E-learning development cost, per finished minute
Almost nobody in this industry publishes a rate. We do: Level 2 is ₹2,000 per finished minute and Level 3 is ₹2,400. This page explains what that includes, why per finished minute is the only unit that survives contact with a real project, and how to estimate your own course before you talk to anyone.
Estimate your course → See what you get at each level
Why per finished minute
The three units vendors quote in are per course, per hour and per finished minute. Only the last one means anything.
Per course is not a unit at all. A course can be eight minutes or eighty. Quoting per course simply moves the argument to what counts as a course.
Per hour of finished content is the industry's traditional benchmark, and it is the reason so many published figures look enormous and out of date. It also invites padding: if you are paid by the hour of runtime, longer is better, and longer is exactly what nobody wants.
Per finished minute is what you can actually check. A minute of finished runtime is a minute the learner spends, and both sides can count it at the end. It is also granular enough that trimming a redundant section visibly reduces the invoice — which aligns the incentives correctly.
The rates
| Level | Rate | Runtime estimated at | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 — Interactive | ₹2,000 / finished minute | 150 words per minute | Themed storyline, click-to-reveal, drag-and-drop, in-flow quizzes, guide character with voice-over, SCORM 1.2 export |
| Level 3 — Scenario & gamified | ₹2,400 / finished minute | 120 words per minute | Everything in Level 2, plus branching scenarios with multiple endings, XP, leaderboards, badges and simulation-style assessment |
| Enterprise | Quoted | — | Volume pricing across a programme, fully custom theme worlds, hosted delivery, dedicated instructional design, SLAs |
Level 3 costs more per minute and runs at fewer words per minute, because a learner spends time deciding and doing rather than reading. Both effects are real and both are in the estimate.
Estimating your own course, before you ask anyone
You need one number: the word count of your source material or script.
- Divide by 150 for Level 2, or by 120 for Level 3. That is your estimated runtime in minutes.
- Multiply by ₹2,000 or ₹2,400.
A 3,000-word policy document becomes roughly 20 minutes at Level 2 (₹40,000) or 25 minutes at Level 3 (₹60,000). The calculator does the arithmetic and shows the working.
Estimates are indicative. The quote is confirmed on the signed-off script, because that is the first document that actually determines runtime — and confirming before work starts is the whole point of publishing a rate.
What is included in the rate
- Discovery and instructional design, and the script written from your source material.
- A theme world with professional artwork — chosen from the library, not generic stock.
- Build: interactions, branching where the level includes it, assessment and scoring.
- Voice-over narration and a guide character.
- SCORM 1.2 packaging, tested, with completion and score tracking.
- Review rounds against the signed-off script.
What moves the number
- Level. The single biggest factor, and the one to decide first — see the levels explained.
- Script length. Directly, and it is the one you control. Cutting a section you were unsure about is the cheapest decision available to you.
- Custom worlds. A theme built from scratch for your brand rather than chosen from the library.
- Languages. Additional locales are additional voice-over and additional on-screen text.
- Volume. A programme of courses is quoted as a programme.
Cost of e-learning development in India
We are an India studio and quote in rupees, which is worth saying plainly because most published benchmarks for this work are American or European and converted figures mislead in both directions. Indian production rates are genuinely lower; Indian buyers are also quoted by Indian vendors who mostly do not publish, which leaves the market opaque.
Our rates above are the whole answer for Level 2 and Level 3 work, in rupees, with no per-seat licence attached — you own the finished SCORM package and can run it wherever you like, including on an LMS you already have.
What you are not paying for
There is no authoring-tool licence, no per-learner fee, and no hosting charge unless you ask us to host. If you do need somewhere to run the courses, The LMS Hub in the same group does that on your own domain, priced separately.
Estimate your course → Send us a script for a firm quote
Common questions
How much does e-learning development cost per minute?
Here, ₹2,000 per finished minute for Level 2 (interactive) and ₹2,400 for Level 3 (branching scenario and gamified). Enterprise programmes are quoted on volume. The rate covers instructional design, script, theme artwork, build, voice-over and tested SCORM 1.2 packaging.
Why quote per finished minute instead of per course or per hour?
A course is not a unit — it can be eight minutes or eighty. Per hour is the traditional benchmark but rewards padding, which is the opposite of what a buyer wants. A finished minute is something both sides can count at the end, and trimming a redundant section visibly reduces the invoice.
How do I estimate my course before asking for a quote?
Take the word count of your source material. Divide by 150 for Level 2 or 120 for Level 3 to get runtime in minutes, then multiply by the rate. A 3,000-word document is roughly 20 minutes at Level 2 or 25 at Level 3.
Why does Level 3 cost more per minute?
It costs more to build — branching, multiple endings, scored debriefs — and it also runs at fewer words per minute, because the learner spends time deciding and doing rather than reading. Both effects are in the estimate.
Is the estimate binding?
No. Estimates are indicative and the quote is confirmed on the signed-off script, which is the first document that actually determines runtime. It is confirmed before any work starts.
Do I have to host the courses with you?
No. You get a SCORM 1.2 package and can run it on any conforming LMS you already have. If you need somewhere to run it, The LMS Hub in the same group will host it on your own domain, priced separately.