When launching a training business, the temptation of free is strong. And sometimes it is the right call. But “free” often hides limits you pay for later: capped export, forced branding, no tracking, locked features. Here are 7 free or freemium solutions and their real limits, so you can decide with eyes open.
Open source, excellent for reusable interactive content. Limit: no learner management, a technical learning curve. See our full H5P review.
Very visual, quick to learn. Limits: forced Genially branding, restricted export and stats. And on soft skills, structural limits.
Each covers part of the need: capsules, responsive, visuals, script drafts. None alone produces an assessable, trackable path.
Three ceilings recur: no learner tracking (so no Qualiopi evidence), limited brand customisation, and above all no real role-play for behaviours. A free module makes learners read, rarely practise.
Free is enough to test, prototype, or deliver simple content. It costs more once you charge for training: the lack of evidence and differentiation weighs on your tenders. For relational skills, adding a practice brick like Face Up raises the level of evidence without blowing the budget.
Free is a good starting point, not a strategy. To decide, cross this overview with our 8 selection criteria and the complete 2026 authoring tool guide.
