10 Online Education Platforms for Affordable or Free Online Courses
Grow your skills at your own pace without breaking the bank...
Looking for free online courses to upskill? Whether you're looking to pivot careers, build your CV, or explore a new interest, online learning is more accessible than ever.
Many platforms offer free online courses or also, low-cost options, which are perfect for flexible learning, at your own pace.
In this blog, I share 10 of the best platforms to help you upskill from home...
1. Udemy
Best For: Budget-friendly learning across all topics
Pricing: Courses range from £10 to £160, with regular discounts bringing many down to around £10.99. Also, a monthly Personal Plan is available from £28 per month.
About: Udemy has plenty to offer on a budget. They offer completely free online courses taught by experts, professors, entrepreneurs, and also, professionals. Moreover, they offer frequent discounts and specials on their paid courses. You'll find classes in business, tech, personal development, music and also, art.
2. Coursera
Best For: University-level courses and professional certificates
Pricing: Access content from the courses for free, or also, earn certificates from £38. Coursera Plus offers unlimited access for £47 per month or £320 per year (which works out around £27 per month).
About: If you want to take high calibre courses without a high cost, Coursera is the best stop. You can study everything from job skills and professional development to psychology, literature and also, data science. Many free online courses on Coursera are created by top universities and organisations.
3. LinkedIn Learning
Best For: Business, tech and creative professional development
Pricing: Monthly subscription at £29.99,or £19.99 per month when paid annually. One-month free trial included.
About: A subscription on LinkedIn Learning gives you access to thousands of professional courses in business, design, software, education and also, career development. You can display completed certificates directly on your LinkedIn profile, and in addition, can even track what others in your network are learning.
4. ALISON
Best For: Free certifications in practical, work-based skills
Pricing: All courses are free. Optional certificates start from £18 for digital and £26 for printed.
About: ALISON offers a wide range of comprehensive, free online courses aimed at professionals, managers, teachers, freelancers and also, jobseekers. Topics include IT, business, marketing, health, education, and also, soft skills.
5. Google Skillshop
Best For: Digital and career-specific skills using Google tools
Pricing: 100% free
About: Google Skillshop provides free online courses and certifications for Google’s many products and services, including Google Ads, YouTube, Analytics and also, Waze. Courses are geared towards careers in marketing, design, teaching, data analysis and business growth.
6. FutureLearn
Best For: Academic-style courses with flexible options
Pricing: Free to access some of the courses. Unlimited access starts at £16.67 per month if billed annually, or £32 per month if billed monthly.
About: FutureLearn’s courses are created by universities and specialist organisations. Subjects include business and management, creative arts, media, law, literature, IT, healthcare, politics, psychology and also, education. Moreover, many of the courses are free online courses, with upgrades available for certificates and assessments.
7. MasterClass
Best For: Learning from world-renowned creatives and professionals
Pricing: Annual subscription from £96 per year, with occasional discounts
About: MasterClass offers beautifully produced video lessons from the best in the world; think Gordon Ramsay on cooking, Margaret Atwood on writing, or Serena Williams on tennis. Ideal for creatives and curious minds, with topics in arts, food, design, sports, music, and also, leadership.
8. Skillshare
Best For: Creative skills and side hustles
Pricing: £23 per month, or £79 per year (works out at around £7 per month). In addition, a 30-day free trial is included!
About: Skillshare specialises in hands-on learning for creatives; graphic design, illustration, copywriting, marketing, freelancing, photography, and also, animation. Many teachers are working professionals, and classes are bite-sized for easier learning.
9. edX
Best For: Academic and professional learning from top universities
Pricing: Access to some of their online courses is free. In addition, you can obtain verified certificates from £40 to £240 depending on the course.
About: edX was founded by Harvard and MIT, offering hundreds of high-quality academic courses from leading universities and also, companies. Study subjects such as data science, law, language, business, computer science and public health.
10. OpenLearn (by The Open University)
Best For: Free learning, academic insight and also, personal enrichment
Pricing: Completely free
About: OpenLearn offers hundreds of short courses created by The Open University; they also, all happen to be free online courses! Topics include education, psychology, history, science, finance, and also, languages. In short, OpenLearn is great for learners who want academic content without the commitment.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re refreshing your CV, exploring a creative outlet, or upskilling for a new role, these platforms make it possible to access free online courses and affordable learning at your own pace!
In conclusion, upskilling through online courses is one of the best ways to invest in your career development, so use some of these affordable and free online courses to learn!
If you’d like more tailored guidance on how to develop in your career, then, explore my Career Development page for 1-1 support.