Customizable Interactions
Definition
Customizable Interactions measures how far beyond basic click-through slides an author can go — including custom drag-and-drop, hotspot, timeline, accordion, simulation, and game-like interactions. This criterion captures both the breadth of available interaction types and the depth of customization possible within or beyond those types.
Why it matters: Passive content consumption produces minimal learning retention. Interactive elements increase engagement and learning transfer. Complex scenarios (software simulations, sales roleplay, compliance decision trees) require rich interaction capabilities.
Rankings
| Tool | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articulate 360 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | Storyline: unlimited custom via triggers/JS; Rise: polished blocks |
| Lectora | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | Free-form layout + action scripting + JS; comparable depth to Storyline |
| dominKnow | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4) | Software sims; responsive interactions; strong depth |
| Parta.io | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4) | No-code editor + custom CSS; flexible for non-devs |
| iSpring Suite | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4) | Interaction Library + TalkMaster; 14+ question types |
| Elucidat | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4) | Learning Accelerator-guided; wide interaction library |
| Mindsmith | ⭐⭐⭐ (3) | 20+ elements; adequate for microlearning; ceiling lower |
| Easygenerator | ⭐⭐⭐ (3) | Deliberately simple; good for SME-generated content |
| Gomo Learning | ⭐⭐⭐ (3) | Standard interactive elements; missing screen recording/video edit |
Key Insight
Articulate Storyline and Lectora represent a categorically different capability level — they are programming environments for interactions, not just authoring tools. A developer with JavaScript can extend either platform to build anything a browser can render. The other tools in this comparison are authoring tools with pre-defined interaction patterns.
Parta.io’s custom CSS blocks bridge the gap for front-end designers: while not as powerful as Storyline’s trigger system, the ability to write custom CSS gives designers layout and style control far beyond template-bound tools.
Interaction Type Matrix
| Interaction Type | Articulate | Lectora | dominKnow | iSpring | Parta.io | Elucidat | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drag and drop | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Partial | ✅ | Limited |
| Hotspot | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Partial | ✅ | Limited |
| Timeline/Process | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tabs/Accordion | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Screen simulation | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Max) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Motion paths | ✅ | Partial | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Branching dialogue | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Max) | ❌ | Partial | ❌ |
| Custom CSS/JS | ✅ (JS) | ✅ | Limited | ❌ | ✅ (CSS) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Gamification | ✅ | ✅ | Partial | Partial | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |