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Online learning may be the future of education — we compared 4 platforms that are leading the way by Connie Chen on Aug 1, 2017, 5:18 PM The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase. 
Thanks to online learning platforms, a physical classroom is no longer the only place to gain an education. You can now learn anything, anywhere. The democratization of education has helped break down traditional barriers of access like high costs and location, resulting in a more skilled and informed workplace and citizenry. These days, there are countless types of classes and online learning platforms to choose from. You could spend years absorbing the differences in coding languages, strategizing how to most effectively leverage email marketing tactics for your small business, or in a very meta twist, learning how to learn — and then move on to a different platform and do it all over again. To help you make sense of the different models, we compared four popular online learning platforms: Udemy, Lynda, Coursera, and Skillshare. We looked at pricing, types of courses offered, what you're getting in each course, and the teachers who will be guiding you through it all. We also found the top courses from each platform so you can get an idea of why specific students flock to each site. Keep scrolling to find a platform that will suit your particular needs, whether you want to gain the skills necessary for that next promotion or you just love learning for the sake of learning. SEE ALSO: 17 online classes that teach the skills you need for the modern workforce Udemy  Udemy is the world's largest marketplace for online learning, offering over 55,000 courses across a large range of categories. Its mission is "to improve lives through learning." Course categories: - Development, IT & software, business, office productivity
- Design, marketing, photography, music
- Lifestyle, personal development, health & fitness
- Teacher training, academics, language, test prep
Pricing: - Pay-per-course. There is no loyalty or subscription program.
- $10 (when discounted) to $200 per course
What you get: - Full lifetime access to the course
- Learning tools: videos, articles, PowerPoint presentations, audio, assessments, and online discussion boards
- Certificate of completion depending on the course
Teachers: - Experts in their field who create and manage the course
Apps available on: - iOS, Android, and Apple TV devices
Corporate or team programs available for: Languages: - The website is localized for 13 languages to make it easier for non-English users to browse courses offered in both English and their native language.
Top courses: - Web Developer Bootcamp | 133,739 students enrolled, 4.7 stars from 30,381 ratings
- Machine Learning A-Z: Hands-On Python & R in Data Science | 97,705 students enrolled, 4.4 stars from 13,666 ratings
- JavaScript: Understanding the Weird Parts | 81,901 students enrolled, 4.7 stars from 17,637 ratings
- Angular 4—The Complete Guide | 81,075 students enrolled, 4.7 stars from 21,873 ratings
- Learn and Understand AngularJS | 60,415 students enrolled, 4.6 stars from 11,849 ratings
Use Udemy if: - You like choosing from a variety of options for nearly every topic imaginable
- You don't plan to take a lot of classes in the same time period. The cost of individual classes can add up quickly without promotions.
- You are an expert who would like to share your skills and make some money.
Lynda  Lynda is a LinkedIn-owned online learning platform that offers almost 6,000 courses, mostly in photography, development, business, web design, and video. Its mission is "to help you learn the skills you need to achieve your full potential." Course categories: - Development, IT, business, web
- 3D & animation, CAD
- Design, marketing, photography, music, video
- Education & learning
Pricing: - Free 30-day trial
- Basic subscription plan, from $19.99 per month
- Premium subscription plan, from $29.99 per month
What you get: - Unlimited access to Lynda's entire course library
- Learning tools: videos, playlists, notes, and assessments
- Offline viewing for Premium subscribers
Teachers: - Experts in their field who create and manage the course
Apps available on: - iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Apple TV devices
Corporate or team programs available for: - Academic, business, and government
Languages: - Courses are offered in French, German, and Spanish through a separate subscription to their video2brain brand.
Top courses: Use Lynda if: - You would like to supplement your current professional or educational experience.
- You plan to consistently take courses in order to make the subscription worth it.
- You are an expert who would like to share your skills and make some money.
Coursera  Coursera partners with top universities and organizations to offer more than 2,000 academic courses on its online learning platform. In addition to courses, it offers specializations and online degrees. Its mission is "universal access to the world's best education." Course categories: - Arts & humanities, social sciences
- Business, computer science, data science, math & logic
- Life sciences, physical science & engineering
- Language learning
Pricing: - Free or pay-per-course for expanded access. Applications for financial aid are available.
- $29 to $99 per course
- $39 to $79 per month for specializations (series of courses culminating in a Capstone Project)
- $15,000 to $25,000 for an accredited master's degree
What you get: - Free users get access to course materials like videos.
- Paid users also get access to assignments, and will receive a final grade.
- Certificate of completion for courses and specializations, or a degree certification.
Teachers: - Instructors from top universities and other educational institutions around the world
Apps available on: Corporate or team programs available for: Languages: - Video subtitles are available in over 30 languages.
Top courses (in 2016): - Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects | UC San Diego, 4.8 stars from 26,148 ratings
- Machine Learning | Stanford University, 4.9 stars from 42,559 ratings
- Programming for Everyone (Getting Started with Python) | University of Michigan, 4.8 stars from 24,166 ratings
- R Programming | Johns Hopkins University, 4.5 stars from 7,405 ratings
- Grammar and Punctuation | UC Irvine, 4.6 stars from 4,804 ratings
Use Coursera if: - You want access to the minds of the world's top universities without having to pay for the costs of higher education.
- You need a scheduled pace to keep you moving and motivated, rather than going at your own pace.
- You would like to complete an online master's degree.
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