Generative AI climbs as YouTube holds top spot in 2025 learning tools survey
Survey highlights stability at the top, the rise of generative AI, video’s dominance, social platforms regaining ground and more focus on personal tools over training tools and course libraries.
The Top 100 Tools for Learning 2025 is published today, the 19th edition of Jane Hart’s annual survey of workplace learning technologies. YouTube holds the number one position for the tenth consecutive year, but the momentum is firmly with generative AI.
The survey, attracted 1,394 votes from learning professionals worldwide and points to continuity at the top of the rankings along with important shifts in how digital tools are being used for learning and development.
Key observations from 2025
Little change at the top: Most of the leading tools are long-standing fixtures. The only top ten change is Google’s Gemini: it jumped 43 places, replacing Wikipedia.
AI establishes its place: ChatGPT has moved within a few votes of YouTube. Other AI entrants include NotebookLM at 30, ElevenLabs at 50, Mindsmith at 66 and Grok at 76. Microsoft’s Copilot climbed to 19th.
Video dominance endures: YouTube remains the most widely used tool for learning, supported by strong gains for video creation apps such as CapCut at 55 and ClipChamp at 56.
Social platforms regain ground: After a dip last year, all the major social networks rose in 2025. LinkedIn held steady in 8th place, TikTok re-entered the top 20 at 16, Facebook climbed to 17 and X jumped 43 places to 23.
Personal tools prevail: More respondents opted for tools they use in their own learning and productivity rather than traditional training tools and course libraries, which slipped down the list: Coursera falling to 82 and Quizlet to 47.
The full Top 100 Tools for Learning 2025 list is available at TopTools4Learning.com.