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Adapt Learning

adaptlearning.org

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Spec score 9.0 #1 of 28 in E-Learning Software

What it is

Adapt Learning is a free e-learning authoring tool and framework for making responsive HTML5 learning content. Course creators can use its no-code authoring tool to build courses, add interactive elements, preview content, and publish without programming. Developers can use the Adapt Framework as an extensible toolkit, with courses delivered from a web server or through a SCORM-compliant learning management system. Framework features include LMS user data, completion tracking, assessments, question banks, randomized questions, and configurable feedback. It supports multiple languages, localization, and right-to-left layouts, and states that it meets WAI AA accessibility standards. The framework includes 22 bundled plugins; additional community plugins include SCORM tracking and xAPI extensions. Installation options include Adapt-CLI, a ZIP download from GitHub, or cloning the repository with Git. Setup requires Git, Node.js and NPM, Grunt-CLI, and Adapt-CLI. Documentation and a technical community forum are available for support. The project relies on collaborator time donations and does not publish specific release schedules.

Spec sheet

What it does
Adapt creates responsive, multi-device HTML5 e-learning courses through a browser-based authoring tool and developer framework.Read 14 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Purpose
Adapt is an e-learning authoring tool for creating responsive, multi-device HTML5 learning content.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Intended users
Adapt presents the authoring tool for course creators who do not program and the framework for developers who build responsive HTML5 learning.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Support
Support is community-based through Gitter, technical forums and GitHub issues for bugs and feature requests.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Founded
LinkedIn states that the Adapt open-source project was established in 2013.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Accessibility
The project states that its framework meets WAI AA accessibility standards.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Assessments
Assessment features include question banks, randomized questions and configurable feedback.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Community reach
LinkedIn says the project has more than 120,000 visitors from 207 countries and organizations provide commercial services around it.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company type
LinkedIn describes Adapt Learning as a nonprofit software-development organization with 11-50 employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Delivery
Framework courses can be delivered from a web server or through a SCORM-compliant learning management system.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Documentation depth
The project wiki covers installation, course creation, styling, deployment, API, accessibility, security audit, plug-in development and common issues.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Downloads
The framework can be installed with Adapt-CLI, downloaded as a ZIP from GitHub, or obtained by cloning its repository with Git.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Extensibility
Users can extend the framework with plugins, and the plugin browser lists SCORM tracking and xAPI extensions.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Framework
The Adapt Framework is an extensible toolkit for developers to build responsive HTML5 courses.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
HTML technologies
The framework uses HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript ES6-8 and JSX.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Licence
Adapt is released under the GNU General Public License version 3.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: mobile authoring
The G2 reviewer said direct course creation on a mobile device would be a useful addition.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: review workflow
A Reddit discussion reports that common e-learning review tools struggled to capture comments in Adapt courses or upload Adapt SCORM packages without errors.Read 14 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Limits
The project says it relies on collaborator time donations and does not publish specific release schedules because they may be inaccurate.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Localization
Courses support multiple languages and localization, including a language picker and CSV translation workflow.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
No-code authoring
The authoring tool lets users create courses, add interactive elements, preview and publish without programming knowledge.Read 14 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Notable release
The adapt-contrib-xapi repository lists version 1.4.0 as its latest release on January 9, 2026.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plug-ins
The framework lists 23 bundled plug-ins, with additional community plug-ins available.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plugins
The framework page lists 22 bundled plugins and says additional plugins are available through the community.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Praise: learner experience
An eLearning Industry reviewer found the learner experience intuitive, visual and web-like, with scrolling pages and interactive elements.Read 14 Oct 2026 · elearningindustry.com
Praise: multi-device and templates
The sole G2 reviewer praised multi-device support, reusable templates and ease for non-technical course creators.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: multimedia
The eLearning Industry review reports support for video, audio with transcripts and quizzes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · elearningindustry.com
Prerequisites
The framework lists Git, Node.js and NPM, Grunt-CLI, and Adapt-CLI as prerequisites.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Progress controls
Step locking and bookmarking are built in.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Public API
The documented Adapt API exposes core models, collections, events and methods such as getChildren and getParent.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Rating on G2
3.5 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on Trustburn
3.9 out of 5 from 8 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · trustburn.com
Responsive output
A single course version is designed to work across desktop, tablet and smartphone screens.Read 14 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Right-to-left support
Right-to-left language layouts are supported.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
SCORM delivery
Courses can be delivered through SCORM-compliant learning-management systems.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
SDK and extensibility
The command-line interface automates course creation and plug-in installation, while plug-ins are organized as components, extensions, themes and menus.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security documentation
The developer wiki includes a dedicated Web Security Audit section.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Self-hosting
The authoring tool is a server-based Node.js web application using Backbone.js and MongoDB, so organizations can run it themselves.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
System requirement
Node.js version 22 or newer is required for the framework's Grunt tasks.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Themes and animation
Authors can customize themes and use built-in animation effects.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Tracking and assessments
Framework features include LMS user data, completion tracking, assessments, question banks, randomized questions, and configurable feedback.Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Web delivery
Published courses can run from a web server.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
xAPI integration
The adapt-contrib-xapi extension sends Experience API statements to a learning-record store such as Learning Locker and works with both the framework and authoring tool.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Adapt Learning Free Free and open source e-learning authoring tool and framework Read 4 Oct 2026 · adaptlearning.org
Free Free framework, core plug-ins and authoring tool available free · no paid tier stated Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every Adapt Learning plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open-source authoring tool and framework
  • No-code course creation and publishing
  • SCORM delivery and completion tracking
  • Supports localization and right-to-left content
  • States that it meets WAI AA accessibility standards

Limits

  • Framework setup requires Git, Node.js and NPM, Grunt-CLI, and Adapt-CLI
  • Specific release schedules are not published

Who it suits

The no-code tool suits course creators who want to make learning content without programming. The framework is for developers building responsive HTML5 courses.

Adapt Learning in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

Adapt Learning combines a no-code course authoring tool with an extensible framework for responsive HTML5 learning. It suits both course creators who want to publish without programming and developers building learning content. The trade-off is that framework users need to manage a developer-oriented setup and a project without a defined release schedule.

Key features

The authoring tool supports creating courses, adding interactive elements, previewing and publishing without programming. That makes it a practical option for educators and training teams who want to produce responsive learning content themselves; developers who need to customize the underlying toolkit can use the separate framework.

The Adapt Framework supports delivery from a web server or through a SCORM-compliant learning management system. LMS user data, completion tracking, assessments, question banks, randomized questions and configurable feedback make it suited to structured training where progress and knowledge checks matter, not just presenting course material.

Localization includes multiple languages and right-to-left compatibility, which helps teams prepare courses for different language audiences. The framework states that it meets WAI AA accessibility standards. It includes 22 bundled plugins, and community plugins extend the options; the plugin browser includes SCORM tracking and xAPI extensions. This flexibility can serve varied delivery needs, but extending the framework means taking on a more technical workflow.

Framework installation is possible through Adapt-CLI, a ZIP download from GitHub or a Git clone. The prerequisites—Git, Node.js and NPM, Grunt-CLI, and Adapt-CLI—make this a poor fit for teams seeking a turnkey authoring setup. Documentation and a technical community forum offer help with setup and questions. The project relies on donated collaborator time and does not set a specific release schedule, so organizations that require a predictable product cadence should weigh that carefully.

Pricing

Adapt Learning is free and open source: the Adapt Learning plan costs nothing. There is no free trial because the software is offered as a free plan. That makes it accessible to individual course creators and teams that can work within the authoring tool or maintain the framework themselves. The trade-off is not a paid tier with a different feature set, but the technical work involved in framework setup and the community-dependent development pace.

Platforms

Adapt supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web and self-hosted use. The responsive HTML5 focus is relevant to teams delivering learning across devices, while self-hosting and framework installation suit organizations that want control over deployment and can handle the setup requirements.

Who it's for

Choose Adapt if you create courses without programming and want interactive, responsive output at no software cost, or if you are a developer who needs an extensible framework with assessment, tracking and localization features. Look elsewhere if your team cannot support the framework prerequisites or needs a clearly scheduled release cadence.

Pros and cons

Pro: The no-code authoring tool supports building, previewing and publishing courses without programming, giving course creators a direct path to responsive content.

Pro: Framework assessment, completion tracking, localization and right-to-left compatibility support structured learning for multilingual audiences.

Pro: Free, open-source access avoids a software charge for both the authoring tool and framework.

Con: Framework installation requires several developer tools, so it adds setup work for teams that only want to author courses.

Con: The project depends on donated collaborator time and has no specific release schedule, which is a drawback for teams that need a predictable cadence.

Alternatives

ProProfs Training Maker is worth considering if a free plan capped at 10 learners and a free trial better fit your course audience. ActivePresenter is an option for macOS or Windows users who want a free edition, though that edition is for trial and non-commercial use and watermarks outputs using non-free features.

eXeLearning is another free, open-source choice with online or desktop use. Mindsmith may suit teams looking for a free plan with a one-time allotment of 450 AI credits and link, embed and SCORM sharing. Xerte is a free, open-source option if installation on a web server is acceptable; commercial hosting and support are separate.

BranchTrack is another alternative to compare. Easygenerator may fit web-only course creation with a free plan that allows one course after its 14-day trial. H5P is a free, open technology option for teams seeking self-hosted plugins under an MIT license.

For broader comparisons, browse Course Authoring Software or Interactive Lesson Makers.

Verdict

Adapt is a strong choice for course creators who want free, no-code authoring and for developers who need a responsive HTML5 framework with assessment and localization capabilities. Its main reason to choose it is the combination of those two routes in one open-source offering. Look elsewhere if framework setup is beyond your team or if a predictable release schedule is essential.

Verdict

Adapt offers both no-code course authoring and a developer-oriented framework, with assessment and localization features. Users who choose the framework should account for its listed setup prerequisites and the absence of a specific release schedule.

Where Specifiction places it

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