The 7 Best Udacity Alternatives and Competitors for Online Courses

Are you looking for quality Udacity alternatives and competitors that will allow you to take online courses that help you build new personal and professional skills?

Online learning has gained a ton of traction in recent years, thanks in large part to platforms offering courses anyone can take in just about every subject imaginable.

Regardless of whether you are looking for advanced training for your job, an affordable alternative to higher education, or just to hone your skills or learn a new hobby, various online course platforms have become formidable market leaders in the education industry.

Online learning has also removed physical and educational barriers, leveling the area of entry, and making learning and growth not only accessible to all but very affordable and engaging, as well.

As the adage goes: you need to learn, grow, and move forward to be included.

Simply put, online learning platforms make it convenient and easy to pursue continued education or improve your skills to be better at what you do.

And while Udacity is undoubtedly among the most popular and well-known platforms, it might not be the right choice for everybody.

Fortunately, there are lots of excellent Udacity alternatives available that provide a wide range of courses, content, and services to cater to different needs and wants.

Read on for our in-depth look at some of the best Udacity competitors we think are worth considering.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost for you, we might get a commission if you click the link and purchase.

 

What is Udacity?

Udacity is an online learning platform with courses created by industry experts.

The company was founded in 2011 with the mission to “democratize education.”

It offers self-paced learners and professionals the opportunity to gain new skills, knowledge, and career paths through a range of online programs including Nanodegrees in web development, data science, artificial intelligence, and more.

Udacity’s Nanodegrees can help learners earn a credential in as little as 6-12 weeks. This makes it a popular option for people who want to learn specific skills quickly so that they can enter the workforce.

The platform offers an array of excellent benefits for students, such as access to top-tier instructors, real-world projects, and portfolio-building tools. Additionally, Udacity also offers students the chance to work with expert mentors who provide personalized guidance and feedback.

Whether you are looking to gain new skills or take your career to the next level, Udacity can help you unlock your potential and reach your goals.

With its innovative online learning platform, Udacity helps learners everywhere stay ahead of the curve.

Our full Udacity review goes more into what this company has to offer, including their pricing options, and services, as well as the pros and cons to consider to make the best decision before you commit your interests, time, and finances.

 

Drawbacks to Udacity

While Udacity is one of the best online course websites out there, it’s not perfect — no platform is.

The biggest complaint many have about Udacity is its price.

While Udacity does have around 200 free courses, you won’t receive a certificate of completion when you take them.

As many of Udacity’s courses are a part of Udacity’s Nanodegree program (paid), Udacity’s free courses section has shrunk.

These Nanodegree programs can be kind of expensive, costing around $399/month and up for a 4-month course. In some cases, you can save 15% or so by paying for the course or Nanodegree program in full upfront, rather than doing month-to-month payments.

 

What are the Best Alternatives to Udacity?

Here are our picks for the top Udacity alternatives to consider in 2023…

 

1. Educative

If you’re looking to launch a career in programming and software development, Educative is one of the best online course platforms out there to build the skills you need to succeed.

With over 600 interactive courses covering programming, cloud computing, machine learning, data science, and other in-demand skills, Educative offers world-class education to those looking to learn new skills.

With Educative, you can jump into the world of programming languages like Java and Python and explore various development topics such as web and mobile app development.

Rather than relying on video lectures like other platforms, Educative’s courses are text-based and highly interactive, allowing you to learn up to 2 times as fast as you can learn by just watching videos.

A big part of Educative’s philosophy is that you can’t learn these skills simply by watching others do them. You need to do them yourself. That’s why they let you practice what you’re learning from any device, be it your phone, tablet, or laptop. You can practice coding right there in the course interface, letting you apply what you’re learning on the spot for a truly immersive learning experience.

Click here to join Educative for free.

 

2. Skillshare

With over 34,000 different courses offered by over 11,000 instructors, you are sure to find something that interests you or that matches the skillset you seek to learn or improve on with Skillshare.

Sometimes the subject is interesting, but the instructor might present it differently than you prefer to learn. This is not an issue with Skillshare because you can get started for free and choose a trial class.

If you find the instructor you like, you simply select to continue with them or search for other courses they offer.

In the same vein, should you not like a specific instructor’s style, you are not “stuck” with them for an extended period should you sign up for a series of courses.

The courses are taught by subject-matter experts in their respective fields, whether it’s business professionals, artists, or motivational speakers.

Skillshare offers a Premium Membership, which allows you unlimited access to all the courses, on many different subjects, from food to art to programming. You also receive access to the student community for support and engagement.

Check out our review of Skillshare for additional information that you might find useful, or simply enroll in a course and see what it’s all about.

Click here to try Skillshare free for 30 days.

 

3. Udemy

Udemy is a well-recognized company that offers online courses. An online learning-platform pioneer and even an “old-timer” according to today’s standards, this is an established online learning company that has been a trailblazer since 2010 with out-of-the-box thinking and innovative e-learning options.

Because of its plethora of over 185,000 courses, Udemy is a well-known brand name for online learning, with over 52 million clients worldwide. Consider it like a miniature e-library of Alexandria, with valuable information on many subjects, from acting to time management.

Because Udemy opens its platform to individuals who like to teach and share their expertise and skillset, they use a Course Quality Checklist to ensure that each course is consistent in quality for the best student experience.

You can check out our Udemy review to find out more about what this company has to offer, including their pricing options, and services, as well as the pros and cons to consider to make the best decision before you commit your interests, time, and finances.

Click here to get started with Udemy.

 

4. CreativeLive

CreativeLive communicates its mission by its name: it is targeting anyone who wants to work on their creative side, tapping into the wealth of talent that other artists share on the platform.

Whether it’s collaboration, learning from one another, or honing skills as a beginner, CreativeLive offers different classes for everyone interested in the arts.

The “Money & Life” focus courses help budding or established artists to hone their life skills, as well, so that they can explore entrepreneurship or simply use time management skills to have a more productive day, balancing fun and work (or perhaps, even blending them).

Otherwise, CreativeLive focuses mostly on different arts, from photography and audiovisual arts to music and crafts.

This Udacity alternative is for anyone wanting to expand their creative horizons, whether for fun or to build a thriving career.

Starting at only $13/month, with courses that can be downloaded for offline learning, CreativeLive can offer a great alternative to Netflix binge-watching since it will inspire and motivate you to find your inner artist and create.

Click here to get started with CreativeLive.

 

5. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is a natural expansion of LinkedIn’s mission and influence.

With over 18,000 courses, this online learning platform is geared toward working professionals and those who seek employment and want to be more marketable, those who seek continued professional education, and those who are considering a career change altogether.

Some courses focus on business, copywriting, or software development. Others focus on coding, web design, or broad topics like productivity.

You can try LinkedIn Learning for free for 30 days, and once your trial is up, you can pay annually at a rate of $19.99 a month or month-to-month for $39.99, making it an affordable investment into your continued professional development.

We have done the homework for you and reviewed LinkedIn Learning throughout. Check out our LinkedIn Learning review so that you can decide whether this learning platform is a fit for your needs.

Click here to try LinkedIn Learning free for 30 days.

 

6. edX

edX has been around since 2012 before online learning went mainstream. Since then, over 42 million students have benefited from the courses that edX offers.

As one of the established market leaders within the industry, edX offers thousands of courses from the world’s most acclaimed universities and organizations in different areas, such as product management, coding, and digital marketing.

edX presents a hybrid learning experience between professional workshops and a classic university model by offering boot camps, education for executives, as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in different disciplines.

For the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, edX partners with over 160 top universities, such as The Boston University and The University of Texas at Austin, as well as the University of London, to provide access to high-quality course content and top-notch instructors.

edX is a top collaborator with schools, businesses, and institutions for continued education, as well. You can get started for free to get a feel for the course layout and material presentation.

Since many of the Ivy Schools partner with edX, this allows anyone to enroll in a specific Harvard or MIT course, receiving a certificate of completion from that particular school afterward. This not only levels the playing field for all students but also makes costly education accessible and affordable for all.

Our extensive review of edX is worth checking out so that you can compare “apples to apples” when selecting the best online course platform for you and your family.

Click here to try edX free.

 

7. Pluralsight

Pluralsight is an online learning platform for those looking to learn new or improve their existing technology-specific skills to help them be more effective in the workplace.

You can try Pluralsight for free for 10 days, and after the free trial period, you can select from either the standard ($29/month) or the premium plan ($45/month). Pluralsight offers different learning paths based on your starting point and learning goals.

You can choose from learning areas such as software development, IT operations, or cybersecurity. Pluralsight also offers specific certification prep for CICSO, Microsoft, and other certifications that help you advance professionally.

You can tap into peer prep support and community to ensure you don’t feel alone and receive the support to succeed.

Used by the public sector and many non-profits, Pluralsight standardizes corporate training requirements, helping businesses develop their human resources by offering a plethora of learning paths to choose from.

Check out our Pluralsight review for more info or click here to try Pluralsight free for 10 days.

 

What to Look for in a Udacity Alternative

Although Udacity is a well-established online education company, those shopping around for a perfect fit might want to consider the following things when comparing Udacity with other platforms:

• Course selection: Each online course platform offers many different courses. Some have thousands of courses to choose from, with searchable course libraries, while others offer a program or path that you can pick and follow to expand your skills and knowledge as you go.

• Content presentation: Most online course platforms offer asynchronous learning opportunities, whether it’s video content or other lecture material, even including hands-on learning opportunities. Some platforms offer live classes with instructor and classmate engagement.

• Learning goal clarity: Depending on a person’s learning style, most platforms offer either single-course options or a learning path that you can follow, having a clear direction from your beginning point to completion and mastery of your newly learned skillset.

• Support: All online course platforms offer basic tech support to their subscribers. Some platforms offer additional support by offering peer groups or other interactive forums where students can engage with others with similar learning goals. This also provides the opportunity to find accountability partners or even mentors.

• Pricing: Pricing varies greatly from platform to platform, with most offering a free trial period to “shop around” and see which online learning platform fits you best. Most platforms offer either “a-la-carte” courses that you can pick and match or where you pay for an entire program. Most platforms also offer monthly subscriptions with limited or unlimited course access. This is a great option for those who are either undecided or love to learn many different things quickly. Most subscriptions are of great value, ranging anywhere from $13-$45 per month.

 

A Final Word on Udacity Alternatives

With so many great Udacity alternatives and competitors, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to finding an online learning platform.

Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, making it important to weigh your options carefully before committing to a certain platform.

That said, with so many great choices available, you should have no problem finding the perfect fit for your needs.

Make this year your year of learning. Commit to learning a new skill or language or simply pick something you want to improve, such as communication skills.

With consistency, you will master anything you set your mind to!

Have any questions about our guide to the best alternatives to Udacity? Let us know by commenting below.