30 Best Online Courses and Learning Websites for 2025

Looking to build new skills? We’ve gathered the most up-to-date list of online courses and learning websites you can use now.

The world is constantly changing and growing, and so are all the wonderful things to learn. From evolving perspectives on history and studies of people to the world of artificial intelligence and computer science, there’s more to know than ever before.

And the great news is you don’t need a master’s degree or even a bachelor’s to harness these skills. In school, learning new things, creating new skills, and expanding your horizons is the norm. The internet helps you pursue further learning by making additional courses and training easy to find. Online classes are a great way to continue your education.

We cover 30 of the best online courses and learning websites, offering a mix of free and paid classes, courses, training, professional certificates, and more so you can upskill for the most in-demand skills.

1. Academic Earth

Academic Earth was created to ensure that everyone has access to a world-class education. Launched in 2009, it offers a curated collection of online college courses and online degree programs from top universities. Today, the platform features handpicked courses by subject, providing options for learners interested in exploring new topics or advancing their careers.

A few of the online degree pathways include:

• Business (accounting, administrative assistance, marketing, etc.)
• Computers and IT (computer science, graphic design, information systems, etc.)
• Health (health care administration, medical assisting, nutrition, etc.)
• Science and engineering (construction management, electrical engineering, wildlife conservation, etc.)
• Trades (automotive, carpentry, fashion design, HVAC, etc.)

Depending on the selected degree, students can earn anything from a certificate to a doctorate from select universities. A screening tool takes you through a questionnaire and passes on your information to the university, where you would inquire with the financial aid department regarding costs. Individual courses are limited, but some are available (such as art history) to view for free on platforms like YouTube. Use such courses for skill building only, as these aren’t transferable to a university.

2. Alison Learning Paths

Alison offers free online courses created by experts in various fields for postsecondary, non-degree training. You’ll find a mix of educators and entrepreneurs creating these certificates and diplomas.

Popular coursework includes:

• Business
• Teaching and academics
• IT
• Management
• Engineering and construction

Certificates of completion are awarded for each course, and you can see an overview of how long the course takes (about two to three hours) and who created the course (a company or individual). Most diplomas can be completed in eight to fifteen hours.

A free Alison membership gets you access to both individual certificate courses and diploma courses. A premium membership costs €7.99 ($8.29) per month or €79 ($83) per year with add-on features like a resume builder and up to 50% off certification. Diploma course digital certificates are priced at €69 ($72), and certificate course digital certificates at €22 ($23).

3. BetterExplained

For those wanting to learn math and how it applies to the real world, Better Explained is an educational platform focused on simplifying math concepts through intuitive, easy-to-understand explanations on subjects and strategies like:

• Calculus
• Colorized math topics (Euler’s formula, Pythagorean theorem, etc.)
• Articles and cheat sheets (Brevity is beautiful, intuitive learning, etc.)

Founded by Kalid Azad, the platform aims to make learning math more accessible by emphasizing clarity and memorable insights. Azad, a Princeton graduate, developed the site to help others grasp math concepts in a way that resonates beyond traditional methods.

Azad’s main course focuses on calculus, where you can read the text for free or purchase the full video course (complete with a PDF, class discussions, and webinars) for $99. In his free colored math topics series, Azad breaks down once hard-to-learn formulas with color. Math rules guide computer programming and web development, and Azad’s free methods are great for nontraditional learners.

4. Canvas Network

Canvas Network provides educators access to professional development courses and programs, and some of its courses are open to the public. Their mission is to foster openness, innovation, and experimentation in education. Browse the catalog, select a course, and click "Enroll" to access a wide range of content and lessons for free, including:

• Copyright for Educators (K-12/HE)
• Enhancing Learning in Computer Science and Mathematics
• Writing in the Disciplines (professional development)
• Statistics for Everyone
• Research Data Management Librarian Academy (best practices)

Content is also available under an open license, so those wanting to create content and lesson plans can use what Canvas makes available in some cases. Canvas offers courses and tools in a variety of languages, making it open and more accessible than some other options on our list.‍

5. Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative

Carnegie Mellon University puts most of its classes online, and the independent learner courses available through its Open Learning Initiative are free or very low cost for all users. These courses include topics like:

• Computer science and programming
• Data science and causal reasoning
• Business
• Arts and humanities
• Language and speech

Once you find a course, simply create an account and add it to your list of courses. From there, your dashboard will show your “Open and Free” course options and track your classwork status.

You’ll find resources in a variety of fields, including business management, computer programming, and chemistry, as well as courses on professional development. Free courses focus on STEM content, but you’ll find some paid plans for other subjects, such as French. Certificates of completion are available. Prices range from free to between $10 and $149 per course.

6. Codecademy

Codecademy is dedicated to teaching people how to code. The free service has helped millions of people with its fast-paced teaching method, which is designed to keep you moving and encourage you with supportive groups and a gamified points system.

The platform offers courses on a number of languages—including PHP, Python, and Ruby—as well as career courses for:

• Cloud computing
• AI
• Web development
• Data science
• Web design

Students often build and deploy projects by the end of their course, with bonus tips from other students and experts in the platform’s forum and Discord. Free courses are available for foundational skills, while paid memberships provide more direct guidance: The Plus plan ($14.99 per month billed annually) helps users build skills for projects, and the Pro plan ($19.99 per month billed annually) supports those looking to jump-start a freelance career.

7. Coursera

Coursera is one of the biggest names in online courses and education, with a global roster of universities and partners offering more than 10,000 specialized courses, certificates, and degrees. Much of the service is available for free, or you can use it to earn an online degree from an accredited university.

Software companies have also added many of their certification lessons and exams to Coursera, which can help you with things like database management or using enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools. Some of their subject offerings include:

• Data science
• Business
• Computer science
• Information technology
• Language learning
• Health

Two of their most popular specializations include the IBM AI Developer Professional Certificate and the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate.

Courses are interactive, with reading materials, videos, and discussions with other students. While you can audit some courses for free, you do have to pay to receive a certificate or complete a degree. Financial aid is available. Get started with a seven-day free trial, and opt in after that for $59 per month or $399 annually.

8. Drawspace

Drawspace offers full courses and individual lessons to help you master different drawing techniques. The interactive platform provides a mix of free and paid content. You can learn the basics of drawing and painting all the way through advanced elements, drawing people, and using special techniques to create art with tea bags or make your own colors. Students can choose between self-directed and guided learning options and are awarded a certificate of completion.

Self-directed learning

Individuals can explore a comprehensive portfolio of over 500 art lessons, setting their own goals and starting with the lessons that interest them. The course list is structured, beginning with Introduction to Drawing, where learners can complete one of five lessons in any order for part one. In part two, students explore Drawing From Line to Life, which includes lessons on drawing with erasers and using gradations. Additional topics cover contour drawing, shading techniques, composition and perspective, and more.

There are three ways to pay for self-directed learning:

• Purchase 10 class credits for $20
• Become a member for $9.50 per month for access to 15 lessons immediately; 10 lessons are added monthly, and no lesson credits are lost. This option is perfect for an art enthusiast.
• Become an unlimited member for $149.00 annually and view or download all lessons and gain access to all digital and printable formats. This option is designed for any self-directed student at any level, but it works best for homeschoolers and a classroom setting.

Guided learning

This option offers Drawspace courses, providing a structured online environment with weekly assignments to help learners progress toward their goals. Getting Started with Drawing is offered free and features step-by-step interactive education on multiple projects by a professional artist. Aside from the free courses, you can pay for instruction course by course ($115 to $149), and each course has its own syllabus.

9. edX

Harvard and MIT founded edX. The global nonprofit organization features courses from teachers and universities on topics like:

• Computer science
• Languages
• Engineering
• Biology
• Psychology
• Writing
• Electronics
• Marketing

‍Take a course, earn a certificate, sharpen your skills, or earn a degree through this interactive platform. You can search by any of those goals or by topic to see if a program catches your eye, whether self-paced or instructor-led. Most courses are free. However, you can pay for a verification certificate that attests you’ve completed a course. Open edX courses can range between $90 to $300. You can also use the platform to research degree programs and connect with programs regarding their financial aid.

10. FutureLearn

FutureLearn offers subscribers online courses from over 200 top universities and organizations, such as the University of Glasgow and King’s College London. You can earn certificates at your own pace. Popular subjects of study include:

• Business and management
• Health care and medicine
• IT and computer science
• Creative arts and media
• Science, engineering, and math

You can sign up for expert tracks to master various disciplines. For example, the Advanced and Applied AI course includes four classes in IT and computer science. The class is accredited by Microsoft and normally takes 15 weeks to complete.

The free option gives you limited access to about 1,400 short courses with lessons delivered weekly. For $244.99, the unlimited annual plan gives you immediate access to all lessons with digital certificates. You also get access to the app. For $49.99 monthly, the unlimited monthly plan provides the same features as the annual plan but allows you to pay monthly.

11. General Assembly

Focusing on education in design, business, and technology, General Assembly has campuses in several cities around the world and a comprehensive online education experience. The platform offers a mix of full-time (eight hours a day, 12 weeks) and part-time (15 hours a week, 32 weeks) bootcamps in:

• Software engineering
• User experience design
• Data analytics
• Data science

Part-time students work independently, while full-time students have a more interactive experience in class. Bootcamps are similar to the price of one year of college. For example, the UX design bootcamp costs $16,450, payable in full, in installments, or through private loans.

Courses are also available in these areas, as well as others like data analytics and visual design, at a cost of thousands of dollars. For example, the Python programming short course series costs $4,500, payable in full, in installments, or through private loans.

Limited financial aid may be available through an income-contingent plan, your employer, or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Brush up on such skills as AI for Workplace Productivity ($350) or Project Management Fundamentals ($350) with two three-hour evening workshops. Dates rotate for online and in-person workshops (New York City, for example).

General Assembly livestreams popular lectures and provides real-time interaction with the lecturer and other students. Clearly, costs vary if your choices are one-off lectures or multipart workshops.

12. GFCGlobal

The GCFGlobal program is an educational tool from the Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF) Global initiative. GCFGlobal has offered classes for nearly 20 years and primarily focuses on essential business skills to help people find work, but you’ll also discover life skills courses:

• Computers (getting started, smartphones, etc.)
• Internet skills (online safety, social media, etc.)
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.)
• Job search (career planning, resume writing, etc.)
• Creativity and design (graphic design, image editing, etc.)
• Core skills (grammar, critical thinking, etc.)

If you want to learn a core work computer program—getting as specific as learning nuances of Office 2019 or Office 365—this is a strong starting point. The service currently offers more than 2,300 lessons on over 200 topics, all for free. You don’t even have to register.

13. Hack Design

HackDesign is a program designed to help you create a career in design and continue to grow. Its main offering is a weekly design lesson delivered via email. The content is free, and the site provides a curated list of lessons, including:

• Typography
• User experience
• User interface
• Graphic design basics
• Interaction design
• Product design

One thing to note is that HackDesign doesn’t always follow a traditional course. Because its teachers often come from design firms, some lessons are in the form of blog posts, recommended tools, and other materials hosted on those firms’ websites. That said, you’ll get access to talented thought leaders and new experiences, such as games to help you test your abilities.

14. Harvard Online Courses

If you’re interested in studying business development or science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM), Harvard Online courses give you a mix of free and paid programs in such categories as:

• Art and design
• Business
• Computer science
• Data Science
• Education and teaching
• Humanities
• Mathematics
• Programming

Most courses are self-paced and include lectures from Harvard professors and additional study materials. Every piece of audio or video content comes with a transcript to provide greater accessibility. While Harvard has put thousands of courses online over the years, it offers only a few hundred at any given time. This means most courses have registration deadlines.

Costs for courses vary, from a three-week course in Outsmarting Implicit Bias for $550 to a five-week course in Innovations in Teamwork for Health Care.

15. HTML Dog

If you want to learn HTML, a great place to start is HTML Dog, which focuses on helping you get a website up and running. Much of the content is delivered as step-by-step guides and references to perform a specific task. You’ll learn:

• Coding languages. HTML Dog offers nine tutorials across three core languages: HTML (structure), CSS (presentation), and JavaScript (interaction). Each section includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced tutorials, providing a clear path for learners at every level.
• How-to techniques for common web design features. Techniques include pull quotes, customized underlines, CSS navigation elements like tabs and drop-downs, and creating custom forms and error pages.
• Examples to build your own. Concise examples showcase different HTML elements and CSS properties. Interact with the code and observe the outcomes. Topics covered include text styling, links, layout techniques, navigation elements, and form controls.
• References. This area provides detailed information on HTML and CSS, including tags, properties, selectors, and media queries, along with their usage and examples.

This option is a great way to polish your skills for free or get help with a specific issue you’re experiencing on a website. However, it doesn’t dive deep into theory or feature long explanations of computer science in general.

16. Instructables

The team at Instructables insists that hands-on learning is fun. This website is designed to showcase projects where people build physical items, including food. The final product is the reward. Instructables has seven project categories for free projects:

• Circuits. Over 29,000 projects, ranging from creating a mini plotter to building a smartphone-controlled "smart padlock."
• Workshop. More than 29,000 projects, including crafting 3D-printed lamps and making wooden dowel rods.
• Craft. Over 28,000 creative projects, such as transforming natural materials into art and designing Halloween-inspired finger puppets.
• Cooking. Over 20,000 projects featuring delicious recipes like poke bowls and stuffed peppers, alongside outdoor cooking endeavors like building a clay pizza oven and a portable coffee strainer.
• Living. Over 19,000 practical projects, from constructing a hands-free portable sink to mastering the art of French braiding hair.
• Outside. More than 7,000 outdoor projects, including baking bread on a stick and building a pergola using 4x2s and 4x4s.
• Teachers. Offers a specially curated section dedicated to helping teachers inspire, engage, and prepare students from kindergarten to university with hands-on projects that are always free, fun, and perfect for enhancing classroom lessons.

17. Iversity

Hailed as the “Coursera of Europe,” Berlin-based Iversity has partnered with European and international universities to offer academic courses for free and paid, including:

• Global supply chains
• Taxes
• Employability skills
• Design thinking
• Employer branding
• Political philosophy

The company has certificates and verification of course completion for most of its classes, allowing students to verify course participation and learning with an official document. Costs vary, from free to Pro (€99-€299, or $103-$310). The Espresso course provides a shorter, knowledge-intensive option and a certificate (€19-€59, or $20-$61). Courses are interactive; you can post to the forum and take notes in a community journal.

Businesses can partner with Iversity to train their workforce, and individuals can take classes specific to a type of work, organization, or software. If du Deutsch sprichst or tu parles français, this service could be a great help.

18. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a nonprofit online platform providing a free library of educational microlectures. Focusing on more traditional academic subjects, Khan Academy provides a mix of video and text-based materials in such subjects as:

• Math. Covers topics from early math (pre-K, ages 4-5) to high school and college-level mathematics, including algebra, geometry, calculus, and statistics (ages 6-18+).
• Science. Encompasses middle school and high school subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences (ages 11-18+).
• Economics. Covers macroeconomics and microeconomics, including AP-level content (ages 14-18+).
• Reading and language arts. Focuses on reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills for grades K-12 (ages 5-18+).
• Humanities. Includes history, art history, government, and civics, along with AP-level courses (ages 11-18+).
• Computer programming. Offers programming courses, computer science principles, and projects like "Pixar in a Box" (ages 11-18+).

Since Khan Academy is free, it’s a great way to get a taste of a subject before moving on to a more advanced course elsewhere. The academy also teaches life skills. Learners of all ages can benefit from this free and interactive content. You don’t have to sign up for anything.

19. LifeHack

LifeHack is a learning tool focused on making the most of your life by “hacking” it to achieve more or accomplish tasks with ease. The platform offers free assessments, books, and classes, plus a podcast video series. Of the items on our list, this resource focuses more on how you live and learn. Some of their most popular courses include:

• Hack Procrastination. Guided instruction occurs during set time blocks and it breaks tasks down in a smarter way, among others.
• Make it Happen. A three-week structured program to help busy people achieve their goals.
• Full Life Framework. A program designed to guide you through self-assessment for five days, establishing Life Missions, setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, creating sustainable success systems, and discovering essential life skills to unlock your potential.

Courses are delivered via video instruction, and a PDF is provided for review. The website also offers free articles on such topics as prioritization, distraction, focus, motivation, and life balance. Free tools, from the S.M.A.R.T. goal setter to the morning routine planner, help you build healthy routines. Membership costs are $348 per year or $44.95 per month.

20. LinkedIn Learning

In 2016, the industry-leading education platform Lynda.com became LinkedIn Learning. This learning platform offers an extensive video skills and tutorial library with 23,000+ courses, including popular courses like:

• Goal Setting: Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)
• Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365)
• Interpersonal Communication
• Cultivating a Growth Mindset
• SQL Essential Training

The service largely focuses on technology skills like programming in multiple languages. You’ll need a LinkedIn account, and the company says it will provide courses and make recommendations based on your current job, skills, and what professionals like you are learning.

For individuals, subscriptions start at $29.99 per month following a one-month free trial. Career support features are also included, such as displaying certificates of completion and an AI profile assistant writing tool.

21. MasterClass

A MasterClass subscription gives users access to over 200 on-demand individual courses. Each option contains video lectures and bonus content, such as class guides. You can watch classes online or download the MasterClass app to access course materials on the go.

MasterClass courses are taught by world-class industry experts. For example, you can learn cooking from Gordon Ramsey, science from Bill Nye, and basketball skills from Stephen Curry. Courses span a wide range of topics, including:

• Business
• Writing
• Home and lifestyle
• Food
• Wellness

Choose from three annual membership plans, each with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. The Standard plan is $10 per month for one device without offline mode. The Plus plan is $15 per month for two devices with offline access. The Premium plan is $20 per month for six devices with offline capabilities. All plans include access to over 200 classes and bonus content.

22. MIT OpenCourseWare

The MIT OpenCourseWare project offers a broad set of courses to browse however you want (you don’t need to enroll or even sign up for an account). Available courses include the syllabus and instructional materials you need—many even offer free online versions of the textbooks mentioned by the teachers. You can find thousands of undergraduate and graduate-level courses in such subjects as:

• Business and entrepreneurship
• Energy
• Fine arts
• Humanities
• Math
• Science
• Teaching

You can also sort by audio and video classes if you find that type of content easier to use and more engaging. Not all courses offer video. All courses are free.

23. Open Culture

Open Culture collects online education materials and supports lifelong learning with free classes, audio, and video. The nonprofit looks across the internet to find free learning resources and gathers them so they’re easy to browse, sort, and use. Open Culture currently lists more than 1,700 free courses, predominantly from universities, including:

• Humanities and social sciences
• Education
• Economics and finance
• Science
• Business
• Computer science

Students can opt to receive a credit or certificate for some classes for an additional fee, with Open Culture earning a commission from hosts like Coursera or edX. To enroll in a free version of a massive open online course (MOOC), users should choose “Full Course, No Certificate” on edX or “Audit” on Coursera; fees apply for certificate options.

24. Open Yale Courses

Yale University makes a broad range of lectures and classes available through the Open Yale Courses (OYC) program. Each course includes a full set of class lecture videos featuring Yale professors, as well as course materials like syllabi, suggested readings, exams, problem sets, and answer keys. Many courses are foundational and introductory reviews of broad areas of study, such as:

• Biology
• Physics
• Economics
• Political science
• Humanities
• Religious studies
• Languages

Open Yale Courses offers free lectures and materials from selected Yale courses across many disciplines, with no registration required and no course credit, degree, or certificate available. Designed for self-directed learners and educators, users can audit courses and download or remix content as needed.

25. Chegg Skills

Focused on web development, Chegg Skills is a more intensive option for those wanting to learn quickly. Instead of short courses or lectures, this structured program runs for five to ten hours per week over six to nine months for full-time students. Some courses may require 10 to 20 hours per week for up to ten months. Chegg Skills offers several skill-building certificate programs, such as:

• Software engineering
• Data analytics
• Data engineering
• UX/UI design
• Business  management
• Cybersecurity

Chegg Skills directs individuals to apply through Guild, which acts as a conduit between the learning partner and student. Some programs, like data science, offer one-on-one mentorship. Chegg Skills courses range in price, with an overall cost of about $13,475, while some courses, such as Digital Marketing Flex, are available for around $4,600. Chegg Skills graduates reported an average salary increase of $8,500 and greater job satisfaction.

26. Skillcrush

Skillcrush is a coding-focused learning company that offers an ongoing free coding bootcamp to help people learn the basics and charges for more in-depth classes with hands-on support in areas like:

• Front end development
• User experience
• Visual design
• Digital marketing
• HTML coding

The bootcamp is designed for beginners to learn computer science and coding, so experience or existing coding knowledge isn’t required. Certificates of completion are provided.

The company offers two main tuition payment options: a one-time upfront payment of $2,999, which has no interest and provides the lowest overall cost, and monthly installment payments starting as low as $139 per month. Monthly plans are flexible, with options for up to 18 payments or fixed 12-month payments. Regardless of the payment method chosen, all students receive lifetime access to the self-paced platform and course materials.

27. Skillshare

Skillshare is a community marketplace for new skills, and there’s a good chance it has sponsored your favorite independent artists, YouTubers, or podcasters. With a broad range of subjects, Skillshare offers an online catalog of video-based creative courses in categories such as:

• Music and audio
• Art and illustration
• Writing and publishing
• Design
• Film and video
• Marketing and business

You can also learn during live sessions and one-on-one sessions. Many classes are available without a membership and for free. Sign up for a free trial. Get access to paid courses with a premium membership, billed annually for $168.

28. Stanford Engineering Everywhere

Stanford Engineering Everywhere (SEE) extends the Stanford experience to students and educators online and at no charge. Classes can be streamed or downloaded. Instruction focuses on engineering and includes the courses taken by the majority of Stanford’s undergraduates, such as:

• Introduction to Computer Science, including programming methodology, programming abstractions, and programming paradigms
• Artificial Intelligence, including introduction to robotics and machine learning
• Linear Systems and Optimization, including the Fourier transform and its applications, introduction to linear dynamical systems, convex optimization I, and Convex Optimization II

SEE courses provide free access to content from actual campus courses, including lecture videos, lecture slides, reading lists, handouts, homework assignments, quizzes, examinations, and solution sets where applicable. The pilot program was originally funded by Sequoia Capital.

29. Udacity

Udacity has strong content on technology, focusing on a small but well-crafted selection of courses. If you’re looking to break into data science, AI, or cloud computing, Udacity’s data science program has an impressive roster of teachers from companies like Salesforce and Facebook. Courses include subjects like:

• Data science
• Programming and development
• Artificial intelligence
• Business
• Autonomous systems
• Product management
• Cloud computing

Udacity’s pricing structure allows you to pay for your courses monthly as part of what it calls a “Nanodegree.” Udacity offers an Individual Plan for $949. Monthly billing with access to all courses is available at $149.40. Classes come with real-world projects, tech support, and career services.

30. Udemy

Udemy is a personal learning company offering courses at different prices. One of the nicest elements of Udemy is that it offers a wide range of classes on traditional educational topics, as well as specific business skills (such as how to use Microsoft Excel for financial analysis) and student class ratings. Udemy’s course categories include:

• Development
• Business
• Finance and accounting
• IT and software
• Design
• Marketing
• Health and fitness

Most courses are inexpensive, but costs can scale as the subject matter gets more specialized or complex. The Personal Plan starts at $20 per month with access to 12,000+ courses, certification prep, and AI-powered coding exercises. For teams of two to 20, the Team Plan is $30 per user per month, offering the same course access along with analytics and adoption reports.

Start your education journey today

Online learning websites provide a chance for anyone to continue their education and sharpen their skills. We hope you’ve found this list helpful and are excited to pursue knowledge and grow.

For more free resources and advice, check out Upwork’s Resource Center. Good luck with your classes, study sessions, and wherever this new information may take you. Ready to put your new found skills to work? Sign up for Upwork and start applying for jobs today.

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Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

Prices are current at the time of writing and may change over time based on each service’s offerings.