Digital Learning Pricing in 2025: What’s Truly Changing And Why Custom E-Learning and Microlearning Are Now More Expensive

The 2025 ISTF France Digital Learning Price Index shows a market that is no longer just reacting to economic pressure: it is reorganizing itself. Companies are investing more selectively, focusing on measurable results, and reconsidering the balance between internal development and external expertise. Overall, prices have increased by an average of 4% compared to 2024, but this rise masks a far more complex transformation.

While some formats stabilize or even decline, custom e-learning, microlearning, and premium digital assets continue to grow rapidly. These changes tell a clear story: organizations value formats that combine quality, flexibility, and scale.

Below is a detailed analysis of the trends influencing digital learning budgets in 2025, with a particular focus on custom digital content, the category experiencing the most significant evolution.

1. Instructor-Led Training: Stabilisation After Years of Volatility

In-person training (intra-company) remains one of the most commonly used modalities. Pricing stabilizes at €1,890 per day, just €5 more than in 2024. Despite inflationary pressures in previous years, the market now appears steady.

Prices still vary significantly depending on topic complexity, ranging from €1,200 (generalist themes) to over €2,000 for specialized skills.

Virtual synchronous training, which has been heavily utilized since COVID, has seen a substantial increase: €1,525 per day, up €165 from 2024.

The gap with in-person training narrows considerably, indicating that organizations now perceive better value and comparable quality.

2. Inter-Company Formats: Mixed Movements

Inter-company prices vary:

• Classroom inter-company drops to €692 per person, down €28 from 2024.

• Fully digital multimodal inter-company also declines, reaching €690 (-€35) for a 6-hour program.

These decreases suggest increased competition, commoditization of formats, or greater internalization of standard topics.

3. Custom E-Learning: The Strongest Increase of 2025

This category is experiencing the most significant upward shift. Custom E-Learning Modules (20 minutes, interactive + narrated) €7,885 per module, an increase of €740 compared to 2024 (+10%).

The increase reflects:

• higher quality and interactivity expectations

• more advanced instructional design (referenced as e2c 2.2 level on page 9)

• greater integration with platforms and data ecosystems

• more complex production pipelines

• a market favoring professionalized work over quick, inconsistent internal builds

Internal development remains strong (76% of organizations produce content internally), but external production costs clearly set the standard for what “high-quality custom content” now entails.

An average internal production takes about 7 to 8 days:

• 21 hours for design

• 30 hours for production and integration.

For companies with high labor costs or limited design skills, outsourcing becomes increasingly appealing.

4. Custom Microlearning: Shorter Format, Rising Prices

Microlearning continues its upward trend: 2,390€ for five minutes of content, an increase of 80€ from 2024.

Although microlearning mainly relies on video and lighter interactivity, three factors are driving the price rise:

• demand for polished, brand-aligned visuals

• strategic use in onboarding and upskilling initiatives

• increased in-house production using AI or integrated authoring tools (e.g., Rise 360, Genially, PowerPoint)

Internal production takes one to five hours, but companies are increasingly outsourcing to maintain consistency in narrative and aesthetics across their learning portfolios.

5. Serious Games: High-End, High Budget

€29,445 for a 45-minute game, an increase of €1,135 from 2024.

The increase is justified by:

• complex branching narratives

• advanced multimedia assets

• custom-built gameplay mechanics

• longer creative and development cycles

91% of L&D professionals believe that gamification is effective — which maintains strong demand.

6. Off-the-Shelf E-Learning: Broad Variability

Prices vary drastically depending on:

• topic (generic vs expert content)

• learner volume

• publisher catalog depth

In 2025, the average cost is €256 per learner per year, but large enterprises can negotiate rates below €10 per user annually.

7. LMS / LXP Platforms: Prices Rising Again

After a drop between 2023 and 2024, platform prices climb again:

€3 930 per year for 1,000 learners, an increase of €340 (+9%).

AI is the primary driver:

• Automation of administrative tasks

• Personalization through learning data

• Embedded AI authoring tools

• Enhanced analytics

Platforms are transitioning from “content containers” to learning productivity hubs.

8. AI Budgets: Still Immature, But Growing

A new addition in the 2025 barometer: the cost of AI in L&D.

• 32% of organisations do not know how much they spend on AI

• The average allocated budget is €13 000

• Most companies invest between 0 and €5 000

• A minority spends €40 000+ per year.

This disparity indicates that the market is entering an “AI maturity gap” era.

9. Certification Costs: A Gradual Increase

Average certification price:

€305 per candidate, up €19 from 2024.

Costs only include the exam, not the training needed beforehand.

What L&D Leaders Should Take Away

2025 is the year when custom digital content clearly becomes a premium investment. Microlearning, custom e-learning, and serious games all experience consistent price increases, confirming that organizations seek:

• tailored experiences

• formats that scale

• assets that integrate seamlessly into multimodal learning journeys

• content that strengthens brand culture and performance

Meanwhile, commoditized formats (inter-company programs, basic virtual training) stabilize or decline.

For organizations, the main question is no longer whether to invest in digital learning but how to invest wisely: internal versus external production, AI-assisted acceleration, curation versus creation, and platform consolidation.