As instructional designers, we’re always looking for ways to create meaningful, engaging, and accessible learning experiences—without breaking the budget. Thankfully, there are a variety of powerful, free tools that can help streamline the design process and elevate the quality of your content. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refresh your toolkit, these five tools are must-haves.

1. Canva

Canva is a free graphic design platform that’s perfect for creating everything from infographics to slide decks. Its drag-and-drop interface, thousands of templates, and free icons/images make it a go-to for instructional visuals.

2. Google Slides

Google Slides offers collaborative slide creation in real-time. It’s an excellent tool for creating presentations, interactive lessons, and even branching scenarios—especially when you need to collaborate with subject matter experts.

3. H5P

H5P is an open-source tool that allows you to create interactive content such as quizzes, flashcards, and presentations. It integrates easily with WordPress and many LMS platforms, making it a great addition for adding engagement to any learning environment.

4. Miro

Miro is an online whiteboard tool that’s ideal for brainstorming, storyboarding, and visual planning. Use it to map out course structures, collaborate with teams, or create visual sitemaps for your learning products.

5. Trello

Trello is a task management and organization tool based on boards and cards. It’s perfect for project planning, tracking course development progress, and maintaining communication across team members or clients.