Being an eLearning Developer/Designer I’ve had to use both, as most in this position will have to do. If you are relatively new to eLearning and are on the fence, then I hope this may help you decide.
Assuming you don’t have the time to learn both applications and you would rather buy the one most suitable for you, these two factors may be all you need to decide.
- Adobe Captivate will do all that any eLearning developer requires of an authoring tool, but you sometimes need a lot of creativity and workarounds to do it. Sometimes, I’ve found better ways of doing something just by trying to find a creative workaround for another challenge. It does take time and can be frustrating.
- Articulate Storyline is clean and also has what you need to get the job done. But, you may be limited in its flexibility to do something a little more out-of-the-box. What is available, however, is wonderfully simple, which may take some creativity in Captivate.
There are a number of other pros and cons, but these two are the foundation of your day-to-day development – you will get used to either one and it will soon become your favorite.
Keep in mind, these points will become relevant as you get more proficient, not as you’re learning. There are eLearning Evangelists, like Paul Wilson, along the way to help you get there. Also, the ends are the same, it’s just a different means of getting there.
I’ve just returned to Storyline after a stint with Captivate and I’m loving it, but that’s just me.
HKKS Education 