16 Best Online Learning Resources
reviewed by Jo-ann Caballes
Updated on November 22, 2024
Online learning resources let you choose from different types of content — live classes, on-demand videos, texts, ebooks, audio recordings, and more. All you have to do is decide what you’d like to learn and how you’d like to learn it, sign up, and get started. But with so many resources online, it may get tricky to vet the platforms and choose the right one.
With this article, we’ll make it easier for you to choose between the best resources, both for yourself and your children.
What are some of the resources available for online learning?
Some of the best online learning resources are Brighterly, Udacity, Skillshare, edX, and Khan Academy, depending on the learner’s age and goals.
For the best results, pair an online tutoring platform with self-study resources. For example, students between grades 1 and 8 can use Brighterly as a math tutoring platform combined with other math learning websites, such as Khan Academy for free learning, IXL for gamified activities, and PBS Kids for fun videos.
You’ll find detailed information about the following online education resources:
- Brighterly
- Udacity
- Skillshare
- edX
- Khan Academy
- IXL Learning
- Art of Problem Solving
- Everand
- Audible
- Coursera
- Udemy
- Codecademy
- Duolingo
- PBS Kids
- National Geographic Kids
- YouTube
16 best online resources for students of all ages
Each of the e-learning resources below offers a different experience: personalized classes, videos, e-books, stories, articles, assessments, and games.
Here is more information on the online learning experience they offer:
1. Online learning with Brighterly
Brighterly is an online math tutoring platform for students between Grades 1 and 8. What sets it apart is its dedication to personalized learning — all classes are held privately with an expert math tutor.
If you’re unsure how to help your child with math, booking a demo on Brighterly will be worth it. From homework help to exam preparation, the tutors on the platform have taught students of all needs. Over 200,000 parents trust Brighterly for 1:1 math help with classes powered by video chat, games, and exercises.
Besides the paid tutoring sessions, Brighterly also has free online learning worksheets. They cover a wide range of Grade 1 to 8 topics, from addition to algebra. You can download them for self-study, whether your child is a Brighterly student or not. That said, the worksheets are best paired with an online Brighterly lesson, so your child takes math classes first, and then solves the exercises.
Brighterly pricing:
Paid plans start from $105/mo.
How to get started with Brighterly:
- Book a free demo lesson to learn how Brighterly works
- Wait for Brighterly’s math experts to assess your child’s level and assign a math tutor
- Get your personalized math program based on your child’s unique needs
- Pay for a math package and schedule lessons with your tutor
2. Online learning with Udacity
Udacity offers remote learning resources for in-demand career topics. Some of its most popular courses include data science, programming, artificial intelligence, Python, and SQL. The platform covers these topics in different ways — you can find 2-hour courses, 4-month nanodegree programs, and more.
Udacity’s pricing is more on the expensive side, but the investment could be worth it if your career can benefit from programming, data science, AI, or similar skills.
Udacity pricing:
- A Udacity subscription costs $249 per month, with options to opt for monthly or annual payment
How to get started with Udacity:
- Browse the courses on Udacity
- Try the platform for free for seven days
- You will be automatically charged a monthly subscription fee if you don’t cancel within the 7-day period
3. Online learning with Skillshare
Skillshare’s online education resources cover all things creative. You can take classes in graphic design, illustration, photography, video editing, creative writing, marketing, and more. All classes are taught by industry professionals and include videos, hands-on projects, and community feedback.
If you’re looking to break into the creative industry or simply want to acquire new skills, it’s worth checking Skillshare’s course catalogue.
Skillshare pricing:
- Skillshare’s pricing depends on the region you’re in. You’ll need to create an account to find out more.
How to get started with Skillshare:
- Sign up to Skillshare to try out all the classes for free for seven days
- Continue your subscription to have access to creative classes
4. Online learning with edX
edX appeals to a wide range of learners: career changers, university students, and those who simply want to improve their skills.
Use the edX courses as online educational resources to level up. You can take a course on artificial intelligence, art history, business administration, and many other topics. The platform has audit-only free courses, as well as certificate programs and online degrees that cost extra.
edX pricing:
- You can audit most edX courses for free
- To add a certificate, you need to upgrade to the verified track, which is subject to a one-time fee of $50-$300
How to get started with edX:
- Create an edX account to choose from the courses on the platform
5. Online learning with Khan Academy
Khan Academy has tons of free online learning resources for K-12 to college students. By signing up, you’ll get access to standards-aligned Common Core-aligned school topics in math, science, English, and more. All courses are self-paced, so students can complete them in their own time.
On the Khan Academy website, you’ll also find progress reports and learning streaks that encourage regular practice. That said, there’s no 1:1 personal feedback, so consider using Khan Academy alongside online learning platforms that offer live tutoring.
Khan Academy Pricing:
- Free
How to get started with Khan Academy:
- Create a free account and check out the courses on the platform
6. Online learning with IXL Learning
IXL Learning is an education company providing bite-sized learning resources online. Its content is aimed at K-12 students in math, science, languages, and social studies. All lessons feature videos, games, and real-time progress reports.
You can choose from different packages, depending on the courses your child needs. With each package, you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription fee. Each package includes access to courses, assessments, and progress analytics, but keep in mind that there are no live tutoring sessions.
IXL Learning pricing:
IXL Learning’s prices depend on the package. Here is more information on the course combinations you can make:
- Single subject: Math or language arts for $9.95 per month
- Combo package: Math and language arts $15.95 per month
- Core subjects package: Math, language arts, science, and social studies for $19.95 per month
How to get started with IXL Learning
- Choose what topics your child needs and decide which monthly package works best for you
- Remember that you have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee if you want to cancel your membership within the first month
7. Online learning with Art of Problem Solving
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) provides valuable math learning resources for students between the ages of 6 and 18.
Younger students aged 6-13 can enroll in Beast Academy, an interactive math platform with live group classes and books. Older students can join the Art of Problem Solving Academy’s math classes on algebra, geometry, and number theory.
Other services of the platform are math contest preparation and access to a math community. Although the classes are helpful, AoPS doesn’t offer customized 1:1 classes, which means there’s limited personalized feedback.
Before you purchase a class on AoPS, you’ll need to make sure it fits your schedule, as the classes are group classes. If you require more flexibility, consider choosing live tutoring instead of AoPS.
Art of Problem Solving pricing:
- Prices depend on the course
How to get started with Art of Problem Solving:
- Decide what math topics your child needs help with
- Check if the course timetables fit your schedule before you sign up
8. Online learning with Everand
Everand enables users to access online learning resources in the form of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and podcasts.
With a monthly membership, you’ll get to enjoy 13 million different types of content online and offline. Your subscription will also include access to Everand’s sister companies Scribd and SlideShare. The former features documents shared by millions of users, and the latter is a presentation-sharing community.
Everand pricing:
- A monthly Everand membership costs $11.99
How to get started with Everand:
- Sign up for a 30-day trial to use Everand, Scribd, and SlideShare for free
- Continue using the platform if you enjoyed it at the end of the first 30 days. If not, cancel your subscription
9. Online learning with Audible
Audible is one of the most comprehensive audiobook platforms.
Besides listening to popular fiction books, you can also use Audible as an online learning resource, and listen to books on school subjects, self-improvement, careers, and more.
Audible pricing:
- A monthly Audible subscription costs $7.95 per month if you only want to listen to the audiobooks
- For $14.95 per month, you can keep one book per month in your personal library
How to get started with Audible:
- Sign up for a 30-day free trial to listen on your iOS or Android device
- Continue your membership if you’re happy with your subscription. If not, don’t forget to cancel before the trial period ends
10. Online learning with Coursera
With Coursera, learners get to access different types of educational resources online: career-advancing certificates, virtual degrees, and personal development courses.
Leading companies like Google, IBM, and Meta publish their courses on the platform, allowing people to learn in-demand topics from industry experts. As for degrees, Coursera has partnerships with Imperial College London, Yale, and Penn, so you can earn a degree from the comfort of your home.
Coursera pricing:
Coursera has both free audit-only courses and paid certificate programs. If you invest in a Coursera Plus membership, you’ll have access to 90% of the courses on the platform. It costs $59 per month or $399 per year.
How to get started with Coursera:
- Choose a free or a paid course on the platform
- Sign up and complete the course
- Consider a 7-day free trial for a Coursera Plus membership if you plan on taking courses regularly
11. Online learning with Udemy
An on-demand course marketplace, Udemy allows creators to publish courses online and learners to purchase them.
You can find over 220,000 courses on the platform, covering a wide range of topics from web development to photography. Courses are affordable, and Udemy regularly holds sales. But keep in mind that anyone can create a course on Udemy, so reading the reviews is key when using Udemy’s resources for online learning.
Udemy pricing:
- You can buy courses individually or subscribe to a Udemy Personal Plan.
- A Udemy Personal Plan subscription gives you access to 11,000 courses, starting at $35 per month. You can try it for free for seven days to see if it’s right for you.
How to get started with Udemy:
- Buy an individual course or try the Udemy Personal Plan subscription for free for seven days
- Top tip: check out the website regularly as it often holds sales with course prices as low as $10
12. Online learning with Codecademy
Codecademy covers data and coding topics, such as C, CSS, Python, HTML, SQL, PHP, and more. You can start with a free membership, which includes some of the platform’s most popular courses.
A paid membership comes with extra benefits, including a certification, unlimited mobile app access, quizzes, and hands-on practice. There are two paid subscriptions, Plus and Premium. Plus aims to improve students’ technical skills, and Pro prepares them for their first job in the tech industry.
Codecademy pricing:
Here are more details on the Basic, Plus, and Pro subscriptions of Codecademy:
- Basic: Free with limited access to top courses, community support, and
- Plus: $14.99 per month for everything in Basic and unlimited access to courses
- Pro: $19.99 per month everything in Plus, along with additional online learning resources for building a career in tech
How to get started with Codecademy:
- Decide why you want to learn coding — this will help you choose from a Basic, Plus, or Pro membership
- Sign up for a 7-day free trial if you chose the Plus or Pro subscriptions
13. Online learning with Duolingo
If you’re looking for online language learning resources and courses, you probably know about Duolingo. In its free mobile app or website, you can find over 30 languages to start learning for free. The lessons are bite-sized and gamified, meaning you’ll complete them in a short time. Bonus: Duo the owl, Duolingo’s persistent mascot, sends daily notifications to get you practicing!
Duolingo works well to make learning a habit but it won’t be sufficient to become fluent in a language. Combine it with language classes or online tutoring to work on your speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills with a tutor.
Duolingo pricing:
Duolingo has three options:
- Free
- Super: $12.99 per month for extra learning features and no ads
- Super family: Allows people to share their Duolingo Super subscription with five other users. Prices depend on the country
How to get started with Duolingo:
- Download the app and choose the language you’d like to learn
- You’ll have two options: starting from scratch or taking a quick level test for the app to determine where you’ll start
- Set a daily practice goal to make it a habit
14. Online learning with PBS Kids
PBS Kids has great educational videos and games for children. They’re all based on the PBS Kids TV shows, so children learn with the cartoon characters they love. You can use the PBS content to show your child that online school resources can be fun! Combine these games with online tutoring to make the fun a little more educational.
Keep in mind that the PBS Kids shows can only be viewed from the USA.
PBS Kids pricing:
- Free
- More apps and e-books are available at an extra price
How to get started with PBS Kids:
- Get on the PBS Kids website or download the app to access the videos and games
15. Online learning with National Geographic Kids
Similar to PBS Kids, National Geographic Kids has free online resources for students. Through fun quizzes, puzzles, and interesting articles, the website sparks children’s curiosity on different topics, from national parks to prehistoric animals. You can use the website to get your child more interested in school topics or improve their general knowledge.
Due to the topics it covers and the amount of written material, National Geographic Kids is better for older children between the ages of 7 and 14.
National Geographic Kids pricing:
- Free to access the website
- Other National Geographic Kids products, such as the magazine, cost extra
How to get started with National Geographic Kids:
- Get on the National Geographic Kids website and browse the activities for your child
16. Online learning with YouTube
The ultimate free online learning resource for video lovers: YouTube. From school subject tutorials to tips on how to take better photos, you can find all types of video content for free.
Make sure to vet the creators beforehand as anyone can upload a video on the platform. Parents can consider using YouTube Kids to make sure children only watch family-friendly videos.
YouTube pricing:
- Free (with ads)
- Premium for $13.99 (without ads)
How to get started with YouTube:
- Download the app or go on the website to start browsing videos
Online learning for elementary students
Online learning for elementary students offers flexibility to both the parent and the child. However, due to the short attention spans of younger children, remote learning experiences can make it more difficult for kids to stay focused and motivated.
If you’re considering online learning resources for your child, start with live tutoring platforms, as they are interactive enough to keep children engaged. Unlike watching videos or listening to recordings, children will be actively involved in the class, so they won’t even have the time to get bored!
“Our students do math instead of watching others do it,” says Jessica Kaminski, math tutor at online math tutoring company Brighterly. During Brighterly’s online classes, students solve problems and play math games, which helps keep motivation levels high!
Online learning for advanced students
Online learning for advanced students and adults is easier, as they can decide on what they need, be it for their career or personal life. This makes it possible to set goals and stay motivated throughout the online learning experience.
Plus, with free trials, learners can decide if the online platform is right for them without making any payment, and move forward with another resource if it’s not. The options are endless!
Conclusion
The best online learning resource depends on what the learner is looking for.
For example, children will enjoy interactive tutoring platforms like Brighterly and game-based websites like PBS Kids. As for adults, they can define their own learning needs, whether that’s career advancement, language learning, or hobbies. They can then sign up for a free trial to get a better idea of the platform.
Wonder why we said children should start with online tutoring? Book a free demo with Brighterly for your child to see how the platform provides an engaging experience.