This guide dives into the top 10 learning and development platforms of 2024, offering a comprehensive overview for HR and L&D managers.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your training approach or select a new L&D solution, our roundup, complete with real user reviews, will light the way.
Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of April 5th, 2024.
What is a learning and development platform?
A learning and development (L&D) platform is an integrated suite of digital tools or software aimed at enhancing the educational and training processes within an organization.
From onboarding new hires to fostering continuous professional growth, L&D platforms equip organizations with the means to develop a knowledgeable and skilled workforce.
What are the different types of L&D platforms?
Types of L&D tools include:
- Learning management system (LMS): A comprehensive tool that manages all aspects of the learning process, from course creation and delivery to tracking learners’ progress and performance. LMSs offer personalized learning experiences, enabling organizations to tailor training to individual needs and objectives.
📚 Related: Top 24 learning management system (LMS) features - Learning experience platform (LXPs): LXPs put the power of learning in the hands of employees by offering them a more personalized and engaging experience. Unlike traditional LMSs, LXPs recommend content based on the learner’s behavior, preferences, and needs to foster a proactive learning culture. This approach aligns closely with the 70:20:10 learning model.
- Knowledge base: A centralized repository for storing and sharing organizational knowledge and information. It simplifies access to reference materials, guides, SOPs, and policies, supporting employees in real-time task-completion and problem-solving.
📚 Related: 10 of the best LMS platforms with a knowledge base [2024] - Course authoring platforms: These platforms provide tools for creating interactive and engaging e-learning content. They allow trainers and subject matter experts to design courses with multimedia elements, quizzes, and simulations to enhance the learning experience.
- Microlearning platforms: These platforms are focused on delivering short, targeted learning modules. They support knowledge retention and provide learners with immediate access to necessary information, making it best suited for busy work environments.
📚 Related: The 10 Best Microlearning Platforms for 2024 (In-Depth Guide) - Online course providers: Platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Udemy offer a vast library of courses covering various subjects. These providers are well-suited for organizations looking to give employees access to new skills and knowledge without the need for custom content creation.
With the right mix of these learning tools, companies can create a comprehensive L&D program that addresses immediate employee training needs.
10 of the best learning and development tools
We’ve rounded up the ten best L&D tools for equipping your workforce with the right skills.
| Software | Best for | Top feature |
| Docebo | Delivering highly configurable, scalable, and personalized learning experiences. | AI-based tool for content creation. |
| iSpring Suite | Creating learning content quickly with AI assistance. | PPT to SCORM conversion and interactive assessments. |
| LearnUpon | Learner engagement through notifications, mobile apps, and gamification. | Mobile app for iOS and Android with forums and course recommender. |
| LinkedIn Learning | Desktop and mobile app experiences with personalized course recommendations. | Personalized, data-driven course recommendations. |
| TalentLMS | Course creation and management for employee training. | Drag-and-drop course creator. |
| Adobe Captivate | E-learning authoring with a focus on accessibility. | Ready-made layout slides. |
| Udemy Business | Building custom courses with certifications. | Course builder and certification functionalities. |
| GoTo Webinar | Hosting engaging webinars with extensive planning and promotion tools. | Pre-recorded events and flexible scheduling for larger audiences. |
| ProProfs Knowledge | Content authoring and management with a focus on collaboration. | Content authoring with rich text editor and multilingual support. |
| Learning Pool | Self-driven development journeys with AI-powered skills building. | Skills Builder and Automation for personalized development paths. |
1. Docebo
Docebo is a cloud-based corporate training platform designed for talent development, employee onboarding, compliance training, and sales enablement.
The platform enables AI-powered learning experiences that adapt to each employee, offering the right training and content management at every learning stage.
It incorporates elements like badges, leaderboards, and rewards to motivate and engage learners.
Its learning data and insights capabilities allow organizations to collect feedback and measure training effectiveness, helping them link learning outcomes to business performance.
The platform also connects and syncs with existing HRIS or CRM systems, either natively or via API, to allow organizations to create custom reports when needed.
Notably, Docebo Content Marketplace allows L&D administrators and learners to access up to 75,000 online learning courses with SCORM from content providers such as LinkedIn Learning and Skilla.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Gamification elements like badges, leaderboards, and rewards.
- Access to 75,000 online learning courses with SCORM from popular content providers.
- Native or API integration with existing HRIS or CRM systems.
- Blended learning capabilities include instructor-led training (ILT), webinars, online training, and virtual classroom sessions.
- Pre-built SSO and authentication connectors.
What users like
- “Generally, the system is reasonably easy to use, and there is a wide range of learning resources that allow me to quickly find the information I need to adjust any aspects of the system.” – Sam M.
- “I also really like the fact that the platform is intuitive to use and that in the Docebo Community and Docebo Help, there are a lot of shared articles that answer most of the questions one has when using this tool.” – Verified user in medical practice.
- “You can distinguish between your types of learners and your types of courses. The Power User system continues to get better and better, making it a viable role and permissioning tool.” – William I.
Best suited for
Docebo’s blended learning approach is best suited for offering a mix of training formats to accommodate diverse learning preferences.
2. iSpring Suite
iSpring Suite is a learning platform designed for channel partner training, compliance training, and onboarding.
The platform includes an AI assistant that allows organizations to generate relevant course ideas, guides, and quiz questions swiftly.
Its PPT to SCORM conversion capabilities make converting PowerPoint presentations into online, mobile-ready courses easier.
iSpring Suite offers 14 question templates for building quizzes with branching scenarios and flexible scoring to assess learner comprehension.
Additionally, it provides access to over 90,000 templates, images, and characters to help build courses with high visual appeal.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- AI assistant for course creation.
- PPT to SCORM conversion capabilities.
- Offers 14 question templates for building quizzes.
- Branching scenarios and role-play conversations.
- Content library with access to over 90,000 templates, images, and characters.
What users like
- “It generates modules that integrate with all the LMSs that I work with and can also send me emails with students’ grades from the quizzes.” – Carlos F.
- “I like that it is very user-friendly and that I can create interactive PowerPoints and quizzes with the platform.” – Jasmine H.
- “I’m currently in the pilot stage of my course, and iSpring has helped me create really high-quality material that my pilot students are enjoying.” – Chloe K.
What users don’t like
- “There are so many settings and options in the quizzes tool that it could be easy to forget to change a small thing before publishing.” – Ryan D.
- “The only problem I faced was in the library where we get all the stuff for designing, like characters, icons, backgrounds, etc., we can’t pick multiple things at once. We have to add them individually. It would be better if we could choose everything we need in one go for efficiency.” – Bhargavi D.
- “I wish they would put Closed Captions on their courses and presentations.” – Donna D.
Best suited for
iSpring Suite is best suited for converting existing PowerPoint slides into engaging courses.
3. LearnUpon
LearnUpon is an LMS designed for employee, customer, and partner training.
Its native course builder allows for the creation of interactive courses and supports a variety of multimedia content.
The platform’s SCORM and xAPI compatibility with a wide range of e-learning content makes it easier for organizations to integrate and track external learning resources.
Additionally, its comprehensive user management features, such as automation, groups, dynamic rules, and bulk upload, streamline the administration of large numbers of users.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Native course builder functionality.
- SCORM and xAPI compatibility.
- Instructor-led training (ILT) function, including scheduling, attendee tracking, and resource allocation.
- AI-powered assessments.
- Comprehensive user management features.
What users like
- “The ability to create groups and implement dynamic rules within those groups has really allowed us to automate a big portion of the learning experience.” – Shawn B.
- “LearnUpon has a clear roadmap for implementing a new learning management system and also has the internal expertise and guidance to get your organization up and running in a timely manner.” – Jennifer R.
- “The Course Builder feature allows our clients to add their own training materials, policies/procedures, and resources so they can track all training in one place.” – Jenny B.
What users don’t like
- “I can’t see what the exam questions look like and how they behave when I create them without switching screens and diving deeper elsewhere.” – Tim R.
- “We serve hundreds of clients and thousands of users. It would be nice to have bulk actions for removing users if we’re deleting an entire group due to a client cancellation.” – Laura K.
- “The level of customization of the platform is limited beyond the simple format of Heading, Text, Video, and Quiz. I feel you can’t make the course feel like your own system as it follows the same format.” – Verified user in computer software.
Best suited for
LearnUpon’s support for SCORM and xAPI standards and ILT management capabilities best suit self-paced and live training.
4. LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform designed for business, higher education, and government institutions.
It has a course library of over 18,000 courses available in seven languages, covering in-demand business, tech, and creative skills.
The platform allows organizations to tailor learning experiences with custom content, collections, and defined learning paths.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Course library with over 18,000 courses available in seven languages.
- Provides sandbox environments and Nano Tips for practical learning and skill application.
- Customizable learning paths.
- Career development tools with career path exploration, role guides, and internal job postings.
- Offers integration with LinkedIn.com and Microsoft Teams.
What users like
- “The self-pace, the focus on quality over quantity, industry experts giving practical examples while learning the key topics.” – Diksha S.
- “I like the wide variety of topics. I also like how easy it is to use, as it is set up with chapters and contents so you can easily find your place.” – Millie M.
- “The selection of courses on LinkedIn Learning is vast, and the content within the courses is very detailed and applicable to real life.” – Callum B.
What users don’t like
- “It gives a very generic response to every specifically asked topic making it more difficult to find specific topics or relevant courses.” – Naman B.
- “You don’t know these instructors. You don’t know their industries, meaning what they teach may operate differently in your industry. You don’t know how well the instructors are vetted.” – Theophilus W.
- “Its standardized exam and quiz are just for users to test, and they can just skip it. That makes the credentials earned not relevant, and its certificates are just for show.” – Prof. Ravoeurn S.
Best suited for
LinkedIn Learning’s vast library of courses makes it well-suited for continuous professional development.
5. TalentLMS
TalentLMS is a training software program designed for employee, sales, partner, and cybersecurity training.
The platform uses drag-and-drop functionality to add various course media types while supporting SCORM, xAPI, and cmi5 files for better interoperability.
TalentLMS also offers tools that allow organizations to build quizzes, tests, assignments, and surveys for learner evaluation and material assessment.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Uses drag-and-drop functionality to add various media types to courses.
- Comprehensive assessment tools to build quizzes, tests, assignments, and surveys.
- Customizable learning paths with completion rules.
- White-label options.
- Supports the creation of unlimited sub-accounts.
- Gamification elements include points, badges, and leaderboards.
What users like
- “Easy to manage and very user-friendly for all employees to follow courses on their own.” – Danica Ann A.
- “As an Instructor, the process of creating and delivering courses is not too complicated. Overall, I have enjoyed deploying learning solutions for my company using TalentLMS’s platform.” – Verified user in mechanical engineering.
- “It’s a very comprehensive solution — providing everything from preparing course deployment, automation, and notifications, easily dealing with users and user groups, and wrapping the process up with feedback, certificates, and detailed reports.” – Loris G.
What users don’t like
- “Training content created in Microsoft PowerPoint loses its animations and page transitions when uploaded on the platform.” – Verified user in management consulting.
- “The UI design, while functional, might feel a bit dated for some users accustomed to more modern aesthetics.” – Aakash R.
- “Content feels a bit text-based, I would love to have some features based on how the AI content creator creates content.” – Donnovan I.
Best suited for
The platform’s customizability and gamification features are best suited for creating a more engaging and motivating learning environment.
6. Adobe Captivate
Adobe Captivate is an e-learning authoring tool designed for business and educational learning environments.
The platform includes a selection of pre-built layout slides for quick course development, with customization options to meet specific training needs.
The platform’s e-learning authoring allows users to copy and paste selected attributes or components across courses easily.
Additionally, organizations can use its modern text-to-speech capabilities and native audio–editing tools to create high-quality voice-overs and audio tracks.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Ready-made layout slides for course development programs.
- E-learning authoring capabilities.
- Simplified interactions panel with an interface for adding triggers, conditions, and actions.
- Supports accessibility standards like Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 for learners with special needs.
- Modern text-to-speech capabilities and native audio–editing tools.
What users like
- “I love how specific you can get with the Captivate timeline — how you can either drag and drop the effects’ timing or type it in.” – Rebekah B.
- “It has allowed me to create a diverse, engaging set of e-learning for our partners and customers. Novice users can take advantage of an easy-to-use interface to create actions, while advanced users can execute JavaScript.” – Phil H.
- “I love the ability to publish content out to YouTube, and the ability to embed Vimeo videos.” – Verified user in construction.
What users don’t like
- “The interface and voices are out of date with current technology. AI voices have improved dramatically over the last few years, and easy integration of newer voices is not apparent.” – Eric A.
- “I feel that its learning curve can be a bit steep, especially for those new to e-learning authoring.” – Aniruddha G.
- “Encountered a few performance hiccups and crashes, which have been attributed to my system or the software itself.” – Rohit S.
Best suited for
Adobe Captivate’s ability to meet accessibility standards makes it best suited for organizations committed to inclusive learning.
7. Udemy Business
Udemy Business is a learning platform designed for small team, enterprise-wide, tech team, and customer-success team training.
The platform includes a course builder that allows users to host videos and proprietary resources in custom courses.
It offers various courses designed by industry experts to help learners prepare for and achieve certifications in their respective fields.
Additionally, Udemy offers robust user management tools that allow admins to easily create user groups, manage enrollments, and monitor individual and group progress.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Course builder for hosting videos and proprietary resources in custom courses.
- Offers a wide array of courses designed by industry experts.
- Custom learning paths.
- Analytics and insights to identify learning trends.
- User management tools.
What users like
- “Overall, Udemy business has significantly contributed to my growth and proficiency in various skills, making it a standout resource for continual learning within our organization. Integration and implementation [are] also easy with API.” – Rohit G.
- “The interface is very user-friendly and it keeps me updated all the time about my training path and its percentage so that I can resume my training and get it completed as soon as possible.” – Vineet A.
- “The content ratings are pretty trustworthy which is what makes selection very easy. It also provides a money-back guarantee, so if we don’t find anything useful, it’s pretty easy to get a refund.” – Umesh S.
What users don’t like
- “It takes quite a lot of time to load the app and also [the] course starts playing automatically when the phone is unlocked even after the app was paused and minimized.” – Aayush V.
- “Also, some other platforms have a feature where licenses can be more easily rotated if they’re not being used, e.g., deactivated if not used within X months. At the moment, this is a manual task for us.” – Claire B.
- “Reporting-wise, it has quite a few improvements: Our team needs visibility of usage, and we’re a bit limited on that side.” – Luis Josue J.
Best suited for
Udemy Business’s extensive course library is well-suited for upskilling and professional development.
8. GoTo Webinar
GoTo Webinar is designed for interactive web-based seminars and presentations, online events, training sessions, or large-scale meetings.
The platform offers the capability to pre-record webinars, enabling presenters to deliver high-quality presentations without the need for real-time execution.
GoTo Webinar also supports up to 3,000 attendees joining live streams directly from their browsers.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Offers the capability to pre-record webinars.
- Webcast mode that supports up to 3,000 attendees.
- Integration with GoToStage for event promotion.
- Engagement dashboard for presenters to monitor audience engagement and manage the event’s pacing.
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics post-event.
What users like
- “We use the Q/A feature during our monthly Zonal meetings to get insights from staff on particular topics to gather more ideas on how to go about our business for the month.” – Oluwatobi A.
- “GoTo Webinar is easy to use, even settings can be accessed very easily, especially when we are using external speakers and/or microphones which make it super user-friendly.” – Mohd. K.
- “GoTo Webinar has multiple options to join and attend sessions, querying (mute, unmute), screen sharing, etc. This gives a seamless experience for collaboratively attending training and conferences.” – Verified user in hospital and health care.
What users don’t like
- “Some inconveniences when presenting in full screen. During the last two years, I have had some problems with some sound and microphone options.” – Ramos M.
- “I wish the platform would accept video formats other than .mp4 since many of the videos I want to play on the session are in other formats such as .wmv and need to be converted, which adds another cumbersome process.” – Paul W.
- “If you mass-create a large webinar series that is reoccurring, and you want to delete the whole series, you can click on Delete, and it prompts the warning that it will affect them all. However, it actually doesn’t. So you have to manually delete the entire series, one by one. Which is a tedious and long process.” – Zach G.
Best suited for
With capabilities for pre-recorded and live streaming, GoTo Webinar is best suited for the needs of marketers, trainers, and event organizers.
9. ProProfs Knowledge Base
ProProfs Knowledge Base is designed to create, manage, and share documents, FAQs, help articles, and guides to support both internal team members and external customers.
The platform ensures knowledge base accessibility on various mobile devices, including laptops, tablets, or smartphones.
It also features built-in SEO tools organizations can use to optimize content for search engines, increasing the visibility of help articles and guides.
Additionally, it supports content translation in over 90 languages, catering to a global audience and diverse customer base.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Knowledge base accessibility on various devices, including laptops, tablets, or smartphones.
- Features built-in SEO tools to optimize content for search engines.
- Provides robust security features such as password protection and privacy controls.
- Supports content translation in over 90 languages.
- Offers detailed analytics and reporting tools.
What users like
- “ProProfs Knowledge Base lets me create and edit content using a simple and intuitive editor. I can also use templates, fonts, colors, logos, and more to customize the look and feel of my knowledge base.” – Uttam Kumar S.
- “ProProfs Knowledge Base features a rich text editor that lets users write and edit content as one would with popular document creators like MS Word.” – Neha B.
- “ProProfs offers an advanced text editor with rich formatting capabilities that make documenting knowledge a breeze.” – Archi G.
What users don’t like
- “We wanted the templates to be a little more comprehensive than they are.” – Sara A.
- “The integrations could be more powerful.” – Verified user in marketing and advertising.
Best suited for
With its SEO-ready features and powerful analytics, ProProfs is well-suited for improving content visibility and engagement.
10. Learning Pool
Learning Pool is an L&D platform designed for onboarding, compliance training, and upskilling.
The platform offers a blend of workflows, mentors, and social learning to encourage active engagement and self-directed learning.
Its skills builder uses AI to assess current skills and guide employees toward acquiring the necessary skills.
Additionally, Learning Pool features a dedicated learning record store (LRS) for full control over learning data.
G2 Rating
Top Features
- Offers a blend of workflows, mentors, and social learning for active engagement and self-directed learning paths.
- Al-powerd skills builder.
- Advanced data visualizations and predictive analytics features.
- Authoring tool for the creation, editing, and branding of course content.
- Dedicated learning record store (LRS) for learning-data management.
What users like
- “It is very easy for our support workers to access and complete, as a lot of staff use their phones for their mandatory training.” – Darren R.
- “Learning Pool is continually developing new plugins for the site, which have made life so much easier for us as site managers and for our users.” – Graham M.
- “Learning Pool has many features and components which are all fairly straightforward to use.” – Guy R.
What users don’t like
- “There are some bugs in the LMS so the mobile view isn’t quite right yet.” – Verified user in nonprofit organization management.
- “There are certain blocks and site assets that would be improved if there was a little more control over their appearance and settings.” – James B.
- “System can sometimes get slow when running reports due to large data Input. Duplication of functions on [the] system can sometimes be confusing.” – Katie L.
Best suited for
Learning Pool’s dedicated learning record store is well-suited for detailed tracking and reporting.
Benefits of using L&D platforms
The benefits of investing in L&D platforms are clear and multifaceted, impacting employee retention and the broader organizational performance and competitiveness.
With L&D platforms, you can:
Retain top talent
The modern workforce constantly pursues better professional development opportunities, a trend particularly evident among millennials.
A Gallup report revealed that 59 percent of millennials say opportunities to learn and grow are extremely important to them when applying for a job.
According to LinkedIn, 93 percent of organizations are concerned about employee retention — and the number one way organizations are working to improve retention is by “providing learning opportunities.”
The message is clear: to retain top talent, employers must invest in L&D opportunities that cater to these evolving expectations.
Close skill gaps
L&D platforms offer upskilling and reskilling opportunities, allowing employees to stay ahead of industry trends and technological advancements.
In fact, according to a LinkedIn report, 79 percent of L&D professionals agree it’s less expensive to reskill a current employee than to hire a new one.
By investing in L&D, organizations can also ensure their workforce remains competitive and capable — preparing their teams for the challenges of tomorrow.
Boost customer satisfaction
Organizations can improve customer service quality by equipping employees with the necessary skills through targeted training programs.
Additionally, L&D strategies can include customer-focused training, such as product training through webinars, online tutorials, and e-learning courses.
This dual approach improves service delivery and empowers customers, leading to a notable increase in customer satisfaction KPIs.
Scale growth
Engaged employees, who feel supported in their career development, tend to be more productive.
A study found that 56 percent of HR managers believe training and development to be an essential business enabler.
Given that L&D initiatives are a key driver of employee engagement, the link between L&D and enhanced employee performance — and by extension, organizational growth — is clear.
For SMEs, in particular, L&D offers a way to gain a competitive edge without the need for large recruitment budgets.
Plus, L&D is key in navigating change and transitions, supporting organizations in achieving new business goals, and adapting to market shifts.
How to choose the best learning and development software systems
Here’s a step-by-step guide you can use to ensure you invest in a system that truly meets your requirements:
Identify your L&D goals
Consider the types of learning content that will best serve your audience, from detailed online training courses to concise microlearning modules.
Then, reflect on the skills you aim to develop or improve within your workforce and how these match your company’s culture and strategic objectives.
Assessing the impact of your L&D programs is also crucial, requiring a learning plan for evaluating your staff’s needs, interests, and goals.
This foundational step helps identify a platform that can, for example, incorporate gamification for a workforce enthusiastic about interactive learning experiences.
List key features that align with your L&D needs
Pinpoint essential features that your L&D platform must have to meet your identified needs.
These features might include:
- Customizable learning paths
- Content authoring tools
- Mobile app compatibility
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics
- Social learning capabilities
- Gamification elements
- Options for assessment and certification
Ensuring that your chosen platform can support these functionalities will help in creating engaging, effective, and measurable learning experiences for your employees.
Consider your budget and resources
Evaluate both the initial and ongoing costs associated with implementing and maintaining the L&D platform.
This includes expenses related to content creation, licensing, and support services.
Go for L&D solutions that balance cost-effectiveness and functionality, ensuring they provide a solid return on investment.
Transparency in pricing and flexible payment options, such as monthly or annual billing, should also influence your decision.
Evaluate your options
When comparing different L&D software options, consider factors like:
- Scalability
- Ease of use
- Customization possibilities
- Integration with existing systems
- The provider’s reputation
A support package encompassing onboarding, training, and ongoing technical assistance is also essential.
The chosen vendor should offer a support model that suits your organizational requirements and budget, ensuring the long-term success of your L&D initiatives.
Over to you
Selecting the best L&D software system requires a thoughtful analysis of your organization’s specific needs, goals, and budget.
Whether you’re looking to close skill gaps, enhance employee development, or streamline your training processes, we encourage you to explore Docebo’s possibilities.
Schedule a demo today to discover how Docebo can help you empower your workforce with the skills they need to succeed.