The Most Popular MOOC Platforms, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the platforms you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 2, 2024 06:15
In the digital age, the pursuit of learning has transcended traditional classrooms, making it challenging to choose the right online educational course among the multitude of available options. Ranking these platforms helps streamline the decision-making process, ensuring that users can easily identify which ones best meet their learning needs and preferences.
By participating in the voting process, users contribute to the collective wisdom of the community, guiding others to make informed decisions. This interactive approach not only enhances the reliability of the rankings but also keeps the list current and reflective of actual user satisfaction and preferences.
What Are the Most Popular MOOC Platforms?
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157votesOne of the most popular MOOC platforms, Coursera offers courses from leading universities and institutions around the world. It has over 47 million registered users and offers over 4,000 courses in various subjects. Coursera also offers specializations and degrees.Coursera is an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses, specializations, and degrees. It partners with top universities and organizations to provide high-quality educational content to learners around the world. Coursera's mission is to provide universal access to the world's best education.
- Course Variety: Offers a diverse range of subjects and topics
- University Partnerships: Collaborates with leading universities and institutions
- High-Quality Content: Provides courses taught by experts
- Flexible Learning Options: Allows self-paced learning and scheduled deadlines
- Certifications: Offers certificates upon course completion
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230votesFounded by Harvard and MIT, edX offers courses from top universities and institutions around the world. It has over 20 million registered users and offers over 2,000 courses in various subjects. edX also offers micro-masters programs and online degrees.edX is a popular online platform that offers massive open online courses (MOOCs) and other educational resources. It was founded in 2012 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, with the aim of providing high-quality education to a worldwide audience. The platform includes courses from a wide range of disciplines, including computer science, mathematics, business, humanities, and more. edX offers both self-paced courses and instructor-led courses, allowing learners to choose their preferred learning style. The platform also provides verified certificates and microcredentials for completed courses.
- Courses: Offers a wide range of courses from various disciplines
- Course Formats: Provides self-paced and instructor-led courses
- Certificates: Offers verified certificates for completed courses
- Microcredentials: Provides microcredentials for completed courses
- Collaborations: Partners with universities, institutions, and organizations worldwide
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315votesUdacity offers courses in various subjects including programming, data science, and business. It has over 10 million registered users and offers both free and paid courses. Udacity also offers nanodegrees, which are focused on specific job skills.Udacity is a popular Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform that offers a wide range of online courses in various disciplines including computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, programming, and more. The platform aims to democratize education by providing high-quality courses taught by leading industry professionals and universities.
- Course Variety: Offers courses in various disciplines
- Industry Relevance: Courses taught by leading industry professionals
- Nanodegree Programs: Offers focused programs with real-world projects
- Self-Paced Learning: Courses can be taken at the learner's own pace
- Interactive Learning: Engaging learning experience with interactive quizzes and projects
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415votesFutureLearn is a UK-based MOOC platform that offers courses from leading universities and institutions around the world. It has over 10 million registered users and offers over 1,000 courses in various subjects. FutureLearn also offers micro-credentials and online degrees.FutureLearn is a leading online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses from top universities and institutions worldwide. It aims to provide accessible education to learners everywhere, with a focus on social learning and collaboration. The platform combines interactive content, discussion forums, and practical activities to create engaging and immersive learning experiences. Whether you're looking to develop new skills, explore a subject of interest, or advance your career, FutureLearn offers flexible and diverse learning opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds.
- Course Variety: Thousands of courses spanning various subjects and disciplines.
- Collaborative Learning: Emphasis on social learning and community engagement.
- Flexible Learning: Self-paced courses with the option to upgrade for additional benefits.
- Course Length: Courses range from a few weeks to several months in duration.
- Content Format: Interactive videos, articles, quizzes, and practical exercises.
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518votes
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedInFormerly known as Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning offers courses in various subjects including business, technology, and creative skills. It has over 16,000 courses and is integrated with LinkedIn, making it easy for users to showcase their skills on their profiles.LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses and tutorials aimed at professional development. It provides access to high-quality video lectures and interactive learning resources.- Course Variety: Over 16,000 courses covering various topics
- Expert Instructors: Courses taught by industry experts and professionals
- Flexible Learning: Learn at your own pace, anytime, and on any device
- Personalized Recommendations: Tailored course suggestions based on user preferences and career goals
- Certifications: Opportunities to earn certificates upon course completion
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69votesSkillshare offers courses in creative fields such as design, photography, and writing. It has over 8 million registered users and offers both free and paid courses. Skillshare also offers a subscription service that gives users access to all courses.Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers courses on a wide range of creative topics. It focuses on practical, project-based classes taught by industry professionals. The platform encourages a collaborative and interactive learning experience.
- Course Topics: Creative and practical subjects
- Course Format: Project-based learning
- Instructors: Industry professionals
- Collaboration: Encourages student collaboration
- Community: Active online community
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712votesOpenLearning is an Australian-based MOOC platform that offers courses from universities and institutions around the world. It has over 2 million registered users and offers over 1,600 courses in various subjects. OpenLearning also offers micro-credentials and online degrees.OpenLearning is an online learning platform designed to provide a social learning experience for students. It offers a wide range of courses on various subjects, allowing learners to collaborate, interact, and engage with both course instructors and fellow students. The platform promotes active learning by incorporating multimedia, discussion forums, quizzes, and peer assessments.
- Course variety: Offers a diverse range of courses on various subjects
- Social learning: Emphasizes collaboration, interaction, and engagement among students
- Multimedia integration: Utilizes videos, audios, and interactive content to enhance learning experience
- Discussion forums: Facilitates online discussions among students and instructors
- Quizzes and assessments: Includes quizzes and peer assessments to evaluate learning progress
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83votesAlison offers courses in various subjects including business, technology, and health. It has over 17 million registered users and offers both free and paid courses. Alison also offers diplomas and certificates.Alison is a popular MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform that offers a wide range of free online courses in various subjects. It is known for its accessibility and flexibility, making it a popular choice among learners around the world.
- Course Selection: Over 1,500 free courses covering diverse subjects
- Certification: Free certificates of completion available
- Interactive Learning: Interactive multimedia content and quizzes
- Community: Engage with other learners through forums and discussions
- Course Difficulty Levels: Courses available for beginners to advanced learners
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93votes
Canvas Network
Instructure, Inc.Canvas Network offers courses from universities and institutions around the world. It has over 1 million registered users and offers over 700 courses in various subjects. Canvas Network also offers micro-credentials and online degrees.Canvas Network is an open online learning platform that offers a wide range of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). It provides a flexible and interactive learning environment for students around the world. Canvas Network offers courses from various educational institutions and organizations, allowing learners to explore diverse subjects and topics.- Course Variety: Offers a broad range of courses across different disciplines.
- Accessibility: Provides accessible features and complies with web accessibility guidelines.
- Collaboration Tools: Includes built-in tools for collaboration and communication between instructors and learners.
- Flexible Learning: Allows learners to study at their own pace and access course materials anytime, anywhere.
- Interactive Content: Offers interactive elements such as videos, quizzes, discussion boards, and assignments.
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103votesKadenze offers courses in creative fields such as music, art, and design. It has over 200,000 registered users and offers both free and paid courses. Kadenze also offers micro-credentials and online degrees.Kadenze is an online learning platform that focuses on creative arts and technology. It provides a variety of courses and programs in subjects like music, visual arts, design, and creative coding.
- Course Variety: Offers programs in music, visual arts, design, and creative coding
- Interactive Learning: Provides hands-on projects and activities for a practical learning experience
- Industry Professionals: Courses taught by leading experts and professionals in the field
- Collaborative Tools: Enables students to collaborate with peers and instructors on projects
- Community Interaction: Features a platform for students to interact and engage with fellow learners
Missing your favorite platforms?
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular platforms
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Course variety and qualityThe range and diversity of courses offered is a crucial factor in assessing a MOOC platform's popularity. It includes the subjects covered, the quality of the course content, level of courses (beginner, intermediate, or advanced), and the learning approach used in the courses.
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Instructor credibility and expertiseThe expertise and experience of instructors who design and deliver courses on the MOOC platform can directly impact its popularity. Users tend to prefer platforms with well-known and experienced educators or professionals as the course instructors.
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Platform user experienceThe user experience of a MOOC platform, including ease of navigation, user interface, and platform reliability, plays a crucial role in its popularity. Users expect MOOC platforms to be intuitive and easy to use with quick access to the information they need.
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Certification valueThe value of the certificates and badges offered by the platform is another essential factor users look for. A platform that offers recognized and accredited certifications, which can be used to showcase skills and enhance employability, would be more popular.
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Pricing and affordabilityThe cost of courses or subscription plans on a MOOC platform can significantly influence user preference. Free courses or affordable subscription models with access to multiple courses can make the platform popular among learners.
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Community and peer supportMOOC platforms with strong communities and avenues for peer-to-peer assistance, such as forums and discussion boards, are perceived as more appealing. Such platforms enable users to engage in discussions, ask questions, and interact with peers to enhance their learning.
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Learning support resourcesThe availability of additional learning resources, such as quizzes, assessments, and supplementary educational materials, helps improve the overall learning experience and appeal of a MOOC platform.
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Customer support and communicationThe quality of customer support provided by the MOOC platform and its responsiveness to user queries and concerns are vital in determining its popularity.
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User reviews and reputationThe reputation and word of mouth about a MOOC platform plays a significant role in its popularity. Users often look for reviews and recommendations from others who have used the platform before making their choice.
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Accessibility and mobile-friendlinessMOOC platforms that provide responsive websites, mobile apps, or other accessibility options, such as closed captions and transcripts, make it more convenient for users to engage with course content across devices, thus contributing to the platform's popularity.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular MOOC platforms. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or platform is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1960 views
- 163 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each platform once every 24 hours. The rank of each platform is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
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More information on most popular mooc platforms
Background: MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses, have revolutionized the way people learn and obtain knowledge. These courses are delivered online, often for free, and cover a wide range of subjects from computer science to business management. With the rise of MOOCs, there has been an increasing number of platforms offering these courses. In this article, we will explore the most popular MOOC platforms and what they have to offer.
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