15 Best online learning platforms in 2025
Online learning has come a long way, shifting from simple course libraries to intelligent ecosystems that power both personal and enterprise growth.
In just a few years, they’ve become central to how organizations train, digitally reskill, and retain talent. Statista predicts that by 2029, nearly a billion people will use online learning platforms, with about one in seven already participating.
This is a clear sign that online learning solutions have become part of the global work culture. Enterprises that treat learning as a proactive tool are the ones redefining what employee training will look like in the future.
Businesses that invest early are using online learning platforms to hone employee skills at every level and genuinely build an innovation-led culture.
With that in mind, this article explores the fifteen best online learning platforms, highlighting what they offer, who they suit, and the key features that set them apart for employee training and skill development.
1. Udemy Business
- Review Rating: 4.5/5 (663 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Team skill building
First up, and a popular name across the board, Udemy Business is a powerhouse in online learning. This entry tops our list for the sheer breadth of courses and depth of expert-led content. Its library spans thousands of topics, giving teams the freedom to explore skills they need now and discover new areas that spark growth.
For organizations looking to scale skills quickly, it provides flexible learning paths and analytics to track progress across teams and departments. And for those that want to keep employees engaged while building capabilities in areas like leadership skill development, technology-driven innovation, and soft skills, Udemy Business delivers a solution that’s both practical and expansive.
2. Coursera Business
- Review Rating: 4.5/5 (458 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Professional career growth
Coming in a close second is Coursera Business, a platform that could have claimed the top spot if it weren’t for its premium pricing model, but it remains a formidable force in enterprise learning. The real unique selling point of Coursera is its partnerships with leading universities and companies, bringing high-quality, career-focused content straight to the training room.
We can’t stress enough how valuable Coursera Business is for organizations that want employees to gain recognized skills while exploring everything from data science to leadership styles. In a nutshell, Coursera also offers a learning experience that feels both prestigious and practical.
3. LinkedIn Learning
- Review Rating: 4.4/5 (696 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Workforce development tracking
Taking the third spot is LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn transformed its platform to offer courses, certifications, and a fresh approach to professional development. Unlike its original networking focus, LinkedIn Learning is a massive open online course provider, delivering accredited content across a wide range of subjects, from leadership to technology.
Enterprises find LinkedIn Learning especially useful because it integrates with employees’ profiles, tracks progress across teams, and aligns learning and development (L&D) with contemporary industry happenings. It makes learning measurable and highly relevant across some of the most complex industries.
4. edX
- Review Rating: 4.5/5 (118 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Advanced skill training
Landing in fourth place is edX, a platform that brings university-level expertise directly to the workplace. With a heightened focus on certifications and microcredentials, it helps employees gain in-demand skills without leaving the office.
Enterprises appreciate edX because it challenges teams to think differently and tackle challenges with confidence. Employees gain skills that feel earned, and companies see that translate into smarter problem-solving, more confident teams, and faster adaptation to change.
5. Khan Academy
- Review Rating: 4.5/5 (178 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Self-paced upskilling
Our next entry, Khan Academy, is unique in that it flips the traditional training model, putting learners in control of their pace and understanding. With a variety of interactive building block modules, its interactive lessons and dashboards make mastering even difficult concepts feel achievable.
Khan Academy comes in at number five because it transforms learning into an exploratory experience. Employees are encouraged to engage with material on their own terms, quietly building confidence and mastery without the pressure of formal assessments.
6. Thinkific
- Review Rating: 4.5/5 (374 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Branded corporate training
You might not be as familiar with Thinkific as the other entries on our list, but that’s because it’s been carving out a niche as a platform for businesses that want to create and deliver their own branded learning experiences.
Rather than offering a massive course library, Thinkific provides organizations with the tools to design, customize, and scale training that reflects their unique culture and goals. It’s one of the only entries on the list that places control of content and learning outcomes directly in the hands of enterprises.
7. Teachable
- Review Rating: 4.0/5 (47 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Quick course rollout
Teachable lives in the same lane as Thinkific, but it leans further into simplicity and accessibility, making it effortless for organizations to build, launch, and even sell courses quickly.
It’s a platform where ideas translate into courses, yet retain a level of polish and clarity that commands attention. Teams that are eager to roll out meaningful training without the usual friction can use Teachable to turn concepts into fully realized courses that land smoothly with employees.
- Review Rating: 3.3/5 (41 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Inventive course building
Skillshare is probably the name you are most familiar with when it comes to online learning platforms. It would have scored higher if not for a lack of community engagement, with few users uploading projects or participating in discussions.
However, it still scores high because of its depth of knowledge. It enables businesses to foster innovation in learning by encouraging employees to experiment and tackle challenges creatively. While Skillshare doesn’t offer formal accreditation, organizations focused on nurturing curiosity and fresh thinking can use it to spark inventive solutions.
9. MasterClass
- Review Rating: 4.3/5 (14 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Leadership and strategy
MasterClass is another heavy hitter in the online learning platform space. While it isn’t explicitly focused on business, it offers an unmatched range of courses led by industry leaders and CEOs, providing rare insights into strategy, growth, and professional development.
Organizations can use MasterClass to train future leaders and develop personalized training, drawing strategy insights directly from the experiences of those running the courses. Learners can engage through MasterClass’s own platform, follow along on YouTube, and access supplemental materials to deepen understanding.
10. Treehouse Business
- Review Rating: 4.3/5 (39 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Custom skill programs
Treehouse Business is one of the lesser-known names on our list today, but don’t let that put you off. They specialize in custom learning modules that act as building blocks, letting organizations design unique courses at the touch of a button.
Traditionally focused on computer programming, their offerings now extend to business strategy, leadership, and more. Their powerful learning analytics dashboards track progress and highlight areas for improvement based on engagement, completion rates, and even skill mastery.
11. LearnWorlds
- Review Rating: 4.7/5 (375 Reviews)
- Suitable For: AI employee learning
Marketing itself as the number one AI-powered platform for course creators only scratches the surface of what LearnWorlds offers. What really sets it apart is the ability to build fluid, interactive, branded courses with assessments, quizzes, and gamified elements that boost engagement.
With specific courses designed for both employee and customer training, it covers the full 360 degrees of experiential learning, enabling businesses to track performance and reinforce skills. It would have scored higher if not for a slightly steeper learning curve, but that’s a small price to pay for such versatility.
12. Podia
- Review Rating: 4.4/5 (22 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Flexible team training
Podia has quietly carved a space for businesses that want more than off-the-shelf courses. Its drag-and-drop interface makes building internal training straightforward, while its flexibility lets organizations tailor content to overall team needs.
What really sets it apart is the ability to combine online learning with selling digital products or membership programs, giving enterprises a way to experiment and innovate in how they deliver knowledge.
13. Kajabi
- Review Rating: 4.3/5 (82 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Custom corporate learning
For enterprises seeking a fully customizable solution, Kajabi offers a complete suite to design, deliver, and even sell courses. It prides itself on providing total control over every element. From structuring modules and branding the learning environment to tailoring assessments, businesses can shape the experience to match their internal culture and goals.
The emphasis on flexibility allows teams to create professional training programs independently of external developers and share them across the company. This places Kajabi as a unique tool for both skill development and strategic knowledge management across a variety of areas and applications.
14. LearnDash
- Review Rating: 4.2/5 (49 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Multimedia frameworks
Our penultimate entry, LearnDash, deserves a special mention for its Academy and knowledge base. Their smart docs bot with easy-to-navigate resources makes it simple for teams to find exactly what they need without wasting time.
Businesses will appreciate how easily teams can access training resources and track progress. For those looking to build HR programs or structured employee onboarding pathways, LearnDash provides a multimedia-driven framework that turns complex learning into bite-sized chunks. It’s a platform that keeps both administrators and employees moving forward without friction.
15. iSpring Learn
- Review Rating: 4.6/5 (113 Reviews)
- Suitable For: Offline course delivery
Closing our list is iSpring Learn. It lands here not because it lacks power, but because it’s a platform that shines when you dig into its full capabilities, which can feel overwhelming at first.
Its real strength comes from the tight integration with the iSpring Suite authoring tool, which makes turning PowerPoint slides into engaging, interactive courses almost effortless. Employees can learn anywhere, even offline, without struggling with clunky interfaces that stall progress.
Key takeaways
We’ve put together the table below so you can quickly see each platform’s focus and key features at a glance, helping you spot what matters most without getting lost in the details.
| Platform | Focus | Key Features |
| Udemy Business | Broad team skills | Lots of courses, easy progress tracking |
| Coursera Business | Career-focused learning | University content, certificates |
| LinkedIn Learning | Professional development | Track progress, connect with profiles |
| edX | University-level skills | Certifications, practical courses |
| Khan Academy | Self-paced learning | Interactive lessons, dashboards |
| Thinkific | Branded internal training | Custom courses, simple design tools |
| Teachable | Easy course creation | Quick launch, polished courses |
| Skillshare | Creativity & experimentation | Project-based, hands-on learning |
| MasterClass | Expert-led insights | Learn from top leaders, strategy tips |
| Treehouse Business | Custom modules | Build courses, track progress |
| LearnWorlds | Interactive & engaging | Quizzes, gamified content |
| Podia | Flexible learning | Drag-and-drop, memberships |
| Kajabi | Fully customizable training | Brand, design, assessments |
| LearnDash | Structured programs | Easy resources, onboarding support |
| iSpring Learn | Enterprise eLearning | PowerPoint to courses, offline learning |
Online learning platforms vs. learning management systems (LMS)
It’s important to understand the distinction between online learning platforms and learning management systems (LMS). Understanding the nuances between the two helps businesses design training that ensures change.
Online learning platforms
As previously defined, an online learning platform is a digital solution that delivers courses, resources, and interactive content directly to learners. It allows employees to access training anytime, anywhere, often on multiple devices. It also supports eLearning and practical skill development, helping businesses drive learning that sticks more than traditional methods.
Learning management systems (LMS)
A learning management system (LMS) is software designed to organize, track, and report on training programs within an organization. The main difference is that while LMSs focus on administration, compliance, and monitoring, they often rely on external content. Online learning platforms, on the other hand, emphasize engaging learners with ready-to-use or customizable courses.
What are the different types of online learning platforms?
Throughout our list, you’ll find different types of online learning platforms. It’s worth noting and distinguishing the different types to help you make the best choice. Let’s take a more in-depth look at the different types of online learning platforms:
Course marketplaces
Course marketplaces bring together a variety of instructors and courses in one place, allowing learners to browse and choose what suits them. From our list, Udemy Business is a standout, offering everything from coding bootcamps to leadership workshops that employees can dive into on their own schedule.
All-in-one course platforms
These platforms give businesses the tools to create, host, and manage courses without juggling multiple systems. For example, with Kajabi, teams can design branded, professional training, assign it, and track results, keeping learning streamlined and engaging.
Open-source LMSs
Open-source LMSs are flexible, self-managed systems that companies can shape however they like. Moodle, highlighted in our list, lets organizations build custom learning environments, integrate unique features, and adapt workflows to fit specific team or industry needs.
MOOC platforms
MOOCs deliver large-scale courses accessible to anyone, often with certification options. Coursera, on our list, gives employees access to university-level content and career-focused programs. This helps teams reskill and upskill in areas like project management without leaving the office.
Choosing the right online learning platform
Without a doubt, one of the most important decisions a business will make is on its strategy for continuous employee training. With employees forming the backbone of any business, it’s easy to see why so many are turning to online courses to keep pace in the fast-moving job market.
According to the Oxford Learning College, online learning is the fastest-growing sector in the education industry. This data shows how important it is for businesses to invest in platforms that keep their teams skilled, adaptable, and ready for whatever comes next.
Choosing the right online learning platform involves understanding the individual needs of your employees and investing in a solution that drives the business forward. Take your time, test different solutions, and spark workplace conversations that uncover skill gaps and inspire new ideas to get the most out of your online learning platform.
FAQs
An online learning platform is a digital system that delivers, tracks, and manages educational content for learners. Businesses are increasingly adopting these platforms to overhaul their training and development programs.
Look for platforms that can handle thousands of learners simultaneously, offer flexible learning paths, and allow you to assign courses by team or role. Strong reporting and user management features are key to keeping large programs organized and effective.
The best platforms include dashboards, progress tracking, and automated reminders. Features like completion certificates, performance metrics, and analytics reports help managers see who is on track, where gaps exist, and how learning is impacting real-world outcomes.
A solid platform should connect easily with your HR, payroll, and productivity tools. Integration enables automatic tracking and reporting. It means learning fits naturally into day-to-day workflows without adding admin headaches.