10 Best Online Courses (Costs & Tips, 2026)
10 of the world's best online courses, picked for real costs and real local tips. Save one, track your experiences, and share them with friends.
CS50 by Harvard on edX (free audit)
The most popular online course in history — 4 million+ students. Completely free to audit on edX. 12 weeks of genuine computer science from Harvard Professor David Malan. The problem sets are hard and that's the point. Certificate costs $199 but the learning is free.
The Science of Well-Being by Yale (Coursera free audit)
The Science of Well-Being by Yale (Coursera free audit)
Yale's most popular course ever, taught by Professor Laurie Santos. Free to audit on Coursera — click 'Audit' when prompted (don't pay). 10 weeks on the psychology of happiness with practical exercises. 4 million+ students have taken it.
Khan Academy — full maths curriculum
From basic arithmetic to multivariable calculus — all free, all excellent. Used by millions of students and adults returning to education. The mastery-based progression (you can't move on until you've genuinely understood) is uniquely effective.
Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate (Coursera)
Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate (Coursera)
Free to audit on Coursera. Google's own 6-month digital marketing certificate is recognised by 150+ employers. The e-commerce module is particularly practical. Certificate requires payment but the learning — and the job-ready skills — are free to audit.
freeCodeCamp — Responsive Web Design Certification
freeCodeCamp — Responsive Web Design Certification
300 hours of free HTML and CSS learning with a recognised certification at the end. freeCodeCamp is a registered non-profit — everything is free, always. Their alumni work at Google, Apple, and Spotify. Start with the first exercise and don't stop.
MIT OpenCourseWare — Introduction to Computer Science (6.0001)
MIT OpenCourseWare — Introduction to Computer Science (6.0001)
The actual MIT course materials — lectures, problem sets, and exams — all free. Professor Ana Bell's Python course is the best free introduction to programming for absolute beginners. Treat it like the real course: do every problem set.
Duolingo — language learning (free tier)
Free tier is genuinely comprehensive for reaching conversational level in a language. Spanish, French, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean — 40+ languages. 20 minutes a day for 6 months produces measurable results. The streak mechanic is annoyingly effective.
3Blue1Brown — Essence of Linear Algebra (YouTube)
The finest mathematics education on the internet — Grant Sanderson's visual explanations of linear algebra, calculus, and neural networks are genuinely transformative. 15 video series, each 15–20 minutes. Even professional mathematicians recommend it.
Library card access to LinkedIn Learning (free with library card)
Library card access to LinkedIn Learning (free with library card)
Many public libraries (UK, USA, Australia, Canada) provide free LinkedIn Learning access with a library card — 16,000+ courses in tech, business, and creative skills. Check your local library's digital resources page. Usually listed under 'Lynda.com' or 'LinkedIn Learning'.
Crash Course — World History on YouTube
Crash Course — World History on YouTube
John Green (yes, the novelist) hosts 44 episodes covering all of world history in engaging 12-minute videos. Free on YouTube. The entire series gives you a better understanding of global history than most school curriculums. Start with episode 1 — Mesopotamia.