simple for anyone to create content.
3. Customizable: Tailor courses to suit your learners’ needs.
4. Interactive Learning: Gamification, quizzes, and videos keep learners engaged.
5. Scalable: You can easily update courses as your needs change.

Challenges With eLearning Authoring Tools

1. Learning Curve: Some tools require time to master.
2. Compatibility Issues: Not all tools work seamlessly with every LMS.
3. Cost: Advanced tools can be pricey.
4. Limited Creativity: Some tools may restrict unique design ideas.

Tips For Successful E-Learning Content Creation

• Know Your Audience: Tailor your content to their needs and preferences.
• Keep It Interactive: Include quizzes, animations, or simulations.
• Test Everything: Ensure the course runs smoothly across devices.

Conclusion

E-learning authoring tools have transformed the way we create and share knowledge. They’re versatile, user-friendly, and a must-have for anyone in education or training. Whether you’re crafting a corporate training module or a university course, these tools give you everything you need to succeed. Just choose the right tool for your needs, and you’re good to go!