Top 8 Virtual Training Platforms For Effective Corporate Learning in 2023

Corporate training can be a tough gig. Especially when your trainees are learning remotely with pinging notifications, childcare responsibilities, needy dogs, and all kinds of distractions at home.

Remote teams need human interaction to stay motivated and feel invested in the company. And you’re far more likely to earn customer loyalty with hands-on customer education that allows you to build rapport and answer questions live.

So, you need a dynamic online training environment that engages learners and helps them retain information. But how to choose your virtual classroom software? Take a look at our list of the top 8 virtual training platforms, selected and reviewed with effective, engaging training in mind.

8 Virtual instructor-led training platforms to consider

Virtual instructor-led training (VILT) is delivered live, online, and led by an experienced facilitator. The session facilitator and learners can join from anywhere, using a virtual platform with video conferencing enabled.

VILT can sometimes integrate with an LMS to enhance the training experience with efficient scheduling, progress tracking, and easy access to supplementary materials. Below, we’ve listed some of the best video conferencing platforms and LMSs for remote learning:

1. Livestorm: Best all-in-one video engagement platform
2. Adobe Connect: Best video platform dedicated to online training
3. Zoom: Best for straightforward internal training
4. Cisco Webex Training: Best for tracking trainee progress
5. Docebo: Best for learning management automation
6. Paradiso: Best for ready-to-use courses in multiple languages
7. Absorb: Best for tailored and on-brand training
8. Blackboard Learn: Best for running multiple e-learning modules

1. Livestorm: Best all-in-one video engagement platform

Livestorm is a browser-based video engagement software that can host live virtual training and hybrid learning sessions with up to 3000 attendees - making it ideal for small and large teams. Our wide range of features makes us the all-in-one video conferencing platform for all internal communications, including one-to-one or one-to-many training courses.

Key Features

• Browser-based platform. Since Livestorm is web-based, your team members can join sessions without downloading an app or even creating an account.
• Automatic recordings. You can convert live training into an on-demand training resource.
• Live engagement features. Live chat, polls, and Q&A make your virtual training interactive and keep employees engaged.
• Triggered emails and workflows. Customize and send automated email reminders, so employees don't miss out on any training.
• Breakout rooms. Run focused discussions or quarterback individual learning sessions.
• Handouts plugin. You can share downloadable PDFs, and other resources in real-time, for easy knowledge retention.
• Integrations with 1000+ business tools. Tools like Slack, Miro interactive whiteboard, and Google Calendar make Livestorm a part of your existing workflow.

What can you use it for?

Livestorm can be used for all internal communications, including virtual training sessions, workshops, employee onboarding, and team meetings. Since it’s so intuitive - and easy to access from your web browser — it’s also ideal for customer education, including client onboarding and product demos.

Pricing

You can test the platform for free with 20 minutes event duration and 10 registrants per event. When you’re ready to get started for real, opt for the Pro plan at $88 per month or get a custom quote for the Business and Enterprise plan based on your needs.

2. Adobe Connect: Best video platform dedicated to online training

Adobe Connect is a video conferencing platform that enables learning environments for virtual training programs. It can host up to 1000 participants for a single session. Naturally, it integrates really well with other Adobe tools like Adobe Captivate, and Adobe Learning Manager (the Adobe LMS). So, if you’re already an Adobe fan, you’ll love how easily you can incorporate content from any of these applications.

Key Features

• Custom learning environments. You can customize the layout of your meeting room and save it as a template to use later.
• Content management. You can easily store, manage, and share PDFs, audio files, and videos in the online content library for easy accessibility.
• Virtual classrooms. Trainers can create virtual classrooms so employees can interact with one another and the trainer in real time.
• Custom Apps. Use timers, surveys, and clocks for your pods, or create your own fun apps with HTML SDK files.

What can you use it for?

Adobe Connect can be used for all corporate training, like remote onboarding, product training, and sales training. Since it integrates with its own LMS, it’s ideal for blended learning — where learners can engage in self-paced and synchronous e-learning.

Pricing

The free version allows for up to 3 participants with basic functionalities. If you want more from the platform, the pricing starts from $130 per month per host for 100-1500 Participants. And if you have a larger team, you can request a custom quote.

3. Zoom: Best for straightforward internal training

Like Livestorm, Zoom is also a video conferencing platform. With up to 1000 participants supported on the Enterprise plan, and limited options for customizing your branding, Zoom’s core use case is video conferencing for internal teams. It’s best for straightforward face-to-face training where branding isn’t as important.

Key Features

• Screen sharing and annotations. Draw or highlight important information on the shared screen, making it easy to collaborate and share ideas.
• Breakout rooms. You can divide large teams into smaller groups for discussions or individual learning sessions.
• Engagement tools. Live chats and emoji reactions keep employees engaged.
• Cloud-based storage. You can store Zoom recordings in Cloud storage which can be downloaded or streamed from a browser for future use.
• Integrates with 2000+ tools. Zoom integrates with Slack, Google workspace, Microsoft Teams, and Asana for smoother team collaboration.

What can you use it for?

While Zoom is ideal for corporate training sessions and workshops, it is also used by many educational institutions for online classes, remote tutoring, and student-teacher interactions. A browser-based version is available, but it works best as a desktop app because only the app gives you access to admin-level controls.

Pricing

Zoom’s free version comes with a limitation of up to 40 minutes duration per meeting and 100 attendees per meeting. If you only want an increased meeting for up to 30 hours, the Pro plan is $149 per user per year. You can opt for the Business plan at $199 per user per year for up to 300 attendees. You can also request a custom quote for the Enterprise plan for up to 1000 attendees.

4. Cisco Webex Training: Best for tracking trainee progress

Cisco Webex Training is a solution within the Cisco Webex family, specifically designed for employee training and virtual classrooms. You can use it to host live training sessions as well as to create interactive learning materials. It’s also super easy to create live quizzes and assignments which you can use to track every trainee’s progress.

Key features

• Collaborative classroom. Create breakout rooms, polls, and live Q&A sessions, and track responses for a fully interactive learning experience.
• Multimedia sharing. Share Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, and documents, stream videos, whiteboards, and Adobe Flash animations.
• Cross-platform support. The Cisco Webex environment is accessible from a laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
• Registration and reporting. Set up self-scheduling, registration management, and attendance reporting. Launch sessions with a single click directly from Microsoft Outlook.

What can you use it for?

Cisco Webex Training is perfect for hybrid training, virtual classroom sessions, webinars, and employee onboarding.

Pricing

Webex offers a free plan but it’s limited to 100 participants. If you need live Q&A, polls, and multi-language transcription support you can opt for the Meet plan at $14.50 per license per month (up to 200 attendees). And if you need support up to 1000 attendees you can request a custom quote for the Enterprise plan.

5. Docebo: Best LMS for learning management automation

Docebo is a cloud-based LMS that allows companies to create, manage and deliver their internal training content in one platform. With its learning automation features, Docebo can be used to create a highly interactive virtual learning environment with 300+ learners — whether that’s customers, partners, or employees.

Key Features

• Course creation and management. You can create and edit custom courses using Docebo's drag-and-drop LMS
• Quiz and exam creation. Test your employees' understanding of the training material and assess employee performance with detailed reports.
• Gamification. Add badges, points, and leaderboards to motivate employees to complete the training.
• Integrations. Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Adobe Connect integrate with your Docebo learning environment.

What can you use it for?

Docebo is best for customer training, online employee onboarding, sales training, compliance training, and professional development.

Pricing

Docebo offers custom pricing solutions based on the number of active users, tailored branding, custom reporting and dashboard, and admin controls.

6. Paradiso: Best for ready-to-use courses in multiple languages

Like Docebo, Paradiso is designed for creating and delivering custom learning modules. It supports 80 languages and has an e-learning library of 5,000+ ready-to-use courses. It integrates with 100+ third-party tools for web conferencing, authoring, collaboration, and storage.

Key features

• Multiple course options. Choose from course types based on learning activity - single or weekly - and easily assign to learners.
• Social Learning. Discussion boards, forums, and communities allow employees to collaborate and share their knowledge.
• Gamification. Make training fun with points, badges, leaderboard rankings, and group challenges.
• Integrates with 100+ tools. Integrations with tools like Dropbox, Google Apps, and iSpring help create an effective learning ecosystem.

What can you use it for?

Paradiso is ideal for internal training like employee training, employee onboarding, compliance training, and leadership and management training. Since Paradiso offers extensive course formats, it is also ideal for external training like customer training, partner training, and certification training.

Pricing

Paradiso offers a free trial version and custom pricing plans based on your number of users and the support you need.

7. Absorb: Best for tailored and on-brand training

Absorb helps create multiple learning portals with customized branding. It supports live training and on-demand courses on any mobile device so your learners can engage anytime, anywhere.

Key Features

• Course authoring. Use existing ready-made courses from the content library or tailor courses for your learners.
• In-app announcements. Promote certain courses or make announcements using the welcome billboard.
• Automated administration. Set triggers for scheduling and repetitive tasks and automatically create new employee accounts.
• Reporting. Collect data like the number of courses in the system and students enrolled and measure the effectiveness of training programs
• Integrations. Tools like Zoom, BambooHR, Webex, and G Suite integrate seamlessly for an intuitive learning environment.

What can you use it for?

Absorb is ideal for internal training like employee onboarding, employee development, social learning, compliance training, and sales training. It can also be used for external training like partner training and customer training.

Pricing

Custom pricing is available depending on the number of users, training content type, and required features.

8. Blackboard Learn: Best for running multiple e-learning modules

Blackboard Learn is also a cloud-based LMS (meaning it exists on the internet, rather than your hard drive) that aims at delivering online and blended learning experiences. It creates a digital classroom for remote learners and corporations that want a hybrid learning environment.

Key features

• Web conferencing solution. Learners can join live training sessions from their dashboard with one click.
• Registration and reporting. The registration portal enables enrollment management, a manager dashboard, and reporting tools for effective training.
• Notifications. Set broadcast or custom alert triggers across communication channels like SMS and email.
• Learning assessment. Create and administer quizzes and exams and track student scores.
• Collaboration tools. Tools like discussion boards, blogs, wikis, and groups boost employee engagement and collaboration.

What can you use it for?

While Blackboard Learn is widely used in schools, universities, and government institutions, it also focuses on corporate training. This makes it ideal for leadership development courses, sales training, customer service training, corporate onboarding, and compliance.

Pricing

Blackboard Learn offers a 30-day free trial. You can request a custom pricing or personalized demo to learn which features suit your business needs.

What are the must-have features for a virtual training platform?

Now you know the best options out there, it's time to decide on the features that make a virtual training platform great. Here are some must-have features to look for:

1. User-friendly interface
2. Mobile access
3. Video conferencing
4. Breakout rooms
5. Interactive features
6. Virtual whiteboard
7. Scheduling
8. Analytics
9. Scalability
10. Security and privacy

We’ll cover these in detail below.

1. User-friendly interface

Your learners should adapt quickly and confidently to your virtual training software. Look for platforms with intuitive features, simple and clear design, easy to access with one-step sign-ins, and quick 'how-to tutorials.'

2. Mobile access

Responsive mobile design allows your learners to access training materials on the go, no matter where they are. For example, Livestorm is optimized to work on all mobile and tablet devices, so it also supports small screens.

3. Video conferencing

Face-to-face interactions help add a human touch to any training session. So if you're using an LMS like Docebo or Paradiso, they should integrate with video conferencing tools like Livestorm. The video conferencing technology you use should also be easy for trainees to access. For example, since Livestorm is browser-based, your learners don't have to download any additional apps.

4. Breakout rooms

​​Breakout rooms make it easier to facilitate smaller, more focused training sessions. Most online training platforms like Livestorm let you create as many breakout rooms as you need, add up to 16 simultaneous speakers, and assign participants automatically or manually.

5. Interactive features

Live polls, quizzes, and whiteboard annotations are some of the most popular interactive features that virtual training platforms should offer. Social learning tools like discussion forums also help boost engagement.

6. Virtual whiteboard

With a virtual whiteboard, you can quickly explain concepts visually. The digital whiteboard should also be interactive so learners can collaborate. If your virtual training software doesn't have this functionality, look for integrations with a whiteboard tool like Miro.

7. Scheduling

To ensure learners stay on track and attend the training sessions, they should be added to individual calendars. Look for a virtual training platform like Livestorm that enables Google Calendar integration so you can directly schedule training sessions and add them to your learners' calendars.

8. Analytics

Tracking the attendance of your online courses and engagement can help you evaluate the success and impact of your virtual training program. Look for a platform like Livestorm that offers detailed reports and insights like course completion, in-class engagement levels, attendance, and quiz performance.

9. Scalability

As your training programs grow, so does your learning platform. Look for platforms that offer custom plans based on the features you need and can accommodate large numbers of users without compromising performance or security.

10. Security and privacy

The last thing you want is bombers crashing your virtual training classes or accessing confidential data. Your learning platforms should guarantee safety measures like encryption, password protection, and user access control.

For example, Livestorm uses the latest encryption standards for audio and video. It also uses IDS and IPS for malware prevention and data protection, is GDPR-compliant, and is ISO 27001 certified.

Choose the right virtual training platform for your business

Choosing the best virtual training platform is a matter of knowing the type of training you want to deploy (onboarding, employee development, sales training, etc.) and the features you need. So if you need an LMS with customizable templates, real-time assessments, and other interactive features, Blackboard Learn is one of the best out there.

But, if you’re more interested in having a face-to-face connection and building a rapport with trainees, you need video conferencing. Choose a platform like Livestorm that has a wide range of engagement features, like breakout rooms and polls, as well as integrations with your favorite communication and scheduling tools.

Frequently asked questions about virtual training platforms

What is virtual instructor-led training?

Virtual instructor-led training (VILT) is a form of online learning with one or more instructors who lead the training session in a virtual environment using interactive tools and technologies. It can be used to deliver a variety of training content, including technical training, product training, sales training, and management training.

What’s the difference between a video conferencing platform and a learning management system (LMS)?

The difference between video conferencing and a learning management system (LMS) is that video conferencing facilitates live classes, allowing you to interact with your learners in real time. An LMS enables you to create online courses, curricula, and lesson structures.

What is the best virtual training platform?

The best virtual training platforms include:

• Livestorm
• Adobe Connect
• Zoom
• Docebo
• Paradiso
• Absorb
• Blackboard Learn
• Webex

What are the disadvantages of virtual training?

The disadvantages of virtual training include:

• Lack of face-to-face communication
• Difficulty creating engagement with learners
• Challenge of creating a sense of community or team spirit in a virtual classroom
• Need for additional technology such as microphones, cameras, and headsets
• Potential for technical difficulties

Most of these difficulties can be overcome with a strong video conferencing platform that allows you to host face-to-face sessions with interactive features. For example, you can make connections and encourage a sense of community on Livestorm by encouraging participants to engage in the chat tab and send emoji reactions to their peers.