Authoring tools for the creation of e-learning in comparison

New Project 2025 06 26T100759.537

Authoring tools for the creation of e-learning in comparison

The 5 best authoring tools in e-learning

For anyone working in the e-learning industry, it can be difficult to choose the right authoring tool for e-learning or e-learning software for creating your own courses. With so many different types of authoring tools available, the question of which e-learning provider best meets your requirements or desired range of functions arises.

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isEazy
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Flowsparks
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articulate
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iSpring
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Captivate

The team at Mauth.CC has put together a comparison of five of the best authoring tools for developing
e-learning, highlighting the various strengths and weaknesses and identifying specific use cases for which each tool is ideal. Read on to find out which authoring tool is best for you!

isEazy Author
The most interactive authoring tool

1 laptop iseazy tool

isEazy Author
The most interactive authoring tool

isEazy Author is a state-of-the-art authoring tool that enables the creation of impressive and immersive e-learning courses without prior knowledge. It takes corporate e-learning strategy to a new level by combining interactivity and ease of use. With isEazy Author you can shorten time-to-training and effectively involve subject matter experts in content creation.

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Advantages of isEazy Author

  • Comprehensive interaction options: Offers a wide range of interactive elements such as multimedia, games and exercises that increase learner engagement.
  • AI-supported functions: Enables automatic translations, the creation of exercises and tests as well as the unique integration of avatars.
  • Ease of use: Intuitive interface that allows even beginners to create high-quality content.
  • Flexible publishing options: Support for SCORM packages and direct links for easy integration and distribution.
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Disadvantages of isEazy Author

  • Local market presence: Although isEazy Author has been a leader in the Spanish market for over 20 years, it has only been present in Germany, Austria and Switzerland since 2025 through our e-learning agency and is therefore not yet widespread.
  • Conversion of PowerPoint: The current version 1.0 still adopts PowerPoint slides in the classic 1:1 way. An update announced for 2025 should significantly improve this conversion.

Advantages of isEazy Author

Offers a wide range of interactive elements such as multimedia, games and exercises to increase learner engagement.
Enables automatic translations, the creation of exercises and tests as well as the unique integration of avatars.
Intuitive interface that enables even beginners to create high-quality content.
Support for SCORM packages and direct links for easy integration and distribution.

Disadvantages of isEazy Author

Although isEazy Author has been a leader in the Spanish market for over 20 years, it has only been represented in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by our e-learning agency since 2025 and is therefore not yet widely used.
The current version 1.0 still adopts PowerPoint slides in a fairly classic 1:1 way. An update announced for 2025 should significantly improve this conversion.

What makes isEazy Author unique for creating digital courses?

isEazy Author stands out with its seamless AI integration that enables fast and efficient course development. The ability to edit and share content in real time offers organizations a flexible and dynamic solution for their e-learning needs. e-learning needs.

Who can use isEazy Author as a suitable authoring tool?

isEazy Author is ideal for organizations that want to create and manage their e-learning content quickly and effectively. It is particularly suitable for organizations that want to involve subject matter experts in content creation to develop expert-based content within the authoring tool. The extensive interaction possibilities also make it attractive for educational institutions that want to offer immersive and engaging learning experiences.

Flowsparks
The most flexible authoring tool

2 laptop flowsparks tool

Flowsparks
The most flexible authoring tool

Flowsparks is a flexible, multilingual learning platform that provides an authoring tool and includes an optional Learning Management System (LMS). The platform enables the quick and easy production of personalized learning programs and activities. The software has been specially developed to facilitate the creation, editing and provision of e-learning content in the compatible format of SCORM quickly and easily.

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Advantages of flowsparks

  • Dynamic view: Flowsparks is particularly responsive in terms of design and layout. This allows the content created to adapt to different screen sizes and devices.
  • Integrated learning templates: Flowsparks also offers a wide range of included learning and assessment templates (including interactions) to create courses. Using these templates can increase the production of digital learning content and the efficiency of content creation while ensuring consistency in the visual design of the learning material.
  • Detailed analytics: Flowsparks' powerful analytics features allow content developers to analyze engagement, completion rates and other key learning metrics.
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Disadvantages of flow parks

  • Limited customization features: Despite its many advantages, Flowsparks can reach its limits when it comes to customization. If users are looking for an extremely unique layout or feature, such requirements may be beyond the scope of the tool.
  • Pricing model: The pricing model can be a potential obstacle, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups or individual users. The license costs depend on your own ideas and wishes regarding the number of learning templates and authors, but the authoring tool is generally one of the higher-priced solutions in the industry.

Advantages of flowsparks

Flowsparks is particularly responsive in terms of design and layout. This allows the content created to adapt to different screen sizes and devices.

Flowsparks also offers a wide range of included learning and assessment templates (including interactions) to create courses. Using these templates can increase content production and content creation efficiency while ensuring consistency in the visual design of the learning material.

With Flowspark's powerful analytics, content developers can analyze engagement, completion rates and other key learning metrics.

Disadvantages of flow parks

Despite its many advantages, Flowsparks can reach its limits when it comes to customization. If users are looking for an extremely unique layout or function, such requirements may go beyond the scope of the tool.
The pricing model can be a potential obstacle, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups or individual users. The license costs depend on your own ideas and wishes regarding the number of learning templates and authors, but the authoring tool is generally one of the higher-priced solutions in the industry.

What makes Flowsparks unique for creating learning?

  • Adaptive e-learning paths: One of the most important unique selling points of Flowsparks is the function for creating adaptive e-learning paths. This feature enables the creation of personalized learning paths and the creation of e-learning courses based on the knowledge, skills and performance of the individual user.
  • Easy handling of updates: Flowsparks follows the "update once, implement everywhere" approach. As soon as changes are made to the base material, the updates are automatically applied to all instances in which the content is used. This feature saves content creators a lot of time and effort and ensures consistency.

For whom is Flowsparks suitable as a SCORM ready tool?

The ideal application for flowsparks would be in companies and organizations that require rapid development and rollout of learning content across different departments, regions or even internationally. The tool's ability to adapt to different screen sizes, combined with its user-friendly interface and reliable analytics, makes it the ideal solution for large organizations that want to maintain a clear overview of their learning programs.

Adobe Captivate
The eternal challenger

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Adobe Captivate
The eternal challenger

Adobe Captivate is a powerful authoring authoring tool for e-learningthat is widely used in various industries to create interactive and media-rich learning materials.

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Advantages of Adobe Captivate

  • Interactivity and engagement: Captivate offers multiple built-in templates and characters for an immersive learning experience. Users can insert simulations, quizzes and games into their learning modules to ensure interactive training.
  • VR and 360-degree learning experiences: Captivate also supports virtual reality (VR) and 360-degree media to create "living" learning environments.
  • Strong integration: Captivate easily integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, allowing creators to leverage the power of this complete suite when needed.
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Disadvantages of Adobe Captivate

  • Complex user interface: Captivate's interface may not be the most user-friendly for beginners. The extensive functions and advanced features may require a steep learning curve.
  • Software updates: Users often encounter compatibility issues with different versions of Captivate.

Advantages of Adobe Captivate

Captivate offers several built-in templates and characters for an immersive learning experience. Users can add simulations, quizzes and games to their learning modules.
Captivate also supports virtual reality (VR) and 360-degree media to create "living" learning environments.
Captivate easily integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, so creators can bring the power of this complete suite to bear when needed.

Disadvantages of Adobe Captivate

Captivate's interface may not be the most user-friendly for beginners. The extensive functions and advanced features may require a steep learning curve.
Users often encounter compatibility issues with different versions of Captivate.

What makes Adobe Captivate unique when creating content?

  • Complete content creation suite: Adobe Captivate software provides users with a comprehensive, integrated solution for creating e-learning content and eliminates the need for multiple tools.
  • VR and immersive learning: With VR and 360-degree image compatibility, Captivate offers immersive learning experiences that few competitors can match.
  • Automation and AI-controlled functions: Intelligent e-learning design and automated features such as auto-captioning and automated overlay slides are key USPs for Adobe Captivate.

Who is the Captivate software suitable for?

Adobe Captivate is best suited for the production of sophisticated courses and simulations with advanced features. The ideal use case would be companies or educational institutions with regular training requirements that want to create detailed, engaging and customizable e-learning courses. It is also a suitable choice for environments that require complex technical training, for example in the aviation industry for pilot training where VR experiences can simulate real-life flight scenarios.

iSpring Suite
The authoring tool for PowerPoint

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iSpring Suite
The authoring tool for PowerPoint

iSpring is a notable player in the e-learning authoring tools niche. It offers robust solutions tailored to enable educators and trainers to design and deliver high-quality electronic learning materials with interactive elements.
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Advantages of iSpring Suite

  • Seamless integration with PowerPoint: One of iSpring's key strengths is its seamless integration with Microsoft PowerPoint. The tool is essentially an add-in for the Microsoft 365 presentation software, allowing users to turn simple presentations into interactive e-learnings with graphically engaging quizzes, simulations, video lectures and active exercises.
  • Ease of use: The intuitive user interface makes it easy to learn and navigate, even for those without advanced technical skills.
  • Comprehensive reporting: iSpring enables educators to track learner progress and understanding through quizzes and interactive content, and provides objective data on learning outcomes.
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Disadvantages of iSpring Suite

  • Dependence on PowerPoint: Despite its many strengths, iSpring has some potential drawbacks. For example, its dependence on PPT can limit creativity and flexibility. Designers who want to create content outside of the Microsoft environment may find this limiting.
  • User interface: Although iSpring offers a relatively uncomplicated user interface, some users claim that certain functions cannot be found intuitively and must first be found in the complex documentation.

Advantages of iSpring Suite

One of iSpring's key strengths is its seamless integration with Microsoft PowerPoint. The tool is essentially an add-in for the Microsoft 365 presentation software, allowing users to turn simple presentations into interactive e-learnings with graphically engaging quizzes, simulations, video lectures and active exercises.

The intuitive user interface makes it easy to learn and navigate, even for those without advanced technical skills.

iSpring enables educators to track learner progress and understanding through quizzes and interactive content and provides objective data on learning outcomes.

Disadvantages of iSpring Suite

Despite its many strengths, iSpring has some potential drawbacks. For example, its dependence on PPT can limit creativity and flexibility. Designers who want to create content outside of the Microsoft environment may find this limiting.
Although iSpring offers a relatively uncomplicated user interface, some users claim that certain functions cannot be found intuitively and must first be found in the complex documentation.

What makes iSpring Suite a good authoring tool?

Familiarity and flexibility of PowerPoint: iSpring differentiates itself in the e-learning market through several unique selling points. Firstly, it utilizes the familiarity and flexibility of PPT so that authors can digital learning content with a tool they know and trust, reducing barriers to entry. The iSpring Suite Max package offers 24/7 technical support, a rarity in the software industry, which is an added value for large organizations with round-the-clock operations, especially when choosing an e-learning authoring tool.

Who is content creation with iSpring suitable for?

An ideal use case for iSpring is in corporate training and development, especially for companies that already use PowerPoint extensively. The ease of use and lower learning curve can enable even less tech-savvy HR staff to turn the slides into professional immersive online training modules.

Articulate Storyline 360
The top dog of authoring tools

5 laptop captivate tool

Articulate Storyline 360
The top dog of authoring tools

Articulate Storyline (as the more complex authoring tool option as opposed to Articulate Rise) is a feature-rich, user-friendly e-learning authoring tool that enables the production of interactive, slide-based presentations and courses.

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Advantages of Articulate Storyline

  • Interactive learning experiences: Storyline 360 allows designers to create highly interactive and engaging courses. This capability is made possible by the tool's extensive feature set, which includes slide layers, triggers and states.
  • Wide range of templates: The program offers numerous ready-made, customizable templates, characters and digital assets that significantly speed up course creation.
  • Software simulation feature: Its robust simulation capabilities are a key USP that not many authoring tools offer. This facilitates the creation of highly interactive learning experiences without extensive programming knowledge.
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Disadvantages of Articulate Storyline

  • Limited video editing functions: Although the tool supports video embedding, the video editing features are limited, which has some pros and cons. Users may need to use external programs for detailed video editing.
  • Limited animations: It offers fewer animations compared to competing tools, which can limit the level of interaction and engagement.
  • Software performance: Some users have reported high resource consumption of the software on the PC, which can lead to reduced productivity.

Advantages of Articulate Storyline

Storyline 360 allows designers to create highly interactive and engaging courses. This capability is made possible by the tool's extensive feature set, which includes slide layers, triggers and states.
The program offers numerous ready-made, customizable templates, characters and digital assets that significantly speed up course creation.
Its robust simulation features are an important USP that not many authoring tools offer. This facilitates the creation of highly interactive learning experiences without extensive programming knowledge.

Disadvantages of Articulate Storyline

Although the tool supports the integration of videos, the video editing functions are limited, which brings with it some advantages and disadvantages. Users may need to use external programs for detailed video editing.
It offers fewer animations compared to competing tools, which can limit the level of interaction and engagement.
Some users have reported high resource consumption of the software on the PC, which can lead to reduced productivity.

What makes Articulate 360 unique compared to other authoring tools?

  • Intuitive user interface: One of the main advantages of Storyline 360 is its user-friendly interface. It is very similar to PowerPoint, which minimizes the learning curve for new users.
  • Software simulation: Its robust simulation functions are an important USP. This facilitates the creation of highly interactive learning experiences without extensive programming knowledge.

For whom does Articulate Storyline 360 offer the most?

Storyline 360 is primarily designed for the creation of slide-based courses and learning modules. Given its powerful, easy-to-use toolset, the ideal use case would be for training designers, HR departments, trainers and educators, especially in large organizations that require comprehensive training modules. The tool would also be suitable for use in educational institutions looking to produce clear, engaging and interactive course content for distance learning. Similarly, Storyline's robust software simulation capabilities would make it ideal for technical or software-related training where step-by-step instructions can be taught effectively.