Best Free Online Learning Platforms

Best Online Learning Platforms

Expand your knowledge
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Whether you’re aiming to learn some new marketable skills or just want to explore a topic, online learning platforms are a great solution for learning on your own schedule. You can also complete courses quickly and save money choosing virtual classes over in-person ones. In fact, individuals learn 40% faster on digital platforms compared to in-person learning.

Some online learning platforms provide certifications, while others are designed to simply grow your skills in your personal and professional life. Including Masterclass and Coursera, here are our recommendations for the best online learning platforms you can sign up for today.

The 7 Best Online Learning Platforms of 2022

• Best Overall: Coursera
• Best for Niche Topics: Udemy
• Best for Creative Fields: Skillshare
• Best for Celebrity Lessons: MasterClass
• Best for STEM: EdX
• Best for Career Building: Udacity
• Best for Data Learning: Pluralsight

Key Specs

• Courses: 3,000+
• Price: Guided projects start at $9.99 per course, professional certificate courses start at $39 a month, and higher university-issued certificates begin at $2,000 per course.
• Certificate: Yes
• Accredited Institution: Yes

Why We Chose It

Coursera has partnered with over 200 leading universities and companies to create courses to supplement your education and set you ahead in your career.

Pros & Cons

PROS

• Accredited certificates recognized by employers
• In-depth courses built by universities and organizations
• Offers over 1,500 free courses
• Classes available in multiple languages
• User-friendly website

CONS

• Some courses have strict timelines
• Degree programs require additional applications
• No certification with free courses

Coursera isn’t just a place to take classes that are like college courses—it actually offers real academic courses from real professors and universities at a fraction of the cost of getting an online degree.
The platform partners with over 200 universities and companies to provide real learning experiences that can connect to real-world benefits. In some cases, you can even earn certifications or degrees entirely through Coursera, which can then potentially lead to professional benefits like raises, promotions, and more. Even if you’re not looking for professional development reasons, Coursera offers challenging and interesting classes on plenty of topics, so you can explore interests you might not have had before.

The platform allows for multimedia courses, so professors can construct classes, upload videos, assign and grade quizzes and homework assignments, and other elements that would be present in a “real” online college class.

Each course is individually priced (the cheapest start around $30 to $40 and increase from there), although there are some instances where you can purchase a bundle of courses at once (and sometimes at a discount) as a “track” or certification/degree program. You can also get unlimited access to over 3,000 courses with Coursera Plus for $399 a year. It’s pretty much the closest you’ll get to the online college experience without enrolling in college.

Key Specs

• Courses: 183,000+
• Price: Single courses range from $11 up to $200 or more
• Certificate: Yes, but not all of them
• Accredited Institution: No

Why We Chose It

Udemy has by far the most courses available compared to other online learning platforms, offering 183,000 classes. With over 65,000 instructors, you’ll find an expert teaching a course in every niche.

Pros & Cons

PROS

• 183,000+ courses for professional skills and hobbies
• Multimedia lectures that incorporate readings and quizzes
• 30-day refund guarantee
• Courses available in 65 languages
• No deadlines

CONS

• Not an accredited institution
• Courses can be published by instructors without reviewing materials
• Instructors not as engaging in Q&A section

If you want to learn something, it’s probably on Udemy. The site is less of a unified “platform” and more of a portal or repository where students can access well over 100,000 courses on every topic imaginable.

Language, arts, music, and fitness courses can be found alongside lessons on programming and IT, business skills, teaching, productivity, and much more. There are even categories for personal development and lifestyle, which cover life skills and other techniques that aren’t necessarily the kind of thing you’d get in an academic setting.

There’s not one standard format for a Udemy course—the platform allows instructors to design multimedia lectures with audio, video, and text elements, plus readings, quizzes, and other activities. Udemy allows students to preview classes they’re interested in and does offer a 30-day refund if you’re dissatisfied.

Because each class is created and taught individually, they’re also priced separately: Lifetime access to a single course can range from inexpensive (about $11 to $15) to pricey (roughly $200 or more).

Key Specs

• Courses: 35,000+
• Price: $14 per month, which equals $168 annually
• Certificate: No
• Accredited Institution: No

Why We Chose It

Skillshare is a subscription-based online learning platform that offers nearly 70 different creative topics for members to learn about, including creative writing, graphic design, and photography.

Pros & Cons

PROS

• Wide range of course topics
• Mostly skilled instructors, including celebrities
• Covers nearly every creative field
• Offers team plans for groups over 20 people
• Free seven-day trial for subscriptions

CONS

• Limited free courses
• Courses are only available in English
• Ad-free only on a premium subscription

While many online platforms basically provide college-style classes, Skillshare is less formal and aimed more at improving creative skills.
There are business and marketing classes on the platform, but the majority are courses in creative fields, taught by practicing experts in those fields: photography, film, animation, visual arts, writing, interior design, and more. The focus is on teaching practical skills that students can then use to create their own projects. Most courses involve a series of video lessons, combined with assignments for students to practice their skills.

Skillshare has a subscription model, rather than a per-course payment plan, so students who sign up can take as many or as few courses as they want while they’re subscribed. The current pricing is $168 per year (which works out to around $14 per month).

That being said, the platform does offer a set of free classes as well, from short, 20-minute videos to longer tutorials of an hour or more. They’re not as in-depth, but they’re a good way to try out potentially interesting topics.

Key Specs

• Courses: 100+
• Price: Starts at $15 per month and goes up to $23 per month for annual memberships
• Certificate: No
• Accredited Institution: No

Why We Chose It

MasterClass courses tap into celebrity’s expertise and experience, like Gordon Ramsey’s cooking talents and Anna Wintour’s leadership skills, to provide in-depth courses on a wide variety of topics.

Pros & Cons

PROS

• World-class instructors
• Memberships give unlimited access to all classes
• High-quality video production
• Courses have comprehensive curriculum
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee
• Courses feature consistent level of quality

CONS

• No free trial or free courses
• No certifications
• Fewer number of courses than competitors
• Only annual subscription available

Although MasterClass offers more than just creative courses, its marquee offerings are the ones that put A-list actors, writers, artists, musicians, and more in the teacher’s seat.

And, these aren’t just one-off “talk” style classes: Most courses have around 20 lessons, just like a traditional one, so you get to really dive deep into your topic of choice. If you want to learn about these often-opaque professions, there’s no better way than to hear about it straight from the people who have been successful already.

These courses are video-based, with practical advice and demonstrations mixed in with straightforward lectures, workbooks, and class discussions. You can get TV writing advice from Shonda Rhimes, learn to cook from Gordon Ramsay, take a film class from Martin Scorsese, or explore creative leadership with Anna Wintour.

Since MasterClass is a subscription-based platform, you can take as many sessions as you want within a monthly subscription. The price is about $15 per month for unlimited access, but students have to sign up for one year at a time.

Key Specs

• Courses: 3,500+
• Price: Begins at $50 to receive a verified official certificate
• Certificate: Yes
• Accredited Institution: Yes

Why We Chose It

With partners like Harvard, MIT, and Berkeley, this online learning platform has over 15,000 instructors who teach education-oriented courses across several different categories. Plus it offers programs and degrees to advance your career from home.

Pros & Cons

PROS

• Can audit classes for free (but will not receive a certificate)
• Has bachelor’s and master’s degree programs
• Provides financial assistance of up to 90% reduction
• 14-day money-back guarantee
• Known for its STEM-focused courses

CONS

• Limited course availability in creative and humanities fields
• Not all courses are eligible for financial assistance

EdX has a high-end pedigree—it was founded by Harvard and MIT—but an accessible system.

Real college courses, created and taught by real college instructors, are available in a huge array of fields and topics. They do lean slightly toward STEM fields, but there are plenty of languages, humanities, and arts topics, too. Partnering with several universities, EdX offers professional degree certificates, plus “micro” degree programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, largely as a tool for professional development.

Through a partnership with Arizona State University, they also offer a “Global Freshman Academy” to earn transferrable undergrad credits for select lessons. Classes are similar to “real” online courses: Lectures, reading material, assignments, discussions, and quizzes are just some of the elements you may encounter.

The big selling point for EdX is that the majority of their courses are free—but there’s a catch. If you’re just taking the class for your own learning experience, the free version will probably work, but if you want to have formal verification for professional reasons, the “verified certificate” option costs about $49 per class.
Each course does have an official “start date,” cycling over and over again, but once the session begins, students can proceed at their own pace.

Key Specs

• Courses: 200+
• Price: Starts at $399 a month and can go up to $1,995 for four-month access to some courses
• Certificate: Yes
• Accredited Institution: No

Why We Chose It

Udacity offers courses that the company calls “nanodegrees” which take, on average, four months to complete.  Enrollment to these programs gives you full access to real advisors who work with you on building out your resume and work samples.

Pros & Cons

PROS

• Features intensive programs consisting of multiple lessons
• Offers resume support and portfolio review
• Receive personalized feedback on projects
• Multiple scholarship programs available
• Seven-day refund policy after purchase

CONS

• Most expensive option
• Enrollment deadlines
• Longer time commitment

Tech skills are among the most marketable classes you can take on your own time, and Udacity has courses in all of the most in-demand fields.

The platform is designed as a variation on the “coding bootcamp” style of learning, with programs focused on web development, programming, cloud computing, and data science. Whether you’re a total newbie trying to develop a new skill set, or you’re looking to expand your knowledge of a certain topic, there’s probably a course at the right level for you.

Each program includes hands-on practice, real-world applications and examples, individual code reviews, and real instructors and career coaches who can address your individual needs.

Udacity’s platform is a little different than some of the others on the market. Rather than focusing on individual classes, their primary offering is a “nanodegree”—a bootcamp-esque programs which includes multiple lessons, projects, personalized reviews, class discussions, and one-on-one technical mentoring by experts. Most programs require one to five months of part-time study, depending on the subject.
All these features do come with a price tag, though: It’s about $399 monthly, or roughly $597 for students who buy the full four months at once.

Key Specs

• Courses: 7,500+
• Price: Plans cost between $229 and $449 per year
• Certificate: Yes
• Accredited Institution: No

Why We Chose It

Pluralsight is designed for working professionals looking to expand their data knowledge. The company offers mini degree programs for both individuals and teams.

Pros & Cons

PROS

• Organized into three levels for easy course selection
• Unlimited access to classes with subscriptions
• Affordable price for intensive courses

CONS

• No refund
• Focus towards intermediate and advanced users

Designed with working professionals in mind, Pluralsight offers courses in subjects like software development, data science, information and cybersecurity, and more.

Students can take individual courses, but Pluralsight strongly encourages you to take one of its “paths.” These programs are like mini-degrees: a series of connected courses in a specific area of expertise, such as individual programming languages, security certifications, creative skills in particular software, and so on. These preset paths take the guesswork out of learning—plus, you can do a quick pretest to set your skill level, which adds more customization.

The course library includes more than 7,500 individual classes across hundreds of paths, and even if you’re not ready to tackle a full-length pack, you can dip your toe in with individual courses that are only a couple hours long.

Regardless of how few or how many classes (or paths) you want to pursue, the price is the same about $29 per month for a personal plan (or roughly $299 for a complete year at a slight discount). There’s a premium option, too, for around $449 per year, which includes all the regular features and courses, plus additional interactive courses and industry-standard practice exams for several professional certifications.

Regardless of what stage of life you are in, online learning platforms provide a convenient way for you to grow in your career or start something new entirely.

Overall, Coursera is our top choice for an online learning platform because of its variety of courses and official accreditation. Its partnership with leading universities and corporate companies ensures that course curriculums are academically comprehensive and meet industry standards for career growth.

Whether you’re looking for a very specific or a slightly unconventional topic, Udemy most likely offers a course on it. It’s a great option for those on smaller budgets looking to feed their brain with something new.

Udacity is a great choice for professionals looking to advance their careers or switch industries. The company’s intensive “nanodegree” programs give you full access to real advisors who work with you on building out your resume and portfolio.

What Is an Online Learning Platform?

An online learning platform is a website and/or app that allows students to study some topics of interest wholly online and remotely. They’re typically geared at adult professionals who have already finished their traditional schooling, and while some will offer full certificate or even degree programs, most focus on teaching individual courses.

How Much Do Online Learning Platforms Cost?

Online learning platforms come with a pretty big range of prices, but in general, the one thing they all have in common is that they’re usually cheaper than similar courses at traditional colleges and universities.
There are two main types of platforms: per-course platforms, where you pay by the class or course package, or subscription platforms, where you pay a flat rate (usually monthly or annually) to access an unlimited number of individual courses within the given time.

What Kind of Features Do Online Learning Platforms Have?

Like any other type of class, every online learning platform will structure its courses a little differently, but there are a few things they’ll usually have in common.
Online platforms are usually video-based in some way, with audio and video lectures forming the backbone of the classes. For classes teaching hands-on topics, such as creative courses or computer science, the top platforms will usually have a built-in way for students to practice their new skills and get instructor feedback.
Other features you might find are discussion boards, supplemental readings, and even quizzes or exams. Most classes on these platforms are self-paced, either in part or in full, so there won’t be as much simultaneous work with other students as you’d have in a typical class, and you probably won’t have to tune in to live lectures or meetings—although, a few platforms do offer one-on-one tutoring or coaching for some courses. The key is finding a platform whose style works for you in terms of how independent of a student you tend to be and what you’re hoping to get out of a given class.

There are more online learning platforms than ever before, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. We’ve selected the categories that we think will be the most useful to adult, professional learners, as opposed to children or teenagers (college students may find these selections useful, but they may already have access to similar resources through their schools).

This means that the platforms here are particularly aimed at adults looking to either explore a personal interest or gain measurable skills for professional advancement—that’s why we’ve focused on creative and tech platforms as the “specialties” featured here among the platforms with broader offerings.

Coursera earned our title of best overall for its variety of accredited options, while Masterclass was our top pick for best celebrity lessons since there are lessons available from a range of directors, writers, and actors.

Since learning online is typically a very personal experience, we’ve featured several platforms that allow for self-paced learning, interactivity, and/or learning tailored to a particular skill level. We’ve mixed in some informal options along with more traditional academic-style courses, but all of the platforms recommended here have top-notch instructors who are experts in their fields, regardless of the structure of the courses themselves.