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Students have a number of benefits regarding flexibility and accessibility of online education. Learners choose courses they like. Online courses are available anywhere, making online education practical. Online education opens opportunities for students unable to attend traditional schools. Learn more about the benefits of online education here.
Online educational platforms are digital spaces providing access to educational content, courses, and training programs. The programs cover a wide range of topics, from academic subjects to practical skills. These platforms offer tools for online learning. Platforms include progress tracking, assessments, and certification options. These features make education more accessible and personalized. We will explore 10 popular platforms for online learning.
Legacy Online School
“Parents also love the fact that online learning allows them to teach and support their children at any time and anywhere. They no longer have to rely on professors to take a lesson”
Saniya Khan, EdTechReview
Legacy Online School is an accredited K-12 online education platform. It provides flexible and personalized learning. The platform focuses on preparing students for college and careers, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Legacy Online School offers Advanced Placement (AP), dual enrollment, and honors courses. These courses give students an academic advantage.
What sets it apart:
- Legacy Online School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and offers a state-approved curriculum, along with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-accredited courses for college readiness
- Courses include group learning, self-paced study, and one-on-one live teaching options
- The platform provides virtual clubs, community activities, and personalized guidance through continuous assessments
Price: The tuition varies from $1,149 to $3,199 per year or from $149 to $990 a month depending on the plan and school level.
Udemy
Udemy hosts over 250,000 courses in business, technology, personal development, and creative topics. The platform enables learners and instructors to create, publish, and sell courses. The platform serves individuals, businesses, and other organizations worldwide. Udemy democratizes education by making it accessible and affordable.
What sets it apart:
- Udemy offers courses in a wide range of subjects, from coding to photography
- All courses are self-paced with lifetime access after purchase
- Udemy Business provides tailored learning paths with over 24,000 courses, allowing companies to track progress and create custom portals
Price: Individual courses are from $12.99 to $199.99. Udemy Business starts at $360 per user annually. Students find some courses free.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning offers over 16,000 courses in business, creative, and technology skills. The platform connects with LinkedIn, allowing users to showcase completed courses on their profiles. LinkedIn Learning helps individuals advance their careers by focusing on relevant skills.
What sets it apart:
- LinkedIn Learning allows completed courses to be displayed directly on a user’s profile, serving as a valuable tool for career advancement
- Courses develop business, leadership, and technical skills. These skills are relevant to today’s job market
- Learners follow structured paths for specific skill sets, covering areas like data science and marketing
Price: $29.99 per month or $240 per year, with a one-month free trial available.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a non-profit educational platform. This platform provides educational materials for students of various ages. The platform maintains thousands of subjects. These subjects include math, science, economics, history, and more.
What sets it apart:
- Khan Academy offers subjects from K-12 to early college-level, making it suitable for learners of all ages
- The platform offers customized learning pathways. Students learn at their own pace and review materials whenever they think it is necessary
- Khan Academy partners with the College Board to offer free preparation for the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
Price: Free.
Coursera
Coursera collaborates with the leading universities and companies to offer courses, certificates, and degrees in every discipline. The platform gives access to more than 7,000 courses in fields like data science, business, technology, and personal development. Coursera is known for flexible learning options. Learners study at their own pace, whether they aim to improve career skills or earn formal credentials.
What sets it apart:
- Coursera collaborates with prestigious institutions such as Stanford, Yale, Google, and IBM to offer degrees, professional certificates, and specializations
- The courses vary from free options to full university degrees. The courses offer flexible schedules and on-demand lectures. The lectures are accessible on both desktop and mobile devices
- Coursera provides industry-recognized certifications in high-demand fields like data science, UX design, and AI, making it ideal for career development
Price: Free courses, with certificates starting at $49 per month. Full degrees start at $9,000, and Coursera Plus provides unlimited access to over 7,000 courses for $399 per year.
Harvard Online Learning
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Key Stats You Shouldn’t Miss
The statistics from “Online Learning Platforms — Worldwide” by Statista.com show the number of users in the Online Learning Platforms market is expected to amount to 1.0bn users by 2029
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Harvard Online Learning offers different courses. These courses are designed by the Harvard Vice Provost for Advances in Learning (VPAL). The e-learning platform places high value on digital transformation, healthcare leadership, and big data solutions.
What sets it apart:
- Harvard faculty develop the courses, drawing on the university’s 350 years of educational excellence
- Harvard Online Learning offers courses in business, healthcare, data science, law, and more, tailored for professionals seeking career advancement
- The platform offers discounts for nonprofits, government, and military personnel
Price: Some courses are available for free. Other courses, like a healthcare strategy course, cost around $1,600. Degree programs are priced higher, depending on their scope.
Udacity
Udacity is an online learning platform. The feature of this platform is offering students nanodegrees. Many of these nanodegrees are created by leading experts from companies like Amazon. Udacity provides students with real-world skills. The platform is popular among professionals looking to switch careers or improve their tech expertise.
What sets it apart:
- Nanodegrees offer hands-on experience in specialized areas, allowing learners to build portfolios with real-world projects. These recognized credentials strengthen a resume
- Top tech companies help develop the courses, ensuring the curriculum stays relevant and aligned with industry needs
- The courses include personalized feedback from industry professionals, offering guidance and insights to help learners succeed
- Udacity emphasizes applying skills directly to practical, industry-relevant problems through project-based learning
Price: Nanodegree programs cost $399 per month. Udacity offers discounts and scholarships to learners. The platform provides a subscription model for full catalog access.
Skillshare is an online learning platform. This platform offers more than 30,000 classes in different fields. The advantage of these classes is their focus on creative disciplines. The platform helps students improve their skills or explore new areas of creativity.
What sets it apart:
- Skillshare emphasizes creative skills, offering classes in graphic design, animation, and photography. Students showcase their work and receive feedback from peers and instructors
- The classes include a hands-on project, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned and add projects to their portfolios
- Skillshare fosters a vibrant community where learners interact, share their projects, and gain insights from others in their field
Price: The individual plan costs $29 per month or $99 per year, with a 30-day free trial. The team plan is $159 per user per year for businesses and organizations.
OpenClassrooms
OpenClassrooms is an online learning platform offering career-focused training through degree programs and professional certificates. The platform provides bachelor’s and master’s degrees. OpenClassrooms emphasizes mentorship to support students throughout their learning journey.
What sets it apart:
- Students are paired with a personal mentor who offers guidance and feedback throughout the program
- OpenClassrooms guarantee employment within six months of graduation, or students are eligible for a tuition refund
- The platform offers fully accredited degrees in partnership with universities, providing recognized qualifications for online learners
Price: Degree programs range from €300 to €500 per month, while OpenClassrooms offers free access to many individual courses. Full programs with mentoring and certificates are paid options.
MIT OpenCourseWare
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a free online platform. This platform offers materials from over 2,500 MIT courses. The platform provides academic content in subjects like science, engineering, mathematics, business, and humanities. This allows learners worldwide to explore both MIT’s undergraduate and graduate courses.
What sets it apart:
- All course materials are free and do not require registration or enrollment. The content is openly licensed, so learners download, share, and remix for educational use
- OCW offers content from MIT’s entire curriculum, covering introductory to advanced graduate-level courses in many disciplines
- OCW does not provide certificates, grades, or interactions with instructors. It focuses on offering high-quality materials for independent learning.
Price: Free.
Conclusion
We explored 10 online education platforms. Each platform offers unique features to fit different learning needs and goals. These platforms have something for everyone, whether learners want flexible courses, career training, or new skills. Online education is a powerful way for students to gain knowledge and advance their careers. Online platforms make learning easy and engaging. Just choose the platform fitting your interests and start learning!
