There are so many online learning resources in our digital world that it has become tricky to filter the best ones. But what if you could find courses from some of the world's leading educators, all available on your smartphone for free?

Today, we're going to show you the top five apps for free courses that can do just that.

1. Khan Academy

Khan Academy subjects page
Khan Academy course page
Khan Academy course learning page

Khan Academy is a non-profit that aims to "provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere," and it certainly delivers on that promise. Whether you're looking to brush up on your math skills, learn personal finance skills they never taught you in school, or prep for an upcoming AP Chemistry exam, Khan Academy has it all.

The library of courses is highly comprehensive and includes:

  • Math: Ranges from kindergarten level to college-level calculus
  • Science: Goes in-depth on practically every area of biology, chemistry, and physics
  • Economics: Examines microeconomics, macroeconomics, and financial markets
  • Art and humanities: Covers world history and the art of different empires
  • Computing: Offers an excellent base for learning about computer science
  • Life skills: Thoroughly explores personal finance and career options

Learning with Khan Academy is self-directed and doesn't offer the chance to gain a certificate like some other apps on our list. But, if you've been looking for a college-level education for free, Khan Academy is likely to exceed your expectations and more with the app's excellent visual content and frequent quizzes to test your knowledge.

There is also a particular emphasis on helping students with their exams, such as AP or SAT exams. Certain courses, like US history or macroeconomics, offer AP/college versions tailored towards helping you pass exams, with "Mastery Points" that allow you to gauge your progress as you answer quiz questions.

Download: Khan Academy for iOS | Android (Free)

2. eDX

eDX subjects page
eDX course page
eDX course learning page

While Khan Academy offers its own set of courses, eDX has teamed up with universities like Harvard, MIT, and Berkeley, alongside industry giants like Google, IBM, and Microsoft, to provide over 2,800 courses in a range of disciplines. These include areas like engineering, law, and philosophy.

However, eDX is a for-profit company, so it offers some perks if you pay for a course, like archived course materials, professional certificates, and graded assignments/exams. With the free courses, materials are only available for a specified period, but you can always start a course and then upgrade before the upgrade deadline.

That said, the free courses are more than ample in helping you broaden your knowledge on a given topic. Most are self-paced and provide guidelines on how long they'll take to complete, alongside how many hours you'll typically spend learning in a week. There are also some instructor-guided courses with a fixed schedule and periodically-published materials.

Watching courses in the app is easy, with an intuitive layout and simple course structure. You can even download videos to watch offline and participate in discussion forums if you have any questions.

Download: eDX for iOS | Android (Free)

3. Coursera

Coursera subjects page
Coursera course page
Coursera course learning page

Coursera is like eDX, partnering with leading institutions and companies to teach courses. It's known as one of the world's leading learning platforms and offers over 2,500 courses in practically every discipline. It seems like Coursera emphasizes career progression, with lessons from Google, Meta, and Hubspot, and Coursera certificates that can help get you a job.

Like eDX, Coursera also generates revenue by offering certificates for course completion. Paying for a course gives you access to all course materials and graded assignments, as well as a digital certificate you can print out or add to your LinkedIn profile.

There are detailed paid courses and degrees that take months to complete alongside live classes, but you can learn more than enough just by taking the free courses.

Despite the similarities to eDX, the Coursera app is easier to navigate and feels like it was built with user experience in mind. It's responsive and gives detailed descriptions of every course. There's the option to download courses for offline viewing and even go audio only so that you can listen to materials like you would an audiobook or podcast.

Download: Coursera for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

4. Udemy

Udemy subjects page
Udemy course page
Udemy course learning page

Udemy takes a crowd-sourced approach to learning, like eDX and Coursera. But teaching isn't just limited to institutions; instead, anyone with a set of expertise can instruct a course on Udemy. This individual approach can be valuable for getting a fresh perspective from someone outside of academia.

The selection of free courses is quite broad, covering topics like Amazon AWS, Microsoft Excel, and photography. It's also worth noting that there are more niche courses on Udemy, with free classes on aromatherapy, mental health skills, and playing the guitar.

The app is nicely laid out and has a clean-looking video interface. You might notice that it's difficult to find free courses in the app, as Udemy is primarily a fee-based service.

However, we found that the easiest way to find free courses in the app was by searching "Free," although this isn't perfect. You might find it simpler to sign up for a class under Udemy's free courses page, then navigate to the My learning section and continue your course from there.

Download: Udemy for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

5. Alison

Alison subjects page
Alison course page
Alison course learning page

Alison has a great selection of courses, with over 4,000 classes in a variety of subjects. These courses place a much heavier focus on career-related training, offering certificates and diplomas in things like ISO 9001, retail management, and chemical safety.

The diplomas offer a general overview of a given field, while certificates teach specific skills. Either of these makes an excellent addition to your CV and LinkedIn profile.

Every course on Alison is free to take, and there are no restrictions on access to assessments. After completing a course, you have the option to purchase a certificate or diploma. Both are very reasonably priced, costing up to $50 for a physical certificate and $150 for a physical diploma.

A nice feature to see is the career guide, which breaks down different industries into specific roles, then provides information on almost every aspect of the job, from recommended skills to a projected career map. Of course, Alison also suggests which of their courses will be best to take to progress in this role.

The Alison app is simply laid out, and materials are delivered in a straightforward interface. Some courses don't offer video content or have limited videos, so this is something to bear in mind if you prefer visual learning. That said, we'd like to point out that the app features adverts, which can be a little annoying, but you can remove them for a meager fee each month.

Download: Alison for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

Advance Your Education for Free

For some of us, the pursuit of learning never stops. With these apps, broadening your horizons doesn't need to cost thousands of dollars. Instead, you only need to dedicate your time.

Whether you want to gain cutting-edge skills that will land a well-paid role with a tech giant or wish to brush up on the history you've forgotten from school, these online learning resources can offer all that and more.