Online course platforms have seen a significant increase in popularity in recent years. This trend is increasing at a rapid pace due to availability of smart mobile devices and faster internet connections. Students now have access to popular online courses from around the world and with a cheaper price as compared to traditional institutions. This has enabled students to learn with other students from different parts of the world and share their ideas.
For a successful online learning experience, it is important to select the right online course platform. A good online learning platform should be easy to use and affordable. It must offer the best quality of teaching content along with support to solve student’s queries. Let’s discuss the best five online learning platforms you should check in 2023.
What are the factors to consider before choosing any e-learning platform?
1. Features and functionality: This is based on the tools and capabilities of the Platform which makes it easy for instructors to draw up and present courses. In order to make it easier for live Internet classes, the platform should include features such as videoconferencing, screen sharing and interactivity whiteboards.
2. Course Quality: A number of courses in various fields should be made available by an online learning platform. The knowledge and qualifications of the tutors should also be taken into account in assessing the quality of courses.
3. User experience and interface: It should be easy for users to take advantage of the platform by means of an easy interface between teachers and students. The platform is available on a wide range of devices, such as desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
4. Cost and pricing: The pricing model should be transparent, and the platform should offer value for money. Some platforms offer paid courses while others give some free courses also.
5. Customer support and community: In order to ensure that users can use assistance if needed, the Platform should have an extensive support system including forums, chatbots and help centers.
5 Best Online Course Platforms are:
1. Coursera
2. Udemy
3. Skillshare
4. LinkedIn Learning
5. edX
1. Coursera: Coursera Inc was founded by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller in 2012 as an online course provider with a U.S. presence. Coursera provides educational courses, certificates and degrees in a variety of areas through partnerships with universities and other organizations.
A thousand courses are available on Coursera, which can cover a wide range of subjects including business, computer science, engineering, humanities, and much more. Some of the world’s most prestigious universities and institutions are designing these courses. The platform is capable of providing students with an opportunity to view courses and materials on any device, at any time. Students can take part in learning at their pace and may be interacting with other students from around the world.
While exploring Coursera you should consider the below points:
Course Variety and Quality: Coursera offers over 5400 courses across various fields, including business analytics, graphic design, Python, and more. These courses are developed by top universities and institutions such as Stanford, Imperial College London, and are taught by experienced professors or subject-matter experts. Interactive components such as quizzes, assignments and discussions that enable learners to retain their interest and motivation throughout the course are also part of this platform..
The system has a review process to ensure that courses comply with relevant standards regarding content, teaching methods and student engagement. Universities and employers recognise a wide variety of Coursera courses, making them an asset to learners’ qualifications.
Pricing Model: Coursera offers both free and paid courses. Free courses provide access to the course content, but learners do not receive a certificate of completion. On the other side, paid courses offer a certificate of completion, which can be added to the learner’s LinkedIn profile or resume.
Professional Certificate program costs from $39-$99 USD per month. You can start with a 7 day free trial. The MasterTrack Certificate program costs from $2,000-$5,000.
Coursera also offers financial aid to learners who cannot afford the cost of the courses. The applicants can apply for financial support by submitting the application, which shall be reviewed by a team of experts. Learners may be admitted to the course for free or at a reduced price, if an application is approved.
User Experience and Interface: Coursera homepage has a good user interface with a variety of options, including browsing courses by subject, searching for specific courses, exploring specializations, or learning more about Coursera’s degrees. The search functionality allows users to filter by subject, language, skill level etc.
Once a user selects a course they are taken to a dedicated course page that includes information on the course syllabus, instructor, skills acquired after completion, course materials, and assessments. The interface is also optimized for mobile devices, allowing learners to access their course on-the-go.
Customer Support and Community: One of the primary channels for customer support is Coursera’s Help Center. The help center answers to frequently asked questions, troubleshooting guides, and detailed information on platform features. The Help Center also provides a contact form for learners who need to reach out to Coursera’s support team directly.
2. Udemy: Udemy is an online learning and teaching platform that offers a huge variety of courses through which anyone can learn different skills. It was founded in 2010 by Eren Bali, Gagan Biyani, and Oktay Caglar.
Udemy offers 213,000 online video courses with new additions published every month. Different courses like business web development, creative art, marketing, photography and many more. It offers courses in 14 international languages.
The features udemy provides make it easy for students to learn and instructors to teach on the platform. Udemy is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, allowing students to learn at their own pace.
Course Variety and Quality: Udemy offers 213,000 courses, ranging from technology and business to personal development and creative arts. Courses are taught by experts in their fields, with instructors ranging from industry professionals to academics. Udemy’s courses are available in multiple languages which students can read worldwide.
Udemy has a rating system that allows students to see what others thought of the course before enrolling. Additionally, Udemy offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which ensures that students are satisfied with their course before committing.
Pricing Model: Udemy’s pricing model varies depending on the course. Some courses are free, while others can cost up to several hundred dollars. Udemy often runs promotions and discounts, which helps students to enroll in courses at a reduced price. Udemy also offers a subscription service, known as Udemy for Business. With this organizations can access the library of courses at a discounted price.
User Experience and Interface: Students can easily navigate through courses, and instructors can manage their courses with ease. The platform is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, making it easy for students to learn at any time and anywhere.
Customer Support and Community: Udemy offers customer support through their help center, where students can find answers to common questions. Udemy also offers a community forum, where students can connect with other learners and instructors to ask questions and share knowledge.
3. Skillshare: Skillshare is an online global community of curious creatives. It offers topics including illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing, and more. On Skillshare, you’ll find inspiration from hands-on classes and teachers at the top of their creative fields, so you can take the next step in your creative journey.
It was found in 2010 by and has since grown to become one of the largest online learning platforms. It has over 34,000 courses and more than 800K registered members.
Course Variety and Quality: Skillshare offers courses in a wide range of subjects, including art and design, business and entrepreneurship, writing and publishing, technology and programming, and more. The courses are created by industry professionals and experts in their respective fields.
The quality of the courses can vary, as the platform allows anyone to create and upload a course. However, Skillshare has a review system where learners can rate and review courses. This helps to make sure that the courses are of a certain quality and value to learners.
Pricing Model: Skillshare operates on a subscription-based model. Learners can sign up for a free trial of 7 days and then choose from two subscription plans:
- Monthly plan: $19 per month
- Annual plan: $99 per year
The subscription provides learners with unlimited access to all courses on the platform, as well as offline access and the ability to download course materials.
User Experience and Interface: Skillshare has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.Users can search for courses by topic, keyword, or instructor. The platform also recommends courses based on a learner’s interests and past viewing history.
The course pages include a brief overview of the course, the instructor’s bio, and reviews from other learners. The course content is organized into modules or lessons, with each module including a video tutorial.
Customer Support and Community: Skillshare provides customer support through email and a help center with frequently asked questions. The platform also has a community of learners and instructors who can connect and collaborate through discussion boards and projects.
4. LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that provides access to a vast library of high-quality courses and video tutorials. It covers a wide range of topics such as business, technology, creative skills, and personal development. The platform was formerly known as Lynda.com before acquired by LinkedIn in 2015.
The platform is available online and through a mobile app, making it easy to access from anywhere, at any time. The platform recommends courses based on a user’s interests, skills, and career goals. Users can earn certificates of completion for each course they finish, which can be added to their LinkedIn profile to showcase their skills.
Course Variety and Quality: LinkedIn Learning offers about 21300 courses and dozens added every week. The courses include business, technology, creative skills, and personal development.
Courses are taught by real-world experience experts and are continually updated to ensure they are relevant and up-to-date.
Pricing Model: LinkedIn Learning offers a subscription-based pricing model. Users can choose to pay monthly or annually. The cost of a subscription varies depending on the country, but it is generally around $29.99 per month or $299.88 per year.
User Experience and Interface: Users can search for courses by keyword or browse by topic or industry. The platform also offers personalized recommendations based on a user’s interests and career goals. The courses are presented in video format with transcripts and captions.
Customer Support and Community: LinkedIn Learning has a dedicated customer support team that is available to assist users with any issues or questions they may have. The platform also has an active community of learners who can share their experiences and provide feedback on courses.
5. edX: edX is an online course provider popularly known as MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses created by Harvard and MIT. It hosts online university-level courses in a wide range of disciplines such as computer science, business, and more. It offers more than 4,000 courses from top universities and organizations worldwide. The platform has over 40 million registered learners, who can access course materials from anywhere in the world, at any time.
After completion of some courses verified certificates are provided, which can be used for professional development and career advancement. edX provides new knowledge and skills in a variety of ways, from engaging video lectures and dynamic graphics to data visualizations and interactive elements.
Course Variety and Quality: edX offers over 4,000 courses in various fields, ranging from beginners to advanced levels.
The courses are designed and taught by leading experts in their respective fields. Some courses on edX are free, while others require payment for access to course material and certification.
Pricing Model: edX courses are available in both free and paid formats. Free courses are available to anyone who registers on the platform. The fees for the verified track usually range between $50 USD to $300 USD.
User Experience and Interface: The platform is simple and easy to access. The platform’s adaptive learning technology provides personalized learning experiences for each user.
Customer Support and Community: edX provides support through its help center and community forums. edX also offers professional development and training opportunities for educators to stay up-to-date on the latest teaching strategies and technologies.
With the rise of online course platforms, there is a wealth of knowledge available at our fingertips. These digital platforms make it easy to learn new skills at the comfort of our home. We have discussed the best five platforms that offer high-quality and engaging courses. Each platform offers unique features to help learners achieve their goals. Choose the platform that fits your needs and preferences.