12 Free Training Software for Employees in 2024

Being in the training industry for over a decade now, I’ve seen firsthand businesses struggling to train their employees effectively.

The challenges include adopting the wrong training software, expensive software, lack of engagement, and difficulty measuring ROI.

But what if there was a way to train your employees for free without sacrificing quality or results?

Free training software can offer all the functionality you need without breaking the bank for certain use cases, such as onboarding new employees, compliance training, or basic skills development.

That’s what this blog is all about.

In this post, I’ll share my top picks of the best free training software for employees in 2024
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If you’re ready to save money and train your employees like a pro, read on!

Let’s now explore each of these tools in detail.

List of the Best Free Training Software for Employees

I’ve tried and tested numerous software options, and I’m here to share those insights. Drawing on my personal experiences and valuable input from peers, I’ve crafted this list of the best free training software for you.

Whether you’re looking for software to streamline your onboarding process, enhance employee skills, improve compliance training, or boost customer service training, you can surely find a tool of your choice.

These handpicked solutions are free and easy to use.

So, let’s start.

1. ProProfs Training Maker – Best for Employee Training

The first free training software I would recommend is ProProfs Training Maker. It is ideal for employee training for startups and micro-businesses, offering training to up to 10 learners.

Although a free tool, it provides you access to exclusive features, including easy course creation from scratch or using templates, uploading existing materials like Word docs and videos, quizzes, surveys, tracking progress, and delivering certificates.

Other features you would get are learning paths, roles, permissions, personalized portals, and branding.

However, you can upgrade to the business plan if you want to use its 100+ readymade course library or create a custom landing page.

What You Will Like:

• Allows for self-paced learning at each learner’s convenience.
• Can scale to accommodate both small and large organizations.
• Users can personalize their training materials with branding and design elements.

What You May Not Like:

• While ProProfs offers a free plan, it has limitations, such as a cap on the number of learners and certain premium features.
• No dark mode is available, which could have enhanced the user experience.

Pricing:

Forever free for up to 10 learners. Paid plans start at $1.97/active learner/month. No hidden costs. 15-day money-back guarantee.

Watch: How to Create an Online Course

2. Lessonly by Seismic – Best for Content Automation 

Another tool I used for sales training was Lessonly by Seismic. Its ability to organize and distribute marketing materials is what sets the tool apart.

With Seismic, I was able to quickly generate personalized sales content, pitch books, fact sheets, and proposals. This saved my time and guaranteed consistent on-brand messaging to clients.

The platform’s integration capabilities with CRM and other tools allowed me to create data-rich materials effortlessly.

On top of that, Seismic’s mass-production feature is perfect for end-of-quarter updates. It made my life easier by streamlining content management and providing insights into client interactions.

What You Will Like:

• Easy course creation and assignment with Lessonly’s user-friendly interface.
• Access to industry-specific and technology-focused high-quality learning content.
• Customizable learning paths and support for corporate onboarding processes.
• Mobile-friendly feature for accessing content on any device.

What You May Not Like:

• Unless you are already a Seismic customer, automatic access to Seismic is not granted. You need to contact your account manager for the same.
• Customizing the user interface is somewhat restricted, with options primarily limited to adding a logo and selecting a color theme.

Pricing:

Free plan available. Get in touch with the company for the paid plan.

3. Skillsoft – Best for Leadership & Business Skills Training

I’ve explored SkillSoft, a prominent corporate learning and development player, and this is what I found.

They’ve built a strong reputation for providing diverse learning solutions, making them a trusted partner for organizations to enhance workforce skills and knowledge.

When it comes to leadership and business development, SkillSoft plays a pivotal role. They offer comprehensive programs that go beyond the conventional knowledge-based training.

SkillSoft focuses on fostering behavioral change and practical application of leadership skills.

What’s great is that their Leadership Development Program is highly customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your organization’s specific needs, making it a valuable asset for companies of all sizes.

On top of that, SkillSoft’s immersive learning platform, Percipio, augments the learning experience through AI-driven personalization and curated learning paths. This makes leadership and business development more accessible and effective for you and your team.

What You Will Like:

• A range of subjects, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, decision-making, etc.
• Ensures global accessibility with in-app translations available in 29 languages.
• Motivates and rewards learners across the organization with digital badges that can be shared and displayed as records of accomplishment.

What You May Not Like:

• Skillsoft’s courses may sometimes lag behind industry standards and evolving business requirements due to infrequent updates.
• Some users have reported that Skillsoft’s customer support can be less responsive and less effective in addressing issues or inquiries.

Pricing:

Free plan available. Get in touch with the company for the paid plan

4. TalentLMS – Best for Course Building & Editing

Another free training tool I would suggest is TalentLMS. This is a great option for small businesses or individuals wanting to try the software before upgrading to a paid plan.

It is primarily designed to streamline building and editing training and ensure that organizations can effectively train their teams to meet regulatory requirements.

One thing that immediately caught my eye was the accessibility of training. TalentLMS allows teams to access training materials from anywhere, using any device.

I feel that this level of flexibility is crucial in today’s fast-paced business environment.

The tool also emphasizes the importance of keeping records, which can be crucial in legal matters.

TalentLMS provides a convenient way to organize and manage training programs. Features like single sign-on (SSO) and software integrations make it easier for administrators to focus on essential tasks rather than getting bogged down in administrative work.

What You Will Like:

• Supports gamification features such as points, badges, levels, and leaderboards to motivate learners.
• You can use your own custom domain, theme, logo, and language. Design your courses using various content types, such as videos, quizzes, surveys, SCORM, etc.
• TalentLMS has a simple and minimalist design that allows you to easily navigate and access features.

What You May Not Like:

• It does not provide advanced statistics or insights on learning outcomes, such as completion rates, retention rates, skill gaps, etc.
• You can get live chat support only if you subscribe to the Premium plan or higher. Otherwise, you have to rely on email or phone support.

Pricing:

Free plan available (up to 5 users). Paid plans start at $69/month (billed annually)

5. Whale – Best for Contextual Suggestions

I love how Whale makes my work life so much easier. I can create new procedures and policies in seconds with over 100+ templates, a powerful editor, and AI Assist.

And the contextual suggestions are a lifesaver. Whale always has my back, offering suggestions that enhance my work and save me precious time. No more hunting for crucial knowledge; Whale delivers it to me exactly when needed. It’s like having an expert by my side, guiding me through every step.

I would also like to talk about another feature which caught my attention. It’s the automated training flow. Whale takes care of the training process so I can focus on what truly matters. It’s like having a personal tutor for my team, ensuring everyone stays up-to-date.

What You Will Like:

• It is a simple training tool that centralizes all your processes, SOPs, playbooks, and more.
• It has a rich editor, AI Assist, templates, quizzes, analytics, and other features that make it ideal for creating engaging and interactive content.
• It has a Chrome extension allowing you to access your content from any software, website, or portal.

What You May Not Like:

• It can be slightly hard to use and lacks customization options for fonts and sizes.
• It has limited permission levels and team management capabilities.

Pricing:

Forever free plan (up to 5 users). Paid plan starts at $6/user/month

6. Coggno – Best for Global Collaboration

As a longstanding user of Coggno, I find this tool to be an excellent choice to facilitate global collaboration and communication within my organization. It offers a range of features that make remote work and meetings more efficient and engaging. Plus, accessing Coggno from mobile devices ensures flexibility in joining or hosting meetings from anywhere.

I wanted to create and publish my online courses without spending too much money. That’s why I chose Coggno’s free plan, which gave me access to their tools and features that never expire.

With Coggno, I could upload my content, manage my courses, and distribute them to my audience.

The SCORM-compliant platform makes it easy to package courses for SCORM-compliant LMS systems. It also excels in creating stylish, responsive HTML5 eLearning content that works across various devices.

What You Will Like:

• Enables users to customize their courses with logos, colors, and languages.
• Helps users monitor the progress and performance of their trainees.
• Provides certificates for the learners who complete the courses.

What You May Not Like: 

• It may not offer as much flexibility as some competitors in terms of customization of the user interface or course templates.
• Users may face compatibility issues with different browsers or devices.

Pricing:

Free plan available. Paid plans start at $199/month.

7. EdApp – Best for Mobile Learning

If you’ve been looking for a mobile LMS with a forever-free plan, look no further than EdApp. This online learning app offers a mobile-first approach, making it incredibly convenient and accessible for learners, regardless of location and time.

What truly sets EdApp apart are its interactive templates. Learning doesn’t feel like a chore when you can engage with the content through drag-and-drop exercises, multiple-choice quizzes, matching challenges, and more.

EdApp uses game-based elements like points, badges, leaderboards, and even prizes to motivate you.

EdApp also encourages social learning. I’ve connected with fellow learners, engaged in discussions through chat and comments, participated in polls, and even had my work peer-reviewed.

What You Will Like:

• Has a large and diverse course library covering business, compliance, health, languages, and more.
• Uses gamification, social learning, and spaced repetition to motivate and engage learners and to improve their retention and performance.
• EdApp supports offline mode, push notifications, multiple languages, and translations, making it accessible and convenient for learners of different backgrounds and locations.

What You May Not Like:

• EdApp is not SCORM compliant, which means it cannot import or export courses from other platforms that use this standard.
• EdApp has some limitations around reporting features, such as the inability to check individual quiz results or track learner progress in detail.

Pricing:

Forever free plan. The paid plan starts at $2.95/active user/month.

Watch: What Is a Mobile LMS & How Can It Help Train Anytime, Anywhere?

8. MyiCourse – Best for Branded Training

After extensive research, I’ve discovered another exceptional employee training tool that truly excels in the realm of branded training. This tool offers a wealth of features that make it the best choice for crafting a strong and distinctive brand identity within your organization.

One top feature is the ability to choose a unique and memorable domain name for your training portal. Whether it’s a personalized subdomain or a custom web address, this tool provides the flexibility to create a web presence that aligns perfectly with your brand.

You can effortlessly tailor the appearance of your training portal with your logo, preferred colors, fonts, and imagery, ensuring it resonates with your organization’s identity.

In addition, this tool offers robust SEO tools to optimize your training portal’s name and content, making it easier to attract and engage employees.

What You Will Like:

• Create courses on any topic and utilize various formats like videos, quizzes, surveys, and certificates.
• Monetize your courses by establishing your own prices and accepting payments through PayPal or Stripe.
• Track and manage your learners’ progress and performance with reports and analytics.

What You May Not Like:

• Complying with MyiCourse’s terms and conditions may restrict your control over your content and data.
• Some users have reported technical issues or bugs with the platform.

Pricing:

Free plan available. Paid plans start at $50

9. ATutor –  Best for Social Networking

My experience with ATutor has been positive. This free training software for employees impresses with its commitment to accessibility, making it an inclusive environment for all learners.

As an open-source LMS, it adheres to international accessibility standards and offers DIV-based themes to ensure that assistive technology users can fully engage in learning.

ATutor’s social networking features are something I personally liked. It allowed users to create networks and interest groups and share photos across courses, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

The platform keeps users up-to-date with current information, simplifying navigation for quick access to ongoing activities. Security measures like encrypted passwords and password reset protocols enhance data protection.

What You Will Like:

• It’s built to be used easily by people with disabilities.
• ATutor has features like chat, forums, messaging, and video calls, which help learners and instructors work together.
• Enable trainers to create tests, track learner progress, and give feedback.

What You May Not Like:

• The user interface is somewhat outdated and could be improved. However, there are themes and templates available that can improve the look and feel of ATutor.
• The community is not as large as the communities of some other LMS. This means that it may be more difficult to find help and support if you have problems with the tool.

Pricing:

Free plan available. Paid plans start at $35/month

10. Sakai – Best for Powerful System Administration

The last entry on this list is Sakai, which I like due to its robust system administration capabilities. It offers a highly configurable system of roles and permissions, allowing for customization to match specific business processes. This level of control ensures efficient management of courses and users.

Communication and collaboration are super easy with Sakai. It provides a range of synchronous and asynchronous tools for messaging, discussions, and social connections, making it easy to stay connected and work together.

Its state-of-the-art grading and assessment features simplify student evaluation, from high-stakes testing to rubric-based scoring.

This tool allows you to organize various resources, control access, and share files effortlessly. Moreover, Sakai encourages community contribution by allowing users to develop and integrate their own tools.

What You Will Like:

• Offers a wide range of features, such as assignments, tests, quizzes, gradebooks, calendars, discussions, wikis, podcasts, ePortfolios, and more.
• Supports collaborative learning, research projects, and integration with various external tools and services.
• Has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to its improvement and support.

What You May Not Like:

• Has a steep learning curve for some users, as it has a complex interface and requires technical skills to customize and manage.
• May not be compatible with some browsers or devices, as it relies on Java technology and has some issues with mobile access.

Pricing:

Free plan available. No licensing fees. Get in touch with the company for the paid plan.

11. Scribe – Best for Onboarding New Hires

Scribe is my go-to solution for onboarding, significantly enhancing the process in various ways. By instantly transforming any process into a step-by-step guide, it streamlines onboarding, reducing ramp-up time and eliminating the need for repetitive explanations.

New hires benefit from clear, easy-to-follow documentation, helping them acclimate quickly.

What sets Scribe apart for onboarding is its simplicity. It allows team members to share their expertise effortlessly, creating guides as they perform tasks.

The onboarding capabilities foster a more efficient, focused, and welcoming onboarding experience. It’s a powerful tool that ensures new team members are up to speed in record time.

What You Will Like:

• It can be used for a variety of tasks, such as transcription, screen recording, and documentation.
• It is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface.
• It is customizable, allowing users to set their own preferences and keyboard shortcuts.

What You May Not Like:

• The paid subscription can be expensive, especially for users who only need to use Scribe for occasional tasks.
• The automatic transcription feature can sometimes make mistakes, especially if the audio quality is poor.

Pricing:

Free plan available. Paid plans start from $23/seat/month

12. Forma LMS – Best for Automatic PDF Certificates

My experience with Forma LMS was quite good, particularly for its automated PDF certificate features. Forma LMS offered customizable templates, allowing easy certificate design with the built-in editor or by uploading custom images and logos. Fonts, colors, and layouts could be tailored to match our branding.

The system allowed flexible criteria for certificate issuance, including completion rate, score, time spent, or attendance, which was highly adaptable for various courses and user groups.

Distributing certificates was straightforward, with options to send them via email, download them as PDFs, or allow learners to access and print certificates from their profiles.

What You Will Like:

• Highly customizable and can be integrated with a variety of third-party tools and services.
• Has a user-friendly interface that is easy for both learners and administrators to use.

What You May Not Like: 

• The documentation for Forma LMS can be lacking in some areas. This can make it difficult to learn how to use all of the features of the LMS.
• Some users have reported performance issues when dealing with a large number of users or courses.

Pricing:

Free plan available. Get in touch with the company for the paid plan

Which Free Training Software for Employees Should You Choose?

Choosing the right free training software for employees depends on several factors, including your organization’s size, specific training needs, and budget.

If you ask me, my top three picks would be:

Option A: ProProfs Training Maker 

ProProfs Training Maker is a versatile choice, ideal for startups and small businesses with up to 10 learners. It offers easy course creation, content uploads, quizzes, progress tracking, and certificate delivery. ProProfs allows for self-paced learning and offers branding options. While the free plan has limitations, the features you get in the free plan are simply amazing.

Option B: Lessonly by Seismic 

Lessonly by Seismic is great for organizing and distributing marketing materials and sales content. It simplifies content creation and distribution, integrates well with CRM systems, and streamlines content management. However, be prepared for potential technical glitches and limitations with certain types of learning content.

Option C: Skillsoft 

SkillSoft does exceptionally well for leadership and business development training. It offers comprehensive programs that focus on behavioral change and the practical application of leadership skills. However, there may be occasional lag in course updates and responsiveness issues with customer support.

While all these three options have their strengths, ProProfs Training Maker turns out to be the best free software for employee training, in my opinion. Its user-friendly interface, scalability, automation, and all essential features in one platform make it a solid choice for smaller organizations looking to provide effective training for their employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is free training software for employees?

Free training software for employees is a digital platform or tool that offers learning resources, courses, and modules free of charge to help enhance the skills and knowledge of a company’s workforce. These solutions often include features like interactive lessons, quizzes, and progress tracking, making it easier for organizations to upskill their employees without incurring additional expenses.

Watch: What is a Cloud-Based Learning Management System?

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What features should I look for in free training software?

Features to consider include a user-friendly interface, customizable content creation, progress tracking, assessment and quizzes, multimedia support (videos, slides, etc.), mobile accessibility, and a variety of learning formats. Additionally, look for scalability to accommodate growing teams and analytics for insights into employee performance. Read this guide to know more.

How to choose free training software

To select the ideal free training software for your business, begin by identifying your organization’s training requirements and objectives. Look for software with essential features. Ensure it offers a user-friendly interface for both administrators and learners, supports mobile access for flexible learning, provides adequate customer support and resources, complies with data security regulations, and genuinely offers free access without hidden costs.

Watch: How to Choose the Best LMS Software for Employee Training

What are the key benefits of using free training software?

Using free training software for employees brings several advantages. It’s a budget-friendly option, saving businesses from hefty training expenses. Customization features allow tailoring content to match specific organizational requirements, ensuring training aligns perfectly with company goals. The software’s progress tracking and analytics provide valuable insights into employee performance, aiding in continuous improvement and development.

Are there any limitations to using free training software?

Yes, free training software has its limitations. One common drawback is limited functionality compared to paid options, with fewer advanced features and integrations. Support and updates may be less reliable, potentially impacting user experience. Additionally, some free platforms may have content restrictions or lack in-depth courses, limiting the breadth of training. Scalability can also be a concern for growing businesses, as these solutions may not handle larger user bases effectively.