Best Online Courses (Not From Udemy or Coursera)
In this guide, we want to highlight some of the best online courses from providers that aren’t Udemy or Coursera. We’re not saying these are better than those two giants, but they deserve a little more recognition for what they offer. Each provider is unique and has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Here you’ll find reviews of their courses as well as our recommendations for the best ones from each marketplace!
Benefits of Studying Online for Personal and Professional Development
Flexibility and Convenience
Online learning offers flexibility in terms of study schedule and location, allowing individuals to balance their personal and professional commitments.1
Access to Diverse Learning Opportunities
Online platforms provide access to a wide range of courses and programs, allowing individuals to explore new subjects and acquire knowledge in various fields.2
Continuous Professional Development
Online learning enables individuals to engage in continuous professional development, staying updated with industry trends and advancements.3,4
Personalized Learning Experience
Online learning often offers personalized learning experiences, allowing individuals to learn at their own pace and focus on areas that require more attention.5
Networking and Collaboration
Online learning platforms provide opportunities for networking and collaboration with peers and professionals from around the world, expanding individuals’ professional networks.6,7
Enhanced Technological Skills
Studying online helps individuals develop and improve their technological skills, which are increasingly important in today’s digital age.8,9
Cost-Effectiveness
Online learning can be more cost-effective compared to traditional in-person education, as it eliminates the need for commuting and accommodation expenses.10
Self-Directed Learning
Online learning encourages self-directed learning, fostering independence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.11
Accessibility and Inclusivity
Online learning eliminates geographical barriers, making education more accessible to individuals who may face limitations in accessing traditional educational institutions.12,13
Adaptability to Changing Circumstances
Online learning equips individuals with the skills to adapt to changing circumstances, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, where remote learning has become essential.14,15
It is important for individuals to choose reputable online learning platforms and programs that align with their personal and professional development goals.
The Best Online Courses
1. Thinkific
Thinkific is a newer online course provider, but they’ve gained credibility quickly. They offer unlimited courses and have over 200+ high-quality courses for you to choose from. Their platform also lets learners give online workshops or paid online events – making this service very versatile.
Pros: Thinkific offers great tools for course building, hosting, and online marketing.
Cons: Thinkific doesn’t provide the same level of customer service as other course providers online, so you may need to rely on forums or your own expertise for support.
Recommendation: We recommend using this course provider if you want a better experience than Udemy’s clunky interface with many more professional online course building tools.
2. LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is a is a well-known course provider that focuses on online video tutorials. They offer a huge library of online courses and videos for you to choose from, as well as the option to create your own online course through their platform.
Pros: LinkedIn Learning’s easy-to -use interface makes learning almost any subject fun!
Cons: Their courses are not as interactive or engaging as other online course providers’.
Recommendation: We recommend using this online course provider if you want to learn something new through online video tutorials rather than an online course.
3. MasterClass
MasterClass is a unique course provider in that it offers classes taught by celebrities and experts in their field. For example, you can take a cooking class from Gordon Ramsay or a photography class from Annie Leibovitz. MasterClass has courses on just about any topic you can think of, so there’s something for everyone.
Pros: What’s great about MasterClass is that the classes are really in-depth. You get access to all of the lectures, plus any supplemental materials the instructor provides.
Cons: The downside is that not all of the classes are cheap – but they’re definitely worth the price if you’re interested in learning from a pro.
Recommunication: If you’re looking for online courses taught by experts in their field, this is the online course provider to choose.
4. Skillshare
Skillshare is a online course provider that focuses on creativity and productivity. They offer a wide variety of online courses in areas like design, business, technology, and more.
Pros: Skillshare has many great online courses for free!
Cons: Some of the paid online courses can be a little pricey.
Recommendation: We recommend using this online course provider if you’re looking for online courses about the creative process or to boost your productivity.
5. Creative Live
Creative Live is a platform that focuses on creative content, from business and marketing to art and design. It offers more than 1000 classes, with new ones being added every day.
Pros: One thing that sets Creative Live apart is its vast catalog of free courses. You can access most of the classes without even signing up for an account. However , if you want to access all of the features, such as watching classes offline or downloading project files, you’ll need to create an account and purchase a class.
Classes start at $19, and there are plenty of discounts available if you want to purchase multiple classes at once. You can also get a free trial by signing up for the daily email.
Cons: While the extensive catalogue of free courses is great, it makes creating an account confusing. If you want access to all of Creative Live’s features, then you need to sign up for a monthly or annual subscription .
Creative Live has online classes that cover many different topics. You can watch them on your computer (with some restrictions depending on the class) or on your phone or tablet.
Recommendation: Creative Live is definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re interested in creative content. The classes are of high quality, and the instructors are top-notch.
6. Code School
If you’re looking for online courses in coding, check out Code School. It has over 200 online video tutorials that cover 13 different programming languages and frameworks.
Pros: One of the things we love about Code School is its diversity. The classes are organized into “paths” based on your experience level and what you want to learn. This makes it easy for you to choose a path based on what kind of online course provider you are in search of.
Each class has pre- and post-class activities so that you can practice the concepts covered in each lesson before moving onto the next one. There is also an active online community where students can share their progress and knowledge, as well as ask questions about the content.
Cons: There are two types of online course providers on Code School: “tracks” and “exams”. Tracks are meant for beginners to learn a certain programming language or framework from scratch, while exams test what you already know. While this is great for people who are already familiar with coding, it can be a little confusing for beginners.
If you want to use Code School’s online course provider content offline, you need to purchase an annual subscription.
Recommendation: If you’re looking for online courses in coding, Code School is definitely worth checking out. The variety of paths and activities make it easy to learn, and the online community is super helpful.
7. General Assembly
General Assembly offers online and in-person courses for students who want to start their own business, land a new job, or just gain more skills. It has locations all over the world, making it convenient if you live near one of them.
Pros: Unlike online course provider sites like Udemy, General Assembly has “instructors” who are responsible for teaching the courses. This makes learning more structured and interactive since you have a real person guiding you through the content.
Many online classes at GA offer live online lectures that allow students to participate in Q&A sessions. You can also access online class materials for up to one year after the course ends.
Cons: If you don’t live near a General Assembly location, it can be difficult to find an online course that works with your schedule. All of GA’s online classes are instructor-led, so there is only one live online lecture each week.
Recommendation: General Assembly is a great course provider online if you want more structure and interaction in your learning. The live online lectures are helpful, and the one-year access to online class materials is awesome.
8. Udemy
Udemy is a great online course provider for people who want to learn new skills, but don’t have time for in-person classes. It has over 800 courses on topics like business, health and fitness, computer programming, and more.
Pros: Udemy offers many different types of courses, from short tutorials to full programs. This makes it easy to find online courses that are either an introduction or a deep dive into the topic you want to learn.
The online course provider is great for busy people who can’t attend in-person classes because all of its online tutorials and programs are self-paced . You also get lifetime access, so you can go back to online class materials whenever you want.
Cons: Udemy’s online course provider content isn’t as diverse as some other online course providers, and there aren’t any in-person classes or live online lectures. You also need to purchase a yearly subscription, which can be expensive if you only take one online course through the platform .
Recommendation: Alison is a great course provider online for people who want to learn new skills on their own time. The self-paced format and lifetime access are both awesome features, and the range of courses is pretty good too.
9. The Great Courses
The Great Courses is a great online course provider for people who want to learn from experts in many different fields. It has over 500 online courses taught by professors, scientists, and other subject matter experts.
Pros: The Great Courses offers tons of online classes on topics ranging from art history to personal finance. This makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style.
The online provider of courses which also has a huge library of content from experts across many different fields , which gives you access to tons of different perspectives on topics . You can browse courses by subject or level, too.
Cons: The Great Courses’ online course provider content is pretty diverse, but online courses are often not as high-quality. Some online classes only cover part of a topic , which can be frustrating.
Recommendation: The Great Courses is perfect for people who want to learn from experts in many different fields online . The huge library of content and the range of topics covered makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style.
10. FutureLearn
FutureLearn is a great online course provider for people who want to learn new things from experts all over the world. It has over 600 online courses from universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
Pros: FutureLearn offers online courses in many different subjects , which makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style.
The online course provider also has a huge library of content from universities like Oxford and Cambridge , which are some of the best universities in the world. You can browse courses by subject or level, too.
Cons: FutureLearn’s online courses are only taught by professors who have Ph.D.s , which might not be a good fit for everyone. The online course provider also doesn’t have any courses in health or fitness, and the selection of courses is a little bit narrower than some other online course providers .
Recommendation: FutureLearn is perfect for people who want to learn from experts all over the world online . The online course provider has a huge library of content and offers online courses in many different subjects.
11. edX
edX is a great online course provider for people who want to learn new things from experts at some of the best universities in the world. It has over 1400 online courses from schools like Harvard, Berkeley, and MIT.
Pros : edX offers online courses in many different subjects , which makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style.
The online course provider also has a huge library of content from schools like Harvard, Berkeley, and MIT . You can browse courses by subject or level, too.
Cons: edX’s online courses are only taught by professors who have Ph.D.s , which might not be a good fit for everyone. The online course provider also doesn’t have any courses in health or fitness, and the selection of courses is a little bit narrower than some other online course providers .
Recommendation: edX is perfect online course provider for people who want online courses from schools like Harvard, Berkeley, and MIT. The online course provider has a huge library of content and offers online courses in many different subjects.
12. Skillsoft
Skillsoft is perfect online course provider for people who want to learn new things from experts online. It has a huge library of content and offers online courses in many different subjects.
Pros: Skillsoft offers online courses in many different subjects , which makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style. The online course provider also has online courses from experts, which means that you can learn online from top industry professionals.
Cons: Skillsoft’s online courses are only taught by professors who have Ph.D.s, which might not be a good fit for everyone. The online course provider also doesn’t offer very many health or fitness online classes.
Recommendation: Skillsoft is perfect online course provider for people who want online courses from experts online. The online course provider has a huge library of content and offers online courses in many different subjects.
13. Pluralsight
Pluralsight is great online course provider for people who want to learn new things on their own time. It has online courses on topics like computer science and programming, finance, health & medicine, history, math (math online), personal development.
Pros: Pluralsight offers online courses in many different subjects, which makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style. The online course provider also offers a wide variety of online courses from experts all over the world.
Pluralsight also has a huge library of content that you can access at any time . You can browse courses by subject or level, too.
Cons: Pluralsight’s online courses are self-paced , which means that you can learn at your own pace. The online course provider isn’t the best choice for online courses that are taught by professors, though—the selection is much smaller than other online course providers.
Recommendation: Pluralsight is perfect online course provider for people who want to learn new things on their own time. The online course provider has a wide variety of online courses from experts online and offers online learning paths.
14. eLoomi
eLoomi is perfect online course provider for people who want to learn new things from experts online. It has a huge library of content and offers online courses in many different subjects .
Pros: Everything Learning’s online courses are taught by professors, which makes it the best choice if you prefer online courses that are taught by professors. The online course provider also offers online courses in many different subjects, which makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style .
Cons: Everything Learning doesn’t have a very large library of content. The online course provider is also expensive compared to other online course providers.
Recommendation: If you want online courses from professors , Everything Learning is perfect online course provider for you. The online course provider has a huge library of content and offers online courses in many different subjects.
15. NovoEd
NovoEd is the best online course providers if you’re looking for online courses from experts on your own time . It doesn’t have as many online courses as some of the other online course providers on this list, but it does offer online courses in a variety of different subjects.
Pros: NovoEd offers online courses from experts and has online courses in many different subjects . The online course provider is also great if you want to learn new things on your own time—all of the online courses are self-paced.
Cons: NovoEd doesn’t have a very large library of content, which might not be ideal if you want to find online courses in every subject. The online course provider is also expensive compared to other online course providers.
Recommendation: If you want online courses from experts and want online courses that you can learn at your own pace, NovoEd is the online course provider for you. The online course provider offers online courses in many different subjects.
16. Khan Academy
This is an online course provider that offers online courses for free. You have to pay if you want your online courses verified , but the online course provider is still a great resource if you’re looking for online learning paths or practice problems.
Pros: Khan Academy has hundreds of videos, which makes it one of the best options if you are looking for online courses in a particular subject. The online course provider also offers online learning paths, which can be helpful if you want to learn new things in a specific order.
Cons: Khan Academy doesn’t have online courses from experts and the videos are not always of the same quality . The online course provider is also not as good if you want online courses on your own time—you have to complete online learning paths before moving onto new online learning paths.
Recommendation: If you are looking for online courses in a particular subject, Khan Academy is the best option if you don’t mind watching videos of varying quality . However, if you want online courses that allow you to learn at your own pace, Khan Academy is not the online course provider for you.
17.Code Academy
Code Academy is a great online course provider for people who want to learn how to code. The online course provider offers online courses in many different programming languages and has a huge library of content .
Pros: Code Academy offers online courses in many different programming languages, which makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style. The online course provider also has a huge library of online lectures from experts, which makes it perfect if you are looking for online courses with high-quality content.
Cons: Code Academy doesn’t have online learning paths and the online courses take longer to complete than other online course providers. The online course provider is also not as good if you want online courses on your own time—you have to complete online courses in a specific order.
Recommendation: If you want to learn how to code, Code Academy is the best online course provider for you. However, if you are looking for online courses that allow you to learn at your own pace, Code Academy is not the online course provider for you.
18. Kadenze
Kadenze is a great online course provider for people who want to learn new things in a specific order. The online course provider offers online courses in many different subjects and has a huge library of content .
Pros: Kadenze offers online courses in many different subjects, which makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style. The online course provider also has a huge library of online lectures from experts, which makes it perfect if you are looking for online courses with high-quality content.
Cons: Kadenze doesn’t have online learning paths and the online courses take longer to complete than other online course providers. The online course provider is also not as good if you want online courses on your own time—you have to complete online courses in a specific order.
Recommendation: If you are looking for online courses that fit into an online learning path and allow you to learn at your own pace, Kadenze is not the online course provider for you. However, if you want online courses from experts in many different subjects, Kadenze is the online course provider for you.
19. Springboard
Springboard is a great online course provider for people who want to learn new things on their own time. The course provider offers online courses in many different subjects and has a huge library of content.
Pros: Springboard offers online courses on your own time, which makes it easy to find online courses that fit your interests and learning style. The course provider also has a huge library of online lectures from experts, which makes it perfect if you are looking for online courses with high-quality content.
Cons: Springboard doesn’t have online learning paths and the online courses take longer to complete than other online course providers. The online course provider is also not as good if you want online courses from experts in a specific order—you have to complete online courses on your own time.
Recommendation: If you are looking for online courses that allow you to learn at your own pace and fit into an online learning path, Springboard is the best online course provider for you. However, if you want online courses from experts in a specific order, Springboard is not the online course provider for you.
20. Memrise
Memrise is a great course provider for people who want to learn new things quickly. The online course provider offers online courses in many different subjects and has a huge library of content.
Pros: Memrise offers online courses that are quick and easy to complete, which makes it perfect if you are looking for online courses with high-quality content. The online course provider also has a huge library of online lectures from experts, which makes it perfect if you are looking for online courses with high-quality content.
Cons: Memrise doesn’t have online learning paths and the online courses take longer to complete than other online course providers. The online course provider is also not as good if you want online courses from experts in a specific order—Memrise requires users to complete online courses quickly.
Recommendation: If you are looking for online courses that fit into an online learning path and allow you to learn at your own pace, Memrise is not the best online course provider for you. However, if you want quick and easy online courses that are perfect if you have little time to complete online courses, Memrise is the best online course provider for you.
21. DataCamp
If you want online courses with high-quality content but are looking for online courses that focus on data science, DataCamp is the best online course provider for you. The online learning platform has many different types of online courses and focuses on teaching data science to users in an interactive way.
Pros: DataCamp offers online courses that are easy to complete on your own time, which makes it perfect if you have little time to complete online courses but still want online courses with high-quality content. The online learning platform also has many different types of online courses and focuses on teaching data science to users in an interactive way.
Cons: DataCamp doesn’t have online learning paths, which makes it difficult to track your progress and complete online courses in a specific order. However, the online learning platform is working on adding this feature. The online courses also take longer to complete than other online course providers.
Recommendation: If you want online courses with high-quality content but are looking for online courses that focus on data science, DataCamp is a great online course provider for you. It’s important to note that DataCamp is always updating their online courses, so be sure to check back often for new subjects and online courses!
Although we promised not to mention the top two online course providers, it’s very hard to ignore them as they are so good! Here’s why!
22. Coursera
This provider is generally recognised as the biggest online course providers, but there are a number of other online course providers that offer high-quality online courses.
Coursera is a online course provider that offers online courses in many different subjects. The online courses offered by Coursera vary in cost, but most of them have a fee associated with them.
Pros:
- Coursera has high-quality content.
- Coursera’s online courses are flexible and can be completed at your own pace.
- Coursera has a large community of online course providers who can provide support to one another.
Cons:
- Coursera’s online courses are expensive.
- Some of Coursera’s online courses might not be relevant to your needs or interests.
23. Udemy
Udemy is a another top online course provider that offers courses in many different subjects. The online courses offered by Udemy vary in cost, but most of them have a fee associated with them.
Pros:
- Udemy has high-quality content.
- Udemy’s online courses are flexible and can be completed at your own pace.
- Udemy has a large community of online course providers who can provide support to one another.
Cons:
- Some of Udemy’s courses might not be relevant to your needs or interests.
- Udemy’s online courses are expensive.
FAQs
Which is the best online course provider?
There are online course providers that offer online courses with high-quality content in many different subjects, but the best online course provider for you depends on what online courses interest you.
What is an online learning path?
An online learning path is a tool used by some online course providers to help users track their progress and complete online courses in a specific order.
Which online course provider is the cheapest?
The online courses offered by online course providers vary in cost, so it’s difficult to say which provider has the cheapest online courses. However, some online learning platforms offer free online courses through their website or app!
What are MOOCs?
MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses, are online courses that can be accessed by anyone online. MOOCs provide online learning content to millions of users who might not otherwise have access to it.
What is the best online course provider for beginners?
If you’re looking for an online course provider with easy-to-understand online courses and high-quality content, Saylor Academy is the best online course provider for you. Their online courses are perfect for beginners!
What is the difference between an online course and an online learning platform?
An online course is a self-contained program that teaches users a specific subject. An online learning platform, such as DataCamp or Udemy, is a website or app that provides online courses as well as other tools and resources to help users learn. These online learning platforms often have communities of online course providers who can provide support to one another.
What are the pros and cons of online learning?
Pros:
- You can access courses online from anywhere in the world.
- Online courses are usually flexible, which means you can complete them at your own pace.
- Online courses often have high-quality content.
Cons:
- Online courses can be expensive.
- Online courses require self-discipline and motivation to complete.
Can I get a job with an online course?
Many online course providers offer online courses that are meant for educational purposes only. Other online course providers offer online courses in subject areas that might be relevant to a user’s career, which means you can get a job with an online course!
Is it possible to complete an online certification with an online course?
It depends on the type of online course you take and the online course provider. Be sure to check with the online course provider to see if their online courses lead to certification.
What are the best free online certificate courses?
The best free online certificate courses vary depending on your interests and needs. However, some online course providers offer online courses that don’t have a cost associated with them!
Are online courses recognised by employers?
It depends on the online course you take and your career. If an online course provider offers online courses in subject areas that are relevant to a user’s desired career, it is possible for online courses to lead to job opportunities.
Are there free online certificate courses?
While many online course providers offer expensive online certification programs, some online course providers offer online courses that don’t have any associated cost!
In Conclusion
So really, the choice is yours. Choose which online course provider suits your needs and budget. Hope we’ve make your choice more informed!
References
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