The 8 Best E-learning Authoring Tools for 2023

There has been a sharp rise in e-learning after the whole world went remote in 2020 due to unprecedented circumstances. With that, most instructors, and corporate professionals came across a major challenge of creating professional e-learning courses. 

They didn’t know how to put different resources together to create full-fledged professional courses. To keep up with the fast-paced demand, the instructors and professionals had to employ e-learning authoring tools to develop courses that ensured their students and employees stayed there till the end. 

The e-learning authoring tools are essential in today’s time for any modern learning management system (LMS). They help instructors and different professionals create professional courses and then distribute them via the web for students and employees.

With many options available on the internet, choosing one for individual needs can be overwhelming. To make things easy, we have compiled a list of the 8 best e-learning authoring tools for 2023. 

Table of Contents

What is an e-learning authoring tool?

The 8 best e-learning authoring tools

isEazy Author

Elucidat

Lectora

Adobe Captivate

iSpring Suite

HowToo

Easygenerator

Coassemble

How to choose the right authoring e-learning tool?

FAQs

What is an E-learning Authoring Tool?

An eLearning authoring tool is a cloud-based software used to produce various e-learning materials like lessons, training courses, exercises, simulations, and more. By merging text, images, audio, or video, users can develop a customized interactive learning experience or begin from scratch. 

Once the content is created, the authoring tool generates the final output in SCORM, HTML5, xAPI, or TIN CAN format, which can be transferred to an LMS for delivery of the training.

The 8 Best E-learning Authoring Tools

#1 isEazy Author

Image Source: isEazy

isEazy is an e-learning authoring tool used to create spectacular courses in minutes. You can keep the audience engaged with its attractive multimedia and interactive resources. What’s better is that the courses are fully responsive.

isEazy comes at a starting price of $0 for a single user and allows 3GB of space. The Professional Plan is $69 for a single user and allows 5GB of space with unlimited projects and 16 style templates.

Features

• Offers tools for effective employee training
• Centralized platform for storing all the training data
• Allows organizations to create their training content easily
• Provides a centralized platform for managing all the training content
• Provides self-paced courses that allow employees to learn at their own pace
• Storyboarding is an essential feature that allows organizations to create a storyboard for their training content
• Provide a feature for creating tests and quizzes that help organizations evaluate the progress of their employees

isEazy has a great 24/7 reliable support system. They even have a knowledge base that you can refer to for operating the tool. Their website has courses, demos, FAQs, and a blog that come in handy as resource guides. 

It is ideal for freelancers, startups, small to mid-sized businesses, and nonprofits.

Pros

• Easy to use, friendly authoring tool
• Non-existent learning curve
• Has a free trial and freemium options
• Excellent customer service
• Great value for money

Cons

• Not cheap for advanced plans
• Templates are a bit restrictive
• Animated elements are limited

#2 Elucidat

Image Source: Elucidat

Elucidat is a cloud-based e-learning authoring tool where you can design courses anywhere at any time using its 25000+ templates. It even offers a 14-day free trial to new users. There are four pricing options: Basic Team, Enterprise, and Scale which are customized to individual requirements. 

Features

• Courses can be easily accessed on any device, including mobile phones, tablets, and desktops
• Offers a range of customizable templates that can be used to create courses quickly and easily
• The tool includes a range of interactive elements, such as quizzes, games, surveys, and more, to engage learners
• Lets multiple authors collaborate on the same project and provide real-time feedback and comments
• The tool provides detailed analytics and reporting to track learner progress and improve course effectiveness

Elucidat has live support that is available during business hours. The support team even answers queries via email upon request. The blogs, guides, demos, and tutorials on the website also serve as useful resources.

It is an ideal platform for small to mid-sized companies, enterprises, and nonprofits.

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Responsive design
• Customizable templates
• Offers a free trial
• Specialized gamification tool
• Excellent support

Cons

• Pricing not available for public
• Limited customization for certain elements

#3 Lectora

Image Source: Lectora 

Lectora is an e-learning authoring tool that allows you to create interactive and engaging e-learning courses without any programming knowledge. It has responsive features, automated versioning, interactivity, branching, and endless quizzing options. 

The starting price for Lectora is $999 for an annual subscription, but it also offers a 30-day free trial to anyone in the world. 

Features

• Allows you to create e-learning courses that work on any device, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones
• Provides a range of interactive features, such as quizzes, surveys, and simulations, that help to engage learners and improve their retention
• Allows multiple authors to work on a project simultaneously, making it easy to collaborate with team members and subject matter experts
• Lets you customize the look and feel of your e-learning courses, including the layout, colors, and fonts
• Integrates with other e-learning tools, such as learning management system (LMS), to provide a seamless experience for learners and administrators

Their assistance is accessible during regular business hours. If you need help outside of these hours, you may explore the ELB Learning community, where you can connect with other users, browse their knowledge base or read their blog.

It is an ideal platform for freelancers, small to mid-sized companies, large enterprises, and nonprofits.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Rich media support
• It is scalable
• Mobile friendly
• Offers a free trial
• Third-party integration (Camtasia and Snagit)

Cons

• Pricey compared to other e-learning tools
• There is a learning curve for beginners
• Limited built-in templates

#4  Adobe Captivate

Image Source: Adobe Captivate

Adobe Captivate is an e-learning authoring tool that allows users to create interactive and engaging e-learning courses using a wide range of customizable templates. Users can create courses with multimedia elements such as audio, video, and images, and it provides a variety of interactive elements like quizzes, simulations, and drag-and-drop interactions.

Adobe Captivate is a subscription-based service with different pricing tiers based on the number of users and features needed. The starting price for a single-user license is $33.99 per month, billed annually at $407.88. It also has a free trial for new users.

Features

• Allows you to create responsive courses that can be accessed on any device
• Offers a wide range of interactive elements, such as quizzes, simulations, and drag-and-drop interactions
• Supports various multimedia formats, including audio, video, and images
• Allows you to export courses in SCORM or Tin Can API format, making it easy to integrate them with a learning management system (LMS)
• Offers augmented reality capabilities, allowing you to create immersive and engaging learning experiences
• Includes features such as closed captioning and keyboard shortcuts to make courses more accessible

To receive support, you can reach out via email. Users also have the option to access the Help Center or community forums for assistance with using the product. 

It is best for compliance training, customer training, employee training, and K-12 education.

Pros

• User-friendly and intuitive 
• Range of customizable templates
• Offers free trial
• Range of advanced features
• Available on Mac and Windows
• Supports multiple mobile forms

Cons

• Difficult to use for new users
• Limited pricing options due to subscription based model
• Expensive tool

#5 iSpring Suite

Image Source: iSpring Suite

iSpring Suite is an e-learning authoring tool that does it all. It allows users to create interactive e-learning courses and assessments, quizzes, video lectures, and screencasts. It’s a one-stop-shop that offers a wide range of features to create engaging and interactive e-learning content quickly and easily.

The starting price of iSpring Suite is $770 per year per user, which includes all the features and updates. The iSpring Suite Max costs $970 per user per year. It has a free trial too.

Features

• Huge library of templates, characters, backgrounds, and icons
• Interactive drag-and-drop activities, quizzes, simulations
• Screen Recording option to record lectures, videos, lectures, tutorials
• Integration with PowerPoint
• Mobile friendly and can be accessed on any mobile device

Pros

• Easy to use even for non-technical users
• Wide range of features
• Integration with PowerPoint
• Quickly creates courses

Cons

• Limited capabilities compared to other tools
• Must be integrated with PowerPoint
• No support for branching scenarios

If you require assistance with iSpring Suite, support is accessible round the clock through phone, email, and chat. There is also an online community that offers various forum activities, as well as a support center that includes guides and articles you can use for help with using the tool.

Ideal for Instructional designers, course developers, L&D professionals, and educators. 

#6 HowToo

Image Source: HowToo

HowToo is an online training platform that allows users to create and publish interactive e-learning content without requiring coding skills. The tool is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, which makes it easy to use for both beginners and experienced e-learning professionals.

The tool has four pricing packages: Starter, Growth, Creator, and Professional. The starter plan is absolutely free with limited features. The Growth plan is priced at 80 per month, but it is billed annually at $960. This plan even has a 7-day free trial.

Features

• Provides a range of customizable templates that users can use to create e-learning content quickly and easily
• Users can add interactive elements to their e-learning content, such as quizzes, games, and simulations
• It allows multiple authors to collaborate on a project in real time, making it easier to create high-quality e-learning content
• The tool includes analytics features that allow users to track the performance of their e-learning content and identify areas for improvement
• Its e-learning content is optimized for viewing on mobile devices, ensuring that learners can access the content wherever they are

Pros

• Easy to use, even for those without coding skills
• Multiple authors can work together on a single project in real-time
• Customize e-learning content using templates
• Friendly viewing for mobile devices 

Cons

• Integration is limited to a few platforms
• Limited functionality to create complex courses

Customer support is available during business hours via email and phone. There is also an online community where you can connect with other users to seek support in using the tool, or browse their knowledge base and read their blog.

It is ideal for medium and large-sized workplaces looking to create digital courses.

#7 Easygenerator

Image Source: Easygenerator

Easygenerator is an eLearning authoring tool that allows users to create and publish on-brand and up-to-date interactive online courses, quizzes, assessments, and surveys easily. It has three pricing plans: Pro, Team, and Enterprise. The Pro package starts at $108 which is billed annually at $1299. It allows 1 author and 10 courses. The Team package is priced at $541 per month and is billed annually at $6495 for 5 authors and offers unlimited courses. The pricing for the Enterprise package is not available to the public. 

Both the Pro and Team packages come with a 14-day free trial.  

Features

• It has a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use for people with no technical background
• It is a cloud-based platform that allows users to access and create content from anywhere with an internet connection
• It comes with pre-designed templates and themes that users can customize according to their needs
• Users can create interactive content such as quizzes, assessments, surveys, and scenarios that engage learners and promote active learning
• It has collaboration tools that allow teams to work together on a project and share feedback in real-time
• Easygenerator provides detailed analytics and reporting that allow users to track learner progress and identify areas for improvement

Easy Generator offers support during regular business hours through Easy Generator Live, a live online support service. It provides a comprehensive Help Center and a knowledge base consisting of categorized articles for easy navigation. Plus, the platform has a resources page containing case studies and a blog.

It is ideal for freelancers, large enterprises (>10,000) nonprofits, and small/medium businesses.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Has a free trial
• Offer drag and drop option
• Easy to use for people with no technical background
• Compatible with most LMS platforms
• Detailed analytics and reporting

Cons

• Drag and drop doesn’t always work on mobile
• Very expensive
• No offline syncing

#8 Coassemble

Image Source: Coassemble

Coassemble is a cloud-based eLearning platform that enables businesses and organizations to create, deliver and track online training courses. Coassemble offers several pricing plans, including:

Pro20: $120/month, billed annually at $1440 for up to 20 active users

Pro100: $250/month, billed annually at $3000 for up to 100 active users

Pro 250: $375/month, billed annually at $4500 for up to 250 active users

Pro 250+: custom pricing for organizations with more than 250 active users

Features

• Drag and drop existing content into quizzes, tests, slideshows
• Track employee progress
• Monitor learner progress, completion rates, and other metrics
• Coassemble can integrate with other tools such as Salesforce, Hubspot, and Google Analytics
• create and design interactive courses using customizable templates and multimedia elements

Customer support is exceptional and is available 24/7. Further support is also extended via email, and there is an online community and knowledge base that users can access to learn more about the tool.

It is ideal for large enterprises (>10,000), nonprofits, public administrations, and small/medium businesses.

Pros

• Great user experience
• Wide range of templates and pre-built content
• Collaborative course creation and management
• Affordable pricing
• Very responsive teams
• Mobile responsive design
• Fantastic LMS and course management features

Cons

• Limited templates
• Limited reporting options
• Could use more third-party integrations

How to Choose the Right Authoring E-learning Tool?

Choosing the right authoring e-learning tool can be a daunting task, especially with so many options available. Here are some factors to consider when selecting an authoring tool:

• Consider the learners’ experience who will be using the course. Look for tools that offer a user-friendly interface, intuitive navigation, and responsive design
• Ensure that the authoring tool is compatible with the learning management system (LMS) you will be used to deliver the course. Check that it supports the necessary file formats and that it can integrate with your existing systems
• Consider your budget and look for tools that offer the necessary features within your budget. Keep in mind that some tools may require additional licensing fees or add-ons, so factor these into your budget

FAQs

What are the different types of e-learning authoring tools?

There are several types of e-learning authoring tools available, each with its own set of features and capabilities. Some of these include Coassemble, isEazy, Adobe Captivate, and Lectora.

What is the best software for e-learning?

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing e-learning software. There are many options available that different professionals can choose to fit their desired requirements.