Best Course Authoring Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Mindsmith is ranked #1 of 25 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Adapt Learning and dominKnow ONE. 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.
Creating a course with authoring software can mean assembling lessons, assessments, and interactive content, then preparing material to share with learners. Compare author seats and team collaboration alongside assessment builders, content libraries, and interactive content. Responsive output and SCORM export are additional factors to weigh, with free-plan availability and paid-from pricing providing cost context. BranchTrack, Mindsmith, and ProProfs Training Maker are among the named options; Pathwright and dominKnow ONE are also included. Think about the kinds of learning materials you need to produce and how your team works together, then compare the listed creation, output, and collaboration capabilities that fit those requirements.
25 course authoring software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Mindsmith iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.0$39/mo Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 2 Adapt Learning iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.8Free Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 3 dominKnow ONE iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.7 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 4 ProProfs Training Maker iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.5$1.99/mo Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: Yes
- 5 BranchTrack iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.3$6.92/mo Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 6 Easygenerator No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6$116/mo Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 7 Lectora No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3$129.08/mo Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 8 Articulate Rise 360 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2$120.75/mo Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 9 Gomo Learning No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 10 ActivePresenter No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 11 CourseArc No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 12 Evolve Authoring No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 13 eXeLearning No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5Free Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 14 H5P No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5Free Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: Yes
- 15 Xerte No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 16 ScormStack No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3$2.50/mo Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 17 CenarioVR iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 18 Cforj Course Forge Studio No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 19 iSpring LMS iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2
- 20 Lumi Education No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.0 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 21 Chameleon Creator No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 22 Nolej No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 23 Open eLearning No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Interactive content: YesAssessment builder: YesSCORM export: Yes
- 24 aNewSpring No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1€1.55/mo
- 25 Pathwright No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 4.9$99/mo
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Interactive content | Assessment builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mindsmith | 9.0 | Free plan | $39/mo | Yes | 39 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Adapt Learning | 8.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | dominKnow ONE | 8.7 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | ProProfs Training Maker | 8.5 | Free plan | $1.99/mo | Yes | 1.99 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | BranchTrack | 8.3 | Free plan | $6.92/mo | Yes | 83 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Easygenerator | 7.6 | Free plan | $116/mo | Yes | 116 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Lectora | 7.3 | No | $129.08/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Articulate Rise 360 | 7.2 | No | $120.75/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Gomo Learning | 6.9 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | ActivePresenter | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | CourseArc | 6.7 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | Evolve Authoring | 6.5 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | eXeLearning | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | H5P | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | Xerte | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | ScormStack | 6.3 | No | $2.50/mo | No | 5 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | CenarioVR | 6.3 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 18 | Cforj Course Forge Studio | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | 30 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | iSpring LMS | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 20 | Lumi Education | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | Chameleon Creator | 5.6 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 22 | Nolej | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 23 | Open eLearning | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 24 | aNewSpring | 5.1 | No | €1.55/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 25 | Pathwright | 4.9 | No | $99/mo | No | 89 /mo | — | — |
Is your app 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 Samsung Mobile US Press?
Mindsmith is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 9.0. Adapt Learning is second and dominKnow ONE 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 mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.