Best GetSmarter Alternatives in 2026
The top GetSmarter alternatives are Coursera, edX and DataCamp: 15 online course marketplaces our editors would look at instead of GetSmarter, in our ranking order.
GetSmarter: Structured, cohort-based short courses for professionals seeking institution-issued credentials. Where it falls short: no free plan for trying courses before purchase.
Switching from GetSmarter? For most online course marketplaces buyers the best GetSmarter alternative is Coursera, built for broad university and professional learning. On a budget, Alison starts at $1one-time.
Why People Look for a GetSmarter Alternative
- No free plan for trying courses before purchase
- Course fees vary by course, location, and other factors
- No integrations, and some offline activities require a browser
- No subscription access — 10 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallCoursera9.3
Broad university and professional learning
Visit Coursera - Lowest priceAlison8.2
Paid plans from $1one-time
Visit Alison - Best free optionCoursera9.3
Has a free plan
Visit Coursera - Best for subscription accessCoursera9.3
Subscription access (GetSmarter: no)
Visit Coursera
All 15 GetSmarter Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.
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Best forBroad university and professional learning
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.8
A broad learning marketplace with courses, certificates, projects, labs, and team analytics.
- Offline access
- Subscription access
- Business plans
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Coursera -
Best forCredentials and university-backed learning
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.8
A broad marketplace for learners and organizations seeking structured credentials.
- Offline access
- Subscription access
- Business plans
9.2/10★★★★★Visit edX -
Best forInteractive data and coding courses
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.8
A practical course marketplace for learning data, coding, and AI in the browser.
- Subscription access
- Business plans
- Course certificates
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit DataCamp -
Best forUniversity-style short courses and credentials
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.8
A broad learning marketplace with free entry and paid access to eligible courses and certificates.
- Subscription access
- Business plans
- Course certificates
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit FutureLearn -
Best forTechnical skills and practical learning
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.8
A broad technical learning platform with courses, assessments, labs, and AI support.
- Offline access
- Subscription access
- Business plans
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Pluralsight -
Best forMentored career paths and degree programs
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.8
A structured path from free courses to mentored training and degree programs.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit OpenClassrooms -
Best forTechnical learning with labs and references
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.8
A premium technical learning subscription combining courses, references, labs, and team tools.
- Offline access
- Subscription access
- Business plans
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forCareer-focused professional learning
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.8
A career-focused learning marketplace with courses, certificates, mobile access, and AI coaching.
- Offline access
- Subscription access
- Business plans
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forEnterprise course procurement and LMS delivery
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.8
A broad training marketplace with strong LMS delivery and enterprise procurement tools.
- Subscription access
- Business plans
- Course certificates
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit OpenSesame -
Best forMaximum low-cost course access
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.8
A broad, low-cost course marketplace with free access, offline learning, and LMS plans.
- Offline access
- Subscription access
- Business plans
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Alison -
Best forFree courses with career and degree options
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.8
A broad learning marketplace combining free courses, career programs and degree pathways.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Great Learning -
Best forCloud certification and practical learning
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.8
A focused cloud learning marketplace for certification paths and practical projects.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Simplilearn -
Best forCareer programs with mentoring and placement support
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.8
A broad learning marketplace combining free courses with degrees, mentoring, and career support.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit upGrad -
Best forUniversity-partnered programs and enterprise cohorts
- Better than GetSmarter:
- Subscription access
A broad course marketplace spanning certificates, degrees, executive programs, and enterprise cohorts.
- Subscription access
- Business plans
- Course certificates
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Emeritus -
Best forFree academic courses with optional certification
A strong free academic learning option, with certification available for INR 1,000 per exam.
- Offline access
- Course certificates
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit NPTEL
GetSmarter Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to GetSmarter?
Coursera: #1 in our Online Course Marketplaces ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A broad learning marketplace with courses, certificates, projects, labs, and team analytics.
Is there a free alternative to GetSmarter?
Yes. Coursera, edX, DataCamp, FutureLearn and OpenClassrooms have a free plan or a free tier (11 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to GetSmarter?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Alison starts lowest, at $1/unit one-time.
Why do people look for GetSmarter alternatives?
No free plan for trying courses before purchase; Course fees vary by course, location, and other factors; No integrations, and some offline activities require a browser.
How do I switch from GetSmarter?
Export your data from GetSmarter (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel GetSmarter.
How to Switch from GetSmarter
- Export your data from GetSmarter (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel GetSmarter.
GetSmarter vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Subscription access | Mobile apps | Offline access | Course certificates | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | GetSmarter | — | — | No | Both | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 1 | Coursera | Yes | — | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 2 | edX | Yes | $50 one-time | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | DataCamp | Yes | — | Yes | Both | No | Yes | 8.9 |
| 4 | FutureLearn | Yes | $49.99/mo | Yes | Both | — | Yes | 8.8 |
| 5 | Pluralsight | No | $29/user/mo | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 6 | OpenClassrooms | Yes | €300/user/mo | — | — | — | — | 8.6 |
| 7 | O'Reilly Learning | No | $49/mo | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 8 | LinkedIn Learning | No | $379.88/seat/yr | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 9 | OpenSesame | No | $18.05/user/mo | Yes | — | — | Yes | 8.3 |
| 10 | Alison | Yes | $1/unit one-time | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 11 | Great Learning | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 12 | Simplilearn Cloud Computing | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 8.0 |
| 13 | upGrad | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 7.9 |
| 15 | Emeritus | Yes | — | Yes | Both | No | Yes | 7.7 |
| 16 | NPTEL | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | 7.6 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update