Hot Potatoes
Hot Potatoes: A free desktop suite for creating varied, scored HTML and SCORM exercises. Ranked #28 of 31 in Quiz Maker Software by our editors (6.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free desktop authoring of interactive exercises.
At a glance
- Editor score6.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree desktop authoring of interactive exercises
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Founded1998
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Six tools cover quizzes, crosswords, matching, gaps and more
- Exports interactive exercises as HTML/XHTML web pages
- Supports feedback, weighted scoring, CSS, JavaScript and SCORM 1.2
Where it doesn't
- Desktop deployment limits browser-based authoring workflows
- Linux use depends on running the Windows version under Wine
- SCORM support is limited to version 1.2
Our verdict on Hot Potatoes
Hot Potatoes is a free desktop suite from Half-Baked Software, Inc. for creating interactive exercises and quizzes. Its six authoring applications suit teachers, trainers and small teams that want to build web-published activities without a subscription. The suite runs on Windows and can run on Linux under Wine, with authoring completed on the desktop and exercises delivered as web pages or SCORM packages.
The freeware offering includes a broad set of exercise formats. JQuiz handles multiple-choice, short-answer, hybrid and multi-select questions, while other tools create jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching or ordering, gap-fill and flashcard activities. Authors can add per-answer feedback, percentage scoring, weighted questions and partially correct answers. Exercises export to HTML/XHTML and can include media, navigation and customized HTML, CSS and JavaScript source files. The Masher tool compiles exercise sequences, and SCORM 1.2 support provides a route into compatible learning-management environments.
Hot Potatoes is most suitable when free authoring, varied question types and control over exported web files matter more than cloud collaboration. Its desktop deployment means content creation is tied to Windows or a Linux Wine setup rather than a browser workspace. The published support channel is documentation, so organizations seeking broader service options should account for that operating model. Teams requiring newer SCORM versions, built-in analytics, AI assistance or a wider integration ecosystem should consider another quiz platform. For solo educators and small groups comfortable managing exported files, Hot Potatoes offers a focused way to produce scored interactive exercises without a paid plan.
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Hot Potatoes pricing
Hot Potatoes fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Question formats | multiple-choice, short-answer, hybrid, multi-select, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ordering, gap-fill, flashcards |
| Scoring modes | percentage scoring, weighted questions and answers, per-answer feedback |
| Branching logic | Not verified |
| Quiz analytics | Not verified |
| Publishing channels | HTML/XHTML web pages; SCORM 1.2 |
| Response limit | Not verified |
| Certificates | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | hotpot.uvic.ca |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Hot Potatoes
- ProProfs Quiz MakerA broad quiz platform combining AI creation, branching, certificates, and detailed reporting.8.9
- ClassMarkerA flexible assessment platform with reusable banks, proctoring, certificates, and detailed analytics.8.6
- SpeedExamA flexible exam platform for affordable assessments with proctoring and certificates.8.5
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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