Best Online Course Platforms
With more people than ever turning to the internet to learn new skills, switch careers, or simply explore a passion, choosing the right online course platform can make all the difference between finishing strong and giving up halfway through. From flexible self-paced learning to expert-led certifications, each platform offers something unique—but which one truly stands out? Cast your vote and help others find the best place to learn online.
What counts: Ranked by overall value: content quality, breadth of catalog, price, and certificate/credential worth. All prices and ratings are approximate and crowd-adjustable.
Coursera
The platform that made 'take a Stanford course in your pajamas' a real sentence, Coursera turned MOOC hype into an actual credentialing business with real university partners behind the curtain. Its catalog breadth is staggering, but the real signature moment was proving employers would accept a Coursera cert on a resume without laughing—arguably the platform's whole reason for topping this list.},{
Typical Monthly Cost: $49Course Catalog Size: ~7,000+ coursesContent Quality: 8.7/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2012
added by IJRin 2 rankings
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Udemy
Massive marketplace of affordable courses on virtually any skill imaginable.
Typical Monthly Cost: $20Course Catalog Size: ~210,000+ coursesContent Quality: 7.5/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2010
added by IJRin 2 rankings
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edX
Nonprofit-rooted platform offering rigorous university-level coursework, now under 2U.
Typical Monthly Cost: $50Course Catalog Size: ~4,000+ coursesContent Quality: 8.5/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2012
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0Bite-sized professional skills courses that integrate directly with your LinkedIn profile.
Typical Monthly Cost: $30Course Catalog Size: ~21,000+ coursesContent Quality: 7.8/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 1995
added by IJRin 2 rankingsLinkedIn Learning
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Creative-focused platform beloved by designers, artists, and hobbyists.
Typical Monthly Cost: $15Course Catalog Size: ~35,000+ classesContent Quality: 7.4/10Offers Certificates: —Founded: 2010
added by IJRin 2 rankingsSkillshare
0Deep, structured tech and IT skill paths favored by enterprise developers.
Typical Monthly Cost: $29Course Catalog Size: ~7,000+ coursesContent Quality: 8.2/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2004
added by IJRin 2 rankingsPluralsight
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Udacity
Industry-aligned 'Nanodegree' programs built with tech giants like Google and AWS.
Typical Monthly Cost: $399Course Catalog Size: ~200+ programsContent Quality: 8/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2011
added by IJRin 2 rankings
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Celebrity-taught lessons that turn learning into premium entertainment.
Typical Monthly Cost: $15Course Catalog Size: ~200+ classesContent Quality: 8.3/10Offers Certificates: —Founded: 2015
added by IJRin 2 rankingsmaster class
0Khan Academy
Completely free, high-quality education covering K-12 and beyond.
Typical Monthly Cost: $0Course Catalog Size: ~10,000+ videosContent Quality: 8.6/10Offers Certificates: —Founded: 2008
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0DataCamp
Focused, interactive data science and analytics training with real coding exercises.
Typical Monthly Cost: $25Course Catalog Size: ~450+ coursesContent Quality: 7.9/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2013
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Codecademy
Interactive, hands-on coding lessons built specifically for learning to program.
Typical Monthly Cost: $24Course Catalog Size: ~50+ pathsContent Quality: 8/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2011
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0UK-based platform partnering with top universities for social-learning style courses.
Typical Monthly Cost: $30Course Catalog Size: ~1,500+ coursesContent Quality: 7.6/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2012
added by IJRin 2 rankingsFutureLearn
0Brilliant
Interactive, puzzle-driven approach to math, science, and computer science mastery.
Typical Monthly Cost: $25Course Catalog Size: ~60+ coursesContent Quality: 8.1/10Offers Certificates: —Founded: 2012
added by IJRin 2 rankings
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Treehouse
Beginner-friendly tech and coding tracks with a supportive community feel.
Typical Monthly Cost: $25Course Catalog Size: ~300+ coursesContent Quality: 7.2/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2011
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0Coursera Plus
All-access subscription unlocking Coursera's full catalog for one flat fee.
Typical Monthly Cost: $59Course Catalog Size: ~7,000+ coursesContent Quality: 8.6/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2020
added by IJR
0Coursera for Business
Enterprise learning bundles pairing Coursera content with team analytics tools.
Typical Monthly Cost: $399Course Catalog Size: ~7,000+ coursesContent Quality: 8.4/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2016
added by IJR
0Google Career Certificates (via Coursera)
Job-focused certificate programs backed directly by Google's hiring consortium.
Typical Monthly Cost: $49Course Catalog Size: ~10 certificate tracksContent Quality: 8.2/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2018
added by IJR
0Alison
Free certificate courses aimed at accessible, no-cost global education.
Typical Monthly Cost: $0Course Catalog Size: ~4,000+ coursesContent Quality: 6.8/10Offers Certificates: ✓Founded: 2007
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