# Best Online Learning Platforms for Small Business - Page 3 *By [Emma Stein](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/emma-stein)* Products classified in the overall Online Learning Platform category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, small business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Small Business Online Learning Platform to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Small Business Online Learning Platform category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Online Learning Platforms category, to qualify for inclusion in the Small Business Online Learning Platforms category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from a small business. ## Top Online Learning Platforms at a Glance | # | Product | Rating | Best For | What Users Say | |---|---------|--------|----------|----------------| | 1 | [Absorb LMS](https://www.g2.com/products/absorb-software-absorb-lms/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (933 reviews) | Compliance training with branded multi-tenant portals | "[Absorb: Always Improvi, User-Friendly Platform for Company-Wide Trainingng](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/absorb-lms-review-13049265)" | | 2 | [Udemy Business](https://www.g2.com/products/udemy-business/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (652 reviews) | On-demand technical upskilling with employer-sponsored access | "[Effective Learning Platform](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/udemy-business-review-12810882)" | | 3 | [DataCamp](https://www.g2.com/products/datacamp/reviews) | 4.7/5.0 (519 reviews) | Interactive data skills with in-browser coding | "[DataCamp’s Wide Topic Range and Hands-On Practice Build Real Confidence](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/datacamp-review-12995683)" | | 4 | [Mighty Networks](https://www.g2.com/products/mighty-networks/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (733 reviews) | Community-first course delivery with native engagement | "[Fast, Intuitive Drag-and-Drop for All-in-One Community Courses](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/mighty-networks-review-13103682)" | | 5 | [D2L Brightspace](https://www.g2.com/products/d2l-brightspace/reviews) | 4.4/5.0 (665 reviews) | — | "[Brightspace Makes the Learning Experience Brighter](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/d2l-brightspace-review-13051089)" | | 6 | [360Learning](https://www.g2.com/products/360learning/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (585 reviews) | Collaborative course creation by internal experts | "[A practical tool for a network of stores](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/360learning-review-12906216)" | | 7 | [Speexx](https://www.g2.com/products/speexx/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (645 reviews) | Business language fluency with live coaching | "[Superior Quality in Language Learning](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/speexx-review-8882211)" | | 8 | [Thinkific](https://www.g2.com/products/thinkific/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (383 reviews) | Course creators scaling branded learning sites | "[Robust, Time-Saving Platform for Building an Educational Business](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/thinkific-review-12929600)" | | 9 | [Circle](https://www.g2.com/products/circle-so-circle/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (489 reviews) | Community-centered courses with integrated member engagement | "[Highly Engaged Community Builder with Room for Improvement](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/circle-review-12367482)" | | 10 | [LearnUpon](https://www.g2.com/products/learnupon/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (247 reviews) | Multi-portal training with centralized compliance tracking | "[Seamless Setup, Strong Support Team](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/learnupon-review-12794152)" | ## G2 Grid® for Online Learning Platforms ![G2 Grid® for Online Learning Platforms plotting products by satisfaction and market presence](https://www.g2.com/categories/online-learning-platform/grids.png?focus%5B%5D=82178&focus%5B%5D=42248&focus%5B%5D=1238701&focus%5B%5D=2319&focus%5B%5D=2232&focus%5B%5D=29386&focus%5B%5D=15825&focus%5B%5D=52636) Highlighted products: Mighty Networks, Thinkific, Circle, D2L Brightspace, Absorb LMS, Udemy Business, DataCamp, and LearnWorlds. Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/online-learning-platform/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=mighty-networks&focus%5B%5D=thinkific&focus%5B%5D=circle-so-circle&focus%5B%5D=d2l-brightspace&focus%5B%5D=absorb-software-absorb-lms&focus%5B%5D=udemy-business&focus%5B%5D=datacamp&focus%5B%5D=learnworlds&segment=small-business) ## How Many Online Learning Platforms Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 343 ### Category Stats (Jul 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.43/5 (↑0.01 vs Jun 2026) The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **Top Trending Product**: Achieve (+5.88%) - Among all products in this category, Achieve recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: July 19, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Online Learning Platforms Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 14,600+ Authentic Reviews - 343+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. --- **Sponsored** ### The ROI Shop At The ROI Shop, we’ve transformed how sales teams communicate value. Our interactive ROI selling platform helps reps collaborate with prospects to build a strong financial business case, one that’s easy to understand, personalize, and share. Most companies still rely on outdated Excel spreadsheets to show ROI. These tools are clunky, hard to navigate, and do a poor job of telling a story. They frustrate sellers, confuse buyers, and rarely lead to action. That’s where we come in. The ROI Shop offers a clean, intuitive platform that turns value selling into a guided conversation. Sellers walk prospects through discovery questions, input real data, and instantly calculate both ROI and COI (Cost of Inaction). Instead of vague estimates, buyers get numbers that are relevant and credible. But we don’t stop at the math. Our built-in AI storytelling feature takes those inputs and outputs and transforms them into a short, compelling business narrative, perfect for your champion to take back to the decision-makers. No financial jargon, no fluff. Just a clear story that explains the risk of doing nothing and the value of moving forward. The result? Champions feel more confident, sales cycles move faster, and deals are more likely to close. If your team is still using spreadsheets to justify ROI, it’s time for a better approach. Equip them with a tool that aligns with how today’s buyers make decisions: collaborative, personalized, and story-driven. Not sure where to start? Don't worry The ROI Shop will do all the heavy lifting to build you a calculator with best practices in mind. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=1197&secure%5Bchosen_at%5D=2026-07-19T10%3A18%3A02Z&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=1033&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=retargeted_product&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=6489&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=6489&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=1197&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fonline-learning-platform%2Fsmall-business%3Fpage%3D3&secure%5Btoken%5D=5d98c1b724ea7fe01907cd45fb2bf701f8ee1a6ff8663843a6684a554bd47dfe&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theroishop.com&secure%5Burl_type%5D=company_website) --- ## What Are the Top-Rated Online Learning Platforms Products in 2026? ### 1. [Mastera](https://www.g2.com/products/mastera/reviews) The ultimate all in one platform to run and scale your teaching, coaching and training business. We are on a mission to redefine the way online knowledge is experienced and distributed. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 98 **How Do G2 Users Rate Mastera?** - **Ease of Use:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Mastera?** - **Seller:** [Mastera](https://www.g2.com/sellers/mastera) - **Year Founded:** 2020 - **HQ Location:** Austin, US - **Twitter:** @mastera_io (78 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/masteraofficial/ (2 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** CEO, Founder - **Top Industries:** E-Learning, Health, Wellness and Fitness - **Company Size:** 91% Small-Business, 1% Enterprise #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Mastera? **"[Great Option for My Training Business](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/mastera-review-5054563)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Wee Beasties L.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/mastera-review-5054563) --- **"[An Amazing All in One Platform for e-learning and so much more!](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/mastera-review-5426830)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Shane B.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/mastera-review-5426830) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Mastera? - [What needs improvement with Mastera to better meet your online course creation needs?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-needs-improvement-with-mastera-to-better-meet-your-online-course-creation-needs) - [What is Mastera used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-mastera-used-for) ### 2. [CourseFunnels](https://www.g2.com/products/coursefunnels/reviews) Course Funnels is an online course platform with integrated marketing that supports 17 languages. It has 100% modifiable page themes, optin and squeeze plate templates to grab more leads and user friendly set up. It has SEO friendly features that help in on page optimization, caching for fast delivery and AMP for high speed mobile performance. It has email automation that also lets you do email marketing. It is Integrated with Facebook Pixel, Google Pixel, Google analytics, Heat-maps or any other analytics system and has full GDPR support. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 15 **How Do G2 Users Rate CourseFunnels?** - **Ease of Use:** 7.2/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Progress Reports:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **Course Completion:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Course Access:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) **Who Is the Company Behind CourseFunnels?** - **Seller:** [Teknikforce Ventures](https://www.g2.com/sellers/teknikforce-ventures) - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** Sharjah, Sharjah - **Twitter:** @teknikforce (10,771 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/teknikforceventures/about (59 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** E-Learning - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of CourseFunnels? **"[Great Product, Great Support](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/coursefunnels-review-8219679)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Olorunshola E.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/coursefunnels-review-8219679) --- **"[Excellent Teaching "Funnel" Software](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/coursefunnels-review-8161549)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Jeffery N.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/coursefunnels-review-8161549) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About CourseFunnels? - [What is CourseFunnels used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-coursefunnels-used-for) ### 3. [Codio](https://www.g2.com/products/codio/reviews) Codio is a cloud-based learning platform for education, workforce development, and professional training. It provides educators, trainers, and institutions with tools to create, deliver, and manage courses focused on technical subjects such as computer science, cybersecurity, software development, and data science. Codio enables users to develop, manage, and deploy immersive learning experiences that meet the needs of today’s learners by emphasizing job-specific training and practical skills development. It is utilized by a range of organizations, including higher education, bootcamps, MOOC platforms, and corporate training programs, to prepare learners for real-world technical challenges. **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 23 **How Do G2 Users Rate Codio?** - **Ease of Use:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Progress Reports:** 3.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **Course Completion:** 1.7/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Course Access:** 5.0/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Codio?** - **Seller:** [Codio](https://www.g2.com/sellers/codio) - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** Cambridge, Massachusetts - **Twitter:** @CodioHQ (5,414 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/codio/ (34 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Higher Education, Primary/Secondary Education - **Company Size:** 54% Small-Business, 33% Mid-Market #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Codio? **"[Good for shortilisting candidates using automated assessments](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/codio-review-9170616)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Verified User in Insurance* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/codio-review-9170616) --- **"[Very Effective and Efficient Way to Learn Code!](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/codio-review-9175095)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Aqil A.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/codio-review-9175095) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Codio? - [Is Codio good?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-codio-good) - [Does Codio have an app?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/does-codio-have-an-app) - 1 comment - [Is Codio free for students?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-codio-free-for-students) - [What is Codio?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-codio) - 1 comment ### 4. [Cerego](https://www.g2.com/products/cerego/reviews) Cerego’s adaptive learning platform uses cognitive science and AI to automate the creation of learning material, and accelerates everyone's ability to retain and apply knowledge. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 34 **How Do G2 Users Rate Cerego?** - **Ease of Use:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Cerego?** - **Seller:** [Cerego](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cerego) - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, California - **Twitter:** @cerego (952 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cerego/ (10 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Higher Education - **Company Size:** 47% Mid-Market, 31% Small-Business #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Cerego? **"[Great for Learning Terminology](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/cerego-review-5116863)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Giselle M.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/cerego-review-5116863) --- **"[Easy and Straightforward](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/cerego-review-6484518)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Daniela M.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/cerego-review-6484518) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Cerego? - [How do I access Cerego?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-access-cerego) - [How long are the Cerego breaks?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-long-are-the-cerego-breaks) - [Is Cerego free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-cerego-free) - 2 comments - [How does Cerego work?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-does-cerego-work) - 2 comments ## What Is Online Learning Platforms? [Education Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/education) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Online Learning Platforms? - [Learning Management Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/learning-management-system-lms) - [Course Authoring Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/course-authoring) - [Corporate Learning Management Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/corporate-learning-management-systems) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Online Learning Platforms? ### What You Should Know About Online Learning Platforms ### What is an Online Learning Platform? Online learning platforms, also referred to as eLearning platforms, are tools that allow users to create high-quality customized courses for people to take online. Using these tools, an instructor can build a course from scratch by adding elements like videos, presentation slides, documents, quizzes, and project assignments. The content of the course can vary widely, depending on the skills the instructor is trying to teach. Some online learning platforms have libraries with content that instructors can add to the course, or the instructor can use their content. The finished course can be published online, where students can find it and complete the lessons. ### What are the Common Features of an Online Learning Platform? **Course structuring:** Instructors can divide their online courses into smaller sections to better organize the course materials. Within each section, there might be a variety of elements like lectures, projects, and quizzes. Dividing up the course into smaller pieces makes it easier to keep students engaged and track their progress. **File attachments:** To create multimedia courses that are more engaging for students, online learning platforms typically allow instructors to upload a variety of file types into online courses. Depending on the platform, instructors can upload files like videos, documents, presentations, images, or courses previously created using [course authoring software](https://g2.com/categories/course-authoring). **Gamification:** Awarding badges and points for completing lessons or mastering assessments can be an effective way to motivate students and make the learning experience more fun. Leaderboards display which users completed the most lessons or achieved the highest quiz scores. Adding gamified elements to courses created through online learning platforms gives students a sense of accomplishment and lets them share their progress with others using social media. **Course marketplace:** For solopreneurs selling online courses, some platforms come with built-in marketplaces that allow them to sell their content to students. Management features enable instructors to write course descriptions, upload images, and publish samples of the course. **Discussion boards and peer communities:** Learning is a social endeavor, so online learning platforms often host discussion forums where users can ask questions of other students taking the same course or talk about the course content. Instructors can create cohorts of students taking the same course, allowing learners to engage with each other and give each other feedback and encouragement. **Mobile compatibility:** Building mobile compatibility into courses allows students to access course content anywhere, giving them more flexibility to complete courses and assessments. Some platforms’ applications allow users to download content to their iOS or Android devices so it can be accessed even without an internet connection. Some products may also have a dedicated mobile app component to supplement the web-based platform. **Reporting and analytics:** Course administrators can access data about how many students are taking a course, how students are interacting with the content, and how they are performing on assessments, among other metrics. Students can also get information about how they have performed on quizzes and their usage patterns on the platform. **Video hosting** : Video lessons can be uploaded to online learning platforms and serve as the main method of delivering online classes, providing a more engaging learning experience compared to reading static slides or web pages. Some tools provide multiple methods of uploading video lectures, including grabbing videos from the cloud. ### What are the Benefits of an Online Learning Platform? Online learning platforms enable course administrators to create and deliver customized course experiences, no matter the audience. From entrepreneurs to corporate trainers to educators, users have access to a wide range of features that allow courses to be built in a way that meets the needs of their students. **Customized learning experiences:** There are thousands of prebuilt courses available for purchase through [online course providers](https://g2.com/categories/online-course-providers) for developing skills in a variety of areas, from computer programming to business management to art history. Sometimes, there is no prebuilt course that works and a customized course must be created. For example, preexisting online courses don’t always meet the needs of a college professor who wants to teach a physics class using a specific curriculum, or a company that wants to create internal training about how to use administrative functions of their web application. With online learning platforms, instructors can build courses from the ground up that target the exact skills they have in mind and the needs of a specific group of students. **Education content made more accessible:** For instructors, online learning platforms offer a way to expand access to their course materials outside of a physical learning environment. This is important as online education continues to rise in popularity. Some of these tools allow instructors to upload presentation files from a lecture and display them as part of an online course. Students who missed a training session or are studying remotely can easily access videos and other course content. Courses can also be accessed by learners at their convenience, accommodating different schedules. Compatibility with mobile applications further extends the reach of courses built on online learning platforms. ### Who Uses an Online Learning Platform? **Educators:** Education industry professionals use online learning platforms to make the content they teach available online. Some platforms come with tools that enable instructors to upload files that teachers might already use in their lessons, such as videos, word documents, and presentation files. Educators can add customized homework assignments, projects, and quizzes to their online courses and grade students based on how well they demonstrate targeted skills. Publishing course material online also allows professors to make course content available to students outside of in-person sessions, allowing students to review material or catch up if they miss a class. **HR trainers:** Employee success departments use online learning platforms to create customized training experiences for employees and streamline the management of their onboarding content. New hire training materials can be crafted for the company’s overall training objectives as well as for new skills that specific employees need to build. Some lessons might be aimed at soft skills, like team management, while others could focus on hard skills, like how to program in Python. Publishing the training content online allows employees to complete training when it’s convenient for them. Customizing courses for specific roles maximizes the efficiency of training programs, so employees aren’t sitting through irrelevant lessons. **Technical trainers:** Businesses use online learning platforms to train customers or clients on their products. This is especially beneficial for software trainers, who are often tasked with educating customers on how to get the most value out of the company’s software. While there will always be a need for live trainings, the ability to publish a custom online tutorial for a product’s most commonly used features allows users of that product to get most of the information they need, potentially cutting down the necessity for in-person trainings. **Solopreneurs:** For an entrepreneur who is running their business without any other employees, online learning platforms provide a structure for creating online courses or webinars for in-demand skills and selling them online. Some tools provide marketplaces where course creators can list their courses for sale, or offer tiered models that mix free courses and paid courses to entice subscribers. Depending on how dedicated the solopreneur is to their online teaching business, publishing courses through online learning platforms could be a side hustle that generates passive income or a full-fledged small business that they run full time. ### What are the Alternatives to an Online Learning Platform? [Course authoring software](https://www.g2.com/categories/course-authoring) **:** Course authoring software is used to develop training courses and content that can be consumed in either a corporate or more traditional educational setting. These products may be appealing to companies looking to create internal training programs for onboarding and ongoing professional development, especially if they don’t need all the additional features that an online learning platform provides. [Learning management system](https://www.g2.com/categories/learning-management-system-lms) **:** Online learning platforms and learning management systems (LMS) are often seen as the same, but an online learning platform serves as a foundation for eLearning and will often be used in conjunction with other supporting software tools. Online learning platforms are occasionally sold as an integration within a larger LMS product too.  An LMS helps instructors deliver and manage online learning by creating a streamlined communication channel between instructors and students. These software applications manage all types of content, including video, courses, and documents, and allow students to access all course content from any device. Instructors can use an LMS to manage rubrics, student discussion boards, and course syllabi, and they provide key features for reporting, progress tracking, and assignments and assessments. ### Challenges with an Online Learning Platform **Effectively marketing a course:** Online learning has become an increasingly crowded and competitive business segment. Solopreneurs trying to create a course on an online learning platform are competing with thousands of courses already on the market on any imaginable topic. Users of online learning providers must consider how their marketing will set their course content apart from others that already exist. Then, they must determine how to best market their course, including what kinds of students it will target, what topics it will cover, how they will advertise it, and how they will write a course description that catches attention. Without thinking through how to make a course stand out through effective marketing, it is bound to get lost in the virtual ocean of educational content already available online. **Creating engaging courses:** Designing informative, interesting, and attention-grabbing courses is a challenging task. While the ability to create a customized course unlocks many potential benefits, it also requires creators to be thoughtful at the outset about how they want to build a course that will deliver on their key learning objectives. For corporate trainers writing a course about topics that employees may consider less than exciting, they must leverage their creativity to deliver the content engagingly. ### Which Companies Should Buy an Online Learning Platform? **Colleges and universities:** Any educational institution, but especially higher education, that needs to make course content accessible online should consider an online learning platform. These tools give educators tremendous flexibility in building comprehensive course content and making it available to students on their own schedule. Online learning platforms are particularly crucial for universities that offer online degree programs and nanodegree programs, notably in the areas of computer science, data science, and business. **Massive open online course (MOOC) providers:** MOOCs are courses available online to anyone with the proper hardware and internet connection, offering a more relaxed structure and either no or minimal cost to take. They are often seen as alternatives for individuals looking to learn for fun, as MOOCs typically do not confer a degree or certification upon completion if they’re free. MOOC providers need an online learning platform to build and host their content library. **Standard businesses:** Businesses looking to manage their onboarding and employee development programs better should consider an online learning platform. These tools can allow businesses to customize training content to fit their branding and unique needs, and group employees by cohort and department to organize specific trainings more easily. **Training and development businesses:** For businesses that sell training courses to companies that outsource professional development, online learning platforms are a useful tool to organize all their course content and make it accessible to companies even after the training sessions. These tools can also allow training and development businesses to scale up their training content and make them accessible to a wider clientele. ### How to Buy an Online Learning Platform #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for an Online Learning Platform There are an incredible amount of online learning platforms available today, which can make the buying decision stressful. Before beginning vendor conversations, schools and companies looking to purchase an online learning platform should identify what their goals and objectives are, both currently and in the future. Selecting the wrong platform could lead to a large problem down the road. Buyers should determine what types of eLearning content they intend to deliver through an online learning platform, and how that training content supports their larger organizational goals. Compliance training may be better achieved through cheaper alternatives, for example. Companies that have a geographically scattered workforce will need to determine the mobile capabilities of each platform they consider purchasing. Additionally, companies with large workforces and large educational institutions will need to consider the pricing model for products; a flat fee will save more money as opposed to per-user priced platforms. Scalability and adaptability are both important factors to consider as well, which is why buyers need to know their current and future needs before making a final decision. An online learning platform should be able to grow as an organization grows, without leading to a lot of surprise costs and technical difficulties to accommodate. Online learning platforms should offer the right level of customization for users to build courses that meet their specific needs. #### Compare Online Learning Platform Products **Create a long list** Long lists are created by eliminating the options that do not provide critical functionality. For example, schools should seek out online learning platforms that are optimized for the education sector, rather than platforms that favor corporate eLearning. A typical long list should not include more than 10 products unless there are many options that are very similar. In this case, additional details like the geographical presence of the company or its reputation can be used to eliminate vendors. **Create a short list** Short lists are created by reviewing the RFI information received from vendors. Some vendors may decline to participate and respond to RFIs. These vendors are usually eliminated from the selection process. From there, this short list steers the buying decision closer to completion, leaving only a couple of vendors to choose between based on small, key factors that fulfill all the requirements and considerations a school or company has for implementing an online learning platform. **Conduct demos** Demos are a great opportunity for buyers to see how the online learning platform works. Only the shortlisted vendors are invited to demonstrate their solutions. Demos should be performed live, using the system, and not through slide decks and screenshots. All vendors should follow a predetermined scenario that simulates the business processes of the buyer. Buyers should request to see a walkthrough from the perspective of a course creator and a student to understand how the interface looks for both sides. Additionally, request to see a sample course created from start to finish to understand what tools can assist in developing eLearning content. #### Selection of Online Learning Platform **Choose a selection team** To choose a selection team, decision makers need to involve subject matter experts from all teams that will use the system. For schools, this will likely involve the principal or dean, as well as a select number of teachers who represent the larger faculty's needs. For businesses, this may involve the HR team, CFO, and other roles related to recruiting and employee management. **Negotiation** Negotiation happens between the buyer and the short list of vendors. In some cases, there are only two vendors that make it to this stage, which means that they offer similar products. At this point, the dealbreaker is the price of the product, which can vary based on the discounts offered by each vendor. Buyers should consider upfront costs, price per user costs, and any associated content hosting costs with the online learning platform. The final decision should be based on all the information gathered previously. ### Online Learning Platform Trends **Gamification:** Adding elements of gaming and competition to online learning platforms is a trending method for driving student engagement. There are several ways to incorporate gamified elements. Students can get points or badges for completing lessons, or for getting a certain score on an assessment. Those with top scores on assessments or with the most courses completed could be recognized on a leaderboard, injecting a healthy dose of competition into the mix. Some platforms may have unique digital prizes to hand out for completing certain objectives. A growing number of platforms are adding these gamified elements to their systems. **Collaborative learning:** Social media has changed the way people interact on the internet, and online learning platforms are increasingly using elements of those systems into their platforms. Discussion boards allow students to discuss topics covered in the course lessons and ask questions of their fellow users. Adding students to digital cohorts or groups is a way of creating an online community of learners as students learn more effectively when they do it collaboratively.