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Udacity vs LinkedIn Learning: An Overview
The increasing demand for online education has seen a rise in online learning platforms, with Udacity and LinkedIn Learning, being two of the most popular options.
Udacity is a reputable online learning platform with a strong focus on technology and business studies. The platform’s Nanodegree programs and free courses are ideal for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Even though this platform isn’t accredited, a Udacity certificate would be an excellent addition to any resume.
LinkedIn Learning is home to over 16,000 courses related to business, technology, and creative skills. The courses are designed for professionals who want to learn something new to enhance their careers.
Want more details on each platform? This Udacity vs LinkedIn learning review has it covered.
Udacity vs LinkedIn Learning: Who it is it For?
Udacity
Founded by Stanford University, Udacity is primarily targeted at students interested in technological fields. The majority of courses are focused on topics such as data science, business, programming, computer science, and similar.
However, you don’t need to be an expert in any of these fields to enroll. In fact, the site is filled with beginner-friendly courses.
Enrolling in Udacity courses is a great way to gain fundamental employable skills and be prepared for some of the challenges often faced in the industry. The courses are project-based, and they emphasize active learning through student-mentor interactions and hands-on projects.
While Udacity is tailored to students, the courses can also be used by companies and organizations. This is otherwise known as the Udacity for Enterprise program, and it’s designed for employee training. There’s even a Udacity for Government program.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning courses are mainly skill-oriented, designed for professionals who want to learn something new. Whether you are a beginner who wants to understand the basics of a particular subject, or you just wish to expand your expertise to advance your career, LinkedIn Learning is a great place to start.
Since these courses cover various fields related to business, technology, and creative topics, you can use them to perfect skills that are relevant in your industry and enhance your promotion prospects.
Moreover, with a LinkedIn Learning certificate, you have a greater chance of getting employed. Not only are LinkedIn Learning courses tailored to individuals, but they can also be used by organizations to train their employees. Basically, LinkedIn Learning is for everyone.
Udacity vs LinkedIn Learning: Types of Courses Offered
Udacity
Udacity offers two types of courses: 40+ Nanodegree programs and 200+ free courses.
Most Udacity courses are focused on programming, artificial intelligence, data science, business, web development, cloud computing, and similar. You can also find programs that cover digital marketing, cybersecurity, data visualization, and product management. As you can see, Udacity courses are mostly tech-driven, but you can also find options in other fields of business.
Udacity Nanodegree programs last from three to twelve months. Free courses tend to be of a much shorter duration, typically from one to four months. Before you enroll, you can download the syllabus to see what the course is about. If you’re interested in a particular course, the estimated time of completion, the prerequisites for participating, and other information are on the details page.
But is Udacity accredited? No, Udacity is not an accredited educational institution, but a private online learning platform. Therefore, they don’t offer traditional degrees or diplomas. Upon completing a course, however, you will receive a certificate. Even though Udacity isn’t accredited, its certificates are highly valued by corporations in search of potential employees.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning offers over 16,000 courses taught by field experts. In fact, 25 to 30 new courses are released every week. What makes LinkedIn Learning courses different from other online learning platforms is that they are presented in video format. You have the option to download any course for offline viewing too.
Some fields LinkedIn Learning courses cover include digital marketing, Python programming, time management, critical thinking, web design and development, HTML, Photoshop, blockchains, cloud computing, and much more. They’re grouped into three main categories: business, technology, and creative. Not only are they designed for beginners, but intermediate and advanced levels as too.
The courses can be watched in seven languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, and Portuguese). When you complete a LinkedIn Learning course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. These certificates can be attached to your LinkedIn profile and downloaded to your device. However, you won’t receive any type of degree or diploma, since LinkedIn Learning isn’t accredited.
Udacity vs LinkedIn Learning: Pricing & Refunds
Udacity
As mentioned before, Udacity has Nanodegree programs and single courses, but how much do they cost?
The good news is that Udacity offers around 200 courses that are completely free. However, they don’t come with a certificate.
Udacity’s Nanodegree programs usually cost around $399 a month. Udacity pricing for the entire course depends on its duration. Since courses can last anywhere from three to twelve months, the average cost of a course is between $1,200 and $2,400. Students who pay several months in advance usually receive a discount on the total price.
Udacity doesn’t offer a free trial. Although you do have the option to divide the total price into smaller installments, so you can pay off the course over a longer period of time. In terms of refunds, you are only entitled to a refund during the first 14 days of your subscription.
LinkedIn Learning
With over 16,000 online courses, how much does enrolling in one course on LinkedIn Learning cost? No matter which LinkedIn Learning course you select, to use this platform, you’re required to pay $29.99 a month. This will also give you access to all the courses LinkedIn Learning has to offer.
Keep in mind that if you apply for the annual subscription, you’ll get a 17% discount. Therefore, the total LinkedIn Learning price for any course adds up to $299.88 a year. In other words, you will be able to get two months for free. Considering the fact that there is no limit on how many courses you can enroll in each month, this is definitely a great deal.
Even though there are no free LinkedIn Learning courses, this platform does offer a 30-day free trial. If you realize that the course isn’t for you halfway through the trial, you are free to cancel any time you want.
Technically speaking, you can participate in LinkedIn Learning courses for free if you use any of the following LinkedIn services: Premium Business, Recruiter Lite Premium Career, Sales Navigator Professional, and Executive.
When it comes to the refund policy, if you’ve signed up for a monthly or annual subscription, you don’t have the option to get a refund. However, LinkedIn Learning offers refunds on paid individual courses, which you can get within the first 30 days.
Udacity vs LinkedIn Learning: Enrolment & Usability
Udacity
To start learning on Udacity, first, you need to register with your email, Facebook, or Google account. The sign-up process is relatively straightforward, just like any other platform. You don’t need to create an account to browse the courses on Udacity – only when you want to enroll.
Since Udacity courses can be expensive, it’s advisable to take your time to select one. Given that there’s a wide selection of courses available, choosing only one might be the most challenging part. As soon as you sign up for a course, you’re required to pay the Udacity fee. If you choose a free course, you can start learning right away.
To enroll in any Udacity beginner course, you don’t need to have any prior experience or knowledge on the topic. More advanced courses do come with a list of prerequisites. Along with the syllabus, the estimated duration of the course is also disclosed before you start, giving you time to plan.
Udacity’s user interface is extremely easy to use. Unlike other online learning providers that have a mobile app, there is no Udacity app.
LinkedIn Learning
To sign up for LinkedIn Learning, you need to have a LinkedIn account. As mentioned before, you automatically start your one-month free trial upon signing up. Right after you’ve created a LinkedIn Learning account, you have unlimited access to all the courses in the LinkedIn Learning library.
This platform lets you personalize your learning experience to the fullest too. Since you have the option to participate in several LinkedIn Learning courses at once, you can also keep track of your progress. There’s even an option to save courses you might be interested in watching later.
You can watch LinkedIn Learning courses whenever it’s convenient for you. In addition, you can do so on your computer and mobile device. Another option you have is to save the courses on your device for offline viewing.
Udacity vs LinkedIn Learning: Course Structures
Udacity
Every Udacity course consists of different modules. The lectures are video recordings, so you can watch them at your own pace. Following every lecture, you’ll need to do quizzes, homework, and projects. Course materials are concise and engaging, designed to reinforce your knowledge.
While other MOOCs (massive open online courses) offer similar assignments, they are rarely graded. On Udacity, not only is all your work graded, but you will also need to pass in order to progress to the next level. That way, you’ll receive sufficient feedback, while gradually becoming familiar and eventually mastering the topic.
Bear in mind that in order to receive a certificate, it’s not enough to only go through the entire course. You’re also required to pass all course lessons and complete your assignments with a grade of “Meets Expectations” or higher.
LinkedIn Learning
Each LinkedIn Learning course consists of several videos you can watch when you have time. LinkedIn Learning lets you test your knowledge with quizzes and exercise files.
You can complete them whenever you want. However, there are no assignments or projects you need to do in order to move forward. Therefore, the courses are oriented towards passive learning, which means that it’s up to you to master the course content.
Once you complete a LinkedIn Learning course, you receive the Certificate of Completion, which you can attach to your LinkedIn profile.
The Verdict
While Udacity and LinkedIn Learning are both great online learning platforms, they’re not exactly the same.
Udacity is geared towards technology and business majors who aim to perfect their tech skills and further their academic and professional careers.Udacity courses last longer and cost more. Therefore, you need to be fully committed to completing your studies. The Udacity certificate is sure to pay off when you start looking for a job.
LinkedIn Learning is mainly for professionals- it gives you the opportunity to expand your knowledge across different business and creative topics. So, is LinkedIn Learning worth it? Definitely. Not only will you learn a new skill, but you’ll also be able to include the LinkedIn certificate on your resume.