Best 9 Online Learning Platforms – Comparison, Pricing and Details
In this digital generation, online learning platforms have become not only one of the most effective but also one of the most affordable ways of gaining knowledge and skills. Furthermore, these platforms have no age boundaries, allowing anyone—whether high school students, college students, university students, graduates, or even dropouts—to benefit from them.
As we all know, many successful entrepreneurs were once dropout students. In fact, they relied on online platforms as educational tools to acquire essential knowledge and information. Consequently, you can clearly see the importance of online learning.
However, when it comes to choosing an online learning platform, students often get confused. Therefore, it is important to choose a platform that is both renowned and offers key benefits. By reading this blog, you’ll be able to find the right online learning platform according to your needs.
Table of Contents
How to Choose the Right Online Learning Platforms as a Student
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing an online course platform:
- Subjects Offered: Choose platforms that cover the subjects you’re interested in, whether academic, creative, or technical.
- Learning Style: Some platforms have interactive projects, while others focus on video lectures and quizzes.
- Pricing: Decide if you’re looking for free courses, subscription-based platforms, or premium courses that offer certifications.
- Certification Options: If you’re looking to add credentials to your resume, check if the platform offers recognized certificates.
- Community and Support: Some platforms have communities where you can connect with fellow students, review projects, and receive mentorship.
9 of the best online Learning platforms
01. Coursera
Coursera is a top-quality e-learning platform for students looking for education without attending an institution in person. Moreover, it offers courses from top universities around the world. In addition, it provides degrees to anyone interested in getting their degree online.
Key Features:
- Courses from top universities like Stanford, Yale, and University of London
- Full bachelor’s and master’s degrees available.
- Collaborates with 325+ leading universities and companies
- Multi-course specializations and guided projects provide hands-on skills.
- Option to earn certifications and degrees
- Flexible deadlines with self-paced and instructor-led courses
- Access to career certificates from industry leaders like Google and IBM
Best For: Students looking for academic-level courses, certifications, and career-oriented programs.
Pricing: Free as well as paid courses are available. Certifications start at around $39, Degree programs range widely, typically costing between $10,000–$30,000.
Coursera is ideal if you’re interested in high-quality courses with the added value of certificates from well-known universities.
02. edX
Similar to Coursera, edX also offers university-level courses from institutions around the globe. Notably, it was founded by MIT and Harvard, and therefore delivers courses with academic excellence in multiple fields, ranging from computer science to business management.
Key Features:
- Courses and certifications from institutions like MIT, Berkeley, and Harvard
- MicroBachelors and MicroMasters programs are also available
- Options to earn certificates, MicroMasters, and full degrees.
- Many courses allow students to learn at their own speed.
- Options for students to buy courses for free or pay for certificates
- Interactive learning features like quizzes, projects, and group discussions
Best For: Students who want an academic learning experience and professional certifications.
Pricing: Many courses are free to access; certification courses start at $50. MicroMasters and MicroBachelors programs cost between $500 and $1,000.
edX is a great choice for students who want to deepen their academic knowledge and gain certificates from recognized institutions.
03. NextGen Learning
NextGen Learning is among the best online learning platforms that provides futuristic learning solutions for ambitious, forward-thinking individuals who strive to improve themselves. Offers a variety of courses on different subjects designed for varying levels of learners. Therefore, there is something for everyone at NextGen Learning.
Key Features:
- Courses are developed by skilled and experienced instructors.
- Courses are accredited and endorsed by top awarding bodies
- Many Job Guarantee programs are available
- Over 3000 courses available to choose from
- Prime Membership
- Monthly scholarships offering discounts on courses
- Lifetime access to the courses
- Free Online Courses
- Options to claim a Student ID card
- Learning activities, including quizzes and project-based tasks.
Best For: Students who want a learning experience from instructors for courses which are accredited and endorsed by top awarding bodies.
Pricing: Both free and paid courses are offered. Paid courses start at around $8. Around $12 per month for a year for lifetime subscription to all courses.
NextGen Learning is an excellent choice for students who want to enhance their skills and receive guidance and coaching at an affordable price.
04. Udemy
Udemy is one of the most popular and trusted online learning platforms, with millions of students and thousands of courses across every subject. Moreover, Udemy is ideal for students who want to enhance their knowledge by learning directly from top-quality instructors. Additionally, it provides a flexible, accessible way for students to develop new skills at their own pace.
Key Features:
- Courses offering in nearly every subject, from coding and business to cooking and photography
- Lifetime access to purchased courses
- Affordable course options, with frequent sales and discounts
- Ability to preview courses before purchasing
- Some courses allow students to interact directly with instructors for questions
- Courses are available in various languages to cater to an international audience
Best For: Students looking for affordable courses to learn specific skills.
Pricing: Courses usually range from $10 to $200, but sales can bring prices as low as $10–$20.
Udemy is ideal for students who want quick access to specific skill sets and flexible learning by expert teachers.
05. Skillshare
SkillShare is an e-learning platform that primarily focuses on creative skills, such as entrepreneurship, photography, graphic design, illustration, and marketing. Moreover, SkillShare provides a wide range of video classes, all taught by industry professionals. As a result, students can learn directly from experts in their fields.
Key Features:
- Courses led by professionals from companies like Google, Disney, and Adobe.
- Project-based learning with hands-on activities to reinforce skills
- Has a strong community where students can share projects and get feedback
- Short, engaging videos ideal for students with busy schedules
- Classes taught by industry professionals and well-known creatives
Best For: Students who are specifically interested in creative fields or project-based learning.
Pricing: Monthly or annual subscription starting around $15 per month or around $35 for a monthly subscription.
Skillshare is a great fit if you’re interested in creative skills and prefer a hands-on, project-based approach to learning.
06. Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a nonprofitable e-learning platform that offers free educational courses for students of all ages. Moreover, its content covers a wide range of subjects, with a strong focus on K-12 education, while also offering advanced topics and test prep for exams like the SAT, MCAT, and LSAT.
Key Features:
- Free access to high-quality courses in math, science, history, and more
- Video lessons, practice exercises, and quizzes
- Personalized learning dashboard to track progress and set goals
- Test preparation courses for exams like SAT, MCAT, LSAT, and more
- Contents are adjusted to the student’s pace, offering extra help where needed.
Best For: Students in K-12, or anyone seeking free resources for core subjects and test prep.
Pricing: Completely free.
Khan Academy is an excellent resource for students seeking extra help in school subjects or preparing for standardized tests.
07. LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)
LinkedIn Learning is a great option for career-oriented students, especially those interested in areas like technology, creativity, or business. These courses are specifically designed to improve job skills; moreover, with the certifications achieved upon completion, you can share them directly on your LinkedIn profile. As a result, it will help you get job interviews, as it highlights your skills in that specific field.
Key Features:
- Courses on professional skills like data science, project management, and design
- Wide range of professional courses to boost career skills.
- Ability to showcase completed courses on your LinkedIn profile
- Short, structured courses for skill-building in a short amount of time
- Instructors are industry experts with real-world experience
Best For: Students looking to boost career-related skills and enhance their LinkedIn profiles.
Pricing: Free for one month, then around $39.99 per month or $24.99 per month for an annual subscription.
LinkedIn Learning is perfect for students who are interested in advancing their careers or building skills that are directly connected to the workplace.
08. MasterClass
MasterClass is one of the foremost online learning platforms, providing an engaging learning environment. Notably, it offers classes by well-known figures in various fields, such as cooking, entertainment, sports, and writing. Furthermore, its unique format makes the learning experience both enjoyable and inspirational.
Key Features:
- Classes taught by top celebrities and industry leaders, like Gordon Ramsay, Serena Williams, and Shonda Rhimes
- High-quality, cinematic video production for an engaging experience
- Focus on storytelling and insights into the creative and professional processes
- Learn personal techniques, advice, and insider tips from experts
- Access to the entire library of courses with an annual subscription
Best For: Students looking for inspiration and insights from top professionals in creative fields.
Pricing: Annual subscription at $180, providing unlimited access to all classes.
MasterClass is a great fit if you’re interested in learning from the best in the industry and understanding the keys to creative and career achievements.
09. Codecademy
Codecademy is entirely focused on coding-related courses. For this reason, it is an ideal platform for students who want to build programming skills through step-by-step guides in various programming languages. Moreover, it offers courses ranging from beginner to intermediate levels, making it accessible for a broad range of learners.
Key Features:
- Interactive coding exercises and projects to build real-world projects
- Courses in multiple programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, and Ruby
- Practice coding and access courses on the go
- Write and execute code directly on the Codecademy website
- Pathways to guide students through coding career tracks, like web development or data science
- Practice exercises and quizzes to reinforce learning
Best For: Students interested in coding and computer science.
Pricing: Free courses available; Pro membership with additional features starts at $39.99 per month or $240 annually.
Codecademy is ideal for students who want hands-on coding experience and to build skills for career development.
Comparison of E-Learning Platforms
Conclusion
From the wide ranges of online learning platforms available, there is something to learn for everyone. Whether you’re thinking about improving your career focused skills on LinkedIn Learning, learning coding skills on Codecademy or personal development courses from NextGen Learning, these platforms are very user friendly to learn at your own pace. Explore different platforms to find the right one that fits your learning style.
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FAQs
Ans: Online learning platforms can be highly effective, offering flexibility, personalized learning, and access to diverse resources. However, their success depends on factors like student motivation, platform quality, and instructor engagement.
Ans: Whether online or traditional learning is better depends on individual needs and learning styles. Online learning offers flexibility and self-paced learning, while traditional learning provides in-person interaction and structure.
Ans: One con to receiving education through an electronic learning platform is not having any physical interactions with your instructors and fellow students. This is not ideal for anyone who needs regular physical interaction with their teachers and fellow students to academically perform at their best.
Ans: Students struggle to focus in online classes due to distractions like social media, lack of structure, technical difficulties, and reduced social interaction.
Ans: The 9 Best Online Learning Platforms:
- Coursera
- edX
- NextGen Learning
- Udemy
- Skillshare
- Khan Academy
- LinkedIn Learning
- MasterClass
- Codecademy
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