The top 13 online learning platforms to keep growing in your career!

Online learning has grown in popularity, all offering the opportunity to learn everything from cooking to auto repair. Some are using online learning to become “lifelong learners” to help boost their careers, whether it’s to update their skills or make a possible career change. 

With the plethora of online tools and e-learning platforms out there, it’s never been easier to learn something new in the comfort of your own home. The only problem? Choosing the best one for you! Fortunately, we’ve narrowed down the list to the 13 best online learning platforms so you can choose the right one for you.

(Please note that this list is not meant to be comprehensive, and inclusion on this list is not an endorsement or a sponsorship by career.io.)

13 top online learning platforms

1. Udemy 

With over 250,000 classes and more than 80,000 instructors, Udemy is the largest online learning platform in the world. Udemy offers a wide variety of learning opportunities taught by independent instructors, who set their own pricing for the eLearning programs they create for the platform, although many courses are priced at just $19.99, and Individual plans range from $20 per month.

When choosing your course on Udemy, you'll first want to define what your learning goals are in advance and make sure to read the course description thoroughly. Take advantage of the short preview that they offer, so you can get a feel for the content and production quality, so you can get a feel for the instructor's style, and how the information will be presented.

Who might benefit?

Those looking to boost their IT career, whether it be by learning new programming languages, earning a certificate, or learning leadership skills. 

Udemy features

• Provides hands-on training

• Insights and analytics (with Enterprise plan)

• Customizable content (with Enterprise plan)

• Can preview courses before purchasing

• No deadlines to complete a course—work at your own pace

2. Coursera 

With over 10,000 courses created by universities and professional organizations and more than 168 million people using this service, Coursera is considered by many to be the best online learning platform. Pricing ranges from $10 per course for guided projects, $39+ per month for professional certification courses, and university-issued certificates start at $2,000 per course.

Coursera does offer some free courses, but the more comprehensive courses have either an individual fee or require a subscription. They do offer a “Coursera Plus” program which allows you to access more than 3,000 courses for a $59 flat monthly fee.

Who might benefit?

While Coursera offers a wide range of courses, students, professionals who are looking to upskill or learn new skills, or career-changes might benefit the most.

Coursera features

• Courses offered in a multi-media format that more closely aligns with a “real” college class

• Generative AI “Coursera Coach” can answer questions and offer personalized feedback. 

• A variety of “job relevant” courses, hands-on projects, certificates and degree programs

• Flexible learning opportunities

• Discussion forums

3. Skillshare 

A subscription-based online learning platform, Skillshare offers a library of 30,000 courses in almost 70 creative topics, such as art & design, writing, personal development, and more, for all levels. For $32 a month or $168 per year, you can take as many courses as you wish where you can develop new creative skills, uncover a new hobby, or strengthen your existing skills, 

Courses are created and taught by professionals in their field. They also offer courses in marketing, business, entrepreneurship, and leadership that can help enhance your professional value and keep you up to date in today’s ever-changing job market.

Who might benefit?

Lifelong learners, those looking to learn new skills in the creative fields, or freelancers who want to gain new skills to expand their services.

Skillshare features

• Offers a free trial

• Classes offered in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish

• Project gallery

• Can download class materials for offline viewing

• Subtitles and transcripts are available

4. EdX 

EdX was founded by Harvard and MIT and offers real college courses in a wide range of subjects and topics, taught by university professors. While they do tend to favor STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math), they also offer courses in language, arts, and the humanities. 

Unlike other online learning platforms that don’t have accredited courses, they also offer a “Global Freshman Academy” in partnership with Arizona State University, in which you can earn undergrad credits for certain courses that will transfer to other colleges or universities. 

EdX does offer free classes in subjects such as computer science, business, and history, but with one caveat — if you want to earn a "verified certificate" for your job, it will cost about $50-$300 per course. And there is a start date for each class, which cycles on and off throughout the year, but once the session starts, you can work at your own pace. 

Who might benefit?

A wide range of people might benefit from EdX classes, such as new grads, those looking to advance their careers, career changers or simply build skills for personal development.

EdX features

• Courses available to students around the world

• 14-day money-back guarantee

• Self-paced courses

• Diverse course catalog

• Open-source platform 

• Offers verified certificates

5. Udacity 

Tech skills are in demand, and Udacity offers courses to meet that need. Udacity offers “nano degrees” which take about four months to complete and offers lessons, projects, discussions, and mentoring from real-life advisors who help you with your resume and work portfolios. 

They provide a “coding boot camp,” as well as courses focused on programming, cloud computing, data science, and web development. They offer courses for beginners as well as those with experience. All these benefits aren’t cheap, however: monthly subscription options start at $249, but that offers students access to all content.

Who might benefit?

Those seeking to gain tech skills in AI, data science, and programming, move up the tech career ladder, or even make a career change into IT.

Udacity features

• Career services

• More than 200 free courses

• Nanodegree programs

• Real-world projects

• Mentorship and support

• Hiring partnerships

• Interactive learning and progress tracking

6. freeCodeCamp 

Ever thought about learning to code? freeCodeCamp (aka Free Code Camp) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit group that aims to make learning web development free and available to everyone, regardless of experience or financial means. 

It starts with online tutorials designed to introduce learners to HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, and progresses to projects that can be completed solo or with a partner. The curriculum is self-paced and includes coding challenges and web development. This all translates into approximately one year of full-time coding experience, at which time students receive a certificate for each section they’ve completed. 

Who might benefit?

Anyone who wants to learn how to code, especially those who can’t afford traditional courses or educational opportunities.

freeCodeCamp features

• Industry-recognized certifications

• Interactive coding lessons

• Thousands of hours of content

• Online community forum and chat rooms

• Open source platform

7. 360 Training 

If you work in a field that is subject to governmental regulations, such as food and beverage, Human Resources, insurance, real estate, or environmental health and safety, you’ll probably have to have required training. 360Training is a hub where you can get that training, and any work that you do is saved in the cloud, so you don’t have to complete all training courses in one session. 

The company offers 6,000+ courses in a wide variety of industries, and they’re current with the most recent governmental regulations, and you can create any reports or certificates that your employer might require as proof of completion.

Who might benefit?

Those who require regulatory training in various industries,and  those who need to stay up-to-date with industry standards and regulations.

360 Training features

• Comprehensive training library

• Personalized learning paths

• 24/7 access to courses

• Printable certificates 

8. Pluralsight 

Pluralsight offers courses in data science, cyber security, software development, and information technology, and is aimed at working professionals in those fields. You can take individual courses, but the company encourages you to choose a “path,” which is similar to “mini degrees,” a sequence of related courses in a focused subject area, like specific programming languages, software skills, programming languages, etc. 

Pluralsight’s library offers 11,000+ classes with hundreds of potential learning paths, so if you’re not ready for a full-length one, you can take shorter, individual courses to see if it’s for you. The cost is about $29 a month for a personal plan (or $299 per year). If you want to commit to the “premium” option, that’s about $500 a year, which includes all the standard features/courses, plus extra interactive courses and industry-standard practice tests for several professional certifications.

Who might benefit?

Those already in the IT field who wish to keep their skills current, learn new skills, or supplement their knowledge.

Pluralsight features

• Certification prep

• Hands-on labs

• Expanded course libraries

• Skill assessments

9. FutureLearn 

FutureLearn offers a huge selection of online courses that are taught by professors from first-rate universities as well as industry professionals. You can learn a new career-related skill (and earn a professional certificate) or take an enrichment class to learn more about a personal interest or hobby (aka “boredom busters.”) 

There’s a moderate time commitment, as most courses are meant to be completed within six to ten weeks. Some classes are free, and also offer a monthly subscription of $29.17 per month or $349.99 per year.

Who might benefit?

Those who wish to learn new skills or enhance their knowledge via short courses and programs offered by universities and other institutions.

FutureLearn features

• “ExpertTrack” course tracking

• Online degree & Microcredential programs

• Certificates offered by accredited universities

• Available “short courses”

• Study abroad program

10. Masterclass 

While not strictly a career-focused online learning platform, Masterclass is the place to go for personal growth classes, and they offer courses in business and leadership, cooking, writing, music, sports, photography, acting, and more that are taught by some of the world’s leaders in those fields. They offer more than 200 classes and are subscription-based, with each course providing about 20 short video lessons and a comprehensive workbook. 

There's an active student community from around the world, and courses are self-paced. Each class is designed to be accessible for beginners, and they're always offering new classes. Their annual membership provides unlimited access to all current and future classes, and is billed monthly. Plans vary on device access, and range from $10-$20 per month.

Who might benefit?

Anyone wanting to take personal enrichment courses in a variety of subjects.

Masterclass features

• Expert led courses

• Short, self-paced courses

• AI assistance

• “Sessions” feature, a more structured learning format

• Streamable on multiple devices

11. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that offers video courses taught by industry leaders. They offer courses that fall into four categories: Business, Creative, Technology, and Certifications. With over 16,000 courses and learning paths available, you can earn certificates from companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, and more.

With plans available for individuals, teams, and business, you can choose plans that offer access to their extensive library and continuing education credits in fields like accounting or project management. It also offers individualized course recommendations based on preferences or skills. Courses can be purchased individually from $20-$50 each, or one can purchase a subscription for $29.99 a month, or $238.99 annually.

Who might benefit?

LinkedIn Learning is good for those looking to gain skills in tech, business or creative areas, for either personal or professional development. It also is helpful to people looking for certification prep or keeping certifications current.

LinkedIn Learning features

• AI-powered career coaching

• Networking opportunities

• Shareable certificates

• On-demand learning

• Learning groups

12. OpenLearning

OpenLearning is both an online learning and course marketplace, allowing creators to sell courses and learning experiences, while those looking to learn can find a variety of courses, videos, and interactives via The Open University. OpenLearning’s goal is to create a community of learners, via built-in galleries, wikis, and blog pages. 

They also offer a variety of free, short courses in subjects such as Education, Health, Sports, Business, History and the Arts, Languages, Math, Law, and more.They have three levels of study and offer badges after completion. They have both free and paid classes; courses with certifications cost around $33.29.  

Who might benefit?

Anyone who is looking to take courses to enhance their personal or professional development.

OpenLearning features

• Progress tracking

• AI assisted content management

• Offers portfolio to demonstrate work

• Outcome-based assessments

13. Treehouse

Looking to move into a tech career, stay current with your skills, or just want to learn how to code? Treehouse provides a full curriculum that includes workshops, quizzes, and curated projects. Their stated mission is to make tech careers more accessible and affordable, and values diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech field.They offer five unaccredited “Techdegrees,” such as Front End Development, Full Stack Javascript, UX Design, Python, and PHP Development.

Along with expert teachers, the curriculum is segmented into “tracks,” each of which covers a specific skill, such as programming languages, design, and computer science, and includes interactive quizzes and coding challenges. Courses start at $25 per month, after a seven-day free trial, with larger packages ranging from $49-$199 per month.

Who might benefit?

Those looking to start a career in tech but need an affordable option, or those already in tech who want to upskill.

Treehouse features

• Expert-ed video courses

• Interactive learning

• Exclusive online Slack community

• Project reviews

How do I choose the best online learning platform?

When deciding which online learning to choose, look for one whose style works best for you – are you an independent worker or do you require a set deadline? Also keep in mind your budget, schedule, goals, and whether or not you need to earn a certificate, as well as the content of the curriculum, the instructor's qualifications, and how the class is formatted. 

In terms of what an online learning platform should have, make sure the platform you choose is clear, easy to navigate, and has a responsive support team.

Other factors to consider are:

• Course and instructor reviews

• The platform/institution’s credibility

• Length of the course and time flexibility

• Prerequisites and skill levels

• Interaction and engagement

• Affordability

Need some help with your career? Check out career.io’s Career Coach, where you can get personalized, expert advice on job search strategies, personal branding, workplace challenges, and more, all in 50-minute, online coaching sessions.

Key takeaways

1. With so many platforms out there, it can be challenging to find the right fit, or make sure you’re getting the most “bang for your buck.”

2. There are learning platforms out there that offer courses that are career-oriented or for personal development.

3. When choosing a platform, keep in mind your budget, schedule, and whether or not you need to earn a certificate, as well as the content of the curriculum, the instructor's qualifications, and how the class is formatted.