We Asked 10 Experts: What’s the Best Online Course You’ve Ever Taken?

Online learning has revolutionized how we gain new skills and knowledge. But with thousands of courses available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. So, we decided to go straight to the source: We asked 10 experts from various industries to share the best online course they’ve ever taken—and why it made such a big impact on their careers.

Whether you’re in tech, design, marketing, or entrepreneurship, this expert roundup will help you discover must-take online courses that are worth your time and money.

Why This Matters: Expert Opinions in a Crowded eLearning Market

The rise of online education platforms like Coursera, edX, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning means there’s no shortage of options. But how do you know which ones are truly worth it?

We interviewed professionals in web development, digital marketing, AI, finance, design, and entrepreneurship to bring you genuine insights from real learners. These aren’t sponsored picks—just authentic, field-tested recommendations.

Expert Picks: The Best Online Courses Ever Taken

1. John Carter — Full Stack Developer (San Francisco, CA)

• Course: The Web Developer Bootcamp by Colt Steele
• Platform: Udemy
• Duration: ~60 hours
• Why He Recommends It:

“This course gave me everything I needed to go from zero to junior developer. It’s hands-on, well-structured, and covers both frontend and backend development.”

Highlights:

• Real-world projects
• Covers HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, MongoDB
• Great for beginners

2. Priya Mehta — UX/UI Designer (Mumbai, India)

• Course: Google UX Design Certificate
• Platform: Coursera
• Duration: ~6 months (part-time)
• Why She Recommends It:

“The Google UX course helped me pivot from graphic design into UX. It’s incredibly beginner-friendly and gives you a portfolio by the end.”

Highlights:

• Hands-on projects
• User research, wireframing, prototyping
• Industry-recognized certificate

3. David Lin — Data Scientist (Toronto, Canada)

• Course: Machine Learning by Andrew Ng
• Platform: Coursera
• Duration: ~11 weeks
• Why He Recommends It:

“Andrew Ng explains ML concepts so clearly. This course gave me a solid foundation that I still use today.”

Highlights:

• Taught by a Stanford professor
• Covers supervised learning, neural networks, and SVMs
• Perfect for beginners in AI

4. Sarah Kim — Digital Marketing Strategist (New York, USA)

• Course: Digital Marketing Specialization
• Platform: Coursera (University of Illinois)
• Duration: ~7 months
• Why She Recommends It:

“This specialization covers everything—SEO, social media, analytics, and more. It’s great for marketers looking to get serious about their craft.”

Highlights:

• Comprehensive and academic
• Hands-on marketing simulations
• University credit eligible

5. Ahmed Fahim — Cloud Engineer (Dubai, UAE)

• Course: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate 2024
• Platform: Udemy
• Duration: ~27 hours
• Why He Recommends It:

“This course helped me pass the AWS exam on the first try. The labs are fantastic and well-explained.”

Highlights:

• Exam-focused content
• Real-world AWS scenarios
• Regularly updated

6. Rachel Owens — Entrepreneur & Business Coach (Austin, USA)

• Course: Start and Scale by Gretta van Riel
• Platform: Foundr
• Duration: ~8 weeks
• Why She Recommends It:

“This course is ideal for launching your e-commerce brand. It walks you through product validation to marketing.”

Highlights:

• Tailored for online business
• Success stories included
• Community access

7. Tomasz Zielinski — Blockchain Developer (Warsaw, Poland)

• Course: Blockchain Specialization
• Platform: Coursera (University at Buffalo)
• Duration: ~4 months
• Why He Recommends It:

“Very technical and perfect for developers who want to understand smart contracts and blockchain architecture.”

Highlights:

• Ethereum, Solidity, smart contracts
• Peer-graded assignments
• Taught by academic experts

8. Grace Lin — Financial Analyst (Singapore)

• Course: Financial Markets by Robert Shiller
• Platform: Coursera (Yale University)
• Duration: ~7 weeks
• Why She Recommends It:

“It changed how I think about investing. Robert Shiller is a Nobel Prize-winning economist—amazing content!”

Highlights:

• Behavioral finance and risk
• Global markets overview
• Academic and accessible

9. Omar Khalid — Mobile App Developer (Cairo, Egypt)

• Course: iOS & Swift — The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp
• Platform: Udemy
• Duration: ~60 hours
• Why He Recommends It:

“Angela Yu teaches in a way that’s fun and effective. I built and launched my first app after this course.”

Highlights:

• Swift, UIKit, Firebase
• Project-based learning
• Suitable for beginners

10. Elena Petrova — AI Researcher (Berlin, Germany)

• Course: Deep Learning Specialization by Andrew Ng
• Platform: Coursera
• Duration: ~5 months
• Why She Recommends It:

“This course deepened my understanding of neural networks. It’s intense, but worth every minute.”

Highlights:

• Sequence models, CNNs, RNNs
• Python & TensorFlow
• Advanced-level content

Key Takeaways from the Experts

Here are some major patterns we noticed from the experts’ recommendations:

• Coursera and Udemy are the most recommended platforms.
• Courses by instructors like Andrew Ng and Angela Yu consistently stand out.
• Specializations and bootcamps dominate as formats.
• Practical projects and hands-on labs are what experts value most.

Platforms Mentioned (And Where to Find These Courses)

Platform	Features	Link
Coursera	University-backed, certifications	coursera.org
Udemy	One-time purchase, lifetime access	udemy.com
Foundr	Entrepreneurship and eCommerce focus	foundr.com

Expert Advice for Course Seekers

Here’s what our experts say to look for when choosing an online course:

• Check reviews and ratings.
• Look at the instructor’s background.
• Make sure it includes real projects or case studies.
• Prioritize updated content.
• See if there’s a certificate, especially if you need one for your career.

FAQ: Best Online Courses (Answered)

Final Thoughts: Let the Experts Guide Your Learning Journey

Choosing the right online course can be career-changing—and these expert picks prove it. Whether you’re breaking into tech, upskilling in marketing, or diving deep into AI, there’s a course out there that’s made a real difference in someone’s life.

Now it’s your turn. Pick one and start learning. Your future self will thank you.

Author Profile

Jiya Gupta

At Level Up College, we're passionate about helping learners make informed decisions. Our team dives deep into online course platforms and individual courses to bring you honest, detailed reviews. Whether you're a beginner or a lifelong learner, our insights aim to guide you toward the best educational resources available online.

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