Online courses are a great way to build new skills in a relatively short period of time. They are less expensive than traditional classes and you can follow a course from the comfort of your own home.
In this guide, you’ll find the best online course websites covering a range of topics, including digital marketing, graphic design, coding, personal development, marketing, business, photography, and much more.
All courses are delivered online by accredited academies and online learning platforms. Together with the paid courses, the list includes some great free online courses that are definitely worth your time.
So, if you want to explore new career paths, build a new skill, start a new hobby or learn a new discipline, you’ll love this list. We’ve done our research and handpicked the best free and paid sites offering online training courses. All you have to do is find the best course for you and start learning!
Top 20 Websites to Find Online Courses
These are the best online course websites to find high-quality online courses :
- Reliablesoft Academy
- Udemy
- Coursera
- Udacity
- Skillshare
- MasterClass
- Google Skillshop
- LinkedIn Learning
- Codecademy
- HubSpot Academy
- Simplilearn
- Semrush Academy
- edX
- Google Digital Garage
- Meta Blueprint
- Harvard University (Online Courses)
- Microsoft Learn
- Alison (Free Online Courses)
- Upskillist
- CXL Institute
1. Reliablesoft Academy
Founded in 2002, Reliablesoft Digital Marketing Academy is one of the most reliable training platforms to learn digital marketing. Through their online academy, they offer 13 courses covering all important areas of digital marketing, including:
- SEO
- Facebook / Instagram Ads
- Google Analytics
- eCommerce
- Content Marketing
- Keyword Research
- Email Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Affiliate Marketing
- Retargeting
- YouTube Marketing
- Google Ads
Their most popular course is the Digital Marketing Full Course, which teaches students the secrets of online marketing through a series of videos and tutorials. Upon completing the course, you can get an SEO and Digital Marketing Certification.
Students can download the courses offline or follow the lessons using the online interface.
Reliablesoft courses are highly rated by students, affordable, and have a 60-day unconditional money-back guarantee (the best money-back from all online academies).
Currently, online courses are offered at an 80% discount. The offer is valid for a limited time only.
2. Udemy
Udemy is perhaps the most popular online learning platform. According to statistics provided by the company, they have more than 130K online courses in their database and a student base of 35 million people.
Udemy courses are grouped into several categories, the most popular are:
- Design
- Development
- Marketing
- IT and Software
- Personal Development
- Business
- Photography
- Music
Udemy courses are budget-friendly and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. In their library, besides paid courses, you’ll also find a number of free courses. Just type in “Free Courses” in their search bar, and you’ll get a list of more than 10,000 courses you can follow without paying.
To find the best courses on Udemy, choose one of the course categories from the top menu and then filter the results based on the number of ratings. You can also look for the ‘bestseller’ badge displayed in the description of popular courses.
If Udemy is not the right learning platform for you, there are great alternatives.
3. Coursera
Coursera offers online courses from world-class universities and reputable companies. It positions itself as a leading online learning platform for higher education. They claim to have more than 70M learners worldwide and partnerships with more than 200 universities and educators in different industries.
In their catalog, you’ll find a number of free courses, paid courses, specializations, certificates, and degree programs.
Their most popular course categories are:
- Data Science
- Business
- Computer Science
- Personal Development
- Information Technology
University students can enroll in Coursera courses for free, provided their university is part of their partners’ program.
For non-university students, the cost varies per course, specialization, and certificate. For some courses, you can enroll for free and then pay for the certificate. For other courses, you can buy a monthly subscription and access a number of courses as long as you pay the monthly fee.
While Coursera offers great courses and accredited certifications from leading companies and universities, its refund policy is very strict.
So, I recommend reading their pricing fees and conditions before enrolling in a course to avoid any unpleasant surprises. You can also consider one of the Coursera Alternatives.
4. Udacity
Udacity focuses on career advancement and provides the essential tools to succeed in landing the job of your dreams. The website has a robust catalog that not only covers the skill but also provides classes on applying for jobs and interviewing.
Here are the training programs that are included:
- Programming and Development
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cloud Computing
- Data Science
- Business
- Autonomous Systems
- Career
Udacity is another free membership platform offering free and paid online courses. There is no monthly subscription requirement, but registering as a user is necessary in order to gain access to the catalog. Within the search features, it allows you to filter free courses so that you can browse if you’d like to try them before you buy.
This platform also offers career prep opportunities, including meeting with career coaches, resume reviews, LinkedIn reviews, and more. Just an added bonus to the Udacity platform and in line with their mission to train the world’s workforce in the careers of the future.
5. Skillshare
Jumping from the very techy world of coding, Skillshare was founded with creatives in mind. Skillshare seeks to not only help members get inspired and learn new skills but also allow instructors to share their expertise and earn money.
Founded in 2010, Skillshare has curated some of the best online classes to take for innovators and creators.
Here are just a few of the categories it offers:
- Illustration
- Design
- Photography
- Video
- Freelancing
In order to access all Skillshare courses, you will need to create a Premium account which comes with a 7-day free trial. After the trial period, you can pay an annual fee of $99 or $19/mo. I even saw a 30% off special on their website, so be sure to look out for the deals!
What I find valuable about this membership is that you will receive access to ALL of the incredible online classes and workshops available on the platform. To help you narrow down your decision, here is a list of the best skillshare courses you can take this year.
You are able to follow your favorite instructors, keep a library of the classes that you want to take, check out your class history, and have more convenient and user-friendly features. It’s definitely one to check out.
6. MasterClass
If you’re into pop culture, you’ll love being a part of MasterClass. Ranging from industries such as acting, creative writing, sports, and beyond, popular celebrities and experts in the field are sharing their mastery with the everyday person.
The platform is fun and current but still packed with education.
Here are some of the course topics that are covered in MasterClass:
- Business
- Arts & Entertainment
- Sports & Gaming
- Science & Tech
- Design & Style
- Music
- Food
- Writing
MasterClass is set up as a membership platform at $15/mo billed annually. Although they do not offer a free trial, they do extend a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
It’s very user-friendly allowing downloading to watch offline, the use of PDF workbooks for every class, and mobile-friendly. They add new classes every month so you are sure to have more to browse. If you are curious, MasterClass is for you.
Additional resources to find more online courses
- Best Digital Marketing Courses – 10 great courses to teach yourself digital marketing online.
- Best Social Media Marketing Courses – the top courses to learn social media marketing.
- Best Content Marketing Courses – free and paid courses to get started with content marketing.
- Best SEO Courses – a list of SEO courses with a certification to build your SEO skills and become an expert.
- Best eCommerce Courses – online courses to teach yourself eCommerce. The list includes both free and paid training courses.
- Best Free SEO Courses – the best free courses on search engine optimization. Take online or download offline.
- Best Google Ads Courses – the best courses to master the secrets of Google Ads.
- Best Free Online Marketing Courses – a list of the top courses on online marketing that are 100% free.
- Best WordPress Courses – the top courses to learn WordPress online.
7. Google Skillshop
It’s no surprise that many businesses are using Google as a platform to run, scale, and advertise their businesses. With a mission to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful,” it’s no wonder it has managed to turn its name into an action one can actually take.
Because of its usefulness in the digital marketing world, it’s worth checking out their free Google Skillshop center to learn more about using their platform. Through Skillshop you can achieve a number of free Google certifications in the following categories:
- Google Ads
- Google for Education
- Google Marketing Platform
- Analytics Academy
- Google My Business
- YouTube
- Google Ad Manager
- Google Cloud
- Waze Academy
- Google AdMob
- Authorized Buyers
- Android Enterprise Academy
is a free learning center with lengthy and in-depth lessons. If you’re looking to move forward with Google Ads or use the Google platform in any way to market your business, Skillshop is definitely worth browsing.
8. LinkedIn Learning
As a platform that aims to connect professionals with one another, it’s a seamless transition to using LinkedIn as a professional development tool. LinkedIn Learning has over 16,000 of some of the top online courses in a wide range of industries.
The courses are broken down into the 3 main categories of business, creative, and technology.
Here are just some of the sub-categories available on the platform:
- Business Analysis and Strategy
- Career Development
- Finance and Accounting
- Leadership and Management
- Marketing Sales
- Audio and Music
- Photography
- Graphic Design
- Web Development
- And so much more
LinkedIn Learning provides a mix of both paid and free courses with a monthly membership of $29/mo. You are able to try it for free for a full month on an individual plan. One of the unique features of this platform is that they offer team memberships when you fill out a form to connect with a sales consultant.
With industry experts teaching these online learning courses, it has been trusted by industry leaders such as Kellogg’s, Lego, MGM Resorts, Zillow, and more. If you have a goal to make the learning culture a part of your team, LinkedIn Learning is a top-notch option.
9. Codecademy
If you’re looking to uplevel your knowledge in an industry that is the way of the future, Codecademy has some of the best online courses available for coding. Codecademy is looking to rebuild the education system from the bottom up in creating the education that the world truly needs.
Here are the subjects that Codecademy courses offer:
- Web Development
- Data Science
- Computer Science
- Developer Tools
- Machine Learning
- Code Foundations
- Web Design
- Game Development
- Mobile Development
- Data Visualization
There is also a wide range of coding languages that are offered such as Javascript, HTML & CSS, PHP, and more.
The pricing for Codecademy is a 3-tier membership. The good news here is that there is a free option, and although this option is limited in its content and real-world projects, it’s a great way to get some foundational training.
The Pro Tier is intended for the individual and is $19.99/mo paid annually or $29.99/mo if paid on a monthly basis. The 3rd tier is a team member which you can get a quote if you enter your email and company name. There is also a discount for college students!
Overall, if you want to add coding to your professional skills, Codeacademy is the place to start.
10. HubSpot Academy
Hubspot Academy offers everything from quick and practical courses to comprehensive certifications. They aim to help business professionals develop their skills regarding inbound sales, marketing, and customer support.
Hubspot is a reliable and credible platform which is one of the many reasons it’s one of the best places to educate yourself or your team.
Listed here are some of Hubspot’s course topics:
- Digital Marketing
- Web Development
- Customer Service
- Sales
- Advertising
- Hubspot Software
Even though you do have to create an account to get access to the Hubspot Academy courses, it is completely free. So if you are willing to invest your time in learning more about digital marketing, sales, and advertising, this is a great option for you.
If you are active on LinkedIn, the free certification courses will benefit you. Adding industry-recognized badges to your profile lets potential clients know that you are educated and willing to invest in your professional development. A little time and effort go a long way.
11. Simplilearn
Starting out in 2009 as a blog sharing project management tips, Simplilearn has grown into the world’s #1 online Bootcamp. This platform offers high-end classes for digital professionals from industry leaders.
Through individual courses, comprehensive certification programs, and partnerships with world-renowned universities, this platform provides work-ready skills for the ever-changing digital world.
Among these online courses are topics that cover:
- Project Management
- Cyber Security
- Cloud Computing
- Business & Leadership
- IT Service
- Digital Marketing
- Software Development
- Quality Management
Simplilearn is compiled of individual courses, so there is no membership requirement. If you are looking for higher education options and access to some of the best online classes in digital skills, this platform is worth browsing.
Some of the online boot camps offer both self-paced and live class recording options, and depending on the complexity and caliber of the course, it could range anywhere from $99-$3,000+.
I suggest thoroughly checking out the landing page of the course you are considering; watching the intro video, looking at the ratings, and reading the FAQs will help you avoid unrealistic expectations.
12. Semrush Academy
Semrush is all about online visibility, making its online courses on digital marketing top-notch. Not only does Semrush offer these courses, but they have an entire platform of SEO and digital marketing tools that are free for users. SEMRush Academy is a bonus feature.
Here are the categories that are included:
- SEO
- Content Marketing
- Pay Per Click
- Social Media Management
- Competitive Research
- SEMRush Software
And everything they offer in the academy is 100% free. Once you are a registered SEMRush user, click on your desired category and start browsing, watching, and getting certified.
So, if getting more digital marketing knowledge is on your to-do list, check out these online learning courses.
13. edX
What edX has to offer is higher education that’s accessible to anyone. Founded by Harvard and MIT, this platform has some of the best online courses from the most popular universities around the world.
There is a wide range of subjects on edX including:
- Agriculture
- Art
- Chemistry
- Communication
- Design
- Engineering
- Food & Nutrition
- History
- Language
- Math
- Music
- Philosophy
- Science
edX provides free access to its catalog of both free and paid online courses. The unique feature of this platform is that they provide accessible college programs including online Master’s Degrees.
If you’re looking for continuing education in any form, but are a busy person needing online accessibility, these programs are the perfect opportunity for you.
14. Google Digital Garage
Google Digital Garage (now part of Google Skillshop) is unique in that, although it has its own set of courses, it has also curated courses from other online course platforms (some even on this list already!) Google Digital Garage also offers live classes that are streamed through YouTube.
Here are the 3 main categories that are included in this learning platform:
- Digital Marketing
- Career Development
- Data & Tech
Google Digital Garage is free and very user-friendly. If you’re looking for the best place to learn more but not be overwhelmed, this is a great option for you. There are simple categories and filters so that you can narrow down your search.
Selections may take you off of the platform to another online course website, but you can simply click on the filter “Google” under course provider to make sure you are selecting one of the Google courses. There is even one free digital marketing certification course available!
15. Meta Blueprint
Meta Blueprint is a social media marketing course library full of self-paced and step-by-step tutorials. Not only do they offer courses, but they also have advanced courses in Facebook advertising and certifications as well.
Some of the courses here include:
- How to Advertise on Instagram
- How to Create Ads on Facebook
- Get Started with Commerce Manager
- Map the Customer Journey
Again, Meta Blueprint is another free platform that allows you to uplevel your digital marketing skills with no risk. When logged in to Facebook, you are able to keep track of your course program and build your own library of active courses.
The certification program that it offers is a sure way to stand out on your resume and LinkedIn. You can take the blueprint courses, take practice exams, view a study guide, and then participate in the official certification exams. It’s worth the effort!
16. Harvard University (Online Courses)
Harvard University has an entire site dedicated to its online learning. Because of its resources, the subjects available range anywhere from art & design, to health & medicine, and then to programming.
Here is a list of more categories that Harvard University offers online:
- Business
- Computer Science
- Education & Teaching
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science
These programs range anywhere from $0 to $50,000+. Although most of the classes offer certificates of completion, some can be completed as credit toward a degree. If you want some formal education in your field, Harvard University is the best place to be.
17. Microsoft Learn
Microsoft learning aims to encourage both beginners and experienced professionals to achieve their goals faster with self-paced learning. There are 3 ways to learn on this platform through online courses, certifications, and live and recorded events.
Rather than categories, Microsoft Learn breaks down the courses by role:
- Administrator
- AI Engineer
- App Maker
- Business Analyst
- Business User
- Data Analyst
- Data Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Database Administrator
Microsoft Learn is not the most user-friendly site, so I suggest using the “Discover Your Path” function to find the courses that are right for you.
The courses range from no cost up to $1,500+. If you head over to this platform, make sure to check out the “Learn TV” option for some valuable learning opportunities.
18. Alison (Free Online Courses)
Alison’s belief is that “free education, more than anything, has the power to break through boundaries and transform lives. They are one of the world’s largest free learning platforms for education and skills training and offer a wide range of categories including:
- IT
- Language
- Science
- Health
- Humanities
- Business
- Math
- Marketing
- Lifestyle
- And more
As advertised in its mission statement, Alison provides all of its courses for absolutely free. Of course, the trade-off for that is that you will see ads throughout the platform, which seems like a good deal. But if you aren’t about that, you can pay a $7.99 monthly fee.
Another thing to know is that the courses are free, but the diplomas and certificates are not. So if you are looking to have certificates for your resume, be aware of that before getting started.
19. Upskillist
With 100+ courses to choose from, Upskillist offers a plethora of online courses. They believe it’s never too late to learn, so they make it easy for real qualifications that lead to success.
These online courses included categories like:
- Photography
- Marketing
- Business
- Beauty
- Health & Wellness
- Technology
- Music
- Design
- And more
Upskillist starts with a 4-week free trial. Then, you can select one of their premium subscription plans. The cost is $39/mo (for 3 months), $35/mo (for 6 months), and $19/mo (12 months).
Their courses offer certifications and have the bonus of being educator-supported, meaning you can get your questions answered, which is always helpful when navigating online courses.
20. CXL Institute
CXL Institute offers 100+ online courses covering different topics. The main areas include:
- Marketing
- Analytics
- CRO
- Advertising
- Content Marketing
- eCommerce
- Management
You can pay $249 monthly and get unlimited access to all courses or buy courses individually for $299. All CXL courses come with a Certification and a 7-day money-back guarantee.
All instructors are industry experts and the lessons are carefully crafted to keep learners engaged throughout the course.
Key Learnings
Learning a new skill is easier these days with the plethora of online courses available on the Internet. You can go through a course at your own pace and without having to attend a physical class on campus.
Most courses listed above are on-demand and offer lifetime access, meaning that you can follow the course at any time and for as long as you want.
The cost varies per academy and type of course but it’s affordable for most people and less expensive than classroom-based learning.
You can also view our list of the best online courses with certificates to find high-quality online courses that come with a free certification.
Do you know of any great courses or online course providers missing from the list? Let me know in the comments below.
