15 Best Free eLearning Authoring Tools in 2024

Creating engaging and effective eLearning courses can be challenging and costly. But don’t worry, I have some good news for you! I’ve explored the top free eLearning authoring tools available on the market.

Whether you need a simple and user-friendly platform or a sophisticated one, you’ll find it in this list.

Sounds good? Let’s get started!

List of Free eLearning Authoring Tools

I have listed below some of the best eLearning authoring tools through extensive research, peer reviews, and personal experience.

Please review each tool before deciding.

1. ProProfs Training Maker – Best for Easy Online Employee Training & LMS

I appreciate this free elearning authoring tool, which is invaluable for startups and micro businesses. It’s free for up to 10 learners, which lets small teams improve skills and assess performance without spending money.

For bigger businesses, the cost is low, and many learners can be handled. It offers over 100 ready-to-use courses that are easy to customize.

The comprehensive features, including customizable course creation tools, quizzes, and assessments, support various training requirements. The ability to train employees in multiple languages and the provision for multiple instructors facilitate a collaborative and inclusive learning environment.

It recently acquired WebinarNinja, which will help instructors run live cohort courses and offer on-demand video courses in seconds.

Case Study: How Health First created and shared online training courses in an organized way.

What you will like:

• Rapid authoring for accelerated course development
• Simplifies course registration, distribution, and progress tracking.
• It is user-friendly and efficient for creating online courses.
• Virtual classroom to centralize all training activities.

What you may not like:

• The free plan restricts access to a maximum of 10 learners.
• Adding a dark mode feature would be highly appreciated.

Pricing:

Forever free plan (up to 10 learners). Paid plan starts at $1.97/learner/month for large teams. No hidden charges. 15-day money-back guarantee.

2. iSpring Free – Best for Creating eLearning Content in PowerPoint

The next best free eLearning software is iSpring Free! The tool integrates with PowerPoint to allow users to transform existing presentations into interactive eLearning content.

You can take your PowerPoint slides, enhance them with quizzes, and publish them as SCORM packages for your LMS without incurring costs. What truly sets iSpring Free apart is its ability to maintain all the animations, triggers, transitions, and effects from PowerPoint.

Another aspect that I like is its device compatibility. The tool ensures that courses automatically adapt to any screen size, whether a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Moreover, its 100% SCORM compliance means that the courses you create will work flawlessly across various LMS platforms.

What you will like:

• Users can build mobile-ready and adaptive courses.
• The toolkit simplifies course creation and makes it accessible even for those without extensive training.
• Supports interactive elements, which enhances learner engagement.

What you may not like:

• The transition between video and text slides can sometimes be tricky.
• The free version adds a watermark to the published content.

Pricing:

Paid plans start at $770/author/year. Create HTML5/SCORM courses.

3. Scratch – Best for Creating Animated Content

“Animation is a powerful tool for creating engaging and memorable e-learning experiences. Animation can help learners visualize complex concepts, processes, and scenarios, as well as evoke emotions and empathy.” – Tom Kuhlmann, Chief Learning Architect. 

Scratch stands out from the typical business-focused eLearning tools. Developed by MIT, this open-source elearning authoring tool enables users to craft interactive games, stories with narration, and any other creations sparked by their imagination.

Although primarily aimed at children, the platform can be used by individuals of all ages, according to the provider. For those eager to unleash their creative potential while also having the capability to develop online learning materials, Scratch offers an excellent opportunity.

This is one of the best free authoring tools for elearning and will exceed your expectations as it offers a unique blend of educational utility and creative freedom.

What you will like:

• Extensive community offering support and resources.
• Enables the creation of engaging storytelling experiences.
• Functional both in online and offline modes.

What you may not like:

• Projects shared on Scratch are open for anyone to download, modify, and utilize
• Does not support the development of comprehensive courses that include assessments

Pricing:

Free tool

4. AdaptiveU – Best for Creating Custom URLs with Subdomain 

This free elearning authoring tool simplifies course creation, user invitations, and progress tracking. The most unique thing about this tool is that you get a custom URL with a subdomain for your online training space, like “ourcompany.adaptiveu.io.”

Plus, AdaptiveU helps build courses with various materials such as videos, documents, and quizzes, and you can assign specific learning minutes to each link. This solution allows you to cater to different learner groups by creating multiple tracks and sharing unique content.

Monitoring learner progress and performance is straightforward, with the option to generate and print reports. The platform also supports daily learning through link sharing and encourages learner engagement with takeaways and feedback.

What you will like:

• Flexible and easy to use.
• Provides gamified challenges, quizzes, and rewards to motivate learners.
• The tool is mobile-friendly and accessible, enabling learners to access courses anytime, anywhere, and on any device.

What you may not like:

• Does not offer live online or in-person training options, which some learners and instructors may prefer.
• Lacks a built-in course library, which may require creating or sourcing your own content.

Pricing:

Free plan (limited to 5 users). Paid plan starts at $25/month. Up to 50 users and 10 courses.

5. isEazy – Best for Easy Editing

The isEazy is a powerful platform for creating engaging e-learning courses. It caters to beginners and experienced course creators with its intuitive interface and a wide range of features. Users can start with the Free Forever plan, which includes essential tools such as style templates, gamification elements, and limited SCORM publishing capabilities.

The platform supports automatic translations and offers two-course formats for different learning styles. This tool enhances author productivity by enabling real-time collaboration across your organization. It organizes work efficiently with structured folders for projects, ensuring easy access and management.

Key features include autosave and restoration points to safeguard work and automatic translations to adapt content into multiple languages. With preconfigured slides, a WYSIWYG editor, and access to thousands of images, it becomes easy to create engaging courses.

What you will like:

• It features a variety of game formats and tools to improve learning content and engage users.
• Users can monitor engagement, progress, and outcomes via an administrative dashboard.
• The platform supports creating games for individuals or teams and allows multiple language options.

What you may not like:

• The variety of animated elements is somewhat limited.
• The linked scenes feature may be difficult to grasp at first.

Pricing:

Forever free plan (limited to 1 author). Paid plans start at $68.40/month. 1 author. 16 style templates.

6. Adapt Learning – Best for Creating Responsive E-Learning Content

Adapt Learning emerges as a pivotal tool for crafting responsive e-learning content, primarily due to its open-source nature. This enables users to develop and distribute high-quality courses without incurring licensing costs.

Its foundation on responsive design principles ensures that e-learning modules adapt across various devices.

As one of the best free eLearning authoring tools, it permits individuals without programming expertise to create engaging and interactive courses. Furthermore, the robust Adapt Framework caters to developers who want to customize and extend their e-learning solutions.

The vibrant community support and continuous updates make Adapt Learning ideal for organizations aiming to deliver accessible, mobile-friendly, and interactive e-learning content. This aligns perfectly with the needs of modern learners who want flexibility in their learning process.

What you will like:

• It is an open-source e-learning authoring tool.
• Uses a modular approach that lets you create reusable components (blocks) that can be combined to build courses.
• Flexibility to customize the look and feel of your courses.

What you may not like:

• To fully harness Adapt Learning’s potential, some web development skills (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) may be necessary.
• Complex interactions may require additional development or integration.

Pricing:

Free tool (lack of features like gamification and analytics). Paid plans start at $1630/year. For 2 years.

7. ActivePresenter – Best for Creating Interactive Simulations

My organization recently explored ActivePresenter for our eLearning content development. This tool helps create diverse eLearning materials. From slide-based courses to interactive simulations, assessments, and gamification, ActivePresenter equipped us with a comprehensive suite of features.

One aspect that significantly benefited us was the ability to convert PowerPoint presentations into HTML5 or eLearning packages directly. Moreover, the smart screen capture technology for building interactive simulations impressed us. It automatically recorded all steps performed on the screen, translating them into slides with corresponding actions and values.

We could easily record from multiple sources, including the screen, microphone, and webcam, and then enhance these recordings with editing tools and effects. The output was professional-looking eLearning content that was engaging and informative.

What you will like:

• With responsive design capabilities, you can define layouts for different screen sizes.
• Use Flex Boxes for automatic object layout.
• Green screen effect to enhance video presentations.

What you may not like:

• Cannot export videos to presets or in 4K resolution.
• Features for the Mac version may be limited compared to other platforms.

Pricing:

Free plan available (only for non-commercial use). Paid plans start at $199/license. Cloud Text-to-Speech (Amazon Polly, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure)

8. H5P – Best for Creating HTML5 Content

67% of learners in the United States use online educational videos, which are often created using HTML5, as a part of their learning materials. (Source)

H5P is a powerful free elearning authoring tool that revolutionizes how you create, share, and reuse interactive HTML5 content directly within your browsers. This platform enables users to craft a wide array of rich, interactive web experiences effortlessly.

Whether you aim to design interactive videos, presentations, games, or advertisements, H5P serves as your go-to solution, integrating seamlessly with existing CMS or LMS.

As an open-source technology, H5P promotes a collaborative and innovative community of content creators. With its straightforward plugin installation for platforms like WordPress and Drupal, H5P empowers you to supercharge your website or e-learning environment. This makes digital content creation more accessible and engaging than ever before.

What you will like:

• Ideal for one-off courses or companies with no budget for training.
• Offers more than 20 different types of interactive content.
• Has a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop editing.

What you may not like:

• Cannot import slides directly, which could save time.
• Lacks the ability to preview content before finalizing.

Pricing:

30-day free trial. Paid plans start at $79/month. 3 authors. 250 learners.

9. Udutu – Best for Creating SCORM-Compliant Courses 

Here’s another free eLearning authoring tool I would recommend: Udutu’s course authoring tool. This cloud-based solution enables you to create online training effortlessly. It supports video and multimedia and even allows for the conversion of PowerPoints into engaging eLearning content.

With its SCORM compliance, the tool ensures your courses work seamlessly across different learning management systems. The user-friendly interface makes it easy to produce courses that learners will find accessible on any device.

Udutu offers the ability to customize course themes to align with your brand which ensures a consistent learning experience. Whether you aim to streamline course development or enhance the quality of your eLearning offerings, Udutu provides the features and flexibility needed to achieve your training objectives efficiently.

What you will like:

• Users find the platform easy to use, saving dozens of hours during development projects.
• Facilitates easy collaboration within organizations.
• Being web-based, it allows quick reviews and changes, which is great for training that requires frequent updates.

What you may not like:

• Some users struggle with formatting and matching slides.
• Despite its ease of use, there can be a learning curve for new users.

Pricing:

Free plan available (up to 5 users). Paid plans start at $3.00/user/month (only if you need to publish to another LMS)

10. Coassemble – Best for Generating AI Courses

“The future of e-learning is more granular, more personal, more interactive, and more engaging. It will be driven by data, analytics, and AI, and it will impact every aspect of education, from curriculum design to assessment, from student support to teacher development.” – Charles Fadel (Founder and Chairman of the Center for Curriculum Redesign, Author of Four-Dimensional Education).

Coassemble offers a free authoring tool that transforms course creation through AI. Start by providing a detailed description of your desired course content to the AI assistant. You have the flexibility to begin from scratch, use prebuilt templates, or let AI craft a microlearning course for you.

Customize your course by selecting a style, tone, and theme that aligns with your vision. Witness your course materialize in real time, with the option to edit content as it develops. Enhance learner engagement by adding a quiz tailored to your course content.

As one of the best free eLearning tools, Coassemble supports SCORM, which ensures compatibility with various LMS platforms. This tool not only boosts productivity and reduces development costs but also empowers creators to design impactful, interactive courses with ease. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a newcomer, Coassemble makes course creation accessible and enjoyable.

What you will like:

• Provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for administrators to create training content efficiently.
• Ensures that training materials are accessible on mobile devices.
• Transparent pricing, which includes live chat support across all plans.

What you may not like:

• Lacks an integrated e-commerce functionality, which may be a limitation for organizations looking to sell training content.
• Does not offer an extensive pre-built content library.

Pricing:

Authoring is free. Custom pricing for paid plans.

11. Guroo.pro – Best for Building Branching Scenarios 

Guroo.pro offers a comprehensive solution for creating impactful and beautiful learning experiences. This tool empowers teams to author with agility and speed. It features a suite of functionalities, including the ability to engage learners through adaptive learning journeys and branching scenarios that connect learning with real-world outcomes.

With Guroo.pro, you can craft personalized learning paths, provide meaningful feedback, and align scoring with learning outcomes. Its flexible design tools allow for easy layout changes and content updates, which enhances the visual appeal of your courses. As one of the best free elearning authoring tools, it supports drag-and-drop module control. So, it becomes easy to shift content and change question types.

Accessibility is a key feature, with responsive design tools and built-in support for WCAG 2.0. With the paid plans, you can access other features like powerful multimedia content, an extensive character library, and agile project management tools for maximized collaboration.

What you will like:

• With built-in agile workflows, guroo.pro facilitates collaboration among teams.
• Empower you to unlock the power of your learning data through analytics.
• Create personalized journeys that enhance learner engagement and knowledge retention.

What you may not like:

• You can’t access the free version without a demo.
• Glitches occasionally cause modules not to load or grades not to calculate correctly.

Pricing:

Free plan is limited to 5 learning programs. Custom pricing for paid plans.

12. EdApp – Best for Delivering Training in Real-Time 

The next tool I would mention to this list is EdApp. This platform allows you to create engaging content quickly without coding or designing skills. Plus, AI Create helps generate ideas for lessons and questions.

This tool significantly reduces brainstorming and research time and allows you to create courses filled with bite-sized information. You can start a course in the morning and deliver it by the afternoon. This ensures your team’s training is always current.

EdApp’s design offers 80 templates and the ability to include videos, images, quizzes, games, assessments, and more. This approach makes sure that courses are not only informative but also engaging and up-to-date with the latest learning strategies and trends.

What you will like:

• It’s quick and easy to set up and build content.
• Has a variety of templates and features to choose from.
• It’s mobile-friendly and works offline.

What you may not like:

• Some operations on a big list of users (2000+) are complicated.
• Database setup has to be done tagged manually.

Pricing:

Free plan available (lacks group-based enrollment).  Paid plans start at $2.95/active user/ month. Advanced analytics. Customized certificates

13. Moovly – Best for AI-Powered Video Creation 

Recently, my organization began using Moovly for our video creation needs. This tool has impressive AI-powered capabilities. The platform offers a range of features, including AI script generation, transcription, voice generation, translation, and asset search.

These functionalities speed up the video creation process, making it possible to produce high-quality videos in less time. With access to over 120 million media objects, including footage, images, sounds, and music, we have everything we need at our fingertips.

Moovly’s AI text-to-video feature is awe-inspiring. We can easily transform scripts into engaging videos complete with AI-generated voice-overs, subtitles, and visuals in under a minute. For any organization looking to streamline its video production process while maintaining high standards of quality, I highly recommend exploring what Moovly has to offer.

What you will like:

• Operates in the cloud, so you don’t need to worry about using up your computer’s processing power.
• Among its editing features, Moovly offers text-to-speech and subtitle generation.
• No limit on video length (this is not available with the free plan). This flexibility is crucial, especially if you create longer videos (around an hour or more).

What you may not like:

• May not be the best choice for beginners.
• While it covers the essentials, Moovly’s animation features are basic.

Pricing:

Free plan available (limited to 2 mins/video). Starts at $25/video. Download and publish videos in HD 1080p quality without a watermark.

14. CourseLab (version 2.4) – Best for Creating Interactive Content 

Employees are more likely to stay in their role and not quit if they receive interactive training opportunities. (source)

CourseLab  (version 2.4) is one of the best tools for those who want to develop interactive eLearning courses. This free elearning software supports publishing both on the web and to various LMS. With its WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) model, CourseLab simplifies the content creation process.

Ideal for tech-savvy individuals, CourseLab offers an array of advanced features. Users can create engaging slide-based courses with multimedia elements like images and videos and complex interactions and quizzes to enhance the learning experience.

Furthermore, CourseLab provides an extensive selection of pre-designed eLearning module templates. These templates are valuable as they help users quickly launch their courses with professional-looking designs customizable to fit specific learning objectives.

What you will like:

• Has a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop features and a variety of templates and objects.
• Supports multimedia elements such as audio, video, animations, and simulations.
• It can export courses to SCORM, AICC, or HTML formats.

What you may not like:

• Requires Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher to run.
• You cannot import slides from PowerPoint.

Pricing:

Free version available (Lacks templates and interactive objects). The paid version starts at $249/concurrent user. 1-year time limited license for 1 concurrent user

15. GLOMaker – Best for Creating Structured Learning Materials 

Among the top open source elearning authoring tools is GLOMaker. This tool is ideal for those looking to create comprehensive and interactive e-learning experiences. All thanks to its structured approach to content creation! It makes course creation easy by splitting it into planning and designing.

In planning, you can outline your course using built-in patterns or go freestyle for more creativity. This ensures your course has a strong base. Then, in designing, you pick from many templates to make your slides fit your training goals.

GLOMaker also lets you add quizzes, videos, and interactive elements. These features keep learners engaged and help them understand better. Plus, GLOMaker guides you on how to set up your course effectively.

What you will like:

• Easy to use and does not require any programming skills.
• Supports pedagogical principles and learning design patterns.
• Compliant with SCORM and AICC

What you may not like :

• Offers only two types of quiz questions.
• Needs a separate app for mobile course creation.

Pricing:

Free tool (does not support SCORM or xAPI standards)

Which Free eLearning Authoring Tool Should You Choose?

Before I explain each of these tools, let’s further narrow down the options so you can decide quickly.

My top 3 recommendations for the best free eLearning authoring tools are:

Option A: ProProfs Training Maker 

ProProfs Training Maker offers a forever-free plan for up to 10 learners. So, it is ideal for startups and small businesses. The user-friendly platform supports multiple languages and provides over 100 ready-to-use courses. Its recent acquisition of WebinarNinja enhances its capability to run live and on-demand video courses.

Option B: iSpring Free

This is perfect for those who wish to leverage existing PowerPoint presentations to create eLearning content. The tool’s adaptability across devices and its SCORM compliance ensure a seamless learning experience on any platform.

Option C: Adapt Learn

Adapt Learning is an open-source tool best suited for creating responsive eLearning content. It allows for the development of high-quality courses without licensing costs. The tool’s design principles ensure that eLearning modules are accessible and mobile-friendly.

Among these, ProProfs Training Maker emerges as the best option. Its ease of use, flexibility, and quality support make it the best choice for organizations that aim to enhance their training programs. The ability to start for free and scale with low costs as your business grows offers unmatched value. This makes it the most versatile tool for various training requirements.

Evaluation Criteria 

The evaluation of products or tools chosen for this article follows an unbiased, systematic approach that ensures a fair, insightful, and well-rounded review. This method employs six key factors:

1. User Reviews / Ratings: Direct experiences from users, including ratings and feedback from reputable sites, provide a ground-level perspective. This feedback is critical in understanding overall satisfaction and potential problems.
2. Essential Features & Functionality: The value of a product is ascertained by its core features and overall functionality. Through an in-depth exploration of these aspects, the practical usefulness and effectiveness of the tools are carefully evaluated.
3. Ease of Use: The user-friendliness of a product or service is assessed, focusing on the design, interface, and navigation. This ensures a positive experience for users of all levels of expertise.
4. Customer Support: The quality of customer support is examined, taking into account its efficiency and how well it supports users in different phases – setting up, addressing concerns, and resolving operational issues.
5. Value for Money: Value for money is evaluated by comparing the quality, performance, and features. The goal is to help the reader understand whether they would be getting their money’s worth.
6. Personal Experience / Experts’ Opinions: This part of the evaluation criteria draws insightful observations from the personal experience of the writer and the opinions of industry experts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are open-source eLearning authoring tools?

Open-source eLearning authoring tools allow users to create and manage digital learning content. Developers and instructional designers can modify and share these source codes. This flexibility supports a wide range of learning strategies and styles.

What are the benefits of using free eLearning authoring tools?

The benefits include cost savings, flexibility, and community support. Users can customize tools to meet specific needs without the high costs associated with proprietary software. The collaborative nature of open-source projects often leads to rapid improvements and innovations.

Are free eLearning authoring tools as effective as paid ones?

While free eLearning authoring tools offer significant advantages, they may lack the advanced features, support, and integration capabilities of paid versions. However, for many educators and small organizations, these tools provide a robust platform for creating effective learning materials.

What features should I look for in a free eLearning authoring tool?

When selecting a free eLearning authoring tool, look for user-friendly interfaces, content versatility (such as quizzes, interactive elements, and multimedia support), and compatibility with learning management systems (LMS). Accessibility features and responsive design are also crucial for a wide audience reach.

Are there any limitations to using free eLearning authoring tools?

Limitations of free tools may include less technical support, fewer updates, and limited advanced features compared to paid versions. Users might need to invest more time in learning and troubleshooting to use these tools fully.

Can I use free eLearning authoring tools for commercial purposes?

Yes, you can use free eLearning authoring tools for commercial purposes, but it’s important to review their licenses. Some tools may require attribution or have restrictions on commercial use.

How do I choose the right free eLearning authoring tool?

Choosing the right tool involves assessing your specific needs, such as the type of content you plan to create, your technical expertise, and your audience. Consider the tool’s compatibility with your LMS and the learning experiences you aim to provide.

How can I get started with using free eLearning authoring tools?

To get started, research and select a tool that fits your needs. Download the software or sign up for an account. Spend time exploring tutorials and community forums for tips and best practices. Begin with a small project to familiarize yourself with the tool’s features and capabilities.