The 10 Best Online Learning Platforms 2025

In the past few years, online learning has drastically evolved and changed the face of modern education. Did you know that online learning is way cheaper, more effective, and requires less time commitment than traditional education? That explains why more and more people choose to study online.

There is nothing like taking control of your academic life and learning at your own pace without feeling as if someone is holding a shotgun over your head. There is no better and easier way to do that than by taking online classes.

If you have been cracking your head over the viability of MOOC courses and the online platforms to help you get the best out of them, then keep reading, as you are about to learn about the 10 best online learning platforms.

Best Online Learning Platforms 2025

Overview

Skillshare is one of the most popular online learning platforms. It has a massive collection of over 30,000 classes that are divided into three categories: Thrive (Lifestyle, Productivity), Build (Business Analytics, Freelance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Management, Marketing), and Create (Animation, Film & Video, Graphic Design, Music, Creative Writing, Photography, Web Development, and more).

Skillshare believes in a project-based approach to learning that allows students to expand their creativity and apply new skills in life. All courses consist of two parts: a video presentation (which usually lasts around 20–60 minutes) and a class project.

Keep in mind that even though there are tons of superb courses on Skillshare, none of them are accredited by any institution (although Skillshare offers certificates of completion). It's a place to learn new skills and expand your knowledge, not get a degree.

Skillshare's Premium Membership grants you unlimited access to all classes in the library. You can also participate in Skillshare live sessions and workshops taught by top teachers. All the classes in the library are available for download, so you can continue learning on the go even when you don't have access to the Internet.

Overall, Skillshare offers great value for money. The monthly price is very low, and the quality and variety of classes are excellent. Plus, you can get a 30-day free trial to try the platform before deciding whether it's right for you.

Overview

In my opinion, Mindvalley is one of the best personal growth and transformation platforms. Its goal is to help students succeed at work while also unlocking the full potential of their body, mind, and spirit. Mindvalley is best suited for people who want to improve different areas of their lives in a short period.

There are over 100 courses (or Quests) in Mindvalley's library, taught by top experts in their fields of expertise: CEOs of large companies, best-selling authors, celebrity coaches, famous therapists and entrepreneurs, and international speakers.  The quests are divided into different categories: Mind, Body, Soul, Career, Entrepreneurship, Relationships, Kids, Teens and Parenting, and Performance.

Each quest lasts 30 to 50 days, and it usually takes less than 20 minutes a day to complete a video-based lesson and a practice exercise. 

Mindvalley Membership costs $399 per year and includes unlimited access to all quests plus many perks like official certifications for completed quests, monthly live coaching calls with Mindvalley's authors, and even a 22-minute assessment that will help you determine the areas in life you need to focus on. I think that the price is a steal, considering how much you are getting for your money.

Mindvalley Review: Is It Worth It?

Udemy Certificates

Udemy is not an accredited institution, but you get a Certificate of completion after you take a paid course. The Certificate will include the name, instructor, and length of the course, the date of completion, and your name. You can put it on your resume to share with potential employers.

Accreditation

No

Free Trial

7-day free trial with Personal Plan

Overview

Udemy is another popular online learning platform. It has a huge library of over 213,000 courses, which makes it the best one when it comes to content. With Udemy, you can expand your knowledge and skills in any field imaginable, from business and marketing to hand weaving and clowning. The goal of Udemy is to disrupt and democratize the educational system.

Unlike Skillshare, MasterClass, and LinkedIn Learning, Udemy doesn't have unlimited subscription plans, you have to purchase each course individually, which is a downer. However, the courses are quite cheap, starting at just $9. And if you don't like a course you have purchased, you can get a refund within 30 days.

Udemy's courses are divided into 13 different categories: Finance & Accounting, Development, Business, Marketing, IT & Software, Office Productivity, Music, Personal Development, Teaching & Academics, Design, Lifestyle, Photography, Health & Fitness. The courses are offered for all levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. One thing I absolutely love is that there are courses available not only in English but also in Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, German, Spanish, etc.

Each Udemy course consists of a video tutorial (the average course is 5 hours long, but some can be as short as 30 minutes) and can also include additional resources, such as quizzes, practice tests, coding exercises, and assignments. You can download any Udemy course and watch it offline at any time.

Udemy Review: Is It Worth It?

edX Certificates

edX offers Certificates to students who pass the course in the paid track (you need to get a passing grade for that course). If you are enrolled in one of the edX programs (Professional Certificate, XSeries, MicroMasters, or MicroBachelors) then you will receive a program Certificate after you earn a Certificate for every course in the program. Since edX courses are provided by top universities, their Certificates may help get your resume or LinkedIn profile noticed.

Accreditation

With edX, you can also enroll in MicroMasters programs, which are basically a series of graduate-level courses from top universities. Some universities offer credit for the MicroMasters program certificate. The programs are not free, but rarely cost more than $1,500, and take between 7 months and 1 year to complete. And if you are thinking of getting into grad school, you can also check online Master's Degrees on edX. 

Free Trial

No

Overview

edX is one of the best providers of college-level online courses. The company was founded by Harvard and MIT, and the quality of the courses is top-notch. All the courses on edX, except professional education courses, can be taken for free. 

To join the course without paying, you need to enroll in the audit track. The Free (Audit) Track grants students access to all course materials, such as lectures, videos, ungraded assignments, and reading - for the duration of the course. However, you won't receive graded assignments and verified certificates of completion. If you want to have access to graded assignments and earn a certificate upon successful completion, then you would have to enroll in the Paid (Verified) Track. The certificate can be added to your resume or LinkedIn profile. If you enroll in the Audit Track but then decide that you want to earn the certificate, you will have a chance to switch to the Verified Track. Each course has an upgrade deadline so make sure you check that first.

edX offers over 3,500 courses on different subjects including Biology & Life Sciences, Architecture, Chemistry, Art & Culture, Electronics, Education & Teacher Training, Medicine, Food & Nutrition, Physics, Science, Music, Law, History, Language, and Environmental Studies. Most courses are available in English, but there are also some courses in Chinese, Russian, French, Italian, Spanish, etc. There are courses for introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. The courses usually consist of both text and video content and assignments. There are also course discussions where you can ask questions and interact with fellow students. Some courses include group projects. You can download any edX course for offline viewing.

edX Review: Is It Worth It?

Udacity Certificates

Udacity grants Certificates to all students who graduate from paid courses, executive programs, and Nanodegree programs. Udacity is not accredited, but the Certificate can serve as proof of your skill on your resume. Students who complete free courses do not receive any Certificates.

Accreditation

No

Free Trial

No

Overview

Udacity is widely known for its Nanodegree programs. A Nanodegree is a skill and project-based learning program. Each Nanodegree consists of a series of courses on topics like Artificial Intelligence, Coding, Robotics, Mobile Programming, Business, and Data Science. Most programs can be completed in 3-6 months. Udacity offers one-on-one technical mentorship to all Nanodegree students.

Udacity is the definition of innovation when it comes to online learning and education. When you enroll in one of Udacity's Nanodegree programs, your chances of landing a job after you complete the course skyrocket.

Udacity is not an accredited university, but the skills they teach are relevant, in-demand skills that employers are actively seeking. However, when compared to other online learning platforms, Udacity is steep in pricing. The average cost for a Nanodegree program is between $1200 and $2400. You can get a discount if you pay for several months upfront.

Udacity also offers Executive Programs for business leaders who need to learn about complex concepts like Artificial Intelligence and implement them in their companies within a short period of time (usually a few weeks). The cost of Executive Programs is around $1500 per month which includes project reviews from top industry professionals, technical mentor support, personal career coach, and a learning plan that allows you to learn at your own pace. 

Udacity Review: Is It Accredited And Worth It?  

LinkedIn Learning Certificates

LinkedIn Learning students can receive Certificates of Completion. The courses are not accredited and are not recognized by universities. They can be added to portfolios and resumes to showcase your skills and education. The Certificates of Completion are granted once a student watches the whole course or Learning Path.

Accreditation

No

Free Trial

Yes (1-month free trial)

Overview

A few years ago, LinkedIn acquired one of the oldest e-learning sites called Lynda and transferred all content to its own platform - LinkedIn Learning. The company now offers thousands of high-quality courses for all levels, from beginners to advanced, covering a wide array of subjects, including Web Development, Software Programming, Economics, and Business Management. 

LinkedIn Learning has a single monthly subscription fee that gives you access to all the content on the platform. The courses consist of bite-sized modules that help students absorb information better. LinkedIn Learning allows you to download any course for offline viewing, which I find to be very convenient.

LinkedIn Learning is a good platform that can help you jumpstart your career or achieve professional goals. If you are interested in joining the platform, you can do that by signing up for a 1-month free trial.

Linkedin Learning Review : Is It Worth It?

To conclude our IMHO review of the best online learning platforms, other notable platforms you should check out include Alison.com, YouTube (Harvard uploads their CS courses there), and Shaw Academy. It is important to find the platform that will suit your needs so that you will be able to get the most out of it. 

About the Author