Best Course Authoring Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ProProfs Training Maker is ranked #1 of 27 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Adapt Learning and eXeLearning. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Adapt Learning. The lowest first paid tier on this page is aNewSpring at €1.55/mo.
Building digital courses means balancing what learners can do with what your team can produce and maintain. Compare assessment builders, interactive content, responsive output, and SCORM export, then consider author seats, content libraries, and team collaboration. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add practical cost points. ProProfs Training Maker, eXeLearning, and Mindsmith are among the tools to weigh against the courses and workflows you have in mind. Look at which listed capabilities matter most for creating lessons, checking learner progress, and sharing materials across your organization.
27 course authoring software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
27ranked
7free plans on this page
€1.55/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Course Authoring Software 25 channels on this page · 140 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromInteractive contentAssessment builderSCORM exportResponsive outputAuthor seatsTeam collaboration Spec sheet Score
01 ProProfs Training Maker Free planYesPaid from$1.99/moInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportnot statedResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 6/8spec lines stated 8.1
02 Adapt Learning Free planYesPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.6
03 eXeLearning Free planYesPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
04 Mindsmith Free planYesPaid from$39/moInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.4
05 BranchTrack Free planYesPaid from$83/moInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.3
06 Easygenerator Free planYesPaid from$116/moInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seats1 authorsTeam collaborationYes 8/8spec lines stated 7.3
07 H5P Free planYesPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportnot statedResponsive outputYesAuthor seats3 authorsTeam collaborationYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
08 Pathwright Free planNoPaid from$89/moInteractive contentnot statedAssessment buildernot statedSCORM exportnot statedResponsive outputnot statedAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.2
09 Lectora Free planNoPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.0
10 Articulate Rise 360 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seats1 authorsTeam collaborationYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.8
11 dominKnow ONE Free planNoPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.8
12 ScormStack Free planNoPaid from$5/moInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seats1 authorsTeam collaborationYes 8/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 Lumi Education Free planYesPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.4
14 CenarioVR Free planNoPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputnot statedAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.2
15 EdBuild AI Free planNoPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputnot statedAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.2
16 Open eLearning Free planYesPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.2
17 ActivePresenter Free planYesPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.0
18 Cforj Course Forge Studio Free planYesPaid from$30/moInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 7/8spec lines stated 5.9
19 Chameleon Creator Free planNoPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seats2 authorsTeam collaborationYes 7/8spec lines stated 5.9
20 CourseArc Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
21 Xerte Free planYesPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
22 aNewSpring Free planNoPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentnot statedAssessment buildernot statedSCORM exportnot statedResponsive outputnot statedAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.8
23 Evolve Authoring Free planNoPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.8
24 Gomo Learning Free planNoPaid fromnot statedInteractive contentYesAssessment builderYesSCORM exportYesResponsive outputYesAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.8
25 Pathwright Free planNoPaid from$89/moInteractive contentnot statedAssessment buildernot statedSCORM exportnot statedResponsive outputnot statedAuthor seatsnot statedTeam collaborationnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.8
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Interactive content | Assessment builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ProProfs Training Maker | 8.1 | Free plan | $1.99/mo | Yes | 1.99 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Adapt Learning | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | eXeLearning | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Mindsmith | 7.4 | Free plan | $39/mo | Yes | 39 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | BranchTrack | 7.3 | Free plan | $6.92/mo | Yes | 83 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Easygenerator | 7.3 | Free plan | $116/mo | Yes | 116 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | H5P | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Pathwright | 7.2 | No | $99/mo | No | 89 /mo | — | — |
| 9 | Lectora | 7.0 | No | $129.08/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | Articulate Rise 360 | 6.8 | No | $120.75/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | dominKnow ONE | 6.8 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | ScormStack | 6.7 | No | $2.50/mo | No | 5 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Lumi Education | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | CenarioVR | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | EdBuild AI | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | Open eLearning | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | ActivePresenter | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 18 | Cforj Course Forge Studio | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | 30 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | Chameleon Creator | 5.9 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | CourseArc | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | Xerte | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 22 | aNewSpring | 5.8 | No | €1.55/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 23 | Evolve Authoring | 5.8 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 24 | Gomo Learning | 5.8 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 25 | Pathwright | 5.8 | No | $99/mo | No | 89 /mo | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which course authoring software is ranked first on Specifiction?
ProProfs Training Maker is ranked #1 of 27 with a score of 8.1. Adapt Learning is second and eXeLearning third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, aNewSpring has the lowest first paid tier we found: €1.55/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.