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9 Authoring Tool Examples Training Providers Should Know About in 2025

Recently updated on February 7th, 2025

Looking for a new eLearning authoring tool?

We’ve put together this list of the top 10 examples of authoring tools available in 2025, so you can find the right fit for your needs (and if you want to sign up for early access to Arlo’s very own upcoming eLearning authoring features!).

We’ll also explore what exactly an authoring tool is, the benefits of using one and some of the key factors to keep in mind during the buying process.

Let’s jump in 👇

What is an eLearning Authoring Tool?

An eLearning authoring tool is software that enables commercial training providers, along with novice creators and professional instructional designers, to create engaging learning experiences for online, in-person, or blended environments.

An authoring tool helps you weave interactive elements—such as quizzes, microlearning units, pre-reading materials, scenario-based assignments, and videos—into your eLearning content, and helps improve learner engagement and training outcomes.

Learners can complete modules at their convenience on any device, while analytics allow organizations to track progress, evaluate the effectiveness of a course, and refine their content whenever needed.

Modern eLearning authoring tools commonly include AI-powered workflows that can automatically convert existing training material into interactive modules or generate brand-new courses with minimal effort.

You should also expect a tool to have flexible layout options, built-in media libraries, and branding features that support customized designs so you can make the courses your own.

You’ll come across eLearning authoring tools in two places: either as standalone tools or integrated into a learning and training platform like an LMS or TMS like Arlo.

The benefit of going for a platform like Arlo, which has eLearning authoring as a feature alongside features for scheduling, managing, taking registrations, and delivering training, is that you get access to a platform that can manage the entire end-to-end training journey.

What Benefits Can You Expect From Using an eLearning Authoring Tool?

While authoring tools make content creation possible for virtually anyone, the advantages they bring to commercial training providers go far beyond accessibility. They streamline course creation, simplify updates, and help you deliver high-quality training at scale.

1. Authoring Tools Enable Anyone to Create Courses

Without an authoring tool, developing professional-grade courses often requires in-depth coding skills or a dedicated developer. This can be both costly and time-consuming, not to mention limiting. 

For commercial training providers, an authoring tool empowers anyone on the team—whether they’re experienced instructional designers or subject matter experts—to translate their expertise into engaging training modules. 

Instead of waiting for a developer’s availability, you can quickly respond to new market demands or client requests.

Arlo's eLearning course creation features.

2. Authoring Tools Let You Scale Faster

As your training business grows, so do the demands from your clients. Whether you’re adding new subjects, tailoring content for different industries, or simply keeping up with increased enrollment, you need a fast way to produce and update courses. 

Authoring tools not only speed up the creation process but also help you avoid the ongoing expense of outsourcing development. 

When a course needs a refresh, whether it’s due to updated regulations or client feedback—you can make changes in-house, publish immediately, and keep your offerings current and competitive.

3. Authoring Tools Help You Deliver Blended Learning

An authoring tool will help you combine online modules with in-person sessions and expand the training you offer and develop engaging digital course content that complements live training.

When you have the expertise and tools in place to produce and deliver in-person, virtual and eLearning training you can really tailor your training to your client’s needs, and their preferences. 

For example, if you have a customer that has employees scattered across multiple locations and varying work schedules. Rather than forcing everyone into the same delivery format, you can offer both live virtual or in-person sessions and self-paced online courses. 

Those with scheduling conflicts can complete modules at their own convenience, while those who prefer real-time engagement can attend live sessions.

And there are many times when modules within a course are best suited for a variety of delivery formats. 

For example, consider a course on leadership and team management. You might structure it to include online microlearning modules covering theory and best practices, followed by an in-person workshop where participants engage in role-playing exercises and group discussions. 

Participants get the convenience of learning core concepts on their own time, plus the interactive benefits of in-person sessions for deeper skill development.

Arlo's blended learning workflow.

Factors for Training Providers Keep in Mind When Evaluating Authoring Tools

Do You Already Offer eLearning or Are Planning on Expanding Into eLearning?

One obvious starting point is to consider whether you’re already creating eLearning content or planning to do so. If you’re already creating eLearning content using tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides, an authoring tool may help speed up the creation process and give you access to a lot more interactive features. 

If you’re looking to expand the training and courses, you offer to include eLearning then you’ll need an authoring tool to do this. You can opt for a stand-alone tool, or consider an all-in-one 

Alternatively, if you create your eLearning courses using a platform like Arlo, you’ll no longer have to rely on multiple platforms for both the creation and hosting of your eLearning courses, which simplifies your workflows, reduces administrative overhead, and most likely helps you reduce costs.

Does the Tool Allow You to Create, Scale and Update eLearning Content Quickly?

Before you choose an authoring tool it’s best practice to have a plan for how many eLearning courses you’ll offer and how frequently they’ll need refreshing. 

An authoring tool that supports fast development and simple updates helps you respond to changing regulations, customer feedback, or new industry trends without delaying sales.

With Arlo’s upcoming authoring features, for example, you’ll be able to create a course outline directly from the contents of a document or through an AI prompt.

Make the prompt as brief or as detailed as you want, and Arlo’s AI assistant will work its magic, generating a course outline for you to edit in seconds.

First Aid for Beginners course hosted in Arlo.

Can You Style the Courses to Reflect Your Brand Identity or That of Your Customers?

Ideally, the tool you choose should allow you to create eLearning that reflects your brand identity. This should include the ability to set your brand colors, fonts, add your logo, and more.

Also, if the tool contains these branding features and you need to create custom courses for your clients that reflect their brand, you can.

You can see in the image below how this works inside Arlo—simply choose your font, brand colors, upload your logo, and away you go!

Arlo's eLearning branding options.

Consider Your Budget, but Also Think About Potential ROI

Of course, your budget is critical, but you should also consider the potential ROI that investing in an authoring tool can bring to your training business. 

Adding eLearning to your offerings, allows you to diversify and you can move beyond the constraints of in-person sessions and reach a global audience. 

This diversification helps create additional, year-round revenue streams, aligning with the rapid growth of online learning—predicted to exceed $300 billion by this year!

Furthermore, IBM research indicates that organizations implementing eLearning can achieve productivity gains of up to 30%. As we touched upon earlier, you’ll also be in a position to better meet the needs of your clients and their learners. You can tailor your training to their needs and better adapt your courses to the delivery method they suit.

1. Arlo

Over the past 18 years, we’ve supported thousands of training providers in improving their training management processes, increasing course sales, and delivering exceptional learning experiences. (You can explore hundreds of customer success stories here.)

Now, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our own eLearning authoring features in April 2025!

With Arlo, you’ll soon have the tools to create and design engaging eLearning content.

Here are the three ways you’ll be able to do this (and step by step instructions):

  • Document to Course – Upload and convert existing documents into interactive courses.
  • Generate a Course with AI – Enter a description of your course into Arlo’s AI assistant, select your tone, style, fonts, colors, and branding, and watch as your course is created before your eyes.
  • Build Your Course from Scratch – Use Arlo’s course and quiz templates to create your course from the ground up.
Arlo's eLearning course creation options. Document to course includes the ability to upload Microsoft Word Documents, Powerpoint Presentations and more.

1. Document to Course

Step 1: Prepare Your Document
Arlo supports various file formats, including Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and PDFs. If your content is stored on an external platform, export it as a PDF to get started.

Step 2: Upload Your Document and Choose a Course Style
Upload your file to Arlo and select a course style that aligns with your objectives. Whether you prefer a concise layout, a focus on key information, or a more creative design, you can customize the tone and appearance to suit your needs.

Step 3: Transform Your Document into an Interactive Course
Let Arlo do the heavy lifting as it converts your document into a fully interactive course. Once the transformation is complete, review the content, adjust layouts, add multimedia, or further customize the course to meet your vision.

Arlo's AI course creation tools speed up the elearning content creation process

2. Generate a Course with AI

Step 1: Provide Input to Arlo’s AI Assistant

Share the details of what you want your course to cover with Arlo’s AI assistant. The more specific and detailed your input, the more tailored and relevant your course will be.

Step 2: Choose Your Style, Tone, and Theme

Select from a variety of styles, tones, and themes to customize your course. Finish it off by applying one of Arlo’s professionally designed course templates to create a polished, cohesive look.

Arlo's generate a course eLearning style options.
Arlo eLearning tone options.

Step 3: Watch Your Course Come to Life

Arlo will build your course section by section based on your input. As the content comes together, you can review it, make edits, and refine it to ensure it aligns perfectly with your goals.

Image of a course creation screen within Arlo.

3. Build Your Course from Scratch

Step 1: Design and Structure Your Course
Begin by outlining your course using Arlo’s intuitive interface. Organize your content into sections or modules, and add multimedia elements such as videos, downloadable resources, and interactive activities to create a solid foundation.

Step 2: Customize Your Style and Theme
Tailor the appearance of your course to align with your brand and teaching style. Select from a range of templates and themes to create a cohesive, professional look. Adjust colors, fonts, and layouts to reflect your objectives.

Step 3: Add Assessments and Quizzes
Include quizzes and assessments to reinforce key concepts and measure progress. Arlo’s AI assistant can generate quiz questions directly from your course content, helping you save time and ensure alignment with your learning goals.

Step 4: Enhance Engagement with Interactive Features
Incorporate interactive elements like flashcards, infographics, gamified challenges, and practical activities. These features keep learners engaged and help them retain knowledge more effectively. Arlo’s tools make it easy to create a dynamic and impactful learning experience.

Arlo's visually engaging e-learning platform showcasing a 'First Aid for Beginners' course.

Delivering and Selling Your eLearning Courses

Once your course is created, you can configure all the necessary details in one streamlined workflow. For in-person or hybrid courses, this includes setting the start and end dates, selecting the venue and room, or assigning a virtual room for online sessions.

For stand-alone eLearning courses, simply input the essential details such as the availability dates, pricing, and any additional information learners may need.

After finalizing your course setup, schedule it, publish it on your website, and start selling to your audience!

Arlo's course management and set up workflow.

What Else Can Arlo Do for You?

Arlo can do much more than just helping you create eLearning courses. It’s an all-in-one training platform with all the tools you’ll need to efficiently run your training business, from organizing courses to tracking customer relationships and analyzing performance.

Use Arlo to organize and manage your training programs across different formats, including face-to-face, live online, blended learning, and eLearning. You can schedule courses, assign presenters, and take care of logistics like venues or virtual rooms—all in one place.

Arlo also makes registrations and payments hassle-free. With customizable forms, automated invoicing, and flexible payment options, you can manage the entire registration process smoothly. Features like waitlists and discount management make the experience even better for participants.

Its built-in CRM helps you track and manage customer relationships effectively. From monitoring course activity to capturing leads and keeping detailed client records, Arlo provides everything you need to stay connected with your audience.

Finally, use Arlo’s advanced reporting tools to analyze your training business. Track registrations, revenue, and engagement in real-time, and create detailed reports to identify trends and improve your performance.

2. Articulate Storyline 360

Articulate 360 homepage

Articulate Storyline, part of the Articulate 360 suite, is a widely used eLearning authoring tool for creating custom, interactive courses. It enables instructional designers and developers to build branching scenarios, software simulations, and multimedia-rich lessons through an intuitive interface.

With support for SCORM, xAPI, and AICC standards, Storyline integrates seamlessly with most LMS platforms to deliver engaging, trackable learning experiences.

Its PowerPoint-like environment offers both ease of use for beginners and depth for advanced users. Accessibility features such as closed captions and keyboard navigation help ensure inclusivity, while responsive design and mobile compatibility allow learners to access content across a range of devices.

G2 Rating

4.5/5

Pricing

Articulate 360 (which includes Storyline) has two pricing plans available for teams and individuals:

Teams:

  • Articulate 360 AI – $1,749/user/year
  • Articulate Standard – $1,499/user/year

Individual:

  • Articulate 360 AI – $1,449/user/year
  • Articulate Standard – $1,199/user/year.
Elucidat Pricing

3. Elucidat

Elucidat homepage

Elucidat is a cloud-based eLearning authoring platform designed to streamline the creation of high-quality, interactive, and brand-aligned learning content.

It offers ready-to-use templates, SCORM compliance, and seamless LMS integration.

Elucidat also supports large-scale content deployment, real-time team collaboration, and multilingual course production. With personalized learning paths, branching features, and diagnostic quizzes, organizations can deliver engaging and targeted experiences that align with their training goal

G2 Rating

4.4/5

Pricing

Elucidat has three plans available:

  • Growth – contact company for pricing
  • Team – contact company for pricing
  • Enterprise – contact company for pricing.
Elucidat pricing

4. Adobe Captivate

Adobe Captivate homepage

Adobe Captivate is well-renowned Learning authoring software that enables users to create interactive training modules, screen recordings, and virtual reality (VR) projects.

By integrating with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, Captivate provides a range of multimedia editing and publishing options that cater to both corporate training and educational needs.

Projects can be optimized for different devices, so learners have a great experience whether they’re on desktop or mobile.

G2 Rating

3.9/5

Pricing

You can get started with Adobe Captivate for $33.99/month.

5. iSpring Suite

iSpring Suite homepage

iSpring Suite is a desktop-based authoring tool that integrates directly with PowerPoint, allowing users to quickly transform existing presentations into interactive eLearning content.

With iSpring Suite Max, teams gain access to enhanced media assets, cloud collaboration, and AI-powered tools to streamline course creation while maintaining high-quality output.

The platform supports various formats (SCORM, xAPI, HTML5) and offers a wide array of quiz, simulation, and video features suitable for corporate training, onboarding, and educational needs.

G2 Rating

4.6/5

Pricing

iSpring Suite have three plans available:

  • Business – $770 per author/year
  • Freelancers – $490 per user/year
  • Academic – $470 per author/year.
iSpring Suite Pricing

6. Gomo Learning

Gomo Learning hoempage

Gomo Learning is a cloud-based eLearning authoring and hosting platform designed to help global organizations create and deliver responsive HTML5 training content.

Its intuitive, drag-and-drop interface and mobile-first approach enable teams to collaborate on interactive, media-rich courses that can be published to multiple channels—LMSs, websites, and social media—with a single click.

Built-in xAPI reporting provides real-time insights into learner engagement and performance.

G2 Rating

4.8/5

Pricing

Gomo Learning has three plans available:

  • Small – available upon request
  • Medium – available upon request
  • Enterprise – available upon request.
Gomo Learning pricing

7. DominKnow | ONE

dominKnow | ONE is a cloud-based eLearning authoring platform that combines fixed-layout (Claro) and responsive (Flow) design, content management, and collaboration tools in a single integrated system.

It’s designed to handle various types of training needs—from simple compliance courses to advanced interactive modules—while maintaining a user-friendly environment for both instructional designers and subject matter experts.

This flexibility makes dominKnow | ONE suitable for organizations of all sizes, particularly those requiring a more robust solution for large-scale, multi-device, or multi-language projects.

DominKnow I One homepage

G2 Rating

4/5

Pricing

DominKnow One has three pricing plans available:

  • Business – $1,997/year per author
  • Business Plus – $2,497/year per author
  • Enterprise – custom upon request.
DominKnow I One pricing

8. Intellum Evolve

Intellum Homepage

Intellum Evolve is a user-friendly eLearning authoring tool that helps organizations create engaging, branded, and responsive online courses. 

With features like drag-and-drop design, real-time collaboration, and seamless integration to the Intellum LMS, it’s designed for both novice and experienced instructional designers. 

Evolve holds a G2 rating of 4.4/5 and offers tiered pricing for individuals, teams, and enterprises.

G2 Rating

4.4/5

Pricing

Intellum has three plans available:

  • Personal – $61 per user/per month
  • Team – $81 per user/per month
  • Enterprise – available upon request.
Intellum Pricing

9. isEazy Author

isEazy Author homepage

isEazy Author is a browser-based eLearning authoring tool designed to help organizations and individuals quickly produce professional, interactive training materials. 

Its drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, and AI-enabled features reduce development time and technical barriers. 

With support for SCORM, HTML, and PDF exports, it offers broad compatibility and is suitable for both small businesses and enterprise-level deployment

G2 Rating

4.9/5

Pricing

isEazy Author has three plans available:

  • Professional – €80/month
  • Business – €208/month
  • Enterprise – Available upon request.
isEazy Author pricing

Final Thoughts

There you have it: nine different examples of authoring tools you can use to start creating engaging eLearning content, along with some key factors to keep in mind during the buying process.

As we mentioned here at Arlo, we’re busy getting ready to roll out our very own eLearning authoring features, which, alongside our other course management, registration, and reporting features, will empower you with all the tools you need to create, schedule, and deliver in-person, virtual, blended, and eLearning training in one powerful and easy-to-use platform.

To be the first to hear about these eLearning features, sign up for early access below 👇

Want to be first in line to try Arlo’s new eLearning authoring features? Sign up for early access!

We’ll be in touch with details for early access as we get closer to launch. You’ll be contacted first! 

FAQs

1. What are the different types of authoring tools available?


Desktop-Based Tools
Designed for offline use, these programs are installed directly on a computer. They provide robust features for creating highly customized and interactive content. However, they can require substantial system resources and may have a steeper learning curve, making them ideal for projects with advanced or detailed requirements.

Cloud-Based Tools
Open-source solutions are freely available and can often be tailored to meet specific needs, provided the user has technical expertise. While they’re cost-effective, they may lack the user-friendly interfaces or support found in paid tools.

Rapid Authoring Tools
With pre-built templates and simplified workflows, these tools cater to users who need to create content quickly without extensive technical skills. They work best for straightforward projects but may fall short for more complex or custom content.

Multimedia Authoring Platforms
Focused on interactive and multimedia-heavy outputs, these platforms integrate text, images, audio, and video seamlessly. They’re ideal for creating highly engaging content like simulations, games, or e-learning modules.

Mobile-Centric Authoring Tools
As the name suggests, these prioritize the creation of materials optimized for mobile devices. They’re essential when the audience primarily accesses content through smartphones or tablets.

2. What advanced features are available with state-of-the-art eLearning authoring tools?


Responsive and Flexible Design

Modern authoring tools prioritize accessibility by ensuring that courses are optimized for any device. Learners can complete modules at their own pace, whether on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. This flexibility supports both standalone online modules and blended learning formats, allowing integration with multi-session courses or in-person training.

Interactive and Engaging Content Creation

Tools provide options to create quizzes, assignments, scenario-based learning activities, and microlearning modules.

AI-Powered Content Development

AI-driven features simplify the creation process by generating courses and modules with minimal effort. These tools can transform existing materials into eLearning content instantly or create entirely new courses based on a single prompt. Additionally, they automate the integration of multimedia elements and provide customizable templates for professional-quality design.

Multimedia Integration and Customization

Incorporating videos, animations, and other media is seamless, allowing creators to design visually rich and engaging courses. Customization tools make it easy to align the content with organizational branding while maintaining professional design standards.

Advanced Analytics for Continuous Improvement

Comprehensive analytics track learner progress, module completion rates, and overall effectiveness of the training. These insights help course designers refine their materials, improving engagement and learning outcomes over time.

3. Do eLearning authoring tools produce mobile friendly content?

Yes, most modern eLearning authoring tools are designed to produce mobile-friendly content. These tools typically include responsive design features, ensuring that courses automatically adjust to fit different screen sizes and orientations.

This allows learners to access content seamlessly on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices without compromising functionality or user experience. Some tools also provide preview options to check how the content will appear on various devices during the design process.


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