The internet has made learning easier than ever before. With an online learning platform, you can gain the skills that once required getting a college degree—all from the comfort of your home.
If you are interested in using an online learning platform to expand your knowledge, you have plenty of options to choose from.
In this guide, I will show you the 10 best online learning platforms you can use to learn new skills and advance your career.
I will cover platforms across different categories including business, technology, and digital marketing. Towards the end of this post, you can also read some tips on how to choose the best learning platform for you and the criteria used for curating this list.
What is an Online Learning Platform?
An online learning platform is a digital hub of educational resources. Students use a platform’s resources to further their knowledge and learn new skills.
The resources can come in a variety of forms including videos, written guides, interactive lessons, and more. They are commonly presented through a series of courses dedicated to a particular subject.
Online learning platforms typically make their courses available on-demand so that students can learn on their own schedule.
Online learning platforms are usually less expensive when compared to traditional education methods.
Top 10 Online Learning Platforms 2022
- Coursera (Best for Online Courses)
- Reliablesoft Academy (Best for Digital Marketing)
- Codecademy (Best for Developers)
- A Cloud Guru (Best for Cloud Training)
- LinkedIn Learning (Best for Businesses)
- Google SkillShop (Best for Google Products)
- MasterClass (Best for Celebrity Training)
- Udemy (Best for Python)
- PluralSight (Best for Tech)
- Udacity (Best for Digital Skills)
1. Coursera
Best Learning Platform for Online Courses
Coursera is undoubtedly one of the best online learning platforms for students looking to expand their knowledge.
The platform partners with over 200 of the world’s top universities and organizations to bring high-quality educational material.
Many of the courses provide you a professional certificate once you complete all the lessons.
What can you learn with Coursera?
Coursera offers thousands of courses spanning dozens of topics. The main categories for the lessons are:
- Business
- Computer Science
- Health
- Data Science
- Math & Logic
- Information Technology
- Personal Development
- Arts & Humanities
- Physical Science
How Coursera Pricing Works?
Approximately 2,000 of the courses on the Coursera online learning platform are available for free.
The rest require you to pay.
There are several payment options available. The first is to pay a one-time fee for an individual course certification. This can range from $29 to $100.
You can also get a Coursera Specialization which consists of a series of courses in the same subject. Specializations cost between $29 and $49 per month.
If you are interested in learning from more than one course, a Coursera Plus plan may be right for you. With the subscription, you get access to over 3,000 paid courses. The plan costs $399 per year.
Coursera offers a 7-day free trial to new students. While this is not bad, there are Coursera alternatives that offer a better money-back guarantee option.
Pros of Coursera
- High-quality courses: Coursera features online courses taught from world-renowned universities and companies. The expert instructors are able to give students real-world insights into the field they are studying.
- Affordable pricing: Coursera courses and plans are affordable. You can get an individual certification for a small one-time or pursue a specialization for a low monthly payment.
- Free resources: Coursera has almost 2,000 courses you can use to learn new skills for free.
2. Reliablesoft Academy
Best Learning Platform For Digital Marketing
Reliablesoft Academy is a dedicated learning platform for online digital marketing training.
Reliablesoft Academy offers ten online courses covering all digital marketing channels. In particular, these are:
- The Complete SEO Course
- eCommerce SEO Course
- Google Ads Course
- Facebook Ads Course
- Google Analytics Course
- Email Marketing Course
- Content Marketing Course
- Keyword Research Course
- Social Media Marketing Course
- Digital Marketing Course
The courses are grouped into two bundles.
The first bundle is the Digital Marketing Full Course Bundle and it includes all ten courses and two certifications. A digital marketing certification and an SEO certification.
The second bundle is the SEO Course Bundle and it includes four courses (SEO Course, Google Analytics Course, eCommerce Course, Keyword Research Course), and an SEO certification.
What can you learn with Reliablesoft Academy?
With Reliablesoft Academy courses you can learn everything there is to know about Digital marketing. You will learn which techniques to use to increase your traffic and sales in the fastest possible way.
All digital marketing courses are comprehensive and they include actionable tips and proven advice to help you apply the theory in practice.
Reliablesoft courses are highly rated by hundreds of students.
How Reliablesoft Academy Pricing Works?
Reliablesoft Academy courses are affordable for everyone with a very simple pricing structure. You pay an on-time fee and you get lifetime access to the courses.
You also get free updates (courses are updated frequently to take into account new techniques and technologies).
In addition, you get a 60-day money-back guarantee which is the best offering in the online learning industry.
Pros of Reliablesoft Academy
- Dedicated digital marketing academy: if your goal is to learn digital marketing, reliablesoft is one of the best learning platforms to use. All courses are created by experts with years of hands-on experience in the digital marketing industry.
- Complete courses: Reliablesoft courses are complete so you won’t have to pay or go through other courses to build your digital marketing skills.
- Accredited certifications: Reliablesoft Academy is a trusted digital marketing institution and you can use the certifications to prove your skills.
- Risk-free courses: Reliablesoft academy has more than 4000 students and 5/5 star course reviews. This eliminates your risk of enrolling in a platform that won’t satisfy your needs.
3. Codecademy
Best Learning Platform For Developers
Codecademy is an online learning platform for people looking to learn about web development.
The courses contain a mix of text lessons and interactive coding tools that allow students to practice what they learn in real-time.
What can you learn with Codecademy?
Codecademy has courses for 14 programming languages including Java, JavaScript, Python, and Ruby. They also offer courses in the 10 following subject areas:
- Web Development
- Web Design
- Computer Science
- For Business
- Developer Tools
- Data Science
- Machine Learning
- Code Foundations
- Mobile Development
- Game Development
- Data Visualization
- Cybersecurity
If you want to take more than one course, Codecademy offers Career Paths and Skill Paths that combine multiple courses to make a single learning resource for a specific profession.
How does Codecademy Pricing Works?
Codecademy uses a subscription payment model.
There is a free plan available that includes limited interactive lessons and daily practices.
If you want access to all the learning resources, you need a Pro plan. The plan costs $39.99 per month when paid monthly or $239.88 when billed yearly.
Pros of Codecademy
- Beginner-friendly courses: The Codecademy courses are easy to follow, giving anyone regardless of experience level, the ability to learn how to code.
- Free resources: Codecademy offers free lessons and practice tools you can use to learn without having to pay.
- Active community: Codecademy has an active community of coaches, graduates, and current students. You can use this community to answer any questions you may have and connect with others.
4. A Cloud Guru
Best Learning Platform For Cloud Training
A Cloud Guru is an online learning platform that helps students learn how to use different cloud-based technologies.
The courses are available on-demand through a series of videos and interactive exercises.
Many of the courses provide a certificate of completion once you finish.
What can you learn with A Cloud Guru?
A Cloud Guru offers over 360 courses and 1,600 hands-on labs. You can find resources to learn about the following subjects:
- AWS
- Azure
- Linux
- Kubernetes
- Terraform
- DevOps
- GCP
- Ansible
Many of the courses are specifically designed to help students prepare for the official certification exams for platforms like Linux and AWS.
How a Cloud Guru Pricing Works?
To use A Cloud Guru, you need to have a paid plan. There are two options:
- Personal Basic: $35 per month
- Personal Plus: $47 per month
You can save 17% off the cost for both plans by enrolling in yearly billing.
A Cloud Guru offers a 7 day free trial for new users to try out the learning platform.
There are also business plans if you need access for your team.
Pros of a Cloud Guru
- In-depth training: A Cloud Guru offers in-depth technical training and interactive lessons to help you gain practical knowledge quickly.
- Preparation for certifications: A Cloud Guru courses and labs are designed to prepare you for the exams needed to get different professional certifications (such as Microsoft Certifications).
5. LinkedIn Learning
Best Learning Platform For Businesses
LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform designed to help business professionals develop new skills.
It features over 16,000 self-paced courses made up primarily of videos and written lessons.
When you complete a course, you get a certificate of completion to add to your LinkedIn profile.
What can you learn with LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning offers courses in the Business, Creative, and Technology categories. Below are some popular courses in the platform’s catalog:
- Project Management Skills
- Social Media Marketing
- Data Analysis
- Programming Languages
- Graphic Design
- Web Design
- Sales
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship
How LinkedIn Learning Pricing Works?
LinkedIn Learning lets you buy individual courses or sign up for a recurring membership.
Single courses cost between $20 and $40.
The membership plan requires you to have a LinkedIn Premium account. The cost for a Premium account starts at $29.99 per month or $239.88 when paid annually.
LinkedIn Learning offers a one-month free trial to anyone that hasn’t had a Premium account.
Pros of LinkedIn Learning
- Affordable prices: LinkedIn Learning courses are very affordable as you can purchase one from as low as $20.
- Certificate of completion: While not a professionally accredited certification, each LinkedIn Learning course gives you a certificate once you are done. You can add this certification to your LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills to your network.
6. Google SkillShop
Best Learning Platform For Google Products
Google Skillshop is an online training platform that teaches people how to use various Google marketing services.
Courses are presented in both video and text format and available for study on-demand.
You can receive an official Google certification after you pass the final knowledge assessment for a course.
What can you learn with Google Skillshop?
With Google Skillshop, you can learn how the different Google marketing platforms work and how you can use them for a business. The main focus areas are:
- Google Search ads
- Google Display ads
- Google Shopping ads
- Google Video ads
- Google Analytics
The lessons cover beginner and intermediate level concepts for these topic areas.
How Google Skillshop Pricing Works?
Google Skillshop is completely free to use. You can study the courses and take the certification exams as often as you’d like.
Pros of Google Skillshop
- Official certifications: The Skillshop certifications are the officially recognized Google certification for digital marketing professionals. Earning a certification validates your proficiency using Google to run marketing campaigns. You can use the certification to showcase your skills to further your career.
- Free training: Google Skillshop courses and certifications are free, making them well worth the effort to obtain.
7. MasterClass
Best Learning Platform For Celebrity Training
MasterClass is an online learning platform that features lessons taught by celebrity and VIP instructors.
Some of the famous people that have taught through MasterClass include Gordan Ramsay, Stephen Curry, Alicia Keys, and James Cameron.
Each class consists of around 20 lessons that last about 10 minutes each.
What can you learn with MasterClass?
MasterClass offers over 100 classes spanning 11 different categories.
Some of the topics covered in MasterClass lessons include:
- Music
- Business
- Food
- Design & Style
- Writing
- Wellness
- Sports & Gaming
How MasterClass Pricing Works?
MasterClass is a paid online learning platform. When you sign up for a membership you get unlimited access to all the courses.
There are three membership plans:
- Standard: $15 per month
- Plus: $20 per month
- Premium: $23 per month
All the plans provide access to the same material. The only difference between the tiers is the number of devices you can use to simultaneously view the material.
That, and the Standard plan does not allow you to download the courses for offline viewing.
Pros of MasterClass
- Learn from celebrities: The main selling point of MasterClass is the ability to learn new skills from famous instructors. If there is someone in your profession that you look up to, MasterClass could be the perfect way to learn from them directly.
- High production quality: The video lessons for MasterClass courses are well-produced, helping to create an engaging learning experience.
8. Udemy
Best Learning Platform For Python
Udemy is one of the most widely used online education platforms by people that want to learn new skills and further their careers.
You can find over 150,000 courses taught by independent instructors. With over 40 million students there are plenty of Udemy courses that get a lot of attention.
The online learning platform’s most popular courses are its Python courses where students can learn how to use the programming language.
Courses are available on-demand and presented through a variety of videos, lectures, hands-on lessons, and downloadable resources.
What can you learn with Udemy?
Udemy has the most extensive course selection of any of the online learning platforms on our list.
There are thousands of courses available in each of the following categories:
- Development
- Business
- Finance & Accounting
- IT & Software
- Office Productivity
- Personal Development
- Design
- Marketing
- Lifestyle
- Photography & Video
- Health & Fitness
- Music
- Teaching & Academics
You can find courses that cover beginner, intermediate, and advanced level concepts in these subject areas.
How does Udemy Pricing Works?
With Udemy, you pay for each course individually. The cost for a course can range all the way from $12.99 up to $199.99. This is the best pricing structure compared to other Udemy alternatives.
Naturally, the courses that are longer or that cover a more advanced topic tend to cost more.
When you pay for a course, you get lifetime access to the material. Many instructors update the material over time to keep it relevant to current best practices.
Pros of Udemy
- Selection: Udemy offers more courses than any other online learning platform. While you couldn’t possibly study them all, the depth of selection will help you find the right courses for you.
- Buy courses individually: With Udemy, you can choose to only buy the courses you need instead of signing up for a recurring plan with a bunch of resources you may not use.
- Affordable options: Udemy offers courses in all price ranges. Even the more expensive courses provide good value relative to the amount of material they cover.
9. PluralSight
Best Learning Platform for Tech
PluralSight is an online education platform for learning about popular technologies.
The courses are taught by experienced tech professionals through a series of videos.
Like Codecademy, there are hands-on lessons and labs to help you practice in real-time as you learn new skills.
What can you learn with PluralSight?
Pluralsight offers over 7,000 courses that you can use to learn new technology skills: This includes lessons in the following subject areas:
- Web Development
- Software Development
- Manufacturing & Design
- IT Ops
- Architecture & Construction
- Information & Cyber Security
The platform’s most popular courses are web development lessons that teach how to use different programming languages.
The course skill level ranges from beginner to advanced.
How Pluralsight Pricing Works?
Pluralsight uses a subscription pricing model. To access the learning material, you must sign up for one of the following plans:
- Standard: $29 per month (or $299 per year)
- Premium: $45 per month ($499 per year)
Pluralsight offers a 10-day free trial for both plans. There are also business plans for those looking to train their team.
Pros of Pluralsight
- 10-day free trial: With Pluralsight, you get a whole 10 days to try out the platform. You can use the trial to quickly see if it is right for you before committing to a subscription.
- Certification prep: Pluralsight offers learning paths that you can use to prepare for in-demand professional certifications. By following these paths, you get all the resources to prepare for the certification without the guesswork.
10. Udacity
Best Learning Platform for Digital Skills
Udacity is an online learning platform that teaches students the digital skills needed for the jobs of the future.
You can use the platform to complete a single course, or you can complete a Nanodegree program consisting of a series of courses.
What can you learn with Udacity?
Udacity offers learning programs across a variety of topics in the business, programming, and data science categories.
Some of the most popular Udacity programs include:
- Front End Web Developer
- Java Web Developer
- Product Manager
- Data Scientist
- Cloud Developer
- Artificial Intelligence
How Udacity Pricing Works?
With Udacity, you must make a recurring payment for each course or Nanodegree program that you want to study.
Nanodegree programs start as low as $279 per month.
All training is self-paced so you will need to keep your membership active for however long it takes you to complete the material.
Udacity provides an estimated duration for each program if you were to study a certain amount of time per week.
Pros of Udacity
- Career services: Udacity provides career services in addition to its courses. These can help students land jobs that fit their new skills.
- High-quality courses: Udacity partners with major companies like Nvidia and Google to bring students high-quality courses built on insights from top industry professionals.
Here is a summary table showing the top online learning platforms and what they are best for.
| Platform | Best For |
| Coursera | Online Courses |
| Reliablesoft Academy | Digital Marketing Training |
| Codeacademy | Developer Training |
| A Cloud Guru | Cloud Training |
| LinkedIn Learning | Businesses |
| Google Skillshop | Google Products |
| MasterClass | Celebrity Training |
| Udemy | Python Training |
| Pluralsight | Tech Training |
| Udacity | Digital Skills Training |
Tip for Choosing the Best Online Learning Platform
There is a lot to consider when choosing an online learning platform. You do not want to invest time and money into an academy to only later find out that it isn’t what you wanted.
When you know what to look for, you can find the best online learning platform for your particular needs.
Here are some tips for how to choose an online learning platform:
Look for experienced instructors: An online course is only as good as its instructor. You want a learning resource taught by an experienced professional in the subject area. This will ensure that you get an accurate perspective on the skill you want to build.
Read user reviews: When choosing an online learning platform, you should read the customer reviews to see what your peers are saying. If others found the platform helpful, it is a good sign that it may work well for you.
Practice material: A good online course involves practice. Good courses involve students in “doing” — not just watching and reading — “doing again” and in applying what they learned.
Fair pricing: You shouldn’t have to break the bank to use an online learning platform. Ideally, you would look for a platform that only charges a reasonable one-time fee.
Look at the community and support: When using an online education platform, you may have questions that are not answered in the course material. In these situations, it is good to have an active community where you can engage with the instructor or other students.
Money-Back Guarantee: Each platform has a different money-back guarantee policy. Before registering make sure that you read and understand how each policy works. Platforms that are confident about their offerings, usually provide better money-back guarantee options.
Specialization: If your goal is to become an expert in a specific area i.e. digital marketing, then you can benefit more by choosing an academy that is specialized in that field.
Criteria used for choosing the best online learning platforms
There are hundreds of sites offering online training, eLearning has become a billion-dollar industry and the competition is intense.
When evaluating learning platforms to include in this list, we’ve used the following criteria.
- Quality of online courses
- Ease of use
- Learning platform software
- Online reputation
- Pricing structure
- Accredited certifications
- Number of students
- Community and support
- Transparent policies
Disclaimer: Some links contained on this page are affiliate links, meaning if you buy a product using our link, we may earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. These are the online learning platforms we trust and fully recommend for learning new skills. You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.
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