20 Best SCORM Authoring eLearning Tools (2024)
- Published:
- Updated: July 2, 2024
Until recently creating effective training content was a challenging and time-consuming task for learning and development (L&D) teams. Fortunately, the rise of eLearning technologies has made creating course material more simple than ever.
Organizations are investing in cutting-edge L&D tools such as learning management systems (LMS), digital adoption platforms (DAP), and instructional design software to create interactive training content and effortlessly deliver successful training programs at scale.
In this article, we’ll explore SCORM authoring tools, including key features and functionality, as well as the best content authoring software that is SCORM compliant.
What Are SCORM Authoring Tools?
SCORM authoring tools allow you to create and manage SCORM-compliant courses and publish them to any SCORM-compliant LMS. These SCORM-compliant courses are compatible on a multitude of platforms without any adjustments, and empower training managers to easily track their learners’ activity, monitor progression, and measure their training results.
What are the best SCORM authoring tools for eLearning?
- Whatfix
- Adobe Captive
- Articulate Storyline 360
- Articulate Rise 360
- Elucidat
- iSpring Suite
- Composcia
- Camtasia
- dominKnow One
- Knowbly
- Lectora Online
- Evolve
- Adapt Learning
- Gomo
- Easygenerator
- TalentLMS
- Coassemble
- ScormHero
- Scormify
- SmartBuilder
Types Of SCORM Authoring Tools
Here are the different types of SCORM authoring tools.
1. Desktop-based
These tools are installed directly on a user’s computer and often provide a comprehensive suite of features for creating sophisticated eLearning content. They are typically robust and powerful, offering advanced functionalities for creating interactive and multimedia-rich courses.
Examples:
- Articulate Storyline: Known for its rich interactivity options and ease of use.
- Adobe Captivate: Offers extensive features for creating complex, responsive courses.
2. Cloud-based
These tools are accessed through a web browser, allowing users to create, edit, and manage eLearning content online. Cloud-based tools facilitate collaboration, enabling multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously from different locations. They often offer automatic updates and backups, ensuring the latest features and security enhancements are always available.
Examples:
- Gomo Learning: Supports collaborative content creation and multi-device compatibility.
- Elucidat: Designed for large-scale, collaborative eLearning development with strong analytics.
3. Powerpoint-based
These tools integrate with Microsoft PowerPoint, allowing users to leverage the familiar interface of PowerPoint to create SCORM-compliant eLearning content. They are ideal for organizations that want to convert existing PowerPoint presentations into interactive eLearning courses without extensive retraining.
Example:
- iSpring Suite: Extends PowerPoint with eLearning capabilities, including quizzes and simulations.
4. Open-source
Open source SCORM authoring tools are freely available and can be customized to meet specific organizational needs. These tools are often supported by a community of developers and can be modified to add new features or integrate with other systems, making them suitable for organizations with the technical expertise to tailor the software.
Example:
- Adapt Learning: An open-source framework that allows for highly customizable eLearning content.
5. Rapid authoring tools
These tools are designed for quick and easy creation of eLearning content with minimal technical skills required. They typically offer a range of templates, pre-built interactions, and drag-and-drop interfaces to speed up the development process. Rapid authoring tools are ideal for organizations that need to produce a large volume of courses quickly.
Example:
- Easygenerator: Provides an intuitive interface for creating eLearning content rapidly.
20 Best SCORM Authoring Tools for eLearning in 2024
1. Whatfix
Whatfix is the world’s first SCORM-compliant in-app guidance tool that allows you to easily create interactive courses and upload to your LMS in just a few clicks.
Instead of giving employees how-to or help articles, you can design in-app guidance that walks users through each step of application use cases – such as common troubleshooting problems, advanced features, and more. Whatfix’s intuitive SCORM-compliant platform works hand-in-hand with your LMS and guides users in real-time until successful completion of assigned tasks.
You can design SCORM-compliant learning material with Whatfix by creating interactive walkthroughs that display as a step-by-step overlay for web applications.
Once you have a piece of training content you’re happy with, you can repurpose it into a variety of multimodal learning formats such as a video, a PDF, or a slideshow to use for training across your enterprise. Whatfix LMS integrations will maximize your productivity and help you limit complexity as you introduce new L&D programs and training materials.
Pricing: Upon request
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2. Adobe Captive
Adobe Captivate’s SCORM authoring tool comes as a standalone, slide-based content maker with a quiz builder, video creator, and a content library. It enables you to create mobile-ready courses in minutes with ‘Quick Start Projects’, ready-to-go slides, and out-of-the-box interaction features. Adobe Captive is a feature-richol that enables you to:
- Convert existing PowerPoint content to interactive videos
- Create mobile-ready courses
- Create a screencast by simultaneously recording webcam and on-screen content
- Create multi-module branched courses with zero programming
- Create virtual reality walkthroughs
Captivate is one of the most feature-rich tools, which is why it comes with a steep learning curve – meaning it may not be the best option for those looking to create simple employee training content.
Pricing: $400 per user, annually
3. Articulate Storyline 360
A well-known name in the world of authoring, Articulate Storyline is a clean and modern SCORM authoring tool with plenty of powerful features. It’s an intuitive, familiar tool that integrates seamlessly with ‘Content Library 360’ for you to start designing courses quickly – with templatized,high-quality assets. Storyline 360 is simple enough for beginners, yet powerful enough for experienced L&D professionals.
The tool has a responsive design system that dynamically adapts your eLearning content to tablet and smartphone screens, providing an optimal viewing experience for your learners – regardless of their device. Unlike Adobe Captivate, you do not have to adjust your course for various device breakpoints. Some other features of Articulate Storyline are:
- Touchscreen gestures.
- Easy collaboration with team members.
- Personalize interactions.
- Software simulations and screencasts.
- Import video of any type or format.
Pricing: Storyline 3 upgrade = $699, New Storyline 3 license = $1,398
4. Articulate Rise 360
Made from the same eLearning software company as Storyline, Articulate Rise 360 is another top-of-the-line authoring tool from Articulate. If you’re new to content creation, Articulate Rise 360 is a great place for you to start.
The tool focuses on mobile-responsive content, making it a smart choice for those who want courses compatible with every device. Similar to Storyline, the tool has a clean, modern interface that delivers visually-pleasing results.
It’s cloud-based, so collaboration and review happens in a single dashboard that can be accessed anywhere, via a web browser . The ability to clone courses means you can speed up the localization and translation process for your training content creation process.
Price: $1,299 per user, annually
5. Elucidat
Elucidat is a cloud-based authoring tool that makes it simple for large organizations to quickly produce effective online learning content.
The tool provides ready-made templates to produce mobile-friendly eLearning. Team-level permissions, brand control, reusable assets, and localization tools make it easy to manage digital learning at scale. Some of the highlighting features of Elucidat include:
- Multi-language and localized versions for courses.
- Updates across multiple courses in just a few clicks.
- Multi-device slider to check how your content will look on different screen sizes.
- Easily project duplication and sharing with the team to maximize reuse and production efficiencies.
- Personalized pathways for learners.
Pricing: Upon request
6. iSpring Suite
iSpring Suite is a robust PowerPoint-based toolkit for creating eLearning content. The tool is great for beginners and you can start using it with no prior experience in eLearning authoring. Simply select PowerPoint presentation, add interactive content using the dedicated tools included within the iSpring platform, and publish a mobile-ready SCORM module that can be uploaded straight to your LMS. Also, iSpring courses automatically adapt to any screen size and ratio.
Pricing: $770 per user, annually
7. Composcia
Composcia is another SCORM authoring tool with a strong focus on simple collaboration, enabling you to seamlessly work with colleagues. You can add different users, assign tasks, and always have the most up-to-date version of your content.
Composica puts you in full control of your course’s design and behavior. Any object can be styled, modified, and positioned according to your content or brand guidelines. It also has competitive pricing, so it’s a relatively affordable option for small or medium-sized businesses.
Pricing: $99/ month
8. Camtasia
Camtasia is a SCORM authoring tool specialized in creating high-quality interactive learning video sessions. It empowers you to record screencast and webcam, add visual instructions or quiz questions to the recorded video, and upload it on any online video-sharing platform where users can access it. It may not be as powerful as the other tools, but this SCORM content creator is easy-to-use and does not require any formal video training.
Creating training videos is an effective employee training method, both in terms of cost and engagement and beginner-friendly video training software makes it easier for L&D teams to produce impactful training videos for their employees.
Price: $249.99 for a lifetime license
9. dominKnow One
dominKnow One is a powerful cloud-based SCORM authoring tool that works well at making mobile responsive content. It is very convenient for teams as they can easily share, reuse, and collaborate on the content faster, by managing assets centrally. Here are some important features of the tool:
- Translates and localizes content
- Provides a central library loaded with assets
- Provides built-in software simulation
- Allows you to publish in multiple formats
- Enables real-time collaboration
Pricing: SOLO = $997 per user, annually; TEAM = $1,497 per user, annually
10. Knowbly
Knowbly SCORM authoring tool comes with a standard set of tools to help you build eLearning courses with text, media, interactions, and quizzes. It is a simple yet powerful authoring tool with all the features an eLearning beginner needs – such as drag and drop content creation, quick customizability, mobile-responsiveness, and more. Knowbly is cloud-based with built-in review and real-time collaboration. A centralized source makes localization, translations and updates easier.
Pricing: $695 per user, annually
11. Lectora Online
Both a cloud and a Windows-based, on-premise solution, Lectora is an eLearning authoring tool that works well for creating SCORM content. Lectora’s mobile design approach gives you control of how your content displays across all devices. Content automatically adapts to the viewing device but you can make adjustments as needed. Here are a few core features of Lectora:
- Intricate branching navigation, click-to-reveal interactions, knowledge checks, quizzes and assessments, and feedback popups.
- Animation, timeline, and event-based triggers to synchronize audio, video, and user actions in a sequence of timed events.
- Course starter templates in fresh designs.
- Built-in asset library.
- Personalize courses with video using user-friendly screen recording and editing tool.
- Use built-in variables and conditions to create custom learning paths that adapt based on click behavior.
Price: $899 per user, annually
12. Evolve
Evolve is an intuitive SCORM authoring tool for quickly building powerful eLearning content. It has a rich set of features that gives you total control of every aspect of course creation and presentation. With Evolve, authors can make changes at scale with just a few clicks and have the option whether to release the courses online or offline. One of the biggest benefits of Evolve is that it creates HTML5 eLearning content that works on any platform or device from desktops, tablets and smartphones.
As you build your courses with Evolve, you can see the changes you make in the Live Preview. Content updates as you change it, there is no need to wait or refresh your page.
Pricing: $400 per user, annually
13. Adapt Learning
Adapt Learning is a free and easy to use e-learning SCORM authoring tool that creates fully responsive, multi-device, HTML5 e-learning content using the Adapt developer framework. You can easily create an account, log in, create courses, add interactive elements then preview and publish your content.
Pricing: Free (open source)
14. Gomo
Gomo is another cloud-based authoring platform with content management capabilities. It’s a good solution if you are aiming at mobile learning before anything else. The cloud-based eLearning software encourages collaborative working, while allowing content to be quickly updated and instantly distributed. Gomo uses HTML5 and the latest web technologies to create courses tailored to your brand and work effortlessly on any device. The leading multi-language and localized content options make it perfectly suited for global networks of learners. Editing and redesigning built-in templates can be a bit tricky, but it’s a good fit for bite-size learning.
Pricing: Upon request
15. Easygenerator
Easygenerator SCORM authoring tool that enables anyone, from e-learning professionals to subject-matter experts, to create and share interactive content, track results and collaborate with multiple authors in real-time. The tool’s “drag and drop” editor makes creating interactive content easy and does not require any technical expertise.
You can integrate Easygenerator with your intranet or other systems. And also combine the tool with your LMS, LRS, LXP, or EPSS, whatever supports your knowledge management best.
Pricing: $1188 per user, annually
16. Talent LMS
TalentLMS is a comprehensive learning management system that combines powerful SCORM authoring capabilities with a user-friendly interface, making it an ideal solution for organizations looking to create, deliver, and manage eLearning content. It supports a wide range of training needs, from onboarding and compliance training to professional development and certification programs.
Features include:
Easily create interactive SCORM-compliant courses without needing external software.
Design tailored learning experiences for different user groups.
Access and complete courses from any device, ensuring flexibility for learners.
Track learner progress, course completion rates, and performance metrics in real-time.
17. Coassemble
Coassemble is an intuitive online training platform that integrates SCORM authoring tools to enable the creation of engaging and interactive eLearning content. Its collaborative features and user-friendly design make it a perfect choice for organizations looking to simplify their training processes.
Features include:
- Quickly build courses with an easy-to-use, visually appealing interface.
- Allow multiple team members to contribute to course creation and review.
- Incorporate quizzes, assessments, and multimedia to enhance learner engagement.
- Monitor learner progress and course effectiveness with detailed analytics.
18. ScormHero
ScormHero is a dedicated SCORM conversion tool that transforms various types of training content into SCORM-compliant courses, ensuring compatibility with any LMS. It is ideal for organizations looking to standardize their eLearning content across different platforms.
Features include:
- Convert videos, PDFs, and other training materials into SCORM packages with minimal effort.
- Ensure your content works seamlessly with any SCORM-compliant LMS.
- Add your organization’s branding elements to maintain a consistent look and feel.
- Manage and track all your converted content from a single interface.
19. Scormify
Scormify is a powerful tool designed to simplify the process of converting existing training materials into SCORM-compliant formats. It is particularly useful for organizations that need to integrate various types of content into their LMS without extensive rework.
Features include:
Quickly turn videos, documents, and presentations into SCORM courses.
Handle a wide range of content types and ensure compatibility with SCORM standards.
Integrate with any SCORM-compliant LMS for smooth deployment.
Gain insights into learner interactions and course performance through comprehensive analytics.
20. SmartBuilder
SmartBuilder is a robust eLearning authoring tool known for its powerful capabilities in creating highly interactive and engaging SCORM-compliant courses. It is designed for instructional designers and developers who need advanced features to produce professional-grade eLearning content.
Features include:
- Build complex interactions and simulations to create immersive learning experiences.
- Use pre-built templates to speed up the course creation process.
- Ensure your courses look and function well on any device, from desktops to mobile phones.
- Track detailed learner activity and performance to measure course effectiveness.
Key Features of SCORM Authoring Tools
Let’s discuss some of the key features of SCORM authoring tools
1. User friendly interface
A user-friendly interface ensures that the software is easy to navigate and use, even for individuals who may not have extensive technical skills. This feature is crucial because it reduces the learning curve for new users, allowing them to quickly become proficient in creating eLearning content.
2. Interactive and engagement
Interactivity and engagement features include options like quizzes, simulations, branching scenarios, drag-and-drop activities, and clickable hotspots. These elements make the learning experience more dynamic and engaging, helping to keep learners interested and improving knowledge retention.
3. Multimedia integration
Multimedia integration enhances the learning experience by making content more visually appealing and easier to understand. Videos can demonstrate complex concepts; audio can provide additional explanations, and images and animations can illustrate points more effectively than text alone.
4. Responsive design
Responsive design is critical in today’s mobile-centric world, where learners may access courses on different devices with varying screen sizes. A responsive design feature automatically adjusts the layout and elements of the content to provide an optimal viewing experience on any device.
5. Assessment and quizzing
Assessment and quizzing features allow instructors to measure learning outcomes and provide feedback to learners. These tools can include multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, short answer questions, and more.
6. Analytics and reporting
Analytics and reporting tools offer valuable data on how learners interact with the content, their progress, quiz scores, and completion rates. These insights help educators and training managers identify trends, measure the effectiveness of the eLearning content, and make data-driven decisions to improve the course. Detailed reports can also help identify learners who may need additional support and assess the overall impact of the training program.
How to Choose the Right SCORM Authoring Tool For Your Organization
Here are a few factors to consider while choosing the ideal SCORM authoring tool for your organization.
1. Assessing your needs
Start by identifying the specific requirements and objectives of your eLearning program. Consider the complexity of the content you need to create, the types of interactivity and multimedia you want to include, and any particular features that are essential for your organization, such as support for multiple languages or accessibility compliance.
Additionally, consider your content developers’ skills and experience and the level of support they might need from the authoring tool. Understanding these needs will help you narrow down your options to tools that best fit your organization’s goals and capabilities.
2. Budget considerations
Evaluate the total cost of ownership for each SCORM authoring tool, including the initial purchase price, subscription fees, and any additional costs for updates, support, and training. Consider your current budget and long-term financial plans to ensure the tool is affordable and offers good value.
In most cases, more expensive tools come with advanced features and better support, which might be necessary for your organization. Balance your need for functionality with your financial constraints to make a well-informed decision.
3. Ease of use and training
The ease of use of the authoring tool is critical, especially if your team has limited technical expertise. A user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation can significantly reduce the learning curve, allowing your team to start creating content quickly. Look for tools that offer comprehensive training resources, such as tutorials, webinars, and documentation, to help your team get up to speed.
Additionally, consider the availability of customer support to assist with any issues or questions that arise during the use of the tool. The easier the tool is to use and the better the training and support, the more efficiently your team can produce high-quality eLearning content.
4. Scalability and future proofing
Choose an authoring tool that can grow with your organization’s needs and adapt to future requirements. Consider whether the tool can handle an increasing volume of content, support additional users, and integrate with other systems as your eLearning program expands. Also, look for tools that stay updated with the latest eLearning standards and technologies to ensure your content remains relevant and effective over time.
Scalability and future-proofing are essential for maintaining the longevity and adaptability of your eLearning program, preventing the need for frequent tool changes, and ensuring a consistent learning experience.
Create in-app self-guided learning experiences with Whatfix
Creating in-app self-guided learning experiences with the Whatfix digital adoption platform revolutionizes the way organizations train and support their users. By providing real-time, contextual guidance directly within applications, Whatfix ensures users learn as they work, enhancing their understanding and proficiency without disrupting their workflow.
This approach accelerates user onboarding, reduces the need for extensive training sessions, and empowers users to resolve their queries and challenges independently. With Whatfix, organizations can deliver personalized, engaging, and effective learning experiences that drive user adoption, improve productivity, and ultimately contribute to the overall success of their digital transformation initiatives.
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