Pluralsight is an innovative technology-based e-learning platform that empowers individuals and teams to master AI, upgrade skills, and streamline processes. With a vast library of 4,500+ courses covering a wide range of tech-based topics, Pluralsight offers flexible learning options and certificates upon course completion. It is a cost-effective training solution that is highly recommended for enterprise training due to its simplicity and customization.
Looking for alternatives to Pluralsight? You might consider exploring LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Coursera, Skillsoft, Skillshare, Teachable, Codecademy, Udacity, and more for your e-learning needs. Each platform has its own unique strengths and offerings to cater to your learning objectives.
LinkedIn Learning
First emerged as Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning is a premier resource for online courses spanning diverse sectors. It is specifically designed for business, technology, creative services, and certifications. Tailored for both SMBs and enterprises, it offers tailored video tutorials and classes rather than a distinct learning platform.
LinkedIn Learning Best Features
- Wide Learning Coverage: From graphic design, A/V editing to industry-specific insights, leadership training, and soft skills, LinkedIn Learning offers an extensive course list.
- Personalized Learning Paths: Trainings can be adapted to individual abilities, promoting more focused and effective learning.
- Rich Content: A vast library with 60+ new pieces of content added weekly for diverse hard and soft skills.
- Reporting: Dashboard for analyzing training results and impact.
- Integration Capability: Seamless integration with various education and talent management products like Adobe Captivate, Blackboard, Docebo, and more.
- Various language translations: Accommodates global learners with translations in German, French, Japanese, Spanish, and English.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Recommendations | Provides personalized course or learning path suggestions based on LinkedIn data. |
| Micro-learning strategy | Engages employees effectively, promoting continuous learning. |
| Content Upload | Managers can import their content or from other LMS software for extended learning. |
LinkedIn Learning Limitations
- Lacks comprehensive LMS functionalities of its counterparts.
- Does not cater to in-depth learning or extensively varied topics.
- Support is limited to chat-based support and dedicated help pages without email or phone support or a formal help desk ticket.
- Service is not entirely free. Only offers a trial period before charges apply.
LinkedIn Learning Use Cases
Onboarding New Employees
LinkedIn Learning aids in smoothly integrating new employees into the organization with relevant, skills-based courses.
Upskilling/Reskilling
The vast variety of courses offer opportunities to gain new skills or upgrade existing ones, fostering talent growth within the organization.
Performance Coaching
By identifying skills gaps via smart analytics, it steers employees towards relevant learning paths to boost their performance and productivity.
Udemy
As a distinctive player in the Learning Management Systems (LMS) sphere, Udemy Business streamlines workforce development with an immersive on-demand learning experience.
Udemy Top Features
- Customizable platform featuring unique URLs, branded identity, and company logos.
- Capability for managers to create and share learning paths, inviting staff to training sessions via emails.
- Robust insights into user trends, behavior, and metrics, propelling strategic decision making.
- Provision of course completion certificates, affirming progress and achievement.
- Integration of “Learning Paths”, enabling users to connect multiple courses in a step-by-step learning journey.
| Availability | Operates on iOS, Android, desktops with offline access and compatible with Chromecast and Apple TV |
| Course Access | Once purchased, enjoy unlimited course access |
| Custom Courses | Custom courses, quizzes, and coding exercises |
Udemy Limitations
- Reviews indicate a disparity in course quality.
- Refund policies and hidden costs have received negative feedback.
- Lacks detailed analytics and imposes Kindle restrictions.
Udemy Pricing
Udemy costs range from free to $200 courses. However, it implements a cryptic SEO matrix, dampening predictability in organic search result rankings. Its dedicated B2B platform, Udemy for Business, operates through an annual subscription model, with costs determined by user count.
Udemy Use Cases
Multi-National Corporations
For companies with diverse, geographically spread workforces like T Mobile and Toyota, Udemy’s courses in 60 languages across 190 countries facilitate global knowledge synchronisation.
Small to Medium Enterprises(SMEs)
SMEs seeking to build a future-ready workforce can leverage real-time insights into learner behaviour and trends to guide training strategies.
Professional Adults
With Udemy for Business, professionals can access a tailored library of 4,500+ courses, refreshed monthly, ensuring continuous learning and development.
Coursera
An online learning platform and content library, Coursera presents an extensive range of both free and paid courses. Originated from the innovative minds of two Stanford professors in 2012, it serves over 53 million students, partnering with more than 190 universities and companies.
Top Features of Coursera
- An extensive course library, offering 4,100 classes in various fields, ranging from data science to humanities.
- Individually customized learning paths for businesses aiming to teach new skills to their staff
- The platform offers certificates, degrees and MasterTracks for demonstrating the mastery of new skills
- Provides accessibility for students with disabilities, including closed-caption subtitles and flexibility with submission deadlines
- Offers single sign-on for ease of access, customizable assignments, and also ensures content originality by supporting plagiarism control
| Key Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Course Variety | Coursera provides 8 MasterTrack certificates, 15 professional certificates, and 17 degrees, preparing learners for industry certification exams |
| Platform Integration | It seamlessly integrates with university systems and other learning and administration programs |
| Tracking and Upgrading | The platform allows businesses to track and measure employee progress on multiple skills and enables learners to continue upskilling. |
Limitations of Coursera
- While supporting a multilingual interface, Coursera could improve the language support for its course content.
- Despite its widespread use, Coursera’s platform may not cater to all learning styles and needs – this is a common challenge with e-learning platforms.
- There is a requirement for faster customer service response times and more accessible grievance redressal platforms.
Coursera Pricing
Pricing varies as Coursera offers both free and paid courses. However, certain courses, certificates and degrees come with a price tag.
Coursera Use Cases
Use case 1: Upskilling for Businesses
Coursera offers customized learning paths for businesses to train staff, improving efficiency and sparing the need to outsource training.
Use case 2: Higher Education
Learners can supplement their education with Coursera’s broad course offering, receiving industry-relevant credits from partner universities.
Use case 3: Career Advancement
With industry-driven programs, Coursera prepares students for specific jobs, allowing them to demonstrate new skills mastery with certificates, degrees and MasterTracks.
Skillsoft
Few companies have shaped the world of corporate learning like Skillsoft. Founded in 1998, this American educational technology company has been at the forefront of creating immersive learning management systems. Today, helmed by CEO Jeff Tarr, Skillsoft serves over 45 million users worldwide with its AI-driven learning platform, Percipio.
Skillsoft Top Features
- Adaptive Learning: Utilizing advanced AI, Skillsoft tailors content to the learner’s skill level for a unique, effective training experience.
- Social Learning and Collaboration Tools: Boosting engagement through interactive and social learning capabilities.
- Vast Course Library: Offering comprehensive course topics including leadership development, compliance training, and technical skills.
- Mobile and Offline Learning: Empowering users with continuous learning, regardless of their location or internet connectivity.
- Role and Skill-Based Curated Learning Paths: Aligned with industry trends, these learning paths help users gain specific skills for career progression.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Third-Party Integrations | Flexibility to connect with popular platforms like Microsoft, Saba, Cornerstone, Moodle, Google workspace, SCORM Cloud, and more |
| Customizable Reports and Analytics | Powerful insights into learners’ performance and course effectiveness |
| Digital Badges | Signifying course completion and skills acquisition, these badges increase motivation and showcase achievements |
Skillsoft Limitations
- Potential difficulty navigating the breadth of content without a clear learning path in mind
- Limited offline features compared to online functionality
- Certain industry-specific courses may lack depth
Skillsoft Pricing
Skillsoft’s pricing plan caters to both individuals and teams, starting from $19 per month. Prices for the Enterprise plan are customizable based on requirements.
Skillsoft Use Cases
Use Case 1: Compliance Training
Government agencies and financial services firms use Skillsoft to seamlessly deliver mandatory compliance training, helping to mitigate risk and maintain legal standards.
Use Case 2: Leadership Development
Companies looking at nurturing leaders from within find Skillsoft’s leadership development courses resourceful, aiding in the transformation of high-potential employees into effective leaders.
Use Case 3: Technical Skills Enhancement
Technical sectors like engineering and IT greatly benefit from Skillsoft’s technical courses, contributing to continual skill development and promotion of a learning culture.
Skillshare
A thriving online learning hub, Skillshare was birthed in 2010 by pioneers Michael Karnjanaprakorn and Malcolm Ong. Providing a unique blend of design, business, technology, and creative skills for both students and teachers.
Top Features of Skillshare
- Access to over 35,000+ classes covering a wide spectrum of subjects – from design to DIY crafts.
- Innovative class creation tool allows instructors to design and publish comprehensive classes.
- Teams package at $159 USD/user/year offering unlimited access, admin capabilities, in-depth analytics and reporting.
- Skillshare mobile app enables offline class access for learning on-the-go.
- Availability of free classes and scholarships offers learning opportunities to all.
| Affiliate Program | An opportunity for users to earn additional income. |
| Platform Compatibility | Classes accessible via Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone/iPad, Mac, and web-based deployment. |
| Integration Capabilities | Seamless integration with tools like VS, MailChimp, and Adobe, enhancing learning experience. |
Limitations of Skillshare
- Varying course quality owing to the user-generated content model.
- Relatively high cost for small businesses with the Teams package.
- Limited availability of advanced level courses.
Skillshare Pricing
Skillshare’s pricing starts at $12/month for Premium Monthly subscription. The Premium Annual costs $8/month, offering subscribers complete course access, offline access and ad-free learning. A free version, albeit with limited features, is available as well.
Skillshare Use Cases
Use case 1: Professional Development
From tech skills to leadership, Skillshare’s vast library can serve as a vital resource for career up-gradation.
Use case 2: Creative Outlet
Classes spanning across music, film, and DIY crafts make Skillshare an ideal platform for exploring creativity.
Use case 3: Team Training
The Teams package, equipped with admin controls and in-depth analytics, makes team learning simpler and more effective.
Teachable
Established in 2013, Teachable is a no-coding required platform crafted for creators. With unlimited course and student options, it empowers creators to build businesses through online courses, coaching, and digital downloads.
Teachable Top Features
- Integrated Course Builder: Facilitates creating unlimited courses.
- Customizable Course Pages: Employ attractive design templates for effective brand expression.
- Coaching Tools: Enhances coaching sessions with the coordinated use of milestones, scheduling, and payment processing.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Integrated Applications | Zapier integration allows usage of tools like Intercom, Olark, MailChimp, Zendesk, etc. |
| API & Customizability | Connects external tools, enables seamless communication, and automates tasks. |
Teachable Limitations
- Some users criticize its pricing and perceived lack of transparency.
- Customer support can be improved with more accessibility and an enhanced resource base for guidance and problem-solving.
Teachable Pricing
Tuition options range from a Free platform to a Basic plan ($59/mo), a Pro plan ($159/mo), and a Business plan ($665/mo). The primary revenue comes from course sales with variable transaction fees according to the chosen pricing model.
Teachable Use Cases
Use case 1 – Entrepreneurs
Taught by Teachable, an aspiring entrepreneur can access a vast knowledge base and develop his online business effectively using teachable’s intuitive design and helpful coaching tools.
Use case 2 – Corporate Training
Teachable is ideal for corporations’ training programs, providing comprehensive reports, customizable course designs, and blended learning methods for effective employee education.
Use case 3 – Freelancers
Freelancers can leverage Teachable‘s unlimited courses and students feature, empowering them to share their skills and monetize their knowledge extensively.
Codecademy
Established in 2011, Codecademy is a skill-focused online learning platform. Based in the U.S., it specializes in coding and boasts a rich selection of programming languages including but not limited to HTML, CSS, Python.
Codecademy Top Features
- User-friendly interface: Suitable for professionals & beginners, promotes smooth learning.
- Diverse Courses: Perfect for delving into new coding languages.
- Community Support: Codecademy houses an interactive forum for extra help and networking.
- Hands-on Learning: Offers dedicated coding pad, interactive lessons, quizzes, and more.
Here’s a deeper dive into what Codecademy entails.
| Expert-Made Courses | Improve skills or learn anew with the wide range of curated courses. |
| Real-World Projects | Exclusive to Plus/Pro plans, these give practical application to your learning. |
| Flexible Seat Licenses | Offering flexibility, especially for organisational teams. Swap licenses as needed. |
Codecademy Limitations
- Courses often criticized for not being updated frequently.
- Advertising embedded in courses can be disruptive.
- Certificate not accredited outside of Codecademy.
Codecademy Pricing
Codecademy provides a Basic plan which is free, a Plus plan costing $17.49/mo (yearly) or $39.99/mo (monthly), and a Pro plan valued at $29.99/mo (yearly) or $59.99/mo (monthly).
Codecademy Use Cases
Use Case 1: Beginner Coders
Codecademy platform is ideal for novice coders, who can effectively use the Basic plan to explore various programming languages.
Use Case 2: Professional Developers
Professional coders can leverage the Pro plan, which aids in learning-on-the-go, extensive practice, portfolio development, and impressive interview preparation.
Use Case 3: Educational Institutions
Schools and universities can benefit from its Teams plan, offering custom curation of courses, dedicated support, and progress reports.
Udacity
Founded in 2011, Udacity is a renowned American educational organization that offers online courses, specifically massive open online courses (MOOC), and nanodegree programs. With over 17 million learners globally, Udacity has made its mark with its project-based learning approach, engaging course content, and expert mentoring.
Udacity Top Features
- Project-based learning: Real-world workplace scenarios serve as the foundation for open-ended projects.
- Personalized feedback: Industry expert mentors provide personalized feedback to learners.
- Nanodegree programs: These skill-based online educational credential programs are taught by veterans in the industry.
- Extensive course list: Courses range from machine learning, data science, AI, robotics, to business and marketing, and programming.
- Corporate learning management systems: Alongside individual learners, Udacity also provides corporate LMS.
| Career Services | Career coaching, resume/CV, LinkedIn, GitHub reviews. |
| Partnerships | Google, AT&T, Unity, etc. |
| Industry Reach | Aerospace, Automotive, Financial Services, Energy, Telecom, Healthcare, Technology, etc. |
Udacity Downsides
- Nanodegree programs require a longer time commitment.
- The curriculum is highly career-specific which might not cater to all.
Udacity Pricing
The pricing for Udacity’s Nanodegree programs starts at $399 per month.
Udacity Use Cases
Use case 1
Employees in tech companies, seeking to upgrade their skills in programming, AI, machine learning, can benefit greatly from Udacity courses. They are designed in collaboration with the world’s top tech firms.
Use case 2
Organizations across sectors such as Aerospace, Automotive, Financial Services, can utilize Udacity’s courses for their workforce development. The real-world scenarios based projects help in practical understanding.
Use case 3
Job seekers looking for a career change into tech can leverage Udacity’s career services. Resources such as career coaching, and resume/CV, LinkedIn, GitHub reviews are readily available.
