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Best Online Learning Platform that won’t break the bank.

Written by Terencio White

Online learning platforms have taken the world by storm and for good reason. They are great for students who are juggling a lot of commitments, seeking flexible timings, and looking for an environment where they can be themselves. Online learning platforms offer a great way to track your progress and get notified once you have achieved your milestones.


What is an Online Learning Platform?

Online learning platforms offer online courses to learners worldwide. With internet learning, students from all over the world can easily access and complete online training that meets their learning styles. An internet course has a variety of advantages: efficiency, practical approach, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.

Before we have time to learn more about some of the best online learning platforms, here are some common questions that come up with online learning:


Do you think it's better to use these kinds of e-learning sites or just do your research and read books on the subject?

For most people, the convenience of learning an internet course and having on-demand access to read all online books comes down to a platform. The choice is mostly mechanical, with a little more important judgment thrown in for good measure. 

The most important factor is whether a person wants hands-on experience with their subject. Teachers cannot easily (or credibly) adapt material learned there if they want to.

Is there anything that you'd like to say to other students who are thinking about going to college in 2022?

We can't predict everything, However, we know the outcomes will differ from they are today. There's no one recipe for success in college that works for everybody; each student must learn to find out what their professional dreams and aspirations are and then create a mold from which to craft a plan of action. Those who make it through life successfully have made moral decisions about how best to use their time and investments over several years, planning for the long haul.

You may consider.....

What is your top strength?

What are you most interested in science, engineering, or math?

Which part of it do you want to cast aside and which parts would be better for further education/training on a much broader level if used properly?

I think these interests would all work together really well after studying some more... Don't get bored thinking about only one area; learn everything that can help towards what's important to you. I feel that the only way you could pigeonhole yourself is if your focus on one area would cease to be relevant after a while; so there's no harm in trying out different areas, as they're all equally important!

Is there anything else that would make me more likely to buy a course rather than getting it for free from the internet?

I'd recommend being able to show your skills as well, rather than just informing others we can accomplish something and hoping they'll believe it. Depending on what you're researching, the cost might be considerably lower than private tuition.


Best Online Learning Platforms


1. Skillshare

Skill Share logo on white background

Skillshare is one of the best online learning platforms designed to help people develop and share their skills. They created the site for New York's Creative Class Project, a community program accessible by NYC Community College District students. The initiative, which offers many videos linked to topics such as storytelling, photography, or cooking and encourages users to enhance new areas of interest via active participation for over two years, is one of Skillshare's primary initiatives.

How does Skillshare work?

Skillshare works by allowing learners to upload, edit and share their projects or existing ones (free) with others. You can also create new classes/tutorials linked to topics popular among Skillshare users in order not just to learn but collaborate as well!

What are the different videos available on Skillshare?

There are a few different videos that are available on Skillshare: tutorial videos, how-to videos, and instructional videos.

Plus, there are many ways to generate revenue for your video: you can create branded projects or even sell products associated with the videos. It's a very easy-to-use platform and great for brands, startups, and inventors alike!

How long do users get access to their library?

You have 24 hours (from now on referred to as "lifetime") of free access. After that period expired, paid memberships are available from the site.

Who can use Skillshare?

Over 6 thousand classes are currently available on Skillshare from over 1000 instructors; here's where you can find learning ideas for almost anything! Over 100 categories like Cooking, Storytelling, and Card Making suffices enough to find some interesting types of original tutorials on different.

Is there a mobile app available?

There is a mobile app available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

Details:

How Many Courses are available?

Over 2500 plus courses.

What is the pricing?

They offer a 30-day risk-free trial to start. Then it has unlimited access for 99 years, not bad!

Are certificates available?

You will receive a certificate for completion of the course completed.

Accredited Institution?

No.


2. Coursera

Coursera in blue letters with white background

Coursera is one of the best online learning platforms founded in 2012 by Stanford University and the Silicon Valley-based company, The Institute for Personalised Learning. Courses are based on professional credentials from partner schools globally, with different hierarchies of accreditation. Though it works as a global service to provide high-quality education across unique areas, this website is available only through partners with accredited universities or colleges worldwide;

Why is it important to have a global perspective when studying?

When studying a topic, it is important to have a global perspective to understand how the topic affects other parts of the world. Having a global perspective can help students develop empathy for people and cultures outside of their own.

How can online learning be beneficial for students in Coursera?

There are many benefits to web learning that students can enjoy. First, learning on the web provides flexibility for students in terms of when and where they can learn. This can be especially beneficial for students who have busy schedules or those who may not have access to traditional classes during certain times of the day or week. Online learning also allows students to take lower-level courses or seminars without having to complete a full degree program.

What type of certificate does Coursera have?

Schools as partners of Coursera have professors and work according to standards that are accredited by the world school management system, Association for International Grammar (AIG) in a variety of accredited schools in different countries. Besides academic qualifications through accreditation conferred by AIG members, courses based on professional bodies with international recognition such as TESOL or CELTA provide students with internationally recognized credits at universities worldwide.

Is there a mobile app available?

There is a mobile app available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

Details:

How Many Courses are available?

Over 7000 plus courses.

What is the pricing?

Free courses are available with the option to sign up month to Coursera plus. Single learning starts from $49-79 per month. Coursera plus monthly is $59 per month (7-day free trial). Coursera plus annual brings the savings to $399 per year.

Are certificates available?

Yes.

Accredited Institution?

No. Many of the institutions that offer degrees programs are.


3. Mindvalley

Mindvalley logo on white background

Mindvalley logo

Mindvalley provides a modernized approach to education by creating new pathways. The site persuades its users with the slogan "As you think, so shall you be". They designed the Mindvalley platform for all kinds of learners worldwide - from beginners and those returning after years off, to professionals seeking a curriculum that blends their educational needs into higher forms. Additionally focuses on an individual's overall development through online learning.

What are the different pathways on the Mindvalley platform?

There are a variety of pathways on the Mindvalley platform, including courses in neuroscience, meditation, self-development, and creativity.

Who can use Mindvalley?

Mindvalley is a company that provides website courses, tools, and resources for both individuals and organizations. They have classes for beginners to experts in a variety of topics, and businesses and organizations widely used their platform around the world.

What are the benefits of using Mindvalley?

The benefits of using the Mindvalley site are that it is a tool to help users learn and to increase their intelligence. The website offers a variety of different courses and resources to help users learn more about different topics.

How do you sign up for Mindvalley?

You can sign up for Mindvalley by visiting mindvalley.com and following the instructions on their home page.

Is there a mobile app available?

There is a mobile app available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

Details:

How Many Courses are available?

Around 60. They are adding fresh courses monthly. They also have Quest that can resemble several courses wrapped into one.

What is the pricing?

Free courses are available. Once you reach Level 2, you have the option to buy individuation courses. For $99 per month or 58% off by paying yearly ($41.60 per month), the greatest offer is the full Mindvalley membership with full access to all courses.

Are certificates available?

They offer certificates that show that the course is complete. Not intended for any other purpose.

Accredited Institution?

No.


4. Udemy

udemy logo on white background

Sebastian Thrun, a Stanford alum with a research background in AI and robotics, found Udemy. Udemy allows students from all over the world to learn apps programming or narration art through online video tutorials offered for free on their website; its mission is to target everyone who wants to master new things

What are the benefits of using Udemy?

Some benefits of using Udemy include it is an online learning site, which makes it easy to access and use; professionals in their field design the courses, so you can be sure that you're getting high-quality learning materials with updated courses.

What are some popular courses in Udemy?

Some popular courses on Udemy are "Introduction to HTML5 & CSS3" and "Web Development Bootcamp: An Overview."

Which platforms can you use to watch Udemy videos and audio content?

Works on most devices like tablets, phones, computers, and macs. You name it Udemy is available.

Who are the target users of Udemy?

The target users of Udemy are students who are looking to learn new skills or take courses on topics they are interested in.

Does Udemy have a free trial?

Yes, Udemy has a free trial that allows you to try out the platform before you decide to subscribe.

How is Udemy different from other video and audio learning?

Udemy differs from other video learning sites in that its focus is on education. This allows students to find and use educational resources for free, which can help them save money. Udemy allows users to create their courses, which gives them more control over how their information is presented.

Is there a mobile app available?

There is a mobile app available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

Details:

How Many Courses are available?

Over 250,000 courses are available with one of the broadest subject ranges on the internet.

What is the pricing?

Let go with a range from $9.99 to $299.99. Here's the deal. Once you sign on to access Udemy they have these great deals that may show up in your inbox! I've bought most of the course from Udemy between $10.99 to $24.99.

Are certificates available?

When you buy a course upon completion, a certificate is available.

Accredited Institution?

No. some courses that you may take such as Life coach or Meditation practitioner will give the option to get accredited through the organization they may go through (outside of Udemy).


5. Edx.org

EdX logo on white background

MIT and Harvard found Edx in 2012. This nonprofit initiative aims to make available the "software tools necessary for anyone, anywhere" to learn from any source… at no charge. 

How does Edx benefit the learner overall?

Edx offers free and paid courses on a variety of topics. Learners can choose from a variety of course formats, including video lectures, interactive lectures, live coding challenges, and more. The courses are well-made and have good quality resources.

Is there a mobile app available?

There is a mobile app available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

Details:

How Many Courses are available?

Over 3,000 classes are available on Edx.

What is the pricing?

From free to learning environment is how they say it. With the free courses, they give the option to upgrade to pay monthly. You may enroll in university courses for tuition (a onetime fee).

Are certificates available?

Yes.

Accredited Institution?

University faculty fully accredited and presented all programs.


6. Udacity


Udacity logo on white background

Udacity is one of the best online learning platforms founded in 2010 by a long-time Apple Inc. executive, Sebastian Thrun–a former researcher at Stanford University's Artificial Intelligence Lab... Modesty offers adaptive, job-specific, and self-paced college courses for learners of all backgrounds.

What are the different courses offered by Udacity?

Udacity offers a variety of different courses, including software engineering, artificial intelligence, and web development.

How do you find the right course for you? With Udacity, you have the flexibility to choose a type of course that meets your needs. Typically, students may pick from three types of courses:

1) Self-Paced Courses–offered as a full year and include both guided content on topics like Python programming and other related challenges (Codecademy), or self-guided modules which take approximately 90 minutes each including an instructor who instructs one module at a time (Udacity).

2) Specialized Courses – are self-paced content in specific subjects (such as Computer Science, Math, and Engineering), developed with a particular job market or industry in mind. Udacity offers 3D Animation for the entertainment industries and Data Visualization for education, to name a few.

Finally, Udacity has several Specialized tracks that require prerequisites and partners with employers.

3) Career-Enhanced Courses–allow you to sign up for 1, 3, or 6-module courses designed by companies such as Google based on the job market they want to fill (for example, Udacity's Analytics program helps determine how many data scientists in Silicon Valley need). All course content is available via video lectures, interactive simulations., social sharing

What are the requirements to take a course at Udacity?

To take a course at Udacity, you must have a valid email address and create an account. Once you have created your account, you will need to verify your email address. After verifying your email address, you will select the courses that you would like to take.  

Is there a mobile app available?

There is a mobile app available for download on Google Play.

Details:

How Many Courses are available?

Udacity doesn't give a hard number, but around 150-200 free courses are available. I would say around 60-100 Nanodegree programs are available.

What is the pricing?

The courses are free, however, you can be able to pursue Nanodegree programs starting at $399.

Are certificates available?

Yes.


Accredited Institution

7. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning logo on white background

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com), is a service that provides online video tutorials for most skills, including programming and business development concepts ... The idea for what became LinkedIn Learning came about during a meeting at Microsoft Research where some of us noticed there wasn't an environment that allowed employers to get valuable information from university courses on topics such as Python or HTML5 without taking it directly off the internet.

What are the different content offered by LinkedIn Learning?

LinkedIn Learning offers different content, including courses, lectures, and tutorials.

In addition, on each LinkedIn Learning page, users can look up skill sets by categories such as business and leadership, core skills, or languages.

The quizzes offer multiple-choice questions that cover a range of information to assess an individual's knowledge of programming key skills or concepts. Once the game is completed, it aggregates data related to the user's experience by integrating real-world action into courses for improved retention ... One challenge for universities when creating online learning content.

What are some popular courses on LinkedIn Learning?

Some popular courses on LinkedIn Learning include:

  1. LinkedIn Marketing
  2. LinkedIn Microsites
  3. LinkedIn for Business Owners
  4. LinkedIn Sales & Marketing Insights


Does LinkedIn Learning have free courses?

Yes, LinkedIn Learning has a variety of free courses that are available to learners. Some of these courses include topics such as business growth, social media marketing, and start-up tips.

They provided what kind of feedback at the end of each tutorial?

The feedback at the end of each tutorial is a recap of what they covered in the tutorial and a question for you to answer.

Is there a mobile app available?

There is a mobile app available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

Details:

How Many Courses are available?

Users have access to over 13,000 on-demand courses.

What is the pricing?

At the moment, new learners can start with a 1-month free trial. The choice is monthly at 39.99 per month. It is possible to pay yearly for a 33% savings.

Are certificates available?

Certificates of completion are available.

Accredited Institution?

No.



8. Codecademy


codecademy logo on white background

Did you think I would leave the coding community out? You guessed wrong, my friend! Codecademy is a coding community where you can take free courses.

What type of courses does Codecademy offer?

Codecademy offers a wide variety of courses, including computer science, programming languages, and data structures. Don't stop their game development, mobile development and web design are also subjects you can embark on.

Does Codecademy help me find a career?

Codecademy does not explicitly help users find a career, but its interactive lessons offer insights into various professions. For example, if you're interested in becoming a web developer, Codecademy's lessons on the subject may provide useful guidance.

By completing certain exercises in Codecademy's courses on topics like math and science, you may increase your understanding of these subjects and bolster your skills for finding employment in related fields.

What about community support in Codecademy?

There is a great deal of community support in Codecademy, including forums and chat rooms. You can also find support from fellow learners and educators on our community forum. If you need help with a specific problem or question, the Ask a Teacher section can help you find the right person or team to assist you.

Can you recommend any individual courses in Codecademy?

I would recommend starting with the Programming Basics course, which covers fundamental programming concepts like variables, control structures (if/else, while loops), and arrays. After that, I would recommend taking another course in programming languages like Python or JavaScript.

Is there a mobile app available?

There is a mobile app available for download on the App Store and Google Play.


Details:

How Many Courses are available?

There are 82 courses available to the community. Some of these courses come with free trial, others do not.

What is the pricing?

To access all course content within Codecademy, users may subscribe by PC or any tablet or mobile phone on apple or android devices.

Are certificates available?

Yes. But please consider that this is for starters. Depending on what you're using the skills learned, you may opt for accredited universities.

Accredited Institution?

No.


9. Pluralsight

Plural sight logo on white background


Pluralsight offers a wide variety of courses in programming, design, business, and more. The courses are well-produced and include interactive forums and assignments. They also offer monthly platinum scholarships for students who achieve the highest grades in their courses.

What type of certification programs does Pluralsight have?

The goal of Pluralsight is to provide certification paths and exam prep for your industry of choice. Please note that they don't offer guarantees you'll pass your exam.  

Is there a mobile app available?

There is a mobile app available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

Details:

How Many Courses are available?

Yes, there are 367 courses available on Pluralsight.

What is the pricing?

Prices vary depending on the course and certificate options are available upon completion of courses.

Are certificates available?

Certificates of completion are available.

Accredited Institution?

No.


Final words

Online learning has become an essential part of our lives. Whether we're looking to catch up on a topic we've been neglecting, or simply want to expand our knowledge more efficiently, online learning platforms provide the perfect platform.

Choosing the right one can be daunting, but by following these few simple guidelines, you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect platform for your learning needs!

Some links on our blog may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them.

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