Content is king. But producing it can feel like a chore without the right tools. As content creators, we know that you can create high-quality assets in every tool imaginable, from Google Docs to Microsoft Word, Spreadsheets, Slides, or Adobe Photoshop.
However, using dedicated content creation software helps you simplify every step in your creation process - planning and strategy, researching, ideation, creation, editing, uploading, publishing, and promoting.
Read my review to discover the best content creation software for media companies in 2024. My review includes a brief description and a screenshot of every tool that made the list, along with a comparison chart so you can determine which tool would benefit your organization the most.
Content Creation Software Shortlist
Here’s the list of the best tools that I’ll cover in this article.
- LucidPress
- Joomag
- Ceros Studio
- Zoomforth
- Adobe Creative
- Cleverstory
- Semrush
- GatherContent
- ContentStudio
- Writer
How I Selected the Best Content Creation Software
If you're wondering how I selected the best content creation software, here's where I'll break it all down for you. First of all, I started with content creation software that have high user review and satisfaction ratings. Then, using my experience in digital media and content creation, I discerned what key criteria were most important for content creation software and compared how each of them stacked up against the rest.
If you have more general questions about content creation software, you can skip to our FAQ at the bottom of the page. Or, you can jump right to the 10 best content creation software overviews if you're ready to start comparing.
Selection Criteria
After careful consideration, I've determined that these are the most important criteria when selecting the best content creation software. Here's a brief list outlining the whats and whys of my selection.
User Interface (UI):
User interface (UI) is a key factor for the success of any content creation software. It is an essential part of user experience design, and it helps users to navigate through the software quickly and easily. UI plays an important role in helping users to interact with the system in a more efficient manner.
I look for software that offers a clean interface, so your team doesn’t waste time searching for the right features or functionalities.
Usability:
The primary goal of any UI should be to make the user's life as easy as possible, so they can quickly and efficiently access the features they need. An effective UI will reduce the amount of time required for users to complete tasks, allowing them to do more in less time. Additionally, intuitive UIs help keep users engaged by being visually appealing and providing clear direction on how to interact with the software.
Good UI design also helps ensure that users feel comfortable using new features in your software without becoming frustrated or overwhelmed by complexity. I look for content creation tools that make your content creation process easier, not more complicated. Your team members should be able to use most of the tool’s features after going through a brief training session.
Integrations:
Integrations are key components of creative software as they allow users to access a greater range of features and capabilities. Creative software can be used in a variety of different ways, from web design to video editing, and integrations help make these jobs easier by connecting them to other programs. This gives users the ability to use their favorite tools for tasks that would otherwise require multiple applications or manual workarounds.
I look for software that integrates with popular apps, so you can integrate it into your current tech stack.
Pricing:
Pricing is an important factor when selecting creative software. Price can be a key indicator of the quality and features available in any given product, making it crucial for those considering a purchase to thoroughly research the different options before committing. Furthermore, for businesses with limited budgets, paid plans can be a major deciding factor in determining which type of software is most suitable for their needs.
I look for tools that help you simplify multiple steps in your content creation process, so you get the most of it. A free version or free tools are always welcomed, too.
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Overviews Of The 10 Best Content Creation Software Solutions
Here’s a brief description of each content creation app to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.
1. LucidPress - Best content template selection
Lucidpress is a visual content creation tool that helps teams create visuals without a professional graphic designer. The software enables you to create branded templates for your organization so your visuals always have the same look and feel. So instead of reinventing the wheel every time a project comes up, your team can rely on pre-approved templates that work.
Why I Picked Lucidpress: The best thing about using this software is how well it simplifies the graphic design creation process. The templates it offers are easy to implement and customize, and you can use them to create every kind of visual asset - cover images, posters, flyers, postcards, leaflets, and magazines.
Lucidpress Standout Features & Integrations
Features include document comparison, pixel graphics, third-party plugins/add-ons, brand management, data import & export, external integrations, marketing automation, multi-user, vector file support, brand asset creation, API, file sharing, notifications, social-media integration, video, and template designer.
Integrations include Adobe InDesign, Google Sheets, MS Excel, digital asset management (DAM) solutions, and print portals.
Lucidpress Plans & Pricing
Lucidpress costs from $10/user/month. The platform also offers a free-forever version.
2. Joomag - Best for e-zines & newsletters
Joomag is a digital publishing platform that helps teams create, distribute, and measure the engagement of their content marketing. The solution enables you to create your own digital publication from scratch or with the help of templates.
Why I Picked Joomag: The highlight of this software is its content creator. The creator offers a lot of editing tools and options, so you can customize your product to perfection. In addition, the editing process is collaborative, so multiple users can change and adjust the asset before publishing.
Joomag Standout Features & Integrations
Features include creation, publishing, distribution, tracking, monetization, templates, embed video, slideshows, plug-ins, mobile-friendly, SEO, custom domain, email marketing, analytics & reporting, CRM, collaboration, integrations, and API.
Joomag Standout Features & Integrations
Integrations include Mailchimp, Salesforce, HubSpot, Pardot, Marketo, Google Drive, and Dropbox. More connections can be unlocked through Zapier, which may require a separate account and subscription.
Joomag Plans & Pricing
Joomag costs from $50/month. You can access a free demo.
3. Ceros Studio - Best for pitch decks & product demos
Ceros Studio is a content creation platform that helps teams build engaging content without coding. The software allows multiple users to optimize the same assets in real-time, so you can speed up your creation process.
Why I Picked Ceros Studio: One of the best things about using this solution is that it gives you unlimited creative freedom over your assets. You can drag and drop content from websites, access stock photo libraries, and create interactions between different elements of your asset without writing code or losing functionality.
Ceros Studio Features & Integrations
Features include content creation, editor, proofing/mark-up, charts, interactive content, pitch decks, landing pages, quizzes, product demos, reports, microsites, resource hubs, content optimization, and analytics.
Integrations include Google Analytics, WordPress, Pinterest, Shopify, Instagram, Soundcloud, and Snapchat.
Ceros Studio Plans & Pricing
Ceros Studio offers customized pricing upon request. You can access a free demo.
4. Zoomforth - Best for building immersive websites
Zoomforth is a no-code website builder platform that helps teams create mobile-friendly websites with a simple drag-and-drop editor. The platform makes it easy to customize your website for immersive customer experiences and track your user engagement.
Why I Picked Zoomforth: Zoomforth’s platform has a clean design that’s easy to navigate and offers good support. It helps you deploy microsites without having to contact professional developers or designers. The software’s analytics enable you to understand how your audience interacts with your website and create reports you can present to clients or stakeholders.
Zoomforth Features & Integrations
Features include microsites, templates, content analytics, customer engagement, business intelligence, mobile-friendly, drag-and-drop editor, custom branding, visitor tracking, and GDPR & CCPA compliant.
Integrations include MS PowerPoint, Google Calendar, Teamup, and Calendly.
Zoomforth Plans & Pricing
Zoomforth offers custom pricing upon request. You can access a free demo.
5. Adobe Creative Cloud - Best graphic design & imagery tools
Adobe Creative Cloud is a collection of over 20 content creation apps from Adobe, including hugely popular ones like Adobe Spark, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Photoshop. The platform offers unlimited access to all of these tools, so you can design and edit everything from posters to websites that use interconnected elements or Hollywood movies.
While this suite of tools is ideal for those who want to create visual content, it can help with other assets as well, such as podcasts or marketing content.
Why I Picked Adobe CC: The best thing about Adobe CC is that it offers you all the tools you need to produce impressive assets. You can edit photos or videos for your Instagram Story, create visual assets for your websites, make vector-based animation, design user experiences, and manage your assets from a centralized location.
Adobe Creative Cloud Features & Integrations
Features include graphic design, photography, video & motion, illustration, social media, 3D, and AR.
Integrations include monday, Asana, Google Suite, and Smartsheet.
Adobe Creative Cloud Plans & Pricing
Adobe Creative Cloud costs from $54.99/month. You can access a 30-day free trial.
6. Cleverstory - Best for no-code interactive content creation
Cleverstory is a content creation tool that enables teams to impress their audiences with interactive content. The software helps you produce every asset you need in a digital marketing campaign, from gated content to landing pages and social media content.
Why I Picked Cleverstory: The highlight of using this app is that you don’t have to be a graphic designer or web designer to produce your assets. You can come up with a content strategy, find inspiration and build a content library, and turn your content ideas into reality with only one tool.
Cleverstory Features & Integrations
Features include content discovery, distribution, analytics, no-code, interactive content creation, marketing, lead generation, and customer experience.
Integrations include HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce, and Klenty.
Cleverstory Plans & Pricing
Cleverstory costs from $950/month. You can access a free demo.
7. Semrush - Best for content improvement opportunities & SEO
Semrush is one of the world’s most popular online visibility management solutions. The platform helps teams improve their marketing strategy by auditing their existing blog content and finding optimization opportunities.
Why I Picked Semrush: This solution is ideal for those who want to improve their inbound marketing efforts and produce quality content for their target audience. The software’s content analytics help you understand what your competition is doing, what your audience is interested in, and how to create great content for each customer segment. In addition, its writing assistant helps you optimize your written content so it will rank better in search engines.
Semrush Features & Integrations
Features include audience targeting, conversion tracking, data export & import, external integrations, keyword tracking, link tracking, project management, social-media integration, dashboards, analytics, customer management, lead management, marketing automation, multi-user, reports, API, brand management, dashboard, data visualization, notifications, visualization, and SEO.
Integrations include Google Analytics, Google Ads, Google Search Console, WordPress, Trello, and social media networks. More connections can be unlocked through Zapier, which may require a separate account and subscription.
Semrush Plans & Pricing
Semrush costs from $119.95/month. You can access a free-forever version with limited capabilities. You can also access a 7-day trial.
8. GatherContent - Collaborate with team members to create stellar content
GatherContent is a content operations platform that enables your team to plan, create, organize, and manage content across multiple channels. This solution helps you build collaborative creation workflows, so multiple team members can work on every asset in real-time.
Why I Picked GatherContent: One of the great things about GatherContent is the way it organizes your files. As a content marketer, you have the ability to build different content structures in good time, and present these structures to clients or stakeholders in a logical way.
GatherContent Features & Integrations
Features include content operations, editor, templates, workflow, integrations, planning, style guide, calendar, collaboration, and single sign-on.
Integrations include MS Word, Google Spreadsheets, WordPress, Drupal, Slack, and Sitecore.
GatherContent Plans & Pricing
GatherContent costs from $1,069/year. You can access a 14-day trial.
9. ContentStudio - Best social media scheduling & automation
ContentStudio is a content marketing and social media management tool that helps teams increase their organic reach on multiple channels. The platform enables you to create and customize content for all your social media networks from a central location.
Why I Picked ContentStudio: ContentStudio helps you save time with automation. You can create custom queues and schedule social posts based on their content category. The platform’s content calendar enables you to preview what your posts will look like on different channels, so you can make adjustments if necessary.
ContentStudio Features & Integrations
Features include social media management, analytics, automation, caption generator, content curation, content marketing, proofing & approvals, content scheduling, competitor analytics, collaborations, RSS feeds, dashboards, and bulk upload.
Integrations include Google My Business, WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, and every popular social media platform.
ContentStudio Plans & Pricing
ContentStudio costs from $25/user/month. You can access a 14-day trial and book a demo.
10. Writer - Best to automate editorial style guides & briefs
Writer is an AI writing assistant that enables teams to create editorial guides and scale their content production. The software makes it easy to create assets that are clear and consistent, and share them across your marketing channels.
Why I Picked Writer: The best thing about this solution is its editorial customization. This feature enables you to create detailed voice and style guides that are easy to follow, so it’s ideal for teams that rely on external writers or freelancers to create assets.
Writer Features & Integrations
Features AI writing, ideation, drafting, distribution, workflow automation, content marketing, demand generation, product marketing, brand marketing, and content design.
Integrations include Chrome, Google Docs, MS Word, Outlook, and Figma.
Writer Plans & Pricing
Writer costs from $11/user/month. You can access a free 30-day trial. The software also offers a free-forever version with limited capabilities.
Other Content Creation Options
Here are a few more contnt creation tools that didn’t make the best content creation tools list.
For Visual Content
- Vidlab - Video content editor designed to help iPhone users.
- Canva - Visual content creation tool for digital design assets.
- Pixlr - Visual content creator for inexperienced designers.
For Written Content
- Grammarly - AI-powered writing assistant for content creation.
- Hemingway Editor - Writing assistant that helps you create editorial guidelines for written digital content creation.
- Izitext.io - Content creation tool that helps you turn speech to text.
For Interactive Content
- Apester - Content creator tool that enables you to build interactive narratives for your audience.
- Involve.me - Personalization tool that helps you make engaging content.
- Ion Interactive - Codeless customer experience tool that helps you create interactive content.
For Audio Content
- Audacity - Open source solution that helps you edit and improve your audio content.
- GarageBand - Mobile app that helps you turn your phone into musical instruments.
- Zencastr - Cloud-based solution that helps you record guests and edit your podcasts.
Other Content Tools
- Coschedule - Marketing tools, headline analytics, and a publishing calendar
- Giphy - Search giphs to embed in your content for added whimsy
- Google Trends - See what is trending online and base your content around that
- TikTok - Ridiculously easy-to-use social video creation tool
- Unsplash - Free images to use for your marketing matierials or blog
What is Content Creation Software?
Content creation software is a program used for creating digital content such as videos, images, audio files, and other digital media. This type of software can help produce professional quality content with features such as templates, editing tools, and customization options. It is popular among professionals in multimedia, advertising, and marketing fields who need to create materials quickly and efficiently.
Content creation software provides users with the ability to create compelling visuals without having to be an expert in design or photography. With this type of software users can edit photos, organize media assets into projects that are easy to manage and share them across a variety of different platforms. Content creation tools also offer collaboration features which allow teams to work together on projects remotely or in-person. Additionally they come with analytics tools so you can track the performance of your content once it's been published online.
What are the Benefits of Content Creation Software?
Content creation software can give businesses an edge as they compete in an ever-changing digital landscape. It is a powerful tool for content creators and marketers alike, allowing them to quickly create engaging, professional-looking content on a budget. With the right content creation software, individuals can generate high-quality content that resonates with their target audience and supports their marketing goals.
Content creation software offers many advantages over traditional methods of creating content. It streamlines the process of creating graphics, videos and other visuals so users don't have to worry about relying on freelancers or expensive design programs. Additionally, it enables users to easily repurpose existing materials into new pieces of fresh content that can be used in multiple channels. This saves time and money while also ensuring consistent branding across all platforms.
What are the Key Features of Content Creation Software?
- Automation: The content creation process is complex and sometimes difficult. The software should enable you to automate certain aspects of your process so you can save time.
- Templates & Guidelines: Branded content should always be on-brand. The content creation tool should enable you to create templates or establish guidelines so your team doesn’t have to do the same things over and over again.
- Content Editing: An asset usually passes through several edits before publishing, so the software should make this process easy.
- Communication & Collaboration: The software should help your team members communicate and collaborate to create great assets. Ideally, the collaboration should take place in real-time.
- Design tools with customizability: I want it all—change fonts, add gifs, build infographics, video creation, artificial intelligence support, and so on.
- Research tools: Discover trending content, generate ideas, do competitor analysis, and optimize the content you already have.
What other Content Software Should I Check Out?
Oncde you've picked the best content creation software, you are going to want to start building campaigns for distribution, marketing, and—eventually—monetization. Here's some additional reading and helpful resources:
- 10 Best Content Marketing Software (+ What They Do)
- 10 Best Content Analytics Software
- 10 Best Content Automation Software
- 10 Best Affiliate Networks
- 10 Best Creative Management Software
Improve Your Content Creation with Dedicated Software
You can create content in any tool, but using dedicated content software helps you save time and increase the quality of your assets. And in today’s business environment, when customers have these small devices that can find any kind of content in their pockets, putting out high-quality content is crucial if you want to expand your customer base.
As Jonas Muthoni, Founder & CEO at Deviate Agency, full-service creative marketing and software agency, said:
“Content is evolving from something that brands push to customers into a tool where brands influence customers to create content for them. It will be fascinating to watch how content marketing continues to progress in the future, with more opportunities in the marketplace than ever before. Digital channels are growing exponentially, and some that are going to be popular in 2030 probably don't even exist yet.
Brands that want to succeed with content marketing need to embrace a multichannel approach, keep up with trends and remain responsive.”
So even though it may seem like a hassle, investing in content creation and management software can help drive your brand to the next level.
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Also Worth Checking Out: Content Distribution Software To Reach Your Target Audience