4 Best Workbook Creation Tools That Won’t Make You Want to Quit

Finding the best workbook creation tools can feel like a trap. You start out excited, and end up crying over fonts and margins. A workbook can be one of the most powerful transformational tools for your students. But when it comes to creating them, you might wonder if you’re just going to end up with something that looks like a 4th-grade book report.

Most creators think they need to be designers to make workbooks that actually work. You don’t. You just need the right workbook creation tools and a clear understanding of what makes a workbook effective.

Today, I’ll walk you through the best workbook creation tools that won’t make you hate your laptop. These are tools that real course creators use every day – no design degree required. Whether you’re a wellness coach making nutrition guides or a financial advisor developing retirement planning worksheets, these tools will help you create pro-level materials that actually get used.

What Makes a Workbook Actually Work?

Before we dive into tools, let’s talk about what makes students actually use your workbook instead of letting it collect digital dust.

Here’s your quick checklist for effective workbooks:

Most design tools create beautiful static PDFs but not interactive ones. That means students will need to print them out or you’ll need software like Adobe Acrobat or PDF Filler to make them fillable. Not a flaw, just something to plan for.

Best Workbook Creation Tools for Course Creators

1. Canva

Pricing: Free version available, Canva Pro at $12.99/month, Teams at $14.99/month for 5 users

Strengths: Drag-and-drop simplicity, beautiful layouts, brand-friendly fonts, easy for beginners, you can export as PDF or and even PowerPoint if you want to edit further

Weaknesses: Can feel overwhelming at first (you’re not alone if this describes you!)

Best For: Creators who want pretty results with minimal design skills

Getting Started: Start with templates to get results quickly – you can always customize more as you get comfortable using Canva

Let’s say you’re a wellness coach creating a detailed nutrition guide for your clients. Within Canva, you’d search “workbook templates,” pick one that matches your professional style, customize the colors to match your brand, then simply replace the placeholder text with your meal planning worksheets and nutrition tracking pages.

When you export from Canva as a PDF, it won’t be automatically fillable. Your clients will need to print it and write by hand, or you’ll need a third-party tool like Adobe Acrobat to add fillable fields afterward. You might find that your clients actually prefer printing these guides anyway because there’s something satisfying about physically checking off healthy habits.

Pro Tip: If Canva feels overwhelming, start with just the templates. Don't try to use all the features at once. Pick a template, change the text to your own content, and export the workbook as a PDF. You can get fancy and more customized later.

2. Google Docs

Pricing: Free with any Google account

Strengths: Lightning fast, students can edit directly, collaboration-friendly, everyone knows how to use it. You can export as PDF or even a MS Word file (perfect for emailing as an attachment).

Weaknesses: Plain appearance, limited design options compared to other tools

Best For: Creators who prioritize functionality over aesthetics, or those who want students to complete workbooks collaboratively

Here’s where Google Docs shines. It’s the only tool on this list that creates truly interactive documents without extra software. Students can type directly into your Google Doc, and you can even share it so multiple people can work on it simultaneously.

Say you’re a business consultant creating a leadership assessment workbook. You could set up sections like “Current Leadership Challenges” with prompts like “Describe a recent situation where you struggled to motivate your team” followed by space for their answers. Your clients can access it on any device and start typing immediately, making it perfect for busy executives who work across multiple devices.

Unlike the other tools, Google Docs stays editable when you share the link. Clients can fill it out on their computer, tablet, or phone. If you export it as a PDF, however, it becomes a static document that would need to be printed and filled out by hand.

Pro Tip: Use the Insert > Table feature to create clean, fillable sections. A simple 2-column table with Assessment Question and Your Response headers can transform a basic document into a professional-looking workbook.

3. PowerPoint

Pricing: $179.99 one-time purchase, or $9.99/month for Microsoft 365 Personal

Strengths: Better layout control than Google Docs, excellent for page design and has a lot of graphic design features, many people already own it. You can export as a PDF.

Weaknesses: It is a paid product, part of Office 365 compared to something like Canva and Google Slides which can be used for free. Many people don’t realize it’s perfect for creating workbooks beyond presentations so you might not find as many page layout ideas like you can with Canva!

Best For: Creators who are comfortable with PowerPoint or want more design control than Google Docs

PowerPoint is one of the best workbook creation tools that most people don’t even think to use. It’s fantastic because you can control exactly where everything goes on each page.

You’re a financial advisor creating retirement planning worksheets. You can create goal-setting pages using text boxes and shapes for different sections: “Current Financial Picture,” “Retirement Goals,” and “Action Steps.” You can make beautiful section dividers, add your company logo consistently, and even include charts or graphs to help clients visualize their progress. Each slide becomes a workbook page.

When you export your PowerPoint as a PDF, clients will need to print it and write by hand, or you’ll need Adobe Acrobat or similar software to add fillable fields afterward.

Pro Tip: Use the Insert > Shapes feature to create visual writing spaces. A simple rectangle with no fill but a border shows clients exactly where to write. You can resize and position these exactly where you want them.

4. Adobe InDesign

Pricing: $20.99/month (annual plan), $31.49/month (monthly), 7-day free trial available

Strengths: Professional layout control, publication-quality results, integrates with other Adobe tools

Weaknesses: Steep learning curve, expensive monthly subscription, can be laggy with large files

Best For: Established creators with multiple workbooks who want maximum control and professional results

To be honest about InDesign…it’s powerful but not beginner-friendly. However, if you’re planning to create multiple workbooks or want publication-quality results, it might be worth the investment.

As an example, let’s imagine you’re a business coach with a signature 30-hour leadership development program with multiple workbooks, you need consistent branding, professional typography, complex layouts with sidebars, and multiple sections that flow together seamlessly. InDesign excels when you need precise control over how everything looks and flows together.

Unlike the other tools, InDesign often comes bundled with Adobe Acrobat, making it easier to create truly interactive PDFs. This is a significant advantage if you’re creating workbooks as a primary business model.

If you’re creating workbooks as a professional or potentially sending them for publication, or simply need materials that look absolutely professional for high-end consulting work (think Vogue of GQ magazine), InDesign is one of the best workbook creation tools as long as you’re ready for the learning curve.

However,  if you’re creating your first workbook or just need something functional for your course, start with the simpler tools first.

Quick Decision Guide

Choose Canva if: You want beautiful results without design skills, and your students don’t mind printing or you’re willing to use additional software for fillable fields

Choose Google Docs if: You want truly interactive workbooks that students can fill out immediately without any additional software, and you’re okay with simpler visual design

Choose PowerPoint if: You’re comfortable with basic PowerPoint and want more design control than Google Docs, and you’re okay with static PDFs or adding interactivity later

Choose InDesign if: You’re creating multiple workbooks as a business and want maximum professional control, with plans to use Adobe Acrobat for interactivity

Your Next Steps: Keep It Simple, Make It Useful

Here’s what I want you to remember: the best workbook is the one your students actually use. A simple, clear workbook created in Google Docs that guides students through transformation beats a gorgeous InDesign masterpiece that intimidates them.

Start with the easiest tool for you – the one that won’t make you want to throw your laptop out the window. You can always upgrade later as your comfort level and needs grow.

Pro Tip: Ask your students what they want! You might be surprised how many actually want to print your workbooks and write by hand, especially if your audience includes people who prefer tactile learning.

Most importantly, focus on the content and guidance you’re providing. Your expertise is what creates transformation, not fancy design elements. Whether you’re creating meal planning templates for dietitians or strategic planning worksheets for business consultants, your knowledge is the real value.

Ready to get started with the best workbook creation tools for your content? Pick one tool from this list and commit to creating your first workbook this week. Keep it simple, make it useful, and watch your students engage with your content in a whole new way.

Confused about the process of creating a transformational workbook? Download my free Workbook Cheat Sheet – a step-by-step checklist to plan, design, and get your workbook out into the hands of your customers.

Have any questions about this post? Please contact me.