If you’re planning to create and sell online courses in 2025, the first step is choosing the right course authoring software. The right tool doesn’t just help you upload lessons, it shapes the entire learning experience for your students and can determine how smoothly your business runs.
Whether you’re an educator, trainer, or entrepreneur building digital products, this guide breaks down the 11 best course authoring tools in 2025, including their standout features, pricing, and what types of creators they’re best for.
What Is Course Authoring Software?
Course authoring software refers to platforms that help you create, design, and publish online courses. Think of it as your digital workshop,where you can record lessons, upload materials, build quizzes, and track learner progress.
Some platforms focus purely on course creation, while others combine authoring, hosting, and sales tools into one system.
When choosing one, the best option depends on your goals:
- Do you want to sell courses publicly or train employees privately?
- Do you need SCORM/xAPI support for LMS compatibility?
- Do you want advanced design flexibility or a simple drag-and-drop setup?
With that in mind, here are the best course authoring software tools in 2025.
1. SchoolMaker: Best for Coaches and Course Creators Who Want More Sales
Pricing: Starts at $29/month, no transaction fees
Best for: Coaches, consultants, and creators selling video-based programs
Overview:
SchoolMaker continues to rise as a favorite among creators in 2025. It combines course creation, coaching, and community features in one clean dashboard. You can record or upload lessons, host discussions, and manage clients,all without juggling multiple tools.
Key Features:
- Create interactive video lessons and track student progress
- Integrated coaching and accountability tools
- Built-in community and direct messaging
- No transaction fees on sales
- Marketing tools: upsells, automated emails, and analytics
Why it’s great:
Unlike traditional LMS tools that feel corporate or clunky, SchoolMaker was built for solo creators and small teams. The interface is intuitive, and everything,from onboarding to checkout,feels seamless.
Downside:
Limited design customization compared to enterprise-grade LMS tools, but perfect for creators who want a done-for-you setup.
2. Articulate 360: Best for Corporate Training and Instructional Designers
Pricing: Starts around $1,099/year per user
Best for: eLearning developers and large training teams
Overview:
Articulate 360 is an industry leader for professional course developers. It’s a complete suite that includes tools like Storyline 360 (for interactive courses) and Rise 360 (for responsive web-based courses).
Key Features:
- Highly interactive, scenario-based learning
- SCORM, AICC, and xAPI support
- Library of templates, stock assets, and characters
- Collaboration tools for team development
- Accessible and mobile-friendly outputs
Why it’s great:
Articulate’s ecosystem gives you full creative control. If you’re developing compliance training, corporate simulations, or interactive lessons, this is one of the most advanced solutions out there.
Downside:
It’s powerful,but pricey. There’s a learning curve, especially for beginners who don’t have prior instructional design experience.
3. iSpring Suite Max: Best PowerPoint-Based Authoring Tool
Pricing: Starts at $770/year
Best for: Trainers and educators who love PowerPoint
Overview:
iSpring Suite Max turns PowerPoint into a full-featured eLearning authoring tool. You can convert slides into interactive courses with quizzes, voiceovers, and video narrations in just a few clicks.
Key Features:
- Works directly inside PowerPoint
- Built-in quiz maker and role-play simulations
- Video studio for recording and editing lessons
- SCORM/xAPI compatible for LMS upload
- Cloud-based collaboration (iSpring Space)
Why it’s great:
It’s perfect for educators transitioning from live teaching to eLearning. If you’re already comfortable with PowerPoint, iSpring’s learning curve is almost zero.
Downside:
Design flexibility is limited compared to Rise or LearnWorlds, and it’s more suited for corporate-style courses than creative ones.
4. Thinkific: Best All-in-One Course Platform for Entrepreneurs
Pricing: Starts at $49/month
Best for: Entrepreneurs selling online courses and memberships
Overview:
Thinkific makes it simple to create and sell courses under your own brand. It includes tools for course building, payment processing, and student engagement,all hosted on your own domain.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop course builder
- Integrated checkout and payment system
- Communities, certificates, and live lessons
- Marketing tools like coupons, bundles, and upsells
- Integrations with Zapier, ActiveCampaign, and more
Why it’s great:
It’s one of the most user-friendly platforms on the market. You can launch a professional-looking school in a day,no coding or tech skills required.
Downside:
Fewer design customization options than other tools, and advanced automations require third-party tools.
5. LearnWorlds: Best for Interactive Video and Engagement
Pricing: Starts at $29/month
Best for: Instructors who want to create engaging, media-rich courses
Overview:
LearnWorlds stands out for its focus on interactive learning. You can add quizzes, buttons, and pop-ups directly inside your videos, making lessons more immersive.
Key Features:
- Interactive video editor
- Beautiful templates and course player designs
- Built-in analytics and learner tracking
- Certificates, communities, and white-label branding
- Integrations with Zoom, Stripe, and Mailchimp
Why it’s great:
It’s a favorite among creators who care about design and learner experience. If you want students to stay engaged longer, LearnWorlds delivers.
Downside:
Its customization flexibility comes with a slightly steeper learning curve compared to other platforms.
6. Teachable: Best for Solo Creators and First-Time Course Sellers
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $39/month
Best for: Solopreneurs and content creators launching their first course
Overview:
Teachable has been around for years, and it’s still one of the most beginner-friendly options for building and selling online courses quickly.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop course builder
- Integrated checkout with global payment support
- Affiliate program management
- Custom domain and branding options
- Built-in tax and compliance handling
Why it’s great:
It is reliable, simple, and gets the job done. You can build your first course and start selling in hours.
Downside:
Teachable charges transaction fees on lower plans, and customization options are somewhat limited.
7. Kajabi: Best for Established Creators Who Want Everything in One Platform
Pricing: Starts at $89/month
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want to manage courses, websites, and marketing from one place
Overview:
Kajabi isn’t just a course builder, it’s an entire business platform. It combines website hosting, email marketing, funnel automation, and course creation into one ecosystem.
Key Features:
- Course, membership, and coaching products
- Built-in CRM and email marketing tools
- Website builder and funnel templates
- Podcast and blog hosting
- Advanced automations and analytics
Why it’s great:
Kajabi gives you everything you need to run a digital education business, no need for extra plugins or integrations.
Downside:
The price is high, and beginners may find it overkill if they just need a simple course creator.
8. Tovuti LMS: Best for Employee Training and Corporate Learning
Pricing: Custom quotes (typically starts around $775/month)
Best for: Companies creating employee onboarding or compliance courses
Overview:
Tovuti LMS is a professional-grade system for organizations that need secure, trackable learning environments. It’s packed with enterprise features like analytics dashboards, role-based access, and gamification.
Key Features:
- SCORM/xAPI compliance
- Built-in course authoring and video hosting
- Gamified learning paths and certificates
- Custom branding and SSO integrations
- Reporting and progress tracking
Why it’s great:
It’s built for scale. If you’re managing hundreds of learners across departments, Tovuti makes it easy to deliver consistent training.
Downside:
Too advanced and expensive for small creators or individual coaches.
9. Adobe Captivate: Best for Advanced eLearning Development
Pricing: Subscription from $33.99/month
Best for: Experienced instructional designers and eLearning developers
Overview:
Adobe Captivate is one of the most powerful tools for creating immersive, interactive learning experiences. You can design branching scenarios, software simulations, and VR-based training.
Key Features:
- Responsive course design
- VR and 360° learning modules
- Software simulations and screen recordings
- Advanced quizzing and branching logic
- SCORM, AICC, and xAPI support
Why it’s great:
It’s ideal for organizations creating high-level interactive training materials or compliance courses.
Downside:
Steep learning curve, and the interface feels less modern compared to other platforms.
10. Elucidat: Best for Large Organizations Creating Scalable eLearning
Pricing: Custom (usually enterprise-level)
Best for: Large teams building multiple branded eLearning projects
Overview:
Elucidat is a cloud-based authoring tool built for big organizations that need to produce training content at scale. It focuses on efficiency, collaboration, and consistent branding.
Key Features:
- Cloud collaboration for large teams
- Custom templates for brand consistency
- Advanced learner analytics
- Multi-language support
- SCORM/xAPI compatible
Why it’s great:
If your company produces dozens of training courses per year, Elucidat helps streamline the process and ensures everything stays on brand.
Downside:
It is an enterprise solution, pricing is custom and likely too high for small creators.
11. DominKnow | ONE: Best for Collaborative Authoring and Compliance Training
Pricing: Around $997/year per author
Best for: Instructional design teams and compliance-driven industries
Overview:
DominKnow | ONE is a robust authoring and publishing system that supports team collaboration. It is used widely in corporate training, healthcare, and government organizations.
Key Features:
- Collaborative cloud-based editing
- Responsive design templates
- SCORM, AICC, and xAPI export
- Software simulation and assessment tools
- Version control for teams
Why it’s great:
It is perfect for multi-author environments where version tracking and collaboration are critical.
Downside:
Not ideal for individual creators or small businesses due to complexity and cost.
How to Choose the Right Course Authoring Tool
Choosing the best course authoring software depends on your specific goals. Here’s a quick guide to help:
Final Thoughts: Which Course Authoring Software Is Best in 2025?
There’s no single “best” tool,it depends on what you’re trying to build.
If you’re a solo creator, SchoolMaker will help you launch fast with minimal effort. If you’re a corporate trainer or part of a large organization, Articulate 360, Elucidat, or Tovuti LMS offer the structure and compliance support you need.
And if you want an all-in-one business system with marketing, automation, and analytics, Kajabi remains one of the most powerful platforms available.
(can change CTA here to "start free trial")
