Whether you’re looking to learn a new language, expand your existing skills, or further your career, nowadays you can do all of that from the comfort of your home.
Thanks to hundreds of learning platforms available online, you can easily access a plethora of valuable information at your fingertips and at a very affordable cost.
While online learning platforms are growing closer and closer to replacing traditional education, these outlets have helped and are continuing to help millions of people around the world to adopt new knowledge and skills.
With that said, we looked into the 10 best online platforms in order to help you decide which of these options is worth investing in.
We will not only list the top-performing platforms but also give you insight into the criteria we used to develop this ranking list.
Table of Contents
Online Learning Platforms Ranked
#1 Coursera – Best Overall
Coursera is by far one of the most popular learning platforms out there. However, that’s not the only reason it deserves to be ranked #1 on our list.
With over 23 million users across the globe, Coursera provides a wide variety of free and paid courses that even include certificates from reputable universities and educational facilities.
On top of simple online training courses, this platform provides specialized learning programs and degree programs that include video lectures, assignments, and textual materials.
If you’re a part of an organization or you run your own business, then it’s worth looking into the Coursera for Business feature where you can subscribe to a special plan for larger organizations.
Whether you’re looking for a one-off course, an online degree program, or a training curriculum for your team, Coursera has something to offer everyone.
Their courses are taught by top experts in their respective fields, including professors from world-class universities. Thus, you don’t have to worry about the quality of content when it comes to Coursera.
When it comes to the technicalities regarding this platform, it’s safe to say that this is one of the easiest learning platforms to use. Besides, if you get stuck at any point, you can contact their customer support service to get the answers you need.
When it comes to pricing, Coursera offers a diverse range of options, including courses for as low as $9.99 all the way to degree programs worth $50 000.
Pros:
- Partnered with universities and organizations
- Offers affordable courses and degrees
- Offline learning feature
- Ability to upgrade for a paid certificate
- Learn job-relevant skills
Cons:
- Some advanced courses may require prior knowledge.
- There are no free certificates.
#2 LinkedIn Learning – Best for Business Learning
If you have a LinkedIn account, then you’ve most likely come across their learning platform as well. LinkedIn Learning offers over 17 000 courses across three main subjects: business, technology, and creative fields.
The platform is a great source of educational info for businesses that want to train their employees. However, you can take any course you want as an individual, meaning you don’t have to be a part of a larger organization to access their training content.
Most courses on LinkedIn Learning are focused on career improvement, skill-building, and professional development. With over 700+ million users across the globe, there’s no doubt that LinkedIn Learning is a valuable source of educational content.
However, unlike Coursera, LinkedIn Learning offers no accredited certificate. At the end of each course, you will receive a completion certificate that can be used to prove you attended the course.
However, if you are looking for accredited certification from universities or partners, then LinkedIn Learning is not the best place to browse for courses.
However, the good news is that all LinkedIn Learning courses are self-paced, meaning you can go through the lessons at any time and any place. Their 1-month free trial gives you just enough time to test things out and see what LinkedIn Learning has to offer.
What we like best about LinkedIn Learning is that it offers personalized course recommendations based on your skills and interests.
All their certificates of completion can be displayed on your LinkedIn profile, which gives you lots of room to expand your network and reach new opportunities thanks to your newly-learned skills. If you find the platform useful, you can opt for one of their 2 pricing plans: a monthly fee or an annual subscription fee (the latter one being slightly more affordable).
Pros:
- Highly valued in the business community
- 1-month free trial available
- Personalized recommendations
- Offline learning access
- Certificates of completion are available
Cons:
- No accredited certification.
- Courses are not always held by reputable professionals – you have to do your research to see which course you want to attend.
#3 Udemy – Best for Niche Topics
The third option on our list is Udemy, another enormous online learning platform with over 183 000 courses. No wonder why they call themselves the leading global marketplace for learning and instruction!
With over 44 million students, they surely earned those bragging rights. The question is, what makes Udemy better (or worse) than its competitors?
Let’s start with the basics. Udemy offers affordable online courses with lifetime access and a 30-day refund policy. It sure sounds like a good option for those who are scared of wasting money on bad courses.
If you don’t like what you get, you’ll get your money back with Udemy. As simple as that. The platform features a variety of courses from business and accounting categories to more laid-back educational content in the lifestyle niche.
In other words, there’s something for anyone here. Whether you’re looking to pick up a new hobby or improve your existing skills, you’ll most likely find a variety of courses on any topic of your choice.
However, are the courses any good? We could say so. Udemy’s courses are held by professionals in different fields and they offer educational content on different levels – from beginner to advanced difficulty.
This kind of diverse approach is what makes Udemy so successful. Their platform is a great fit for professionals looking to gain skills and advance their careers, as well as those who just want to pass some time while completing free online courses.
You can pay for each Udemy course individually or subscribe to the enterprise or team plan if that suits your needs better. You’ll also find that a lot of their courses are discounted most of the time, which is a great plus if you’re looking for a budget-friendly online learning platform.
Pros:
- Affordable and budget-friendly
- Plenty of free courses available
- 30-day refund policy
- Lifetime access to every course you buy
- Wide range of course topics
- Certificate of completion included (paid courses only)
Cons:
- Non-accredited certificates
- Not all courses are made by qualified professionals
#4 Skillshare – Best for Creatives
Founded over a decade ago, Skillshare is one of the most heavily marketed online learning platforms out there.
Although they’re not as big as Udemy (currently at 41 000+ courses and 8 million users), Skillshare can easily compete with the bigger fish in the sea. They put a lot of focus on the user interface and the fact that their platform is simple and easy to navigate.
With Skillshare, your online learning experience will be taken to the next level. You’ll get a 7-day free trial to test things out and see what this platform has to offer. Their courses revolve around creative fields and entrepreneurship, although there are many topics outside of these two categories as well.
What makes Skillshare stand out is the kind of quality it offers at such an affordable price. It costs only $168 per year to get their premium plan and unlock all the special features. If you think about it, a little over $150 for more than 41 000 courses is the deal of the year!
When it comes to content quality, there might not be university accredited programs on Skillshare but their course content is nonetheless up to the highest standards.
Besides expanding your skills, Skillshare allows you to become a part of an online learning community where you can connect with other members and enjoy sharing your knowledge.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Free trial available
- Plenty of classes and courses to choose from
- Engaged community
Cons:
- No accredited certificates or degrees
- No multilingual courses
#5 EdX – Best for STEM
Next up is EdX, another e-learning community that offers formal education online. Although EdX doesn’t have nearly as many courses as Udemy or Coursera, they focus specifically on partner programs and courses created by top-level educational institutions such as Harvard and Berkeley University.
They currently have over 3,000 courses and more than 300 accredited programs.
With that said, EdX is definitely a good source of formal education founded by professors from Harvard and MIT. Although there’s a wide variety of courses on the platform, the main topics you’ll find include computer science, engineering, statistics, and data analysis.
The courses at EdX usually cost between $50 and $200, while the master’s degrees cost around $10,000 to $25,000.
If you just want to learn and you don’t care about certification or graded assignments, the good news is that with EdX you can take on courses for free (given that you need to pay for the extra features). With EdX, you can learn at your own pace and advance in your career with the help of academic professors.
Most importantly, EdX.org is pretty simple and easy to use. On top of the browser-accessible platform, you can also use the iOS or Android application to access your online classes and start learning for free. Keep in mind that this is an interactive platform where you can communicate with other students and have your assignments graded by professionals.
Pros:
- Courses can be attended for free
- Accredited certification available
- Apps available for both iOS and Android devices
- 14-day refund policy
- Partnered with big names including Harvard and Microsoft
Cons:
- No consistent course structure
- No creative topics
#6 DataCamp – Best for Data Science and Analytics
If you’re looking for a platform specifically focused on data science and analytics, then look no further than DataCamp. This platform offers 350+ interactive courses on data analytics, created by 200+ experts in this field.
Each of their courses provides bite-sized content that allows you to learn at your own pace. Even if you only have a couple of minutes a day to improve your data knowledge, you’ll still be able to follow these simplified courses.
Unlike the platforms we mentioned above, DataCamp has a very unique learning structure that consists of 4 parts: assess, learn, practice, and apply. Such an approach allows for a better learning experience as opposed to taking on the lessons on your own and trying to learn through research and YouTube.
However, keep in mind that the course accomplishment certificates are not verified. If you need an official verification, look for data courses on EdX or Coursera. Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that DataCamp has a great plan for businesses that provides flexible online training for different roles in data science and machine learning.
Pros:
- Interactive courses with videos and exercises
- Courses created by experts
- Clear pricing plans and free plans are available
Cons:
- No verified certificates
#7 Masterclass – Best for Celebrity Lessons
Next up is Masterclass, an online platform that features famous VIP instructors and even celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay and Alicia Keys. If you like the idea of learning from celebrities and famous gurus such as Tony Robbins and others, then you’re going to love Masterclass.
This platform currently hosts over 150 classes in 11 different categories. If you’re looking for courses that get straight to the point and cut all the fluff, you’ll definitely find them on Masterclass. Each course has around 20 lessons with each lesson being roughly around 10 minutes.
All Masterclass courses are video-based and offer demonstrations and practical advice. At about $15 per month, you will get lifetime access to Masterclass courses taught by well-known gurus and professionals in different fields.
However, keep in mind that the platform only offers annual subscriptions so you’d have to pay a larger fee upfront to access the content.
If that’s not a deal-breaker for you, then you’ll definitely enjoy these celebrity lessons with amazing production quality. These engaging lessons will definitely keep you entertained as you adopt new skills. However, if you’re looking for formal education, then Masterclass might not be the best fit for you.
Pros:
- Well produced courses
- VIP instructors
- 30-day refund policy
- Unlimited access to classes
- Simple course structure
Cons:
- No free plan
- No certification
- Annual subscription only
#8 Udacity – Best for Career Building
Udacity is a massive e-learning platform known for its high-quality programs called Nanodegrees. With partners such as Google and Microsoft, Udacity puts a lot of focus on technology-related topics and skills required for careers in this field.
On top of providing great quality course content, Udacity allows you to become a part of a large e-learning community and access over 200 completely free courses. However, if you decide to upgrade and look into paid courses instead, be prepared to pay a premium for this kind of quality.
What’s unique about Udacity is that the platform offers special career services such as resume and cover letter reviews, as well as LinkedIn and GitHub reviews. As you probably guessed, the free account won’t get you any certificates so, if you want to receive a certification upon completing a course, you’ll have to upgrade to paid.
Keep in mind that Udacity certificates are not accredited but they do serve as a great social proof that can come in handy in career building. Overall, the platform has plenty of interesting features to offer, along with a simple and easy-to-use interface for a more enjoyable learning experience.
Pros:
- Unique career services included
- Free courses available
- Large e-learning community
- Top-quality courses
- Simple to use interface
Cons:
- Paid courses are quite expensive
#9 Pluralsight – Best for Data Learning
Pluralsight is an online learning platform specifically designed for data professionals. If you’re looking to expand your data knowledge, the mini degree programs available at Pluralsight will be of great help.
With over 7500 courses available on the platform, Pluralsight has more than enough educational resources to offer.
Pluralsight is oriented more toward intermediate and advanced users so, if you’re completely new to data learning, you might want to look for a more beginner-friendly platform.
Although Pluralsight is not an accredited institution, they do offer certificates upon the completion of each course, which can serve as proof of knowledge or experience.
You can give Pluralsight a shot for free but, once the 10-day free trial expires, you’ll have to opt for one of their paid subscription plans ranging in price from $229 to $449 per year. What’s great about this platform is that it includes course learning checks – short self-paced quizzes that you can take to check how well you’ve memorized the course material.
Overall, the courses at Pluralsight can suit both individuals and businesses with larger teams. The platform offers great customer support via both email and phone numbers so you can have your questions answered in a timely manner. Most topics on the platform revolve around IT Ops, Information, and Cyber Security.
Pros:
- There’s a 10-day free trial
- Great customer support
- Short self-paced quizzes are available
- The platform supports offline learning
- Certificates included
- Unlimited access to classes with a subscription
Cons:
- Pretty expensive
- No accreditation
- Not beginner-friendly
- No refunds
#10 Brilliant.org – Best for STEM
The last online platform on our list is Brilliant – another STEM e-learning source with 60+ courses on topics such as science, technology, engineering, and math.
Although this is a much smaller platform compared to Udemy or Coursera, it offers a lot of value to students and individuals looking to expand their knowledge in STEM topics.
The Brilliant platform features a very user-friendly design that’s simple and easy to navigate. There is a 7-day free trial available if you want to test things out before opting for one of their three subscription plans.
What we don’t like about Brilliant is that it only offers monthly or annual subscriptions and there are no one-off payments at all.
With that said, if you’re only interested in one specific course, you will have to subscribe and thus get access to all the courses on the platform. However, there are more things about Brilliant that we like rather than dislike. For example, their interactive, hands-on learning approach is quite admirable.
The platform is designed for any students, professionals, or lifelong learners who enjoy challenging problems and exercises. With the Brilliant mobile app, you can download any course of your choice for offline use and take your learning experience with you wherever you go. Overall, the platform is quite well designed – too bad it only has a few dozen courses to offer!
Pros:
- Interactive courses
- Free trial available
- Beginner-friendly content
- Mobile app available
Cons:
- Subscription-only – no one-off payments
- No certificates
What are Online Learning Platforms?
As simple as this question is, we have to address what online learning platforms are and how they may differ from each other. Most simply put, an online learning platform is a portal used to store and provide educational content and learning resources categorized by content and difficulty levels.
Top e-learning platforms make it easy to learn new skills and expand your existing knowledge from anywhere in the world. Most importantly, these platforms allow instructors to not only connect with students on a global level but also interact with them and monitor their progress effectively.
Naturally, the level of interaction involved in each platform depends on the nature of the platform itself. Some online learning platforms operate merely as hubs of educational content where you can go in and access materials however you please.
Other platforms, on the other hand, are enriched with strict learning curriculums and programs that include teachers’ supervision and additional features. Most online learning platforms allow you to adopt knowledge and consume materials at your own place, although some may require you to adhere to a stricter schedule.
Online learning platforms can be divided into two categories:
- Learning destination sites or LDS – These sites allow different course creators to offer materials and course content within the same platform (such as Coursera or Udemy)
- Learning management systems or LMS – These sites are used internally by businesses, organizations, or educational institutions to provide learning materials and monitor students’ progress.
Overall, most online learning platforms have similar characteristics but they differ in special features, pricing, and the quality of course content. Our list of reviews will certainly help you spot those differences and choose the e-learning platform that best suits your needs.
What are the Benefits of Learning Online?
There are many benefits to using online learning platforms, from self-paced learning to easier access and lower costs. Today’s e-learning market is worth over $240 billion, which gives you enough insight into how serious the online learning space really is.
Most importantly, there is no exclusion to who could benefit from learning online. Whether you’re a student, an employee, or an independent contractor, you will most definitely find courses in your niche across the ten learning platforms we’ve listed above.
For now, let’s take a look at the benefits of learning online:
#1 The freedom of time and place
The most obvious benefit of choosing to learn online is having the freedom of time and place. With the online learning platforms we have available today, you can pick up your classes at any place and any time – whenever it suits you. Not having to visit a physical location also allows you to save time and money on commuting, which is another great plus.
#2 Self-paced learning
Traditional learning and University programs usually include a strict curriculum that needs to be followed. That means you have to adopt knowledge at a set pace and adapt to whatever the instructors see fit. With online learning, however, you have the freedom to absorb content as slowly or as quickly as you want.
#3 Wide variety of topics
Online learning platforms offer educational courses and materials on thousands of different topics at different difficulty levels. In traditional educational settings, your options are limited when it comes to choosing the topics you want to focus on.
For instance, you can choose to study marketing at a university but you cannot choose the specific exercises and lessons that you want to listen to. Online learning simply gives you more options.
#4 Lower costs
Last but not least, online education platforms allow you to learn a variety of skills and topics at a far more affordable cost compared to traditional education. Some platforms even offer free access to course material and only require you to purchase the paid version if you wish to receive a certificate.
If your goal is to learn and improve your skills and you don’t really need the certificates that much, you can get away with learning for free on many of the online learning platforms we’ve listed above.
#5 Quick career improvement
If you’re looking for ways to take your career to the next level, learning new skills online is a great way to get that additional boost you need. In many cases, official online course certificates can help you qualify for a better position or even request a raise.
If such an opportunity arises, you’ll be able to make quick progress thanks to online learning platforms that provide personal development and career development courses. It sure seems like a better option than taking the traditional route and spending thousands of dollars on years of education.
How We Chose the Best Online Learning Platforms
Before we wrap this article up, we want to shed some light on the process behind choosing the top 10 online learning platforms. Nowadays, you can find a ton of unqualified reviews online, which doesn’t make it any easier to decide which platform is worth investing time and money in.
With that in mind, we created strict criteria that we followed to choose the best online learning platforms on this list. For starters, we looked at features such as user interface and learning experience to make sure the platforms meet the highest standards of quality.
Along with that, we paid attention to the quality of content and course materials, which happens to be one of the main deciding factors in this case.
After all, the top-ranked platforms are bound to have the highest quality content and production levels. However, it’s important to address that content quality is not enough to make an online learning platform impress us. There are things such as platform adaptivity, certifications, and payment methods that have to be taken into consideration.
When it comes to platform adaptability, we looked into available mobile apps and whether certain platforms could be used offline as well. It was important to look into certifications as well, especially since many online platforms are not accredited and only provide basic completion certificates.
Lastly, we looked into refund policies and free trials as we believe that you should be able to get your money back if you’re not satisfied with the outcomes of the course. Most of the courses on our list have free trial periods while only some have refund policies, which makes them stand out on the market.
Final Thoughts
This wraps up our list of best online learning platforms. Although we’ve done all the research for you, it’s up to you to decide which of these platforms has what it takes to satisfy your learning needs.
The good thing is that we’ve categorized these platforms based on what they’re the best fit for, whether that’s STEM topics, technology, or career advancement.
Don’t forget that you can take advantage of free trials and even some free courses on many of these platforms. Doing so will help you decide which platform best fits your needs!