online learning education providers

We compared 13 popular online learning platforms for all ages, budgets, and interests – our favorites include Coursera for certificate courses and MasterClass for creative arts classes

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• The rise of online learning is democratizing education by improving access to top-notch courses.
• We compared some of the platforms we cover the most to help you find the best ones for you.
• We looked at popular platforms like Coursera , edX , MasterClass , Skillshare , Duolingo , and more.

As online learning continues to grow in popularity, so do the options available to you. Whether you want to take a popular free Ivy League class for fun , pursue part of an online master's degree , boost your career with some additional certifications , or just learn a new language at your own pace , there are many options out there for you .

To help you decide which ones might work best with your schedule, budget, and goals, we compared 13 of the platforms we cover the most : edX , Coursera , FutureLearn , MasterClass , Skillshare , LinkedIn Learning , Udemy , Udacity , CreativeLive , Codecademy , Duolingo , Babbel , and Rosetta Stone .

The best online learning platforms for accredited university courses and degrees

• The best online learning platforms for career skills certifications

The best online learning platforms for creative skills and hobbies

• The best online learning platforms for learning a new language

Coursera , edX , and FutureLearn are three popular online learning platforms that offer courses, certificate programs, and even master's degrees from top universities as well as well-known companies and non-profit organizations.

All three have courses you can audit for free, as well as options to pay for a certificate of completion. They also have multi-course programs you can exchange for real college credits from select schools, or apply to their full master's programs.

The topics covered on each platform are incredibly diverse, covering everything from computer programming and finance to positive psychology and art history . They can be taken to advance your career or expand your knowledge in a subject for fun.

Keep reading below to learn the differences between edX , Coursera , and FutureLearn :

Cost: Individual courses are usually free to audit for a limited amount of time; certificates and longer programs vary in price.

Pros: You can most courses for free, including ones in longer programs (great for testing out a longer certificate program before committing to it); financial assistance is available

Cons: Some courses are archived, meaning you can still access them but can't earn a certificate; Charges one lump sum for courses instead of a subscription fee

You can browse all edX courses here .

Cost: Individual courses are usually free to audit; certificates and longer programs vary in price. You can also sign up for an annual Coursera Plus subscription ($399) and get access to 90% of Coursera's offerings.

Pros: Many programs charge a monthly fee, so the faster you finish, the more money you save; financial assistance available; offers some free certification courses

Cons: No financial assistance for Coursera MasterTracks; you can only audit one-off courses (you will have to pay for ones that are part of a Specialization)

You can browse all Coursera courses here.

FutureLearn

Cost: Individual courses are usually free to audit; certificates and longer programs vary in price. You can also subscribe to FutureLearn Unlimited for $189.99 annually to get unlimited access to courses.

Pros: UK-based, offers more international options; offers some free certification courses

Cons: Not as many course options as edX and Coursera; you can only audit one-off courses (you will have to pay for ones that are part of an ExpertTrack)

You can browse all FutureLearn courses here.

The best online learning platforms for career skill certifications

What all of them have in common

LinkedIn Learning , Codecademy , Udemy , and Udacity all offer online courses, programs, and bootcamps that can advance your career, including in in-demand subjects like omputer programming that boast high job satisfaction .

Unlike in-person or intensive bootcamp programs, these courses are self-paced and flexible, letting you practice and earn a certificate on your own time. They can be great for quickly picking up a new skill to boost your resume , testing out a potential job path before committing to a longer program, or gaining the qualifications you need to transition careers or move up in your role.

Keep reading below to learn the differences between LinkedIn Learning , Codecademy , Udemy , and Udacity :

LinkedIn Learning

Cost: A LinkedIn Learning subscription is $19.99/month (annually) or $29.99/month (month-to-month).

Pros: Short video classes broken down into digestible segments; certifications go right on your LinkedIn profile; LinkedIn occasionally makes popular career courses free for a limited time

Cons: Less interactive; no way to submit homework assignments or reinforce what you've learned

You can browse all LinkedIn Learning courses here.

Cost: Codecademy Pro is $39.99/month (month-to-month) and $19.99/month annually. Pro Student offers 35% off to eligible current students. (Note: Codecademy is currently offering 40% off Pro and Pro Student memberships through October 22 .

Pros: Some free beginner options ; a huge range of programming courses; Fun, hands-on projects

Cons: Less interactive than traditional coding bootcamps

You can browse all Codecademy courses here.

Cost: You can pay a one-time fee per course or subscribe to a Udemy Personal Plan for $29.99/month for unlimited access to all Udemy courses

Pros: Easy to use on mobile; offers a huge range of course offerings; popular bootcamps are updated frequently so you're working with the latest information; frequent sales on courses

Cons: Less interactive; harder to reinforce or test what you've learned; not all courses come with certificates

You can browse all Udemy courses here.

Cost: Nanodegrees can be paid for as you go, starting at $399/month or $1,017 total

Pros: Offers some free courses ; provides additional career resources and support to help you find a job after a Nanodegree

Cons: Nanodegrees can get pricey and involve a bigger time commitment if you want to finish faster to save money

You can browse all Udacity courses here.

While platforms like edX and Coursera are great for taking university-accredited courses for fun , MasterClass , Skillshare , and CreativeLive all offer subscriptions to unlimited online courses and are particularly great for growing creative skills like writing, photography, art, design, and acting — though they all offer courses in other subjects like personal development.

All three platforms offer courses from celebrities and experts at the top of their fields, from famous chefs and bestselling authors to well-known Stanford faculty members . They also offer courses in more niche creative subjects, from hand-lettering to bird photography .

While they don't offer the same direct feedback on your work as in-person instruction, they can be a fun way to unwind and learn a new skill at your own pace.

Keep reading below to learn the differences between MasterClass , Skillshare , and CreativeLive :

MasterClass

Cost: A MasterClass subscription is $180 annually (broken down to $15/month)

Pros: Beautiful and engaging video quality; celebrity instructors; offers a broad range of topics; digestible format; online forum provides a sense of community

Cons: No certifications; have to hold yourself more accountable to learn

You can browse all MasterClass courses here .

CreativeLive

Cost: You can pay a one-time fee per course or subscribe to a CreativeLive membership for $13/month.

Pros: Lots of in-depth bootcamps; great selection of in-depth courses to expand your skillsets

Cons: Less interactive; no direct feedback

You can browse all CreativeLive courses here.

Cost: A Skillshare Premium subscription is $32/month (month-to-month) or $15/month (annually)

Pros: Nice video quality; some celebrity and expert instructors; great for very niche topics

Cons: No certifications; mostly focused on art and design

You can browse all Skillshare courses here.

The best online learning platforms for learning new languages

Duolingo , Babbel , and Rosetta Stone are three language-learning platforms we cover a lot, and each has different strengths depending on which language you want to learn, your level of experience, and your time commitment. 

What they all have in common is flexibility — they can be great for brushing up on your high school Spanish or learning a few Japanese phrases before a trip .

Keep reading to learn more about the differences between Duolingo, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone:

Cost: Free; Duolingo Plus is $6.99/month for features like ad-free experience and unlimited tries

Pros: Great for learning new vocabulary; Fun, gamified experience; Easy to use on mobile; Lots of language options (including Yiddish )

Cons: Not as much practice directly speaking with someone in conversation

You can browse all of Duolingo's language options here.

Cost: $13.95 for 1 month; $9.95/month (3 months); $8.45/month (6 months); $6.95/month (1 year)

Pros: Focused on teaching you realistic conversation topics, such as travel or career-focused phrases; Uses native speakers to demonstrate lessons; frequent sales offered

Cons: Some language programs are not as strong as others ; Not as many language options as other services

You can browse all of Babbel's language options here.

Rosetta Stone

Cost: $11.99/month (3 months); $7.99/month (1 year); $179 lifetime (unlimited languages)

Pros: Fully immersive, mimicking real-life experience; Huge selection of languages to choose from

Cons: More expensive, requires more of a time commitment 

You can browse all of Rosetta Stone's language options here.

• Main content

30 Best Online Learning Platforms for 2024

Table of Contents

Some of the best online learning platforms include LearnWorlds, Coursera, Skillshare, Udemy, Docebo, Edx, Moodle, Teachable, and Thinkific.

Those are leading a fast-growing elearning industry . An unbreakable piece of evidence is the increasing number of people becoming interested in online learning for both learning and teaching purposes–either to learn a new skill or to teach online .

Luckily there are many online learning and course platforms that offer the opportunity to learn or create, and sell online courses .

For online instructors, trainers, and aspiring edupreneurs this is great news. But the struggle of choosing the best online learning platform out of the many options out there is real.

To help make this process easier, we came up with a list of the top online learning platforms analyzed by type and category that you can use to offer high-quality learning experiences.

And, to make it easier for you to choose the right platform for your needs, we broke them down into distinct categories.

Table of contents

Our choice of the top course platform: learnworlds, best online learning platforms, best online course platforms, best traditional learning management systems (lmss), best wordpress lms plugins, best authoring tools, your professional looking academy in a few clicks.

Before we go on, it’s important to distinguish the difference between the two terms ‘online learning platforms’ and ‘online course platforms,’ which often gets blurred.

What is an Online Learning Platform?

An online learning platform is an information system that provides a safe learning environment where students can take online courses.

Such online learning platforms are often called ‘online course marketplaces’ because they give learners the opportunity to search for and pay for online courses directly.

While some of these course marketplaces are used to feature online courses, the majority are more educational-based and strictly offer university-level education.

What is an Online Course Platform in Relation to a Learning Management System?

An online course platform is a type of learning management system (LMS) that online instructors can use to create, host, deliver and sell online courses.

An LMS is the higher category usually used by enterprises for employee training , customer education , and onboarding or by academic institutions to support teaching. However, the whole category can sometimes include course platforms or even WordPress plugins being used by SMEs to create and sell online courses.

Unlike online learning platforms, online course platforms are cloud-hosted software that allows instructors to create online classes or individual lessons by uploading educational material that they have created using text, images, video, PDF files, and audio.

In essence, individuals or SMEs can use a course platform to create their own course marketplace instead of offering their courses in a popular courses marketplace like Udemy, Edx, MagnetBrains , or Skillshare. This way, they can keep all the revenue and user data that they otherwise would have no control over.

Online Learning Platforms VS Online Course Platforms

An online learning platform emphasizes and presents the learner’s perspective whereas an online course platform takes the perspective of the online instructor/ teacher.

The two titles are often used interchangeably, and the real differences come from the person using the definition and the context of the conversation. From a student’s perspective, a learning platform is a place to find educational content , search and buy courses or whole educational programs. Whereas, from an educator’s perspective, it is the place to deliver knowledge .

Online learning platforms are often used to identify marketplaces for courses or education, like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning–formerly known as Lynda, while course platforms usually refer to the software used to create a learning environment, such as LearnWorlds, Thinkific, Kajabi, or Teachable .

Using an online learning platform takes off a lot of the hard work of building an audience, marketing, and sales, but you may not have control over pricing, user data, and branding.

With an online course platform, you have greater flexibility and freedom in managing your learning resources and course materials. Also, you get to have a say in the design and look of the entire website that hosts your online courses and in regards to the course itself – how it is being presented and promoted.

Which platform you are going to choose essentially comes down to your business’s needs.

If you choose to go with a standalone course platform, you will need to look into more specific requirements that are found in a learning management system. This is because there are many types of LMSs, and each one specializes in a certain category or serves a specific purpose better than others.

For entrepreneurs, course creators, training organizations, and SMEs, a course platform offers an all-in-one solution that fits your requirements .

LearnWorlds comes with a powerful set of eCommerce features , course authoring , user analytics , and website-building capabilities right out of the box. And it’s the platform our team has been developing and nurturing for the past 9 years, with thousands of customers in 80+ countries around the world trusting it to deliver online learning!

Whether you are looking for an internal training solution or simply to create , market , and sell your online courses or train your employees and customers , we offer the best possible solution you need at an affordable price.

Start your 30-day free trial with LearnWorlds today!

📝 Disclaimer : Positions below are arbitrary and do not indicate any preference. Numbering is used to show the number of platforms and further differentiate one from the other. We do think that every platform comes with its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the use case they are intended for.

As we go over each learning platform, we look into its advantages and disadvantages to help you decide whether it fits your needs or not.

As we mentioned before, learning platforms are more suitable for learners looking for a subject to study . They have a massive library of courses and learning paths.

Some of them accept individual instructors to teach with varied conditions to approve the content. If you don’t want to launch a course under your own website, this is the second-best way to do it. Each has its own requirements for instructors to upload their course materials and how they monetize the content.

We have, however included pros, cons, and information for both students and instructors looking into these platforms.

Platform #1: LinkedIn Learning (formerly known as Lynda)

LinkedIn Learning which was formerly Lynda.com is an educational platform that offers professional courses in business, digital marketing, web development, and more creative fields like design amongst other subjects, in the video lesson format.

The platform comes as a premium service for LinkedIn users and offers over 16,000 courses in 11 languages and focuses on helping individuals invest in their professional development. LinkedIn Learning also partners with top companies to provide its learners with the most in-demand professional certificates.

• Highly recognizable and valued for skills training
• Comes with a one-month free trial
• Provides personalized course recommendations for users
• Offers certification upon course completion
• Allows you to assess your progress using quizzes
• Has offline learning access to learn on the go
• Grants you access to other premium career features
• The quality of the courses it offers is ambiguous and you need to conduct some research into them before enrolling
• Joining as an instructor may be challenging

Who is it for?

• Learners: It is mostly suited for professionals and businesses looking to train their employees.
• Instructors: Apart from individual learners, business teams, universities, and government organizations can use the platform for educational and training purposes.

As a course creator, you can also apply to become a LinkedIn Learning instructor here .

LinkedIn Learning comes with two subscription plans for learners:

• Monthly: 1-month free trial, then $39,99/month
• Annually: 1-month free trial, then $19,99 /month

*Pricing information retrieved from LinkedIn Learning on October 26, 2023.

Platform #2: Udemy

Udemy is one of the most popular online course marketplaces on the web, featuring more than 213,000 online video courses. This educational platform has over 60 million students, 65 thousand instructors, and subject matter experts creating online courses.

Udemy makes course creation possible for everyone with the possibility of acquiring new skills. In doing so, it offers a range of online learning materials including PDF documents, PowerPoint, text, and video content, among many others.

Instructors can join Udemy and start teaching online, but it takes a huge piece of the pie from the revenue and has control over pricing and discounting the course.

• No setup cost (for instructors)
• Geared towards self-paced learning and video courses
• No need for highly technical knowledge
• A Udemy app available for iOS and Android

Cons (for instructors):

• Limited interaction with students
• High competition between instructors
• No personal branding option
• Minimal control over prices
• No data ownership or control over branding – it keeps emails and user data and does not share this information with instructors
• Visibility depends on your own marketing, the platform only promotes courses that are already popular
• Students: Udemy has a course for almost every discipline, but potential students always need to read the reviews before buying one. Quality is not consistent.
• Instructors: It’s great for teachers, instructors, educators, and freelancers who are just starting out.

Pricing / Revenue (for instructors):

To start charging students a fee for courses on Udemy, you will need to become a premium instructor. In such a case, the following conditions apply:

• No starting fee but very high commissions on sales of up to 75%.
• 37% when students come through their paid user acquisition channel.
• 97% on course sales when you sell through your own links. Udemy keeps a 3% administration fee.

*Pricing adjusted on a global price tier matrix developed by Udemy.

*Pricing information retrieved from Udemy Support on October 26, 2023.

Platform #3: Coursera

Coursera is an online education platform with over 100 million users that is dedicated to offering high-quality online training courses worldwide. While partnering with top universities and businesses, it provides students the opportunity to receive certifications from renowned institutions upon joining their paid courses.

Coursera offers individual courses, specializations, certifications, and degree programs (for bachelor’s and master’s degrees) that support on-demand video lectures, homework exercises, peer-reviewed assignments, and community discussion forums.

With Coursera Plus, students can get unlimited access to 90 percent of the learning programs in the Coursera catalog via a yearly or monthly subscription option.

• Offers a variety of learning options and activities
• Awards students with different types of accreditation (through degrees and certificates)
• Provides high-quality educational tools and instructor interactions
• Courses are free if you are not looking for a certification
• Limited to educators in partner institutions
• Less flexible course creation options compared to other platforms
• Does not offer instructor feedback, only peer reviewed assignments as a feedback mechanism
• Students: Anyone who wants to learn from prestigious institutions, whether they are looking for a one-off course, certification, or an online degree.
• Instructors: It is aimed at professors who are based at a HE partner institution or business .

Coursera offers free courses, subscriptions, and one-off payments depending on the course or program.

Platform #4: Skillshare

Skillshare is another popular course marketplace that has more than 13 million users and up to 35,000 lessons in various creative fields. Course lessons last from 20 to 60 minutes and are made from a series of small videos, class projects, and a student community that encourages interaction through discussion forums.

Classes on Skillshare are taught by industry leaders, everyday creatives, and professionals and are divided into 4 categories:

Creative arts : from graphic design to fine art, cooking, and music production. Technology : including data science, web design, and e-commerce. Business : finance, accounting, and project management. Lifestyle : teaching, languages, gaming, and wellness.

• Offers easily digestible and bite-sized learning
• Comes with a supportive discussion forum where students exchange feedback
• Provides the ability to take many courses for the same price
• Class content limited to only four categories
• Course material can be low quality
• Skillshare reviews from users are low across multiple review platforms
• No certificate of completion or any other formal recognition
• Students: It is suitable for students interested in the creative arts, technology, business, and lifestyle classes.
• Instructors: It’s great for instructors who are in the creative fields and want to make a side income. Instructors can make money through Skillshare’s royalty system and referral program .

Students: After a 7-day free trial, the pricing is $32 per month or $168 per year for access to all the courses (different regions may have different pricing).

Instructors: Free to join, but it comes with specific class quality guidelines and teaching policies you need to follow.

Skillshare pays instructors based on minutes watched from their course by students, teacher engagement, and premium referrals.

*Pricing information retrieved from Business Insider on October 26, 2023.

Platform #5: edX & Open edX

EdX.org (course marketplace) and Open-edX are two sides of the same coin. EdX is the learning platform where students find online courses from various universities, and Open-edX is an open-source content management system.

Both were created by a team of scientists from Harvard University and MIT with the goal of providing online university-level education across the globe.

EdX.org offers over 4,000 online courses from 250 prestigious businesses and universities offering higher education in many disciplines. These mainly specialize in the sciences–engineering, computer science, data science, math, humanities, business, and management.

• Free and open-source. (for instructors)
• Provides in-depth knowledge and added value (for students)
• Comes with a mobile app on iOS and Android
• Interactive online classes – allowing students to chip in
• Discussion forums seem to be outdated and difficult to navigate
• Requires technical knowledge or hiring a developer/web designer to implement (for instructors)
• Comes with the additional costs of a self-hosted server and its maintenance (for instructors)

Students (EdX): it has a very diverse library of courses suitable for most ages looking to learn a subject or new skills.

Instructors (Open-edX): It’s great for businesses who can afford a team or outsource the development and maintenance of the platform on their own servers.

Pricing for Instructors:

Free to join, but there may be additional costs of procuring a server and system support and getting expert help from Open-edX’s service providers or freelancers whose pricing varies according to your project’s requirements and budget.

For more information on Open-edX course creation expenses, check out this guide .

Platform #6: Udacity

Udacity is a learning platform that teaches learners the skills and knowledge they need, preparing them for a successful career in the technology industry.

Its training programs are known as ‘nanodegrees’ and are being offered as part of the platform’s collaboration with major tech companies like Google and Microsoft. Udacity’s mission is to transform talent at scale.

Udacity boasts a community of more than 17 million learners and 700 instructors.

• Has a simple and intuitive user interface
• Offers top-notch course content quality
• Provides additional career services (for students)
• Comes with more than 200 free courses
• Awards certificates (not accredited)
• Supports live tutoring (for instructors)
• Not much variety of course topics
• Course material is mainly in the English language
• No mobile app available
• It is a pricey option compared to other platforms

Students : It is ideal for individuals interested in updating their existing knowledge in the technology field, enterprises , and governmental organizations.

Instructors : It mainly targets industry leaders and professionals from Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies, who have shown leadership and expertise in the tech fields.

For students : Udacity offers both free and paid courses, and prices may vary depending on the course/program itself (depending on its subject and duration). Udacity’s subscription costs $249 for a monthly plan or $2,390 with an annual payment.

For Instructors : Instructors are contracted and get paid differently depending on the contract terms. With Udacity, there are different types of instructor work, including:

• Instructor – developing a full course
• Advisor – offering advice on an Udacity school or nanodegrees
• Course proposals – proposing a new course
• Other course support – building projects, lessons, assessments, etc.

An instructor gets selected to teach on Udacity after showing a demonstrated record of professional experience and expertise in a digital subject area related to Udacity schools and after passing the instructor evaluation process.

*Pricing information retrieved from Udacity on October 26, 2023.

Online course platforms are the backbone of the eLearning economy, used by entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes to create their own educational academies, marketplaces, and training grounds.

If you are looking to start an online academy of your own, have full control over branding, pricing, and user data, then an online course platform is what you are looking for.

Platform #1: LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is our very own cloud-based LMS platform that comes as an all-in-one eLearning management solution offering the ability to build your online academy while creating, marketing, and selling unique, interactive, and learning experiences .

Our platform brings everything you need in one place, making the process of creating online courses easy, quick, and affordable.

LearnWorlds is designed by experts in eLearning as a modern LMS platform and includes build-in authoring tools and ecommerce capabilities. LearnWorlds also comes with a state-of-the-art mobile app , community, marketing, and educational features.

• Very easy to set up and create course content
• Does not require any technical skills to use
• Comes with built-in course authoring capabilities
• Offers a state-of-the-art no-code Website Builder
• Offers a fully customizable, coding-free Mobile App Builder for iOS and Android
• Has built-in reporting, e-commerce, marketing, and affiliate features
• Comes with a built-in online community and discussion boards
• Supports SCORM and HTML5 files , including Graded SCORMs
• AI Assistant to build courses with artificial intelligence
• Offers responsive 24/7 customer support
• No pre-built sales funnels
• Limited gamification options (badges only)
• Does not support TinCan

LearnWorlds comes with the most powerful website builder for elearning sites, with website, page, and zone templates. The platform is a 100% white-label platform with fully customizable branding. It enables you to manage who sees which zones/pages and control the navigation experience of the users.

Watch the video below for a quick preview and try it out yourself from here .

It’s ideal for entrepreneurs, individual instructors, educators, small/medium businesses, professional trainers, and companies that want to train their employees or educate their customers .

It offers a 30-day free trial and then 4 subscription pricing plans:

• Starter plan: $29/month (plus $5 per course sale)
• Pro trainer plan: $99/month
• Learning center: $299/month
• High Volume and custom corporate pricing are available

*Pricing Information retrieved from LearnWorlds on October 26, 2023.

💁 Find out more about LearnWorlds’ alternatives .

Platform #2: Thinkific

Thinkific is a standalone course platform that helps you build and sell online courses. Thinkific provides everything you need to create your online education business, including an easy-to-use interface to build online courses and rich multimedia to add right into your course content.

• Includes a landing page builder
• Offers built-in sales and marketing tools
• Has various integrations with popular software
• It helps you build your online learning community
• Is a cloud-hosted platform you can connect your domain with
• Has a white-label option
• Has 24/7 support
• Offers limited control over website design
• Can be difficult to build complex courses
• Does not support SCORM, TinCan, or AICC
• Doesn’t include social features
• Focuses more on sales features rather than learning

It’s ideal for solopreneurs, small/medium businesses – SMEs, and coaches who want to generate more income.

Free to join with limited functionality. It offers a 30-day free trial on the Pro plan.

Subscription plans include:

• Free Plan – $0
• Basic – $49/month
• Start – $99/month
• Grow – $199/month
• Thinkific Plus – Customized pricing

*Pricing information retrieved from Thinkific October 26, 2023.

💁 Compare Thinkific to LearnWorlds.

💁 Compare Thinkific Pricing to Teachable & LearnWorlds.

Platform #3: Teachable

Teachable is an online teaching platform that serves the everyday instructor, helping them transform their knowledge into a business. Teachable provides an easy and simple solution for uploading your learning content, customizing your online school, and communicating effectively with your students.

• Simple and easy-to-use course authoring with quiz capabilities
• Has a landing page editor and blogging capabilities
• Comes with built-in eCommerce features
• Includes built-in affiliate, marketing, and sales tools
• Comes with a built-in email marketing tool
• Offers an app that is common to all schools (only Apple – App Store)
• Offers email support and a knowledge base
• Limited learning/teaching and assessment capabilities
• Does not support SCORM or TinCan
• Offers limited customization options on landing pages and branding
• No social or community building features
• Not very responsive customer support
• Limited white-labeling options (e.g. sign-ins and emails cannot be white-labeled)

It’s a great option for new course creators, solopreneurs, coaches, and creative professionals.

Teachable has the following pricing options:

• Free plan: $0/month (limited functionality and $1 + 10% per transaction)
• Basic plan: $59/month (plus 5% transaction fee)
• Pro plan: $159/month
• Pro+ plan: $249/month
• Business plan: Customized pricing

*Pricing information retrieved from Teachable on October 26, 2023.

💁 Compare Teachable with LearnWorlds

💁 Are you looking for a SCORM-compliant LMS ?

Platform #4: Kajabi

Kajabi is an all-in-one online platform that offers the tools to sell digital products , including online courses, coaching programs, and podcasts . Kajabi specializes in building high-converting sales pages, landing pages, and webinar pages for your online business and launching your advertising campaigns.

• Comes with built-in email and marketing tools
• Offers various integrations with popular software
• Provides sales pipelines/funnels building capabilities
• Features an online community
• Offers a collection of beautiful themes
• Allows the creation of landing pages
• Can be difficult to set up
• Has the most expensive pricing options
• Offers limited control and customization over website design
• Doesn’t offer as many course creation or learning features
• Focuses more on small digital product sales

It is for non-techy online course creators, digital entrepreneurs, small businesses, freelancers, creators, and individual instructors selling simple format courses and downloadables.

Offers a 14-day trial with a credit card. Then it goes to a monthly payment of the subscription plan, which includes:

• Basic Plan: $149/month
• Growth Plan: $199/month
• Pro Plan: $399/month

*Pricing Information retrieved from Kajabi on October 26, 2023.

💁 Compare Kajabi with LearnWorlds

Platform #5: Podia

Podia is an online learning platform that makes creating and selling online courses, memberships, and other digital products an easy task. Podia offers a rich resources library and free tools for entrepreneurs who want to build their online store, school, community, or website.

• Very easy and simple to use
• Has sales page customization options
• Comes with a website builder
• Offers email and affiliate marketing options within the platform
• Allows you to have your own membership subscription
• Doesn’t offer a community area on the platform
• Lacks learning tools like grading, assessment/assignments, and certificates
• Very limited in its capabilities – suiting smaller video-based learning, coaching, and downloadables only
• No white-label option

It’s great for content creators and artists who want to monetize their content and knowledge with simple learning activities and gated videos.

Subscription pricing plans include:

• Mover: $39/month
• Shaker: $89/month

Pricing information retrieved from Podia on October 26, 2023.

💁 Compare Podia with LearnWorlds

💁 Find out more Podia Alternatives

Platform #6: WizIQ

WizIQ is a cloud-based education platform for real-time or self-paced training that allows educators to use their own custom-branded domains. It delivers live and on-demand webinars, and it’s a very popular tool amongst online course creators who prefer live training, coaching , or a classroom-like environment.

• Offers elearning reporting and analytics
• Provides the opportunity to teach in a virtual classroom
• Has a mobile app (mLearning) that is available on Apple and Android
• Comes with course authoring with test and assessment capabilities
• Has eCommerce features and multiple integrations
• Offers a white label option
• Has no gamification options
• Its customer support representatives are difficult to reach after setup (based on online reviews)

It’s ideal for enterprise employees, individual teachers, trainers, colleges, universities, tutoring, and Test-Prep companies.

It offers a free 14-day trial and its pricing starts from $18 /month (when billed annually). Then the price varies depending on rooms and attendees, and the number of registered users for their:

• Live Classroom (Professional & Enterprise, or Pay-Per-Use plans), and
• LMS (Elite and Infinite Plans)

For more information, contact WizIQ directly.

*Pricing information retrieved from WizIQ on October 26, 2023.

Platform #7: Academy of Mine

Academy Of Mine is an all-in-one platform that empowers you to create and sell your courses in professional training, continuing education, certifications, and B2B training. With this platform, you can customize existing features or build new features via API. On top of that, you can craft interactive content with PPT, PDF, video, and many more.

• Supports SCORM content
• Offers reporting on learners’ progress
• Provides branding and white-label options
• Integrates with popular tools and uses API
• Comes with a flexible website builder
• Very responsive support team
• Needs a lot of work to customize the site
• Only offers a few video guides to help you learn how to work with the platform
• Very high price to get started or scale a project/business

It’s ideal for academics, large enterprises , public administrations, and small/medium businesses interested in offering training and certifications.

Academy Of Mine comes with a free trial but has no free version. These are the pricing plans it offers:

• Professional: $999/month
• Enterprise: custom pricing

*Pricing information retrieved from Academy Of Mine on October 26, 2023.

💁 P.S.: We also have a dedicated article on the top online course platforms .

A Learning Management System is a software application that is used to plan, manage, and deliver eLearning content. It is used widely in the eLearning industry and acts as a distribution vehicle for course content or training resources for different learning and development programs.

These are the best learning management systems in the market:

Platform #1: Docebo

Docebo comes with a top cloud-based LMS solution that ticks off the majority of every organization’s training needs and requirements. The platform is learner-centric and comes with L&D capabilities using learning-specific Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms that help to personalize the learning experience. Docebo is trusted by notable companies, including Bloomberg and Sharp.

• Compatible with SCORM 1.2 and 2004 editions, AICC, and Tin Can API
• Has engaging gamification and social learning capabilities
• Provides analytics on the effectiveness of learning programs
• Offers instructor-led training (ILT) features
• Supports more than 40 languages
• Allows third-party integrations with 400+ tools
• Allows offering certificates and selling online courses (eCommerce)
• Doesn’t offer customizable or advanced reporting capabilities
• Has limited functionality on certain objects of the LMS that require richer API
• Doesn’t come with enough features on its standard package that would better suit small and medium-sized businesses

It’s aimed for use by human resource professionals, HR departments, or enterprises.

Pricing is based on the number of active users. Docebo’s subscription plans include:

• Growth: suitable for organizations that have up to 300 users.
• Enterprise: suitable for organizations that have over 300 users and are looking for a more advanced elearning solution.

The business doesn’t provide detailed pricing information. To find out about prices, you need to contact Docebo directly.

*Pricing information retrieved from Docebo & FinancesOnline on October 26, 2023.

💁‍♀️ Best Docebo Alternatives

Platform #2: LearnUpon

LearnUpon is another great cloud-based option intended for educational purposes, corporate training, customer education, and partner training. This platform is well-known for its functionalities, user-friendly interface, and multilingual support it offers. Its ability to segment different teams and create unique learning paths is one of the advantages it offers, helping you support learning across every audience.

• Features great gamification options
• Comes with eCommerce functionality
• Compatible with SCORM and xAPI/Tin Can API
• Offers third-party integrations with key business tools
• Offers the ability to support multiple audiences in one system using multiple portals
• Supports blended learning methods – ILT, webinars, PowerPoint presentations, etc.
• Has high-pricing plans
• There is no option for HTML5 courses

It’s ideal for educational institutions and businesses of all types and sizes.

It offers a free trial and demo. Pricing is not publicly available and is based on the number of active users available on each plan. There are 3 subscription plans:

• Essential: for 150 to 300 users
• Premium: for 300 to 1000 users
• Enterprise: for 1000+ users

To get detailed information on pricing, contact LearnUpon directly.

*Pricing information retrieved from LearnUpon on October 26, 2023.

Platform #3: Litmos

Litmos (formerly known as SAP Litmos) is a popular platform that offers a variety of eLearning solutions for businesses, including corporate, customer, partner, services, support training, and compliance training. Amongst its bigger strengths is the ability to create customized learning paths for the needs and the style of every company and its employees.

• Has an intuitive course builder and built-in authoring
• Compatible with SCORM, AICC, xAPI/Tin Can API
• Offers built-in reporting, dashboards, and social communication functionality
• Comes with eCommerce and third-party integrations
• Allows the creation of customized learning paths
• Provides ILT, video assessments, and virtual classroom capabilities
• Has a content library with 2,000+ ready-made training video-based courses
• Has limited customization options
• Its interface isn’t as appealing as others
• It might be an expensive option depending on your business requirements
• Its assessment and feedback delivery process are slower than usual
• Lacks a dedicated payment gateway connection

It’s great for businesses of all types and sizes, focusing mostly on corporate training.

It offers a 14-day free trial. Pricing is not publicly available on the site, but it is based on the number of active users after contacting their sales team. Various online sources mention a price range between $2-$5 per user depending on the plan and number of users.

Access to the LMS, specific courses, and add-on features comes with a quote-based plan, after making a pricing request to Litmos directly.

*Pricing information retrieved from Litmos on October 26, 2023.

Platform #4: iSpring Learn

As another great LMS option, iSpring Learn can be integrated with the corporate training program of any business. Due to the large variety of pricing plans and standalone tools it offers, an organization can choose what fits with their learning needs and budget the most.

iSpring is the cheapest option for smaller businesses but is not as feature-rich as the other LMS in this category.

• Has unlimited file storage
• Features an intuitive learner interface
• Comes with a course template library
• Presents rich gamification features
• Provides analytical and real-time reporting
• Compatible with SCORM, AICC, and xAPI/Tin Can API
• Offers an integrated authoring tool with blended learning capabilities
• Allows mobile and offline access for a more convenient learning experience
• Uses an automated course management tool that makes administrative tasks easier
• Doesn’t offer multilingual support
• No direct learner-to-learner messaging inside discussion forums
• Has limited design customization, branding, and API options
• Has limited eCommerce capabilities and integration options

It’s suitable for organizations of all types and sizes.

It offers a 30-day free trial and a live demo. Pricing is based on the number of active users and starts at $2,99 per user/month for organizations with 50 users or fewer.

• It comes with three subscription plans – Basic, Advanced, and Pro for each set number of users (50, 100, 300, 500 and 1000 users). For more details on pricing information, check the platform’s pricing here .

*Pricing information retrieved from iSpring Learn on October 26, 2023.

Platform #5: Blackboard

Blackboard is an LMS solution that offers an adaptable learning environment suitable for both academic and business development purposes. As a learning platform, it provides a range of social and blended learning features that can make any type of training engaging throughout its course.

• Comes with a mobile app for learners and instructors (iOS and Android)
• Compatible with SCORM, AICC, IMS LTI, and xAPI/Tin Can API
• Features reporting, tracking program outcomes & accreditation standards
• Offers the ability to categorize users by different metrics (e.g. skills and department)
• Integrates with social media channels and video conferencing tools
• Limited reporting capabilities
• Limited gamification options
• Doesn’t have any security-enhancing features

It fits well with the requirements of educational institutes, public administrations, educators, trainers, instructional designers, as well as SMEs and enterprises.

It offers a 30-day trial on selected products. To learn about pricing options and get your custom plan, you need to contact Blackboard directly and arrange for a demo with an expert.

*Pricing information retrieved from Anthology on October 26, 2023.

Platform #6: Moodle

Unlike the majority of LMSs, Moodle is a free, open-source learning management platform. Moodle was designed by a group of developers and offers a range of drag-and-drop tools and useful resources that can help the everyday user. The platform is translated into over 95 languages and powers learning environments worldwide.

• Has a desktop and mobile app (iOS and Android)
• Offers a variety of customization options and integrations to plugins and add-ons
• Gives you access to a community of developers, users, and certified partners that share best practices on the use of the platform
• Doesn’t offer an email or 24/7 support
• Primitive and not as user-friendly interface
• Comes with limited gamification options
• Can be expensive if you are hosting the solution but don’t have an in-house IT team
• Its setup can be tricky and time-consuming without the help of a certified Moodle partner
• Its consultation services may come with an additional fee

It’s suitable for educators, freelancers, businesses, and public administrations.

Moodle comes in two variations. The first one is the original open-source Moodle which is free to use and runs most self-hosted eLearning websites. The other one is MoodleCloud, which offers a cloud-based solution, and its pricing is based on the number of users and file storage.

For off-the-shelf hosting:

• Starter : €120/year (50 users, 250MB)
• Mini : €200/year (100 users, 500MB)
• Small : €370/year (200 users, 1GB)
• Medium : €860/year (500 users, 2.5GB)
• Large : €1,630/year (1,000 users, 5GB)

For premium hosting: Customized pricing

*Pricing information retrieved from MoodleCloud on October 26, 2023.

Platform #6: Talent LMS

TalentLMS is another popular and cloud-based LMS option and already serves 70,000+ teams worldwide. It offers online course creators and businesses the opportunity to build training programs and share them with remote teams.

The platform comes with a range of options from building to organizing and delivering course content, as well as customizing website design and scaling your business.

• Offers a clean and user-friendly interface
• Easy to create courses in different categories
• Comes with a mobile app (for iOS and Android)
• Supports SCORM, CMI5 & xAPI content
• Comes with TalentLibrary – a collection of ready-made courses
• Provides an assessment building engine (with different testing options)
• Offers gamification and e-commerce options
• Has reporting, integrations, mass actions, and account branching capabilities
• Not as responsive customer support service
• Has limited course setup and content variety options
• Offers limited functionality inside discussion forums

It is for businesses and organizations of all sizes – from SMEs to enterprises that want to train their customers, employees, and partners.

Subscription plans include standard plans and active plans.

Standard plans (on the yearly plan) include:

• Starter : $89/month
• Basic : $189/month
• Plus : $369/month
• Premium : $569/month

Active plans (on the yearly plan) include:

• Starter Active : $179/month
• Basic Active : $339/month
• Plus Active : $489/month
• Premium Active : $649/month

Pricing changes on each plan when TalentLibrary is added to the package. See additional prices on TalentLMS .

*Pricing information retrieved from TalentLMS on October 26, 2023.

If you are using a WordPress-powered website, and you want to start creating and selling courses, a WordPress LMS plugin is what you need.

With an add-on tool like a plugin, you get to increase the functionality of your site and allow yourself more control over the administration and management aspects of your online course business.

WordPress LMS plugins are usually the cheapest option for hosting a cloud LMS , but offer much less functionality and come with high maintenance costs. They usually require some experience with WordPress or a developer to customize to your exact specifications.

They are ideal if you want to combine them with other plugins to offer a unique experience and add features to your membership site, however, there is a dangerous downside to using them. Combining many WordPress plugins without a dev team to support them may come with many bugs and incompatibilities.

The following LMS plugins are recommended if you have the team and time to implement and effectively maintain them:

Plugin #1: LearnDash

LearnDash is the most popular premium WordPress LMS plugin in the market. With it, you can design, promote, and sell online courses. Currently, it is being used by Fortune 500 companies and prestigious universities. Out of the best features it offers, its speed and its drag-and-drop course builder make the process of course creation both easy and enjoyable.

LearnDash Themes : There are many themes you can choose when using Learndash. WP Mayor has collected the 12 best themes that will elevate the quality of your online courses and your school’s. Astra, Social Learner, eLumine, and Unidash are some of the most notable ones.

• Offers membership, subscription, and one-time pricing options
• Features test and management tools, e.g., grade books and student metrics.
• Works with any WordPress theme and multi-sites
• Supports many types of media, including video, audio, images, Adobe Captivate files, and Google Docs
• Compatible with PayPal and Stripe payment gateways
• Provides the ability to market courses through monetization tools (shopping cart, memberships, subscriptions, course bundles, and course licenses)
• Provides automated email notifications and detailed reporting
• Integrates with popular tools (like Zapier, Slack, & ConvertKit)
• Offers drip-feed content, flexible prerequisites, badges, and certificates
• Allows you to install extra extensions and premium add-ons (such as the frontend course creation add-on) for advanced functionality
• No free trial, but you can cancel within 15 days (if you don’t like the product)
• Doesn’t have any video conferencing tools
• Has to be integrated with a third-party plugin like WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads to offer comprehensive payment options

It can be used by individuals, authors, companies, universities, training organizations, and entrepreneurs worldwide to help them create and sell their courses.

There are two ways to use LearnDash – either getting the plugin or launching a fully-hosted course website.

LearnDash plugin’s pricing is based on the number of site licenses:

• 1 site license: $199/year
• 10 site licenses: $399/year
• Unlimited: $799/year

LearnDash Cloud (full-site) comes in a monthly and yearly subscriptions in 3 plans:

• Starter: $29/month
• Yearly: $299/year

Information retrieved from LearnDash on October 26, 2023.

💁 Compare LearnWorlds vs LearnDash

💁 Compare LearnWorlds vs WooCommerce

Plugin #2: LifterLMS

LifterLMS is the leading free open-source WordPress LMS solution. It comes with content management tools that can help you offer individual courses, training-based membership websites, and MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). LifterLMS allows you to build an LMS that can be enriched with add-ons and meet the unique needs of individuals, small groups, and niche markets.

LifterLMS Themes : There is a large variety of themes you can choose from with LifterLMS. Find them on the platform’s website and pick the one that works the best with your subject, industry, or business (e.g. consultancy, entrepreneurial, and more).

• Comes with a 30-day demo for $1
• Has an automated mailing system and video lesson support
• Offers course completion certificates and achievement badges
• Supports flexible payment options (bundles, coupons, upsells, and more)
• Comes with built-in membership features, quizzes, and gradebooks
• Has a drag-and-drop builder that makes it easy to set up and create courses
• Integrates with key marketing tools, including MailChimp, WooCommerce, and WPForms
• It can get expensive if you need multiple add-ons (e.g. payment gateways)
• Not SCORM-compliant

It is suited for businesses, teachers, and WordPress users – developers, designers, and IT professionals who build LMS websites and training portals. It is also fit for do-it-yourself innovators who are interested in creating online courses, coaching or training-based membership websites, and hosted LMS platform switchers.

LifterLMS has three subscription packages.

• Earth Bundle : $199/year
• Universe Bundle : $360/year
• Infinity Bundle : $1200/year

*Information retrieved from LifterLMS on October 26, 2023.

Plugin #3: LearnPress

LearnPress is another popular choice amongst WordPress LMS plugins. It offers a free version which means that all the essential features are free, and you can get add-ons at a cost depending on how advanced you want your school website to be. It is rather easy to use, and it has a friendly interface.

LearnPress Themes : You will most likely need to pay around $50 (one-time) to get a theme. Choose your theme from the LearnPress theme collection wisely because the add-ons you get can only be used for the specific theme you choose.

• Has a free plan and mobile app (iOS & Android)
• Offers theme demos that allow you to preview your website design
• Frequently updated to address bugs and improve security
• It is a great option for beginners
• Allows integration with BuddyPress and BBPress forums
• Its free add-ons include Wishlist, course reviews, and prerequisite courses
• Has an in-built automatic email system that allows you to send quiz results to participants
• Supports a collection of payment gateways such as PayPal, 2Checkout, Authorize.net, and Stripe
• Has management tools for tracking students, grades, and course content
• Might be expensive to get all the features and add-ons at once
• Its best available plan only offers up to 3 site licenses
• Needs premium add-ons to offer the drip-feed and certificates capability
• Doesn’t come with a setup wizard like most WordPress plugins
• Lacks a variety of communication tools

It is best suited to individuals who already have or want to build an eLearning website or online school, entrepreneurs, web development agencies, and educational institutions.

• LearnPress Free : $0
• LearnPress Theme Bundle : starting $49 – $69 (one-time payment – 1 site license)
• LearnPress Pro Bundle : $249.99 with access to all add-ons (one-time payment – 3 site licenses)

*Information retrieved from ThimPress on October 26, 2023.

Plugin #4: MemberPress

With MemberPress as the ‘all-in-one’ membership plugin, you can create powerful WordPress membership sites . MemberPress offers a solution that allows you to protect your course by offering gated content that you can share with specific members or a closed community.

While it is not really a learning management system, many entrepreneurs use MemberPress alone or in a combination with other plugins to offer online courses.

LearnPress Themes : If you are struggling to choose a theme for your membership site, MemberPress has prepared a dedicated list of membership themes that they recommend for use.

• Restricts and manages access to your learning materials and courses
• Hosts unlimited members and memberships
• Has automatic upgrade and downgrade prorations
• Provides full subscription and transaction management
• Offers content access drip, access expiration, and premium community forums
• Includes comprehensive reporting, custom registration, account fields, and built-in integrations
• Doesn’t have a free trial or free version
• Doesn’t offer certificates
• Doesn’t have a drag-and-drop builder
• Might be more complicated or need a longer time for setup
• Doesn’t offer live online learning or webinars; only documentation
• Works best for online courses when combined with a WordPress LMS plugin like LearnDash

It is ideal for creators, podcasters, hobbyists, entrepreneurs of any industry (fitness, beauty, arts, etc.), tutors, teachers, writers, coaches, nutritionists, consultants, designers, religious organizations, communities, and online stores.

MemberPress has three subscription packages:

• Basic : $179.50 per year
• Plus : $299.50 per year
• Pro : $399.50 per year

*Information retrieved from MemberPress on October 26, 2023.

Plugin #5: WPLMS

WPLMS is one of the best social learning management systems for WordPress on the market. This tool makes it easy to create and sell online courses, work with other instructors within a community and earn commissions. Some of the notable features it offers are activity tracking, course directories, course management, and a front-end course creator.

WPLMS Themes : Its biggest asset is the collection of education-specific WordPress themes it comes with that makes it easy to adjust to your school site requirements. You can get an idea of what it offers through WPLMS’s theme demos .

• Has a mobile app (for iOS and Android)
• Is one of the most affordable and feature-rich WordPress LMSs
• Extends and integrates with third-party services and popular WordPress plugins including WooCommerce for monetization and BBPress for discussion forums
• Supports video conferencing through integration and gamification of courses
• Offers microlearning, gamification, certificates, and badges
• Supports activity tracking, student management, question banks, and custom reports
• Provides the ability to offer course bundles, membership and corporate plans
• It doesn’t come with a free version or a free trial
• Its course creation interface is lacking in some areas
• It doesn’t come with a full drag-and-drop interface
• Lacks some customization options compared to other LMSs

It is suitable for training centers, businesses interested in offering corporate training, course tutors, colleges, schools or academies, universities, and MOOC platforms.

WPLMS has two types of licenses:

• Regular license: $75 (one-time payment)
• Extended license: $3,000 (one-time payment)

*Information retrieved from Themeforest on October 26, 2023.

On top of online learning platforms, standalone course platforms, and WordPress Plugins, there is also the option to use individual software to create different types of learning content. These are called authoring tools .

You can use an authoring tool to design and redesign the content and arrange it into an interactive format that makes sense and serves a learning purpose. The usual format these tools come in is SCORM, HTML5, xAPI, or TIN CAN files, and the results of an authoring tool can be exported and uploaded for hosting in an LMS that can support these formats.

Below are some of the best options to choose from:

Tool #1: Articulate Storyline 360

Articulate Storyline 360 is a popular course authoring tool amongst many demanding course creators and instructional designers. Many individuals and businesses are choosing it as their favorite tool because it has award-winning course creator assets, features, and useful resources and does what it promises to do.

• Has a comprehensive set of features and course-authoring apps
• Allows you to create courses manually from existing templates
• Offers live and on-demand online training (live webinar by experts)
• Has a variety of quizzes and course templates
• Allows you to add various interactions with the content
• Comes with a large library of templates, course assets, photos, videos, icons, and illustrations
• Features a review app to help you gather feedback from stakeholders easily
• Has a downloadable program only
• Has one price tier and feature set only
• It is an expensive solution compared to others
• It relies heavily on the PowerPoint experience
• Difficult to use and might need a technical expert to help you out

It is more suitable for newer designers because of its ease of use. Also, it is an ideal choice for freelancers, academics, and businesses of any size or industry.

Articulate 360 has different pricing for companies, freelancers, and academic professionals:

• For companies : $1,399/yearly (per user)
• For freelancers : personal plan – $1,099/yearly (one user) and teams plan – $1,399/yearly (per user)
• For academic : personal plan – $549/yearly (one user) and teams plan – $699/yearly (per user)

*Information retrieved from Articulate on October 26, 2023.

Tool #2: Elucidat

Elucidat comes with a beautiful user-friendly interface, modern and easy navigation, which makes it one of the easiest-to-use course creation tools on this list. While it doesn’t offer the flexibility to create your own course template, its 25,000 different ones are enough to compensate for that. As an authoring tool, Elucidat is designed for enterprises and L&D teams.

• Offers enhanced collaboration options (for L&D teams)
• Provides data protection (GDPR, data encryption)
• Comes with user permissions and access controls
• Features localization workflows
• Supports HTML5, video SCROM (1.2, 2004), xAPI (TinCan) on all browsers
• Comes with a rich course template library
• Has a range of support resources
• It lacks integrations
• You need to contact sales to get a pricing quote

It is ideal for large enterprises, academics, and non-profit organizations .

Elucidat offers a 14-day free trial and has four pricing options: Basic, Team, Enterprise, and Scale. For all plans, you need to contact Elucidat and request a price for each, depending on your requirements and the number of users.

*Information retrieved from Elucidat on October 26, 2023.

Tool #3: Adobe Captivate

Adobe Captivate is a popular choice for an authoring tool, and it’s one of the top premium ones in the market. Depending on what you need it for, you can use it to create immersive learning scenarios and high-quality online courses. Adobe Captivate promises to help you create stunning courses in minutes, and as one of the top rated and most recognized brands, it regularly updates its tool.

• Has a clean and easy-to-navigate user interface
• Allows you to create interactive training courses or videos
• Includes a green screen feature where you can insert your background
• Offers the possibility to create storyboards and offer VR immersive learning Supports smart video recording helping you create studio-quality HD videos
• Frequently updated with new services and features
• Available on MAC and Windows
• Supports a variety of mobile forms
• Has a PowerPoint integration
• Offers overlay and ready-to-go slides
• Can be difficult to use or overwhelming for new users
• Not an intuitive and user-friendly interface
• Expensive to purchase compared to other tools

It is aimed for use by freelancers, small/medium companies, large enterprises, and non-profit organizations.

Adobe Captivate offers a free trial and its price starts at $33.99/month.

*Information retrieved from Adobe on October 26, 2023.

Tool #4: Lectora

Lectora – powered by ELB Learning, checks off the majority of the feature points that come with any course authoring tool. Packed up with a responsive design, automated versioning, interactivity, branching, quizzing features, and course template options, this tool will prove itself handy for creating eLearning content.

• Comes with a built-in asset library (icons, eLearning templates, stock images, audio, video, PowerPoint templates)
• Supports SCORM, xAPI, HTML5, AICC, and cmi5
• Integrates well with every LMS platform
• Easy to use and easy to understand
• Comes with a wide range of editing features
• Offers knowledge tests, quizzes, built-in navigations, and interactions
• Has some new features that can be quirky with different browsers
• Offers limited options in interactions
• Comes with limited abilities in advanced animations

It is ideal for freelancers, small/medium companies, large enterprises, and non-profit organizations.

Lectora has three pricing plans:

• Silver Suite : $999/year (for individual use)
• Gold Suite : $1,399/yearly (for teams, per author pricing)
• Platinum : $1,999/year (for teams, per author pricing)

*Information retrieved from ELB Learning on October 26, 2023.

Tool #5: EasyGenerator

Just like its name suggests, EasyGenerator is an authoring tool that is super easy to use. It has rich interface options, and it is great for use by individuals who are just starting out and have no previous experience in creating online courses. This tool aims to simplify the course creation process to make it accessible to everyone.

• Offers the ability to do PowerPoint imports
• Provides course auto-translation with one click (from/to 75 languages)
• Has a drag-and-drop functionality
• Supports SCORM (1.2, 2004) and xAPI
• Allows you to access learner insights (performance & engagement)
• Comes with a stock-image library
• It is compatible with most LMS platforms out there
• Its drag-and-drop feature doesn’t always work on mobiles
• It can be difficult to use in the beginning

It is ideal for individuals who have no eLearning background. It is up for use by freelancers, small/medium companies, large enterprises, and non-profit organizations.

Easy Generator has three pricing plans:

• Pro : $108/month (1 author, 10 courses, 100 learners)
• Team : $541/month (5 authors, unlimited courses, unlimited learners)
• Enterprise : you need to contact EasyGenerator for custom pricing (unlimited authors, unlimited courses, and unlimited learners)

*Information retrieved from EasyGenerator on October 26, 2023.

Choosing an Online Learning Platform

As you can see, there are many options available when it comes to offering online learning, and each one carries its own strengths and weaknesses. While you may find it time-consuming to go through every small bit of detail that describes each platform and tool, conducting some research on those you are most interested in is highly recommended before finalizing your decision.

Don’t forget, most platforms allow you to have a test drive before you buy their products, so make sure you give it a try and see how it works with other edtech tools!

In the end, the best option for you is to choose the one that best accommodates your needs and works well with your budget.

Want to try out LearnWorlds? It is our very own all-in-one online course platform and what we believe to be the best for creating, selling, and delivering online courses. Get your 30-day free trial today!

Further reading you might find interesting:

• How to Teach Online
• The 7 Best Kajabi Alternatives Reviewed
• The 10 Best eLearning Authoring Tools: Review & Comparison
• Customer Education: The What, Why & How Behind It [Guide]
• 6 Top Thinkific Alternatives Reviewed
• The 5 Best Teachable Alternatives Reviewed
• The 9 Best Mighty Networks Alternatives Reviewed
• Best Online Coaching Platforms

Kyriaki Raouna

Kyriaki is a Content Creator for the LearnWorlds team writing about marketing and e-learning, helping course creators on their journey to create, market, and sell their online courses. Equipped with a degree in Career Guidance, she has a strong background in education management and career success. In her free time, she gets crafty and musical.

Demand for online education is growing. Are providers ready?

Interest and participation in online learning continues to grow: 2020 saw record enrollment, 1 Data are from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education, accessed March 2022. and universities have launched new online programs to meet this increased demand. 2 For examples, see Sydney Lake, “Alabama State University to launch online MBA program,” Fortune , May 16, 2022; Jenna Tarleton, “Colorado State University Global launches new online Master of Business Administration,” GlobeNewswire, June 1, 2022; and 2U, “edX and University of Maryland launch new online product management master’s degree,” Cision: PR Newswire, May 17, 2022. From doctoral students to lifelong learners, people are increasingly accessing online tools to learn and acquire new skills. Though the increase in demand is undeniable, creating compelling offerings that appeal to prospective students is an ongoing challenge for many providers.

Many players are vying for a piece of the online education market, from local and national universities to emerging online education giants and newer nondegree providers. The magnitude of these market shifts and the increasing competition they herald suggest that online education providers may be compelled to go beyond incremental improvements and initiate big, bold moves to survive, grow, and thrive.

Major market forces

Four core market forces are reshaping the online education space, including increased competition, consolidation by a handful of big players, an influx of investments, and rising standards for quality (Exhibit 1).

As demand for online education has grown, the market has become increasingly competitive, with providers vying for attention from a broad set of prospective students.

From 2011 to 2021, the number of learners reached by massive open online courses (MOOCs) increased from 300,000 to 220 million. 3 Dhawal Shah, “A decade of MOOCs: A review of stats and trends for large-scale online courses in 2021,” EdSurge, December 28, 2021. Between 2012 and 2019, the number of hybrid and distance-only students 4 As a proxy for online learners. at traditional universities increased by 36 percent, while the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 rapidly accelerated that growth by an additional 92 percent. 5 IPEDS, distance education status as of fall 2020, accessed March 2022.

Against this backdrop of growing student interest, the market for online education has consolidated around a handful of dominant online-degree players. A recent analysis of Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) total enrollment data showed that while the overall market for degree programs decreased approximately 3 percent from 2019 to 2020, four of the largest open-access online education providers—Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), Liberty University, Western Governors University (WGU), and Grand Canyon University (GCU)—grew their total enrollment by 11 percent on average. 6 IPEDS, distance education status as of fall 2020, accessed March 2022.

But online degree-granting universities have newer, digital-native entrants nipping at their heels and targeting the same student segments. Numerous digital-education start-ups are disrupting the space, driven by a rise in venture capital funding. US venture funding for education technology (edtech) grew from $1 billion to $8 billion between 2017 and 2021. 7 “Global edtech venture capital report - Full year 2021,” Holon IQ, January 3, 2022. In 2021, the public appetite for these investments was evident in the successful IPOs of multiple edtech companies, including that of Coursera (valuation of more than $4 billion). 8 Marina Temkin, “Edtech backers rewarded as IPO pipeline heats up,” PitchBook, November 1, 2021. Edtech investment could be poised for more growth as online offerings surge and as institutions continue to shift toward blended learning grounded in cutting-edge digital technologies.

The forces propelling demand have been accompanied by rising standards for online education quality. For example, new offerings are blurring the lines between degree and nondegree learning, creating a new category of educational competitors. Google’s Grow with Google program, in partnership with Coursera, 9 The Keyword , “Opportunity for everyone,” blog entry by Sundar Pichai, Google, October 12, 2017. offers courses in high-demand areas such as user experience design and data analytics and has made significant gains in enrollment. These programs give prospective learners cost-effective, expeditious options beyond a degree program. Traditional digital-education providers that are primarily degree-focused may want to consider including such offerings in their strategies to compete and grow in the online education space.

Greater demand and rising quality standards also suggest that students are growing savvier about the returns of their educational investments. For some prospective students, especially those moving into high-paying fields such as IT, the opportunity to learn high-demand skills is more important than a program or institution’s brand. Nearly half of respondents to our learner segmentation survey said they would only consider paying for education programs that have an expected positive return on career outcomes, while 21 percent indicated they would consider attending a school to get a degree only if the school was “top ranked.” 10 McKinsey Learner Segmentation Survey (n = 3,709).

Five strategic moves that could unlock opportunities

Amid these market forces are potential growth opportunities for online education providers, but successfully unlocking these opportunities may require providers to make bold moves in adapting and pivoting strategies.

Employers in fields from healthcare to cybersecurity are struggling to find qualified workers, 11 WorkCare Blog , “Employers struggle to find qualified workers,” August 3, 2021; Matt Ferguson, “Employers struggle to find skilled workers,” CNN, 2008; David Ramel, “‘Great Resignation’ depletes already hard-to-find cybersecurity talent,” Converge360, March 24, 2022; Dave Muoio, “Staffing shortages force long-term care facilities to limit admissions, hire agency workers,” Fierce Healthcare, September 22, 2021. and online education can help adults of all ages quickly gain the skills needed to fill these positions and improve their career trajectories. At the same time, workers are reevaluating their career opportunities and looking to enter better-paying fields.

To meet these needs, capture the attention of prospective students, and distinguish themselves from competitors, online education providers could consider five strategic moves (Exhibit 2): integrate skill building and degree attainment to meet student and labor market needs, transform career planning and coaching services, revolutionize employer relationships, deliver a distinctive learning experience, and build a bold and distinctive brand.

1. Meet student and labor market needs

Educational institutions have traditionally focused on learning and knowledge building first and careers second. But students, especially prospective online learners, are focused on the ROI of their degree—specifically, what jobs their degree will prepare them for. 12 McKinsey analysis. Moreover, labor market needs are rapidly changing. As a primary pool of talent, institutions could align themselves with these shifts by rethinking program development and degree attainment to better prepare their students for a dynamic work environment. Institutions have three actions to consider:

Align programs with the needs of the market. At many institutions, including nontraditional online institutions, programs are developed through an outdated and often drawn-out process that is frequently divorced from the needs of employers and industries. This process not only leads to a mismatch in graduates’ skills but also rarely allows for the rapid development of new programs to meet current needs.

Institutions could stay ahead of the curve by adopting an iterative ‘learn and design’ program creation process that includes understanding current trends across industries, identifying shifts in technical and nontechnical skills, and revamping current programs or designing new ones to best prepare students.

For example, a university in Mexico found that new programs drove 34 percent of all new enrollment between 2016 and 2019. This institution focused on new-program development by identifying changes in job market trends and in-demand occupations, evaluating whether competitors were offering relevant programs to meet these workforce shifts, and making rapid decisions about which new programs to offer based on these factors. The creation of new programs was then centralized through an agile content development team (rather than spread across different “schools”) to ensure efficiency and speed to launch, enabling new programs to be built in less than three months. 13 McKinsey analysis.

Institutions could stay ahead of the curve by adopting an iterative ‘learn and design’ program creation process.

Integrate degree and nondegree offerings. The education sector has traditionally treated degree programs and nondegree certification programs as wholly separate. Each is valuable, and each has its shortcomings. More recently, a broader set of education programs have been gaining acceptance among adult learners, with certificate providers increasingly being considered equivalent to more traditional institutions of higher education. 14 McKinsey Learner Segmentation Survey (n = 3,709). This suggests that institutions could most effectively serve the student population by removing barriers between degree and nondegree programs and by offering an integrated package that incorporates credit-bearing credentials and certificates into the broader journey of earning a degree.

Universities don’t necessarily need to reinvent the wheel to build such integrated programs. To develop an end-to-end solution for students, traditional institutions could partner with established nondegree players such Udacity or Grow with Google. Conversely, nondegree providers could seek to partner with full-degree programs so that their students could earn credit for their work and move toward a degree if they chose to.

City University of New York (CUNY), for example, partnered with the New York Jobs CEO Council to launch the EverUp Micro-Credential Program, which offers 100-hour online intensives alongside traditional degree programs. Shaped by input from the largest employers in New York City, these credentials aim to better prepare students for jobs or internships by helping them master specific job-related skills. 15 “Launch your career with EverUp Micro-Credentials!,” CUNY, accessed March 2022.

Offer multiple models for degree attainment. Respondents to the McKinsey learner survey identified a lack of hands-on experience as a top concern with online learning, with 30 percent saying it was their biggest frustration. Many learners in online-only degree programs are adults or traditional-age students from nontraditional backgrounds who cannot wait until the end of a degree program to apply their practical technical skills in paid or part-time roles. By offering stackable credentials with clear “on-ramps” and “off-ramps” that allow concurrent or sequenced work experience opportunities, programs could meet students’ unique needs and support their overall skill-building trajectory while keeping them engaged and driving completion rates.

2. Transform career planning and coaching services

According to McKinsey’s learner survey, 35 percent of respondents said their top motivation for considering additional education was a stalled career or a stalled career search (Exhibit 3). To provide learners with stronger and better-aligned career outcomes and increase job placement potential in high-paying positions, online institutions could proactively and consistently engage with students to set specific goals, work toward those goals, and adjust programming as needed.

Historically, students have started their career journeys by choosing a major in the first year or two of a degree program and trying to find a job in a related field sometime before graduation. This model assumes that learners are well informed about which programs or courses to pursue and does little to actually support learners throughout their journeys. Merely providing an educational experience with little connection to a learner’s postgraduation context is likely not enough to help students achieve career goals, especially in digital environments where networking, information sessions, and other forms of exposure to careers may lack in quality and quantity. A Strada survey revealed that more than a third of adults would change their field of study if they could do it all over again, with lower levels of regret among higher earners. 16 On second thought: US adults reflect on their education decisions , Strada Education Network, June 2017.

Provide up-front opportunities to explore interests. Before selecting a major, students could take a survey or assessment that captures their passions, skills, and experiences and points them toward multiple majors and related career options that align with their profile. Some institutions, such as Dickinson College and Boston College, have begun to integrate strength and interest exploration into summer orientation sessions to encourage students to think about majors and careers before they even start classes. 17 Jon Marcus, “Some colleges ease up on pushing undergrads into picking majors right away,” The Hechinger Report , July 23, 2021. Equipped with data and information about students’ passions and interests, institutions could help students create personalized studies and skill-building plans early in the program. Unlike degree maps that direct students to follow a predetermined path, personalized plans could break down the process of acquiring a degree and show students how they could accumulate skills over time.

Offer integrative exposure to career pathways. It is important for learners to know whether the careers that are aligned to a prospective major are a solid fit. Institutions could expand and prioritize student access to immersive career experiences, including project-based learning, research opportunities, shadowing, and career-aligned mentoring. 18 “Student outcomes beyond completion: National findings from the 2021 Strada Alumni Survey,” Strada Education Network, October 27, 2021.

Wake Forest University has garnered attention for its revitalized approach to career services. The institution emphasizes career exploration and customized exposure to careers early in the student journey by using profiles on Handshake (a job search and matching platform) to connect students with organizations and companies based on their interests and qualifications. 19 Andy Chan and Christine Cruzvergara, Outcomes and metrics that matter: Embedding career services at higher education’s core , Handshake, September 2021.

Other institutions help students build digital portfolios of work that they can show to potential employers during interviews. This allows firms to see precisely what skills students are learning and how those skills relate to specific job roles through, for example, an employer-facing dashboard that links courses, student activities, and work experiences to specific skills and industries. 20 “Career e-portfolios to help land a job,” San José State University, accessed May 2022.

Adjust and iterate on studies and career plans. As a student progresses through the educational journey, institutions could perform check-ins, advise, and reevaluate personalized course plans more frequently. For example, the University of Colorado Boulder’s Program in Exploratory Studies provides personalized attention to help undergraduate students discover their interests, realign on a major and potential career paths, and adjust course plans accordingly. When the program launched in 2019, about 40 percent of Boulder students were switching majors after realizing a new one might be a better fit. The new advising approach gives students the ability to shift plans with ease. 21 “Some colleges,” July 23, 2021. Some other institutions also offer the ability to flex major requirements or stack credentials when pivoting to another field.

3. Revolutionize employer relationships

Online education providers are uniquely positioned to develop close B2B partnerships with organizations looking to upskill their employee bases and attract new talent. The ability of these providers to rapidly adjust their curricula, combined with their history of serving adult students looking to advance their careers, suggests that such partnerships could be a strong driver of growth.

A recent study by Udacity found that roughly 60 percent of employers said talent gaps are having a major or moderate impact on their business, while a majority of younger people across all regions believe their employers should invest in their future by giving them skill training. 22 Talent transformation global impact report , Udacity and Ipsos, January 2022. However, few educational institutions have made B2B a meaningful source of enrollment growth. Traditional B2B strategies often fail to sufficiently address the talent transformation needs of corporate partners. With employers facing unprecedented talent challenges and prospective students looking for career linkages, the moment may be ripe for rethinking how digital educators pursue B2B partnerships. While the nature of B2B strategies may vary across institutions, we have identified a few emerging, innovative approaches that could help institutions build strong B2B partnerships.

With employers facing unprecedented talent challenges and prospective students looking for career linkages, the moment may be ripe for rethinking how digital educators pursue B2B partnerships.

Focus on career-specific skills that can quickly address employer pain points. Many online institutions offer a broad range of certificate and training programs and seek to show the general value of their education to a potential partner instead of focusing on the skills needed for a specific industry or job function. By researching certain industries or roles, online education providers could identify very specific and practical skills that may meet the most acute talent development pain points. A skills-based approach often requires institutions to develop new content, bundle it, and sequence it in new ways while incorporating project-based learning. Scarce resources can make it difficult for universities to modularize all content simultaneously. Focusing on specific industries and professions can help them get started.

Develop comprehensive enterprise plans for upgrading and adding talent. Online education providers could differentiate their B2B offerings by thinking of themselves as talent development partners or as part of a “corporate academy.” By partnering with learning and development (L&D) teams to offer value-added services such as enterprise-wide assessments for talent transformation, these institutions could increase the value of educational partnerships and help ensure that it results in meaningful ROI for B2B partners. Once a business is enrolled, online education providers could develop personalized plans for each employee and create enterprise-specific reporting platforms that track and display the collective progress of the company’s talent pool. Moreover, providers could offer select student support services that are tailored for a given partner. In addition to developing existing talent, online education providers could innovate go-to-market approaches for attracting new talent to fields with significant labor shortages. For example, they could develop degree and training programs in partnership with employers who promise tuition assistance and jobs for students who complete the program. Talent attraction and development are more important than ever; by solving these problems, an online education provider could become integral to the core business instead of simply a benefit for employees.

Measure impact and ROI. Deeper partnerships that meet the specific needs of employers could drive real business value by filling talent gaps. However, very few, if any, online education providers have measured that impact or demonstrated the full ROI of upskilling employees. This suggests there is a unique opportunity for a nimble, forward-thinking provider to structure partnerships in which ROI is front and center. Measuring the impact of programs that build digital skills could also help unlock more B2B partnerships and greater enrollment growth.

4. Deliver a distinctive learning experience

The COVID-19 pandemic has further influenced consumer behavior and expectations across industries, 23 For more, see “ US consumer sentiment and behaviors during the coronavirus crisis ,” McKinsey, December 14, 2021. including education. Approximately 20 percent of respondents to our survey of US learners said their biggest frustration with online learning was “engaging in real-time conversations through a virtual medium.” About 18 percent of respondents said their top frustration with online learning was “getting the technology to work.”

To meet evolved student expectations, online institutions may want to upgrade their overall digital experience across core content delivery, build supporting tools and infrastructure, and apply best practices in customer experience. In our recent article on improving online higher education, 24 Felipe Child, Marcus Frank, Mariana Lef, and Jimmy Sarakatsannis, “ Setting a new bar for online higher education ,” McKinsey, October 18, 2021. we share the findings of our survey on academic research as well as the practices of more than 30 institutions, including both regulated degree-granting universities and nonregulated lifelong-education providers.

To deliver an outstanding learning experience and better outcomes for students, institutions could focus their efforts on three overarching principles (Exhibit 4):

Seamless journeys. Exceptional delivery includes a user-centered learning platform that is easy to navigate and highly interactive. Elements could include movie trailer–like course previews presented by top instructors, real-time progress dashboards across programs and courses, and integrated, timely alerts that let students know when they are not investing enough time on a topic and offer suggestions for study resources.

An engaging teaching approach. While top-notch faculty and teachers, interactive lessons, and high-quality content are all critical, exceptional delivery also includes supporting a variety of learning settings to adapt to different learning needs. Enabling students to choose a learning format they prefer is one example. Real-time collaboration via group work, breakout rooms for discussion classes, Q&As with professors, and free, embedded access to external resources—such as professional-association standards and newspaper articles—could also help strengthen learning.

A caring network. Strong networks offering both academic and nonacademic support could help institutions accelerate learning and foster the well-being of students. This could include easily accessible, 24/7 troubleshooting support via a live service desk for urgent learning and teaching problems. Other initiatives to consider are program-specific opportunities to enhance student life online, such as personalized meet and greets, special academic invitations, and thematic social clubs, as well as using the right technologies to allow for just-in-time community or adviser support where needed.

5. Build a bold and differentiated brand

In today’s highly competitive market, building a distinctive brand is more important than ever. Our independent analysis of the fastest-growing online universities revealed that their success was due, at least in part, to investing marketing dollars in raising broad-based awareness of their educational offerings. By sustaining these efforts over time, they were able to increase awareness and inbound interest, which ultimately helped drive enrollment. Through our work and our research, we’ve identified three marketing and branding benchmarks providers may want to consider:

A compelling brand message. By initiating the four moves listed above, online education providers could lay the foundation for a distinctive brand message that cuts through the “sea of sameness” that typifies most online education advertising. Simply emphasizing affordability and flexibility may not be enough. Successful brands are not afraid to be bold and elicit both emotional and rational responses from consumers. Shaping a brand message that speaks to people’s dreams for the future, and shows how an institution is innovating to deliver on that promise, could help the institution stand out and motivate prospective students to learn more about it. There are many ways for an institution to differentiate its brand, including focusing on a particular student segment (such as veterans), focusing on a particular field of study (such as healthcare or nursing), or focusing on a distinctive student experience (such as through a differentiated online platform or student support network).

A balanced marketing media mix that delivers sustainable student acquisition costs. Many online education providers developed their marketing strategies during a time of ever-growing demand and limited competition. Those strategies tended to emphasize “bottom of the funnel” tactics such as affiliate marketing and paid-search marketing that aimed to convert prospective students who were close to making a decision. Given the marked increase in competition and growing per-click costs, this strategy may not prove sustainable. Our research shows that the most successful institutions invest at least half of their marketing dollars in broad-reach media that drives organic traffic. While investing more in brand marketing does require patience, it could establish a brand that generates sustainable student acquisition costs over time while helping increase conversion rates across all channels and throughout the enrollment process. The use of digital channels such as video, social media, and audio could allow institutions to reach a broad but still relevant audience. These tactics may also allow institutions to track the impact of these broader marketing efforts by looking at organic traffic and search data.

Our research shows that the most successful institutions invest at least half of their marketing dollars in broad-reach media that drives organic traffic.

Use of authentic voices to build credibility. Institutions may benefit from creating opportunities for current and former students to communicate the value of their programs to the broader public. Successful students take great pride in their accomplishments and are often happy to share their experiences. Moreover, they can deliver authentic and credible messages. As more and more prospective students turn to TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to research schools, promoting user-generated content could go a long way toward driving interest and enrollment growth.

Institutions may also want to ensure that their branding is sustained throughout the admissions process. Instead of using a rigid, sometimes overly persistent model that focuses on outbound phone calls and cookie-cutter information, institutions can instead adopt a flexible engagement model that provides personalized information and respects the audience’s time.

Admissions teams could also diversify how they interact with prospective students and work seamlessly across SMS, email, phone, and videoconferencing to provide information and answer questions. In this new model, admissions officers become more than a single point of contact, instead connecting students to online information and to people in other parts of the organization, such as alumni or faculty, who could help them make informed decisions.

This new approach to branding and admissions might sound like common sense, but many organizations have optimized their old models over decades. Thoroughly changing a branding strategy often requires a fundamental restructuring of the way institutions work, the skills they employ, and how they measure success.

While making progress in these five strategic areas could yield growth, doing all five in unison is likely to produce the greatest impact.

To compete and grow, digital-learning providers may benefit from moving fast and cross-functionally and making rapid decisions based on data. Executing these five big moves will likely require the investment and involvement of the full organization. McKinsey analysis suggests that for most institutions, this path will represent a full transformation of current operations; lessons discussed in other education insights may be helpful in that effort. This path also requires a willingness to look beyond education for ideas and expertise and to find new technologies from across the digital economy. Blazing the path to a new frontier of online education is daunting, but those that do it could grow their impact while supporting students.

Nadine Diaz-Infante is an associate partner in McKinsey’s Mexico City office, Michael Lazar is a partner in the New York office, Samvitha Ram is a consultant in the New Jersey office, and Austin Ray is a consultant in the Atlanta office.

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Best online learning platform of 2024

Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Virtual Learning Environments (VLE)

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Best for projects, best for pricing, best for integrations, best for google, best for entrepreneurs, best for streamlining, best for tools, best for social media, best for enterprises, best for training.

• How we test

The best online learning platforms make it simple and easy for educators and trainers to manage online courses.

1. Best open source 2. Best for projects 3. Best for pricing 4. Best for integrations 5. Best for Google 6. Best for entrepreneurs 7. Best for streamlining 8. Best for tools 9. Best for social media 10. Best for enterprises 11. Best for training 12. FAQs 13. How we test

Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) have become increasingly common, especially due to sweeping changes that became necessary due to the pandemic. 

While face-to-face learning has a place, increasingly learning and courses are being conducted through digital channels. This can be both cheaper and easier to manage for businesses, and for educators it means the ability to reach people from a distance. 

In a remote situation is where online learning platforms really come to the fore, as platforms for education make the most of modern technology. That’s not to say traditional means of education are about to be extinct, but academic institutions and businesses have identified that we can achieve plenty more through tech, such as smartphones and other internet-connected devices which can facilitate learning from any location.

Online learning also has its advantages for people who might not easily be able to access face-to-face learning. This can be especially relevant in remote areas, but also for people with disabilities whose mobility issues might prevent attending college or similar.

When comparing the different online learning platforms, we looked at what operating systems they were available on (Android and iOS), the app interface, integration with third-party software, and the overall quality. We also assessed the pricing plans and what kind of users each learning platform would be best suited for, among other things.  

Below we list what we think are the best online learning platforms currently available.

We've also featured the best online class sites .

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The best online learning platforms of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

1. Moodle LMS

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

While commercial software has its place, sometimes it is truly impressive what an open source project can achieve, such as in the case of Moodle LMS. This open source learning platform can be downloaded and used for free. While direct support is lacking (although an organization can engage one of 80 Certified Service Providers to remedy that deficit), there is still plenty here, including documentation such as guides on how to use this platform. 

Learners and teachers are sure to like the expansive feature set, such as interaction with multiple choice questions in the content, an integrated text editor , and support for 3rd party cloud storage providers, such as DropBox to submit assignments. It is also multi-language capable, and supports open standards such as SCORM. 

We also like that teachers can make comments on assignments, and the integrated all-in-one calendar . With so many features, it may be open source, but it hardly will feel like it, which explains why it has over 200 million users.

Read our full Moodle LMS review.

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2. Adobe Captivate

Adobe Captivate is a professional platform for creating learning content. This can be incorporated from a variety of sources, including images that this software can edit, screen captures that can be done automatically, and by importing PowerPoint presentations. 

We are impressed with the support for VR projects, and users are sure to like the choice of acquisition options along with its use of templates to streamline project production, and provide consistency. Users do have issues with the stability of the app, the limited options for direct support and the cancellation fee for the monthly plan will undoubtedly irk some out there. 

Quibbles aside, Adobe Captivate is a mature piece of software that has endured with good reason, and is well worth a closer look via the 30-day trial that is longer than most of its competitors.

If you want to go ahead and buy the software, the price of subscription is around $34 / £30 / AU$50 per month.

Read our full Adobe Captivate review.

3. Acorn LMS

For those that are looking for some upfront pricing, Acorn LMS- unlike some of its competition- answers that need. Rather than keeping potential users in the dark, Acorn LMS is upfront offering both a tier without content and another with content The company also offers a flat fee for the first 100 users and an additional student fee for each user thereafter. 

Beyond that, this platform has a number of strengths that impress us, such as the ability to make individualized student pathways via LinkedIn Learning content, the white label approach to foster customization of the site for consistent branding at an organization, and support for multiple tendencies allowing an administrator to easily manage multiple acorn LMS accounts via a single set of sign on credentials. 

While nothing is perfect, and we should point out the lack of an Android app in the Google Play Store, the dearth of user reviews, and that there are no advanced support options such as a forum or a FAQ, overall it is an attractive package worth the 60-day free trial.

If you want an LMS that does the fundamentals of an LMS really well, you can opt for the Core LMS option with a flat rate of $400 / £250 / AU$400.

Read our full Acorn LMS review .

4. Canvas LMS

The Canvas LMS is used by top institutions worldwide, and it can boast it has over 6 million users with an over 90% satisfaction rate. Users are sure to be impressed that it integrates well with popular apps that students use, such as those from Adobe, Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams . 

We also like the robust community forum, with thorough answers for common user issues, and the multiple communication options covering the spectrum from messaging (individually and as a group), to audio, and video. Some areas we would like to see improved would be support for gamification, and some transparency in the pricing. Teachers will also be pleased to see the support for automated grading via integration with SpeedGrader.  While the opaque pricing is frustrating, we appreciate both the free 30 day trial, and also the lowest ‘Teacher Tier’ plan that is free long term for both teachers and students to allow for education of all.

Read our full Canvas LMS review .

5. Google Classroom

Google Classroom offers a cloud based learning environment to enable remote education for learners from pre-K through the university level. We appreciate that it pulls together a number of Google tools, such as Google Meet , Google Drive and Google Docs all in one place to enable learning. 

Teachers can put in assignments as all types of documents, including .doc and .pdfs, students get the notification, complete the assignment and submit it. Teachers then grade the assignment, keep a virtual gradebook and can give classroom style lectures via the Google Meet function. 

Google offers this via several tiers of features, but we can appreciate that the free tier is plenty powerful for budget conscious school districts. The platform is also cross platform to allow learners to function with it with whatever their device of choice is, including laptops, Chromebooks , and both smartphone platforms- although the Android one garners complaints from the users.

Read our full Google Classroom review .

6. Thinkific LMS

Thinkific is an online platform that has enjoyed meteoritic success as a relative newcomer to this space. It has useful functions, such as the ability for educators to build a website , and templates are provided to facilitate this for newcomers. 

We also like that this platform can be used to issue certificates of completion. It is used worldwide, and can accept payments from learners signing up for courses from over 100 countries. 

Some omissions, such as the lack of a direct phone number or email for support, and no smartphone apps for either Android or iOS show the immaturity of the platform. We also wanted to see more user reviews than what we found online. However, with a choice of tiers starting with a free one, and a track record that has already earned its experts over $650 million dollars, it is seriously hard to dispute.

Read our full Thinkific LMS review .

7. 360Learning

360Learning meets the challenge head on of streamlining the task of project creation. Users are sure to benefit from the integrated tools such as the video editing software , the included templates that are branded as ‘Cheat Sheets,’ and the option to include ten different types of questions to test learners. 

We also appreciate the free 30-day trial without credit card info, and the choice of tiered plans. However, we were less impressed that there are few options for direct contact, with some features reserved for the top plan (like support for course attachments), and that the Android app has a significantly lower rating than the iOS version. We also like the ‘Collaborative Authoring’ approach that lets even inexperienced users create a course in minutes, rather than months.

Read our full 360Learning review . 

8. Blackboard Learn

Blackboard Learn is a learning platform that is used for learners of all levels from pre-K to university and beyond such as in government and industry. It has some shortcomings such as the opaque pricing, the limited direct support options and the multiple bugs that users report in the apps, especially the Android version. 

Balance that against the integrated tools that some competing solutions charge for, such as a plagiarism checker to check student assignments against. Also factor in the accessibility tool to be ADA compliant, and the other items to foster communication between students and professors, and the tracker to keep students on track with submitting their assignments. Additionally, the 30-day trial is longer than most others, and the iOS app is highly rated, so organizations that need a full fledged solution will see quickly why this learning platform enjoys its popularity.

Read our full Blackboard Learn review.

9. Absorb LMS

The Absorb LMS is a learning platform that focuses on business. It is also especially adept at social aspects, as it can easily integrate with corporate social media accounts. 

We also like the social focus that continues on to allow learners to create social accounts on the platform. This then allows them to virtually interact with the other learners, and also display the awards and certificates that they accumulate for completed content. We also appreciate that certificates can be custom created, to be either downloaded or printed. However, some aspects frustrated us, such as the learning community that is not running yet, the opaque and ultimately high pricing, and the buggy smartphone apps on both the iOS and Android platforms that have users commenting they would be better off accessing content on a computer.

Read our full Absorb LMS review .

Targeting the enterprise market, Docebo takes an AI approach to a learning platform with an impressive list of Fortune 500 companies that use its service. Incorporated under the Docebo Suite are multiple products to create content, deliver it, and also to measure the metrics of its impact. This style of product is well suited to onboarding, and retaining new employees. 

There are some issues with the lack of support options as we would have liked to have seen some more direct choices, such as a direct phone number or a chat option. Also of concern is the completely opaque pricing as we could not even figure out the available tiers or options without direct company contact. However, users are sure to make good use of the robust interactions fostered by this service via the ‘Docebo Community,’ although this gets negated by the clunky, and low rated smartphone apps on both the Android and iOS platforms.

Read our full Docebo review .

11. iSpring Learn

iSpring Learn is one of the most popular learning management systems (LMS) and is mostly used by corporations to train their employees. It makes it easy to prepare and deliver educational content for corporate trainees. You can start with the content you already have, e.g., upload your PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, audio tracks, and video tutorials to the platform. This platform doesn’t impose limits on the size or number of files you can host.

One of the best things about this platform is its interactivity. You can use it to put together engaging educational content complete with illustrations, quotes, videos, etc. For example, you can divide your long articles into chapters so that users can explore the material step-by-step. If you wish, you can restrict navigation such that the user can not proceed to the next material without completing the initial one. You can also add self-test questions throughout the content to help users understand and retain information as they proceed through the course. 

This platform has a customizable design, so you can design your courses with the colors and fonts that are part of your corporate brand. There’s also direct integration with iSpring Suite , a tool that works within PowerPoint and lets you quickly develop quizzes, interactions, and simulations.

iSpring Learn doesn’t just let you build courses. It also gives you analytics to track how trainees are interacting with your courses and their progress. This platform is ideal for companies looking for a solution to deliver corporate training to their employees.

Read our full iSpring Learn review .

If you're interested in studying more online, we've also featured the best courses in:

• HTML , 
• Word , 
• Javascript .

Online learning platform FAQs

What is an online learning platform.

It is simply a platform that is designed to offer students or trainees everything they need for their education in one place. It allows them to access course materials and interact with other students. It also makes it easy for tutors to monitor student progress.

Online learning platforms are mostly used by schools, colleges, and other educational institutions. However, it is also used by other types of customers, such as corporations that want to deliver training materials to their staff. You can use such platforms to create lectures, assignments, quizzes, etc., and issue certificates to people that complete the course.

Which online learning platforms are best for you?

The first thing to consider when you want to choose an online learning platform is your technical competency. If you have not used an LMS system before, it's better to start with a basic platform before migrating to a complex one such as Moodle. This gives you more chances to understand the platform you are using and maximize its features. Advanced LMS systems offer more features but are of no use if you can find it difficult to use them. A more basic tool will get you acquainted with the intricacies of a learning management system before switching to a complex one.

The size of your trainees or students also matters. If you’re tutoring just a few dozen people, it’s better to choose a basic platform that is easier to manage. On the other hand, if you have hundreds to thousands of students, a more advanced platform such as Moodle is better. 

Online learning platforms vs Learning Management Systems

There are three main categories of online learning platforms; open-source, free, and paid. Open-source refers to platforms where the source code is freely available for modification. Thus, anyone with sufficient programming skills can tweak the software to get just exactly what they want out of it. Moodle is currently the most popular open-source learning platform and is used by many colleges, schools, and companies. 

An open-source learning system is free to use and can be customized extensively. For example, you can use your organization's logo and its unique colors to make the platform feel familiar to users. Open-source systems are also very scalable, so you can start small and expand the platform as you add more students.    

There is a large community of developers behind popular open-source learning platforms like Moodle, and they are constantly building features that you can take advantage of. The drawback of using open-source software is that they are more complex to handle compared to regular free or paid software. You may need a dedicated technical staff to help you. 

The second main category is the free online learning platform. They come at no cost, but the source code behind them is not freely available and customizable like with open-source software. You can use these free platforms to host your educational content and deliver them to the intended users without paying. However, there may be some costs associated with hosting your content on an internal server or for additional features. The drawback of free platforms is that they don’t offer as much features as paid and open-source ones.

The third category is the paid online learning platform, which refers to most on this list. Here, you will need to pay upfront to host your educational content and distribute them to your students or trainees. Expect to pay a fixed fee for each user either monthly or annually, and it can add up to a considerable amount if you have a lot of students. The paid platforms are usually easy to use and navigate because customers expect user-friendliness for a platform they’re paying for. You can also access on-demand support if you run into any issues, unlike with free and open-source software. 

With a paid platform, you don’t need to spend money running your own server and setting up and managing the software. The provider does that for you, while you just pay and access it whenever you want. It is an ideal type to choose, but the disadvantage is that it can be expensive. 

Online learning platform vs online course websites

There are plenty of ways to receive education online these days. This can include anything from casual content, such as an educational YouTube Video, to more structured online education such as a series of videos, and in some cases supplemental content in the form of text or a downloadable PDF . While there are many websites to educate and impart content, they are not all online learning platforms.

An online learning platform goes beyond what an online course website offers, with additional content to support the education. While it will incorporate the elements of an online course website, it will include additional tools, which will all be combined into a single platform. These tools can be communication methods such as live video or messaging, the opportunity to have assignments, and a record of certificates of completed courses. Overall, an online learning platform provides content that will be more in depth, and organized in a more formal environment to promote greater learning.

Open source vs free vs paid online learning platforms

Learning platforms can be divided into three different categories based on the pricing model.

The first is free, which has the benefit of no cost. There are both services that offer this at no cost, or ones that have a free tier, with reduced features, that then hope to upsell the service to a paid tier, and use the free offering as a gateway to getting a paying customer. A downside of these free offerings is that the support tends to be minimal to nonexistent, such as only via an online community board.

Open source is another nice option for a learning management system. In this model the software is distributed for no cost. This can allow an organization to then run this off of its own server. However, there are still costs to doing this, and then this must be supported internally. Another downside is that then the software may not be as updated as frequently, exposing it to security vulnerabilities.

The final option is a paid offering. While this does have an upfront cost, and in most cases for each additional learner, it does have plenty of advantages. This includes that the provider can host the software as a cloud service, requiring no in house personnel to provide support. Also, there may be options for phone support, and also more features.

Is Zoom an online learning platform?

Made popular by the pandemic with remote meetings becoming commonplace, Zoom is a video communications platform. Other popular choices in this category are GoToMeeting , and Google Meet . Zoom and other video communication apps are used for online audio and video meetings for business, casual and educational use. Each also supports additional content to support the virtual meeting, such as sharing screens, or chat within the app.

However, Zoom is not specifically an online learning platform. While it can certainly be used to support education, it has no way to give assignments, grade them, or do quizzes for example. As an online learning platform it falls pretty short, with plenty of better options out there. Also, many of the better online learning platforms offer video chatting within the platform so Zoom as a standalone is not needed as the functionality is already incorporated in.

What are the pros and cons of an online learning platform?

There are plenty of pros for an online platform. This includes the instant availability of the education, and that learners are not limited by geography and can attend class anywhere- even from the comfort of home. The learning is also self-paced, as it can accommodate a variety of learning styles and learner needs as it is more flexible. There is also the benefit that learners don’t need to commute to the school reducing the cost and burden of education, which can also be a time saving benefit as well.

While there are certainly benefits, there are some downsides as well. Some students may prefer face to face learning with a teacher directly in front of them, that an online learning platform lacks. Also with no physical school to attend, there is less of a structured learning environment, which some learners may do better with. Furthermore, there is less or even no camaraderie between learners than at a physical school, which can all be part of the total educational experience, and is a missing component with an online learning platform.

What are the essential features of an online learning platform?

When choosing an online learning platform for your organization, be sure the choice is a good one. Here are some essential features to look for:

• Scalability: Nobody wants to outgrow their platform too soon, and have to transition to another one. Therefore, look for scalability that can grow as you need it to.
• Mobile presence: Today’s learners want to be able to learn when on the move. Therefore, look for an online learning platform that has well rated apps for both the iOS and Android platforms, that are highly rated.
• Tools for authoring: A flexible platform allows for content creation that is easy to use. This can include tools for text editing, and also video capture and editing from within the platform to streamline production.
• Easy to use interface: Nobody likes to use a clunky interface, so look for an easy one to use, that is well presented, and won’t distract or overwhelm users.
• Robust support: When the inevitable issues of a platform come up, users are going to need some help. Look for a platform that offers a variety of support choices, including options for direct support such as a direct email and phone number.

Read how to host your own learning management software with Moodle LMS .

How we tested the best online learning platforms

There are plenty of choices in the online learning management software area, so there is sure to be one well suited for each organization.

A major differentiator is price. Some LMS’ are available for free, or have a low cost entry tier. Others offer more features, but at a higher price point. Pricing models are also different with some providers charging only by each student, while others having the price based on the plan, and then a lower additional cost for each additional learner. 

Another feature to look for are the mobile apps. Especially younger learners value these apps so that a learner can engage in education from anywhere, at any time. Be sure that the apps are available for both of the mobile platforms- Android and iOS . Also, check the ratings of the apps in their respective stores, as just because an app is available it may not be a great one with some low rated, glitchy ones out there.

Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .  

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Brian has over 30 years publishing experience as a writer and editor across a range of computing, technology, and marketing titles. He has been interviewed multiple times for the BBC and been a speaker at international conferences. His specialty on techradar is Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, covering everything from office suites to IT service tools. He is also a science fiction and fantasy author, published as Brian G Turner.

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The 13 Best Online Learning Platforms in 2024 

Undoubtedly, online learning platforms have democratized learing and improved the world of education for both learners and instructors.

The industry has grown massively in the last few years, so we’ve taken the time to put together a list of the best online learning platforms.

But what exactly are they? It’s important to distinguish online learning platforms from online course platforms . We’ll cover that first before our list of the top 13 options.

Use this clickable menu to jump straight to individual sections:

What is an online learning platform?

The value of online learning platforms, openlearning, iversity.org, linkedin learning, khan academy.

• FutureLearn

360Training

Masterclass, (bonus) careerfoundry, key takeaways.

An online learning platform is a digital environment where learners can take online courses, which are often offered in a marketplace. Some examples include Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, edX, Coursera, Udacity, and Khan Academy. From a learner’s perspective, it is the place to find content and courses.

An online course platform, conversely, is technology instructors use to create, host, and sell their courses, which may not be offered on a learning platform’s marketplace. For example, a course built with an online course platform could be offered on the instructor’s own website.

For this article, we’ll focus on online learning platforms with information relevant to both learners and instructors.

Online learning platforms add substantial value to both learners and educational institutions. Here are several key advantages to using them over in-person educational experiences:

• Accessibility and flexibility
• Diverse course offerings
• Cost-effective 
• Global reach
• Interactive learning tools
• Continuous updates and relevance
• Skill development and career advancement
• Personalized learning paths
• Community and networking
• Reduced environmental impact
• Innovative teaching methods

The 13 top online learning platforms

Udemy, a widely popular online learning platform, offers a vast array of courses on diverse topics, making it suitable for both professional development and hobbyists.

With an affordable pay-per-course model, Udemy’s user-friendly platform is constantly updated with new content. However, the quality of courses can vary significantly, and the platform may not be the best choice for those seeking accredited or academic content.

Key features:

• Wide range of topics and skills
• Affordable individual courses
• User-friendly platform
• Affordable pricing
• Diverse and constantly updated course catalog
• Quality can vary significantly between courses
• Limited academic and accredited content

OpenLearning, an Australia-based online learning platform, distinguishes itself through its social learning approach and collaboration features. The platform emphasizes student engagement through group activities and discussions. 

With a flexible pricing structure, OpenLearning is accessible. It may have a smaller course catalog compared to larger platforms, and its recognition may be more limited.

Key Features:

• Social learning approach
• Collaboration and group activities
• Accessible pricing structure
• Emphasis on student engagement
• Flexible pricing option.
• Limited recognition compared to larger platforms
• Smaller course catalog

iversity.org, a Berlin-based online learning platform, offers courses from universities and organizations. Covering both academic and professional subjects, iversity.org brings a European focus to its course catalog. 

Despite providing diverse offerings, the platform may have a smaller course catalog compared to larger global platforms. Recognition in certain regions may also be more limited.

• European course providers
• Academic and professional courses
• European focus
• Smaller course catalog compared to some global platforms
• Limited recognition in certain regions

Skillshare stands out as a creative online learning platform, offering courses in design, photography, writing, and more. The platform adopts a community-driven approach, emphasizing project-based learning.

Skillshare’s broad range of creative topics and affordable subscription pricing make it an attractive option for those looking to enhance their creative skills. However, the quality of courses can vary, and it may not be as suitable for those seeking academic or technical subjects.

• Focus on creative skills
• Project-based learning
• Community-driven content
• Broad range of creative topics
• Affordable subscription pricing
• Quality of courses can vary
• Limited emphasis on academic or technical subjects

Treehouse specializes in technology-related courses, with an emphasis on web development, coding, and programming skills. The platform offers project-based learning and career-focused tracks.

Its course topics may have less diversity compared to broader platforms, and its audience may be more niche, targeting those specifically interested in technology and coding.

• Tech-focused courses
• Career-focused tracks
• Industry-relevant content
• Emphasis on practical skills
• Limited course topics
• Caters to limited audience of tech learners

LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com, integrates seamlessly with the LinkedIn professional network. It offers courses focused on professional development, including business and professional skills courses. 

With learning paths designed for career development, LinkedIn Learning stands out for its integration with professional networking.

• Integration with LinkedIn network
• Business and professional skills courses
• Learning paths for career development
• Integration with professional networking
• High-quality business-oriented courses
• Limited free content.
• Monthly subscription required for full access

Khan Academy is a non-profit offering free online courses and resources, primarily in mathematics and science. It has gained widespread recognition for its comprehensive K-12 curriculum and adaptive learning technology. 

While providing a valuable resource for students at various academic levels, Khan Academy may have less interactive features compared to some platforms, and its content may be less extensive in higher education subjects.

• Free educational content
• Adaptive learning technology
• Extensive coverage of K-12 subjects
• Free and accessible to all
• Comprehensive K-12 curriculum
• Limited higher education content
• Less interactive compared to some platforms

Futurelearn

FutureLearn sets itself apart with a social learning approach, offering online courses and degrees in collaboration with universities and institutions worldwide. The platform encourages collaborative learning through discussion forums and peer interactions. 

FutureLearn provides courses from leading institutions, with a focus on diverse and engaging content. However, some users may find that certain courses lack depth in specific subject areas. While many courses are free, payment may be required for certification.

• Courses from leading institutions
• Access to free courses
• Collaborative learning environment
• Limited depth in certain subject areas
• Some courses may require payment for certification

Coursera collaborates with top universities and organizations worldwide to offer a comprehensive range of courses, specializations, and degree programs. Known for its high-quality academic content, Coursera provides access to courses from top universities and institutions. Coursera for Business is a valuable tool for corporate training. 

While the platform offers a variety of topics and specializations, the cost of some courses can be relatively high. Coursera’s emphasis on academic rigor may be a pro for those seeking accredited education but might not suit learners looking for more practical, hands-on skills.

• Courses from top universities
• Specializations and degree programs
• Coursera for Business for corporate training
• High-quality academic content
• Variety of topics and specializations
• Some courses can be expensive
• The emphasis on academic content may not suit all learners

With a focus on delivering industry-specific training and certification programs, 360Training caters to compliance education and skill development within specific regulatory frameworks. 

While it excels in tailoring content for professional growth, its scope might be limited compared to platforms offering a more diverse array of topics. The quality of courses may vary, making it essential for learners to research specific offerings based on their industry requirements.

• Industry-specific training
• Compliance courses
• Certification programs
• Tailored for specific industries
• Emphasis on compliance and professional development
• Limited breadth of topics compared to general learning platforms
• Course quality may vary

MasterClass is an exclusive online learning platform renowned for its celebrity-led courses. MasterClass covers a broad spectrum of topics, including arts, business, and lifestyle. 

While it excels in delivering inspirational and engaging storytelling, it may have limited interactivity and applicable takeaways. The emphasis on learning from influential figures makes it a good choice for those seeking insights and wisdom from well-known personalities.

• Celebrity-led courses
• High-quality video production
• Broad range of topics, including arts, business, and lifestyle
• Access to insights from industry leaders
• Engaging and professionally produced content
• Limited interactivity compared to some other platforms
• Focused on inspiration and storytelling more than hands-on skills

Mindvalley’s primary focus is on personal development and wellness. Offering courses in meditation, mindfulness, and self-improvement, Mindvalley often features well-known instructors in the personal growth space. 

The platform takes a holistic approach to well-being, providing unique and transformative content. However, the subject matter may not appeal to everyone.

• Personal development focus
• Well-known instructors
• Holistic approach to well-being
• Unique and transformative content
• Emphasis on holistic learning
• Subject matter may not appeal to everyone
• Less traditional academic content

edX, another major player in the online learning space, offers courses from universities and institutions globally. 

Those looking to enhance their skills in specific areas can pursue a MicroMaster or professional certificate. Some courses on edX may have a steeper learning curve, and the cost of verified certificates can be a consideration for budget-conscious learners.

• University-backed courses
• MicroMasters and professional certificates
• Global partnerships
• Emphasis on academic rigor
• Options for professional certifications
• Some courses may have a steep learning curve
• Verified certificates can be pricey

While not technically an online learning platform, CareerFoundry offers online programs in UX  and UI design, full-stack web development , data analytics , digital marketing , product management , and product design .

With up-to-date curricula that incorporates AI, mentorship from those in the field, and a job guarantee, CareerFoundry is a great option for anyone considering a career in tech. Advanced courses are also available for those interested in upskilling.

CareerFoundry also offers free 6-day short courses that allow you to get a taste of each subject before you dive in fully. Check out the short courses here.

• Widely-respected courses for career changers
• Expert mentors
• Job guarantee within 6 months of graduating
• Award-winning online education
• No need to quit your job
• Advanced courses available
• Does not cover academic topics
• Casual learners may prefer less in-depth courses

While online learning platforms offer significant advantages, it’s essential to consider individual preferences, learning styles, and the specific goals of learners or institutions. The value of online learning platforms can vary depending on the context and the quality of the educational content provided.

Focusing on a career change to work in tech? Check out our guides here:

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Best Online Learning Platforms

Coursera is the best online learning platform, with a variety of topics of study

Whether you’re aiming to learn some new marketable skills or just want to explore a topic, online learning platforms are a great solution for you and your family members to learn on your own schedules. Busy parents can also complete courses quickly and save money choosing virtual classes over in-person ones. In fact, individuals learn 40% faster on digital platforms compared to in-person learning.  

Some online learning platforms provide certifications, while others are designed to simply grow your skills in your personal and professional life. Here are our recommendations for the best online learning platforms you can sign up for today.

Best Online Learning Platforms of 2024

• Best Overall: Coursera
• Best for Niche Topics: Udemy
• Best for Creative Fields: Skillshare
• Best for Celebrity Lessons: MasterClass
• Best for STEM: EdX
• Best for Career Building: Udacity
• Best for Data Learning: Pluralsight
• Our Top Picks

MasterClass

• Pluralsight
• See More (4)

Final Verdict

• Compare Providers
• How to Choose

Methodology

Best overall : coursera.

• Courses: 5,800+
• Price: Guided projects start at $10 per course, professional certificate courses start at $39 a month, and higher university-issued certificates begin at $2,000 per course
• Certificate: Yes 
• Accredited Institution: Coursera is not accredited, but partners with accredited institutions

Coursera has partnered with over 300 leading universities and companies to create courses to supplement your education and set you ahead in your career.

Accredited certificates recognized by employers

In-depth courses built by universities and organizations

Offers over 2,500 free courses

Classes available in multiple languages

User-friendly website

Some courses have strict timelines

Degree programs require additional applications

No certification with free courses

Coursera isn’t just a place to take classes that are like college courses—it actually offers real academic courses from real professors and universities at a fraction of the cost of getting an online degree.

The platform partners with over 300 universities and companies to provide real learning experiences that can connect to real-world benefits. In some cases, you can even earn certifications or degrees entirely through Coursera, which can then potentially lead to professional benefits like raises, promotions, and more. Even if you’re not looking for professional development, Coursera offers challenging and interesting classes on plenty of topics, so you can explore all kinds of interests.

The platform allows for multimedia courses, so professors can construct classes, upload videos, assign and grade quizzes and homework assignments, and other elements that would be present in a “real” online college class.

Each course is individually priced (the cheapest start around $30 to $40 and increase from there), although there are some instances where you can purchase a bundle of courses at once (and sometimes at a discount) as a “track” or certification/degree program. You can also get unlimited access to over 7,000 courses with Coursera Plus for $399 a year. It’s pretty much the closest you’ll get to the online college experience without enrolling in college.

Best for Niche Topics : Udemy

• Courses: 210,000+
• Price: $15 to $200 or more per course
• Certificate: For some courses
• Accredited Institution: No

Udemy has by far the most courses available compared to other online learning platforms: Over 210,000 classes. With over 70,000 instructors, you'll find an expert teaching a course in every niche.

210,000+ courses for professional skills and hobbies

Multimedia lectures that incorporate readings and quizzes

30-day refund guarantee

Courses available in 75 languages

No deadlines—work at your own pace

Not an accredited institution

Courses can be published by instructors without Udemy reviewing materials

Instructors not as engaging in Q&A section

If you want to learn something, you probably can on Udemy . The site is less of a unified platform and more of a portal or repository where students can access well over 213,000 courses on every topic imaginable.

Language, arts, music, and fitness courses can be found alongside lessons on programming and IT, business skills, teaching, productivity, and much more. There are even categories for personal development and lifestyle, which cover life skills and other topics that you wouldn't necessarily get in an academic setting.

There’s not one standard format for a Udemy course—the platform allows instructors to design multimedia lectures with audio, video, and text elements, plus readings, quizzes, and other activities. Udemy allows students to preview classes they’re interested in and does offer a 30-day refund if you’re dissatisfied.

Because each class is created and taught individually, they’re also priced separately: Lifetime access to a single course can range from inexpensive ($15) to pricey (roughly $200 or more).

Best for Creative Fields : Skillshare

• Courses: 35,000+
• Price: $14 per month ($159 per year)
• Certificate: Yes

Skillshare is a subscription-based online learning platform that offers classes in 13 different creative topics, including creative writing, graphic design, and photography. 

Wide range of course topics

Mostly skilled instructors, including celebrities

Covers nearly every creative field

Free seven-day trial for subscriptions

Limited free courses

Ad-free only on a premium subscription

While many online platforms basically provide college-style classes, Skillshare is less formal and aimed more at improving creative skills.

There are business and marketing classes on the platform, but the majority are courses in creative fields, taught by practicing experts in those fields: photography, film, animation, visual arts, writing, interior design, and more. The focus is on teaching practical skills that students can then use to create their own projects. Most courses involve a series of video lessons, combined with assignments for students to practice their skills.

Skillshare has a subscription model, rather than a per-course payment plan, so students who sign up can take as many or as few courses as they want while they’re subscribed. The current pricing is $159 per year (which works out to around $14 per month).

That being said, the platform does offer a set of free classes as well, from short, 20-minute videos to longer tutorials of an hour or more. They’re not as in-depth, but they’re a good way to try out potentially interesting topics.

Best for Celebrity Lessons : MasterClass

• Courses: 180+ 
• Price: $15 to $23 per month 
• Certificate: No

MasterClass courses tap into celebrities' expertise and experience, like Gordon Ramsay’s cooking talents and Anna Wintour’s leadership skills, to provide in-depth courses on a wide variety of topics.

World-class instructors

Memberships give unlimited access to all classes

High-quality video production

Courses have comprehensive curriculum

30-day satisfaction guarantee

Courses feature consistent level of quality

No free trial or free courses

No certifications

Fewer courses than competitors

Annual subscription only

Although MasterClass offers more than just creative courses, its marquee offerings put A-list actors, writers, artists, musicians, and more in the teacher’s seat.

And, these aren’t just one-off lecture-style classes: Most courses have around 20 lessons, so you get to really dive deep into your topic of choice. If you want to learn about these often-opaque professions, there’s no better way than to hear about it straight from the people who have been successful in them already.

These courses are video-based, with practical advice and demonstrations mixed in with straightforward lectures, workbooks, and class discussions. You can get TV writing advice from Shonda Rhimes, learn to cook from Gordon Ramsay, take a film class from Martin Scorsese, or explore creative leadership with Anna Wintour.

Since MasterClass is a subscription-based platform, you can take as many sessions as you want while your subscription is active. The price is about $15 per month for unlimited access, but you must commit to a year-long subscription.

Best for STEM : EdX

• Courses: 3,500+
• Price: Begins at $50 to receive a verified official certificate 
• Accredited Institution: Yes

With partners like Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley, this online learning platform has over 15,000 instructors who teach education-oriented courses across several different categories. Plus it offers programs and degrees to advance your career from home.

Can audit classes for free

Has bachelor’s and master’s degree programs

Provides financial assistance

14-day money-back guarantee

Known for its STEM-focused courses

Limited course availability in creative and humanities fields

Not all courses are eligible for financial assistance

EdX has a high-end pedigree—it was founded by Harvard and MIT—but an accessible system.

Real college courses, created and taught by real college instructors, are available in a huge array of fields and topics. They do lean slightly toward STEM fields, but there are plenty of languages, humanities, and arts topics, too. In partnership with several universities, EdX offers professional degree certificates, plus “micro” degree programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, largely as a tool for professional development .

Through a partnership with Arizona State University, EdX also offers a “Global Freshman Academy” where you can earn transferrable undergrad credits for select courses. Classes are similar to real online courses: Lectures, reading material, assignments, discussions, and quizzes are just some of the elements you may encounter.

The big selling point for EdX is that the majority of its courses are free—but there’s a catch. If you’re just taking the class for your own learning experience, the free version will probably work. But if you want to have formal verification for professional reasons, the “verified certificate” option costs about $49 per class.

Each course does have an official start date, cycling over and over again, but once the session begins, students can proceed at their own pace.

Best for Career Building : Udacity

• Courses: 200+
• Price: Starts at $399 a month

Udacity offers courses that the company calls “nanodegrees” which take, on average, four months to complete. Enrollment in these programs gives you full access to real advisors who work with you on building out your resume and work samples.

Features intensive programs with multiple lessons

Offers resume support and portfolio review

Provides personalized feedback on projects

Multiple scholarship programs available

Seven-day refund policy

Most expensive option

Project deadlines

Longer time commitment

Tech skills are among the most marketable classes you can take online, and Udacity has courses in all of the most in-demand fields.

The platform is a variation of the “coding bootcamp” style of learning, with programs focused on web development, programming, cloud computing, and data science. Whether you’re a total newbie trying to develop a new skillset or you’re looking to expand your knowledge of a certain topic, there’s probably a course at the right level for you.

Each program includes hands-on practice, real-world applications and examples, individual code reviews, and real instructors and career coaches who can address your individual needs.

Udacity’s platform is a little different than some of the others on the market. Rather than focusing on individual classes, its primary offering is a “nanodegree”—an intensive program which includes multiple lessons, projects, personalized reviews, class discussions, and one-on-one technical mentoring by experts. Most programs require one to five months of part-time study, depending on the subject.

All these features do come with a price tag, though: It's about $399 monthly, or = $1017 for students who buy three month access.

Best for Data Learning : Pluralsight

PluralSight

• Courses: 7,000+
• Price: $229 to $500 per year

Pluralsight is designed for working professionals looking to expand their data knowledge. The company offers mini degree programs for both individuals and teams.

Organized into three levels for easy course selection

Unlimited access to classes with subscriptions

Affordable price for intensive courses

Better for intermediate and advanced users

Designed with working professionals in mind, Pluralsight offers courses in subjects like software development, data science, information and cybersecurity, and more.

Students can take individual courses, but Pluralsight strongly encourages you to follow one of its “paths.” These programs are like mini-degrees: a series of connected courses in a specific area of expertise, such as individual programming languages, security certifications, creative skills in particular software, and so on. These preset paths take the guesswork out of learning—plus, you can do a quick pretest to set your skill level, which adds more customization.

The course library includes more than 7,000 individual classes across hundreds of paths, and if you’re not ready to tackle a full-length path, you can dip your toe in with individual courses that are only a couple hours long.

Regardless of how few or how many classes (or paths) you want to pursue, the price is the same: About $29 per month for a personal plan (or roughly $299 for a complete year at a slight discount). There’s a premium option, too, for around $500 per year. It includes all the regular features and courses, plus additional interactive courses and industry-standard practice exams for several professional certifications.

Regardless of what stage of life you are in, online learning platforms provide a convenient way for you to grow in your career or start something new entirely. 

Overall, Coursera is our top choice for an online learning platform because of its variety of courses and official accreditation. Its partnership with leading universities and corporations ensures that courses are academically comprehensive and meet industry standards for career growth. 

Compare the Best Online Learning Platforms

Guide to choosing the best online learning platforms, what is an online learning platform.

An online learning platform is a website and/or app that allows students to study some topics of interest wholly online and remotely. They’re typically geared at adult professionals who have already finished their traditional schooling, and while some will offer full certificate or even degree programs, most focus on teaching individual courses. They can be a great option for parents looking to fit in studies around parenting and work responsibilities.

What to Look for in an Online Learning Platform

Like any other type of class, every online learning platform will structure its courses a little differently. The key is finding a platform whose style works for you in terms of how independent of a student you tend to be and what you’re hoping to get out of a given class.

Most classes on these platforms are self-paced, either in part or in full, so there won’t be as much simultaneous work with other students as you’d have in a typical class, and you probably won’t have to tune in to live lectures or meetings—although a few platforms do offer one-on-one tutoring or coaching for some courses.

For classes teaching hands-on topics, such as creative courses or computer science, the top platforms will usually have a built-in way for students to practice their new skills and get instructor feedback.

You'll also want to consider your family budget for courses, whether or not the duration or the courses work with your schedule, and whether or not earning a certificate is important.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do online learning platforms cost.

Online learning platforms come with a pretty big range of prices, but in general, the one thing they all have in common is that they’re usually cheaper than similar courses at traditional colleges and universities.

There are two main types of platforms: per-course platforms, where you pay by the class or course package, or subscription platforms, where you pay a flat rate (usually monthly or annually) to access an unlimited number of individual courses within the given time.

What Kind of Features Do Online Learning Platforms Have?

Online platforms are usually video-based in some way, with audio and video lectures forming the backbone of the classes. Other features you might find are discussion boards, supplemental readings, quizzes or exams, and hands-on projects.

What Certifications Will Get Me a Job?

Certifications won't ensure that you'll get a job, but they may be required in order to be considered for some positions, or to help your resume stand out when applying in a relevant field. Taking courses can also help you feel more confident in your skills during the interview process.

There are more online learning platforms than ever before, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. We’ve selected the categories that we think will be the most useful to adult, professional learners, as opposed to children or teenagers (college students may find these selections useful, but they may already have access to similar resources through their schools).

This means that the platforms here are particularly aimed at adults looking to either explore a personal interest or gain measurable skills for professional advancement—that’s why we’ve focused on creative and tech platforms as the specialties featured here among the platforms with broader offerings.

Since learning online is typically a very personal experience, we’ve featured several platforms that allow for self-paced learning, interactivity, and/or learning tailored to a particular skill level. We’ve mixed in some informal options along with more traditional academic-style courses, but all of the platforms recommended here have top-notch instructors who are experts in their fields, regardless of the structure of the courses themselves.

Tom Werner / Getty Images

Brandon-Hall. Stunning statistics that prove the power of eLearning .

Sophia Honored as One of Newsweek’s “America’s Top Online Learning Providers for 2024”

Posted on February 08, 2024

By Sophia Learning

Online learning, whether as a new student or a returning student, can be overwhelming. Choosing the right institution and program is a big decision and investment, but platforms like Sophia are hoping to make access to higher education less daunting. 

And now, we’ve been named one of Newsweek’s “ America’s Top Online Colleges and America’s Top Online Learning Providers 2024 .” Sophia earned a five-star rating – the highest possible ranking – demonstrating our commitment to providing quality education options to the students who need them most. 

For Dr. Shawna Thayer, CEO of Sophia, the award validates our mission and gets us closer to our goal of making a college degree within reach. 

“At Sophia, we strive to remove some of the barriers to higher education and provide accessible, affordable education options to assist students in their pursuit of a degree or professional development,” said Thayer. 

“It’s an honor to be recognized for our efforts. Our goal has been to support our students with an intuitive, high-quality, online learning platform that helps students at any stage of their education journey.  We’re very proud of the integrated experience we’ve created for our students, and earning a spot in the ‘Top Online Learning Platforms’ is a wonderful acknowledgement of our efforts.” 

What Is Newsweek’s “Top Colleges and Top Online Learning Providers” Award? 

Newsweek , a revered staple of American media and journalism for over 80 years, is a trusted source for information and rankings for universities and colleges as students navigate higher education. 

Now in its third consecutive year, Newsweek’s “America’s Top Colleges and Top Online Learning Providers” is a collaboration between the publication and Statista, the respected global data firm. Rankings are based on a survey of over 9,000 online learners and internal research for a comprehensive overview. 

In 2024, Newsweek evaluated and ranked 200 colleges and universities that offer online undergraduate and graduate programs. Each awarded institution has been given a star rating for comparison. 

For “Top Online Learning Providers,” Newsweek evaluated and selected 50 esteemed organizations that provide online courses and certificate and non-certificate programs to help aspiring students reach their personal and professional goals. These organizations are given a star rating for comparison and valuable data to assist with the decision-making process. 

How Are Schools and Learning Platforms Evaluated? 

The ratings and rankings for Newsweek are evaluated with support by Statista, which surveyed more than 9,000 online students. They were asked to identify their schools or online learning platforms, then share their experiences by rating institutions according to the following criteria: 

• Organization 
• Support 
• Reputation 
• Success 
• Practical relevance 
• Satisfaction 
• Likelihood to recommend the institution to others 

All colleges, universities, and platforms received star awards. Institutions needed a minimum rating to receive an award, with five stars showing an aggregate score that surpasses the median of all recognized institutions. 

About Sophia 

Sophia is an online learning platform that allows students to get started or continue their education – no matter the stage in their journey. Our affordable and flexible college-level general education courses are ACE®-recommended for college credit. 

Since our start, Sophia has helped students complete over 500,000 courses, earning more than 1.5M+ credits and saving over $500 million tuition dollars!* For more information about Sophia, visit Sophia.org.  

*Savings based on average annual tuition at in-state, 4-year institutions, as reported by IPEDS, 2020." 

Sophia Learning is a subsidiary of Strategic Education, Inc.   

Continue Your Path to Higher Education 

Ready to take the next step? See for yourself why we were named one of the top providers by signing up for a free trial today – no credit card required! 

Category: The Sophia Experience

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Public charter and district schools in Minnesota may use a full range of digital instructional modalities to meet the needs of their enrolled students. These range from in-class use of technology for blended instruction to fully online, remote instruction. Districts, charter schools, intermediate districts, or groups of districts operating under a joint powers agreements who have a current approved application can act as supplemental online course providers and provide flexible online course options to students who remain enrolled in their local district or charter schools. This page has information for educators in Minnesota public schools who offer digital and online instruction. There is a separate page for students and families .  

Digital Instruction Options

A range of instructional modalities are defined in the “Online Instruction Act” (Minn. Stat. 124D.094, subd. 1 [2023]) including:

Digital Instruction

Blended instruction, online instruction, supplemental online courses, supplemental online course providers, enrolling districts, principals, counselors, registration considerations:.

• Does the proposed course(s) meet the same Minnesota Academic Standards and local standards as the course(s) they are replacing? (accept if yes)
• Is this an additional course to be added to a full-time schedule? (if yes, the student may still register and pay tuition to the online provider)
• How will this affect state education aid? (there are two options for funding that the enrolling district may choose, directly paying the online provider through an agreement or ADM adjustment by MDE)
• Can we select the online provider for our students? (no – students may select any state-approved online provider)
• Online Learning Course Syllabus Outline   -  9/25/23
• Supplemental Online Course Registration Form   -  8/25/23 Form for student to apply for a supplemental online course from a state-approved supplemental online course provider.

How can a school learn more/get better?

Opportunity.

Every student, by statute, has the option to take some or all of their courses online. However, this doesn’t mean that there are equitable opportunities for all learners around:

Instruction

  Instruction that includes regular, teacher-initiated interactions with each student that are meaningful to the academic and social-emotional learning goals provide a framework to build upon when developing an online learning program. Though technology enables a broader variety of interactions, providing RIM is possible in any setting.   

Regular  - Students learn best when there is predictable, ongoing interaction with their teacher. This is especially important early on as trusted relationships are being formed. Both synchronous (same time/space) and asynchronous (different time/space) interactions can be useful to best suit the needs and circumstances of the student along with a variety of communication tools including telephone, web video or audio conference, instant messaging, discussion forums, threaded comments, and email. The duration and intensity of the interaction can vary based on the needs of the student and their demonstrated understanding of the topic or skill being developed but at minimum, there should be at least a checkpoint every day the course is scheduled to meet or while the competency is not met.

Teacher- initiated - Independence and self-advocacy are desirable skills for learners to develop and teachers should scaffold their interactions with students so that they have opportunities to learn and develop these skills. However, core responsibilities for the teacher include explaining, assessing learning, providing feedback and care for every student in their class. During online learning, teachers should initiate interaction with their students and follow up to provide further support for students who are not present or don’t respond. Hosting “office hours” provides additional opportunities for students to interact with their teacher but this cannot be the primary mode of interaction.

Meaningful interaction - Academic and social-emotional learning (SEL) goals should drive instruction. Meaningful interactions related to these goals support student learning development. Five key strategies for formative assessment (Leahy, Lyon, Thompson, Wiliam, 2005) provide some good examples of meaningful interaction that work at all grade levels: 

Clarifying, sharing and understanding learning intentions and success criteria.

Engineering effective classroom discussions, activities and learning tasks that elicit evidence of learning.

Providing feedback that moves learning forward.

Activating learners as instructional resources for one another.

Activating learners as the owners of their own learning.

• Designing for Interaction   -  8/30/23 This is a guide to designing high quality digital instruction that emphasizes regular, teacher-initiated, meaningful interactions between teachers and students.

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Online Bachelor’s in Learning & Education Studies | OU Online

Online B.A. in Learning and Education Studies

Use your passion for education to support growth and development in others., transfer 60-90 ch, 5 start dates, excel in an industry with strong demand.

With teacher shortages ongoing in Oklahoma and across the country, there is a high demand for skilled educators passionate about making a difference in students' lives. OU’s Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a major in Learning and Education Studies is a 100% online program that prepares you to excel in a field with critical demand in the workforce. Designed for students who are a minimum of five years post high school/GED or at least 25 years of age and have already completed at least 60 hours of college credit, the learning and education studies program makes finishing your degree and reaching your career goals a possibility.

Request Information

Admission deadline.

Rolling admissions (applications due 14 days before the intended start date).

Program Start Terms

Fall, Spring, Summer

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Stay up to date with OU holiday closings, deadlines, and more.

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Benefits of the Learning and Education Studies Bachelor’s Degree

Finish what you started.

Finish your degree and reach your career goals with a first-class education from the University of Oklahoma. Our flexible online format allows you to complete assignments on your own schedule, leaving more time for what matters to you most. You’ll have support from our experienced faculty and advisors every step of the way.

Strong Career Growth

Oklahoma, along with many other states nationwide, is experiencing teacher shortages. Earning a bachelor’s degree in learning and education studies will prepare you to fill a critical need in the workforce. Your degree will also qualify you to seek certification, setting you up for further career advancement.

PRIOR LEARNING AND TRANSFER CREDIT

In addition to a generous transfer credit policy, your professional credentials may translate into college credit. Prior learning credit is awarded for college-level learning, balancing theory, and practical application appropriate to the subject. Talk to an enrollment coach about how your past college credits and work credentials can save you time and money.

Contact an Enrollment Coach

OU Online graduates find employment within six months after graduation

OU Online graduates report earning an annual salary of $75,000 or more

OU Online students say the skills they gained in their program made them more competitive in their career field

Pursue Your Learning and Education Studies Degree

Take the next step in your career with a degree from the University of Oklahoma. Applications are reviewed year-round for fall, spring, and summer sessions. Choose your program, choose your start, and apply today.

Program Breakdown

The online Learning and Education Studies bachelor’s degree is designed to accommodate working adults seeking careers in PK-12 education. Offered by the OU College of Professional and Continuing Studies in partnership with the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, the program focuses on teaching effective leadership strategies while deepening your understanding of education, instruction, and various learning environments. You can immediately apply what you are learning in class to the educational context in which you currently work. The degree will prepare you to seek alternative teaching certification or go on to pursue a master’s degree.

When admitted into the program, you will be assigned an advisor who creates an individualized graduation plan. This plan will help organize and identify the courses you need for your degree. These courses will total credit hours completed at the upper division (3000-4000).

Manageable Accelerated Courses

All undergraduate courses in this program are eight weeks long. Most students take four courses (or 12 credit hours) a semester – two classes in the first half of the semester and two in the second half. The number of credit hours you take each semester should be discussed with your advisor and reflective of your personal and work schedules.

• Effective Communication
• Digital Literacy & Data Analysis
• Critical Inquiry in Interdisciplinary Studies
• Innovative Problem-Solving
• Portfolio in Interdisciplinary Studies
• Introduction to Education
• Development, Motivation, and Learning
• Learning Environments for Diverse Learners
• Scaffolded Instruction for All Learners
• Introduction to Instruction

How to Apply

To apply, students must:

• Complete the online application at attend.ou.edu
• Be a minimum of five years post high school graduation/GED or at least 25 years of age by the first day of class
• Have at least 60 college credit hours completed
• Have at least a 2.0 GPA
• Provide official college transcripts from all institutions
• International students must demonstrate English proficiency

The admissions committee operates under a rolling admission process, and admissions may continue until two weeks before classes start. The committee strives to respond to all applicants within two weeks of submitting a completed application.

For more information on the admissions process or to request a transfer credit evaluation, please  schedule a call , and an enrollment coach will be in touch shortly.

If you would like to explore resources to help pay for your degree or compare the estimated cost of your program with a typical financial aid package, use the  cost calculator  on our OU Online financial aid page. 

“ Students who are committed to the field of education and developing a deep understanding of supporting student learning are the inspiration for what I do. I will never grow tired of working alongside those who seek to empower themselves and others through igniting curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge. ”

Kelly Feille, Program Director

Same Academic Excellence

Like every OU Online program, the Learning and Education Studies bachelor’s degree is built on the foundation of world-class University of Oklahoma faculty mixed with professors of practice providing valuable instruction. By linking industry experts with our online programs, we offer the most advanced curriculum and prepare students for future career success.

Online Bachelor's Degree FAQ

Yes. The University of Oklahoma’s bachelor’s programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and are created by university staff and faculty. Graduates of online programs receive the same degree designation as students who attend classes on campus. Your diploma will be a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma.

All OU Online degree programs are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.*

*Note:  Degrees also AACSB-accredited specify so in their corresponding program webpage. OU Online’s B.A. in Integrative Studies and B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies degrees (Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, etc.) are not accredited by the AACSB.

To be admitted to an online bachelor’s degree program, students: 

• Must be a minimum of five years post high school graduation/GED OR at least 25 years of age by the first day of class
• Must have at least 60 college credit hours completed
• Must have at least a 2.0 GPA
• Complete the online application at  attend.ou.edu
• Provide official college transcripts from all institutions 

Once OU receives all materials, we will begin processing your application. Admissions will email a decision letter to the address listed on the application. The average processing time is 2-3 business days. 

For more information on the admissions process or to request a transfer credit evaluation, please schedule a call, and an admissions counselor will be in touch shortly.

If you do not meet the adult degree completion admissions requirements, the University of Oklahoma offers other degree programs that might be right for you. Schedule a visit with an enrollment coach to discuss your options.

No. Applicants should have at least 60 college credit hours completed, but they do not need an associate degree to be admitted.

Our programs are offered year-round and in eight-week increments. We offer five start dates, with opportunities to begin taking classes in the fall (August or October), spring (January or March), and summer (June).

All programs have a rolling admissions process; however, applicants are encouraged to have their completed applications submitted a minimum of two weeks prior to the start date they intend to begin. Your application is considered complete when we have received official transcripts from all institutions you have attended (academic and military, if applicable). We require a separate transcript from each institution.

Once you apply, we welcome you to submit your information to our  Online Transcript Request Form , and we will attempt to order official transcripts from all prior institutions for you. Some institutions do not allow third-party transcript requests. In those cases, you will be contacted and asked to order the official transcript .

To be considered official, transcripts must be enclosed in a sealed envelope and mailed directly from the institution you attended to the following address : 

The University of Oklahoma OU Online Attn: Incoming Transcripts  1610 Asp Avenue, Room 108  Norman, OK 73072 

Transcripts may be submitted electronically as long as they are sent directly from the institution you attended to  [email protected] . Unfortunately, transcripts submitted through any other method of delivery can’t be accepted as official.

If you would like to compare the estimated cost of your program with a typical financial aid package, you can use the cost calculator on our OU Online financial aid page .

Have Questions?

OU Online has a friendly and knowledgeable team of enrollment coaches ready to guide you through the admissions process. Browse the calendar and schedule a one-on-one meeting that fits your schedule, and an enrollment coach will help answer your questions. 

Schedule a Call

An Investment in Your Future

Earning a bachelor’s degree can lead to a 49% increase in salary or more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The online learning and education studies bachelor’s degree is an investment in yourself, as you’ll follow curriculum designed to prepare you to further your career in education. You’ll also gain an expanded professional network as part of the global OU alumni community.

The program requires 120 credit hours to graduate, and 60-90 of those hours can be transferred to OU from other institutions. For example, if a student transfers in 90 credit hours, only 30 hours at OU are required to complete the degree. At $500 per credit hour, the cost to that student would be $15,000.

Total cost for the degree is $15,000-$30,000, depending on the number of transfer credits.

Tuition Calculator

Our tuition calculator can help you estimate your tuition and financial aid for your program of interest.

ESTIMATE COSTS

Why OU Online?

We are a top-tier public institution offering high-quality, affordable, professional undergraduate and graduate programs committed to maintaining academic excellence online.

Our Online Programs

Every OU Online program is built on the foundation of world-class faculty mixed with professors of practice providing valuable instruction. By linking industry experts with our online programs, we offer the most advanced curriculum and prepare students for future career success.

Our OU Family

When you graduate from an OU Online program, you’ll join the network of 250,000 OU alumni and be forever part of the OU family. Become part of the tradition of excellence that OU has established in its 130-year history.

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Immunization Courses: Webcasts and Self Study

CDC offers continuing education (CE) for several self-study programs on immunization. These can be accessed in a variety of ways: web-based, video, and webinar.

Most CE from these programs is free and easy to access through the training and CE online system . If needed, assistance with obtaining CE is available.

Click the course name in the table below to see its description, intended audience, format , CE details, and any needed materials and resources. Other details include registration, objectives, and presenters/faculty, etc.

Terms used on this page are defined at bottom of page.

CDC-INFO’s correspondence process has changed. The email box is not actively monitored; please submit questions via the CDC-INFO online form .

Some courses offer continuing education (CE).

CDC’s Training and Continuing Education Online system ( TCEO ) has been the primary system that provides access to CDC educational activities for CE. To improve the learning experience, CDC’s continuing education (CE) process is moving from TCEO to CDC TRAIN .

Beginning January 1, 2024, many activities that offer CE from CDC will be listed in CDC TRAIN . Older modules will continue to use the TCEO system throughout 2024 to provide CE.

If you would like to claim CE or print a certificate, specific instructions are provided within each course to guide you to the appropriate system.

For additional immunization training, see

• 1-hour CDC webinars on current immunization issues
• Other organization’s courses for CMEs, CNEs, CEUs, and CE

  Top of Page

Target Audience: Physicians, PAs, Advanced Practice Nurses, RNs, Pharmacists, Health Educators

Description: CDC has created a new, web-on-demand, self-paced module for healthcare providers who will be administering COVID-19 vaccines. This module will provide healthcare providers with information about COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Use Authorization and safety, approved COVID-19 vaccines, and guidelines around vaccine storage, handling, administration, and reporting.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:

• Describe storage and handling requirements for COVID-19 vaccines.
• Describe vaccine preparation procedures for COVID-19 vaccines.
• Describe vaccine administration procedures for COVID-19 vaccines.
• Locate current immunization resources to increase knowledge of team’s role in program implementation for improved team performance.

CME: Valid through August 17, 2025

CE Details: https://www2.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/covid19/covax/

• Describe best practices for effective COVID-19 vaccine administration.
• Address recent COVID-19 recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and CDC.
• Implement disease detection and prevention health care services (e.g., smoking cessation, weight reduction, diabetes screening, blood pressure screening, immunization services) to prevent health problems and maintain health.

Continuing Education is no longer available for this series.

CE Details: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/training-education/webinars.html

Target Audience: Immunization Providers (Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Physician’s Assistants, DoD Paraprofessionals, Medical Students, etc.)

Description: The General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization publication is intended for clinicians and other health care providers who vaccinate patients in varied settings, including hospitals, provider offices, pharmacies, schools, community health centers, and public health clinics. It is organized into the following 10 sections: 1) Timing and Spacing of Immunobiologics; 2) Contraindications and Precautions; 3) Preventing and Managing Adverse Reactions; 4) Vaccine Administration; 5) Storage and Handling of Immunobiologics; 6) Altered Immunocompetence; 7) Special Situations; 8) Vaccination Records; 9) Vaccination Programs; and 10) Vaccine Information Sources.

• Identify valid contraindications for commonly used vaccines.
• Describe the minimum intervals between doses for vaccines routinely used in the United States.
• Describe methods for preventing and managing adverse reactions.
• Describe recommended practices for administration of vaccines.
• Describe proper storage and handling procedures for immunobiologics.
• Identify evidence-based interventions shown to improve vaccination rates among children.

CME: Valid through April 21, 2025.

CE Details: General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization course #WB4458R

Description: Communication between providers and parents is key to improving HPV vaccination. HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day ™ is a brief, interactive role-play simulation designed to enhance healthcare providers’ ability to introduce the HPV vaccine and address HPV vaccine hesitant parents’ concerns. In this app, you will practice techniques to introduce and discuss the vaccine with parents and patients, including those who may be hesitant to immunize. It is ideal for immunization education and provider training.

Format: Self-paced mobile app available for download from the Google Play store and the Apple iTunes store

MEDSCAPE CME: This CME activity is a roundtable discussion on HPV vaccine developed for distribution on Medscape. It can be accessed at “MedscapeCME” at http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/768633

Target Audience: This activity is intended for pediatricians, physicians in primary care and family medicine, pediatric nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment, management, and prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease in adolescents and/or young men and women at risk for HPV infection.

Description: CE activity for physicians, nurses, and pharmacists who recommend or provide vaccinations to preteens and teens. The goals of this activity are to increase clinician recognition of the burden of HPV-related disease and to increase understanding of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for HPV disease prevention through vaccination.

• Describe the cancer risks that have been linked to HPV infection
• Apply the ACIP vaccine recommendations for HPV immunization to practice

CE is no longer available for this product .

Target Audience: Immunization Providers (Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Physician’s Assistants, Dentists, DoD Paraprofessionals, Medical Students, etc.)

Description:  HPV vaccination is cancer prevention. While most U.S. adolescents are starting the HPV vaccine series, less than half have finished the HPV vaccine series. Every year that adolescents aren’t vaccinated is another year they are left unprotected against cancer-causing infections. A clinician recommendation plays a critical role in getting parents to accept HPV vaccination for their child.

CDC is looking to you to make an effective recommendation for HPV vaccination for all your 11-12 year old patients. This presentation is intended to support you in making effective recommendations and answering parents’ questions.  Provided in this presentation is up-to-date information on HPV infection/disease, HPV vaccine, and ways to successfully communicate with parents about HPV vaccination.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the burden of HPV infection and disease in the United States.
• Define the importance of HPV vaccination in cancer prevention.
• Describe recommendations for HPV vaccination for adolescents and adults.
• Describe the rationale for the routine HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12 years.
• List two components of an effective HPV vaccine recommendation.
• Identify relevant and compelling information to share with parents about HPV vaccine to help inform their decision to vaccinate their child.
• Locate current immunization resources to increase knowledge of the team’s role in program implementation for improved team performance.

CME: Valid through April 12, 2024.

CE Details: HPV course # WD4538

Description: This web-based course is an interactive, self-study program consisting of a series of modules covering all aspects of immunization. The modules provide basic vaccine content, links to resource materials, a comprehensive glossary, and self-tests to assess learning.

Audience: Practicing nurses and nursing students, medical assistants, pharmacists, and other health professionals who provide immunizations. The course is designed for immunization providers who are new to immunization or for those who need a refresher.

Format: Interactive web-based program.

Produced by: The Association for Prevention Teaching and Research, in collaboration with CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

To View or Order: More information and link to all available modules

Description: The Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program (PHBPP) was established in 1990 by CDC. Orientation and trainings have been provided to coordinators in the past in various formats and venues. This series will combine aspects of both training on the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus and orientation to the PHBHPP in a web-based format. It presents both practice-based and program oriented content on Perinatal Hepatitis B. It addresses an educational need of an importance audience for the prevention of perinatal hepatitis B transmission, the new PHBPP Coordinator. This web-on-demand video will allow both new and experienced coordinators to improve their knowledge of perinatal hepatitis B and program management skills.

The multi-session series presents core knowledge necessary for a PHBPP Coordinator to posses to be successful in their position in concise web-based platform. The creation of this series is a direct result of requests from Coordinators for a web based training course with available continuing education.

• Identify the purpose of the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program (PHBPP).
• Identify the required PHBPP program objectives.
• Describe the relationship between the PHBPP objectives and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Hepatitis Recommendations.
• Describe 2 activities that can be implemented to achieve the program objectives.
• Identify 3 key program data sources.
• Describe 1 way to use key data sources to improve program outcomes.

CME: CE for this course has expired.

Video, Transcript, and CE Details: Perihepb course # WD2895

Description: Provides guidelines for vaccine-preventable disease surveillance, case investigation, and outbreak control.

Audience: Physicians, infection control practitioners, nurses, epidemiologists, laboratorians, sanitarians, disease reporters, and others who are involved in surveillance and reporting of VPDs.

Format: Archived Webcast

Produced by: CDC

Description: This curriculum is designed for use in medical schools to support immunization instruction. The TIME modules provide ready-to-use instructional materials that can be integrated into existing medical curricula. The modules include vaccine indications and contraindications, immunization schedules, and recommendations on efficient ways to increase vaccination levels.

The materials provide student objectives, learning objectives, key teaching points, and resources.

Audience: Schools of Medicine

Format: Download from Internet

Produced by: The Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR), in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the CDC.

To View or Order: For information and to download a free copy, visit the APTR website

Terms Used on This Page

Broadcasts use streaming video (played as it arrives vs. waiting for entire file to be downloaded) techniques, and you can “tune it in” using something like RealPlayer. CDC’s immunization training broadcasts are offered live. Recorded sessions are archived to be played again if you missed the live session. Broadcasts are scheduled and delivered on demand.

Continuing Education (CE). Certification programs are designed to provide training to individuals, who are required to have and maintain specific levels of knowledge and skills in their job categories, often as a legal requirement to perform their duties. Certification programs may carry credits, and may be prerequisites for licensure. Requirements vary by state and profession. Disclaimer: This is a general definition and not necessarily CDC’s or an organizations’.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit. Continuing Nurses Education (CNE). Educational opportunities for physicians and other health professionals (CME), nurses and nurse students (CNE) to earn required continuing professional education credits. Continuing CNE and CME requirements vary from state to state. Disclaimer: This is a general definition and not necessarily CDC’s or an organizations’.

Continuing Education Units (CEU). Certain professions require that practitioners earn a specific number of CEUs per year to ensure that they are up-to-date with current practices in their field. Proof of credits earned is necessary in order to renew a license or certification. The annual number of CEUs required varies by state and profession. Disclaimer: This is a general definition and not necessarily CDC’s or an organizations’.

Training sessions are made available to you whenever you need it. An example is a TV show that can be watched whenever you want.

Podcasting is a form of audio broadcasting on the internet. An audio broadcast can be downloaded on your computer with some music software such as Media Player or iTunes.

Questions and Answers:

Questions submitted during NetConference/webcasts, including faxed and e-mailed questions not answered on-air.

Links to resources discussed during the broadcasts/webcasts.

Streaming Technology:

Data streaming, commonly seen in the forms of audio and video streaming, is when a multimedia file can be played back without being completely downloaded first. An example is watching and listening to videos via YouTube in ‘real time’.

PowerPoint presentations for each segment of the broadcasts/webcasts.

Updates and Clarifications:

Information that has changed since the broadcasts/webcasts, and explanations or clarifications of topics discussed during the webcast.

A webcast is a presentation shown on the web using streaming technology to many listeners/viewers at the same time. You can see it either live or ‘on demand’. Essentially, webcasting is “broadcasting” over the Internet. It does not allow interaction between you and the presenter.

Short for web-based seminar, a webinar is a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the web. A key feature of a webinar is its interactive elements: the ability to give, receive and discuss information.

Please note that some of our training products do not reflect changes in CDC-INFO’s new operating hours. CDC-INFO’s hours of operation are 8:00am to 8:00pm Monday through Friday, Eastern Standard Time (EST). CDC-INFO will be closed overnight (8:00pm to 8:00am EST), Saturdays and Sundays, and on major federal holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day).

• Current Issues in Immunization Webinar (CIIW)
• Netconferences

To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address:

• Vaccines & Immunizations
• ACIP Recommendations

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

Spotify tests video courses to teach everything from music production to Excel

Spotify has carved out a business for itself in music streaming, podcast entertainment and audiobooks. Now, in its ongoing efforts to get its 600 million+ users to spend more time and money on its platform, Spotify is spinning up a new line of content: e-learning.

Starting with a rollout in the U.K., Spotify is testing the waters for an online education offering of freemium video courses. Produced in partnership with third parties like the BBC and Skillshare, at least two lessons will be free, with the cost of a total course ranging from £20 to £80 on average. The prices will be the same, regardless of whether you are a basic or premium user, at least for now.

Mohit Jitani, the London-based product director for the education business, said in an interview that pricing choices were part of what it’s testing before considering how to roll out more widely. “With this launch, we’re trying to understand the demand first,” he said. “Then we optimize how we can make it more compelling and exciting.”

The content will live in both Spotify’s home and browse tabs (under “Courses”), and it’s accessible on the web as well as via the Spotify mobile app.

The courses are pitched somewhere between YouTube, Master Class and LinkedIn Learning: Videos in the current catalog cover a wide range of subjects, from music production through to learning how to use Excel, as well as lessons on — you guessed it — how to create online learning lessons to turn musicians and others into “education creators.”

Unsurprising for a market estimated to have been worth more than $315 billion in 2023 , there are plenty of online learning sites on the web these days, some of which have been innovators in interactive content and other media formats — you can even find a number of startups aspiring to be the “Spotify for education” if you Google that term — Spotify’s educational push is focused around one-directional, on-demand video.

Some courses appear to have supplementary material, although that will be more in the realm of extra documents rather than tests or other interactions. Jitani declined to comment on whether Spotify would launch any kind of interaction or gamification in the future — or, indeed, if games of any kind are on its roadmap right now.

The first partners for Courses are Skillshare (which will focus on creatives), PLAYvirtuoso (music industry courses), BBC Maestro (Master Class-esque) and Thinkific (for those inspired to build their skills into online learning classes of their own).

Spotify, Jitani said, would be looking to curate which courses it offers, and it will base curation on what people are already listening to and searching for on its platform. There appears to be no limit, though. If you look at the catalogs of these respective providers, you’ll see that the topics cover a pretty wide breadth — and bread .

“We’ll learn a lot about what people are actually interested in [and] we will start getting a lot of segments around that,” Jitani said. “And then we’ll go and find… the best content.”

Third-party publishers own the videos and license them to Spotify, but they will be hosted and purchased on Spotify itself. In terms of revenue share, the creator, publisher and Spotify will all get a share of the sales, with content partners overseeing payments to creators.

Spotify isn’t specifying what kind of cut will be going to whom, nor whether it will potentially offer any kind of discount or other benefit to users who are already premium subscribers on the platform.

Why education? Why the UK?

The move points to Spotify’s strategy to continue diversifying its business, while also aiming to build a path to more consistent profitability and stronger margins. It’s picked the U.K. for this, Jitani said, because it’s a huge market for the company and is already one of the most engaged in the world.

Financially, Spotify continues to see a lot of ups and downs in the current market. It went through three rounds of layoffs last year; and it has been unprofitable more than profitable over the years, most recently posting a net loss of $81 million   in its quarterly earnings in February .

Yes, the dry realms of online learning and professional development might sound like a reach for a company still best known for music streaming, but there are three areas where it makes some sense.

With its podcasting business continuing to grow, Spotify is picking up a lot of data on what people are doing on the platform, and it’s finding a close correlation between some of the most popular podcasts on Spotify and education content.

Around half of Spotify Premium subscribers have listened to education or self-help themed podcasts, Spotify says. Spotify can use the same kind of recommendation surfacing that it uses for music and podcasts to cross-promote. Think of a podcast with a “business guru” now recommending a paid course with that person. Spotify’s making a bet that one will help sell the other.

Alongside this, Spotify has long been working on tools for creators to help them manage and grow their earnings. Offering educational content aimed at running a business, or improving your music production, fits with that.

Third of all, there is the video element. Spotify’s been trying to get deeper into video for the better part of a decade.

That hasn’t translated to being a YouTube or Netflix rival yet. Video was mentioned a grand total of one time in the company’s last earning call, where CEO Daniel Ek vaguely described video podcasting as “growing in a healthy way.” But it launched music videos in select markets earlier this month, and now we have an earnest effort in educational videos. It may find its groove yet.

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Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED-BL-r.21

The 2021 Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED blended learning course equips students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid breathing and cardiac emergencies involving adults children and infants. It is designed for students who need a certification that satisfies OSHA workplace or other regulatory requirements. This class is taught in a blended learning format and the online portion (accessed via mobile desktop or tablet) must be completed prior to attending the Instructor-led skills session. Upon successful completion a valid 2 year digital certificate for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED is issued.

Equipment Terms & Conditions

Combines The Flexibility Of Online With Hands-On Training, Provides Full Certification, Start Taking Your Course Immediately

Online + Classroom

• Combines the flexibility of online training with instructor-led skills check
• Start taking your online portion immediately
• Convenient locations and times for in-person or virtual skills check with experienced instructors

Certification

Red Cross courses offer Digital Certification, an online version of a Red Cross certificate, which provides anytime, anywhere access to student training history and course certificates. Digital certificates can be viewed, printed or shared online and can be accessed anytime through your Red Cross Account. Each certificate includes a unique ID and a QR code which meets employment requirements and allows employers to easily confirm your certificate is valid. There is no need to carry your printed certificate around anymore!

Continuing Education

Nurses, social workers, teachers and day care providers and other professionals who need continuing education units to maintain licensure or certification can obtain CEUs through American Red Cross Training Services.

• Basic Life Support
• Bloodborne Pathogens Training
• CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers
• Emergency Medical Response
• First Aid/CPR/AED
• Lifeguarding
• Responding to Emergencies
• Swimming and Water Safety
• Wilderness and Remote First Aid

Once training has been successfully completed, a CEU certificate, along with a course certificate, will be sent to students who provided an email address. Students, who took training through a third-party provider, should contact the provider or instructor to obtain a copy of the CEU certificate. Class participants should verify with their appropriate accrediting organization that CEUs received from taking Red Cross courses will be accepted

Emergency Medical Services Providers

Paramedics, EMTs, and other EMS and pre-hospital providers can attain CEUs through American Red Cross training.

The American Red Cross is approved to award CEUs through the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). The purpose of CAPCE is to standardize the review and approval of quality EMS Continuing Education activities.

The American Red Cross has been approved to provide continuing education credit through CAPCE for the following educational activities:

• Basic Life Support - Blended Learning
• Basic Life Support - Instructor-Led Training
• Advanced Life Support - Blended Learning
• Advanced Life Support - Instructor-Led Training
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support- Blended Learning
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support- Instructor-Led Training

After completion of an approved course,  please complete and submit this form  to receive CAPCE credit.

The content of these reviews regarding the quality and value of this course is based on data collected across all American Red Cross classes with this title and does not reflect ratings of any specific instructor or provider.

Teach English in Moscow, Russia

The heart of Russia, Moscow , stands as a proud emblem of the country's rich history and its ambitious stride towards the future. Stretching its vast expanse across the banks of the Moskva River, the city boasts iconic landmarks like the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the Bolshoi Theatre, all of which narrate tales of Russia’s tsarist past, Soviet era, and its contemporary significance. But beyond the historical and political importance, Moscow is a vibrant metropolis, bustling with modernity while still deeply rooted in its traditions. As a juxtaposition of the old and new, it offers a unique setting for English teachers looking to immerse themselves in a culture that's both familiar in its urban dynamics and intriguingly foreign in its customs and nuances.

Reasons to Teach English in Moscow

Demand for English : With Moscow's status as a global city and a significant business hub, there's a growing demand for English proficiency. Businesses, students, and even tourists seek English language skills, creating ample opportunities for English teachers.

Experience Rich Culture : Moscow is a treasure trove of arts, music, and literature. From the classical ballet performances at the Bolshoi Theatre to the literary legacy of writers like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, teachers can immerse themselves in a deeply enriching cultural experience.

Competitive Salaries : The demand for native English speakers often comes with attractive salaries and benefits. While the cost of living can be high in the city center, smart budgeting and living slightly outside can offer a comfortable lifestyle.

Learning Russian : While teaching English, educators also get the chance to learn Russian, a language spoken by over 250 million people worldwide. It's not just an addition to your skill set but a window into understanding the Russian psyche and culture better.

Architectural Beauty : Moscow is an architectural paradise. From the onion domes of St. Basil’s to the modern skyscrapers of Moscow City, the urban landscape is a constant source of awe and wonder.

Gateway to Explore Russia : Moscow's extensive railway network and air connectivity make it a perfect base to explore the vast expanse of Russia, from the cultural streets of St. Petersburg to the natural wonders of Siberia.

Diverse Student Base : Teachers often find themselves instructing a mix of students, from young learners and university students to business professionals and retirees. This diversity makes the teaching experience varied and rewarding.

Experience Four Seasons : Moscow showcases all four seasons in their full glory. The snow-covered winter landscapes are iconic, but the spring blossoms, summer warmth, and autumn hues are equally mesmerizing.

Local Cuisine : Dive into the world of Russian gastronomy! From the hearty borscht and pelmeni to the sweet blini and syrniki, Moscow offers a culinary journey that's both diverse and delightful.

Unique Teaching Environment : Moscow has a mix of international schools, language centers, and private tutoring opportunities. This allows teachers to choose a teaching environment that aligns best with their preferences and expertise.

Understanding Moscow's Education Landscape

Moscow, being the capital city of Russia and its major economic, cultural, and scientific center, naturally has a dense concentration of educational institutions. The education landscape here is diverse, ranging from state-run schools and prestigious universities to private institutions and language centers. English is a sought-after language, and with Moscow's aspiration to be an influential player on the global stage, the emphasis on learning English has grown significantly.

There's a notable presence of international schools, catering primarily to expatriates and the elite class, which offers International Baccalaureate or British curricula. Additionally, language centers scattered across the city cater to various age groups and professions. Here, the focus might range from general English to more specialized courses like Business English. There's also a growing trend of private tutoring, where teachers offer personalized lessons to students, either one-on-one or in small groups.

Eligibility and Requirements to Teach English in Moscow

The requirements to teach English in Moscow will be similar to the standard requirements for teaching English in Russia , however, here are the specific requirements for Moscow:

Bachelor's Degree : A bachelor's degree in any field is typically required, though those with degrees in education or English might have an edge.

TEFL/TESOL/CELTA Certification : Most employers prefer candidates with a teaching certification, with a minimum of 120 hours of training.

Native English Speaker : Preference is often given to teachers from native English-speaking countries. However, non-native speakers with strong proficiency and credentials can also find opportunities.

Experience : Previous teaching experience, while not always mandatory, can significantly boost job prospects, especially in more esteemed institutions.

Background Check : A clean criminal record is essential, and a background check is standard procedure for most teaching positions.

Understanding of Russian Culture : While not a formal requirement, having an appreciation and understanding of Russian culture can be beneficial, both in the classroom and in day-to-day life.

Visa and Work Permit : It's crucial to secure the appropriate visa and work permit. Employers often assist with this process, but it's essential to ensure everything is in order.

Salary and Benefits for Teaching English in Moscow

Competitive Salaries : Depending on qualifications, experience, and the type of institution, monthly salaries can range from 60,000 to 120,000 Russian rubles. International schools and prestigious language centers tend to offer higher salaries.

Contract Completion Bonus : It's common for institutions to offer bonuses upon successful completion of a contract.

Health Insurance : Comprehensive health insurance is usually provided, which is a significant benefit given the varied quality of healthcare in Russia.

Paid Vacations : Teachers typically receive paid vacations, especially during significant public holidays and school breaks.

Professional Development : Some institutions offer or subsidize courses and workshops for teachers to further enhance their skills.

Contract Flexibility : Contracts can range from a few months for summer camps to a full academic year. Some contracts also offer the option for renewal.

Living in Moscow

The majestic and historical city of Moscow is Russia's pulsating heart, offering an eclectic blend of ancient traditions and modern urbanism. Living in Moscow presents a unique experience that's both challenging and rewarding. The city’s juxtaposition of centuries-old architecture with contemporary skyscrapers is a testament to its rich history and its eyes set firmly on the future.

1. Cultural and Historical Hub: Moscow is home to some of the world's most iconic landmarks, including the Kremlin, Red Square, and the Bolshoi Theatre. The city's museums, like the State Historical Museum and the Pushkin Museum, offer deep dives into Russia's intricate history and art.

2. Cost of Living: While salaries for English teachers are competitive, Moscow is one of the more expensive cities in Russia. Rent, dining out, and entertainment can be pricey, especially in the city center. However, with smart budgeting and by leveraging local markets and public transportation, it's manageable.

3. Transportation: Moscow boasts one of the world's most extensive metro systems. Not only is it efficient and affordable, but its stations are also often hailed as architectural masterpieces, adorned with mosaics, chandeliers, and sculptures. Buses and trams supplement the metro, making it easy to navigate the city.

4. Climate: Moscow experiences a continental climate, with cold winters where temperatures can drop below -20°C and warm summers that can reach up to 30°C. Snowfall during winters transforms the city into a winter wonderland, especially around the New Year when it's festively decorated.

5. Language: While Russian is the predominant language, younger generations and professionals often have a basic understanding of English. Still, learning basic Russian phrases can immensely help in daily life and is appreciated by locals.

6. Local Cuisine: Moscow offers a diverse culinary scene. Apart from international cuisines, traditional Russian dishes like borscht, pelmeni, and blinis are must-tries. The city also has a growing café culture, perfect for those who love their coffee.

7. Social Scene: The city is bustling with theaters, clubs, bars, and live music venues. Whether you're into classical performances at the Bolshoi or contemporary gigs at a local club, Moscow has something for every taste.

8. Safety: Like any major city, it's essential to be cautious, especially during the night or in less populated areas. However, Moscow generally has a low crime rate, especially concerning violent crimes against foreigners.

Teacher Stories

Sarah from usa:.

"When I first landed in Moscow, the cold was the first thing that hit me. But soon, the warmth of the people melted away all my apprehensions. Teaching English here has been an enriching experience. My students, eager to learn, showed me the true spirit of Russia. Plus, weekends exploring Red Square and trying out Russian cuisine have been nothing short of magical."

Liam from UK:

"I've always been intrigued by Russian literature. Living in Moscow, walking the streets that inspired writers like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, has been surreal. Teaching English here has been challenging, given the language barrier, but it's equally rewarding. The joy in my student's eyes when they construct their first English sentence is unparalleled."

Anele from South Africa:

"I initially came to Moscow for a short stint, but the city's energy drew me in. Teaching here is different from back home. The methodology, the emphasis on grammar, and the sheer enthusiasm of students is commendable. And, of course, there's nothing like a warm bowl of borscht on a cold Moscow evening."

Siobhan from Ireland:

"I've taught in various countries, but Moscow stands out. The blend of history, culture, and the modern hustle is unique. The students here are disciplined and eager to grasp the nuances of the English language. On a personal note, the ballet performances at the Bolshoi are something I'll cherish forever."

Moving Towards Teaching English In Moscow

Moscow, with its sprawling landscapes, rich history, and vibrant urban life, promises an unparalleled experience for English teachers. While there are challenges, as with any foreign country, the rewards far surpass them. Not only does one get the opportunity to shape the global perspectives of young minds, but teachers also immerse themselves in a culture that is both profound and exhilarating.

For those considering taking the leap, Moscow awaits with open arms. The city offers more than just a job; it provides a journey through time, a deep dive into a rich tapestry of art, literature, and traditions, and memories that last a lifetime. As you stand on the brink of this exciting adventure, remember that teaching in Moscow is not just about imparting knowledge but also about growing, learning, and building bridges between cultures.

Education and Schools in Moscow

This guide was written prior to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and is therefore not reflective of the current situation. Travel to Russia is currently not advisable due to the area's volatile political situation.

Despite much debate over the education system in Russia, the country has a high literacy rate. The quality of schooling has improved greatly over time, though it is still far from perfect.

There are public, private and international school options for children of school-going age in Moscow. Most expats choose to send their children to international schools. Expat parents often find that the teaching language and the method of instruction in public and private schools are not ideal for non-Russian children.

Entry requirements into schools may differ, so expats are encouraged to contact the schools directly for more information. In general, expats must provide their visa, the child’s birth certificate and any academic records.

The school year in Moscow follows the Northern Hemisphere pattern, with the longest break being in the summer months. The school week is generally Monday to Friday, from 8am or 9am to 2pm or 3pm.

Generally, there are three stages of schooling: primary school with Grades 1 to 4; basic secondary school from Grades 5 through 9; and upper secondary school which goes up to Grade 12.

Public schools in Moscow

Public school education is free to both Russian and foreign citizens. Parents only pay for meals and school uniforms.

The quality of state schools is debatable, and classrooms tend to have many students. The language of instruction in state schools is mainly Russian. This means, especially for older students who do not speak Russian, this option is often not feasible.

Private schools in Moscow

Private schools are less common than state schools. They provide the same Russian curriculum and teach mainly in Russian, but class sizes are smaller. Private schools are not free but are less expensive than international schools. Due to the language barrier, however, the options for expat education in Moscow remain mostly limited to international schools.

International schools in Moscow

Most international schools in Moscow are expensive. Curriculum models range from those that follow American or British teaching systems to ones that combine the Russian curriculum with international curricula. Alternatively, some offer the International Baccalaureate. There are several English-language schools to choose from, as well as schools teaching the German, French and Indian curricula.

Demand for the most prestigious schools can be high, and long waiting lists are to be expected. For this reason, expat parents moving to Moscow should attempt to enrol their children as early as possible.

Special-needs education in Moscow

There are limited schooling options for children with disabilities in Moscow. That said, efforts to develop the school system for those with disabilities are being made to avoid excluding these children. International schools are aiming to improve the possible support they could give. Some schools provide interventions including learning support, occupational therapy and speech programmes to enable students with mild to moderate learning disabilities to continue their education.

Homeschooling in Moscow

Homeschooling is becoming more and more common in Moscow, especially in comparison to the rest of the country. Expat parents must follow certain regulations. One such regulation is that they must enrol their child into a licensed school which acts as a supervising body. In some cases, homeschooled children can get access to resource provisions such as books. The school can also act as the exam centre when children must write formal exams.

Tutors in Moscow

Being such a large city, Moscow has many options for finding tutors. Expat parents will find various online platforms and portals through which they can hire a tutor for their child in Moscow. Tutors will be extremely helpful in assisting expat children with learning Russian, adjusting to their new school environment and curriculum, and getting up to speed in classes.

Further reading

►For a list of schools in Moscow for expats, see  International Schools in Moscow

►For a more in-depth description of the different schooling options available, see Education and Schools in Russia

Expat Interviews "My kids go to the French school. Our experiences have been mixed there. But overall it has met our needs (and price)." Read what Amanda has to say on her children settling into Moscow from her interview .

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• Category: Games

How Beyond Xbox: Field Trips is Teaching Valuable Life Skills via Game Pass Favorites

Xbox has teamed up with Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse to launch Beyond Xbox: Field Trips, a series of interactive learning experiences, available on Spotify , to help young people learn through play.

These experiences are set to be delivered as a series of podcasts, featuring seven Xbox Game Pass titles. Each audio journey will focus on a specific game, and the skills that are encouraged and honed while playing. The Field Trips aim to help young people sharpen thought processes, learn collaborative skills, and experience a sense of accomplishment in an immersive environment.

Xbox Wire had the opportunity to sit down with Ollie Bray, co-author of the European Games in Schools Handbook, who helped shape this project. With Bray, we found out how this the podcasts came to be, and what makes Xbox’s catalogue the perfect selection for skills-based learning.

Bray has a background in teaching, and, like many academics, found himself frustrated by more traditional methods to get young people involved with classroom activities. The original thought process of how games can assist with this hurdle came from Sim City , which encourages its players to think about urban planning in an interesting way.

“The traditional ways that we do things are often really dull, but games and simulations offer personalised learning experiences,” Bray says. “When we’re thinking about ‘soft skills’, these game environments are a really good example of how to develop those.”

Beyond Xbox: Field Trips has a couple of main goals in mind, according to Bray. One is to showcase video games as tools that can generate powerful learning opportunities.

The other is to demonstrate how games do not have to have been made specifically for educational purposes to have educational benefits.

We had the chance to listen to the Sea of Thieves episode of Beyond Xbox: Field Trips ahead of its release, which focuses on encouraging teamwork and delegation – something that is already integral to Sea of Thieves ’ gameplay.

“There are aspects of the game where young people are picking up maps, which links to geography, how we learn about latitude and longitude, compass directions, map orientation, all sorts of skills,” Bray says.

“It’s the kind of hard learning you’d expect to get in a geography classroom, which is often reinforced by a textbook or video, but in this case, we’re reinforcing it through interactive gameplay, which gives young people motivation.”

On the campaign, Shahneila Saeed, Director of Digital Schoolhouse and Head of Education at Ukie added, “we’re very excited to be supporting such an original and unique program, using games to develop the skills of young people. I can’t wait to see how these audio learning journeys are implemented in our Digital Schoolhouse network over the coming months, and the impact that they will have.”

Each audio learning journey is available on Spotify , and prompts players to take part in a number of in-game tasks in order to develop important soft skills. All seven games are available via Xbox Game Pass , and can be seen below alongside the skills they encourage:

• Grounded – Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking
• Sea of Thieves – Teamwork and Delegation
• Minecraft – Creativity and Innovation
• Microsoft Flight Simulator – Focus and Diligence
• PowerWash Simulator – Motivation and Prioritisation
• Age of Empires IV – Strategy and Decision making
• Cities: Skylines – Planning and Adaptability

Choosing Game Pass titles was another important element of Beyond Xbox: Field Trips. Bray shares that all of these games can be accessed with just one Game Pass membership.

“We wanted to include a number of different genres of game to be able to cater for different interests,” Bray explains. “You’ll find your classic sandbox game in there, Minecraft ; survival elements from Grounded ; and more surprising titles such as Powerwash Simulator , which is a difficult game to explain, but is hugely therapeutic to play.”

A final note that Bray touches on is how play is highly encouraged during early development, and again later in adult life, but there’s a middle point where leaning on resources like video games is underutilized. Bray adds, “this makes me wonder if we can rethink the approach to the middle part a little – games are a highly engaging learning environment.”

Beyond Xbox: Field Trips are now available via Spotify for players in the UK and Mexico. They can also be accessed as in more accessible formats as visual guides on Xbox.com to cater to different learning styles.

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