What’s the first thing you think when considering elearning for your organisation?
Probably, “How much is this going to cost?”
It’s a valid question and one that doesn’t always come with a simple answer. It is often too difficult to get a simple answer about pricing.
Companies make it difficult to get a price.
Custom courses can be difficult to price, and you can end up with prices that vary massively.
Whether you’re exploring off-the-shelf solutions or custom-built courses, pricing depends on several factors. Let’s break it down.
Key Data on Elearning Costs
Let’s take a look at some of the data around pricing for off the shield courses and custom courses. We’ll look at custom courses first.
It is important to remember that custom prices will vary depending on the complexity of the solution and the software that you are using. Custom solutions might now use RISE 360 from Articulate and this will massively reduce the development time and cost.
- $5,000 to $10,000 per hour (Level 1): Basic, lower-interactivity courses with simple graphics and limited multimedia.
Source: elearning Industry (2023) - $10,000 to $20,000 per hour (Level 2): Moderately interactive courses incorporating quizzes, some animations, and a more polished design.
Source: CommLab India (2023) - $20,000 to $50,000+ per hour (Level 3): Highly interactive content with simulations, branching scenarios, custom animations, and gamified elements.
Source: Designing Digitally (2022) - Ongoing Costs Vary: Maintenance, content updates, and platform hosting fees can add between 10%–30% to initial development costs annually.
Source: The Learning Guild (2021)
Key Data & Sources on Off-the-Shelf Courses
- $20–$200+ per course (individual pricing): Many off-the-shelf courses from platforms like OpenSesame are priced per course, typically starting at about $20 and extending up to a few hundred dollars depending on depth and complexity.
Source: OpenSesame (2023) - $200–$600+ per user per year (subscription-based): Subscription models for library access (e.g., Skillsoft, Udemy Business, LinkedIn Learning) often range from a few hundred dollars per user annually, depending on the size of the catalogue and customisation options.
Source: Skillsoft (2023), Udemy Business (2023), LinkedIn Learning (2023) - $240–$360 per user per year (LinkedIn Learning): LinkedIn Learning’s annual subscriptions often run in this range, providing broad access to a variety of professional development courses.
Source: LinkedIn Learning (2023) - Bulk Purchase Discounts: Larger organisations often receive discounts for bulk purchases or enterprise-wide licensing, reducing the per-user cost and making off-the-shelf courses more cost-effective at scale.
Source: elearning Industry (2022)
Off-the-Shelf Courses: The Ready-Made Option
Off-the-shelf courses are pre-designed and ready to use, often focused on specific topics like compliance, leadership, cyber security or technical skills.
- Pricing Models: Typically, you can buy individual courses or access a library of hundreds (or even thousands). Costs are influenced by factors like licensing terms (e.g., per user or flat fee for unlimited access) and course features like accreditation.
- Delivery Options: These courses are often delivered through e-commerce platforms, hosted on the provider’s LMS, or downloaded for integration into your own LMS/LXP. Licensing is usually annual, and bulk purchases often come with discounts.
Scott Hewitt asks “Have you considered whether an off-the-shelf course could meet your needs for as little as 99p, or do you require a tailored solution for a specific training challenge? Could a mix of off-the-shelf and custom content offer the best value for your budget?”
Expect to pay anywhere from £1 per user per course to £10,000+ for a comprehensive library.
Have a clear understanding of what your budget is and what your skills gaps are. You can then begin to look at elearning course providers.
It’s important that you have a clear review process so that you can understand what you are getting for your money and the courses are of the highest quality for your organisation. Don’t just look at a couple of courses at an exhibition and then press the buy button!
Custom Elearning Courses: Designed To Your Specification
Custom courses are built to address specific organisational challenges. They’re entirely bespoke, making them ideal for unique or niche training needs.
You might have a specific content requirement that you only cover in your organisation. This is when you might need to look at a custom solution. At this stage you’ll need to look at the technical solution, complexity and the type of solutions available to you.
If you are thinking about custom, there is something that you need to consider: customisation comes with complexity.
- Costs Breakdown:
A single course might require input from multiple specialists—scriptwriters, graphic designers, animators, programmers, and project managers. Even for a modest project, day rates of £400 per expert quickly add up. You might find experts at a lower rate on platforms like fiverr and people per hour, but ensure that you’ve done your research before you select people. - Variables to Consider:
Budget requirements hinge on your script length, desired interactivity, animation needs, and whether you want features like voiceover or advanced tech (e.g., VR/AR). Small-scale projects might start at £6,000, but more complex ones can easily exceed £20,000.
Scott Hewitt asks “Have you assessed whether your training needs are so specific that only a custom solution will do, or could you adapt your content to fit an off-the-shelf course?”
Are you prepared for the higher costs of customisation if your course requires interactivity, bespoke animations, or voiceovers? Don’t forget the internal costs, you’ll need to allocate time for reviews, speaking to the project team, meetings and creating speciation documents.
What Do Market Trends Tell Us?
Market research shows that the cost of creating an elearning course fluctuates significantly based on the desired instructional design, multimedia elements, and the use of professional talent.
- Basic Courses: These typically cost a few thousand pounds per finished hour.
- Advanced Interactive Programmes: Prices for highly interactive or custom-designed courses can reach tens of thousands of pounds.
Scott Hewitt asks “Is it a misconception that elearning always requires a huge budget? Could understanding market options—both custom and off-the-shelf—help you make better decisions?”
Do you feel tied to one vendor, or could exploring multiple providers provide better value? Make sure that you look through the market to see what options are available? Don’t get caught out by expensive yearly upgrades.
This allows organisations to choose solutions that align with their objectives and budgets, whether opting for an affordable off-the-shelf solution or investing in a high-end, custom-tailored programme.
Navigating the Process: Practical Tips
Here’s how to streamline your journey and ensure you get the most value:
- Define Your Budget Early: Share your budget upfront to avoid wasting time on proposals beyond your means.
- Be Precise in Your Requirements: The more detail you provide, the more accurate and useful the quotes you’ll receive.
- Consider Semi-Custom Solutions: These offer some personalisation without the full cost of a bespoke course.
- Don’t Over-Customise Off-the-Shelf Content: Adding a logo or making small tweaks can be costly with minimal ROI.
Off-the-Shelf vs Custom: The Choice
If your budget is tight, off-the-shelf libraries offer immense value with fast deployment and SCORM-compliant designs. For example, a ready-made library with unlimited user access can cost £5,000 to £10,000, while developing the same breadth of custom content would be far more expensive.
However, if you need something highly specific, custom work is worth the investment—just start small to test feasibility and impact.
Final Considerations
Whichever route you choose, think beyond the course itself:
- Deployment Matters: Have a plan for rolling out content and informing your audience.
- Mix and Match: Combine off-the-shelf and custom solutions to meet diverse needs effectively.
Scott Hewitt concludes “The key is understanding your budget and exploring the market. Could you combine content from different vendors to create the ideal learning experience?”
Bottom line? The cost of elearning varies widely, but with clarity and the right partner, you can achieve high-quality training without blowing your budget.
Q&A: Elearning Costs
What is the average cost of an elearning course?
The cost of an elearning course varies widely. Basic off-the-shelf courses start as low as 99p per user, while custom solutions range from £6,000 to over £50,000 per hour, depending on complexity, interactivity, and multimedia features.
How much does elearning cost?
Off-the-shelf libraries cost £5,000–£10,000 annually for unlimited access. Custom courses depend on design needs, starting at £6,000 for basic designs and rising with added features like animations, voiceovers, or interactive elements. Maintenance adds 10–30% annually.
How much is it to create an online course?
Creating a custom course typically costs £5,000 to £50,000+ per finished hour. Costs depend on multimedia needs, interactivity, and course length. Off-the-shelf courses are more affordable, often costing a fraction of the price.
How long does it take to create one hour of elearning?
One hour of elearning content takes 100–300 development hours. The time varies based on the course’s complexity, with interactive or multimedia-heavy courses requiring more time for design, scripting, and programming.
