Do you know you can learn anything without ever leaving the comfort of your home? This is where online learning platforms come in. They offer remote learning opportunities to educate you on various subjects at home. The beauty is that you can even access highly professional instructors on these platforms. This way, you can get adequately educated on the subject matter. Online learning can be flexible too, enabling you to set your own time and also learn at your own pace. You will have access to several interactive learning tools that will make it more exciting and instructive than via the conventional classroom. There are many online learning platforms out there today and they offer courses in different fields; there is assurance that you can find the perfect course for you among them. Which are the top 5 online learning platforms? You will learn about them below:

1. Coursera

This site is considered the best subscription-based platform among platforms offering online classes. Anyone desiring to learn any subject online is welcome to this platform. Number of degree programs is still limited. Do you want to upskill?  Consider visiting this platform since you can get accredited certificates recognized by employers from the site. The website is easy to navigate and you can access several free courses here. 

• Course available: The platform offers more than 5000 courses for virtual learning. 
• Topics: Some of the topics offered are in the IT, data science, and computer science fields. They also offer courses on social sciences, arts & humanities, health and business. End users can equally access full degree courses here. 
• Prices: Some courses are available for free. Coursera Plus subscription costs $59 per month or $399 per year with a 14-day money-back guarantee. Guided Projects cost $9.99 upward, while professional certificates and specialization courses cost $39.99. A MasterTrack Certificate costs $2000, while a Degree starts from $9000. 

While Coursera is great, some courses cannot be learned at your convenience. Some courses can also be inconsistent regarding value and quality.

2. Skillshare

Are you interested in casual learning? Skillshare is one of the best platforms to visit for that. The site also works perfectly for those interested in niche topics of different kinds. It is the perfect online learning platform for students seeking to pick up one or two skills in preparation for the labor market. Virtually anything can be learned on this platform, including graphic design, photography, and animation. Those interested in learning web design are equally welcome here. You can also access many skilled professionals offering quality training on the platform. 

• Courses available: Over 40,000 courses.
• Topics available: A few courses on the platform are productivity courses, entrepreneurship, business, web development, and so on. The site offers a series of courses on creative skills too. 
• Pricing: Few courses are available for free. Other courses can be accessed on a free trial for one month followed by $32 per month or $168 paid annually. You can access up to a 50% discount if you register with a valid.edu email address. 

One negative thing about the site is that its courses are only available in English. You will also not find many free courses here and must go for a premium subscription before ads can stop showing. 

3. Udemy

Those who desire to acquire creative skills can register on this platform. It is one of the best online learning platforms for students considering the exciting way each course is handled. The learning materials are prepared to enable anybody to benefit from them since the courses provided on this platform include graphic design, web design, animation, photography, gardening, and many more. You can equally access free courses here but they are limited. 

• Available courses: The site offers more than 200,000 courses.
• Available topics: You can find a Udemy course on virtually any topic, making it a wholesome platform for online learning. You can find courses on machine learning, data visualization, data science, software development, web development, and computer science on this platform.
• Pricing: The cost for each course is determined by the instructors. You can enjoy free courses but there will be no certificate. The fee can be less than $10 per course and go as high as $300. The site, however, offers up to 90% discount on the courses. 

4. Udacity

If you want to acquire extra skills to grow your career, Udacity is one of the best platforms to visit. If you are a casual learner or hobbyist, you are also welcome to the platform. However, the pricing does not look attractive for such casual learning. You can access nanodegrees on the platform too. In case you do not know, Nanodegrees are those highly intensive courses designed to prepare you for career readiness. Many respected instructors and companies are equally involved in preparing the courses offered here. Some students can equally access scholarships, making Udacity one of the best educational platforms ever. 

• Courses: The site offers over 200 free courses and over 70 nanodegree courses. 
• Topics available:  Some of the topics available are project management, programming, data science, cybersecurity, AI & Machine learning, cloud computing, and many others. 
• Pricing: The premium courses cost $399 monthly for Nanodegree and single courses. You can enjoy a 15% discount if you enroll in a nanodegree and select the value package. 

5. edX

This is one of the best platforms for virtual learning. Anybody can learn on this platform, irrespective of age. edX has over 40 million users and offers courses on a series of topics both working professionals and hobbyists are also welcome on the platform. The platform adds master's and bachelor's degree programs to its list of programs. Consequently, university-level audiences can get something just for them. 

• Number of courses: There are over 5,100 courses here. 
• Available topics: The courses cover several topics, including computer science, data science, coding & development. Many STEM-related courses are also available here.
• Pricing: All the regular caseless can be accessed for free but no certificate is included. To access certificates, you must pay between $5 and $300. The costs for professional certificate programs, master's degrees, bachelor's degrees, Micromasters programs, and boot camps can be very high and also vary.

Conclusion

There is no excuse to remain ignorant or unskilled considering the number of great courses available today capable of transforming you to a professional from the comfort of your home. Each of the platforms mentioned above offers both free and paid services. If you do not have money, you can still take advantage of the remote learning opportunities for free. However, only paid members can access the full services provided on these platforms. The cost equally varies depending on the platform and the specific course. Some of them offer certificates that can land you your dream job very fast. So, never hesitate to register on any platforms today and take your skills acquisition effort to the next level. It is never too late! 

FAQs

Q: Can I get any type of degree or certification from online learning platforms?

A: Yes, most of the platforms, like Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn, partner with universities to offer accredited degrees and professional certificates. Some platforms, like Coursera and edX, provide fully online bachelor's, master's, and even doctorate programs, normally in partnership with top universities.

Q: What is the credibility of the online learning platform certificates?

A: All the certificates through online learning platforms are not equally credible. Those that are offered on such platforms as Coursera, edX, or LinkedIn Learning in association with known universities or institutions are highly credible. The certificates provided by some platforms like Google, IBM, or Microsoft via Coursera or Udacity are usually recognized and accorded high regard within the relevant sectors.

Q: How do I select the right course for me to take?

A: Background, experience, reviews taught—the works. You want to be assured that you are learning from somebody who knows it inside and out, with the credibility to back it up. One should scroll down the syllabus or course outline to verify if it aligns with the learning goals one has. Look for detailed descriptions of topics that are going to be covered.

Q: Will I be able to communicate with instructors and other students?

A: Yes, most online learning platforms offer some means of interaction with instructors and co-students; however, the degree of interaction varies. Most of the available platforms have forums or community spaces in which students can ask questions, share insights, and collaborate. Some courses, mainly on platforms like Coursera or edX, run live sessions or offer office hours with instructors to drive a real-time discussion.