5 Free Ways to Learn New Skills Online

Learning a new skill is an invaluable experience that can also have monetary benefits. If you're looking to pick up a new skill, you do not have to enroll in a costly program. In fact, many completely free opportunities exist online. In addition to being easy on your wallet, these platforms allow you to manage your time and learn at your own pace, from anywhere in the world.

Founded in Galway, Ireland in 2007 by social entrepreneur and Ashoka Fellow, Mike Feerick, ALISON claims to be the first MOOC provider (Massive Open Online Course). All of ALISON’s courses are standards-based and 100 percent free. The company's mission is to enhance the careers of the platform’s users, and the communities in which they live in. Over 12 million people around the world have taken ALISON’s certified courses. The more than 1,000 courses on the platform range in topic from customer service to psychology.

Codecademy was launched in 2011 as an interactive, online educational platform that teaches students how to code. Today, more freelancers discover the attractive option to sell their unique skills over the web. (For related content, see: The Rise of the Gig Economy.) Many of the most in-demand skills require coding knowledge, including web design and app development. The interactive platform seeks to transform our education system from the bottom up. The company states that they “take more cues from Facebook and Zynga in creating engaging educational experience than we do from the classroom.”

Although most people use YouTube as a site for music videos, funny clips, and TV shows, YouTube is a great platform to learn new skills. YouTube EDU has a selection of high-quality educational videos, from channels such as YaleCourses, Stanford Business School, and Gresham College. YouTube even has a platform for those looking to learn how to manage a YouTube channel, called Creator Academy. Popular videos include “Why Branding Matters” and “Earn Money with YouTube.”

By leveraging the power of computer language and algorithms, Duolingo has enabled over 200 million users worldwide to learn languages for free. In an increasingly globalized world, the ability to speak a foreign language is advantageous for any job candidate. Duolingo advertises that it will be free forever, and claims to be more effective than a university course. A study done by the City University of New York and the University of South Carolina concluded that 34 hours on Duolingo equates to a full semester language course at a university. The success comes from the fact that the learning is undoubtedly more engaging and fun than anything of its kind. Additionally, some learners generate revenue for Duolingo by translating material for the company’s clients, such as CNN.

Our site delivers quality content to a large segment of the population, empowering them to better their lives and their knowledge base. At Investopedia, we aim to educate the world, not just Wall Street analysts and wealth advisors, about personal finance and investing. From the basics to advanced stock analysis, Investopedia reaches readers of all ages. Investopedia’s interactive stock simulator serves as a stepping-stone to the real markets, wherein investors-in-training join a growing community of more than 700,000 investors and can trade over $100,000 in virtual cash, risk-free.

Besides the obvious benefit of costing you nothing, these online platforms are attractive to those looking for a flexible way to learn. Learning online allows you to learn at your own speed, stay in the comfort of your own space, and allocate your time in the most efficient manner for you. To differentiate yourself as an employee, freelancer or manager, you must continually improve your existing talents. By just making a few clicks, you’ll find the opportunity to stay sharp and up to speed on today’s valuable skills. Learn more online with Investopedia, here.