Whether you want to take up photography, cook like a world-class chef, become more productive or simply burn off those empty beer calories, there are online courses for just about everything these days. Here are the best online course platforms (both free and paid sites), along with examples of some of their best classes, offering an extensive array of online courses to help you pick up a new hobby or skill from the comfort of your home. That way, you can tackle your new year, new you journey in earnest, while making it as convenient as possible.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Aaptiv
Aaptiv
Aaptiv is a solid option if you have specific fitness goals because you can take programs tailored exactly to them. You start with a short fitness quiz and a free seven-day trial. From there, it costs $15 per month. It’s best if you’re someone who wants audio-based workouts you can take outdoors for runs.
Pricing: $15 per month or $100 per year
Supported Devices: iOS (including Apple Watch), Android
If you’re used to working out at a gym or attending fitness classes, ClassPass is a great replacement option. The best thing is that a free account lets you access its vast library of on-demand classes for the first 14 days. If you want to live-stream classes, you can pay as you go (memberships with credits for classes start at $15 per month). Furthermore, the service also offers deals on other self-care experiences, including massages and even haircuts — lending credence to the platform's versatility and value.
Pricing: $39, $59, $99 or $159 a month (more plans available upon signup)
Coursera was an early leader in offering online audits of courses from top universities. The online provider now collaborates with over 200 universities and companies to offer certification-level classes in nearly every subject field — data science, information technology and programming are a few of Coursera’s more popular subjects. While the audit versions of most courses are free (including Yale’s world-renowned The Science of Well-Being course), you’ll need to pay for individual courses or subscribe to Coursera Plus ($59 per month) or Coursera Specialization (starting at $39 per month) for credits and certifications.
Find Your Trainer previously operated as a platform in which you could book a personal trainer for an in-person session. This service was available in just about every state, and even more prevalent in larger cities. Now, the platform is offering virtual training sessions that start at $29 per session and can take place over Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts or Facebook Messenger, as well as in-person.
Linkedin is one of the biggest professional hubs out there. As such, its Linkedin Learning platform provides ample opportunities to further your career. Courses center around three main subjects: business, technology and creative. And, along with its wide array of courses, users can get a month's trial completely free of charge.
Pricing: $27 per month (if paid annually), $40 (if paid monthly) or pay-per-course
Look past its odd name and you'll find that Lululemon has a darn good database of free online yoga classes. The fitness apparel brand also offers up a few other workout videos on its site and YouTube. They cover bodyweight training, meditation and kettlebell workouts. The best part: they're all totally free — meaning there's no excuse not to try these if you're even moderately interested.
Skillshare is one of the more interactive platforms out there with the ability to create projects with fellow students and teachers. It has a host of free classes, like how to take professional photos on your iPhone with award-winning photographer and YouTuber Dale McManus. The Skillshare Premium gets you offline access to all courses, as well as access to more than 20,000 Premium courses. Furthermore, new users can get a month of free access as a trial.
Pricing: $15 or $32 per month (many free offerings, as well)
Udemy has over 100,000 online classes ranging in a variety of topics from meditation to interior design to woodworking. However, the platform specializes in all things computer science. Courses typically range from $20 to $200 and you have lifetime access to them, which is something most other platforms do not offer.
