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ToggleAmong the myriad content authoring tools available, Adobe Captivate and Articulate 360 stand out as two of the most powerful and widely used tools for creating engaging and effective educational materials. But between Adobe Captivate vs. Articulate, which one is the best for your Learning and Development needs?
There are many factors to consider when choosing eLearning platforms to develop training materials and courses. And the choice of an authoring tool can significantly impact the quality and effectiveness of your e-learning content.
For instance, a well-chosen tool can enhance learner engagement, improve knowledge retention, and streamline the content creation process. Conversely, a poorly chosen tool can lead to disengaged learners and ineffective training programs.
One rule of thumb is to always have the end goal in mind and test which tool fits the bill.
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This article aims to compare Adobe Captivate vs. Articulate 360 to determine which of these two leading eLearning authoring tools is better suited for your specific L&D needs. By examining their features, usability, and overall effectiveness, we hope to provide a clear understanding of which tool can best help you create high-quality e-learning content.
Adobe Captivate is a robust eLearning authoring tool known for its advanced features and capabilities. It allows users to create highly interactive and immersive learning experiences, including simulations, quizzes, and VR/AR content.
One of its key features is the ability to create engaging and interactive eLearning modules with ease. Additionally, it incorporates gamification elements to enhance learner engagement and offers VR/AR capabilities to develop immersive virtual reality and augmented reality experiences.
Adobe Captivate is also mobile-friendly, enabling the design of responsive courses that work seamlessly across devices. Furthermore, it supports SCORM and xAPI, ensuring compatibility with various Learning Management Systems (LMS) and integration with other tools.
Due to its steep learning curve, Adobe Captivate is usually suitable for developers and designers who need advanced features and are comfortable with a steeper learning curve.
⚠️In case you’re wondering if Adobe Captivate is being discontinued, the answer is No. Adobe Captivate 2023 is Captivate’s latest version, which will, in February 028, replace the legacy version, Adobe Captivate Classic.
I have tried many tools previously but none of the tools helped me to create the content which were not only interactive but engaging as well. I like the wide variety of interactive elements it provides. The customization it provides also makes the thing feel as if it is mine.
Andiruddha G., User Experience Designer (G2 Review)
The platform seems very clunky and scattered to a new user. It makes it difficult to know what to do. It doesn't help that there are multiple versions, and each FAQ doesn't always link up.
Craig F., Employment Vetting Manager (G2 Review)
Articulate 360 is a comprehensive eLearning authoring tool known for its user-friendly interface and versatility. It is widely used for creating interactive and engaging eLearning courses quickly and efficiently.
Articulate 360 includes a suite of tools such as Storyline 360 and Rise 360, which cater to different eLearning needs, including interactive courses, responsive content, and rapid eLearning development.
The tool features an intuitive design that is easy to navigate, even for beginners. It is capable of creating a wide range of eLearning content, from simple quizzes to assessments and complex simulations that cater to various training requirements.
Additionally, the suite of tools allows users to develop responsive courses that adapt to different devices, ensuring mobile friendliness. Articulate 360 also supports SCORM and xAPI, ensuring compatibility with various Learning Management Systems (LMS) and integration with other systems.
Instructional designers and educators who prioritize ease of use and rapid eLearning development capabilities will find Articulate 360 very helpful
The Articulate 360 suite offers several tools that make developing and building online learning easy and fun. It also easily integrates with other great media and authoring tools such as Vyond and Camtasia. I use this suite of tools on a frequent basis (for every online course I create), and look forward to each new project where I can challenge the software and my creativity. The support of the Articulate Heroes community is like no other. It provides great ideas and templates to help you get started. Not to mention, they have a substantial on-demand library for all ability levels. I highly recommend giving this a try!
Amy B. (G2 REVIEW)
More transitions and visual effects would be nice. When working on large, complex projects, there are occasionally issues when working with styles
Yohiner C., Learning Architect, IT & Services (G2 REVIEW)
When selecting an eLearning authoring tool, it’s essential to consider several factors to ensure you choose the best tool for your needs. Here are the key factors to keep in mind:
Ease of use
Steep learning curve
Intuitive interface, minimal learning curve
Scalability
Compatibility with LMS
Mobile Friendly Courses
Interactive Content
Gamification
VR/AR Capabilities
Support for SCORM, AICC and xAPI content
Simple Training
Complex Simulations
Scaling Objects
Customization Options
Highly responsive courses
Flexibility in triggers
Highly interactive triggers
Flexibility in actions
Building intricate advanced actions
Live Chat and Priority Email Support for Users
Get things done faster, in a few steps
Less buggy
Cloud-based
Library of Assets
Convert PowerPoint to Interactive Videos
Collaboration with Stakeholders
Accessibility and WCAG Compliance
Integration with LMS
Built-in Training Analytics
Integrations
Microsoft Power BI, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Sites, Adobe Learning Manager, Salesforce, FTP connectors
Microsoft Entra SSO, Okta, Zapier, Slack, Synthesia, LearnBrite
Publishing
SCORM, AICC, xAPI, Video, HTLM5, exe
SCORM, AICC, xAPI, Video, HTLM5, Word Document, Review
Comprehensive Cloud-based Ecosystem
Monthly and Yearly Billing
Yearly
Individuals/Freelancers
$33.99 per user/month
$1,199 per user/year
Teams/Enterprises
Unavailable
$1,499 per user/year
Education/Education
Unavailable
$899 per user/year (Personal); $1,124 per user/year (Team)
When deciding between Adobe Captivate and Articulate 360, it’s crucial to consider your specific needs and priorities. Here are some recommendations and considerations to help you make an informed decision:
It is a tool that started off strong and continues to evolve to remain top of class. I wish it had a better video editing tool.
Charles Z. Sr. Curriculum Designer & Trainer (Articulate 360 user)
Hence, choosing an eLearning authoring tool that can integrate with other visual review and collaboration tools like zipBoard can further enhance design feedback and QA.
Whether you choose Adobe Captivate or Articulate 360, zipBoard will enable your teams to review and annotate eLearning content. The platform integrates well with Adobe Captivate and Articulate 360, providing a centralized platform for feedback and task management. Learn more ↓
zipBoard is an eLearning content review and collaboration tool designed to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among all project stakeholders, including SMEs, clients, and internal teams. It has robust review features and enables you to track and manage tasks and issues from reviews in one centralized hub.
Integrating zipBoard into your eLearning development process will help your teams deliver high-quality eLearning content more efficiently by centralizing feedback and projects.
Here’s how to set up a learning design feedback and QA process in zipBoard during your eLearning course development process:
1. Set Up Projects: Create a new project in zipBoard and upload your eLearning content from either Articulate or Captivate. It could be a SCORM package or HTMK5 output.
2. Invite Collaborators & Reviewers: Share an invite link with SMEs, clients, and team members to give them access to the project.
Note: Clients, SMEs, and some internal team members do not need a license to collaborate. Learn more here
3. Collect Feedback: Reviewers and collaborators can now use zipBoard’s advanced, yet intuitive annotation tools to collect detailed feedback directly on the content. These markup tools include shapes, highlighters, video recordings, screenshots, text annotations, and more.
4. Track Progress: Use the built-in task manager in zipBoard to manage tasks from comments and assign them to team members. You can also prioritize tasks, add tags, and track their progress in one place. With zipBoard, you don’t need to export comments into spreadsheets if you don’t want to.
5. Autogenerated Reports: Easily check the progress of all digital assets under review in a specific project or across your organization in zipBoard.
6. Seamless Integrations and APIs: Easily integrate zipBoard with your existing communication and project management tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, and Wrike. This makes it possible to work in one place by syncing data across platforms.
ELM Learning is a leading eLearning design agency with offices in San Diego and New York. It’s widely known for building interactive training courses for tech giants like Microsoft, X (formerly Twitter), Godiva, Facebook, and Apple.
ELM faced challenges with collecting and managing feedback from multiple stakeholders, leading to delays and miscommunication
However, integrating zipBoard into their eLearning development process resulted in a 20% reduction in course review and QA times, improved collaboration, and increased content quality.
Implementing zipBoard into our development process has taken the team from using antiquated manual processes to an easy-to-use, globally accessible, online process. zipBoard’s environment allows multiple projects to be set up and managed uniquely; where other tools force a specific method for everything, zipBoard gives you and your team some elbow room. The client and the internal team can both access the data while still preserving the integrity and security of internal information.
Beth Epperson, QA Manager & Accessibility SME, ELM Learning
Choosing between Adobe Captivate 2023 and Articulate 360 ultimately depends on your specific L&D needs. Carefully evaluate your specific requirements and consider factors such as project complexity, budget, stakeholder collaboration, reporting capabilities, and integration with other tools. This will enable you to choose the eLearning authoring tool that best aligns with your L&D goals and helps you create impactful and effective training programs.
Note: Before investing money in either Captivate or Articulate, sign up for a free trial and build an eLearning course to identify which works best for you.
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Dorcas Kpabitey is a Content Marketing Specialist at zipBoard. She began her content marketing journey alongside her BA in Political Science and Spanish at the University of Ghana. If she is not tapping away at her keyboard or spending time on Twitter and LinkedIn, she spends her day reading articles, newsletters and books.
Dorcas Kpabitey is a Content Marketing Specialist at zipBoard. She began her content marketing journey alongside her BA in Political Science and Spanish degree at the University of Ghana. If she's not tapping away at her keyboard or spending time on Twitter and LinkedIn, she spends her day reading articles, newsletters and books.
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