With our fast-paced lives, it has now become difficult to take out time to hone your skill set further or maybe learn a new skill. But that does not take away from the ever-evolving demands of the market.
Therefore, today we present a solution to the dilemma of professionals and the public who want to grow and learn something new but cannot dedicate entire time and resources. This is where online learning platforms step in.
Due to the ease of access to online learning platforms and, subsequently online courses, both are gaining popularity not only among students but especially among seasoned professionals, who, from the comfort of their home or office, want to add more to their profile.
11 Best Online Learning Platforms for 2023 – Free and Paid Education Platforms
Here we present the top 11 online learning platforms for the year 2023 for you to select and take a step towards broadening your skill horizon.
1. Udemy
2. DataCamp
3. Skillshare
4. Udacity
5. Coursera
6. LinkedIn Learning
7. Khan Academy
8. EdX
9. MasterClass
10. MindValley
11. Brilliant.org
We have ranked these platforms based on the variety of courses they offer, pricing factors, value for money, actual course content, and overall customer satisfaction.
1. Udemy
The platform offers more than 100,000 courses in every field or skill, from business to fitness to arts. It also offers great value for your money because of the 30-minute preview option it provides to prospective students before enrolling in a course. Regarding customer feedback, customers of Udemy are satisfied, but over 50% of them return to take another course at Udemy due to flexible pricing.
Pricing: The pricing for Udemy falls within the range of $11 to $200, which grants you lifetime access to the course content.
Refund Policy: Udemy has a 30-day money-back guarantee as well.
2. DataCamp
Next on our list is DataCamp. It is a massive open online course platform that offers courses only in the fields of programming and data science. Students appreciate the quality of the course content being offered to them. Their students cite that instructors teach by giving real-life examples.
Pricing: They offer two different pricing streams, one for individuals and one for businesses. For individuals, the price ranges from $25 to $29 a month, with the yearly packages available as well, whereas, for businesses, the packages are only available in the yearly option ranging from $300 to $499.
Refund Policy: Unfortunately, DataCamp does not have a refund policy.
3. Skillshare
Talking about Skillshare, the variety of courses available on this platform focuses on IT-based skills such as animation and graphics. The quality of the content available on this site is outstanding, as per the customer reviews. Customers love its user-friendly interface, website’s welcoming design, and ease of usage.
Pricing: They offer two options when it comes to pricing. One is a free model where very little is accessible regarding course content. The premium subscription however lets you access over 25,000 courses and is priced at $16 or $94 yearly if you opt for the annual option.
Refund Policy: Available for annual subscriptions only within 7 days of charge.
4. Udacity
Udacity is another e-learning platform that offers various courses using a digital medium. It is known for its high-quality free courses. Despite the courses being of a high standard with distinguishable information, customers often complain about their weak customer support.
Pricing: Starting from $200 per month, it can go up to $2400.
Refund Policy: A refund is offered within 2 days of enrolment, depending on the nature and duration of the course.
5. Coursera
It is one of the most sought-after e-learning platforms, and It is loved for its ease of use and the competency of its instructors. The course content being offered is comprehensive in nature. Customers make this platform their priority due to the reason that it offers online university-level degrees.
Pricing: A single course starts around $40, while a degree goes up into thousands of dollars.
Refund Policy: Option is available subject to the number of days after enrolment.
6. LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda) has carved a niche for itself. Customers love it for its professionally drafted courses and how relevant they are to their current job profiles. Experts develop the content for the courses in the field, making it relevant. Customers, however, highlight that the courses offered here do not have proper certifications.
Pricing: A monthly Subscription at $29.99.
Refund Policy: A 30-day full refund policy is offered.
7. Khan Academy
Given that it is free for all platform, it is one of the most loved e-learning websites in the world. The variety of courses offered is not that wide, but the content presented is of a very high standard and provides useful insights. Its returning users love its easy interface and simple outlook.
Pricing: It is free for all.
8. EdX
It is one of the leading players in the domain and is truly loved by university students. Apart from a wide variety of online courses, it also offers university-level degrees. The course material being taught on the platform is one of the best that is being offered. Customers appreciate its flexibility and ease of usage.
Pricing: Starts from $50 and goes up to $300.
Refund Policy: A 14-day refund policy is in place.
9. MasterClass
MasterClass is one of its kind when it comes to online learning platforms. It offers real-time creative courses that are taught by real celebrities that may be actors, writers, singers, etc. Customers not only benefit from their real-life experience but also appreciate the interactions they get to have with their favorite celebrities.
Pricing: A yearly subscription of $180 or a monthly subscription of $15.
Refund Policy: A comprehensive refund policy is in place.
10. MindValley
MindValley offers courses that help you align your mind, body, and soul. The courses are offered by world-famous life coaches, CEOs, and entrepreneurs that share their life learnings for you to learn from them and improve the intangible aspects of your life. Customers love it for its exclusivity factor and the interactive nature of the classes.
Pricing: Individual courses start from $199 and go up to $499.
Refund Policy: A refund within 15 days is offered.
11. Brilliant.org
Brilliant.org is an exciting and interactive platform that offers courses for students ages 10 and above in the field of STEM. It is loved by adults alike since it can help their children learn. Customers, mostly parents of children, have nothing but positive to say about this platform and the learning opportunity it provides to their children.
Pricing: A monthly Subscription at $24.99 is offered. You can subscribe annually as well at $149.
Refund Policy: Refunds are not offered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Online Course Learning Platform?
Online platforms are an amalgamation of tools and support infrastructure in the form of a community where teachers, thinkers, and learners alike come together to deliver and learn new skills or knowledge without requiring a brick-and-mortar structure.
How Do I Create and Sell Online Courses?
I’m sure that after reading about all these wonderful online learning platforms, you must be wondering if you want to share your skill with the world.
At first glance, it might look intimidating but let me tell you that with the step-by-step guide to creating an online course, you can easily create and sell your course online.
How to Market an Online course?
Creating an online course is undoubtedly made easier by these platforms; they offer tremendous flexibility and ease of use. Regarding promotion, we at ThinkOrion, an online promotion agency, specialize in helping you increase your course enrollments and website traffic. Etc.
With your audience knowledge, we can devise a targeted strategy for your target audience to get the most out of this effort. Because if not promoted correctly to the right people, even the best and in-demand skill courses do not make it, as at the end of the day, it’s all about promoting your value proposition to your end customer, which can be done without a proper course promotion strategy in place.
Conclusion
The top online learning platforms for high school students and the public alike have opened a new arena of learning for everyone worldwide.
It has benefited not only students but instructors and society. The ease and accessibility of knowledge at such platforms make one realize the power of learning and promotion via technology.
The use of ed tech has increased in recent years with the rise of online businesses. Using AI, machine learning, and chatbots have helped improve the marketing process by increasing sales conversions, improving customer experience, and reducing customer churn rates. The ed-tech marketing agency helps to get the right audience!
