Saylor Academy offers free college courses that learners can take at their own pace to build skills or work toward a degree.
Free
24 alternativesOLI offers open and low-cost self-paced online courses for independent learners.
About OLI
OLI's independent learner catalog lists 62 self-paced online courses for people learning without a teacher or classroom. Subjects include arts and humanities, business, computer science, data science, languages, mathematics, sciences, social sciences, student success, and technology and design. Many courses are free or low-cost and open to the public; catalog examples show prices of $10 and $25.
The catalog is for independent learners only and is not intended for classroom use or formal assignments. According to the site, paid independent OLI courses are self-paced and have no instructor, no tests, no certificate, and no credits.
Key features
- Catalog lists 62 self-paced courses for independent learners
- Covers arts, business, computer science, languages, math, sciences, and more
- Self-guided courses do not require a teacher or classroom
- Many courses are free or low-cost and open to the public
- Paid independent courses: no instructor, tests, certificate, or credits
- Separate login for teacher-assigned courses accessed with a course key
Best for: Independent learners seeking self-paced, self-guided online courses outside a classroom or formal assignment setting.
Good for
- Self-paced and self-guided, with no teacher or classroom required.
- Many courses are free or low-cost and open to the public.
- Catalog lists 62 courses across multiple subject categories.
Watch out for
- Not intended for classroom use or formal assignments.
- Intended only for independent learners, not educators seeking teaching resources.
- Paid independent courses provide no instructor, tests, certificate, or credits.
OLI at a glance
- Category
- Education & Learning › Online Courses
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
OLI alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
Class Central aggregates online courses from different providers so learners can find options across subjects.
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History offers self-guided virtual tours of selected exhibits and museum areas.
The Borr Project provides free resources to help learners study college curricula.
Crash Course publishes educational videos on YouTube for individual learners, students, teachers and families.
openHPI offers free interactive online courses in computer science, IT and digital innovation.
Free
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OLI FAQ
How much do the independent learner courses cost?
The site says many are free or low-cost; catalog examples show prices of $10 and $25.
Do paid independent OLI courses include certificates or credits?
No. The site states paid independent OLI courses have no instructor, no tests, no certificate, and no credits.
I have a course key from my teacher. Can I use this catalog?
No. The page directs course-key users to a separate login for their assigned course.
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