Everybody is moving towards the online learning world and, it increases the demand for more and more training content. To create such interactive eLearning content, instructional designers use rapid content Authoring Tools.

What is an Authoring Tool?

An authoring tool is a software program that enables you to easily create interactive lessons and quizzes. It features a rich interface with all the options on the front. You can create slides shows, insert media content like video, audio, and images. The above is just a basic description that was considered in the past. Today these tools are so much advanced and their power depends upon the user.

This article lists the most used eLearning authoring tools. These tools will help you in creating interactive content for your courseware. Some tools are easy to use and you can learn them quickly and some will take time to master the skill.

10 Best xAPI and SCORM Authoring Tools

1. Adobe Captivate
2. Articulate Storyline 360
3. iSpring
4. Rise 360
5. Elucidat
6. DominKnow | ONE
7. Camtasia
8. Adapt Learning
9. Lectora Online
10. Easy Generator

You can choose any of them to get started that matches your tech stack and requirements.

1. Adobe Captivate

View Demo | Best Export Settings

Captivate is one of the most popular authoring tools available in the market. Adobe is the largest content tools maker having dozens of tools focused on content development.

You can create awesome eLearning Content with this tool and it also allows the creation of VR content. It works on both macOS and Windows OS.

You can control every element of your lesson and do whatever you want with it, but the problem with this tool is the time you need to learn it. It needs a lot of time to make the most out of it.

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. AICC
2. SCORM
3. xAPI

2. Articulate Storyline 360

View Demo | Best Export Settings

Articulate is a fully eLearning focused company and the latest version of Articulate Storyline 360 is the best alternative to Adobe Captivate. It is pretty similar to Microsoft Powerpoint but with few advanced features.

You can create advanced interactive lessons with quizzes for your employees or students. It also has a library with a large number of resources of characters and scenery images to make your presentation more realistic.

It is easy to learn in comparison to Adobe Captivate and works only on Windows OS, which is a downside of this powerful tool.

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. AICC
2. SCORM
3. xAPI
4. cmi5

3. iSpring Suite

View Demo | Best Export Settings

iSpring is one of the best and easy to use eLearning authoring tool works right inside Microsoft Powerpoint. You can say it is an extension of Powerpoint.

If you already know how to use Powerpoint, you can do most of the things out-of-the-box. iSpring Suite only works on Windows OS until you install Windows OS on your iMac computer.

It also allows screen and video recording and has basic video editing features also. It works with PowerPoint, which means you have to buy an MS Office subscription with iSpring Suite if you do not have one.

If you’re exporting your content with the Experience API standard, you can define your LRS details right inside the content and get reporting your Learning Record Store.

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. AICC
2. SCORM
3. xAPI
4. cmi5

4. Rise 360

View Demo | Best Export Settings

This is another product from Articulate, a cloud-based eLearning Content authoring tool. With lots of quick and easy to use features. It doesn’t allow customization of layout but that is not a big problem.

You can add images, text, and video in different blocks available in this tool. Rise 360 is a part of the Articulate 360 package so you get both tools. You can use any of these tools as per need.

There are documentation and tutorial videos to get you started, also there is a huge community of users that becomes the USP of Articulate 360.

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. AICC
2. SCORM
3. xAPI
4. cmi5

5. Elucidat

A powerful cloud-based rapid content authoring tool packed with features that make it easy to produce and collaborate with your whole team. Content can be created from scratch using the intuitive “what you see is what you get interface”.

Elucidat has a lot of pre-build projects in its library to let you get started quickly. It has a built-in eLearning portal that lets you instantly share courses with the learners.

To track learner performance, an analytics dashboard is also there. If you don’t want to use the learning portal, export the content package and use it in your LMS.

Key Features:

1. Team Collaboration
2. Localize Training
3. Responsive Content
4. Project structuring
5. Customizable page layouts

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. SCORM
2. xAPI

6. DominKnow | ONE

Create and publish responsive eLearning content without any extra efforts that fit and play in any display size. To give your user a content presentation and simulation, you can use the DominKnow App on iOS and Android devices.

It also provides offline learning and sends reports back to the server when the system device is online. DominKnow | ONE is loaded with amazing localization support that allows you to create multilingual courses with ease and it also has an accessibility feature for differently-abled people.

Key Features:

1. Responsive and Mobile ready
2. Collaboration & Review
3. Translation & Localization
4. Mobile App Player
5. Software Simulation
6. Section 508 and WCAG 2 AA support

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. SCORM
2. xAPI
3. AICC

7. Camtasia

View Demo

An easy-to-use yet powerful video editing tool, that you can use to create interactive learning content. It is not like all other authorings, but you can use it to create interactive videos loaded with quiz interaction on the timeline.

Camtasia allows you to export content in SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 format that you can upload and use on any learning management system that supports these standards.

Key Features:

1. Video Editor
2. Screen Recorder
3. Add Interactions
4. Can reports completion to LMS

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. SCORM

8. Adapt Learning

Open source projects are always amazing to get started with if you have time to spend on learning. Adapt is one such tool that you can try to get started with for your authoring tool journey.

It was built by a bunch of techies but now managed by the whole community. You can create some astonishing courses with drag and drop the Adapt Framework. There are several good examples given on their website that you can get a good idea about them.

However, to get into the good creators league you need to go through a big learning curve if you’re not on the techie side.

Key Features:

1. Responsive Content
2. Full Control
3. Completely Free
4. Community support

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. SCORM
2. xAPI

9. Lectora Online

This is another tool available in the market for a long time and offers a full feature trial to get your hands on. There is no need for any installation to run this authoring tool, it is all in your browser, access from anywhere and any device.

It supports gradable and non-gradable quiz questions and sends rich data to LRS if you’re using an xAPI package with LRS.

Key Features:

1. Responsive Course Design
2. Collaborative Authoring
3. Create Interactive Content
4. Starter templates
5. Huge Asset Library

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. SCORM
2. xAPI
3. xAPI cmi5
4. AICC

10. Easy Generator

Easy generator is another cloud-based authoring tool that offers you all the flexibility to create adaptive content for different device sizes. With a rich UI and loads of templates, you can get started with ease. 

With custom branding options, you can optimise color and logo that suits well your designs. Easygenerator provides options to well define learner progress according to goals and award certificates on completion.

Key Features:

1. Kickstarter templates
2. Built-in LMS
3. Easy to use interface
4. Collaboration options
5. Brand theme setup
6. Send automatic certificates

Supported eLearning Standard:

1. SCORM
2. xAPI

Final Words

• Almost all the eLearning authoring tools offer the same features. Some give full control over the layout and elements, some don’t.
• If you make a checklist of your requirements with the budget, it will narrow down options.
• Select the best and appropriate tool for your needs that matches your LMS requirements also.

For more latest & quick updates follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and YouTube.