Course Authoring (H5P, Articulate, Captivate)

Course authoring tools sit between an LMS and the learner: drag-and-drop editors that produce SCORM, xAPI, or HTML packages with branching scenarios, quizzes, hotspots, drag-the-words, and video questions. Pair with a video lecture host, a virtual classroom, and quizzes / assessment for deeper testing.

The dominant FOSS pick

• ★ ★ H5P — MIT-licensed; ~50 interactive content types: Interactive Video, Branching Scenario, Drag the Words, Course Presentation, Memory Game, Dialog Cards, Find the Hotspot, Image Hotspots, Quiz (Question Set), Timeline, Virtual Tour. Embeds anywhere via LTI or <iframe>. Native plugins for Moodle, WordPress, Drupal, Canvas, Open edX.
  • https://github.com/h5p
• Lumi (Lumi Education) — desktop H5P authoring app; export to standalone HTML or LMS package. Useful for offline / no-server authoring.
  • https://github.com/Lumieducation/Lumi
• H5P.com — paid hosted version from the H5P core team; "OER Hub" of pre-made content.

Open source authoring (broader)

• eXeLearning — GPL desktop authoring tool; SCORM/HTML output; popular in Spanish-speaking edu.
  • https://github.com/exelearning/iteexe
• Adapt Learning — GPL; responsive HTML5 authoring; SCORM / xAPI; used by some UK gov training.
  • https://github.com/adaptlearning/adapt_authoring
• Xerte — GPL UK higher-ed authoring framework.
• CourseLab — older; mostly Windows.

Industry-standard paid authoring

• ★ Articulate Storyline 360 — the corporate L&D industry default. Slide-based, PowerPoint-style; triggers and variables for branching. Outputs SCORM 1.2/2004, xAPI, cmi5, HTML5. Windows only; ~$1,400/yr (one tier; "Articulate 360" bundles Rise 360, Review 360, Studio 360).
• ★ Articulate Rise 360 — responsive, web-shaped lessons; non-designers love it. Bundled with 360.
• Adobe Captivate — second-place to Storyline; strong VR / 360-video features in 2024+ rebuild.
• iSpring Suite — PowerPoint-add-in; Russian-origin; aggressive pricing ($770/yr).
• Lectora Online (ELB Learning) — accessibility-strong; section-508-friendly.
• Easygenerator — web-based; goal-oriented authoring; popular with corporate SMEs.
• Elucidat, Gomo, dominKnow ONE — collaborative cloud-flavoured.
• Camtasia — TechSmith; really a screen-recorder + simple quizzes; bridges to corporate L&D.

AI-assisted authoring (2024-26 wave)

• MagicSchool AI — see AI tutors — generates lesson plans, worksheets, rubrics. Free + paid.
• Curipod — AI-generated interactive slides + polls.
• Eduaide.AI — generator for assessments, lesson plans.
• Diffit — adapts existing text to multiple reading levels.
• Articulate AI Assistant — bundled in Articulate 360 since late 2024.
• Synthesia + Loom — see Educational content creation.

Open course content / hubs

• MoodleNet — federated OER discovery / sharing for Moodle teachers.
• OER Commons / MERLOT — see Open Educational Resources.
• Open edX Studio — built-in authoring on Open edX.

Standards you produce

• SCORM 1.2 / 2004 — still the default for corporate L&D LMS imports.
• xAPI / Tin Can — modern statement-based tracking; needs an LRS.
• cmi5 — xAPI + SCORM packaging.
• LTI 1.3 — direct LMS embedding.
• QTI 3.0 — assessment item interchange.

Pick this if…

• FOSS interactive content, embedded anywhere: H5P (+ Lumi for desktop).
• Industry-standard corporate L&D: Articulate Storyline / Rise 360.
• PowerPoint-shaped fast authoring: iSpring Suite.
• Web-shaped, collaborative SMEs: Easygenerator or Rise 360.
• Spanish-speaking school OSS: eXeLearning.
• 2026 AI-generated lessons: MagicSchool, Curipod, Articulate AI.