Brian D.

eLearning Developer

Retail

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

7/25/2016

"Lectora Inspire Review"

5/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

Quickly create professional custom learning courses. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

Sometimes test question can be buggy. You have to have some experience under your belt to find the issues. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Brian H.

Senior Training Specialist

Financial Services

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

8/3/2015

"Lectora Publisher does it all!"

5/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

I like the flexibility Publisher provides. It can help you produce anything from a simple course with ease but has the POWER to create complex courses with conditional navigation based on any variable. It's very easy to learn how to use as well.

The Reviewlink tool is also very helpful. Being able to publish a course for SMEs to review and provide feedback is very helpful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

Sometimes, troubleshooting why something is not functioning as expected can get a little tricky. On a few occasions, actions tested ok in the tool and review link, but worked differently once published. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Lectora:

Save time in researching other choices. It doesn't get any better than Lectora. Out of the box, you can turn out quality courses and you can build on your skill set an knowledge as you go. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Lectora solving and how is that benefiting you?

We're able to create custom eLearning for all employees. Being able to create one course that provides different content to users based on their location has been very helpful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Chrisie A.

Senior Development Manager

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

7/29/2015

"Best in class for creating SCORM content"

4/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

Lectora provides an easy to use front end yet packs enough power to create fairly complex interactions and assessments. It has good debugging and allows even novice users to create content that is SCORM compliant. Lectora has a review tool known as "reviewLink" that I have found tremendously helpful in getting SMEs to review content. They can create an account and provide feedback that I can export and use to make revisions. I also have found Lectora content to be quite compatible with Saba, our learning mangaement system (LMS). Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

Many of the limitations I experience are due to SCORM shortcomings, not those of Lectora. That said, I have had significant problems with Trivantis' customer support. As for the product, I would like to see a cleaner interface (without losing the ease of use) and additional functionality surrounding object manipulation. I would also like to see enhanced export options. There is no good way to get the content back out of Lectora in a form that can be edited - such as going back to a storyboard. The Word export feature is terrible. I would also love to see an answer key option for testing/archive purposes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Lectora solving and how is that benefiting you?

We use Lectora to create self-paced web-based learning. This allows us to provide information on a just in time basis to our geographically diverse workforce. The benefits have been seen primarily in the satisfaction of our employees in being able to take learning on their schedule and at their pace. It has allowed us to impart far more knowledge than we would be able to using in-person training methods alone. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

EJ L.

Learning and Development Consultant

E-Learning

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

7/27/2015

"Lectora 12 is a step in the right direction, but it has a long, long way to go."

2.5/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

The thing that still sets Lectora apart from the pack is the ability to customize assessments and proof of completion. In Articulate Storyline, my options are extremely limited, and I'm used to having to twist its arm to get it to do some things that Lectora does naturally - things like creating a customized results certificate.

Lectora also has some nifty features you can't find anywhere else. I like the idea that I can easily drag and drop a menu into place. However, this feature isn't worth it when its interface doesn't match the design aesthetic I'm building for the course. I want complete and total control of that menu, and everything else I put on the screen. I remember feeling like I had to move a mountain in order to get my custom menu arrangement in place, only to feel completely frustrated when I that menu would not display correctly on the screen. My custom graphics would "flicker" staccato-like upon the screen. That problem was so bad that we ended up abandoning Lectora and shifting to Articulate Storyline. Allow me to expand on that in the next question. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

I cannot stand Lectora's poor design features. The less-than-PowerPoint-but-very-reminiscent-of-PowerPoint features (additions that make it look a few steps behind Articulate Storyline, by the way) are nowhere near enough.

I would be able to handle this by just using PowerPoint or Adobe CC (illustrator and photoshop) - or even using the SnagIt editor - to do some of the graphics work elsewhere, but no one can overcome the "ghost in the Lectora machine" that causes the images to sporadically flicker upon loading. Do you want to have an advanced animation to illustrate your point? Forget about using Lectora.

In fact, if design and modern UI elements are at all a concern for you, you should skip Lectora altogether and choose Storyline or Captivate. I think that Lectora needs to hire a top-notch designer and some young-gun eLearning developers to completely revamp their next iteration of the software.

It is to a point that I would, were I trivantis, seriously consider abandoning the Lectora name.

By the way, I don't think Lectora's affiliations with eLearning Brothers and Camtasia/SnagIt are doing Lectora any favors. I LOVE Camtasia and SnagIt and I use this software every day. But there is such a disparity in user experience between this software, and the strangely outdated views of the design methodology involved (Lectora's development process is literally intended to create "page-turner" books - and this is not a compliment). Every time I see an endorsement/special deal from the eLearning Brothers (who are amazing in their own right), it makes me think they have sold out to a pretty sweet deal offered by the people who are willing to charge so very much money for their software.

To sum up, Lectora desperately needs to completely rethink its software and the needs of its users. I'm actually delighted to see the next question, because it means you're seriously taking this into account. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Lectora:

Unless you have some pretty specific assessment needs that only Lectora can answer, I highly recommend you avoid purchasing Lectora.

In fact, if you are just getting started in the eLearning business, you should consider purchasing Articulate Storyline 2 and then getting the Camtasia/Snagit bundle separately. Not only will you save money, you will find your experience designing and developing eLearning solutions vastly more enjoyable. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Lectora solving and how is that benefiting you?

I am a single consultant who often designs and develops eLearning solutions. I use the top-three tools (Articulate Storyline, Captivate, and Lectora) and I have made some pretty amazing interventions using all three.

Out of these three, I like Articulate Storyline the best. I am able to do the most with this product in the shortest amount of time than I can with the other authoring tools I mentioned.

Lectora is falling behind its competitors so badly that the only time I have used it recently in my development processes was to transfer a course originally made in Lectora to Articulate Storyline. While I consider myself a current user of this product, I am not paying for a license with this product and will not pay for one until a project requires me to do so. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Stephen H.

AVP, Corporate Compliance Specialist - Education and Awareness

Banking

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

7/27/2015

"Lectora Inspire: a leader in course creation"

4/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

There are several things that I love about this software package: freedom from the constraints of a PPT based authoring tool, custom variables that allow me to do almost anything my clients dream up, and the ease with which client reviews can be performed through Review Link. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

So far I've identified only a few issues: options are limited when working with bullet points, difficulty in making courses truly accessible to all users (e.g., JAWS screen readers), and limited information available when assistance is needed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Lectora:

This package is definitely a contender when looking for a new tool. If you need robust test options (multiple scored tests per module, testing branched by user/business line, multiple question pools, etc.) this is perhaps the best tool I have had the pleasure to work with. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Lectora solving and how is that benefiting you?

I work in the banking industry, specifically in Regulatory Compliance and mandatory training. My challenge has been to take what is often seen as truly dry and boring content and making it more interactive and fun for our learners. We have seen a rise in our learner satisfaction surveys. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Timothy A.

Customer Care Information Systems Analyst and CX/UAT Specialist

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

7/27/2015

"From Beginner to Advanced Users and from regular to rapid development, you can't go wrong..."

4/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

In my opinion, this authoring tool is by far the most flexible authoring tool I have used to date. Ever since I started using Lectora, I have been able to create simple, yet creative eLearning courses, to advanced, time intensive courses. With Trivantis' latest version of Lectora Inspire, I have been able to "prototype" courses quickly for a quick approval and publishing turnaround time. One of my favorite features of Lectora Inspire, is the inclusion of three other great tools: (1) FlyPaper (for quick, flash based content); (2) Snag-it (for quick and easy image/graphic editing and creation; and (3) Camtasia Lectora Edition (for quick screencasting). Not only does Lectora Inspire include these tools, it is flexible enough for you to choose your own preferred tools to edit video, audio and/or images with (i.e. Photoshop or Captivate). And finally, the latest addition to Lectora Inspire is, well, inspiring! You can now directly link to an eLearning Brothers account for more eLearning tools! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

For me, this tool stands alone. I also use other authoring tools and I feel that some authoring tools work better in certain situations than others. Lectora Inspire can be used for any project if this is the only authoring tool you can get; however, it is harder to get a more modern look and feel to a course with this authoring tool if you are not an intermediate to advanced user. There is a learning curve to get the most of Lectora Inspire for beginners, but, it is well worth the time it takes to learn the tool in order to produce a great looking course. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Lectora:

I recommend using the free trial version to get a feel for it; however, it deserves your full attention for a proper review of the product. A quick download and glance-thru will not give you a good overview of the product. And finally, have an free eLearning Brothers account ready to connect to Lectora Inspire - you won't regret it! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Lectora solving and how is that benefiting you?

Lectora Inspire solves the issue of putting certain classroom content into an eLearning course. I have realized that not everything fits into an eLearning course; however, when it does, it can be very beneficial to an ISD, Trainer and to Students. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Marcel L.

Multimedia Specialist

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

7/23/2015

"Easy to learn and use, I have used program to create powerful and interactive training software."

4.5/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

This software and I have become friends over the last few years. Though there are plenty of options, I keep going back to it. It is truly WYSISWYG (What you see is what you get). This makes implementing designs easy- no guess and check. I like how I can preview my entire course *in Lectora* and it will function and navigate basically the same as if I had published and uploaded the course to the web or LMS. I like how grouping works. Unlike other course authoring software, I can group actions together, and the inherit behavior is great for making sure your header/footer and menu items are always and top and functioning consistently. It is very fast, it opens quickly and is quite responsive. It will only slow down if you are editing/deleting/copy/pasting a lot of pages/actions/elements. It is easy to organize your course and move things around if need be. I also love the course progress bar- it is customizable and actually works exactly how I want it to. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

Creating and editing custom questions/drag and drops and interactives can be clunky. The title explorer can get a little bit crowded and confusing if you are working with a longer course. There is no timeline, and so setting up animations and syncing with audio is not as easy as with other course authoring software. The online forums are very robust when searching for solutions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Lectora:

Though Storyline seems to be the rage, there are things that are possible with Lectora that may suit you or your business needs better. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Lectora solving and how is that benefiting you?

I am rapidly prototyping and delivering business training solutions. Using Lectora allows for others to go in and make simple changes or updates after final delivery, as well as translations to be made by outside teams. It creates a simple package, both source and published. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Jasmine T.

President

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

7/21/2015

"Lectora: Powerful but clunky & expensive"

3.5/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

Lectora makes all the settings available that makes it easier to produce a 508 Compliant course (if you know what is required, because the program will not do it for you).

I also like that there's an online option. This is the #1 reason our company has not switched to Articulate Storyline. I can use my Mac without having to use Parallels. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

i STRONGLY dislike technical support. You can't reach anyone by phone, you have to use the email form, support techs take too long to answer your question and usually the answers tend to be a bit lazy. I find myself silently asking, "Did you even ready my question?"

The program costs too much to have such horrible support. I shouldn't have to post the question in a LinkedIn Lectora group to receive help, but that's the most effective way.

I also dislike that ReviewLink cannot be used with Lectora Online and (to my knowledge) I can't save a course in a .zip file like I can with Lectora Inspire. That's a a pain.

I also don't like how clunky Lectora Inspire is. It's a massive program. If your hardware isn't maximized for best performance, you can run into problems. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Lectora:

I don't recommend using Lectora Inspire. I stopped using it as soon as the new version of Lectora Online was released. Everyone has preferences. If you are considering Lectora Inspire:

1. Upgrade your hardware so it won't slow your computer down as much (or crash as often).

2. If you have a problem/question submit it to both Technical Support AND The Lectora LinkedIn group.

3. The program takes a while to fully learn (I still haven't completely figured out how to harness the power of built-in variables (I wish there was a printed guide that provided more info)

4. It's the best program to pick if you have to design 508 Compliant courses.

5. It's the worst program to pick if your clients want advanced animations and pizzaz. Articulate Storyline is much better for that (but it also has its faults. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Lectora solving and how is that benefiting you?

N/A - The company I work for is a vendor. We develop compliance courses for primarily the military and government agencies. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Benjamin B.

Instructional Designer

E-Learning

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

7/20/2015

"Lectora Inspire: Probably not worth the switch"

4/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

Quiz functionality is superb. Creating tests is a breeze. The ability to work with variables adds a lot of flexibility in terms of course navigation. Although I haven't used them, the announcement that eLearning Brothers templates would be included with a Lectora license has the potential to add tremendous value to the product. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

Lectora does not do animations or other "flashy" (pun perhaps intended) effects very well. Responsive design and HTML5 are also lagging behind other tools. It's hard to tell customers who want something really trendy that they should want something more powerful. It's kind of like trying to convince someone that they should buy a Volvo instead of a BMW. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Lectora:

The cost of the product is high, but consider the eLearning Brothers library as a cost you don't have to consider. Faster development because of greater selection of pre-built templates and content.

One of the problems with Lectora is that it does not attract new users. Existing users love the new features, but the high cost turns off a lot of people. It really helps to have some programming experience as programming logic underlies much of Lectora use. It isn't "fancy PowerPoint"--which is a plus or a minus depending on the user's background, needs, and preferences. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Lectora solving and how is that benefiting you?

Primarily regulatory training--designing courses that teach customers what they need to know to be in compliance. This is why tests are so important. You do not want to create "trick" questions, but users must answer challenging questions that prove mastery of the material. This is where Lectora shines and helps retain customers who might be swayed by less informative by trendier looking products. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Doreen J.

Owner

Computer Software

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

7/20/2015

"Lectora Inspire is Incredible!"

5/5

What do you like best about Lectora?

I like the layout of Lectora and the ease to use the interface. We also do websites and custom applications, so maybe we had an edge in using the product. I like the ability to add code to a project. The learning curve was fairly easy and I knew enough after doing the first project to feel fairly proficient. I love Inspiration Wednesdays and the library of knowledge to find answers to most of my questions. And if I can't find it - customer support is incredible! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Lectora?

Importing a Power Point. It doesn't really come in very well. Easier to cut/paste your way through the story board I've done in Power Point. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Lectora:

The sheer volume of options available with Lectora make it really the ONLY option and I did a lot of homework before buying. I like that it came with FlyPaper, Snagit, and Camtasia. And the help options and freedom to download samples and retake classes as often as you want - makes this the better bargain in the long run. The recent addition of eLearning templates and characters to your annual subscription is incredible. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Lectora solving and how is that benefiting you?

Nothing special at the moment - just the usual customer requests for stuff I haven't done yet. One thing I need to solve is the ability to have a student get to the TOC if they've finished the class, logged out, and be recognized as having taken the class once and thereby have access to the TOC for freedom of movement without having to review the entire class again. One problem I recently solved was the need for me (as the developer) to go to a class in the LMS and have a hidden spot that allows me to quickly get to the TOC and navigate to a specific page if a student is having an issue on one page. The two problems are related - need to get to TOC without having to retake the entire class. The hidden spot for me has been huge! Now I don't dread questions on specific pages. Still trying to solve the second option. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.