How to Choose Udemy and LinkedIn Learning

Now various online learning platforms provide you with thousands of courses to get professional skills. Udemy and LinkedIn Learning are standing out from them. If you are looking for platform recommendations for specific subjects (like the PowerBI example), and investigating Udemy or LinkedIn Learning, you are in the right place.

This post will help you understand the key differences between these two e-learning platforms to determine which offers better value. We will make comparisons from professional development considerations, investment value assessment, and specific subject matter expertise. It includes the pros & cons of Udemy and LinkedIn Learning, courses, instructions, ratings, target users, and costs provided by them. So you can decide which learning platform better aligns with your career goals and suits your needs.

Which is Better, Udemy, or LinkedIn?

First, let’s quickly check which is better based on their professional recognition and overall values.

Factor	Udemy	LinkedIn Learning
Key Difference	1. Individual skill acquisition, hobby learning 2. Anyone can create courses	1. Professional development, career advancement 2. Vetted instructors
Cost	One-time course purchase: $9.99-$199 per course Frequent discounts	Monthly/annual subscription: $39.99/month or $240/year Access to all courses
Numbers of Courses	200,000+ courses	18,000+ courses
Professional Value	1. Skill-specific learning 2. Less recognized certificates 3. Good for specific skills	1. LinkedIn profile integration 2. Professional recognition 3. Career-focused content
Target Users	1. All levels, including hobbyists 2. Budget-conscious learners	1. Primarily professionals and businesses 2. Corporate training with budgets
User Interface	1. Sometimes cluttered 2. Search can be overwhelming 3. Course filtering options	1. Clean, professional 2. Intuitive navigation 3. Easy course discovery
Learning Experience	1. Q&A sections 2. Instructor messaging 3. Student discussions	1. Exercise files 2. Learning paths 3. Progress tracking
Customer Support

What Are the Advantages & Disadvantages of Udemy?

Udemy offers many more courses on various topics. It allows instructors worldwide to create and sell courses while enabling students to learn independently. Subjects range from programming and business to arts and personal development, with a pay-per-course model.

Advantages:

• All the skills you need in one place: Udemy covers a wide variety of topics, including Data Science, IT Certifications, Leadership, Web Development, Communication, and Business Analytics & Intelligence.
• Mobile app available
• Offline viewing
• Multiple language options
• Practice exercises included
• Interactive quizzes

Disadvantages:

• Variable instructor quality
• Less rigorous vetting process
• Course updates depend on the instructors
• Some outdated content is included

What Are the Advantages & Disadvantages of LinkedIn Learning?

LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform owned by LinkedIn that offers video courses taught by industry experts. It focuses on business, technology, and creative skills with over 16,000 courses. It’s integrated with LinkedIn profiles and offers both individual course purchases and subscription-based access.

Advantages:

• Since it is integrated with professional networking, you can add to your profile and LinkedIn will recommend courses based on your profile
• Professional production quality
• Business-oriented content
• Skills assessments provided
• Organized learning paths

Disadvantages:

• Monthly/annual subscription required
• Smaller course library
• Limited hobby/lifestyle content
• Requires continuous payment for access

Udemy Courses vs. LinkedIn Learning

Udemy courses range widely in quality and topics. The quality varies significantly since anyone can become an instructor. There are 10000 results when you search for free courses on it. Top-rated courses typically come from established instructors in:

• Programming & Development (Python, Web Development, JavaScript)
• Business & Marketing (Digital Marketing, Excel, Project Management)
• IT & Software (AWS Certification, Cybersecurity)
• Personal Development (Leadership, Public Speaking)
• Design (UI/UX, Graphic Design)

Highly recommended courses are identified by:

• “Bestseller” or “Highest Rated” badges
• A large number of positive student reviews
• Regular content updates
• Comprehensive curriculum
• Instructor expertise and credentials
• Practical exercises and projects

Quality indicators include course ratings, student enrollment numbers, and detailed student feedback.

LinkedIn Learning offers professionally produced courses, with consistent high quality due to their strict vetting of instructors and content. It also provides opportunities to try free courses. And, the platform specializes in:

• Business Skills (Leadership, Management, Business Strategy)
• Technology (Software Development, Cloud Computing, Data Science)
• Creative Skills (Graphic Design, Video Production, UX Design)
• Professional Certifications (Project Management, Six Sigma)

Recommended courses are characterized by:

• Expert instructors from leading companies
• Professional production quality
• Regular content updates
• Clear learning paths
• Industry-relevant skills
• Integration with LinkedIn Skills endorsements

Popular courses include Excel Essential Training, Python for Data Science, Project Management Foundations, and Leadership Development programs. Course quality is maintained through professional standards and expert review processes.

Udemy Instructions vs. LinkedIn Learning

Anyone can become a Udemy instructor after creating an account and course. Instructors range from industry professionals to hobbyists. Instructors set the prices, create content independently, and earn revenue through course sales. You can learn at your own pace through watching video lectures, completing exercises, participating in discussions, and downloading resources.

LinkedIn Learning instructors are carefully vetted industry experts. People can also apply to be instructors, extensive experience and expertise are needed. Content is professionally produced under LinkedIn’s standards. Instructors are typically current or former executives, established consultants, or recognized authorities. You can complete courses sequentially, track progress, download exercise files, and earn certificates. Access on multiple devices with consistent experience.

Udemy Target Users vs. LinkedIn Learning

Both platforms cater to distinctly different primary audiences, with Udemy being more inclusive and general-purpose, while LinkedIn Learning focuses on professional and corporate users.

Udemy mainly targets individual learners who seeking affordable and specific skills across various fields. This includes students, career changers, hobbyists, entrepreneurs, and self-paced learners on a budget. The platform attracts those wanting one-time purchases for lifetime access to courses in both professional and personal interest areas.

LinkedIn Learning’s target users are primary working professionals, corporate employees, business organizations seeking career advancement and professional development, and LinkedIn premium users. It targets users wanting structured, industry-recognized learning paths. Ideal for companies providing employee training and professionals already active on LinkedIn seeking to enhance their careers.

Udemy Ratings vs. LinkedIn Learning

Udemy Overall Ratings:

• App Store Rating: 4.8/5
• Google Play Store: 4.5/5
• Trustpilot: 4.5/5
• General user satisfaction: 4.3/5
• Course quality varies significantly (1-5 stars)
• Mixed reviews about customer service
• Strong value-for-money ratings

LinkedIn Learning Overall Ratings:

• App Store Rating: 4.7/5
• Google Play Store: 4.4/5
• Trustpilot: 3.8/5
• Professional quality consistency: 4.4/5
• Platform stability: 4.6/5
• Content relevance: 4.5/5
• Customer support: 4.2/5

Note: These ratings are approximate and can change over time. They represent general user sentiment across various review platforms and sources.

Udemy Development Opportunities vs. LinkedIn Learning

Students on Udemy can access practical skills through hands-on courses, earning course completion certificates. Development paths span technical skills, business, creative arts, and personal growth. Certificates aren’t accredited but demonstrate skill acquisition for personal portfolios and self-improvement.

LinkedIn Learning learners gain professionally recognized certificates that integrate directly with LinkedIn profiles. Learning paths align with career advancement, offering role-specific skill development. Certificates carry professional weight, support LinkedIn Skills endorsements and help in career progression within established industries.

Udemy Cost vs. LinkedIn Learning

Udemy Pricing Plans:

• Individual courses: $11.99 – $199.99 (frequent sales at $9.99 – $19.99)
• Personal Plan: $29/month
• Udemy Business: $360/user/year
• Lifetime access to purchased courses
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• One-time payment per course option

LinkedIn Learning Pricing Plans:

• Monthly subscription: $39.99/month
• Annual subscription: $19.99/month (billed annually at $239.88)
• Free with LinkedIn Premium ($39.99-$59.99/month)
• Enterprise pricing for businesses
• 30-day free trial available
• Access to all courses during subscription

Note: Prices may vary by region and special promotions.

FAQs about Udemy and LinkedIn Learning

Do Udemy certificates look good on LinkedIn?

Udemy certificates can be added to LinkedIn but carry less weight than accredited certifications. While they demonstrate initiative and specific skills, they’re considered supplementary learning. For maximum impact, combine them with practical experience and focus on well-known instructors’ courses with high ratings on Udemy.

Is there anything better than Udemy?

You can try other platforms that offer alternatives to Udemy:

1. Coursera – Partners with universities, and offers accredited degrees and certificates
2. edX – Academic-level courses from top institutions
3. Pluralsight – Strong tech-focused content
4. DataCamp – Specialized in data science

LinkedIn Learning vs Udemy vs Coursera

LinkedIn Learning excels in professional skills with high-quality content and corporate focus. Udemy offers diverse, affordable courses with varying quality. Coursera provides university-partnered, accredited education with structured programs. Simply speaking, LinkedIn Learning suits professionals, Udemy casual learners, and Coursera academic-focused students. Check LinkedIn Learning vs. Coursera.

Conclusion

This comparison helps you understand that both platforms serve different purposes and user needs, with Udemy being more versatile and cost-effective for individual courses, while LinkedIn Learning offers a more professional and structured learning experience.