Online platforms have revolutionized the way students access education and develop new skills. Everyone can learn at their own pace, in their own time, and from anywhere worldwide.

With engaging learning experience in a wide range of courses, from academic subjects to professional development programs, everything is all available at the click of a button. You could never have to visit an institution or University.

Whether you want to continue your education, upskill in your professional career, or pursue an interest, these platforms offer an easy way to achieve your learning goals.

LinkedIn Learning

Best For Career Oriented Learning

Library: 16,000 courses

For: Business, technology, and creative skills

Price: $379.88 USD per seat/year 

LinkedIn Learning is a valuable resource for professionals looking to upskill, reskill, or explore new interests flexibly and conveniently. It offers various courses and tutorials to help individuals enhance their skills and advance their careers. 

The subscribed users can access expert-advised videos and get access to multiple interactive learning tools to develop new abilities and stay competitive in the job market.

On top of that, you can learn at your own pace, keep track of your progress, and earn certificates of completion to showcase your achievements.

Udemy

Best For Learning Specific Skillset

Library: 210,000+ courses and 11,000+ personal plan

For: Business and Technical Courses

Price: Free to $200 per course and $30/month Individual plan

Udemy covers diverse topics such as business, technology, personal development, and more. From over 210,000 courses, learners can choose from beginner to advanced levels depending on skill sets or preferred materials taught by experts and professionals.

Instructors can also create and sell their courses, which makes Udemy an ideal learning and skill development platform.

You can choose courses and times at your convenience and according to your schedule. As an interactive learning platform, it includes video lectures, quizzes, assignments, and discussion forums. Udemy offers certificates of completion for multiple courses and carries credit on your resume.

Skillshare

Best For Skills Learning

Library: 29000+ online courses

For: Personal and Professional courses, Art and Lifestyle

Price: $159/seat annually for team

Best suited for creative arts, design, business, technology, and more, Skillshare offers thousands of classes across a wide range of topics. The best about the platform is that users can have unlimited access to courses with close guidance from professionals and experts.

I want to join Skillshare if I am interested in interactive lessons and hands-on projects that will allow me to apply what I have learned in real-world scenarios.

User-friendly interface with a huge number of class options, individuals looking to expand their skills, pursue their passions, or explore new interests will enjoy Skillshare. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, this platform will help with continuous learning and growth.

Coursera

Best Overall Learning Platform

Library: 7000+ courses, projects, and certifications

For: IT, Data Science, and Business Analytics

Price: $399 per user/year and 14-day refund guarantee

Coursera prides itself on associating with the top universities and institutions worldwide. Specializing in Information technology and computer science, you can access 7000+ courses at your own pace.

There are options for degrees and certifications, and most of them are subscription-based. Discussion forums, grading of peers, and interactive quizzes improve the learning experience at Coursera.

Partnered with 200+ leading universities and companies, it provides valuable resources for those who require high-quality education irrespective of backgrounds and interests.

edX/Open edX

Best For Accredited Courses

Library: 3500+ online courses

For: Supplementary Degrees, Vocational Education and Working Professionals

Price: Free to $300 per course

edX is an open online course platform associated with universities and institutions around the world. Harvard University and MIT founded edX in 2012 to provide distance learning with a flexible schedule.

It specializes in computer science, business, engineering, humanities, and many more self-paced classes, allowing students to learn at their convenience. 

edX also offers MicroMasters programs, Professional Certificate programs, and online degrees with structured learning experiences for students seeking specific career skills. It is a valuable resource for those looking to expand their skill level with certification.

Udacity

Best For Career Skills Development 

Library: 80+ Nanodegree programs, 350+ Courses, 370+ real-world projects and 2,500+ skills program

For: Cloud computing, AI, Data Science, Web development, and Programming

Price: $249 per month and $1,200 to $20,000 per course completion

Udacity specializes in training for cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, data science, and programming. Besides it also has courses in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

The platform works closely with Google, Amazon, and IBM, who have been the cream of the crop in the market for over two decades. Choosing Udacity over other training platforms for high-quality and industry-relevant training would be best.

It is relatively expensive, but the nano programs here are worth it with a focus on practical, hands-on learning. Udacity's courses help students develop the skills to keep up with the fast-paced, tech-driven world.

MasterClass

Best For Personal Development

Library: 200+ classes 

For: Business and leadership, Photography, Cooking, Writing, Acting, Music, Sports and more.

Monthly Price:

$10 for 1 device in online mode

$15 for 2 devices in offline mode

$20 for 6 devices in offline mode

MasterClass has world-renowned experts in various fields, such as cooking, writing, music, film, business, and more. The best part about the platform is that each class is taught by a celebrity instructor sharing their knowledge, skills, and experiences.

It mainly includes video lessons, downloadable materials, and interactive assignments. On top of that, it offers valuable insights and techniques to help improve skills. What better way to learn about acting than from Samuel L Jackson himself? 

It also includes a community feature where students can connect and share their work with proper feedback and suggestions. These courses don't provide certification.

FutureLearn

Best For University Degrees

Library: 3700+ courses online

For: Accredited courses in Law, medicine

Price:

Free (Limited Access)

$39.99 Unlimited monthly for the first 2 months

$349.99 billed annually

With over 13 million students, FutureLearn prides itself on providing accessible ways to upskill or reskill in various subjects, including business, technology, healthcare, and more.

It provides free and paid courses based on your need and budget plan. The courses here are engaging, interactive, and compiled with videos, quizzes, and discussion forums.

A mobile application with a user-friendly interface, Futurelearn is best for those who seek University degrees online.

Mindvalley

Best For Motivation Programs

Library: 100 Quest Programs and 200+ short-form trainings

For: Personal Development, yoga, meditation, hypnosis, and energy healing

Price:  $199/year for membership with unlimited access

Mindvalley has online courses, programs, and events to help students achieve their full potential in every aspect of their lives. It transforms education by focusing on personal growth and self-improvement and making it accessible to all.

If you are looking for holistic development and lifelong learning from world-renowned experts and thought leaders, Mindvalley is a perfect place for you.

With an innovative and interactive approach to learning, millions of people worldwide turn to the platform for personal growth. 

Babbel

Best For Language-independent Learning

Library: 60,000 lessons, 14 languages

For: Language learning at beginners and advanced level

Price:

$8.45/ month for 6 months

$6.95/month for 12 months

$299.5 for lifetime

Language learning application offering interactive lessons in 14 languages, Babbel is one of the best choices for travelers and guides. It combines listening, speaking, reading, and writing exercises.

The app focuses on real-life situations and practical language use. It can be a valuable tool for students and professionals looking to improve their language skills or learn abroad. 

It is a user-friendly and easy language learning platform catering to many learners and language proficiency levels.

Content Sources:

Skillshare

Coursera

Masterclass