Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FutureLearn VS Class Central

Compare FutureLearn VS Class Central and see what are their differences

FutureLearn logo FutureLearn

Free online courses from top universities and cultural institutions

Class Central logo Class Central

Love to learn? Discover thousands of FREE online courses and MOOCs from top universities and companies on Class Central.
  • FutureLearn Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • Class Central Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-17

FutureLearn features and specs

  • Wide Range of Courses
    FutureLearn offers a vast array of courses across multiple disciplines, catering to a diverse audience with varying interests.
  • Partnerships with Reputable Institutions
    The platform collaborates with leading universities and organizations, ensuring high-quality content and well-recognized certifications.
  • Interactive Learning
    Courses include interactive elements such as quizzes, assignments, and discussion forums, which enhance the learning experience.
  • Flexibility
    Students can learn at their own pace, with many courses providing lifetime access to materials after enrollment.
  • Free Access to Course Material
    Many courses offer free access to learning materials, making education more accessible to a broader audience.

Possible disadvantages of FutureLearn

  • Limited Free Access
    While many courses offer free access to materials, full access to features such as assessments and certificates often requires payment.
  • Variable Course Quality
    The quality of courses can vary depending on the institution or instructor, which might affect the learning experience for some users.
  • Limited Interaction with Instructors
    Direct interaction with instructors is often limited, which might be a drawback for learners who benefit from more personalized guidance.
  • Time-Restricted Free Access
    Free access to courses is often time-restricted, which means learners might need to upgrade to paid versions to extend access or complete courses at their own pace.
  • Basic Subscription Model
    The platform uses a subscription model for full access, which may not be suitable or affordable for all users.

Class Central features and specs

  • Comprehensive Aggregation
    Class Central aggregates thousands of online courses from various providers, giving users a one-stop platform for exploring options across topics and institutions.
  • User Reviews and Ratings
    Users can read and contribute to reviews and ratings for courses, which helps in assessing the quality and relevance of courses before enrollment.
  • Filtering and Search Options
    Offers robust search and filtering tools, allowing users to easily sort through courses by subject, institution, course length, and start date.
  • Free Courses and Auditing
    Highlights free courses and those available for auditing, making it easier for users to identify cost-friendly options.
  • Course Reminders and Tracking
    Enables users to set reminders for course start dates and keep track of their in-progress and completed courses.

Possible disadvantages of Class Central

  • Dependency on External Sites
    Class Central redirects to external sites for enrollment and course completion, which may lead to inconsistent user experiences or additional registration requirements.
  • Limited Interaction
    As an aggregator, Class Central does not facilitate direct interaction with instructors or other students, limiting the community aspect found in some online learning platforms.
  • Varying Course Quality
    The quality of courses can vary widely since they are sourced from multiple providers, and not all courses may meet user expectations.
  • Advertisement of Paid Courses
    Despite promoting free courses, Class Central also features many paid options, which might not align with users seeking entirely free learning opportunities.

Analysis of FutureLearn

Overall verdict

  • FutureLearn is a good platform for those seeking flexible, high-quality online courses across various subjects. It excels in providing a diverse selection of topics from credible institutions and creating a collaborative learning environment.

Why this product is good

  • FutureLearn is a reputable online learning platform that collaborates with universities and cultural institutions around the world to offer a wide range of courses. Its courses are designed to be engaging, accessible, and social, enabling learners to interact with educators and other participants. Plus, the platform generally offers free access to course materials, with options to pay for a certificate or extended access.

Recommended for

  • Individuals looking to learn at their own pace
  • Professionals seeking to acquire new skills or knowledge
  • Students wanting to supplement their traditional education
  • Anyone interested in exploring subjects offered by international universities

FutureLearn videos

RANDOM FUTURELEARN COURSE CHALLENGE!! STUDY WITH ME (ish)

More videos:

  • Review - Brian's FutureLearn story

Class Central videos

Software Engineer and Class Central Founder Dhawal Shah - Quincy Interviews Devs

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FutureLearn and Class Central)
Education
65 65%
35% 35
Online Learning
64 64%
36% 36
Online Courses
62 62%
38% 38
Development
63 63%
37% 37

User comments

Share your experience with using FutureLearn and Class Central. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FutureLearn should be more popular than Class Central. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FutureLearn mentions (10)

View more

Class Central mentions (6)

  • Career Path
    Earn certificates on Coursera (classcentral.com can help you find courses to take). Source: about 2 years ago
  • If you need skills: Coursera Plus on Sale for $199 (US)
    You could also check out classcentral.com there's a search option, and hyperlinks specifically for free certificates -- the articles are usually really neatly outlined for ease of navigation as well. Source: over 2 years ago
  • LPT: Get thousands of courses online FOR FREE, legally.
    At this link (classcentral.com) get hundreds, if not thousands of courses made by ( Google, Amazon, Harvard, and Stanford). Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Why is there so much reading and so little code in javascript fundamentals?
    I like freeCodeCamp because they actually suffer from the opposite issue of being too hands-on with little of the deeper context that TOP gives. There is also a free "bootcamp" style shared walkthrough of the webdev/js content if that format is more motivating. Both are easy to find on classcentral.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Not sure if against Rule 1: I'm keen to learn how to begin, has anyone got any credible training courses they would recommend for someone who has zero programming knowledge, but trading knowledge?
    For basic python there are countless extensive courses on youtube or maybe look on classcentral.com. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FutureLearn and Class Central, you can also consider the following products

Coursera - Build skills with courses, certificates, and degrees online from world-class universities and companies

Udemy - Online Courses - Learn Anything, On Your Schedule

Mindvalley - Mindvalley is an online education platform that facilitates users by connecting them with numerous strong-minded people worldwide and sharing knowledge or ideas through chatting, meetups, and video calls.

edX - Best Courses. Top Institutions. Learn anytime, anywhere.

Khan Academy - Khan Academy offers online tools to help students learn about a variety of important school subjects. Tools include videos, practice exercises, and materials for instructors. Read more about Khan Academy.

Udacity - Join Udacity to learn the latest in Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Web Development & more, with Nanodegree programs & free online courses.