Free and Low-Cost Tools for Learning & Development Professionals in 2025

Working with limited resources? These free and budget-friendly tools can help you create, collaborate, and deliver impactful training without breaking the bank.

Please note that this list was compiled in early February 2025. Prices are subject to change, as always!

L&D Specific Tools

• H5P (Free)– Create interactive content like quizzes, presentations, and interactive videos without coding.
• Adapt Learning (Free)– Open-source authoring tool for responsive e-learning courses.
• SCORM Cloud (Free for small-scale use)– Test SCORM-compliant courses without needing an LMS.

Project Management Tools

• MindMeister (Free or $6.50/month)– A simple but effective tool for brainstorming and mapping out ideas.
• Trello (Free or $5/month)– A visual task management tool that works great for tracking learning projects.
• Asana (Free or from $10.99/month)– More structured project management with task dependencies and automations.
• ClickUp (Free or from $7/month)– A versatile tool with built-in docs, whiteboards, and task tracking.
• Notion (Free or from $10/month)– Combines project management, knowledge sharing, and note-taking in one.

Video and Animation Tools

• Vyond (From $25/month, billed annually)– Create professional animated training videos with ease.
• YouTube (Free)– A go-to platform for hosting training videos and sharing learning content.
• Loom (Free or $15/month)– Quick and easy screen recording and video messaging for instructional content.
• Zight (previously CloudApp) (Free or $9/month)– Capture and share screen recordings, GIFs, and annotated screenshots instantly.

Graphics and Design Tools

• Canva (Free or $15/month)– Drag-and-drop design tool for presentations, social media, and training assets.
• Pexels (Free)– A massive library of high-quality stock images and videos.
• Freepik (Free & Paid)– Free and premium graphics, illustrations, and templates.
• Unsplash (Free or $7/month )– A large collection of beautiful, high-resolution stock photos.
• Flaticon (Free or $8.25/month)– A great resource for icons, vector graphics, and UI elements.
• Icons8 (Free & Paid)– A diverse library of icons, illustrations, and music.
• LottieFiles (Free & Paid)– Animated assets to add motion to digital training content.

Collaboration Tools

• Google Forms (Free) – Simple and effective for gathering learner feedback and assessments.
• Zoom (Free & Paid) – A widely used video conferencing tool for live training sessions.
• Slack (Free or from $7.25/month) – Instant messaging and collaboration tool for teams.
• Miro (Free & Paid) – Online whiteboard for brainstorming and collaboration.
• Mural (Free & Paid) – Digital whiteboarding tool for teamwork and brainstorming.

AI-Powered Tools

• Grammarly (Free or $12/month)– AI-powered writing assistant for clear and error-free content.
• ChatGPT (Free & Paid)– Helps generate ideas, draft content, and refine instructional materials.
• Gemini (Free & Paid)– AI-powered text and image generation, useful for brainstorming and content enhancement.
• ElevenLabs (Free or $5/month for 30k characters)– AI text-to-speech tool for voiceovers in training content.
• Canva Magic Media (Free & Paid)– AI-powered text generator right within Canva for quick content creation.
• Synthesia (Free or $18/month)– AI-generated video avatars that can deliver training content in different languages.
• Runway ML (Free or $12/month)– AI-powered video and content editing for creating training materials.
• Otter.ai (Free or $8.33/month)– AI transcription tool for meetings, lectures, and interviews.

Audio Tools

• Audacity (Free)– A powerful, open-source tool for recording and editing audio.
• Descript (Free & Paid)– Transcribe, edit, and enhance audio and video content with AI-powered features.

Immersive Augmented Reality Tools

• Adobe Aero (Free)–Create augmented reality (AR) experiences without coding.

Community Tools

• IDLance Slack (Free)– Oh my, who put this here? A supportive community for freelance instructional designers to network, share gigs, and swap expertise!

For even more hot tips on getting through 2025 as an L&D pro on a budget, download our totally free "Scrappy Trainer's Toolkit" here!