At the UK Education Blog, we aim to inform our readers about the best online learning resources that offer quality learning and good value for money.
The Online Learning Platforms market is projected to reach 12.7 million users in the United Kingdom by 2029, with user penetration expected to grow from 14.3% in 2024 to 18.4% by 2029.
With the growing popularity and demand in the E-Learning industry, as education continues to move further into this sphere, we share reviews and recommendations here to filter through this vast online learning market to help you identify which E-Learning services and products suit your learning needs best.
Disclaimer: The E-Learning platforms have been arranged according to their reviews and ratings, from highest to lowest. The information provided in this post was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.Â
Top 20 E-Learning Platforms
1. Simplilearn
Simplilearn (simplilearn.com) is famous for offering online courses and certification programs for students in fields like AI & Machine learning, Cyber Security, Project Management, Generative AI, Data Science & Business Analytics, Cloud Computing, Digital Marketing, Business & Leadership, Quality Management, Product & Design, IT Service & Architecture and more. It partners with top corporations like Microsoft, AWS, and premier educational institutions like Purdue University, Caltech, and more to deliver the most sought-after courses to help you shine professionally.
Instructors: 2KSubscribers: 2M
Pricing:
Check the website to browse and learn about the pricing of different courses.
Ratings & Reviews:
4.4 out of 5 stars with 26817 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- It offers an array of both employee and team training solutions.
- The Online Bootcamp helps in developing job-ready skills.
- Students have to work on projects involving real-world data.
- You can expect 24*7 learning support from an active community and mentors to solve conceptual doubts.
Social Media:
- Instagram – @simplilearn_elearning: 125K followers
- Twitter – @simplilearn: 42.5K followers
- LinkedIn – @simplilearn: 540K followers
- YouTube – @Simplilearn: 34M subscribers
2. Learndirect
Learndirect (learndirect.com) is one of the UK’s top online course providers, collaborating with various professional bodies across industries like foot health, dental nursing, and training qualifications. They offer courses in diverse subjects, including veterinary science, mental health, accounting, and IT, as well as academic qualifications like GCSEs and A-levels and access to HE Diplomas. Learndirect offers qualifications in everyday skills such as maths, English, and IT, alongside vocational qualifications in various industries. Whether you prefer short courses or long-term work-based qualifications, Learndirect provides personalized support through face-to-face interactions, phone, or email, depending on the course. Learndirect has transformed the lives of 4.5 million people in the UK, helping them acquire new skills for better job opportunities.
Subscribers: 4.5M
Pricing:
Prices can start from £51.97/month.
Ratings & Reviews:
4.6 out of 5 stars with 20631 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- It offers virtual classes that can be accessed online according to your schedule.
- You can get assistance from your tutor with assignments.
- The accredited courses can boost the productivity and staff skills of businesses.
- Since its launch in 2000, Learndirect has helped 75000 businesses train their staff.
Social Media:
- Facebook – @learndirect: 46K followers
- Instagram – @learndirect: 21.6K followers
- Pinterest – @learndirect: 188 followers
- YouTube: @learndirectlearning: 825 subscribers
3. Alison
Alison (alison.com) is another popular E-Learning platform with an extensive user base providing free courses. It offers online skills to prepare you for tomorrow’s workplace. You can build your career with courses on Management, Business, IT, Health, Language, Personal Development, Engineering & Construction, Sales & Marketing, Teaching & Academics, etc.
Subscribers: 40M
Pricing:
While the courses can be completed for free, a charge is levied for issuing the certificates. You can subscribe to a monthly premium plan for £7.99 to access courses without ads.
Ratings & Reviews:
4.6 out of 5 stars with 18661 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- You can download the Alison app to continue learning wherever you go.
- It offers multiple solutions that are tailor-made for businesses and organisations.
- Alison offers a free personality assessment test for a SWOT analysis.
- It can help build your dream resume for being hired by top corporations around the globe.
Social Media:
- Facebook: @AlisonCourses: 643K followers
- Twitter: @Alison_Learning: 29.3K followers
- LinkedIn: 193K followers
- Instagram: 77.3K followers
- YouTube: 77.5K subscribers
- Quora: 438 followers
4. Virtual College
Virtual College offers a rich collection of accredited, high-quality courses to train a small group of employees. Covering a variety of subjects like food safety, safeguarding, compliance, health and safety, personal development, and leadership, its expert-designed online courses comply with UK legislation and equip enterprise teams with essential skills and confidence. A simple training subscription allows businesses to pay only for the employees being trained, offering them 12 months of unlimited access to an expanding course library, all set up within 48 hours.
Instructors: 250Subscribers: 5M+
Pricing:
Prices range from £10 to £250.
Ratings & Reviews:
4.7 out of 5 stars with 15K reviews on Trustpilot.
Top Features:
- Follows a human-centred approach when developing training content.
- Top experts in the field have developed all courses.
- Various accrediting bodies accredit the courses available at Virtual College.
- You can easily choose and purchase courses online, with immediate access provided through an intuitive learning management system.
Social Media:
- Twitter: 5K followers
- Facebook: 5K followers
- LinkedIn: 5K followers
- Instagram: 861 followers
- YouTube: 441 subscribers
5. The Skills Network
The Skills Network is a leading EdTech provider, blending advanced technology with a deep understanding of training and pedagogy to deliver exceptional online learning and skills development. Its custom platform, EQUAL, drives various comprehensive solutions, supporting over 1.6 million learners and 150 courses while ensuring compliance with strict educational standards. Focusing on innovation and excellence, The Skills Network empowers individuals and businesses to achieve their learning goals through various offerings, including over 45 fully-funded courses across the UK. You can choose courses in Accounting & Finance, Retail & Hospitality, Health & Social Care, Sustainability, Personal Development, Business Leadership & Management, etc.
Subscribers: 1.6M
Pricing:
There are multiple free courses, and the prices of paid courses vary from £7 to £1700.
Ratings & Reviews:
3.7 out of 5 stars with 2088 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- It offers a rich library of professional development and vocational courses.
- You can sign up to its mailing list for information on new courses.
- It offers multiple free courses to the residents of both England and Scotland.
- Popular study segments are Health & Social care, Accounting & Finance, Retail & Hospitality, etc.
Social Media:
- Facebook: 150K followers
- Instagram: 4K followers
- Twitter: 6K followers
- LinkedIn: 23K followers
- YouTube: 12K subscribers
6. Skillshare Digital Marketing Training
Skillshare offers multiple online courses. It allows you to learn a variety of skills, from social media to content marketing and advertising. Skillshare offers digital courses that last 15 minutes to more than 4 hours. Some of the popular categories offering multiple courses at Skillshare are Music, Marketing, Social Media, Creative Writing, Drawing, Animation, UI/UX Design, FILM & Video, Freelance & Entrepreneurship, Digital Illustration, Crafts, Productivity, Photography, and Graphic Design.
Instructors: 8KSubscribers: 600M
Pricing:
Learn about the different membership plans for accessing unlimited courses on their platform. Annual membership costs $3.08 per month.
Ratings & Reviews:
1.6 out of 5 stars with 1741 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- Courses made by industry leaders and communication groups.
- You can choose amongst 25K+ classes as per your liking.
- Skill Share offers live classes for instant doubt-solving.
- You can also choose handpicked sequential classes to build a particular skill.
Social Media:
- Instagram: 625K followers
- Facebook: 6M followers
- Pinterest: 58K followers
- Twitter: 6K followers
- LinkedIn: 51K followers
- YouTube: 561K subscribers
7. Udemy Digital Marketing Masterclasses
Udemy is one of the most established and trustworthy online educational platforms. You can enhance your skills with AI-driven coding exercises, practice tests, and quizzes designed to upskill effectively. With Udemy, you can prepare for industry-recognized certifications by tackling real-world challenges and earning badges as you progress. You’ll need mobile devices, laptops, or computers and a basic knowledge of app use. Users can take courses in various trending subjects like data science, web development, leadership, communication, business analytics & intelligence, IT certifications, and more.
Instructors: 75KSubscribers: 70M
Pricing:
Learn about the different pricing plans on their platform. Udemy offers multiple courses, and the pricing starts at £28.
Ratings & Reviews:
2.0 out of 5 stars with 1405 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- You can choose between 220K+ courses belonging to various categories.
- Udemy delivers the proper support for professional development, from technical topics to critical skills.
- Every course listed on Udemy is updated regularly to add new information.
- You can browse through the reviews of each course to determine whether to proceed with the same.
Social Media:
- Instagram: 2M followers
- Facebook: 2M followers
- LinkedIn: 1M followers
- Twitter: 5K followers
- YouTube: 291K subscribers
8. edX
edX partners with 160 universities globally, including renowned institutions like MIT and Harvard. Its unique learning approach emphasises practical experience and application, helping learners reach their goals and enhance their skill sets. Popular courses on edX cover topics such as marketing, computing, programming, and international women’s health and human rights. Most courses are free, with fees required only for certificates upon completion. The platform boasts over 4000 courses in over 34 languages and serves over 45 million learners across 70+ countries. EdX provides professional certificate programs and executive education courses for career advancement. Students can study at their own pace to earn credentials in various subjects.
Instructors: 15KSubscribers: 86M
Pricing:
Most of the sessions are free, with optional upgrades available.
Ratings & Reviews:
1.8 out of 5 stars with 1313 reviews on Trustpilot
Top Features:
- Users can connect with university alumni to discuss career choices.
- You can expect round-the-clock technical and academic support from your tutors.
- Most of the programs have flexible schedules to cater to working professionals.
- Unlock better career opportunities with programs from the world’s renowned universities.
Social Media:
9. Pluralsight
Pluralsight is tailored for professionals aiming to enhance their data expertise. The platform offers specialised mini-degree programs for both individuals and teams. To boost productivity, Pluralsight provides tools to assess skill levels, visualise workflows, and educate users through video courses and certification prep. If you’re in the tech industry and need to sharpen your skills, or if you’re a manager looking to enhance your team’s productivity, Pluralsight could be a valuable resource. You can create a career in UI, Software Development, Security, Product Management, Project Management, Digital Marketing, IT and more.
Instructors: 1000+Subscribers: 89.8K
Pricing:
You can start with a free trial and upgrade to paid plans for the Skills, A Cloud Guru, and Flow modules starting at £24 per month.
Ratings & Reviews:
1.8 out of 5 stars with 944 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- Enhance your or your team’s skills to achieve career goals using the Skills platform.
- Build advanced cloud expertise and talent with A Cloud Guru.
- Optimise team potential and improve processes with the Flow software delivery intelligence platform.
- You can choose from video series, tech guides, infographics, case studies, and more.
Social Media:
- Facebook: 2M followers
- Twitter: 245.5K followers
- Instagram: 57.3K followers
- LinkedIn: 203K followers
- YouTube: 89.8K subscribers
10. MasterClass
MasterClass (https://www.masterclass.com/) provides a premium online learning experience across various subjects, including business, photography, cooking, writing, acting, music, and sports. Members can access a vast library of over 200 classes, each comprising around 20 video lessons, averaging 10 minutes in length. The membership also includes access to in-depth workbooks, mobile and TV apps, offline lessons, a members-only newsletter, and a global community of learners. With MasterClass, you can learn and be inspired on the go, using your smartphone, computer, or streaming devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. New classes are frequently introduced, helping users acquire practical skills, explore new interests, and gain valuable insights.
Instructors: 200+Subscribers: 2M
Pricing:
Start with the Standard plan by paying £10 monthly, and upgrade to the Plus plan for a monthly payment of £14 and the Premium plan for a monthly payment of £19 (all on annual billing).
Ratings & Reviews:
1.9 out of 5 stars with 914 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- You can access its Sessions on Desktop, Android & iOS for different skill levels.
- Users can engage with a community to up-level their skills and receive peer feedback.
- A Masterclass subscription offers access to TV and smartphone apps alongside offline lessons.
- It offers an option to download lessons and watch them in audio-only mode while commuting.
Social Media:
- Twitter: 1K followers
- Instagram: 3.8M followers
- Facebook: 5M followers
- LinkedIn: 123K followers
- YouTube: 1.53M subscribers
11. FutureLearn
FutureLearn, in partnership with the Open University, is a UK-based online learning platform that offers 1400+ courses from top universities and specialised organisations. With over 200 partners and around 19 million users, FutureLearn provides personalized course recommendations tailored to your goals and interests, saving time and effort. Some popular subjects at Future Learn are Healthcare & Medicine, Business & Management, Psychology & Mental Health, Science, Engineering, Maths, etc. Courses are categorized into short courses, ExpertTracks, microcredentials, and online degrees. Short courses are typically free, with fees only for certificates, while ExpertTracks offers a series of in-depth courses to build expertise. Micro-credentials provide specialized qualifications in high-demand fields, often with academic credit. Online degrees allow you to earn recognized qualifications through flexible, self-paced learning. The platform fosters a learning community, supporting students through activities that enhance their professional skills.
Instructors: 200+Subscribers: 19M
Pricing:
Start free with limited access and upgrade to the Unlimited Monthly plan at £10 and the Unlimited Yearly plan at £59.
Ratings & Reviews:
4.6 out of 5 stars with 905 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- FutureLearn partners with TopCV, a leading CV reviewer, to enable better course recommendations.
- It offers an AI-powered chatbot called FutureBot for tailor-made recommendations.
- Short courses can help you master new skills at your preferred pace.
- Courses are grouped under different subjects for easy accessibility.
Social Media:
12. JanBask Training
At JanBask, multiple training courses will enhance your learning skills. The certification programs are designed to prepare you for your dream job. You can enroll in courses like Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, QA Testing, Data Management, Data Science, Business Analysis, Business Intelligence & Digital Marketing.
Instructors: 1400+Subscribers: 150K+
Pricing:
Click on the courses to learn about their pricing.
Ratings & Reviews:
4.8 out of 5 stars with 902 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- Advisors are available 24*7 to solve your doubts.
- Janbask Training offers a 100% job assistance program.
- Students can access the study materials for a lifetime.
- You can benefit from complete career guidance.
Social Media:
- Twitter: 7K followers
- YouTube: 98K subscribers
- Facebook: 69K followers
- LinkedIn: 1K followers
- Instagram: 4.2K followers
13. Coursera
Coursera is one of the best online learning platforms that provides some of the most affordable courses. The Coursera website features numerous courses that provide proper guidance from the start of your career. It allows you to sign up for careers in business analytics, digital marketing, project management, data analysis, cybersecurity professional, UX design, front-end development, IT support, supply chain analysis, bookkeeping, and more. Coursera collaborates with 325+ top companies and universities around the globe such as Stanford, Duke, Google, IBM, and more to develop courses that can put your career on a growth trajectory.
Instructors: 300 educational institutions and businesses with several instructorsSubscribers: 87M
Pricing:
Learn about different degrees and prices on their platform.
Ratings & Reviews:
1.6 out of 5 stars with 594 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- It offers flexible payment options and financial aid like scholarships.
- Accredited institutions confer all the online programs.
- Irrespective of your geographical location, you can get started with an online degree at Coursera.
- You can upgrade to Coursera Plus to gain access to 7000+ top-class courses.
Social Media:
- Facebook: 2.1M followers
- LinkedIn: 2M followers
- Twitter: 8K followers
- YouTube: 266K subscribers
- Instagram: 630K followers
14. High-Speed Training
Recognized and relied upon by thousands of businesses across the UK and internationally, High Speed Training offers award-winning courses that span various topics, including food hygiene, safeguarding, health and safety, and more. With over 180 courses available in different areas, it provides the perfect training solution tailored to your needs. Whether seeking individual development or training for your entire team, the online courses are designed to support your success. Trusted by over 50,000 organisations, High-Speed Training boasts top-tier accreditation, with all courses certified by the CPD Certification Service, and several approved by authorities like RoSPA, IATP, IIRSM, the Institute of Hospitality, and Skills for Care.
Pricing:
Prices range from £15 to £150.
Ratings & Reviews:
4.6 out of 5 stars with 424 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- You can explore courses by categories such as Fire Safety, Health and safety, Education, and Food Hygiene.
- A powerful learner management system (LMS) can track a team’s learning with real-time reporting.
- It offers various free resources and articles to drive you towards your goals.
- You can check out course reviews by fellow users before taking the buying call.
Social Media:
15. OpenLearn
With over 50 years of experience in flexible learning, The Open University offers OpenLearn, a platform dedicated to free online courses. Users can create a profile to track their achievements and receive course recommendations. The courses vary in type, length, and difficulty, with some designed for quick learning, like the ‘lunchtime learning’ sessions, which are highly specialized and last no longer than 24 hours. Topics range from Education and Development to Languages, The Environment, and Business.
Subscribers: 170K
Pricing:
Most of the courses are available for free.
Ratings & Reviews:
2.2 out of 5 stars with 480 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- It offers 1000 free courses to bolster your learning.
- You can choose between different subjects, such as languages, nature and environment, history and arts, science, maths, and technology.
- Users can choose among free courses ranging from 1 to 100 hours.
- You can pick among activities, articles, free courses, videos, and more.
Social Media:
16. John Academy
John Academy is best known for offering accredited online courses on Marketing, Sports, Language, Business, Health & Fitness, Accounting & Finance, Technology, Lifestyle, Web Development, Hospitality, HR, Animal Care, etc. These courses are available for anyone wishing to acquire a certification to take their professional careers to the next level. As an online learning platform, John Academy provides the opportunity for students to learn in a convenient way—wherever they are and whenever they want. John Academy always ensures the highest quality standards in E-Learning so that students can use what they have learned in the real world, especially in the workplace.
Subscribers: 50K+ learners
Pricing:
Learn about the pricing of different courses on their platform. You can get lifetime access to 2500+ courses at £99, all courses for a full year at £49; and all courses for a month at £15.99.
Ratings & Reviews:
4 out of 5 stars with 169 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- Practice exercises like quizzes accompany every course to test your knowledge.
- Digital certifications are remitted instantly on course completion to the student.
- John Academy offers round-the-clock customer service and tutor support.
- The pricing of its courses is highly affordable.
Social Media:
- Facebook: 11K followers
- Twitter: 595 followers
- LinkedIn: 589 followers
- Pinterest: 379 followers
- Instagram: 811 followers
Niche Courses & Platforms
17. TEFL Academy
The TEFL Academy specialises in TEFL courses. It teaches the skills you need to become qualified to teach English as a foreign language. The academy’s courses can be studied in two ways. You can study the course 100% online or choose the combined course option, which involves 20 hours of classroom training – for those who want to get some in-class teaching experience. After completing their TEFL course, you’ll receive an internationally recognized Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168 hours). This qualification will enable you to teach English online or as an English Teacher to foreign language students internationally.
Learn more about teaching English abroad, becoming an international teacher or Ed Tech for English Teachers on our blog.
Instructors: 200KSubscribers: 200K
Pricing:
Click here to learn about the pricing of different courses. Prices range from £60 to £299.
Ratings & Reviews:
4.9 out of 5 stars with 1363 reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- The courses are certified by government-regulated bodies like QUALIFI, AOC & DEAC.
- You can also take an in-person course in the following locations besides the online module.
- It offers live support to solve all users’ queries and concerns.
- All the instructors have qualified TEFL courses themselves and carry years of experience.
Social Media:
- Instagram: 5K followers
- Facebook: 129K followers
- Twitter: 6.2K followers
- LinkedIn: 23K followers
- YouTube: 7.06K subscribers
18. Creative Live
This could be another one-stop choice for students, both beginners and professionals. CreativeLive provides free photo and video tutorials for various online courses in Art and Design, Photo and Video, Money and Finance, Music and Audio, etc.
Instructors: 650+ with many famous and successful personalitiesSubscribers: 10M
Pricing:
You can start learning with free courses and opt for paid variants per your requirements. Learn about each course’s different degrees and prices on their platform. Prices start at £75.
Ratings & Reviews:
3.0 out of 5 stars with ten reviews on TrustPilot.
Top Features:
- It offers a detailed blog section updated with fresh educational tutorials.
- You can log in and access the air classes by the top experts for free.
- Students can filter out courses by setting filters like Craft & Maker, Art & Design, Music & Audio, etc.
- You can click on a particular lesson to learn in-depth about everything taught there.
Social Media:
- Facebook: 2M followers
- Twitter: 7K followers
- Instagram: 332K followers
- Pinterest: 40K followers
- YouTube: 472K subscribers
19. Lightroom Photoshop Tutorials
For photography enthusiasts looking to elevate their editing skills, Lightroom-photoshop-tutorials.com offers comprehensive online tutorials in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Tailored for beginners and advanced users alike, LR-PS courses provide detailed walkthroughs on editing techniques, workflow optimization, and creative exploration, making them a perfect addition to our suite of educational resources. You can engage with expert-led content that transforms your raw images into professional-grade photographs. Check their weekly updated socials.
Instructors: 10+ expert photographers and seasoned Photoshop artists.Subscribers: A 100K+ growing community of photography enthusiasts and professional editors.
Pricing:
Prices start at £148.98
Top Features:
- It offers detailed lessons on editing techniques, colour correction, photo manipulation, and layer management.
- The courses are designed to cater to varying skill levels, from beginners to advanced users.
- You can gain knowledge of different photography genres, including landscape, portrait, portrait, and fashion photography.
- Custom presets like Adobe Photoshop Tutorials & Lightroom Presets help streamline your workflow.
Social Media:
- Facebook – @Lightroom.Photoshop.Tutorials: 8.6K followers
- Instagram – @lightroom_photoshop_tutorial: 3.4K followers
- Twitter – @LRPS_Tutorials: 49 followers
- Pinterest – @lightroom_photoshop_tutorial: 289 followers
20. Hack Design
Hack Design (hackdesign.org) offers design courses that work perfectly for those looking for a career in creative solutions.
Instructors: 65Subscribers: 400K
Pricing:
Free
Top Features:
- It offers interactive content wherein you can learn by playing puzzles & games.
- Hack Design offers the best design tools to hone your skills.
- You can learn to design at your chosen pace.
- You can subscribe to receive design lessons every week in your mailbox.
Social Media:
No social media handles found.
Conclusion
You can achieve the greatest success in any profession with dedication to online learning via these recommended courses and platforms. You can find more career advice and guidance about school leavers tips, future lucrative careers and qualifications required for jobs and careers on our blog.
To move your career forward in education you can find work opportunities here:
Online Teaching and Tutoring Jobs
If you have created online courses or want to share fantastic online platforms for E-Learning, you can share your reviews and recommendations on the UK Education Blog. Get in touch with us and send us your course/platform details, reviews or recommendations.
