Top Most Popular E‑Learning Platforms in 2025

When you hear E‑learning platform is a web‑based service that delivers courses, certificates, and skill‑building content to learners worldwide, you probably picture a handful of big names that dominate the space. But which of these services actually sees the most traffic, the widest course catalog, and the highest engagement? In 2025 the landscape has shifted a bit - free content is richer, subscription bundles are smarter, and mobile‑first experiences rule. Below you’ll find a straight‑talk guide that answers the obvious question: what are the most used online platforms for learning today?

Why usage matters more than hype

Buzzwords like "best" or "most innovative" are fun, but the real metric that matters to a learner is how many people are actively using a platform. High usage signals a healthy ecosystem: more peer interaction, up‑to‑date content, and better support. It also means the platform is likely to keep improving its features because there’s a big audience to serve. So we’ll focus on user numbers, active enrollments, and engagement stats rather than just marketing promises.

Methodology for ranking the most used platforms

• Publicly reported active user counts (2023‑2024 fiscal reports, press releases).
• Monthly visits from SimilarWeb and Alexa rankings.
• Course completion rates where available (higher rates usually mean better learner experience).
• Geographic reach - platforms serving learners in multiple regions score higher.
• Pricing flexibility - free tiers or financial aid boost user adoption.

We cross‑checked these sources and trimmed the list to the platforms that consistently appear at the top across all five criteria.

Quick Takeaways

• Coursera leads with over 100 million learners and a strong university partnership model.
• Udemy dominates the marketplace for professional skill courses, boasting 65 million students.
• Khan Academy remains the go‑to free resource for K‑12 and early college topics.
• LinkedIn Learning leverages professional networking data to suggest the most relevant courses.
• edX and FutureLearn cater to academic‑focused learners with certificate pathways.

Coursera - The University‑Powered Giant

Coursera is a platform that partners with top universities and companies to offer degree‑credit courses, professional certificates, and specializations. As of the 2024 annual report, Coursera lists 94 million registered users, with 14 million active learners each month. Its strength lies in high‑quality content from institutions like Stanford, Yale, and Google. The platform offers three pricing models: free audit, paid subscription (Coursera Plus at $399 / year), and individual course purchases (average $49 per course). Mobile app ratings hover around 4.7/5 on both iOS and Android, reflecting a smooth on‑the‑go experience.

Udemy - The Marketplace for Professionals

Udemy is a crowd‑sourced e‑learning marketplace where experts publish video‑based courses across tech, business, and personal development. It reports 65 million learners and more than 210,000 courses. Unlike Coursera’s university focus, Udemy’s strength is breadth - you can find a niche course on anything from Excel macros to AI prompt engineering. Pricing is highly variable; most courses sell for $10‑$200, and a $16.99 monthly subscription (Udemy Pro) grants access to a curated library of tech courses. Engagement scores are solid, with an average completion rate of 18 % - higher than industry average due to bite‑size lessons.

Khan Academy - Free Education at Scale

Khan Academy is a non‑profit platform offering free video lessons and practice exercises for K‑12 subjects, test prep, and early college topics. In 2023 the site logged 18 million monthly active users worldwide, making it the most visited free education site. Its open‑access model, paired with adaptive learning dashboards, drives high engagement, especially among schools that embed its content directly into curricula. No paid tiers exist, which explains its massive user base.

LinkedIn Learning - Career‑Centric Upskilling

LinkedIn Learning is a subscription‑based platform that blends video lessons with LinkedIn’s professional data to recommend skill pathways. With 27 million users and a retention rate above 70 %, the platform’s integration with LinkedIn profiles lets learners showcase completed courses directly on their resumes. Pricing sits at $39.99 / month or $299 / year, and corporate bundles are common. Course catalog focuses on business, technology, and creative software, and its mobile app enjoys a 4.6 rating.

edX - Academic Rigor Meets Flexibility

edX is a non‑profit platform founded by MIT and Harvard, offering university‑level courses, micro‑masters, and full online degrees. The platform hosts roughly 35 million registered learners, with 7 million active each month. edX’s standout features are its verified certificates (average $99) and its ability to stack micro‑credentials toward a full degree. The platform runs a “pay‑as‑you‑go” model, and many courses remain free to audit, which fuels its user numbers.

Skillshare - Creative and Entrepreneurial Learning

Skillshare is a subscription‑only service emphasizing creative, design, and entrepreneurial skills through project‑based classes. It reports 12 million members, with a strong community of makers who share project feedback. Pricing is $19 / month or $199 / year, and the platform often runs free‑trial weeks that boost sign‑ups. Completion rates are higher for short, project‑oriented classes, typically above 25 %.

FutureLearn - Social Learning from Universities

FutureLearn is a UK‑based platform that delivers university‑sponsored short courses, micro‑credentials, and full online degrees. Active learners number about 9 million, with a notable presence in Europe and Oceania. The platform offers free access for the course duration plus 14 days, then a paid upgrade for certificates and unlimited access. Pricing is per‑course ($49‑$299) or subscription ($279 / year). Its discussion‑driven format encourages peer interaction, raising engagement.

Comparison Table - How the Top Platforms Stack Up

How to choose the right platform for you

Even if a platform tops the usage charts, it might not fit your personal learning style. Here are three quick decision points:

1. Goal focus: Want a recognized credential? Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn excel with university‑backed certificates. Want pure skill‑building? Udemy and Skillshare have the widest selection.
2. Budget comfort: If you can’t spend a dime, Khan Academy and Coursera’s audit mode cover most basics. For regular up‑skilling, a subscription (LinkedIn Learning or Skillshare) often saves money.
3. Learning format: Visual learners love short video bursts (Udemy, Skillshare). Those who thrive on practice exercises gravitate toward Khan Academy’s interactive quizzes or Coursera’s graded assignments.

Match your answer to these points with the platform that aligns best, and you’ll see higher completion rates.

Pitfalls to avoid when signing up

• Don’t assume a free trial means the full course is free - many platforms revert to paid access after the trial period.
• Beware of “certificate only” courses that lack real assessments; they may look impressive on a résumé but add little actual skill.
• Check regional availability - some platforms restrict certain courses to specific countries due to licensing.

Future trends: what’s next for the most used e‑learning platforms?

Artificial intelligence is reshaping content delivery. In 2025, Coursera and Udemy both launched AI‑curated learning paths that adjust in real time based on quiz performance. Expect more micro‑credential stacks that combine several short courses into a single marketable badge. Mobile‑first design will keep improving, with offline‑download capabilities becoming standard.

Final thoughts

Usage numbers give you a clear signal: platforms with millions of active learners have proven they can handle scale, keep content fresh, and support community interaction. Whether you’re chasing a professional certificate, a hobby skill, or free K‑12 help, the list above shows where most learners are spending their time. Pick the one that matches your goal, budget, and learning style - and you’ll be on the fastest lane to mastering new knowledge.