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Ranking

Best Online Course Platforms in 2026

Online course platforms differ mainly in who teaches, whether a course leads to a credential and what it costs. This ranking weighs teaching quality and credentials first, then cost, range of subjects and whether the platform is for learners or for institutions.

6 products ranked Updated October 2026 How we rank

The ranking

  1. Coursera90.0
  2. Khan Academy88.5
  3. edX87.0
  1. 1

    Coursera

    The broadest catalogue here, with university and company courses, certificates and degrees. Joining is free, but certificates, degrees and the full library cost money.

    Best for University and company courses with certificates

    WebFree plan, paid upgrades

    90.0of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  2. 2

    Khan Academy

    Free nonprofit lessons and exercises for school subjects, with progress tracking for learners and teachers. Its pages list no degrees or certificates, which is why it ranks below Coursera and edX for credentials.

    Best for Free school-level lessons and practice

    WebFree

    88.5of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  3. 3

    edX

    University courses that many learners can take without paying, with verified certificates and degree programs. Its practice tools are thinner than those of coding platforms, and credentials cost extra.

    Best for University courses and verified certificates

    WebFree plan, paid upgrades

    87.0of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  4. 4

    LinkedIn Learning

    Short business and software video courses with skill assessments and team plans. Only a free trial month is listed, so it ranks below the free starts on the platforms above.

    Best for Workplace skills and career-focused video courses

    WebSubscription

    81.0of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  5. 5

    Skillshare

    Project-based creative classes taught by working professionals, with a community of students. It lists no free tier and is less useful for formal credentials.

    Best for Creative classes and project-based learning

    WebiOSSubscription

    78.0of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  6. 6

    Open edX

    Open-source platform for institutions that want to run their own courses, under AGPL-3.0 with no licensing fees. It is software for operators, so learners will not find courses here.

    Best for Institutions running their own course platform

    WebSelf-hostedFree and open sourceOpen source

    71.5of 100
    Visit Alternatives

At a glance

ProductScorePricePlatformsCredentials offeredStrongest subjectsWho teachesSelf-hosted option
Coursera90.0Free plan, paid upgradesWebCertificates and degreesData, AI and businessUniversities and companiesNo
Khan Academy88.5FreeWebNone listedSchool subjectsKhan Academy's lesson libraryNo
edX87.0Free plan, paid upgradesWebCertificates and degreesComputer science and businessUniversities and institutionsNo
LinkedIn Learning81.0SubscriptionWebSkill assessmentsBusiness and softwareIndustry professionalsNo
Skillshare78.0SubscriptionWebiOSClass projectsCreative skillsWorking professionalsNo
Open edX71.5Free and open sourceWebSelf-hostedSet by the operatorWhatever the operator teachesEach institution's staffYes

How to choose online course platforms

Credentials
Coursera and edX sell certificates and degrees from universities; the Khan Academy and Skillshare pages list none.
Cost
Khan Academy is free and nonprofit; Coursera and edX are free to join; LinkedIn Learning and Skillshare are subscriptions.
Subjects
Coursera and edX cover academic and business subjects, Skillshare covers creative skills, and LinkedIn Learning covers workplace skills.
Who runs it
Open edX is for institutions that run their own platform; learners do not sign up there.

What the scores weigh

  • Quality of teaching and course design
  • Credentials offered
  • Cost and free access
  • Range of subjects
  • Learner or institution use

Scores are editorial, from 0 to 100, and use these criteria. Full method · Disclosure

About online course platforms

Course platforms fall into three groups. University and company platforms such as Coursera and edX sell courses, certificates and degrees, many of them with a free option to join. Skills platforms such as LinkedIn Learning and Skillshare sell subscriptions to video courses aimed at work or creative practice. Nonprofit platforms such as Khan Academy offer free lessons without credentials.

Cost is the main difference between them. Coursera and edX are free to join, with paid certificates and degrees. LinkedIn Learning and Skillshare start with a trial or a subscription, and Khan Academy is free and funded by donations. Open edX is different again: it is open-source software that institutions install and run, not a place where learners browse courses.

The scores below are editorial judgments against the criteria, not measurements of course outcomes or completion rates.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free online course platform?
Khan Academy is free and nonprofit, with lessons and practice for school subjects. Coursera and edX are free to join, and their paid certificates and degrees are optional.
Which course platform gives university certificates?
Coursera and edX both sell certificates and degrees from universities and institutions. The Khan Academy and Skillshare pages show no university credentials.
Which platform suits workplace training?
LinkedIn Learning is built around business and software skills, with skill assessments and team plans for companies. Its free trial lasts one month, after which a subscription is needed.
Is there an open-source course platform?
Open edX is open source under AGPL-3.0 and is used by institutions to run their own courses. It is software for operators, not a catalogue of courses.