Features | 1. Extensive course selection | 1. Professional skill development |
Advantages | ✅ Wide range of topics | ✅ High-quality professional courses |
Disadvantages | ❌ Some courses are of low quality. | ❌You don’t get access for a lifetime |
Value For Money | Udemy offers affordable courses with lifetime access and a great deal of value for money. | Lynda delivers extensive professional courses with valuable subscription-based access. |
Customer Support | Udemy’s customer support is responsive, helpful, and accessible to users. | Lynda offers dedicated, efficient customer service for a seamless experience. |
Choosing the right online learning platform can be overwhelming, especially with options like Udemy and Lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning). Having explored both, I’ll share my insights to help you decide which platform aligns best with your learning goals.
Bottom Line Upfront:
I’ve spent quite some time exploring both Udemy and Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) to boost my skills; if you’re after a wide range of topics, from hobbies to high-level tech skills, Udemy is incredible.
It’s like an endless buffet where you can sample everything. I highly recommend it for its variety and affordability.
On the other side, if you’re focusing on career development and prefer a more structured learning path, Lynda, with its professional edge, is fantastic.
After diving into both, I found that Udemy’s flexibility and course variety suited my ever-changing interests best.
However, for those deep dives into professional development, Lynda was invaluable. Both platforms have their strengths, but depending on what you’re looking for, one might suit you better.
My personal experience? You can’t go wrong with either, but Udemy’s vast selection has a slight edge for me.
Which Is the Best Online Learning Platform, Udemy or Lynda 2025?
Due to online courses, you can sit at home and learn a new set of skills. It enhances your ability to perform your challenging tasks better and hone your existing skills.
Two platforms that provide you with the best online courses at economical rates are Udemy and Lynda.
With a little help from Udemy & Lynda, you could be the next biggest online learner who has learned various courses and developed different skills.
What is Udemy?
Udemy is one of the largest online learning marketplaces, featuring over 130,000 courses across various categories. Unlike traditional e-learning platforms, Udemy operates on an open marketplace model, allowing anyone to create and sell courses.
This approach results in a diverse selection of courses that cover subjects such as business, technology, personal development, and creative skills.
Does Udemy Provide the Best Certifications? Yes
Key Features of Udemy:
✔ Massive Course Library – Covers thousands of topics, including niche subjects.
✔ One-Time Payment Model – Pay for individual courses and get lifetime access.
✔ Diverse Instructors – Courses are created by independent instructors worldwide.
✔ Frequent Discounts – Regular promotions bring prices down to as low as $10.
✔ Mobile Learning – Access courses via the Udemy mobile app for learning on the go.
Udemy is perfect for self-paced learners who want an affordable, flexible way to acquire new skills without a subscription commitment.
Here is a list of popular courses provided by Udemy:
- Excel Advanced Learning Course.
- C++ learning
- Programming learning
- Instagram Marketing
- Graphic Designing Course
- Web Development
- Content Marketing
- AWS Certification
- Drawing Course from Basic to Advanced
- Complete Data Science Learning
- Machine Learning
- Financial Planning Course
- Business Intelligence
- Artificial Intelligence
- Game Development course
- Video Editing Course
What is Lynda?
Is Lynda Called Linkedin Learning now? Yes
Lynda.com, now known as LinkedIn Learning, is a professional training platform that emphasizes business, technology, and creative skills.
Unlike Udemy, LinkedIn Learning operates on a subscription-based model, granting users unlimited access to all courses for a fixed monthly fee.
Owned by LinkedIn, this platform is popular among professionals and companies seeking to upskill their workforce or enhance their resumes with certifications.
Key Features of LinkedIn Learning:
✔ High-Quality, Expert-Led Courses – Content is created by industry professionals and vetted for quality.
✔ Subscription-Based Access – Pay a monthly or annual fee to access all courses.
✔ Structured Learning Paths – Courses are grouped into structured learning paths for mastering a skill.
✔ Integration with LinkedIn – Certifications can be added directly to your LinkedIn profile.
✔ Corporate Training Solutions – Businesses can provide employees with high-quality training programs.
LinkedIn Learning is ideal for professionals, businesses, and career-focused individuals who want high-quality training with certifications that boost their professional credibility.
Here are the most popular courses available on Lynda:
- LinkedIn Learning
- Social Media Marketing
- Excel Training
- Digital Marketing Tools learning
- JavaScript Training
- Python Bootcamp
- Social Media Marketing course
- Data Science Learning
- Logo Designing Course.
- Website Development
- Coding
- Critical Thinking Learning
- Facebook Ads Marketing
- Time Management Learning
- Data Analytics
- Graphic Designing
- Content Writing
- Content Marketing
- Microsoft Office Learning
- Email Marketing Course.
Features: What do They Offer?
If you’re trying to decide between Udemy and Lynda (now known as LinkedIn Learning) as the best online learning platform, you’re not alone.
Both platforms provide excellent courses, but they serve different learning needs. In this comprehensive comparison, I’ll discuss their features, pricing, course quality, ease of use, customer support, certifications, and overall value for money.
Additionally, I will highlight a winner in each category to help you make the best choice!
Udemy Features:
| Features Available | Udemy.com
(Desktop or Laptop) | Mobile Site | Android App | iOS App |
| Video Lectures | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Article Lectures | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video-PDF Mashup Lectures | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quizzes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subtitles | ✓(if added to a course) | ✓ (if added to a course) | ✓ (if added to a course) | ✓ (if added to a course) |
| Coding Exercises | ✓ | |||
| Supplementary Resources | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Assignments | ✓ | |||
| Practice Tests | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Download Certificates of Completion | ✓* | ✓* | ✓* | ✓* |
| Q&A (read and post questions) | ✓* | ✓* | ✓* | ✓* |
| Notes | ✓* | ✓* | ✓* | ✓* |
| Post Reviews | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| See Reviews | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| View Instructor Announcements | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Promo Videos | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Direct Message Your Course Instructor** | ✓* | ✓* | ||
| Search by Category | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dark Mode | ✓ | ✓ |
Few Comparisons Between Udemy And Lynda
To make it easier to compare Udemy and Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning), here are detailed comparison tables based on key factors such as ease of use, customer support, pricing, course quality, certifications, UI & accessibility, learning experience, and instructor expertise.
1. Ease of Use
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | Easy-to-use interface, search, and filters | Clean UI, integrates with LinkedIn for personalized recommendations |
| Course Selection | Large variety, but needs reviews for quality check | Curated courses with structured learning paths |
| Sign-up Process | Simple sign-up, no subscription needed | Requires a LinkedIn account and subscription |
| Progress Tracking | Tracks completed courses but lacks structured paths | Learning paths track progress for better organization |
| Overall Experience | Beginner-friendly but less structured | Professional and structured learning experience |
🏆 Winner: Lynda (LinkedIn Learning)
👉 Why? Better structured courses, progress tracking, and LinkedIn integration for career-oriented learners.
2. Customer Support Provided
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Support Channels | Email, help center, community Q&A | Email, live chat, phone support |
| Instructor Support | No refunds, but a 1-month free trial is available | Courses are well-supported by LinkedIn Learning’s team |
| Refund Policy | 30-day money-back guarantee | No refunds, but a 1-month free trial is available |
| Response Time | Varies depending on the issue | Faster response via live chat and phone |
| Community Support | Active forums and Q&A for courses | There are no community forums, but LinkedIn discussions are available Udemy: Customer Support Udemy has a professional team to handle customers’ queries. You can easily get all your issues solved within a few hours. Udemy’s help desk is active 24/7 and 365 days a day. |
Customer Support at Udemy
Udemy does not provide support via live chat, but email support is available. Udemy has an exhaustive collection of help articles in their blog to assist you through any trouble. It has a quick-response support team to answer any queries or solve any difficulties you may face.
Customer Support at Lynda
Lynda provides top-notch customer service to all students. It provides support through chat and email. Lynda has an online community where you can ask questions or share ideas.
Their knowledge base contains articles on everything from integrating your website with Lynda to processing payment.
Time and quality are what every customer expects from the company. Lynda also provides visual lectures to help people understand the software. You will get an instant response to your queries by using a live chat feature.
🏆 Winner: Udemy
👉 Why? Better customer support options (live chat & phone support) and structured instructor support.
3. Pricing Plans
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Pay-per-course (One-time purchase) | Subscription-based (Monthly/Annual) |
| Cost per Course | $10 – $200 (with frequent discounts) | Unlimited access for $29.99/month or $19.99/month (annual plan) |
| Free Trial | There is no free trial, but some free courses are available | 1-month free trial available |
| Lifetime Access? | Yes, once purchased | No, access is available only with an active subscription |
| Money-Back Guarantee? | Yes, 30-day refund policy | No refunds |
For Udemy: Udemy offers various pricing options tailored to individual learners and organizations:
- Personal Plan: Provides monthly access to over 12,000 top-rated courses across various professional and personal development categories. This subscription allows unlimited learning opportunities during the subscription period. Alternatively, learners can purchase individual courses with lifetime access, with prices set by instructors and often discounted through Udemy’s promotions.
- Team Plan: Designed for small teams ranging from 2 to 20 people, this plan is priced at $30 per user per month, billed annually. It includes access to over 12,000 courses, certification preparation for more than 200 exams, practice tests, AI-powered coding exercises, goal-focused recommendations, and analytics reports.
- Enterprise Plan: Catering to larger organizations with more than 20 employees, this plan offers access to over 28,000 courses, including international content. Additional features encompass advanced analytics, customizable content, dedicated customer success support, and more. Pricing is customized based on the organization’s needs, and interested parties are encouraged to contact Udemy’s sales team for a quote.
For instructors, Udemy provides the flexibility to offer courses for free or set prices within a global price tier matrix. Participation in Udemy’s Deals Program can further influence course pricing and promotions.
For Lynda: LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda.com, offers subscription plans for individuals and organizations seeking access to a vast library of courses. Here’s a breakdown of the available plans:
Individual Plans:
- Monthly Subscription: $39.99 per month
- Access to all courses
- Personalized course recommendations
- Certificates upon course completion
- Annual Subscription: $24.99 per month (billed annually at $299.88)
- All features of the monthly plan
- Cost-effective for long-term learning
Team Plans:
- For Teams: Pricing available upon request
- Access for small teams
- Admin tools to manage users
- Progress tracking and reporting
- For Enterprises: Customized pricing
- Scalable solutions for large organizations
- Advanced analytics
- Integration with learning management systems
These plans provide flexibility for both individual learners and organizations to choose the option that best fits their educational needs and budget.
🏆 Winner: Udemy
👉 Why? One-time payments and lifetime access make it more budget-friendly in the long run.
4. Courses Provided & Their Quality
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Course Variety | 130,000+ courses across multiple fields | 12,000+ courses focusing on professional skills |
| Instructor Quality | Varies; anyone can create a course | All courses are created by industry experts |
| Course Updates | LinkedIn Learning regularly updates courses | Industry experts create all courses |
| Hands-on Exercises | Varies by instructor; some offer downloadable materials | Includes quizzes, exercises, and project-based learning |
| Best For | Learning any skill, including hobbies & creative fields | Career-driven skills, business, technology, and design |
Udemy: Course Access
On Udemy, you will have access to your course’s lifetime. You can watch them repeatedly, anytime, any day. Once you enroll in your courses, make a payment, and then you can enjoy learning and make the most out of it.
Sometimes, it happens that you forget what you learned, but here, you can recall all those notes and watch them again.
Lynda: Course Access
Whereas on Lynda, you will get access to the courses only monthly or yearly. If you pay a monthly subscription, then you have access for a month, and if you choose a yearly plan, then you can enjoy learning for your courses for the whole year.
🏆 Winner: Lynda (LinkedIn Learning)
👉 Why? More professional, structured, and high-quality courses with expert-led instruction.
5. Subjects Taught on Udemy vs Lynda
Udmey:
Udemy, on the other hand, offers a much broader range of courses with over 100,000 courses, nearly ten times the number available on Lynda.
While Udemy covers most of the same subjects as Lynda—such as business skills, IT, design, and photography—it also offers niche subjects that Lynda doesn’t, making it a better choice if you’re looking for specialized topics.
Some courses on Udemy are of very high quality, but others may not be up to par because the quality varies greatly across instructors.
Because of its adaptability, Udemy is able to provide a wide variety of courses, including some with more innovative and original approaches than Lynda.
Lynda
Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) offers a wide range of courses, mainly focused on business, IT, photography, design, video production, and network administration.
Their courses are typically geared towards skills that are applicable in a business context, with a strong emphasis on practical applications in career development.
For instance, there are thousands of courses on programming and business management available on Lynda. Any course you choose will guarantee a top-notch learning experience because Lynda’s videos are consistently of excellent quality.
Comparatively speaking to other platforms, it tends to place less emphasis on creative topics.
🏆 Winner: Udemy
6. Certifications Provided
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Available? | Yes, after course completion | Yes, after course completion |
| Accredited Certificates? | No, just a completion certificate | No, but recognized by LinkedIn |
| Employer Recognition | Limited recognition | More credible due to LinkedIn integration |
| Add to Resume/LinkedIn? | Yes, but not widely accepted | Yes, it directly integrates with the LinkedIn profile |
🏆 Winner: Udemy
👉 Why? Certificates are more widely recognized and can be added directly to LinkedIn profiles.
7. Instructor Assessment
Udemy
Since there is no official screening procedure for teachers on Udemy, anyone can make and post a course on the website.
Because there is a lack of screening, the quality of the courses varies greatly; some teachers may offer low-quality or poorly designed courses, while others may offer high-quality content.
It can be difficult for students to decide which courses are worth their time and money without depending on user evaluations and ratings, even if Udemy offers an astounding number of courses.
Lynda:
The selection process for instructors at Lynda, on the other hand, is far more extremely careful.
Lynda carefully considers the instructors’ educational background, professional experience, and industry accomplishments, ensuring that the instructors are qualified experts with the necessary credentials and experience in their fields.
As a result, Lynda’s courses tend to be of a higher quality, and the selection process may also result in networking opportunities for students who wish to connect with top industry professionals.
🏆 Winner: Lynda (LinkedIn Learning)
8. User Interface & Accessibility
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Simple and intuitive | Professional, clean, and LinkedIn-integrated |
| Mobile App | Available (iOS & Android) | Available (iOS & Android) |
| Offline Learning | Yes, downloadable content | Yes, downloadable content |
| Learning Paths | No structured paths | Yes, organized learning paths for in-depth learning |
| Ease of Navigation | Easy but can be cluttered due to course variety | More streamlined and structured |
Udemy: Suitability
Udemy has a wide variety of courses, but all courses are suitable only for beginners. Students who are seeking basic knowledge in any of the topics can choose Udemy over Lynda.
Lynda: Suitability
Lynda has a limited no. of courses, but all provide detailed learning, and it is suitable for beginners as well as for experts. All instructors are professionals in their respective fields and provide live examples to understand all aspects of basic and advanced concepts.
🏆 Winner: Lynda (LinkedIn Learning)
👉 Why? More structured, seamless integration with LinkedIn and better learning path organization.
9. Learning Experience
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Self-paced, learn at your own time | Structured learning paths but still flexible |
| Support from Instructors | It depends on the instructor | LinkedIn Learning provides structured support |
| Hands-on Learning | Some courses include real-world projects | More interactive exercises and quizzes |
| Best For | Casual learners, hobbyists, professionals | Professionals, career-driven learners |
🏆 Winner: Tie 🤝
👉 Why? Udemy is better for casual learners, while LinkedIn Learning offers a more structured learning experience.
10. Experts on Each Platform
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Instructor Quality | Varies – anyone can publish a course | Only industry experts create courses |
| Course Standardization | There is no standardization, it depends on the instructor | High-quality, professionally created content |
| Best For | Finding diverse instructors & teaching styles | Learning directly from industry professionals |
🏆 Winner: Lynda (Linkedin Learning)
👉 Why? More reliable, expert-led courses ensure better-quality content
11. Instructors – Who Teaches on Udemy & Lynda?
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Who Can Teach? | Anyone can create and sell a course | Only industry experts and professionals |
| Instructor Quality | Varies widely (some are experts, others are beginners) | High-quality courses created by vetted experts |
| Course Consistency | Inconsistent – depends on the instructor | Standardized and professionally produced courses |
| Direct Interaction | Some instructors engage via Q&A sections, but not all | No direct interaction, but high-quality support is available |
| Best For | Those looking for a variety of teaching styles | Those looking for expert-led, structured learning |
Instructors at Udemy
On Udemy, anyone can become an instructor. Teachers have to clear some levels of being selected so they can easily upload their courses on Udemy. No professional experience is required to become an Instructor on Udemy.
Instructors at Lynda
On the other hand, on Lynda, all instructors are professionally experienced. Every teacher has to clear the selection process to become an instructor on Lynda.
Without clearing levels, you cannot upload your courses and teach students. On Lynda, all instructors have mastered their respective fields.
🏆 Winner: Udemy
👉 Why? Courses are created by industry professionals, ensuring better quality and standardization.
12. Languages on Udemy vs Lynda
Language Support is a crucial factor for many learners, especially for those who are not fluent in English. If you’re looking for a platform that supports multiple languages, you’ll find some key differences between Udemy and Lynda (LinkedIn Learning).
Udemy excels in this area, offering subtitles in 65 languages. This makes it highly accessible to a global audience, providing learners who speak languages other than English the chance to engage with the course content fully.
If you’re learning in Spanish, French, German, or many other languages, Udemy accommodates a diverse range of learners.
On the other hand, Lynda provides subtitles in only 5 languages. While this is certainly an improvement over platforms that only offer content in English, it’s still quite limited compared to Udemy’s expansive language options.
In conclusion, when it comes to language support, Udemy clearly takes the lead, offering a more inclusive experience for non-English speakers.
🏆 Winner: Udemy
13. Mobile Application – Learning on the Go
| Feature | Udemy | Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile App Available? | Yes (iOS & Android) | Yes (iOS & Android) |
| Offline Learning | Yes, courses can be downloaded | Yes, courses can be downloaded |
| User Experience | Easy to navigate but can feel cluttered due to the huge number of courses | Clean, professional UI with structured learning paths |
| App Performance | Works well but can have occasional bugs | Smooth performance, integrated with LinkedIn for seamless tracking |
| Best For | Casual learners who want flexible mobile access | Professionals who want a structured mobile learning experience |
Udemy: Mobile Application
All courses on Udemy are mobile-optimized. You can watch all videos, lectures, and PDFs on your mobile Phone. No laptop is required to learn on Udemy.
Lynda: Mobile Application
All courses are also available on Lynda’s mobile phones. You can download all lectures, videos, documents, and notes on your mobile phone and easily start learning without using a laptop.
🏆 Winner: Udemy
👉 Why? More structured, professional interface and better integration with Udemy for career tracking.
Udemy vs Lynda: Pros & Cons
Udemy
Pros
- All course pricing is very reasonable.
- You can download any video, audio, and text lecture for future reference.
- Lifetime access to all the courses you have enrolled in.
- Provides courses in 65 different languages.
- Various payment options are available.
- The duration of course videos is not longer than 30 minutes.
- Self-paced learning.
- Certified courses.
- Available on Mobile apps.
- Wide variety of free and paid courses.
- Clear pricing details for all the courses.
- Quizzes and assignments are available for every course to check students’ abilities.
Cons
- Some courses are of low quality.
- A live chat option is not available.
- The lack of resources for the customers makes their users struggle to begin.
- It has no user-friendly interface. Students have to create a category for selecting courses they want to learn.
- It will increase your costs if you add on more courses. For every course, you have to pay individually.
- No discounts are available.
- It is only suitable for beginners and is not the best platform for in-depth knowledge.
Lynda
Pros
- There is no need to pay for every individual course. You can learn up to 13000 courses in a month and only have to pay once a month.
- Monthly and Yearly access to the courses.
- It has an excellent customer support team.
- It provides support via chat and email.
- All instructors are professionally experienced.
- Provides detailed learning and in-depth knowledge on various topics by providing live examples.
- A 30-day free trial is also available.
- It is very easy to register and use Lynda. It is easy to use and navigate.
- The perfect platform for beginners and advanced levels as well
Cons
- Limited courses are available.
- It can be a little expensive for those who wish to take only one or two courses.
- Their lack of features will not give uniqueness to their users.
- Recurring monthly fee.
- Sometimes, users face a lot of hang-up issues.
- Some courses provide tests and quizzes, but others do not provide them.
Udemy Customer Reviews
FAQs On Udemy vs Lynda
✅ Is Udemy worth paying?
Yes, Udemy is worth paying. It offers incredible benefits to its students, like customer support via email, self-paced learning, free courses available, and all video and audio lectures for future learning. It is considered an extremely popular E-learning platform for all kinds of courses.
⚡ How good is the customer service of Lynda?
Lynda’s help desk is open 24/7. Every business needs to frequently interact with customers and solve their queries timely, nurturing their customer-seller relationship. Live chat and Email chat support options are available.
💼 Does Lynda Offer Free Trial?
Yes, Lynda offers a free trial for Thirty days, and you can watch unlimited courses in those thirty days. The link is not showing.
👉 Which Is Better Alternative To Udemy & Lynda?
Skillshare is yet another amazing alternative to Udemy & Lynda. It has amazing content quality, and the subscription is even lower than Lynda’s.
✔ Is Udemy better than Lynda?
Udemy is an amazing online marketplace that offers courses on specific topics. In contrast, Lynda offers courses on various topics for subscription fees.
🎉 Are Lynda certificates worth anything?
An eLearning platform like LinkedIn Learning is worth anything only if it can get you jobs. In that sense, LinkedIn Learning is definitely worth the money, and its certificates hold a lot of value.
Quick Links:
Conclusion: Udemy vs Lynda 2025
Both of these platforms were exceptional and great. Both online learning platforms provide a lot of flexibility in learning and developing new skills for all students.
I believe both of them have performed well in this battle, as both of them are effective e-learning platforms.
You can choose any one of them. If you are looking to learn one or two courses, then I must say go for Udemy. But if you want to develop a bunch of skills and want detailed learning, then go for Lynda.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | LinkedIn Learning 🎉 |
| Customer Support | Udemy 🎉 |
| Pricing Plans | Udemy 🎉 |
| Course Quality | Udemy 🎉 |
| Certifications | Udemy🎉 |
| Subjects | Udemy🎉 |
| User Interface & Accessibility | LinkedIn Learning 🎉 |
| Learning Experience | Tie 🤝 |
| Experts & Course Standards | LinkedIn Learning 🎉 |
| Instructors | Udemy🎉 |
| Languages | Udemy🎉 |
| Mobile Application | Udemy🎉 |
🏆 Overall Winner: Udemy
👉 Why? Higher course quality, better support, professional certifications, and structured learning paths make LinkedIn Learning the better option for career-focused learners.
The choice of investing is completely personal, and you have all the information on both e-learning platforms.
I hope this article gives you a detailed peek into what these platforms are and how they are beneficial to you.
