Online Courses & Top Learning Platforms to Find Them
With a wide range of platforms available, learners can choose from thousands of online courses on business, professional development, academic subjects, creative skills, or even hobbies – all from the comfort of home.
Below are some of the best online learning platforms offering accessible ways to gain new skills, explore personal interests, or advance in a career.
Udemy is an online learning and teaching marketplace with over 213,000 courses and 62 million students. Discover programming, marketing, data science, and more.
Read more about Udemy.
Learn new job skills in online courses from industry leaders like Google, IBM, and Meta. Advance your career with top degrees from Michigan, Penn, Imperial, and more prestigious institutions.
Read more about Coursera.
Millions of people are learning on FutureLearn. They can find online courses and degrees from leading universities or organisations and begin learning with a wide range of options.
Read more about FutureLearn.
The Open University offers flexible part-time study, supported distance learning, and open learning for undergraduate and postgraduate courses and qualifications.
Read more about The Open University.
Discover thousands of offerings — from free courses to full degrees — delivered by world-class partners such as Harvard, Google, Amazon, and other prestigious institutions.
Read more about edx.
Individuals can advance their careers by learning online with courses in programming, data science, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and more. They can acquire in-demand technical skills and enrol today.
Read more about Udacity.
Most Popular Types of Online Courses
Online courses span almost every subject. The categories below include specific examples to help you map goals to topics.
1) Professional & Career Development
- Business & Management: leadership, project management (Agile, PRINCE2), HR fundamentals, operations.
- Technology & IT: software development (Python, JavaScript), cloud (AWS, Azure), cybersecurity basics, data analysis & data science.
- Finance: accounting foundations, financial modelling, investment fundamentals, Excel for finance.
- Marketing & Sales: SEO, content marketing, performance ads, CRM usage, sales enablement.
2) Creative & Design Skills
- Design: Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator, brand identity, UX/UI foundations, Figma skills.
- Content Creation: video editing, motion graphics, podcast production, photography.
- Writing: copywriting, storytelling, scriptwriting, editing for publication.
3) Academic & Personal Growth
- Languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin, English grammar; IELTS/TEFL preparation.
- Science & Health: human biology, psychology, nutrition, public health basics.
- Humanities: history, philosophy, literature, politics.
4) Everyday & Lifestyle
- Cooking & Food: bread-making, plant-based cooking, regional cuisines.
- Fitness & Wellbeing: strength training, yoga, mobility, mindfulness.
- Practical Skills & Hobbies: gardening, DIY home projects, music production.
Who Online Courses Are Useful For
- Working professionals seeking promotion, role change, or certification.
- Students supplementing school or university learning with flexible resources.
- Freelancers & entrepreneurs sharpening technical, creative, or commercial skills.
- Career changers building a portfolio and job-ready skills for a new field.
- Hobbyists exploring creative and practical interests with project-based lessons.
- Employers & HR teams delivering scalable training across distributed teams.
Leading Online Course Platforms & Where Each One Is Strongest
The platforms below differ by course quality control, academic partnerships, production style, and credentials. Pick based on your goal, budget, and preferred learning experience.
Coursera
- Strongest at: university-backed modules, professional certificates, and online degrees.
- Best for: structured learning paths from top universities and global employers.
- Typical subjects: data science, business analytics, computer science, public health.
- Good to know: widely recognised certificates; many courses have graded assignments and peer review.
edX
- Strongest at: academic-grade courses, MicroMasters and professional certificates.
- Best for: learners who want rigorous university content without committing to a full degree.
- Typical subjects: computer science, engineering, humanities, leadership.
- Good to know: excellent for evidence-based, research-led curricula.
FutureLearn
- Strongest at: short courses and micro-credentials with a strong UK university presence.
- Best for: UK-centric subjects and accessible academic learning with scheduled cohorts.
- Typical subjects: healthcare, education, business, creative arts, social sciences.
- Good to know: weekly step-based structure suits learners who prefer a guided pace.
Udemy
- Strongest at: breadth and practicality—huge catalogue across every topic.
- Best for: hands-on skill building (e.g., Python scripting, Excel, photography, marketing).
- Typical subjects: coding, IT & software, design, personal productivity, lifestyle.
- Good to know: quality varies by instructor—check preview videos, reviews, and update dates.
LinkedIn Learning
- Strongest at: career-focused micro-courses with neat integration to your LinkedIn profile.
- Best for: business, tech, and creative pros who want concise, polished modules.
- Typical subjects: leadership, data tools, project management, design software.
- Good to know: certificates display on your LinkedIn profile with one click.
Skillshare
- Strongest at: creative, community-driven, project-based classes.
- Best for: designers, illustrators, photographers, writers, and makers.
- Typical subjects: graphic design, illustration, animation, writing, photography.
- Good to know: shorter, practical lessons—great for building a portfolio of mini-projects.
MasterClass
- Strongest at: cinematic courses taught by high-profile experts.
- Best for: inspiration and high-level craft insights rather than formal assessment.
- Typical subjects: cooking, filmmaking, writing, sports, music, leadership.
- Good to know: best treated as premium inspiration rather than credential-seeking.
Khan Academy (Free)
- Strongest at: school-level maths and sciences with practice problems and mastery paths.
- Best for: students and adult returners seeking solid foundations at no cost.
- Typical subjects: maths, physics, chemistry, computing, economics.
- Good to know: completely free; brilliant for revision and self-paced fundamentals.
How to Choose the Right Platform
- Define your outcome: Do you want a recognised certificate, a portfolio piece, or a quick practical skill?
- Check the syllabus and previews: Look for learning objectives, assessment style, and up-to-date content.
- Read reviews carefully: Prioritise recent reviews that mention real-world applicability.
- Match format to your routine: Cohort-based vs on-demand; short videos vs longer lectures.
- Consider instructor credibility: Industry pros, academics, or both—choose what aligns with your goa
Summary
If you want university-style rigour and credentials, start with Coursera, edX, or FutureLearn. For practical skills at speed and breadth, explore Udemy or LinkedIn Learning. For creative, project-based learning, try Skillshare, and for inspiration from big names, MasterClass. If you need strong, free foundations, Khan Academy is hard to beat.