The 5 Best eLearning Authoring Tools for Mac in 2024
While it’s true that most eLearning authoring software options don’t work on Mac OS, there are still many tools you can use if you have an Apple laptop or computer. Some of them work online – so, it doesn’t matter which operating system you have as long as you have a stable internet connection – and some have a native Mac OS version.
We’ve browsed dozens of authoring tools for Mac, given them a test-drive, and compiled a list of the 5 absolute best options, each perfect for specific budgets and tasks. So, if you’re looking for a tool that will empower you to create online courses for compliance training, customer training, or other scenarios on your Mac, check out the list below to find the one that will satisfy your needs best.
Features to Consider When Choosing eLearning Software for Mac
Before we get to the list itself, let’s see some of the crucial features you need to be looking for in software for Mac. Consider these elements to ensure you select the tool that perfectly aligns with your course authoring needs:
- Compatibility: Ensure that the tool fully supports Mac OS for seamless operation.
- Intuitive UI: A user-friendly interface simplifies course creation, facilitating collaboration – even with non-tech-savvy team members.
- Collaboration: It’s important to be able to work on courses together with subject matter experts and stakeholders.
- Interactivity and engagement: Make sure you can boost learner engagement through quizzes, assessments, and interactive elements.
- Publishing: Beyond Mac compatibility, ensure that the tool supports formats like SCORM for seamless sharing and tracking within your learning management system (LMS).
The Best eLearning Authoring Tools for Mac in 2024
So, here’s a lineup of the top 5 eLearning solutions for Mac. All of them empower you to create learning content and upload it in formats that most LMSs will support. Check out the descriptions to find the right authoring tool for your case.
iSpring Page
How does it work?
iSpring Page is an AI-powered cloud-based tool that empowers you to create lightweight courses with knowledge checks in minutes. Simply add texts and multimedia, highlight key ideas, and add a quiz, so learners can reinforce new knowledge, and your course is ready to go.
You can create engaging courses by yourself or invite your colleagues, SMEs, or stakeholders to collaborate on projects and review them online.
Plus, you can accelerate the course authoring process with iSpring AI, a built-in eLearning assistant, which will refine text, spark course ideas, generate quiz questions, and enhance visual designs within seconds.
Features
- Intuitive interface
- iSpring AI
- Collaboration
- Review
- Online storage for projects
- Course Portfolio Builder
- Interactive assessments
- Multimedia support
- Output formats: SCORM and xAPI
Best for
Both professional course developers and those with no tech skills or instructional design knowledge can create effective online training courses quickly and easily.
Pricing
Starts at $470 per year.
Adobe Captivate
How does it work?
Adobe Captivate is an advanced eLearning authoring tool for professional course development. It allows you to create engaging learning experiences with interactions, animations, assessments, and videos.
Features
- Traditional slide-based courses
- Long scroll interactive content
- Interactions
- Advanced customization options
- Widget gallery
- Multiple assessment types
- Multimedia support
- Output formats: SCORM, AICC, and xAPI
Best for
Experienced professional instructional designers who need to create full-fledged courses. Beginners and those without strong tech skills may find the tool too complicated.
Pricing
$33.99/month.
Camtasia
How does it work?
Camtasia Studio is a desktop online training software for Mac that helps you create engaging tutorial videos. Simply record a video, edit it, and enhance it with effects, transitions, annotations, and more.
Features
- Video-based learning
- Video recording and editing
- Screen recording
- Intuitive UI
- Special effects
- Assessments
- Templates
- Asset library
- Themes
- Output formats: SCORM, MP4, MOV, GIF
Best for
eLearning professionals who want to create video courses.
Pricing
$359.99 for a lifetime license.
Elucidat
How does it work?
Elucidat is an authoring platform designed for extended enterprises that lets L&D professionals create text-based training materials with multimedia on their own or in a team. The interface is pretty intuitive, making it easy for anyone to create learning activities. However, the courses may look slightly outdated.
Features
- Easy to use
- Website-like courses
- Assessments
- Collaboration
- Templates
- Customization options
- Analytics tools
- Output formats: SCORM and xAPI
Best for
Large enterprises with an extensive L&D team.
Pricing
Upon request.
IsEazy Author
How does it work?
IsEazy Author is an easy-to-use online course builder with built-in design prompts that allows you to create interactive learning activities both in traditional slide-based and vertical scroll formats.
Features
- Intuitive
- Rich interactivity
- Assessments
- Collaborative editing (in the Business plan)
- Templates
- Customization options
- Doesn’t require an LMS
- Output formats: SCORM and xAPI
Best for
Both experienced and beginner eLearning professionals who need to create online courses.
Pricing
Starts at 759€/year. A free limited version is available.
Next Steps
Reading about powerful eLearning authoring tools is one thing, while trying them in action is another. All of the tools mentioned above have a free trial available, so we recommend that you test-drive your top choices before making the final decision. Feel free to start with iSpring Page and discover how quick and easy AI-powered course creation can be!