Ah—so you finally have some downtime on the calendar. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with listening to a good podcast, reading a book, or trying out some guided meditation. But the next time you flip on Netflix to zone out and binge the latest reality show, pause for a second. What if you used that time to grow your mind and work toward your goals instead?
It’s okay to be content—but that doesn’t mean we stop growing. Whether you’re chasing a degree, picking up a new language or instrument, or just brushing up on a hobby you’ve let sit on the shelf, now’s the time to invest in yourself.
So, here are 20 online courses you can take right from the comfort of your couch.
Go Back to School
You don’t need a backpack full of books or a college ID to learn something new with these online courses:
1. Coursera offers online courses from top universities and companies in everything from business and finance to art and social science. You can preview most courses for free, but to complete a course or earn a certificate or degree, you’ll need to pay. Their premium plan runs $59 a month—but choosing the annual plan will save you a good bit.
2. Started by MIT and Harvard, edX is another great way to learn from universities and businesses around the world. If you’re aiming for a certification, that typically costs $90–300 per course. But you can also audit many of their classes for free
3. Pluralsight is perfect for all you tech nerds out there. Whether you’re brushing up on JavaScript or diving into web development, you’ll get hands-on practice through their interactive labs. Plans range from $30–55 per month, and they offer a 10-day free trial to get you started.
Learn a New Language
You’ll gain an international pen pal in no time with one of these online language classes:
4. One of the top language-learning companies, Rosetta Stone, offers a 12-month plan for $131. And they have a free 4-day trial so you can test it out first. ¡Fantástico!
5. Duolingo is also a great language-learning app that tracks your progress with daily quests and fun characters. The best part? They offer a free version! But if you want to ditch the ads, you’ll have to spring for the Super plan at $14.99 a month or $95.99 per year.
Turn Up the Music
Pull out that guitar from the back of your closet and dust off the piano. It’s time to channel your inner rock star with these online music courses:
6. Fender isn’t just for buying guitars—it’s also a solid place to learn how to play one. They offer step-by-step lessons for guitar, bass and ukulele for $19.99 per month or $150 for an annual plan. Rock on!
7. Yousician makes learning a new instrument fun with personalized lessons and interactive mini games. Their Premium+ plan unlocks over 10,000 lessons and songs for $19.99 a month or $139.99 a year.
Get Fit
Stay strong, healthy and motivated with these online fitness resources:
8. Not into the “we ride at dawn” Peloton vibe? No problem. You don’t need a pricey bike to use their app. Peloton offers a free 30-day trial for new members, with access to tons of at-home workouts—starting at $12.99 a month.
9. Need to take a deep breath and re-center? CorePower Yoga has new on-demand classes you can do at home for $19.99 a month—and they’ll give you a seven-day free trial to try it out. Not ready to commit? You can pay per class instead.
10. You can also find tons of great workout routines for free on YouTube, like MadFit and Yoga with Adriene.
Create Something
Now’s the perfect time to tap into your creative side with these virtual courses:
11. Whether you want to learn how to draw, improve your photography skills, or make a documentary, Skillshare is a great way to fine-tune your craft. For $168 per year, you get access to over 30,000 courses and an active community of fellow creatives to keep you inspired.
12. If you want to become a master chef or just get creative with what you’ve got in your pantry, Rouxbe offers online cooking classes and hundreds of tasty recipes. Plans start at $30 for the first month and drop to $10 a month after that—or you can save with the $99 annual option.
13. Creativebug offers DIY crafting video lessons (like sewing, calligraphy and Cricut crafts) for all skill levels—including kids. You can start with over 40 free classes, and right now, they’re offering a 30-day free trial that gives you unlimited access. After that, it’s just $7.95 a month.
14. Itching to paint a wall or redesign your kitchen? The Home Depot and Lowe’s have thousands of free digital DIY home improvement workshops to help you become the handyman or handywoman you’ve always wanted to be.
Invest in Your Career
Take your career to the next level with these online resources:
15. If you’re between jobs or just want to grow your professional development skills, check out LinkedIn Learning. They have tons of classes on tools like Excel and artificial intelligence—plus interviews with industry leaders (including a few billionaires). If you’ve got LinkedIn Premium, you already have access. If not, they’re offering a free month right now, then it’s $39.99 a month after that.
16. YouTube Learning also offers tons of helpful video lessons on just about any topic you can imagine. It’ll build a custom learning path for you and even include AI-generated quizzes to test what you’ve learned—and it’s all free!
17. It’s time to watch all those TED Talks you’ve saved. Learn more about your career field, gain inspiration, and find out what it takes to overcome your fear of public speaking. You can watch over 3,000 TED Talks on everything from social justice and communication to health and the latest technology. And it’s always free!
18. Looking for personal and professional advice? Look no further than Ramsey Personality Ken Coleman. We know it’s not technically a course, but Front Row Seat is practically a master class in itself. He’ll help you grow in your career, shift your perspective, and stay thankful for the opportunities you have while chasing the ones ahead. Listen to Ken’s podcast and check out his free resources to help you navigate whatever job situation you’re in.
Get Your Money on Track
These online tools are designed to help you budget better, pay off debt and build a solid financial future:
19. We can’t talk about online classes without mentioning one of our personal favorites—Financial Peace University. In video lessons you can watch from home, you’ll learn how to pay off debt, save for emergencies, and invest for your future. For just $99, you’ll get a full year of access to the video lessons, a self-study workbook, and three months of premium access to the EveryDollar budgeting app.
20. Speaking of EveryDollar—it’s the last tool on our list (and maybe the best). While it’s a budgeting app at its core, you’ll also find helpful videos and resources that help you find margin and start making real progress with your money. The lessons are short, fun and super practical, so learning about money won’t feel like a chore. Premium subscriptions are $17.99 per month or $79.99 per year—but there’s also a free version to help you get started.
The Bottom Line
These online courses aren’t just a way to kill time—they’re a way to invest in yourself. Whether you want to learn a new skill, grow your career, or just try something different, we’re sure you can find a class that fits. And no matter your season of life, you can keep learning and moving forward.
So, instead of wasting another evening on autopilot, pick one of these courses, work it into your budget, and take a step toward the future you want.
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