Tool profile

Skillsoft: cost, fit and limits

Skillsoft is a corporate learning company headquartered in Nashua, New Hampshire, whose Percipio platform combines a large content library with AI features including CAISY conversation simulations, an AI Assistant, AI-assisted search and Role Advisor. It sells to companies that want content and delivery from one supplier.

By Sebastiaan Smits, editor · Updated November 4, 2026 ·Sources checked November 2026

What to know first

Skillsoft's public documentation is unusually specific about AI. Percipio lists CAISY simulations, an AI Assistant, AI search, AI answers in Q&A, a coding assistant, generated subtitles and Role Advisor, most on by default and adjustable by administrators. Pricing is not published. The main decision for a buyer is whether the default data collection settings fit company policy, since several can be turned off.

Skillsoft at a glance

Maker	Skillsoft, United States
Free plan	No
Entry price	Quote only
API access	Yes
Category	Best AI Learning Experience Platforms in 2026, rank 8 of 10
Website	skillsoft.com

Who Skillsoft is best for

Learning admins who want granular AI controls

Administrators can change AI settings per feature, require users to accept a corporate AI policy before using AI components, and review AI-generated journeys before publication.

Sales and customer teams practicing conversations

CAISY runs simulated AI conversations, with voice mode on Azure speech services by default, so staff can rehearse difficult exchanges before real ones.

Engineering and data teams

A Codecademy-based AI Learning Assistant for Coding, Labs and Interactive Skill Benchmarks provide hands-on technical learning, all with their own AI settings.

Companies wanting to add their own documents

Admins can include custom PDF, DOCX and XLSX files in the assistant's vector database, which other organizations cannot access. This keeps answers tied to internal material.

Skillsoft plans and pricing

Plan	Price	What it includes
Percipio licensing	Quote only	The learning platform and content library; the documentation we read describes features and settings, not plans or prices.
AI Assistant	Quote only	On by default, with admin settings for conversation history, memory, enhanced responses and custom content in the vector database.
CAISY simulations	Quote only	Simulated conversations with an optional improvement setting, a retention default of 180 days that can be set to 30, 60 or 90 days, and optional Gemini Live voice.

Checked November 2026.

What Skillsoft does

CAISY: Skillsoft's Conversation AI Simulator is on by default. Voice mode uses Azure speech services unless admins switch on Gemini Live, which is off by default, and visibility is on by default for US-based learners.
AI Assistant: A learner-facing helper with optional memory across conversations. Enhanced responses are on by default and use the full capability of ChatGPT when the assistant cannot find an answer within Skillsoft's guardrails.
AI-assisted search: Applies to high-volume keywords only and can be switched on or off. Smart search is off by default for learners and re-ranks results using their job role if they turn it on.
Role Advisor: AI-powered guidance on roles and skills shown to learners, on by default. It connects the content library to career questions, though it depends on how roles are configured in your instance.
AI-Assisted Journey: On by default, with admins reviewing AI-generated results before publishing. AI translation in Page Builder and email templates is off by default and can be reviewed and edited before use.

How Skillsoft handles your data

Skillsoft's administrator documentation says AI Assistant conversation history collection is on by default and collects the user's side of conversations, not personal information, to improve the product; admins can turn this off and users can opt out. CAISY collection is similar, with a 180-day retention default that can be set to 30, 60 or 90 days. Skillsoft states it does not use AI Assistant conversations or feedback to train AI models. Custom files added to the vector database are not accessible to other organizations. The privacy notice names Skillsoft Ireland Limited and a Nashua, New Hampshire address; hosting regions were not checked.

Where Skillsoft falls short in practice

Defaults favor collection. Conversation collection for improvement and most AI features are on by default. An admin who wants a stricter posture must review a long list of settings, and some changes cannot be reversed by users.
Third-party model use. AI-assisted search uses GPT technology, and enhanced answers use ChatGPT when the assistant cannot answer within guardrails. Providers for other features are not named, so ask for a sub-processor list.
No public price or plan list. The documentation describes settings, not packages. A buyer cannot tell from these pages what is included in a base license and what is an add-on.

Works with

Alternatives to Skillsoft

Skillsoft: common questions

Does Skillsoft use conversations to train AI models?

Skillsoft's administrator documentation states that it does not use AI Assistant conversations or feedback to train AI models. It does collect the user's side of conversations, not personal information, to improve the product when the improvement setting is on, and admins can turn that off.

Which Percipio AI features are on by default?

The documentation lists CAISY, Labs and interactive content, AI answers in Q&A, the AI Assistant, AI-assisted search, the AI Learning Assistant for Coding, AI-generated subtitles and Role Advisor as on by default. Admins can change the settings under Site Settings, and smart search and AI translation are off by default.

How long does Skillsoft keep CAISY conversations?

For CAISY, retention defaults to 180 days and can be set to 30, 60 or 90 days when AI optimization and improvement is on. When it is off, nothing is collected and learners cannot view simulation history. A feedback acknowledgment can still send the conversation so far.

Can I add my own documents to the Skillsoft AI Assistant?

Yes. Admins can choose to include custom PDF, DOCX and XLSX files in the AI Assistant's vector database, and the documentation says other organizations cannot access that content. Check file size limits and update behavior with your account team. Also confirm retention for uploaded files.

Does Skillsoft use ChatGPT?

The documentation says AI-assisted search uses GPT technology and that the AI Assistant's enhanced responses use the full capability of ChatGPT when it cannot find an answer within Skillsoft's guardrails. Admins can control that setting. Providers for other features were not named.