Articulate
Rise.
Rise is Articulate's web-based authoring tool — block-based, responsive by default, fast to produce in. If Storyline is the workshop, Rise is the workhorse.
What it's great at.
Responsive by default
Every Rise block looks correct on phones, tablets, and desktop without any manual tuning. This single fact saves enormous amounts of time compared to most slide-based tools, where responsiveness is hand-work.
Fast to produce
A Rise course goes from script to launch in days, not weeks. The block library — text, image, video, knowledge check, scenario, accordion — covers most needs without custom work. The format keeps authors focused on writing rather than fighting layouts.
Web-based and collaborative
Multiple authors can work on a course at the same time. Reviewers can comment via Articulate Review. No installation, no file syncing, no "who has the latest version" confusion.
LMS-friendly output
Rise exports SCORM 1.2, 2004, xAPI, and Web. Drop the package into any modern LMS and it works. We've tested with SuccessFactors, Cornerstone, Litmos, Moodle, and Workday with no surprises.
Where it struggles.
Limited customisation
You can adjust the colour palette, fonts, and accent style. You cannot move blocks pixel-by-pixel, override the underlying CSS, or build custom layouts. This is by design — and on most projects, that's a feature. When it's not, Rise will frustrate you.
Built-in interactions are limited
Rise has good multi-select and single-choice knowledge checks, flip cards, tabs, and accordions. Anything more complex — deep branching, custom drag-and-drop puzzles, scoring logic — needs Storyline or a workaround.
Subscription-only
Rise comes bundled in Articulate 360. There's no perpetual licence, no team tier, no light edition. For organisations producing one course a year, the subscription cost is hard to justify.
Custom HTML embeds can break accessibility
Rise's standard blocks are keyboard-navigable and screen-reader-friendly. Embedded HTML or JavaScript — used to extend Rise — can sidestep all of that. Be deliberate about what you embed.
Hard to differentiate visually
Rise's strength — consistent, predictable layouts — is also its weakness. Two Rise courses from two different vendors can look almost identical. If brand distinctiveness matters, expect to invest in custom themes and asset work.
When Rise is the right call.
Pick Rise when
- The content is linear and largely text/image driven.
- Mobile delivery matters and responsive output is a hard requirement.
- You need to ship in days, not weeks.
- Multiple authors will collaborate on the same course.
- You're producing several courses a year that need a consistent look.
Pick something else when
- The interaction is the point — use Storyline for branching, simulations, custom logic.
- Brand distinctiveness matters more than speed — consider Chameleon Creator or HowToo.
- You only need a single interaction — embed a Storyline file inside a Rise course instead.
- You want AI-assisted authoring — Mindsmith goes further on that front.
- You're producing one course a year and the Articulate 360 subscription is hard to justify.
In practice.
Compliance courses
WHS, harassment prevention, cyber security awareness, code of conduct. Linear, knowledge-check-heavy, content-driven. Rise's natural territory.
Onboarding modules
"Welcome to the company" courses with values, structure, and an introduction to people and tools. Rise's flexible block library suits the variety of content types.
Product and system training
Walkthroughs with screenshots, embedded videos, and short knowledge checks. Rise's video block plus image-and-text blocks handle this pattern well.
Policy and procedure modules
Process steps, decision trees that aren't true branching, FAQs. Rise's accordion, tabs, and list blocks make these readable on any screen.
We build in Rise
every week.
Rise is the tool we reach for first on most projects. Three-week delivery, transparent pricing, zero drama.