Online education has dramatically modified and changed the face of contemporary education during the past several years. Did you know that compared to traditional education, online learning is much more affordable, efficient, and time-efficient? That explains why a growing number of individuals select online education.
Online learning platforms are a perfect way to learn on your own time, whether you’re trying to pick up new marketable skills or want to learn more about a subject. By preferring online classes over in-person ones, you can finish courses more quickly and save money. Compared to in-person learning, people learn 40% more quickly online.
While some online learning environments offer certifications, others are just meant to help you develop your skills for both your personal and professional lives.
Below is our pick for the top online learning platforms you can sign up for today.
Top 9 Online Learning Platforms
- Excellent Overall: Coursera
- Excellent for Niche Topics: Udemy
- Excellent for Creative Fields: Skillshare
- Excellent for Celebrity Lessons: MasterClass
- Excellent for STEM: EdX
- Excellent for Career Building: Udacity
- Excellent for Data Learning: Pluralsight
- Excellent for Free Courses: Alison
- Excellent for Business, Creativity and Technology: LinkedIn Learning
Coursera
As one of the leading providers of massive open online courses, Coursera collaborates with universities and organizations all over the globe to offer a variety of in-depth courses to students all over the world, both for payment and for free.
One of the largest selections of degree programs, specialities, and university affiliates is offered by Coursera.
Coursera delivers actual academic courses from genuine professors and universities at a fraction of the price of earning an online degree, so it’s not just a place to take lectures that look like college courses.
Professors can create classes, post videos, administer quizzes and homework, and incorporate other features that would be found in a “true” online college class thanks to the platform’s support for multimedia courses.
Key Features
- Courses: 3,000+
- Cost: Professional certificate courses cost $39 per month, higher university-issued certifications start at $2,000 per course, and guided processes begin at $9.99 for each course.
- Certification: Yes
- Accredited Institution: Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Employers accept recognized certifications
- In-depth courses designed by colleges and organizations
- Provides more than 1,500 free courses
- Classes are offered in a variety of languages
- Website is user-friendly
Cons
- Some classes have fixed deadlines.
- Applications for degree programmes must be made in addition.
- Free courses offer no certification
Udemy
One of the most well-known online learning platforms, Udemy provides courses in various professional sectors and techniques for developing specific skills that qualified instructors can teach. These online classes contain both free and premium content.
The 13 areas that comprise Udemy’s course catalogue are Business, Marketing, IT & Software, Office Productivity, Music, Personal Development, Teaching & Academics, Design, Lifestyle, Photography, and Health & Fitness.
The platform allows teachers to create multimedia lectures, including audio, video, and text elements, as well as readings, quizzes, and other activities. There isn’t a single common template for an Udemy course. Students can preview lessons on Udemy before enrolling, and if they’re not satisfied, they can get a 30-day refund.
Key Features
- Courses: 183,000+
- Cost: One course might cost anything from $11 to more than $200.
- Certification: Yes, but not all
- Accredited Institution: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Above 183,000 courses for professional skills and hobbies
- lectures in multimedia that include readings and tests
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- courses offered in 65 different languages
Cons
- Not a certified institution
- Instructors can post courses without reviewing the materials.
- Less interaction from instructors in the Question and answer area
Skillshare
One of the most well-known online learning platforms is Skillshare. There are almost 27,000 classes in its vast library, which is divided into three categories: Thrive (Lifestyle, Productivity), Build (Business Analytics, Freelance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Management, Marketing), and Create (Animation, Film & Video, Graphic Design, Music, Creative Writing, Photography, Web Development, and more).
Students who sign up for Skillshare can enrol in as many or as few courses as they’d like while they’re subscribing because the platform uses a subscription approach instead of a per-course pricing structure. The current cost is $168 per year or roughly $14 monthly.
Despite this, the platform offers a variety of free lectures, ranging from quick 20-minute videos to lengthy tutorials lasting an hour or longer. Although they aren’t as in-depth, they are a fantastic approach to exploring new subjects.
Key Features
- Courses: 35,000+
- Cost: $14 per month, which equates to $168 annually
- Certification: No
- Accredited Institution: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
- numerous course topics
- highly knowledgeable educators, including famous people
- almost every creative field is covered
- provides team blueprints for groups of more than 20 persons.
- Free subscription trial for seven days
Cons
- Only a few free courses
- Only English is available for the courses.
- Only with a premium subscription is it ad-free.
MasterClass
Celebrities and specialists with international renown teach the courses. Acting by Natalie Portman, filmmaking by Martin Scorsese, singing by Christina Aguilera, cooking by Gordon Ramsay, writing by Dan Brown, etc., are just a few examples of the many talents you can learn from.
Like a regular course, most feature 20 lessons, giving you plenty of opportunities to delve deeply into your chosen subject. There is no better way to understand these frequently enigmatic professions than to hear from those who have previously achieved success.
These video-based courses combine introductory lectures, workbooks, and class discussions with real-world tips and examples. You can participate in as many sessions as you’d like within a monthly subscription because MasterClass is a subscription-based platform. Students must sign up for one year at a time, and available access costs around $15 per month.
Key Features
- Courses: 100+
- Cost: Starts at $15 per month and goes up to $23 per month for annual memberships
- Certification: No
- Accredited Institution: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Experts tutors
- All classes are available to members at no additional cost.
- superior video production
- Courses offer a thorough curriculum.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- There is a constant level of quality in the courses.
Cons
- No free trials or courses are offered.
- No certifications
- Fewer courses available compared to competitors
- Only annual subscriptions are offered.
EdX
MIT and Harvard established one of the most well-known nonprofit international online learning platforms, edX. The goal of edX is to break down the financial, geographic, and accessibility obstacles in traditional education while offering top-notch content. It does this by working with prestigious colleges and organizations around the world.
As a tool for career progression, EdX, in collaboration with various universities, offers professional degree certifications and “micro” degree programmes at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
They also provide a “Global Freshman Academy” through a collaboration with Arizona State University, where students can take some classes and receive transferable undergrad credits. Classes match “actual” online courses in these ways: You might discover lectures, research assignments, conversations, quizzes, and other aspects. Most of EdX’s courses are free, which is a crucial selling factor, but there is a twist. The free version should work if you’re taking the course for personal growth, but the “verified certificate” option, which provides official recognition for professional purposes, costs roughly $49 for each session.
Key Features
- Courses: 3,500+
- Cost: Starts at $50 to obtain a verified official certificate
- Certification: Yes
- Accredited Institution: Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Can audit classes for free (but won’t obtain a certificate)
- Offering both bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes
- Offers financial support with a decrease of up to 90%
- Fourteen-day money-back guarantee
- Renowned for its STEM-oriented courses
Cons
- There aren’t many courses available in the humanities and creative fields.
- Financial aid is not available for all courses.
Udacity
With a heavy emphasis on technology, Udacity is one of the online learning platforms providing free programming, data science, and web development courses.
On this platform, students can take online classes and earn certifications that teach them the skills that business employers seek.
Each program offers practical training, real-world applications and examples, personalized code reviews, and genuine instructors and career advisers that can cater to your specific needs.
For students who wish to start a career in technology or develop their skill set, Udacity offers a nano degree program. These programs are taught by specialists who provide feedback on tasks accomplished and contain real-world assignments.
Depending on the program, one to five months of part-time study are typically necessary. However, there is a cost associated with each feature: If students pay for the entire four months at once, it costs about $597 instead of about $399 each month.
Key Features
- Courses: 200+
- Cost: Starts at $399 a month and can be much higher, up to $1,995 for four-month access to some courses
- Certification: Yes
- Accredited Institution: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
It contains intensive programs consisting of multiple lessons
- Offers assistance with resumes and portfolio reviews
- Get individualized project feedback
- There are numerous scholarship opportunities.
- Seven-day return policy following purchase
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Enrollment deadlines
- Longer time commitment
Pluralsight
Pluralsight offers software development, data science, information and cybersecurity courses, among others. It was created with working professionals in mind.
More than 7,500 individual classes are available in the course library, spread over hundreds of pathways. If you’re not quite ready to take on a full-length pack, you can still get a taste of it with a few hour-long individual courses.
A personal plan costs about $29 per month (or roughly $299 for an entire year at a modest discount), regardless of how few or many lessons (or paths) you wish to study. For about $449 a year, there is also a premium option that offers all the regular features and courses in addition to extra interactive ones and industry-recognized practice examinations for several professional certifications.
Key Features
- Courses: 7,500+
- Cost: Plans range from $229 and $449 per year
- Certification: Yes
- Accredited Institution: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Three tiers of organization for simple course selection
- Access to classes at no cost for life with subscriptions
- Affordable cost for extensive courses
Cons
- No money-back guarantee
- Focus on intermediate and advanced users
Alison
Alison provides free online courses for learning and developing skills produced by professionals in various industries. The site offers materials created with students, job seekers, and other types of learners in mind. It caters to learners, including managers, professionals, teachers, and independent contractors. You may track all your courses in Alison to keep tabs on your academic development.
Alison offers dozens of free online courses on topics ranging from art to zoology, and Alison constantly adds new ones. They seek subject experts to create thorough learning materials divided into manageable pieces and provide several attainable learning outcomes. Their online courses offer engaging and dynamic learning opportunities for everyone, no matter what part of the world.
Since 2007, they have collaborated with institutions of higher learning, foundations, and private citizens worldwide to deliver free, adaptable, and enjoyable courses. You can choose between a lengthy diploma program or a series of more manageable certificate programs.
Key Features
- Courses: 4000+
- Cost: Free
- Certification: Yes
- Accredited Institution: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Ease of use
- Free courses and certifications
- Numerous options for courses are available
- Flexibility
Cons
- To remove advertising, you must pay.
- Unavailable course descriptions
- Mobile incompatibility might not work for iOS users
LinkedIn Learning
An online learning portal called LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com, provides expert courses in business, technology-related, and creative sectors in video classes. The platform is available as a premium service to LinkedIn users, focuses on assisting people in making investments in their professional growth and provides more than 16,000 courses in 7 languages.
This online learning platform provides expert information that is both free and paid for. These courses offer certifications upon completion and range in skill level from beginning to advanced. For new users to test the waters, LinkedIn Learning offers a free 30-day trial with monthly memberships starting at $29.
Key Features
- Courses: 16,000+
- Cost: $29.99 per month or $299.88 per year
- Certification: Yes
- Accredited Institution: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredibly well-known and respected in the B2B community
- Has a one-month free trial available
- Offers consumers individualized course recommendations
- After course completion offers certification
- Access to offline learning for learning while travelling
Cons
- It is confusing as to the calibre of the courses it offers; therefore, before enrolling, you should research them.
- Getting in as an instructor could be difficult.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, there are numerous alternatives accessible, and each one has advantages and disadvantages. While researching the online learning platforms and tools you are most interested in is highly recommended before making a decision, you may find reading through every tiny detail that explains each one is time-consuming.
Remember that most platforms permit you to test out their services before purchasing them, so be sure to do so and see how it works. The decision that best meets your needs and fits your budget will ultimately be your most excellent choice.
