Virtual learning has evolved significantly over the years, gaining unprecedented popularity in today’s world, and it’s here to stay. Here are a few statistics according to Small Biz Trends:
- Corporate eLearning alone has skyrocketed by over 900% since 2001, with the market predicted to reach $165 billion in revenue.
- 90% of students now believe online learning matches or even surpasses the traditional classroom experience.
Whether you’re looking to expand your company’s eLearning initiatives or launch one from scratch, choosing the right distance learning software depends on your goals. Will you create video lessons, build collaborative networks, or manage a library of continuing education? The right tools can make all the difference.
At the same time, remote learning poses unique challenges for students, from missing the classroom environment to navigating unfamiliar technology. Fortunately, modern innovations like advanced software, high-speed internet, and webcam recording have revolutionized education, opening doors to opportunities once deemed impossible.
This guide will introduce 17 of the best distance learning software options, empowering businesses and students alike to thrive in the virtual learning space. Let’s dive in!
What is Distance Learning Software?
Distance learning can be explained as any education provided without the teacher and students being physically present together. Simply, distance learning software is a broad term that refers to how students access learning materials.
Distance learning software offers a range of tools that let teachers conduct lessons, assign tasks, and grade students without face-to-face interaction. These platforms help bridge the communication gap between students, teachers, and parents, making the learning experience more interactive, transparent, and engaging.
Is There a Difference between Online Learning and Distance Learning?
Remote, distance, and online learning all share a common factor: students and teachers are physically separated, relying on technology to stay connected.
While these terms often get mixed up, some key differences exist, especially when discussing distance learning software for educational institutions. Understanding these differences is key when choosing the right learning tools and software to enhance student learning and engagement.
a). Location
Online learning typically happens in a virtual classroom where students and teachers interact in real time. With online learning platforms, students work on lessons and assessments through digital tools like an interactive whiteboard or video lessons.
However, in distance learning, teachers and students are often in separate locations, with all communication and task assignments occurring through distance learning tools, such as video conferencing or learning management systems like Microsoft Teams.
b). Interaction
Online learning fosters direct, in-person interaction during classes, which allows for real-time collaboration and feedback between students and teachers.
On the other hand, distance learning doesn’t involve in-person communication, but communication tools such as video conferencing, discussion boards, and messaging can maintain engagement.
These virtual learning tools can help maintain a connection in the virtual environment, supporting collaborative projects and formative assessment.
c). Purpose
The main goal of online learning is to enrich the traditional classroom by integrating digital learning tools and resources like YouTube videos, Google Slides, and other course material. Distance learning, however, focuses on a more independent teaching and learning approach where teachers create courses and lesson plans, assign tasks, and track student progress entirely through online platforms. This model also supports personalized learning, allowing students to progress at their own pace and access educational content anytime, making it ideal for remote and blended learning scenarios.
When it comes to distance learning, using the right virtual classroom software and management systems is essential for tracking student performance and success. These tools help teachers monitor student engagement, provide timely feedback, and share resources easily, ensuring a productive learning experience, especially during school closures or for training employees.
Integrating these powerful platforms into your remote learning setup allows you to deliver dynamic lessons, save valuable time, and keep your students actively involved, no matter where they are.
1. Zight
When it comes to distance learning tools, Zight is at the head of the classroom. This is because distance learning requires tools that bridge the gap between teachers and students, and Zight does just that. Zight, a Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android all-in-one solution, has an intuitive interface that allows educators to record their screen and webcam simultaneously.
Designed to enhance teaching and learning, Zight equips teachers and course creators with the resources to craft engaging online courses, interactive lessons, and a rich visual content library. Whether teaching in virtual classrooms, blended learning environments, or creating lesson plans for a flipped classroom, Zight empowers educators to deliver high-quality education in any setting.
With its easy-to-use features and powerful capabilities, Zight allows educators, trainers, and managers to effectively communicate complex information and foster collaboration without the need for multiple tools. Here’s why you should choose Zight:
Why Zight is Perfect for Distance Learning
- All-in-One Solution: Zight combines screenshot capturing, screen recordings, GIF creation, and video recording capabilities into one unified platform. This eliminates the need for multiple software tools, simplifying workflows for educators and trainers.
- Visual Communication: Zight easily communicates intricate instructions quickly and clearly. Its visual annotations, including arrows, shapes, and emojis, help highlight key points, making it easier for learners to grasp complex concepts.
- Async Communication: Zight’s asynchronous capabilities are perfect for remote learning environments, allowing educators to create and share lessons, tutorials, and updates without needing to be online simultaneously with students.
- Improved Engagement: Interactive elements, such as GIFs and annotated screenshots, capture attention and make learning more dynamic, which helps keep remote learners engaged and focused.
- Customizable Workflows: With customizable shortcuts and organization features, Zight adapts to different teaching styles, making staying on top of content creation and distribution easy.
Key Features That Make Zight Ideal for Distance Learning
- Comprehensive Media Creation: Take full or partial screenshots, create videos, and GIFs without switching between apps. Perfect for creating quick lessons or visual instructions.
- Powerful Annotations: Add arrows, shapes, and text annotations to your content to highlight important details. Blur sensitive information to maintain privacy or focus attention on critical areas in your materials.
- Effortless Sharing: Share videos and screenshots directly through Zight’s embed code or integrate them into other platforms like Google Classroom, Zoom, or LMS tools for easy distribution.
- Performance Insights: Track how your content is consumed, including views and engagement levels, to fine-tune your teaching approach and ensure students keep up with the material.
- Content Organization: With Collections, you can easily organize and store your learning resources, making it simple to find and share relevant content when needed.
- No-Code Embedding: Embed videos and other media directly into your courses or learning platforms with simple copy-paste embedding without coding knowledge.
Pricing is affordable as it is one of the best distance learning tools, and it includes plenty of tools even with the free plan.
2. Google Classroom
Google Classroom is a free distance learning software designed to streamline the teaching process for both K-12 and higher education. Ideal for creating a virtual classroom, it integrates seamlessly with Google’s suite of tools to enhance student engagement, foster collaboration, and simplify grading and assessment.
Whether managing assignments or creating interactive lessons, Google Classroom offers a versatile learning platform for teachers and students to stay connected and manage the learning process effectively.
Key Features
- Built-in Google Tools: Access tools like Google Slides, Google Docs, Gmail, and more to share course materials and assignments.
- Google Calendar Integration: Set due dates and reminders, helping students stay on track and manage their student learning.
- Media Content Support: Add videos, PDFs, and Google Forms surveys to assignments for an enriched learning experience.
- Grading and Feedback: View, edit, and share grades through the Grades page, tracking student progress efficiently.
- Collaboration Tools: Encourage group projects and communication through discussion boards and file sharing.
- Free for Teachers and Students: Google Classroom is free for teachers and students, though schools must register on Google for Education to access it.
3. Zoom
Zoom is a widely recognized cloud-based software that provides phone, video, and chat services, making it a top choice for distance learning. It combines multiple communication tools into one easy-to-use platform, ideal for creating an interactive and immersive virtual classroom. Whether you’re conducting live lessons, online meetings, or engaging in real-time collaboration, Zoom ensures you stay connected with students and teachers across the globe.
Known for its reliable performance, Zoom is engineered to provide a smooth experience thanks to high-quality video and audio. With secure and high-quality video conferencing, Zoom facilitates student engagement, virtual learning, and interactive lessons. It offers a flexible learning environment for online teaching that’s easy to manage and customize.
Features
- Online Meetings: Host HD audio, video, and chat services for seamless online courses. Record meetings and maintain transcripts for future reference.
- Conference Rooms: Start or join video conferences with a single tap. Zoom integrates easily with existing conference rooms, allowing you to join meetings from any device.
- Phone System: Zoom’s cloud-based phone system ensures a reliable connection for distance learning, with intelligent call routing and the ability to retain your current carrier, no matter where you are.
- Interactive Elements: Use Q&A, polls, and virtual hand-raising to engage students. Track participation with Zoom’s Attention Indicator to ensure an active and collaborative virtual environment.
- Collaboration Tools: Use screen sharing, breakout rooms, and whiteboard features to facilitate group projects and student learning in a virtual classroom.
- Usability: An intuitive platform with easy-to-navigate features that make it accessible to teachers and students.
Pricing starts at $300/year/user, offering flexible plans to suit your needs.
4. Pear Deck
Pear Deck is an innovative distance learning tool that seamlessly integrates with Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint Online to enhance teachers’ creation and delivery of lessons. This powerful add-on makes it easy for educators to turn traditional slides into interactive learning experiences, engaging students with real-time feedback, multimedia, and personalized assessments.
Whether you’re teaching in a virtual classroom or a blended learning environment, Pear Deck encourages student participation and boosts engagement in ways that traditional presentations simply can’t.
With Pear Deck, teachers can foster a more dynamic and collaborative learning experience. It makes tracking student progress easier and keeps everyone involved, no matter where they are learning. Ideal for online teaching, Pear Deck offers a range of interactive features that make lessons more compelling, engaging, and effective.
Features
- Interactive Slides: To actively engage students during your lesson, add questions, polls, and personalized notes to your slides.
- Real-Time Feedback: Teachers can monitor student performance and provide instant feedback, enhancing the learning experience.
- Gamified Practice: Use Pear Practice for standards-aligned content and fun, game-like learning experiences.
- Tutor Support: Connect students with qualified tutors for personalized learning assistance.
- Accessible Dashboard: Manage and interact with students via an easy-to-use dashboard accessible from phones or tablets.
- Audio Integration: Add audio to your presentations to enhance learning and provide deeper explanations.
Pear Deck’s pricing is classified into two:
- Free Version– Available for teachers, providing basic interactive features.
- Premium Version– $149/year with additional features, including enhanced customization and reporting.
5. Class Collaborate, formerly Blackboard Collaborate
Blackboard Collaborate is a powerful distance-learning software designed to support online learning through virtual classrooms. With features like video conferencing, interactive whiteboards, and seamless integration with learning management systems, Blackboard is a reliable tool for engaging students in real time.
Whether you deliver online courses, host group projects, or provide employee training, Blackboard Collaborate creates a flexible and interactive learning environment for students and teachers.
Key features
- Virtual Classroom: Engage students in synchronous learning with real-time interactions. Blackboard ensures a secure learning environment, adhering to FERPA guidelines for data privacy.
- Web Conferencing: Access sessions easily through a browser-based platform. No software installation is required, making it user-friendly for instructors and learners.
- Interactive Whiteboard: Enhance student engagement by using the whiteboard to share ideas, write, draw, or present lesson material. This feature is ideal for creating interactive lessons and promoting student learning.
- Chat Services: Encourage real-time communication through the built-in chat, with emojis and chat history, for better engagement and collaboration. This feature supports formative assessment and helps track student progress.
6. Padlet
Padlet is a user-friendly digital collaboration tool that transforms traditional bulletin boards into interactive, online spaces. Perfect for distance learning, educators can create dynamic boards where students can easily post notes, images, videos, links, and more. The platform’s intuitive interface promotes active participation, making it a go-to choice for online classrooms.
With real-time collaboration capabilities, Padlet enables teachers to foster creativity, spark discussions, and enhance student engagement. Whether accessed via a browser or mobile app, Padlet offers a flexible solution for diverse teaching needs, boosting digital literacy and providing a space for students to express their ideas.
Key Features
- Interactive Boards: Create customizable boards where students can post text, images, videos, and links, making it an ideal space for sharing and organizing content.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Students and teachers can add content simultaneously, promoting active engagement and teamwork.
- User-Friendly Interface: Simple drag-and-drop features make it easy to use, even for beginners, enhancing the learning experience.
- Customizable Layouts and Themes: Choose from various layouts and themes to create visually appealing boards that suit different topics and projects.
- Access Across Devices: This app is available for iOS and Android or via any web browser, providing flexible access for students and teachers.
- Commenting and Feedback: Enable students to leave comments and feedback, facilitating peer review and interactive discussions.
- Privacy Controls: Offers options to keep boards private, public, or accessible only with a link, ensuring control over who can view and contribute.
Pricing is Classroom: $199/year and School starts at $1,000/year
7. Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a transformative distance learning platform that offers free, high-quality educational resources to learners of all ages. The platform combines instructional videos, practice exercises, and a personalized learning dashboard to support self-paced learning inside and outside the classroom.
Covering a broad spectrum of subjects like math, science, computing, history, and economics, Khan Academy also provides specialized preparation for standardized tests such as the SAT, LSAT, and Praxis. As a non-profit, the platform remains accessible to everyone, with donations supporting its continued growth.
Key Features
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Covers K-12 education, test preparation, and college-level topics across math, science, reading, history, and more.
- Personalized Learning Dashboard: Enables students to track progress and study independently, revisiting lessons as needed.
- Instructional Videos and Practice Exercises: Offers easy-to-follow tutorials and exercises to reinforce learning concepts.
- Gamified Learning: Uses engaging progress tracking and achievement badges to motivate students.
- Teacher Integration: Teachers can enroll students, monitor their progress, and guide learning pathways.
- Parent Resources and Daily Schedules: Provides tools to help parents support remote learning at home.
- Test Prep Support: Offers specialized content for exams like the SAT and LSAT, helping students prepare effectively.
Accessible to all, with no subscription fees, ensuring equal learning opportunities.
8. EdPuzzle
Edpuzzle is a digital learning tool designed to help educators transform any video into an interactive and engaging lesson. With its user-friendly platform, teachers can easily turn videos into customized learning experiences that encourage active participation from students.
Whether pulling from Edpuzzle’s vast library or uploading your videos, this platform allows seamless editing and personalization.
Key Features
- Interactive Video Creation: Teachers can add questions, voice notes, and comments at specific points in a video, turning passive viewing into an active learning experience.
- Vast Video Library: Access a wide range of videos from trusted sources like YouTube, Khan Academy, and National Geographic, or upload your own content for a fully tailored lesson.
- Real-Time Analytics: Edpuzzle provides detailed analytics to track student understanding and performance, allowing teachers to assess comprehension and adjust instruction as needed.
- Customizable Content: Teachers can edit videos by cutting sections, adding notes, or embedding questions to create a unique learning experience for their students.
- Accessibility Across Devices: The platform is accessible on desktop and mobile browsers, with dedicated apps for iOS and Android, making it easy to use on any device.
Edpuzzle offers a free version with limited storage and basic features, while premium plans unlock additional storage, exclusive content, and advanced analytics tools to enhance the teaching experience further.
9. Moodle
Moodle is one of the most widely used distance learning software solutions, providing an open-source learning management system (LMS) designed to enhance online learning.
Its flexible and customizable platform allows educators to create, manage, and deliver online courses, making it an excellent choice for educational institutions, from schools to universities.
Moodle supports a variety of virtual learning tools, providing students and teachers with the resources to succeed in a virtual classroom environment.
Key features
- Course Creation and Management: Moodle allows you to structure your course material with various formats, including lessons, assignments, and quizzes
- Interactive Lessons: Engage learners with multimedia content, video lessons, audio files, and interactive activities to enhance student engagement and support different learning styles
- Communication Tools: Moodle includes built-in communication tools such as discussion forums, interactive whiteboard sessions, chat rooms, and messaging, making it easier for students and instructors to connect.
- Assessment and Feedback: Track student progress through formative assessments, quizzes, and surveys and provide timely feedback on assignments and student performance.
- Integration with Other Tools: Integrates seamlessly with other virtual learning tools and learning management systems, such as Google Classroom, Google Docs, and Microsoft Teams
- Mobile Accessibility: Moodle is compatible with mobile devices through its app, allowing students to access online courses and complete assignments on the go. This supports a more flexible learning environment for students to learn at their own pace.
- Analytics and Reporting: Provide detailed reports on student learning, helping instructors track student engagement and identify improvement areas.
10. Schoolhouse.world
Schoolhouse.world is a distance learning software that enables students to connect with their peers in small group sessions. Whether they are struggling with a particular subject or simply looking for a different perspective, Schoolhouse.world allows students to find clarity and improve their understanding through personalized, peer-driven learning.
This platform provides an inclusive and flexible solution for online learning, empowering both students and teachers to create meaningful learning experiences in a virtual classroom. With its focus on student progress and fostering a supportive community, Schoolhouse.world is a valuable addition to any learning management system or virtual learning tools suite.
Key Features
- Personalized Learning Experience: Provide tailored support through peer tutoring ensuring that each student gets the assistance they need
- Peer-to-Peer Tutoring: Offer new perspectives that help students better understand concepts, improving both their engagement and learning process.
- Leadership and Collaboration: Students can take on the role of peer tutors, reinforcing their own knowledge while developing important leadership skills and fostering a sense of empathy.
- Interactive and Engaging: Group sessions that allow real-time collaboration increases student engagement and enhances the overall learning experience.
- Global Reach and Accessibility: Making it an excellent option for educational institutions looking to support English language learners and provide access to quality education regardless of location.
- Flexible Integration: Works seamlessly with other online learning platforms like Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace, allowing teachers to incorporate it into their existing learning management systems and enhance course material with peer tutoring.
- Inclusive Education: Its not just for struggling students and it empowers students interested in furthering their learning by connecting them with peers who can challenge them and provide different perspectives.
Schoolhouse.world offers a free version, ensuring that students and educators can access quality tutoring without additional costs.
11. Blackboard
Blackboard was designed for teachers and students to collaborate and communicate with each other about school lessons, tools, and other educational resources – but many companies have adapted it for their use.
New employees need to be onboarded, and Blackboard makes it easier for them to engage and assist them as they learn.
All the materials you may have for new hires are stored and accessed through one central hub, keeping everything organized and everyone on track.
Collaboration happens on any device, so employees can learn – and you can teach – anytime, anywhere.
You will depend on Blackboard to manage many important resources, which is why they ensure virtually zero downtime. Plus, you never have to upgrade it – new features are ready to use as soon as they’re available.
Blackboard lets you design high-quality learning materials and make them easy for employees to access.
12. WeVideo
WeVideo is an online video editor for professionals who aren’t video editors. This makes it perfect for HR managers or other department heads to create their video lessons for a variety of learning and training options.
It’s pretty fast for video editing software – you won’t have to wait hours for big files to finish uploading. And multiple video formats allow you to post these videos on any site for high-quality viewing.
If you want to add background video or images to a presenter speaking, WeVideo has a green screen feature that lets you easily manipulate the video image to show whatever you want.
If you’re creating a voiceover video or don’t have the time or budget to shoot many of your own videos, you don’t have to. WeVideo has a massive stock library of over 1 million media pieces, including videos, images, and music.
WeVideo works on any device—Chromebook, Windows, Mac, and mobile. You can edit videos on your Android or iOS device using native mobile apps.
Since WeVideo is cloud-based distance learning software, it also gives you unlimited storage for all your media files without requiring you to download or install anything.
Plus, WeVideo integrates seamlessly with your existing systems – providing peace of mind without a drop in productivity.
13. Prezi
Prezi is the alternative to Powerpoint that’s shaking up the business world and making presentations much easier to execute.
A Harvard research study found that Prezi was “more engaging, persuasive, and effective than PowerPoint.”
The study’s presenters performed a high-stakes presentation for the audience in three different ways: orally, with PowerPoint, and with Prezi.
Presenters said Prezi gave them more tools and was the easiest to use.
Audience members overwhelmingly preferred Prezi over the other two forms of presentations.
According to the survey participants:
- Prezi was 12% more organized than PowerPoint
- Prezi was 16% more engaging than PowerPoint
- Prezi was 21% more persuasive than PowerPoint
- Prezi was rated 25% more effective than PowerPoint
And the audience believed that presenters using Prezi seemed “more knowledgeable and professional.”
The reason why Prezi performed so well in this study has to do with one particular feature that PowerPoint simply doesn’t have:
14. Zooming User Interface or ZUI.
Instead of static slides delivered in a linear order – like In PowerPoint – Prezi lets presenters “zoom in” on specific details of their presentation and then “zoom out” to show the full picture. You no longer have to hunt through slides to find the content you’re looking for – you’re free to navigate anywhere in the presentation.
You can create beautiful charts and graphs in Prezi, and after revealing the data, you can zoom in to reveal the stories behind the data with supporting media such as text, images, and videos.
Prezi is a powerful distance learning tool that uses a drag-and-drop editor for creating dynamic presentations that keep your employees engaged while learning.
15. Bridge
Bridge is a scalable solution for building engaging learning programs. Bridge wants to help you make people the center of your business with their learning and development platform.
For example, instead of creating one-size-fits-all training, you can create role-based training that helps new hires or individuals changing roles adapt to their new positions and get onboarded effectively.
Often, employees aren’t inspired to learn. They may be indifferent, unmotivated, or intimidated by what they have to learn. But you know they need to learn to do their jobs. However, learning under “obligation” rarely delivers the results you’re looking for.
Bridge helps inspire employees to see the learning and training you create as an “opportunity” for growth with real career payoffs.
Bridge enables more than just top-down training for employees. It also allows peer-to-peer learning that’s highly social and easily accessible – leveraging the knowledge of other employees, not just upper management.
Bridge also takes it a step beyond employee learning. You can use Bridge to chart the learning paths of company leaders in all departments, not just the C-suite.
Sometimes, you pour a lot of time and effort into training lessons but still fail to engage or educate employees. That’s why Bridge features data-driven insights that allow learners to provide feedback on the content you create or curate for them.
None of these features would matter much if employees don’t remember their training lessons, so Bridge includes intermittent quizzes to help employees retain and use what they learn.
And if you’re worried about creating your own content, Bridge comes with 20 pre-made, ready-to-use courses covering topics in HR, compliance, conflict management, and plenty more.
Bridge is fantastic distance learning software that more companies should consider using.
16. TalentLMS
TalentLMS is an award-winning learning management system (LMS) that helps companies create and manage employee training material.
TalentLMS was built for people without any technical expertise – cutting down on complexity and making it easy for you to create training videos, lesson plans, and entire courses. Everything is stored and tracked inside a central hub, so you don’t have to hunt for different shared docs, random emails, or use outdated information.
Employees can access TalentLMS using any device, so learning can continue out of the office. All progress learners make will be saved and synced so they can pick back up where they left off the next time they log in.
A lot of TalentLMS is customizable so you can cater to different interests, languages, and needs. You can also white-label it with your custom domain, logo, and theme.
To help you make better decisions, TalentLMS produces visual reports about virtually everything inside your elearning hub. Keep stakeholders informed and stay on top of learner needs and your company’s objectives.
17. Dropbox
Dropbox is an elegant solution to a complex problem: sharing files. And it’s become one of the biggest file-sharing services in the world.
You may not need a full LMS or better presentation software.
Perhaps you only need a cost-effective solution for sharing learning tools and resources. You may already have an LMS and training materials, but you need a good place to store them, and your current system isn’t cutting it.
Dropbox was built for teams, employees, and managers to help them stay organized and focused.
Learning happens in various ways, and you may use various resources to facilitate education. Dropbox lets you store traditional files, cloud content, Dropbox-specific docs, web shortcuts, and nearly any other type of data, including files from other services like Google Docs or Microsoft Office.
Since Dropbox is cloud-based, everything is synced across all devices. With Dropbox Spaces, you can see your files and your presentations next to your to-do lists and any other tools you use to move learning projects forward.
You can also connect other popular tools like Slack and Zoom to store and access conversations alongside your other learning resources.
Dropbox is a distance learning tool that lets you organize, coordinate, and communicate everything you need with everyone who needs it.
Discover More Reasons Why Zight is Essential Distance Learning Software
G2 Crowd has ranked Zight as one of the top sales enablement tools, and we continue to help companies improve communication and training with one of the easiest-to-use visual content tools available.
53% of the Fortune 500, including industry leaders like Basecamp and HelpScout, use Zight to create and share visual content quickly with their team.
Zight is a distance learning tool packaged in an enterprise-grade app that’s inexpensive, simple, and effective. Sign up for a free Zight account today and discover how the online teaching tool can transform your classroom.
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