# Best Course Authoring Software - Page 12 ## How Many Course Authoring Software Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 276 ### Category Stats (Jul 2026) - **Average Rating:** 4.55/5 (↑0.01 vs Jun 2026) The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **Top Trending Product:** Easy LMS (+7.08%) - Among all products in this category, Easy LMS recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month _Last updated: July 31, 2026_ ## How Does G2 Rank Course Authoring Software Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 18,900+ Authentic Reviews - 276+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## G2 Grid® for Course Authoring Software ![G2 Grid® for Course Authoring Software plotting products by satisfaction and market presence](https://www.g2.com/categories/course-authoring/grids.png?focus%5B%5D=22491&focus%5B%5D=118455&focus%5B%5D=5799&focus%5B%5D=2319&focus%5B%5D=2232&focus%5B%5D=6881&focus%5B%5D=57927&focus%5B%5D=2931) Highlighted products: Articulate 360, Synthesia, iSpring Suite, D2L Brightspace, Absorb LMS, Easygenerator, 360Learning, and Litmos. Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/course-authoring/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=articulate-360&focus%5B%5D=synthesia&focus%5B%5D=ispring-suite&focus%5B%5D=d2l-brightspace&focus%5B%5D=absorb-software-absorb-lms&focus%5B%5D=easygenerator&focus%5B%5D=360learning&focus%5B%5D=litmos) **Sponsored** ### SAP SuccessFactors HCM SAP SuccessFactors HCM is a global, AI-powered cloud HR suite designed to help organizations thrive in a fast-moving world. With 100+ localizations, it delivers real-time visibility and connected solutions across core HR, payroll, talent management, learning, analytics, planning, and employee experience. More than 10,000 organizations trust SAP SuccessFactors HCM to enhance every employee experience, workforce decision, and people process—turning each employee into a success story. With SAP SuccessFactors HCM, you can: - Empower your workforce with AI-driven tools for self-service, learning, performance, and development to help people work faster and smarter. - Identify and develop top talent with a unified source of people and skills data that supports both HR strategies and business goals. - Stay compliant and agile with built-in legal and regulatory updates tailored to local business requirements. - Accelerate time to value by leveraging proven HR best practices and the strength of a global partner ecosystem. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list_llm&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=324&secure%5Bchosen_at%5D=2026-07-31T15%3A04%3A22Z&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=565&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=neighbor_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=565&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=511&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=324&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fcourse-authoring%3Fpage%3D12%26timeframe%3Dlast_year&secure%5Btoken%5D=892327ca6ab96c2b5ed2d14c40d740a7dd2a4d0e50da5930347479a0b39c4be9&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sap.com%2Fcmp%2Fdg%2Ftop-5-hr-trends%2Findex.html%3Fcampaigncode%3DCRM-YD25-HXM-407947%26source%3DSFSF-click-campaign-G2&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) ### [Adapt from Can Studios](https://www.g2.com/products/adapt-from-can-studios/reviews) The Adapt Authoring Tool is a browser-based, elearning authoring tool. Courses created are HTML5 and mobile-ready, so you can produce beautiful, responsive elearning that will keep your learners engaged whether they’re on a desktop or learning on-the-move #### Who Is the Company Behind Adapt from Can Studios? - **Seller:** [Can Studios](https://www.g2.com/sellers/can-studios) - **Year Founded:** 1998 - **HQ Location:** Sheffield, South Yorkshire - **Twitter:** @CanStudios 374 Twitter followers - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=1bc0007fe6742e1e964e6b7c8ed1e5625620f9bf32132f61855b5be77d45e64f&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fcan-studios-ltd%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 6 employees on LinkedIn® ### [adeptly.ai](https://www.g2.com/products/adeptly-ai/reviews) Adeptly is an award-winning online platform that empowers users to create adaptive learning games for training, education, marketing, events, or assessments. By transforming narratives into engaging, role-playing games, Adeptly enhances knowledge retention and behavior change. Its intuitive game builder allows for rapid development without coding expertise, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Key Features and Functionality: - Narrative Simulation: Convert any story or training material into interactive games that captivate players. - Customizable Design: Tailor games with specific branding, colors, and fonts to align with organizational identity. - Multimedia Integration: Incorporate images and videos to enrich the gaming experience. - Conditional Logic: Implement decision trees and conditional pathways to create dynamic scenarios. - Real-Time Analytics: Monitor player decisions, identify risk areas, and measure behavior changes as they occur. - Cross-Device Compatibility: Games are playable on any device directly through a web browser, eliminating the need for installations. - LMS Integration: Seamlessly connect with Learning Management Systems to track completion rates and other metrics. - Multilingual Support: Easily translate games into multiple languages to reach a global audience. Primary Value and User Solutions: Adeptly addresses the challenge of creating engaging and effective training materials by enabling users to develop interactive learning games without the need for technical skills. This approach not only enhances learner engagement but also provides deep insights into decision-making processes, allowing organizations to assess and improve training outcomes effectively. By offering a scalable and customizable solution, Adeptly supports continuous learning and development across various industries and educational settings. #### Who Is the Company Behind adeptly.ai? - **Seller:** [adeptly.ai](https://www.g2.com/sellers/adeptly-ai) - **Year Founded:** 2019 - **HQ Location:** London, GB - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=c3515a2b1975e4ff486e92b00c6390f2caca882715a63bee88d8304f8f4bb37b&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fadeptly&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 3 employees on LinkedIn® ### [Amanote - E-Learning Creator](https://www.g2.com/products/amanote-e-learning-creator/reviews) Amanote is a straightforward solution to quickly create e-learning content that engages learners. It allows you to record oral explanations on any materials (pdf, ppt, doc, ...) and share them with your learners. They can then listen to the audio recording while taking clean, structured notes, highlighting, and more. Thus, they have the opportunity to actively follow the course using one integrated tool. In addition, the Amanote format consumes up to ten times less bandwidth than a video. #### Who Is the Company Behind Amanote - E-Learning Creator? - **Seller:** [Amaplex Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/amaplex-software) - **Year Founded:** 2016 - **HQ Location:** Toronto, Ontario - **Twitter:** @Amanote\_EdTech 50 Twitter followers - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=71f7c992f7ea00ce369feb3e99a1f609980a25584d5a2dae014a5fc2f311a614&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2F15155506%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 1 employees on LinkedIn® ### [Archipel Academy](https://www.g2.com/products/archipel-academy/reviews) We have filtered and collected the best educational courses in the largest educational content marketplace in Europe. From online courses to full training plans, just search, book and go. The all-in-one learning platform is the central place in your organization where the development of employees, teams and leaders is brought together under one digital roof. Learning opportunities not only for individuals, but for the entire organization. Moreover, Archipel Academy’s Learning Services take operational, financial and administrative processes off your hands. We manage it all, so that you can get back to focusing on your core business. #### Who Is the Company Behind Archipel Academy? - **Seller:** [Archipel Academy](https://www.g2.com/sellers/archipel-academy) - **Year Founded:** 2019 - **HQ Location:** Zaltbommel, NL - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=9ece384a63de6a752c18137f8486d23b16885d64ee57e6e72f00a039fa9e2364&secure%5Burl%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Farchipel-academy&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 162 employees on LinkedIn® ### [Authica](https://www.g2.com/products/authica/reviews) All Roads is a knowledge management services and software company. As your strategic planning and execution partner, we mobilize the knowledge and expertise that make your business successful. #### Who Is the Company Behind Authica? - **Seller:** [All Roads](https://www.g2.com/sellers/all-roads) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **Twitter:** @AllRoadsMe 450 Twitter followers - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=7886df2ed926834e5eb248c77dcfa8e5c815d3ab1f0fe3132ced0dba45868834&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2FNo-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 1 employees on LinkedIn® ### [Avina AT](https://www.g2.com/products/avina-at/reviews) Avina AT are intergrated adequately all required tools in order to create an elearning lecture from basic editorial tools to complicated ones as mindmap. #### Who Is the Company Behind Avina AT? - **Seller:** [Avina AT](https://www.g2.com/sellers/avina-at) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=697af76901fecb49a93ff8a21609db5d784863eb71ece0a0b7faa4c88251083f&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Favina-authoring-tool%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 1 employees on LinkedIn® ### [Avizr](https://www.g2.com/products/avizr/reviews) Avizr.com is a corporate online training platform. Create courses using video, documents, powerpoints, pdfs, assessments, and surveys. Automate the process with daily summaries and reports. Customize the platform with your company's logo and colors. Generate certificates for courses. #### Who Is the Company Behind Avizr? - **Seller:** [Avizr](https://www.g2.com/sellers/avizr) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=7886df2ed926834e5eb248c77dcfa8e5c815d3ab1f0fe3132ced0dba45868834&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2FNo-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 1 employees on LinkedIn® ### [Axis LMS](https://www.g2.com/products/axis-lms/reviews) Atrixware Axis LMS is a top-tier corporate LMS provider in the USA, delivering powerful, customizable, and user-friendly learning management solutions. Designed to streamline employee training, compliance, and performance tracking, Axis LMS empowers businesses with intuitive course creation, automation, and analytics tools. Whether you're onboarding new hires or upskilling your workforce, our platform ensures a seamless and engaging learning experience. Unlock the full potential of your training programs with Atrixware Axis LMS—where innovation meets efficiency. #### Who Is the Company Behind Axis LMS? - **Seller:** [Atrixware](https://www.g2.com/sellers/atrixware) - **Year Founded:** 1997 - **HQ Location:** Williamsburg, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=8b43f8149a6ffc3c77bd7cd808b8285f4a00fa1844ad7f4369a243f9311e8040&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fatrixware-e-learning-solutions%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 7 employees on LinkedIn® ### [BlezGo](https://www.g2.com/products/blezgo/reviews) BlezGo is the LMS that helps to create your personal in-house e-learning ecosystem for all sizes of industries including individuals. #### Who Is the Company Behind BlezGo? - **Seller:** [Foldcode](https://www.g2.com/sellers/foldcode) - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** Mohali, IN - **Twitter:** @blezgolms 10 Twitter followers - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=89d49e5abca68712bbd897d57bbf5daab98fe6b8a08ad7323a4f281c880e3126&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fblezgo%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 4 employees on LinkedIn® ### [Calibr Craft](https://www.g2.com/products/calibr-craft/reviews) Calibr Craft is an AI-powered Course Authoring Tool, designed to help you create and deliver training content with its advanced artificial intelligence tool. Its user-friendly interface simplifies the course creation process, allowing you to generate dynamic, personalized learning experiences tailored to individual needs and preferences. Key features of Calibr Craft include: 1. Drag-And-Drop Course Builder 2. Generative AI Assistant 3. 4M+ Pre-Built Course Templates And Royalty-Free Images 4. Interactive Elements and Rich Multimedia Content 5. Seamless Importing of PPT into an interactive course 6. Upload video files or links, including YouTube, Vimeo, etc. 7. Customize your brand logo and theme with whitelabeling 8. Export courses as SCORM files and play in any SCORM-compliant LMS 9. Choice of monthly and annual subscription #### Who Is the Company Behind Calibr Craft? - **Seller:** [Calibr](https://www.g2.com/sellers/calibr) - **Year Founded:** 2022 - **HQ Location:** Bengaluru, Karnataka - **Twitter:** @calibr\_ai 30 Twitter followers - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=cc7b0c5836344068c30bb399260876a3d4e93d0f81df38b49860a3f433522c70&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fcalibr-ai%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 20 employees on LinkedIn® - **Ownership:** Privately Held ### [CapsimInbox](https://www.g2.com/products/capsiminbox/reviews) While the value of a highly-skilled workforce is undeniable, only 25% of executives believe training measurably improves business performance. So it's clear—how we evaluate and train our people does not align with the realities and expectations of today's business world. To drive more ROI from L&D efforts, learning professionals need to ensure they're training the right people with the right skills in the right way. That's why leading companies use Capsim's inbox simulation platform: CapsimInbox. This new simulation-based assessment technology allows organizations to pinpoint soft skills gaps, improve learning transfer, and measure training impact. Inbox simulations are context-rich experiences that use a familiar and flexible email environment to immerse learners in authentic scenarios and objectively assess the skills that matter most—like critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. Just as drills and scrimmages provide coaches with a game-like environment to evaluate and train their athletes, the CapsimInbox platform provides L&D professionals with a real-world business environment to find and fix their company's critical skills gaps. And here's the best part: With its powerful no-code authoring tool, CapsimInbox democratizes custom sim-based training. Businesses can quickly, easily, and affordably create an authentic inbox simulation that mirrors a day on the job at their company. Inbox simulations are backed by science and validated as one of the best predictors of job performance. Talent management teams around the globe use inbox simulations for a variety of use cases: - Talent Assessment - Talent Acquisition - Succession Planning - Leadership Development - Onboarding & Compliance #### Who Is the Company Behind CapsimInbox? - **Seller:** [Capsim](https://www.g2.com/sellers/capsim) - **Year Founded:** 1985 - **HQ Location:** Aurora, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=e9d48cd229fd43765c81e77edb731f34c7d8d99bf2506b49636a121502e15257&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2F1194995&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 41 employees on LinkedIn® ### [CertSpring](https://www.g2.com/products/certspring/reviews) CertSpring helps you pull all your content together and then uses a simple process to turn it in to an easy to use learning program #### Who Is the Company Behind CertSpring? - **Seller:** [CertSpring](https://www.g2.com/sellers/certspring) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **Twitter:** @CertSpring 726 Twitter followers - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=73567e87929f1d01a93f8ffac5895c708ec6b49552777affdc4c068b6cca9bfb&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2F13237899&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 4 employees on LinkedIn® ### [CLASSUM](https://www.g2.com/products/classum/reviews) CLASSUM is an LXP that transforms traditional learning by sparking real-time collaboration between team members. With features like interactive Q&A, AI assistance, challenges and more, CLASSUM focuses on providing a tailored, user-driven learning experience that is inclusive of every kind of learner. Users can create communities, share learning content, and analyze their training all in one platform. CLASSUM appeared in the 2021 Forbes Asia to Watch list. It currently boasts users from 13,000 organizations across 32 countries. **Average Rating:** 4.9/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 25 #### How Do G2 Users Rate CLASSUM? - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 9.2/10) - **Content Creation:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Quality of Support:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Libraries:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10) #### Who Is the Company Behind CLASSUM? - **Seller:** [CLASSUM Co., Ltd.](https://www.g2.com/sellers/classum-co-ltd) - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** Seoul, KR - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=a8f5dd4d29bc69e5c9c81727130ab4d2ecb0885dc07dc5ddd7a1b7cfccc0e7aa&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fclassum%2Fabout%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 32 employees on LinkedIn® #### Who Uses This Product? - **Top Industries:** E-Learning, Higher Education - **Company Size:** 58% Large, 27% Small #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of CLASSUM? **["Recommend it!"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/classum-review-9416286)** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars _— Migyu K._ [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/classum-review-9416286) **["interactive platform to enhance your learning"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/classum-review-9411578)** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars _— Euna J._ [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/classum-review-9411578) ### [Clozetesting](https://www.g2.com/products/clozetesting/reviews) Build fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop, and dropdown exercises manually or with AI. Track participant responses and export results for analysis. #### Who Is the Company Behind Clozetesting? - **Seller:** [Clozetesting](https://www.g2.com/sellers/clozetesting) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=7886df2ed926834e5eb248c77dcfa8e5c815d3ab1f0fe3132ced0dba45868834&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2FNo-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 1 employees on LinkedIn® ### [Constructor Prism](https://www.g2.com/products/constructor-prism/reviews) Constructor Prism is an AI-powered content authoring platform built for higher education institutions, corporate training teams, and certification centers that need to create and maintain professional learning content at scale. It removes the dependency on instructional design specialists by enabling educators and L&D professionals to generate, update, and distribute high-quality course materials directly from their existing resources. Prism uses Constructor's proprietary AI model to generate complete course outlines, instructional content, assessments, and rubrics from uploaded documents, videos, and existing materials. All AI-generated content includes source references and citation tracing, eliminating hallucinations and enabling full fact-checking. The platform supports avatar-based video creation, interactive content blocks, adaptive quizzes, and simulations, and integrates natively with Constructor Learn and any external LMS via standard export formats. The core value of Prism is continuous content improvement: the platform proactively recommends updates to courses based on learner performance data, pedagogical best practices, and external domain sources, so content stays accurate and effective long after initial creation. Teams working across languages, campuses, or disciplines can collaborate within a single authoring environment without relying on external tools or instructional design workflows. #### Who Is the Company Behind Constructor Prism? - **Seller:** [Constructor Tech](https://www.g2.com/sellers/constructor-tech) - **Year Founded:** 2019 - **HQ Location:** Switzerland - **Twitter:** @ConstructorTech 957 Twitter followers - **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=3e888e5f633d342027e9f0177e4877e12168bc9ead7ea1a7530b932e73bf87a7&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fconstructortech%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website) 581 employees on LinkedIn® - [‹ Prev‹ Prev](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=11&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [1](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [2](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=2&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - … - [8](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=8&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [9](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=9&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [10](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=10&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [11](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=11&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - 12 - [13](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=13&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [14](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=14&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [15](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=15&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [16](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=16&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - … - [18](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=18&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [19](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=19&timeframe=last_year#product-list) - [Next ›Next ›](/categories/course-authoring?order=g2_score&page=13&timeframe=last_year#product-list) Spotlight Categories [Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/electronic-data-interchange-edi) [Environmental Health and Safety Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/environmental-health-and-safety) [Audit Management Software Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/audit-management) [Live Chat Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/live-chat) [Product Analytics Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/product-analytics) Similar Categories - [Corporate Learning Management Systems](/categories/corporate-learning-management-systems) - [Digital Credential Management](/categories/digital-credential-management) - [eLearning Content](/categories/elearning-content) - [Harassment Prevention Training](/categories/harassment-prevention-training) - [Learning Experience Platforms (LXP)](/categories/learning-experience-platforms-lxp) - [Mentoring](/categories/mentoring) - [Microlearning Platforms](/categories/microlearning-platforms) - [Training Management Systems](/categories/training-management-systems) [Browse Course Authoring Themes](/categories/course-authoring/themes) ![Grace Savides](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Grace Savides") GS Researched and written by [Grace Savides](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/grace-savides) Updated October 3, 2024 Course authoring software products allow organizations to create engaging and interactive multimedia content for educational purposes. Course authoring software is used to develop training courses and content that can be consumed in either a corporate or more traditional educational setting. Learning content management systems (LCMS), which are course authoring tools built specifically as a tool for educational institutions, are currently included in the scope of course authoring. Organizations use course authoring tools to prepare educational material that can be administered with [learning management system (LMS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/learning-management-system-lms) or [corporate LMS](https://www.g2.com/categories/corporate-lms) software to create unique educational programs for employees or students. Course authoring solutions are commonly implemented in HR departments and at educational institutions, enabling administrators to create educational content with no programming knowledge. Course authoring solutions can be either cloud-based or installed on-premise, and many follow the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) as a set of standards and specifications for integrating content with LMS software. Additionally, many course authoring products are built on top of [presentation software](https://www.g2.com/categories/presentation) to provide users with a familiar format for creating course content. To qualify as a course authoring solution, a product must: - Allow organizations to create multimedia content for educational purposes - Provide a system through which users can create interactive multimedia content - Allow users to publish course material to third-party or built-in learning management systems Show More * * * ## How Do You Choose the Right Course Authoring Software? ### What You Should Know About Course Authoring Software ### What is Course Authoring Software? For organizations that need to deliver training to their employees, there are numerous providers of premade online courses on common topics that managers could purchase and assign to their teams. But if a company has more specialized training needs, the ability to create a customized course from scratch is a better solution. Course authoring software enables eLearning professionals to build engaging courses incorporating a variety of interactive elements, then publish and distribute them to any number of learners. These products are used by companies for their training needs as well as in academia for professors who are delivering instruction remotely. Custom courses created using course authoring software ultimately helps organizations achieve their learning goals. Key Benefits of Course Authoring Software - Enables companies to efficiently create engaging courses - Reduces the time it takes to create a complete course - Self-paced training allows more flexibility - Allows instructors to customize learning content ### Why Use Course Authoring Software? **Create engaging courses —** Part of making learning “sticky"—meaning the knowledge endures long after someone learns it—is making the process engaging. Course authoring tools offer numerous ways to make eLearning courses more interesting and interactive. Rather than creating courses that rely on slides with plain text and pictures, course developers incorporate video clips, animations, and audio files into a course. Quizzes are incorporated throughout a course to build in accountability for the material. Some platforms offer functionality for learners to navigate through branching scenarios, meaning the content differs depending on choices made by the user. **Reduce course development time —** Course authoring platforms have built-in tools designed to maximize efficiency as developers make new courses. Content libraries in course authoring software contain a variety of premade elements that developers choose from, including slide templates, images, icons, buttons, and quiz questions. These libraries reduce the time instructors spend searching for elements to use in their courses, helping the course get completed more quickly. Some eLearning platforms also enable users to pre-existing presentation files and use those as a starting point for creating a course so that the developer doesn’t have to start from a blank template. Ultimately, these features make course creation less time-consuming. **Increase training flexibility —** Digital courses created using course authoring software provide solutions to some of the inconveniences inherent in the in-person training. Courses are distributed using a learning management system (LMS), so learners in different locations can take the same course. The courses are also typically self-paced, so learners are able to complete them on their own schedule. Administrators review results for individual learners as they come in. **Customize learning content —** One of the biggest benefits of course authoring tools is the ability to create exactly the course needed for a specific purpose. Rather than use an off-the-shelf eLearning course that may not target an organization’s needs, using course authoring software to build a course from the ground up ensures that it targets the exact objectives the instructor wants to cover. Courses are even customized for specific teams or roles, so that the employees get the exact training that they need. For universities, courses enable professors to teach the material in the way that they think works best. Collaboration tools built into course authoring software also allow multiple stakeholders to give feedback on a course before it is finalized to ensure it is customized to meet the needs of all parties involved. ### Who Uses Course Authoring Software? Course authoring software is used by employees in government, education, and a range of businesses. **Corporate trainers —** In-house trainers at companies use course authoring tools to create training courses for the business’s employees. Courses might cover HR issues related to compliance or they could be focused on information more specific to the company’s business, like sales enablement. **Instructional designers and eLearning developers —** Companies that lack the HR personnel needed to develop their own custom courses in-house may turn to third-party instructional designers or eLearning developers, who use course authoring software to make courses for their clients. Typically, instructional designers communicate with their clients about the kind of course the company needs, then they build the course, get feedback on their work, and deliver a final product that is completed by employees. Universities also employ instructional designers to help professors develop materials for their courses, especially online courses. ### Kinds of Course Authoring Software While most course authoring products have similar core functionality, some are sold as standalone products while others are integrated with an LMS. Using a course authoring tool that is integrated with an LMS means there is a built-in way to distribute the course to learners once it is finished, although those tools may have fewer course authoring features than standalone products that are solely dedicated to creating courses. Standalone products typically enable users to export content to a third-party LMS. ### Course Authoring Software Features **Course templates —** Course authoring tools often come with included templates so course developers don’t have to start from a completely blank course. Templates include course modules with different layouts that allow developers to change text placeholders and add images, videos, or other elements to meet their needs. **PowerPoint conversion —** Organizations that have pre-existing PowerPoint files that they have used in the past for training import those files into course authoring software and build an eLearning course using the old presentation as a template, helping save the time it would take to recreate the PowerPoint in the authoring tool. **Asset library —** In addition to slide templates, course authoring tools often include an online library of elements that users can add to their presentations. These libraries sometimes contain thousands of different elements, including photos, videos, icons, and buttons. **Quizzes —** Course authors are able to build in periodic quizzes at different points in a course to check the learner’s understanding of key concepts. If a learner answers incorrectly, courses are set up to have them go back and relearn the material, then have them try again to get the right answer before they are allowed to proceed. **Feedback tools —** These features enable multiple stakeholders to leave comments on a course as it is being developed. Having feedback integrated directly into the authoring tool helps keep the comments organized so they are addressed before the course is published. **Sharable content object reference model (SCORM) compatibility —** The industry standard for eLearning content is SCORM, a set of technical standards that ensure compatibility between a course and an LMS. Ensuring a course authoring platform is SCORM-compatible means its courses work with a variety of LMS vendors. #### Additional Course Authoring Software Features **Character images —** Some products have extensive “character" image collections. These might include a variety of different models of different ages, genders, ethnicities, and professions, each with dozens of photos showing a variety of facial expressions, emotions, and body poses. These character images are used to tell a story within the course or as a visual aid to illustrate a scenario. **Branching scenarios —** One feature some platforms have for making courses interactive is by the ability to include branching scenarios, in which the course is different depending on choices the learner makes. For example, in a course on workplace harassment, a user might be asked to choose from three options for responding to a coworker who made an inappropriate remark in a meeting. Depending on the option the learner picks, the course could show a different outcome of the situation. These role-play simulations helps learners apply skills and knowledge from earlier in the course to a real-world scenario. **Video recording —** Built-in video recording functionality enables users to record themselves or their computer screen to add a visual element to their course. These platforms typically also allow users to import videos from other sources. **Mobile compatibility —** Course materials are automatically reformatted to be compatible with mobile phones and tablets, ensuring that learners complete course modules from any device. **Analytics —** Course authors track how learners are using the course or their performance on in-course assessments once the courses have been deployed. ### Trends Related to Course Authoring Software **Remote work —** Companies were already looking for digital alternatives to in-person training before the coronavirus pandemic. The worldwide shift to remote work has only underscored the need for organizations to have robust eLearning programs that are completed anywhere and at any time. Course authoring software developers have increased their emphasis on the mobile device experience to ensure the courses reach people on the devices they use the most. **Cloud platforms —** While some course authoring products still offer on-premises installations, many vendors have moved their offerings to the cloud. This approach enables vendors to push out frequent updates to their products, adding new features, and fixing security vulnerabilities. Some also offer online content libraries, so course developers have an ever-expanding range of elements to choose from. Courses that are distributed to learners via the cloud are also quickly updated and re-released so that employees have access to the latest material. ### Potential Issues with Course Authoring Software **Resource investment —** Creating customized courses have benefits for an organization’s training program, but it also takes a substantial investment of resources. Depending on how lengthy or in depth the course needs to be, it may take weeks or months for a course to go from idea to finished product. That includes multiple course drafts and rounds of feedback from different stakeholders. Companies also need to decide whether they have the right people in-house to use course authoring software effectively or if it makes more sense to outsource the work to an eLearning development firm. Another option is using premade online courses, although organizations will have to decide whether those more generic courses will meet their training needs. **Employee engagement —** The best digital courses are interesting and informative. They hold learners’ attention with animations, videos, and interactive elements. But using those elements well takes practice and the right tools. An authoring tool that lacks strong functionality for creating interactive courses could result in courses that don’t engage learners and fall short of their desired impact. Buyers should ensure an authoring solution has the ability to create engaging courses and that their course developers know how to use the tools to achieve those aims. **Compliance —** A key part of many training programs is courses to ensure employers maintain compliance with laws and regulations on topics like safety, security, and privacy. Company leaders deploy off-the-shelf solutions, but some might want to develop their own compliance courses using course authoring software. For companies that are developing their own compliance courses, leaders must ensure the courses cover all the required information for a given topic. They should also confirm that the software they use to deploy the courses has adequate tracking and reporting capabilities so that, if necessary, they prove that employees went through the training. ### Software and Services Related to Course Authoring Software [**Learning management systems**](https://www.g2.com/categories/learning-management-system-lms) **—** Integrations with an LMS is a crucial feature for course authoring products, as completed courses are typically delivered to users through an LMS. Course authoring tools integrate with both [corporate LMS products](https://www.g2.com/categories/corporate-lms) as well as education-focused LMS products. [**Screen and video capture software**](https://www.g2.com/categories/screen-and-video-capture) **—** For course authoring tools that lack built-in video capture functionality, a screen and video capture product allows a course developer to integrate screencasts of their computer desktop for demonstrations and tutorials. [**Training management systems**](https://www.g2.com/categories/training-management-systems) **—** Organizations use training management systems to distribute courses to employees and track training completion.