Why is iSpring Suite unique?
It’s the only desktop-based online course platform I have seen.
iSpring Suite also promises to help me turn my PowerPoint presentations into interactive online courses and create illustrated characters that resonate with my learners.
iSpring Suite pricing
The most basic plan starts at $770 yearly, with options to buy quarterly or six-month plans.
I get to enjoy round-the-clock technical support with this plan, plus HTML5/SCORM courses, interactive quizzes, video lectures, role-plays, eBooks, and more.
The Max plan offers me more features like text-to-speech, character builders, and over 89,000 course templates, characters, and images. Additionally, this plan gives me access to an online collaboration tool.
It costs $970 annually and also offers quarterly and six-month plans.
Feature 1: User experience of course builder
iSprint Suite requires you to install it locally on your computer. It works natively on Windows and relies on Microsoft PowerPoint. Mac users can only use this software by installing a Windows operating system on their computers.
To be clear, I don’t like that I have to download and install this software to create courses. It’s less convenient and limits where I can use the platform since it sits only on my desktop computer.
When I finally installed it, the app would exit anytime I clicked the “Create” button to start the course builder and auto-launch my PowerPoint desktop application. I got around this challenge using the platform’s documentation.
I couldn’t test this software fully as the experience was unstable.
Feature 2: Learner engagement tools
The platform promises some learner engagement features like quizzes, role plays, and screencasts. I’m not sure how they work though, since I wasn’t able to test the software fully due to its limitations.
Feature 3: Marketing and payment features
I couldn’t figure these out, but it looks like I have to upload my iSpring courses to other LMSs to publish and host them. That means taking advantage of those LMSs’ native marketing and payment features.
iSpring is compatible with over 150 LMS, including LearnDash, Thinkific, and SAP litmos.
Feature 4: Scalability
iSpring Suite says it’s scalable. But I can’t confirm that since I couldn’t test it fully.
Feature 5: Affordability
I won’t put my money into this software.
Of course, it’s one of the best online course platforms going by the number of awards won, but I just couldn’t figure out how to use it. Maybe it’s just me, but I think it’s too complicated to have such a huge price tag.
Feature 6: Unique features
The role-play function in iSpring Suite helps instructors simulate real-world situations for their students. This future provides quality student engagement and helps them recall lessons in real-world situations.
Notes for declined software
This software has big promises but the setup process is clunky, the software is restricted to the Windows OS, and the platform is unwieldy — you need to set it up from a local computer.