Finding the best elearning content creation tools is a tough job, especially because you have so many options. Should you go with an authoring tool or with a presentation software? And which one of those is the best? Here is our list of the top elearning authoring tools that will help you get your job done in no time.
A former instructional designer and current elearning developer describes the best authoring tools for creating elearning courses using his own experiences. Reviews of several writing tools are given and features such as customization, collaboration and ease of use are described.
What is an authoring tool?
An authoring tool is a piece of software that enables the creation of digital content. This could be as simple as creating a Microsoft Word document, or as complex as a graphic design tool. Elearning authoring software allows the user to generate and manipulate multimedia objects for the content’s intended purpose.
In the realm of learning and development, authoring tools are used to create digital learning content, or ‘elearning’. Elearning authoring tools are most commonly used by instructional designers in L&D teams to create training materials for their employees. This training can include compliance, onboarding, hard and soft skills, etc. Elearning authoring software ranges from powerful and highly specialized, to very basic.
Types of course authoring tools
Course authoring tools come in many shapes and sizes. It’s important to understand what type of learning software you will need before you get started. For example, several learning management systems (LMS – software used to distribute digital learning content) come with built-in authoring tools. These are often very basic, and restrict authors with learning design experience. On the other hand, ‘standalone’ course authoring software are solely developed for the production of digital learning – giving instructional designers more freedom to create high-quality, customized content.
Authoring tools for elearning can also be desktop-based, or cloud-based. Online learning software can help you provide the best possible experience for learners when distance learning is the safest or most effective way to continue education.
Each elearning creation software comes with their own range of supported elearning formats, including SCORM (1.2, 2004), xAPI/TinCan, HTML5, AICC, cmi5 and LTI. For more info, on what SCORM is, SCORM versions, and how it compares with other standards
Is elearning software different to an authoring tool?
Elearning software is a broad term that could be used to refer to many elements within a learning technology stack. Within the elearning software category you’ll find softwares that focus on different aspects of the elearning. For example, Elearning Authoring Tools are used to create effective, engaging elearning courses. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) then automate the administration, testing, tracking and reporting of these courses
Why do you need an authoring tool?
Unsure whether you need an authoring software to meet your elearning objectives. Here are our top five reasons to use an authoring tool:
- Allows you to personalize your content and adopt a people-centered approach to learning;
- Enables you to collaborate with your team effectively, allowing authors, SMEs and stakeholders to work together seamlessly;
- Makes it easy to roll out elearning courses in different locations and update content to comply with new regulations quickly and with ease;
- Allows you to continually improve your elearning by analyzing data and collating feedback on how your content performs;
- Enables you to adapt to new demands and produce supporting elearning content quickly.
Criteria for evaluating the best elearning authoring tools
What makes a great authoring tool? In this guide, the key criteria we have used to compare and contrast the best authoring tools on the market are:
Quality of elearning output:
- Level of customization available
- Variety of formats to choose from
- In-built design guidance
- Branching options available
Speed and efficiency:
- How quickly you can produce high-quality elearning
- Features that can speed up your production
- Collaboration options for streamlining the feedback process
- Ease of having multiple authors working on a project simultaneously
- Level of experience required for the author to use the platform effectively
Scalability:
- How easy it is to reuse, edit and scale your elearning content
- Cost-efficiency for producing elearning content at scale
- Import and export features
- Translation options
Elearning authoring tools & software to consider
Articulate Storyline 360
A well-known name in the world of authoring, Storyline is clean, modern, and has plenty of powerful features. For example, it allows you to storyboard your courses and then dictates the path that your learner takes. And although it can take a little bit of time to get to grips with Storyline, it’s balanced by the quality of the results.
The platform has two pricing options for you to choose from: a Storyline 360 subscription or a one-off purchase of Storyline 3. The website has a helpful comparison chart that details what comes with each option. The subscription is probably the better choice as it gives you access to a host of other apps to use and the benefit of regular updates, but either option is worth a try.
Articulate Rise 360
The sibling to Storyline, Rise 360 is another top-quality authoring tool from Articulate. With a prime focus on mobile-responsive content, it’s a smart choice for those who want courses that are compatible with every device. Again, like Storyline, it has a clean, modern interface that delivers visually pleasing results.
Adobe Captivate
Captivate is one of the most feature-rich tools, especially when you take into account its interoperability with other Adobe tools.
We like that you can storyboard your courses and utilize advanced transitions and triggers – the result of which is engaging content for any scenario or subject. The PowerPoint integration is a must-use feature for anyone with content in this format, as it fast tracks your course creation process.
Elucidat
Elucidat is a cloud-based authoring tool that focuses on making it easy to produce awesome eLearning, super fast. But, that doesn’t mean that it’s light on features. It’s a user-friendly option that is made for big employers. Authors can start from pre-built blueprints – or build out courses from scratch using the intuitive “what you see is what you get interface”. Flexible user permissions let L&D collaborate better with SMEs, while maintaining central control.
Content is responsive to all screen sizes, so it’s ideal for mobile learning. And tools to manage variations and updates makes keeping pace with change a piece of cake.
Gomo
Gomo is a cloud-based authoring tool that allows you to create web-style content. Your courses can be hosted online via the web, or offline using the Gomo app. It avoids a lot of the headaches that come with desktop-based tools but has some limitations in the amount of customization you can do.
Quality of elearning output
Gomo comes with a range of themes you can tweak to quickly create elearning that looks modern and on-brand. It’s worth noting that fully customized themes require specialist development, which can be costly if you have grand plans for your visuals.
There are a range of interactive templates available to bring your elearning content to life. The interactions all sit in a two-column structure, which limits your designs a little.
Speed and efficiency of authoring
Pre-built templates and quick-start wizards soften the learning curve with Gomo, so you can get up and running quickly. The interface is separate from the finished course, though, which means you can’t see what your course will look like as you go.
Scalability
Being cloud-based, Gomo allows authors to collaborate on creating courses. There’s also a multi-sco option that allows translated versions to sit in one package, with learners choosing the language they want to take the course in at the start. This is a handy feature if you’re delivering content globally.
Supported elearning formats
Gomo is a cloud-based authoring tool designed for both windows and mac. It produces HTML5, mobile-first content that can be released to its own LMS.
Supports:
- HTML5, SCORM, xAPI (TinCan)
- Windows, Mac OS
Gomo Strengths
- It’s a cloud-based authoring tool, offering greater flexibility than desktop tools
- You can produce responsive elearning output
- They have an offline mobile app and Gomo Central, which is a cloud-based learning portal
- Ability to provide multi-language courses
Gomo Weaknesses
- Layout restrictions limit your creativity and give courses a templated look and feel
- The interface is not intuitive and is tricky to use without a WYSIWYG interface
- Customization options may not be enough for creative visuals
Best for:
- Authors of any level
- Multi-language elearning
- Basic themes that are easy to tweak
- Collaboration between multiple authors
Case studies and awards
Gomo’s case studies include GDK, Royal Mail, Santander and Godiva Chocolatier.
iSpring Suite 4.7/5 (228 reviews)
iSpring Solutions is an international software company founded in 2001. They focus on providing solutions for eLearning content authoring and training management to both corporate and educational clients worldwide. The company is recognized by over 59,000 clients for its easy-to-use yet swift and reliable products, and exceptional technical support. The superior quality of iSpring products is recognized by authoritative industry awards and ratings.
Highlights
iSpring Suite Max is a fast and easy-to-use toolkit for creating eLearning content for any learning objective.
- Quick creation of eLearning courses, quizzes, video lessons, and role-plays
- Enjoyable online workspace that enhances teamwork
- Easy content delivery (LMS, YouTube, HTML5 conversion)
Lectora 4.4/5 (17 reviews)
eLearning Brothers is a leading company in learning technology solutions. They enable organizations to conquer performance and development challenges. Their team offers a one-stop shop for learning development and delivery, ranging from strategic consulting to authoring tools. eLearning Brothers is helping everyone create and deliver eLearning that rocks!
Sign up for a free trial of Lectora and each Authoring Suite tool by visiting the eLearning Brothers website.
Highlights
- Modular development tools (to boost productivity)
- The accessibility leader
- Adaptive learning with assessment and tracking
Absorb Create (formerly Koantic)
Absorb Create is an online course builder and authoring tool. This tool comes with all the power and functionality of legacy desktop solutions but without any limitations. Its users can create training fast by utilizing its drag-and-drop functionality and a robust library of customizable templates and themes. The Absorb LMS integration is so intuitive that you can easily craft and publish interactive eLearning courses to the LMS, or to SCORM, xAPI, and HTML5 formats.
Highlights
- Branching scenarios with the built-in visual editor
- Assessments, quizzes, and questions
- Interactive video maker
Easygenerator 4.5/5 (10 reviews)
Easygenerator is a fast-growing and award-winning company that helps Subject Matter Experts to create learning and performance content. Having Subject Matter Experts create this content is faster and cheaper than when a central (learning) department produces it. But more importantly, it is the only way to keep this content up to date. They call this approach “employee-generated learning.”
Highlights
- Ease of use
- Their unprecedented support
- Free hosting and result tracking
Conclusion
These days, many content authors find it difficult to create elearning content without using some form of technology. However, they are not aware of how to use the same or how much content they should include in a course. Also, they generally do not understand the purpose of various types of instructional design authoring tools.