The 5 Best Free Educational Platforms Worth Bookmarking

There is no doubt that the internet has made it easier for everyone to learn new things.

Whether you're looking to improve your career skills or just learn something new for fun, there are plenty of platforms out there that offer free courses and content that make information readily available and within reach.

The problem, though, is that with so much information making rounds out there, it can be difficult to find high-quality, reputable sources worth learning from!

So, to help you find great places to learn online, we'll take a closer look at five of the best free educational platforms that you can find online—going over the type of educational video content each one offers and giving you a bit of insight into why each of them is worth checking out!

1. Coursera

The first educational platform on our list is Coursera, and perhaps the largest when it comes to online courses and educational content.

Coursera offers free online courses from top universities and colleges around the world. It has more than 3,900 distinct courses from over 90 institutions worldwide, including many top-tier universities. Much of the service is free, and you may even obtain an accredited university's online degree using it. You can explore a wide range of topics, including business, computer science, data science, and more. Plus, you can earn certificates for completing specific courses.

Many software companies have also added many of their certification courses and tests to Coursera, which can aid you in areas such as using database management software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools, and more. Coursera has the most classes, courses, and accreditation support of any on our list because of its free lessons, paid degrees, and membership programs.

Who is it for?

Anyone who wishes to learn from prestigious institutions, such as those seeking a one-time course or certification.

2. edX

edX is a non-profit organization that offers free online courses from the world's leading universities. These include Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, and others.

edX was founded by Harvard and MIT, and the platform has taught over 20 million people since its inception. It offers lessons from instructors and schools worldwide in fields such as computer science, writing, engineering, psychology, languages, electronics, marketing, and biology. It’s worth mentioning that the courses found on edX are more comprehensive and in-depth than many of those offered by Coursera. They are also typically longer as well; ranging from four to twelve weeks in duration.

Courses on edX often culminate in a final exam or project, which you must complete to earn a certificate of completion. If you want an accredited degree or course credit from one of the partnering universities, you'll have to pay for it; these generally cost around $300 per course. However, plenty of free courses are available that can help improve your career skills or just teach you something new.

Who is it for?

Its broad range of courses is suitable for people of all ages who want to learn about a specific topic, like marketing or programming, or acquire new abilities with an eye for degree certification.

3. LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)

LinkedIn Learning is a great platform for anyone who wants to learn new business or technology skills.

The platform offers over 13,000 courses on everything—from web development and high-end video production—to project management and sales. LinkedIn Learning is free for all LinkedIn members, and you can access the courses at any time without paying a fee. However, if you want to download course materials or get a certificate of completion, you'll need to sign up for a paid membership which starts at $19.99/month.

LinkedIn Learning is definitely worth checking out whether you're looking to improve your resume or just learn career-related things. With so many courses available, it's easy to find something that interests you and can help you reach your goals. Plus, since industry experts teach the courses, you can be confident that you're learning up-to-date and relevant information.

Who is it for?

The vast majority of LinkedIn users, like you and me, are professionals or businesses wanting to educate their workers. Apart from individual learners, company teams, institutions of higher education, and government agencies may use the platform for educational and training objectives.

4. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a bit different from the other platforms on our list in that it isn't affiliated with any universities or colleges. However, it's still an excellent resource for learning something new.

The institution operates as a non-profit online initiative that offers a free, extensive library of "micro-lectures" to anyone with access to the internet. The site provides top-tier video content and exercises on a wide variety of topics, including math, science, history, economics, and more. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has helped the company expand its online offerings for children of school age with more material, lesson plans, and other features.

One of the best things about Khan Academy is that it's geared toward people of all ages. Whether you're a student trying to get ahead in your classes or an adult who wants to learn something new, Khan Academy keeps up with video trends and has content that will appeal to you. Plus, the platform keeps track of your progress so you can pick up where you left off at any time.

Overall, Khan Academy is a fantastic place to start before moving on to a more advanced course elsewhere since it's free for everyone to use.

Who is it for?

Khan Academy is for anyone who wants to dive deeper into eLearning software, platforms, and courses, both as teachers and students. If you are interested in learning new things and expanding your curriculum, Khan Academy is for you.

5. Skillshare

You probably are familiar with Skillshare as the company regularly sponsors YouTubers and podcasters.

Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers courses in a variety of creative and business-related topics. The platform offers over 27,000 online courses on topics like graphic design, web development, photography, YouTube video editing, and more. While some courses are free to take, others require a monthly subscription which starts at $32/month.

The platform offers both free and paid memberships; with a paid membership you get unlimited access to all of the platform's courses as well as some premium features like offline viewing and exclusive content. Many courses may be taken without a membership and are completely free. Some classes do have a cost, and these instructors utilize online training as their source of income.

Who is it for?

It's ideal for students interested in the creative arts, technology, business, and lifestyle classes. In addition, it's great for instructors that work in the creative industry and wish to supplement their income through Skillshare's royalty system and referral program.

Bonus Round - Udemy

To be fair, Udemy deserves a place on the list, but unlike the platforms listed here, Udemy isn't free.

Udemy is an online learning platform and teaching marketplace with over 130,000 courses. It has a wide variety of courses on offer, from programming and personal development to virtual marketing. However, unlike Coursera, not all of the courses are free.

Udemy is a good option if you're looking for a more comprehensive experience than what's offered for free on other platforms. This is because the courses on Udemy are usually longer and more in-depth than those offered on other sites, and they often come with extra features like course materials and quizzes.

The average cost for a course on Udemy is about $15, but you can often find them discounted at around $12.99. One of the best features of Udemy is that it offers a diverse selection of traditional academic topics and specialized business skills, such as how to use Excel for financial analysis or how to start an e-commerce business.

Like Coursera, Udemy offers certification upon completion of certain courses, which can be added to your resume or CV to demonstrate your proficiency in specific skill sets.

Who is it for?

Udemy has a course for nearly every topic; however, read the reviews first before purchasing one. Quality varies. That said, it's perfect for brand-new teachers, instructors, and freelancers looking to get started.

Wrapping Up

So there you have it. The five most useful free available educational platforms you should save to your favorites list!

With so many excellent free online education resources to choose from, everyone has the chance to improve their abilities and knowledge. Whether you're looking to improve your career skills or just learn something new for fun, these platforms have you covered.

Do you have a favorite free educational platform that we didn't mention? Let us know in the comments below!