Learning a new skill is easier than ever, with so many great online resources that give you flexible, cost-effective education. But what are the best online learning platforms that you should check out if you’re looking to develop new skills in your spare time? I’ve compiled a list of some of the best out there, with a brief description and why each has made it onto the list!
Skillshare
Skillshare is a fantastic online learning platform that covers a huge range of topics in video format. You’ll learn from industry experts to improve practical skills via courses that are split into useful segments. Skills that you can learn here include marketing, business, photography, design, illustration, film and video editing, and much more.
There are free videos available, that don’t go into as much depth as those that you can access with their membership plans. In the UK, Skillshare plans start at just £13 per month, or £84 per year if you pay upfront.
Best things about Skillshare:
- Free and paid classes
- In-depth learning for members
- Taught by industry experts
- Video learning
- Courses are split into digestible segments
- Many courses provide you with practice opportunities
- Develop practical skills
- Affordable monthly cost
Fiverr Learn
Fiverr Learn is mostly focused on freelancers who want to develop their skills in digital marketing, or creative skills such as photography, editing, design and writing. Although their database of courses is limited, all courses are taught by industry professionals, and have a strong focus on their specific topics.
Fiverr Learn allows you to pay for individual courses, which range anywhere from £15 all the way up to £105. Courses also range in length, from 3hrs up to 36hrs of educational content. Each course has a rating with reviews to help you decide which ones are worth investing in, and which are most likely to help you develop your skills.
Best things about Fiverr Learn:
- Focused course topics
- Focus on freelancers
- Course prices to suit a variety of budgets
- Taught by industry professionals only
- Video learning
- Ratings and reviews to help decide
YouTube
YouTube is an extremely popular content platform, mostly used for entertainment purposes. However, there are also great opportunities to learn on YouTube. Although the content is not verified by professionals, it is free and often taught by experienced people. You can learn almost anything on YouTube, whether it’s professional skills such as marketing and copywriting, financial skills, creative skills such as photography and video editing, or simply develop your hobbies such as musical instruments and languages.
Learning on YouTube allows you take things entirely at your own pace, re-watch content, and save videos to specific playlists that will help you to create your own “courses” for free.
Best things about YouTube:
- Content is completely free, always
- Video learning
- Extremely flexible – puts you in control of how and when you learn
- Lifetime access to all content
- Huge variety of topics
- Mostly taught by experienced professionals and freelancers
Coursera
Coursera provides real academic courses that are taught by real professors, so you know that you’re getting excellent education at a great price. The platform offers a wide range of courses and classes, from simple guided projects, to professional certificates, all the way to full degrees. There is a huge range of professional topics available, including marketing, business management, computer science, social sciences, maths, languages and arts.
Coursera lets you pay for individual courses, projects and degrees with financing options available, with cheaper courses starting from around £30. Learners can also sign up to Coursera Plus for £42 a month, or £284 a year which will then give them access to over 3000 courses and learning projects.
Best things about Coursera:
- Flexible learning
- High level courses and certifications available
- Financing plans available
- Huge variety of topics
- Taught by real professors and universities
- Pricing options to suit all budgets
Udemy
Udemy offers a huge range of learning courses – over 100,000 courses in almost any topic you can imagine. Whether it’s professional skills such as IT, business management, or marketing, or lifestyle skills including languages, music and fitness, Udemy has a course for it! The courses are taught by a wide range of instructors and teachers from various professions who help you to master your new skills.
The courses range in what they offer – from audio lessons, to videos, to quizzes and tests, each is created uniquely by the instructor to give you the best learning experience. As courses are offered by individual instructors, courses on Udemy are priced individually, ranging from around £10 all the way up to £150+.
Best things about Udemy:
- Huge variety of topics, including lifestyle skills
- Courses are priced to suit all budgets
- Courses offer lifetime access
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all courses
- Courses utilise a variety of teaching techniques (video, text, tests, audio & more)
EdX
EdX is a platform that offers a range of professional courses, created and taught by top universities including Harvard and MIT. Topics cover a huge range of areas, including science, business and management, law, languages, humanities and more. You can then learn these subjects at varying levels, including “MicroBachelors”, “MicroMasters”, professional certifications, and online master’s degrees.
EdX’s courses are taught in video format, and allow you to work at your own pace. Even though courses have set start dates, once you have enrolled in a course, you’re free to learn at whichever pace you want. A lot of the courses are actually free to take on EdX, however if you’ll be needing the verified certificates, you’ll have to pay anywhere from around £40, to £250+.
Best things about EdX:
- Taught by top universities and professors
- Wide range of course topics
- Professional certifications
- Large number of free courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Some courses offer transferrable credits