Best LinkedIn Learning Alternatives in 2026
The top LinkedIn Learning alternatives are Coursera, edX and DataCamp: 15 online course marketplaces our editors would look at instead of LinkedIn Learning, in our ranking order.
LinkedIn Learning: A career-focused learning marketplace with courses, certificates, mobile access, and AI coaching. Where it falls short: individual access is bundled with eligible LinkedIn premium subscriptions.
Switching from LinkedIn Learning? For most online course marketplaces buyers the best LinkedIn Learning alternative is Coursera, built for broad university and professional learning. On a budget, Alison starts at $5/mo.
Why People Look for a LinkedIn Learning Alternative
- Individual access is bundled with eligible LinkedIn Premium subscriptions
- No one-off individual course purchases
- Organization pricing requires contacting sales
- No free plan — 11 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 $5/mo
Visit Alison - Best free optionCoursera9.3
Has a free plan (LinkedIn Learning has none)
Visit Coursera
All 15 LinkedIn Learning 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. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
-
Best forBroad university and professional learning
- Better than LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.3 vs 8.4
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.2 vs 8.4
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.9 vs 8.4
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.4
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 8.4
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.6 vs 8.4
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 8.4
A premium technical learning subscription combining courses, references, labs, and team tools.
- Offline access
- Subscription access
- Business plans
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forEnterprise course procurement and LMS delivery
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
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 LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
A broad learning marketplace combining free courses with degrees, mentoring, and career support.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit upGrad -
Best forCohort-based partner-institution programs
Structured, cohort-based short courses for professionals seeking institution-issued credentials.
- Offline access
- Business plans
- Course certificates
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit GetSmarter -
Best forUniversity-partnered programs and enterprise cohorts
- Better than LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
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
- Better than LinkedIn Learning:
- Free plan
A strong free academic learning option, with certification available for INR 1,000 per exam.
- Offline access
- Course certificates
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit NPTEL
LinkedIn Learning Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to LinkedIn Learning?
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 LinkedIn Learning?
Yes. Coursera, edX, DataCamp, FutureLearn and OpenClassrooms have a free plan or a free tier (11 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for LinkedIn Learning alternatives?
Individual access is bundled with eligible LinkedIn Premium subscriptions; No one-off individual course purchases; Organization pricing requires contacting sales.
How do I switch from LinkedIn Learning?
Export your data from LinkedIn Learning (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 LinkedIn Learning.
How to Switch from LinkedIn Learning
- Export your data from LinkedIn Learning (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 LinkedIn Learning.
LinkedIn Learning vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Subscription access | Mobile apps | Offline access | Course certificates | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | LinkedIn Learning | No | $379.88/seat/yr | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 1 | Coursera | Yes | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 2 | edX | Yes | $349/user/yr | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | DataCamp | Yes | Yes | Both | No | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 4 | FutureLearn | Yes | $349.99/yr | Yes | Both | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 5 | Pluralsight | No | $299/user/yr | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 6 | OpenClassrooms | Yes | €300/user/mo | 8.6 | ||||
| 7 | O'Reilly Learning | No | $499/yr | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 8 | OpenSesame | No | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |||
| 9 | Alison | Yes | $5/mo | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 10 | Great Learning | Yes | 8.1 | |||||
| 11 | Simplilearn Cloud Computing | Yes | 8.0 | |||||
| 12 | upGrad | Yes | 7.9 | |||||
| 13 | GetSmarter | No | Both | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | ||
| 14 | Emeritus | Yes | Yes | Both | No | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 15 | NPTEL | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.6 |
Head-to-Head
- LinkedIn Learning vs Coursera
- LinkedIn Learning vs edX
- LinkedIn Learning vs DataCamp
- LinkedIn Learning vs FutureLearn
- LinkedIn Learning vs Pluralsight
- LinkedIn Learning vs OpenClassrooms
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update