E-Learning Platforms – Top 10 Providers Compared

The largest open course marketplace in the world: around 290,000 courses from approx. 90,000 instructors, used by over 84 million learners. Since May 11, 2026, Udemy belongs to Coursera – but the platform continues to operate with its own catalog, own login, and own prices.

• Very many video courses in German
• Single purchase instead of subscription – courses remain usable forever
• Downloadable certificates, app with offline mode
• 30-day money-back guarantee

• Quality varies greatly from course to course
• List prices are fantasy prices – never buy without a promotion

The largest MOOC platform with courses from universities (Stanford, Yale, LMU) and companies. The Professional Certificates from Google, IBM, Meta and Microsoft are particularly strong. After the merger with Udemy, the group counts over 290 million learners.

• Over 10,000 courses in the Plus subscription (more than 90% of the catalog)
• Very many courses viewable for free in audit mode
• Recognized professional certificates and complete online degree programs
• Financial aid available upon application

• Few courses in German, mostly subtitles only
• Certificate only available in paid mode

The learning platform of the career network LinkedIn with over 20,000 courses on business, IT, software and soft skills. Completed courses can be added to your LinkedIn profile with one click.

• Many German-language courses on career and software
• Certificates visible directly on your LinkedIn profile
• App with download function for on the go
• Free one-month trial

• Subscription only – after cancellation everything is gone
• Little depth on specialist topics

Subscription platform with over 32,000 courses covering design, illustration, photography, video, animation, and freelancing. Each course includes a small project that is displayed in the community.

• Cheapest creative subscription in comparison
• Very strong selection for design and graphics
• App for downloading courses
• Project-based – you produce something of your own

• Virtually all courses are in English
• Course quality varies, no real certificates

Founded by Harvard and MIT, now part of 2U. Over 4,000 courses from more than 250 universities and companies – from computer science and natural sciences to management, including complete Master's programs.

• Approx. 3,000 courses can be audited for free
• Courses from renowned universities (MIT, Harvard, Berkeley)
• MicroMasters and online degrees possible

• Almost exclusively in English
• Free access is now time-limited
• Certificates cost extra (usually $50–300 – edX has no separate Euro price list)

Non-profit learning platform for school and basic knowledge: mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, economics, and history. The AI learning coach Khanmigo explains tasks step by step instead of just giving away the solution.

• All courses and exercises permanently free
• Very good practice system with progress indicator
• German translation by the association KA Deutsch e. V.
• Apps for Android and iOS

• German content lags behind the English original
• No offering for professional continuing education
• Khanmigo costs extra and is only available in English

Not a classic course provider, but a knowledge app from Berlin: non-fiction books and podcasts are prepared as a 15-minute summary (“Blinks”) for reading and listening. Since 2023, Blinkist has been part of the Australian continuing education provider Go1.

• Over 7,500 titles, a large portion of them in German
• One free title every day
• App with download and read-aloud function
• Ideal for commuting and sports

• Summaries do not replace a book or a course
• German titles are significantly rarer than English ones

Marketplace for one-on-one lessons via video: over 30,000 verified teachers in more than 150 languages. You pay per hour – no subscription, no minimum commitment.

• Live lessons with native speakers
• Flexible scheduling, also evenings and weekends
• Affordable trial lessons to try out
• Price and level of teacher freely selectable

• Quality depends entirely on the teacher
• Credit system with fees when topping up
• No structured curriculum without your own planning

Over 200 elaborately produced courses, taught by famous personalities – Gordon Ramsay cooks, Martin Scorsese explains directing, Anna Wintour talks about leadership. More inspiration than training.

• Cinematic production, very pleasant to watch
• Instructors you otherwise never get to see
• Download function in the app (from Plus subscription)
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee

• All courses in English, only subtitles in German
• No certificates, no exams
• Individual courses are no longer sold – only subscription

The learning platform of the ZEIT publishing house: seminars with renowned professors on philosophy, history, psychology, rhetoric, and economics – entirely in German and with high production effort.

• Completely German-language – a rarity in this comparison
• Very high-quality produced video seminars
• Certificates of participation and accompanying materials
• Well-known instructors

• Relatively small course offering
• Hardly any practical exercises, a lot of lecture
• Expensive in relation to the number of courses

The MOOC platform of the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam – the best German-language address for IT topics. Courses run over two to six weeks with videos, self-tests, and exercises.

• University IT courses in German, free
• Certificate of participation from 50% of the points
• Topics: AI, IT security, programming, data protection
• Archived courses can be taken at any time

• Fixed course start dates instead of flexible entry

British MOOC platform with over 300 partners – including universities, the British Library, and the National Archives. The structure is heavily geared towards discussion in the learning group.

• Many courses for learning English and in the humanities
• Free access during the course duration
• Unlimited subscription for heavy users

• Free access only for course duration plus two weeks
• Course language is English
• No real offline app

Google's free continuing education offer in online marketing, AI, cloud, and digital core skills. Important: The offer has moved from learndigital.withgoogle.com to grow.google/intl/de, the paid Career Certificates run via Coursera.

• Free certificate „Fundamentals of Online Marketing“
• Professionally created courses in German
• Interactive quizzes and practical exercises
• New: Google AI Professional Certificate

• Content stays at the surface level
• Professional certificates cost extra via Coursera

Non-profit platform with twelve certifications from responsive web design through JavaScript to Data Science – completely free. New are the Certified-Full-Stack-Developer certification and a Systems-Programming certification (C/C++), which will be released in 2026.

• HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL and more
• Everything free, no ads, no subscription
• Very many practical exercises instead of pure videos
• Large, helpful community in the forum

• Explanations and tasks only in English
• Certificates carry little weight with employers

Practice programming directly in the browser – no installation. Python, JavaScript, Web Development, Java, SQL and Data Science. Codecademy has belonged to the continuing education group Skillsoft since 2022.

• Free basic access with many foundational courses
• Instant feedback in the integrated editor
• Certificates and career paths in the Pro plan
• Quiz questions and projects instead of pure videos

• Only English courses
• Pro is expensive with the monthly subscription

Specialist for data and AI: Python, R, SQL, Power BI, Machine Learning, and generative AI – everything interactive in the browser, in short units with direct code feedback.

• The first section of each course is free
• Very good introduction to data science and AI
• Career paths with certification
• Exercises run without local installation

• Only in English
• Little depth for advanced learners
• Very granular exercises with a lot of guidance

Learning paths for Java, Python, Kotlin, Go, and Frontend – you build real projects from the start in the JetBrains development environment. Since December 2025, Hyperskill runs independently with its own plugin; the JetBrains Academy remains as a separate course offering.

• Practical development tasks instead of video consumption
• Projects can be published directly on GitHub
• Work in a professional IDE
• Free trial period

• English only
• No mobile app – computer required
• Quite challenging for beginners without prior knowledge

Known for its “Nanodegrees” in cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science, AI, and autonomous driving. Udacity has been part of Accenture since May 2024 and is part of the LearnVantage continuing education division there. Since October 2025, there is also an accredited Master's in AI.

• Very up-to-date topics in tech and AI
• Projects are reviewed by humans, not automatically
• Mentor and career support
• Strong connection to industry

• By far the most expensive platform here
• Only in English
• Focus is increasingly on corporate clients

Full-time bootcamps from WBS TRAINING SE (education provider since 1979) in UX/UI Product Design, Data Analytics and Data Science. The programs are AZAV-certified and therefore eligible for funding via the Bildungsgutschein (education voucher) of the Federal Employment Agency – practically free for job seekers.

• AZAV-certified, up to 100% funded with Bildungsgutschein (education voucher)
• Programs in UX/UI Design, Data Analytics and Data Science
• Full-time with fixed schedule and support
• Part of the established WBS Group

• Very expensive without funding
• Full-time format – cannot learn at your own pace on the side

The first address for creatives: over 32,000 courses in illustration, graphic design, video, photography, animation and freelancing – in an affordable annual subscription.

• Very affordable subscription with huge selection
• Projects instead of pure theory
• App for downloading courses

• Courses are in English
• Quality varies noticeably

Spanish platform for creatives with very high-quality produced courses in illustration, hand lettering, photography, 3D and marketing. Courses are purchased individually and remain permanently available.

• German subtitles for many courses
• Courses are yours permanently – no subscription needed
• Frequent discount promotions of 60 to 80 percent
• Active community with project feedback

• Only a few courses with German audio track
• Certificates only for Plus members
• Comparatively expensive without discount offers

Course offering from Adobe instructor Martin Perhiniak covering Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. In addition to self-paced courses, there are multi-week live workshops ("Design Sprint") with feedback on real projects.

• Very deep Adobe know-how from first hand
• Live workshops with personal feedback
• Interactive quizzes and completion certificate
• Many free YouTube videos to check out

• Only English courses
• No app
• Live workshops only take place on fixed dates

Platform for photography, video, music, and business. CreativeLive was facing shutdown after canceling new registrations in May 2025, but was acquired by CourseHorse in December 2025 and has been running normally since February 2026.

• Over 2,000 courses from photography to music production
• Very strong photography library
• Courses individually or by subscription

• All courses in English, no app
• No German market, billing only in US dollars

Mathematics, computer science, and natural sciences – completely free, with videos, texts, and a very good practice system. Levels and progress indicators provide motivation; the AI coach Khanmigo helps with tasks.

• Permanently free and ad-free
• Strong practice and feedback system

• Some English videos with German subtitles
• Does not fully cover the German curriculum

The largest German provider for students: around 14,000 learning videos in 23 subjects for all grade levels, plus exercises, worksheets, and a homework chat with real teachers.

• Covers the German curriculum of all federal states
• Printable worksheets (Premium)
• Homework chat with teachers (Premium)
• Progress reports for parents

• Only by subscription, no free permanent use
• Pay attention to cancellation periods

A huge knowledge quiz sorted by grade level, subject, and federal state – usable without registration, in the browser and as an app. Ideal for quick quizzing before a test.

• All subject areas free
• No registration required
• Web, iOS, and Android

• Ads in the free version
• Pure quizzing, no explanatory videos

Lovingly animated learning worlds for grades 1 to 7 in math, German, English, and natural sciences. Attention: scoyo has ceased operations and is no longer accepting new subscriptions. Existing subscriptions will continue for now according to scoyo, until customers are informed.

• Very child-friendly design with stories and avatars
• Good introduction for elementary school

• Platform shutdown is already underway
• Only up to grade 7