10 Best instructional design software for training

Generate meaningful learning experiences for your team. One great thing about the digital boom is that companies can now access advanced tools for onboarding and training teams. With the right instructional design tools, you can create out-of-the-box strategies to hit all your learning outcomes and stay ahead of competitors.

In this article, we’ve rounded up 10 instructional design software to kickstart your training process. Explore their key features and costs below.

What is instructional design software?

As a product of the latest digital trends in electronic learning (eLearning), instructional design software allows you to customize a wide range of content, making it simpler and faster to deliver personalized training across global teams.

Types of instructional design software 

There are a variety of instruction design software tools available on the market. Each caters to a specific need, so make sure to find the right one for your team. Check out the common types available:

• Learning management system (LMS): Specifically designed for eLearning, an LMS uses a centralized platform to help you track and deliver online training to your employees. It’s also ideal for onboarding, skill-building, and blended learning setups.
• Presentation tools: Whether you’re conducting the team meeting in person or remotely, presentation tools are a great way to add some spark to your training content and engage your audience. They often come with vibrant templates to balance out text-heavy scripts.
• Video editing software: For lengthy lectures, recorded meetings, or podcasts that need some trimming, video editing software is just the right tool to help you out. Rather than rerecording constantly, some tools allow you to redo your errors while still recording live.
• Instructional design storyboard: Before delivering training content, storyboard software is useful for mapping out ideas as it offers a range of interactive tools like mind maps or flow charts to simplify brainstorming sessions.
• eLearning development software: To elevate and speed up your training, eLearning development software uses AI to generate courses and tutorials in minutes. These also offer custom templates to retain consistency with your company’s branding.

Instructional design software #1 -SC Training (for content creation and onboarding)

With SC Training (formerly EdApp), generating training content feels like a breeze. Its AI-powered creator tool helps you deliver top-notch training to your team. All you have to do is input an idea into the text box, and you’ll soon find yourself with a whole course generated just for you in minutes. No coding or design is necessary.

So if you’re short on time, don’t worry! SC Training also allows you to create courses straight from your phone. With over 80+ templates in the library, you can deliver training faster. Feel free to incorporate videos, images, quizzes, and game-based assessments to engage your learners.

This instructional design software is famous for its microlearning approach. With lessons that can be taken in under five minutes, it’s proven to boost knowledge retention. This is also perfect for teams on the go, as courses can be taken on any device.

Handling a global team? Use AI Translation to say goodbye to language barriers. Choose from over 100 languages to deliver your lessons; it only takes one click. There’s no need to hire translators, as this cost-effective tool uses the learner’s default device setting to identify their preferred language.

Cost: Free (up to 10 users); paid plans available

Key features:

• Microlearning
• Create with AI
• Course creation services (add-on)
• Customizable templates
• Analytics and reporting suite
• Gamification

Start using the best instructional design software for training. Join SC Training today.

Instructional design software #2 - Figma (for prototype design)

Figma is another instructional design software that’s ideal for those in product development. From creating realistic prototypes to drafting mind maps and gathering feedback, this tool’s got you covered.

It also doesn’t matter if your teammates are scattered across the globe. You can brainstorm and conceptualize in real-time using Multiplayer, a live collaborative editing system perfect for remote workers. Unlike other instructional design examples, Figma Slides allows for co-created narratives to hook your audience from the start through its engaging slide decks.

Cost: Free; paid plans start at 15 USD/full seat/month

Key features:

• Live collaborative editing
• Digital whiteboard
• Presentation tool
• Integrations

Instructional design software #3 - Camtasia (for video lectures)

Next on our list is Camtasia, an AI-powered screen recorder and video editor software. Make your training documentation easier with this recording engine, which seamlessly captures your screen, microphone, camera, system audio, and mouse data.

For better quality, you can record using external cameras or microphones. Its editing software has a text-based editing feature that lets you modify audio and video files instantly. Add some sparkle to your training videos with dynamic captions, resembling the trendy caption styles on social media.

Cost: Starts at 179.88 USD/year

Key features:

• Screen recording
• Camera recording
• Text-based editing
• Dynamic captions

Instructional design software #4 - Brainshark (for sales assessment)

Ideal for client-facing teams, Brainshark is among those instructional design tools that equip your members with the knowledge, insights, and skills they need to guarantee customer satisfaction. Its scorecards feature uses key sales performance metrics to help you single out top performers and those who need extra help.

If you’re a manager with a lot on your plate, machine analysis can help. It uses AI to auto-score and analyze your team’s video submissions, offering transcription and grading. This feature also analyzes their grade level, noting their ability to cover essential topics, use of filler words, and speaking rate.

Do note that machine analysis also uses facial mapping technology to analyze your team’s emotions and the potential reception of their message by the audience. So if you’ve got some privacy concerns, this tool may not be your best choice.

Cost: Contact for pricing

Key features:

• Readiness scorecards
• Content authoring
• Machine analysis and scoring
• Coaching and practice

Instructional design software #5 - Xmind (for mind mapping)

Known for its dynamic mind maps, Xmind is an instructional design software tool ideal for facilitating brainstorming sessions among teams. It houses intuitive features like color-coded branches, mind map-based slideshows, and a vast template gallery.

Here, you can elevate your mind maps using highlights, labels, and markers. And if you have too much information on hand, you can also use the audio notes feature to attach audio recordings to existing topics. This is great for those lengthy team meetings and lectures.

Cost: Starts at 19.99 USD/3 months

Key features:

• Unlimited topics and maps
• Template gallery
• Mind map-based slideshow
• Export to PNG, PDF, and Word

Instructional design software #6 - Prezi (for interactive reporting)

Our next recommendation is Prezi, a cloud-based presentation software offering real creative freedom. Bid goodbye to linear slide restrictions and have your team brainstorm through its open canvas. The asset library also contains over a million images, GIFs, and stickers, so you don’t have to design your training materials from scratch.

Like other instructional design authoring tools, this has a presenter feature, which is good for virtual and hybrid meetings. You can present live over video conference by simply sharing the link with your audience. Prezi integrates seamlessly with popular conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.

Cost: Starts at 5 USD/month

Key features:

• Live presentation
• Drag-and-drop editor
• Infographics
• Asset library

Instructional design software #7 - Loom (for screen recording)

In charge of a remote team? Loom can help you out. This simple screen recording tool lets you optimize your meetings with only one take. You can stop relying on the undo button, as it’s equipped with a rewind tool to fix your minor errors while still recording.

Online recorded meetings don’t have to be boring. Through Loom, you can connect with your remote teams by adding comments, emojis, and CTAs to your videos. To make everything user-friendly, you can also take advantage of its transcription and closed captioning features.

Cost: Free; paid plans start at 12.50 USD/creator/month

Key features:

• Team workspace
• Screen recording & cam bubble
• Viewer insights
• Unlimited transcriptions

Instructional design software #8 - Kahoot! 360 (for game-based discussion)

Kahoot! 360 helps you spot knowledge gaps immediately with its flexible engagement tool for training employees. Whether you’re conducting in-person or virtual instructor-led training, this course design software can meet your needs.

This tool allows you to create interactive presentations and test your team’s understanding with a mix of assessments like true or false, puzzles, and type answer formats. You can also choose to enable self-paced learning with your team’s courses.

Cost: Starts at 19 USD/host/month

Key features: 

• Interactive presentations
• Brainstorm
• Polls and work clouds
• Quiz and type answer questions 

Instructional design software #9 - domiKnow (for project collaboration)

Made for eLearning, domiKnow lets you publish endless content while keeping your target audience in mind. It contains a built-in software simulation packed with design templates and stock assets for real-time collaboration among teams.

Its learning content management system also houses a centralized dashboard where you can view all your projects and courses in a single space. You can maintain open communication with your team with its easy-to-use collaboration and review tools.

Cost: Contact for pricing

Key features:

• Authoring tool
• Design templates
• Learning content management system
• Collaboration and review

Instructional design software #10 - ProProfs (for landing page customization)

Last on our list is ProProfs. This knowledge base software simplifies the creation of user manuals and online documentation for your organization. It offers plenty of custom templates to help you stay consistent with your branding.

Don’t stress about creating your home page from scratch. This software’s drag-and-drop functionality helps you personalize your landing page, making information accessible to your team and clients.

The good thing about this tool is that small teams can test out their features for free with a limit of 25 pages. But if you’re a fast-growing company, it’s better to choose their business plan - though it can get quite costly with a monthly rate of 49 USD per author.

Cost: Free; paid plans start at 49 USD/author/monthly

Key features:

• AI-powered knowledge base
• Training maker
• Quiz maker
• Live chat

What is the best instructional design software?

With employees being the heart of your business, it’s good to prioritize the quality of their training. With multiple options on the market, remember that the best eLearning tools should be simple and cost-effective. You don’t want to waste company resources on the wrong product!

To help you narrow your choices, find a tool that fits your training needs, offers customization, and is simple enough for everyone to use. Shifting from traditional formats to digital software can be tricky, so your tool shouldn’t complicate the process.

The best instructional design software should allow for customization, security, compatibility, and support. Ultimately, it empowers its users and guarantees successful learning outcomes.

Start using the best instructional design software! Join SC Training today.