The rise of online learning platforms is democratizing education by allowing people to learn pretty much anything from home.
However, there are countless types of online classes and platforms to choose from, which can be overwhelming.
To make it easier, we compared and broke down the differences between four of the most popular online learning platforms: Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Skillshare.
Thanks to online learning platforms, education is being democratized, breaking down traditional barriers to access like high costs and location. But also, online classes are a great way to gain new skills and stay engaged while many of us are spending more time at home during the pandemic. You can learn anything, from photography to computer science, anywhere and at any time.
These days, there are countless types of classes and online learning platforms to choose from. You could spend years absorbing the differences in coding languages, strategizing how to most effectively leverage email marketing tactics for your small business, or in a very meta twist, learning how to learn - and then move on to a different platform and do it all over again.
We looked at pricing, course offerings, and the teachers who will be guiding you through it all. We also found the top courses from each platform so you can get an idea of why students flock to each site.
Keep scrolling to find a platform to suit your particular needs, whether you want to gain the skills necessary for that next promotion or just love learning for the sake of learning.
Coursera
Coursera
Coursera partners with top universities and organizations to offer more than 3,900 academic courses on its online learning platform. In addition to courses, it offers specializations and online degrees. Its mission is to provide "universal access to the world's best education."
Course categories:
Arts & humanities, social sciences
Business, computer science, data science, math & logic
Life sciences, physical science & engineering
Language learning
Pricing:
Free or pay-per-course for expanded access. Applications for financial aid are available.
$29 to $99 per course
$39 to $79 per month for specializations (series of courses culminating in a Capstone Project)
$15,000 to $25,000 for an accredited master's degree
What you get:
Free users get access to course materials like videos.
Paid users also get access to assignments, and will receive a final grade.
Paid certificate of completion for courses and specializations, or a degree certification.
Teachers:
Instructors from top universities and other educational institutions around the world
Apps available on:
iOS and Android devices
Corporate or team programs available for:
Business and government
Languages:
Video subtitles are available in over 30 languages.
Udemy is the world's largest marketplace for online learning, offering over 100,000 courses across a large range of categories. Its mission is "to improve lives through learning."
Course categories:
Development, IT & software, business, office productivity
Design, marketing, photography, music
Lifestyle, personal development, health & fitness
Teacher training, academics, language, test prep
Pricing:
Pay-per-course. There is no loyalty or subscription program.
LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda) is a LinkedIn-owned online learning platform that offers over 15,000 courses, with more being added almost weekly. It seeks to help users "learn from industry experts, and connect with a global network of experience."
Course categories:
Business
Technology
Creative
Pricing:
Free 30-day trial
Monthly subscription plan, from $29.99 per month
Yearly subscription plan, from $19.99 per month
What you get:
Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning's entire course library
Personalized course recommendations
Offline viewing with the mobile app
Access to LinkedIn's Premium Career features
Teachers:
Experts in their field who create and manage the course
Apps available on:
iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Apple TV devices
Corporate or team programs available for:
Academic, business, and government
Languages:
Courses are offered in English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin, and Portuguese.
Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers over 20,000 classes, projects, and workshops. Its mission is "to provide high-quality, personalized learning to millions of students worldwide."
Course categories:
Animation, design, illustration
Lifestyle
Business
Photo & Film
Writing
Pricing:
Free 30-day trial
Many classes are free to access
Monthly subscription plan, $19 per month
Annual subscription plan, from $8.25 per month. Need-based, small business, and student scholarships are available.
What you get:
Unlimited access to Skillshare's entire class library
Offline access to classes
Learning tools: videos and projects
Discounts on creative services like Shutterstock, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, and Squarespace for Annual subscribers
Teachers:
Experts in their field who create and manage the course
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