Thanks to the internet, there are no limits to what you can learn. The online learning business is at an all-time high, with hundreds of websites providing 1000s of courses in practically anything you can imagine.
There are courses on programming, engineering, math, and sciences, even carpentry. Again, the sky is the limit, and if you want to learn a particular skill, chances are you will find a relevant course on multiple websites in no time. You can even find courses that can help you write an essay or a thesis – or you may hire professional thesis writers to save your time.
However, the catch is that not all learning platforms offer the same quality. Some are expensive and lack variety while others are cheap, but the courses are nothing to write home about.
The good news is that many platforms provide quality courses, and they don’t break the bank. However, professional-level courses that come with certification or degrees do cost quite a bit, no matter which particular platform you opt for.
Today, I have curated a list of the 10 best online learning platforms that are the most sought after. Read the key features of each and decide which one suits you best.
In this Article
10. PluralSight
Type: Software, IT, Data Science
Paid: Yes
PluralSight, unlike other platforms, is specially designed to deliver IT-related courses. You will find classes on software development, data science, information and cybersecurity, and much more. Their primary focus is the software side of things, and they seem to be quite good at it. This platform’s key feature is keeping a monthly track of 23 billion data points, which reveals the growth rate of 850+ technologies and ranks their popularity. This gives you a better idea of what sort of program you should invest your time in.
Key Features:
- Complete coverage of all the popular programming languages.
- Professional UI, clutter-free, and intuitive.
- Keep Track of your progress.
- Skill assessment test.
- 100s of courses to choose from.
Visit the website here.
9. Google Digital Garage
Type: Digital marketing, data and tech, and career development
Paid: No. It is free of cost.
Yes, Google also has an online learning platform. Their focus is mainly digital marketing, data and tech, and career development. The essential advantage of Google’s Digital Garage is that it is free. You don’t have to pay a single penny to learn any of their courses.
Key Features:
- Free of cost.
- Quality courses taught by leading professionals.
- Free Live Webinars.
- Neat interface.
- Hundreds of courses to choose from.
Visit the website here.
8. Khan Academy
Type: Maths, Science, History, Computing, Economics
Paid: No. It is free of cost.
Almost anyone who has been on the internet for a while knows about Khan Academy. It started as a YouTube channel more than a decade ago, and ever since, it has grown into a standalone entity, all without charging its students a single dime.
Key Features:
- Free to Use
- Learn Math, Science, History, Computing, Economics, and other subjects.
- A personalized approach to learning.
- Professional instructors deliver quality teaching.
Visit the website here.
7. Brilliant.org
Type: Science and Math
Paid: Yes
Brilliant has taken an interactive approach to learn where students don’t just watch video lectures but instead take part in whatever subject they are learning by solving puzzles, watching visual proofs of math topics, and seeing a neural network in real-time. These are just a few examples of their creative interactive learning solutions. The only problem is that they offer a minimal number of courses, and most of them are aimed at school/college students.
Key Features:
- Interactive learning via visual aids/puzzles.
- Courses are crafted by award-winning teachers, researchers, and professionals.
- Instructors come from places like MIT, Caltech, Duke, Microsoft, and Google
- Sixty courses to choose from.
Visit the website here.
6. Coursera
Type: Business, Data Science, IT, Maths, Logic
Paid: Depends on the course
Coursera is one of the biggest online learning platforms with over 3900+ available courses to choose from. They hire leading experts from places like Yale, University of Pennsylvania, IBM, Google, and more. Depending on the course, you will be awarded a certification when you complete it. The level of certification varies, starting from specialization to a degree.
Key Features:
- Many courses are free.
- 3900+ courses to choose from.
- Certification is awarded for professional courses.
- Leading professionals teach classes.
Visit the website here.
5. Udacity
Type: IT, Web Development, Computer Science, Business
Paid: Yes
Udacity, much like Coursera, provides professional courses that come with a certification. These platforms are expensive because of the professional certification and the high-quality professionals they hire to teach their classes.
Key Features:
- Each program includes hands-on practice, real-world applications, and examples.
- Offers nano-degrees that are completed in 4-5 months of part-time studying.
- Offers courses in IT, Web Development, Computer Science, Business, data science and much more
- Simplistic design (no unnecessary information)
Visit the website here.
4. Edx.org
Type: University Courses
Paid: Depends on the course
edX offers university courses and was created by Harvard and MIT. The courses are taught by real college professors and are available in a variety of fields. However, the primary focus is STEM. Students who complete a course are rewarded certificates or degrees depending on the course.
Key Features:
- Learn University courses from real professors.
- Earn a degree or certificate.
- Many courses are free but lack certification.
- Professional organization much like an actual University.
Visit the website here.
3. Allison
Type: IT, Science, Health, Humanities, Software Development, marketing, Business, lifestyle, Finance
Paid: Depends on the course.
Allison offers a host of courses in different fields. The courses come from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Educational trusts, and other leading professionals. Like the previous entries, Allison awards its students with certificates or degrees, depending on the course. Moreover, all the courses on Allison are free; however, it will cost you if you want certification.
Key Features:
- Five language preferences to choose from, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese.
- Professional courses taught by real professors and instructors.
- You can learn any course for free if you don’t require certification.
- User-friendly layout.
Visit the website here.
Type: Creative, Business, IT, Lifestyle, Health, Finance, Software development
Paid: Yes
Skillshare has an absolute abundance of courses to choose from. They offer courses on practically anything you can imagine. However, you don’t receive any sort of certification once you complete a course. Skillshare is only meant to gain knowledge.
Key Features:
- First 2 months free. You can apply for any course you want.
- Choose from thousands of courses.
- High-Quality courses taught by actual teachers.
- Cheaper than other learning platforms that offer the same quality.
Visit the website here.
1. Udemy
Type: Business, Finance, Health, Lifestyle, Software, Science, Engineering, Graphic Design
Paid: Yes
Udemy is the industry standard when it comes to online learning. If you can imagine it, you can learn it on Udemy. They offer 130,000 different courses, which is much more than any other platform in existence. Udemy does not have a fixed format for its courses, which means that instructors have the freedom to design their courses and deliver them any way they want.
Key Features:
- 130,000+ courses to choose from.
- No monthly subscription; pay per class.
- Lifetime access to a course once you enroll in it.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
Visit the website here.