With the rise of online businesses and adapting technologies, UX Design is more in demand than ever. So, it’s no surprise that there’s an ever-growing field of online courses dedicated to UX Design alone.
But, with so many courses out there, it can be hard to know which one is best suited to your skills and goals. From beginner courses to specific app tutorials, there’s something for everyone regardless of background, qualifications, or prior experience.
Because of this, I’ve taken the time to search for the best courses for each user – whether beginner, intermediate, or pro. And, I’ve also taken into account different web apps and certifications so you can be sure you’re getting the right content for your needs.
That being said, let’s get started.
What is the best online UX Design course?
Firstly, to break it down, here are my top picks:
- Google UX Design Professional Certificate (Coursera)
- Complete Web & Mobile Designer: UI/UX, Figma + More (Udemy)
- HECMontrealX: UX Design (edX)
- User Experience Design Essentials – Adobe XD UI UX Design (Skillshare)
- Introduction to User Experience Design (Coursera)
- UX Foundations: Interaction Design (LinkedIn Learning)
- Introduction to UX Design (FutureLearn)
- UX Academy Foundations (Designlab)
- UI/UX Design Using Adobe XD (Alison)
- Introduction to UX Design (UX Design Institute)
Of these, my top choice is Coursera’s ‘Google UX Design Professional Certificate’. Led by top Google instructors, this course takes you from beginner to job ready in under six months. You’ll learn how to understand and apply UX concepts, and you’ll leave the course with a portfolio to showcase to future employers.
But, that being said, there are plenty of other options to suit your lifestyle and goals. For example, Udemy’s ‘Complete Web & Mobile Designer’ course is a fraction of the price compared to Coursera’s Google-certified course. And, it still gives you 27.5 learning hours (not to mention 60+ articles).
In terms of free options, edX’s ‘HECMontrealX: UX Design’ course offers a free (but limited) track option. Notably, the free route doesn’t include a certification and your access will be restricted after six weeks. But, if it’s not a certification you’re after, this can be a viable option for updating your knowledge.
Overall, the best UX Design course will be the one that’s best suited to your needs, skill levels, and goals. So, it’s worth checking out the mini review below to see what you can expect from each course.
Without further ado, let’s get into it:
1. Google UX Design Professional Certificate (Coursera)
Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Google Career Certificates | Course length: 6 months (at 10 hours per week)
Since 2015, Google Career Certificates has offered digital training to over one million people. The best in the business, GCC aims to equip current and future workers with the skills needed to excel in their careers. Its UX Design Professional Certificate promises to take you from beginner to job ready in less than six months.
You’ll learn to:
- Create and test design prototypes
- Apply basic UX concepts, such as equity-focused design
- Conduct UX research
- Create a professional and diverse portfolio
- Generate solutions to user problems
Pros:
- Six months of valuable UX training
- Earn a professional certificate
- ACE recommendation (eligible for college credit)
- Additional career resources
Cons:
- Costlier than some other courses on this list
- One of the lengthier courses – though with dedication you can complete it more quickly and save money on the monthly cost
Who it’s for: As marketed, this UX Design course is suited to complete beginners with no degree or prior experience required. As a result, the course equips you with the skills needed to land a job in related fields, and even helps you to build your portfolio.
Overall: With six months’ flexible learning at 10 hours per week, Coursera’s Google-led UX Design course is my #1 choice. Through the program, you gain an inside look into the whole design process, from user research to platform experience and beyond.
2. Complete Web & Mobile Designer: UI/UX, Figma + More (Udemy)
Platform: Udemy | Teacher: Andrei Neagoie & Daniel Schifano | Course length: 27.5 hours
A top programming instructor, Andrei Naegoie leads this course, along with Design Leader, Daniel Schifano. Schifano has expertise in Figma, along with a range of design methodologies and product strategy. With lifetime access and generous resources, this course can help you get hired as a web and/or mobile designer.
You’ll learn to:
- Design mindful web and mobile projects
- Broaden and refine your portfolio
- Master Figma and other design tools
- Adapt to the best industry practices
- Use HTML5 and CSS3 to bring designs to life
Pros:
- 25+ hours’ video content
- 70+ articles and extra resources
- Certificate of completion
- Full lifetime access
Cons:
- More focused on mobile design
- Less hands-on learning required
Who it’s for: This course is designed for anyone looking to launch their career in UX Design, either with a top company or as a freelancer. That being said, there seems to be more focus on mobile rather than web design, which also comes to light in the course’s mobile-based (and only) project.
Overall: A comprehensive course that touches in multiple aspects of UX/UI Design, including branding, development, coding, and sketching. You’ll also gain foundational learning in Figma and user flows.
3. HECMontrealX: UX Design (edX)
Platform: edX | Teacher: Annemarie Lesage | Course length: 6 weeks (6-9 hours per week)
HECMontrealX’s UX Design course is led by full-time faculty lecturer, Annemarie Lesage. With a PhD in planning (Technology and Innovation), Lesage also has several years’ experience as a UX Designer and researcher. In this course, she teaches you how to support innovation through user-focused design.
You’ll learn to:
- Apply creative methods to solving UX problems
- Anchor new concepts within a business
- Map out a long term plan for user experience
- Integrate UX research into the design process
- Understand and apply design theory and practice
Pros:
- 6 weeks’ (average) self-paced learning
- Free course track with upgrade available
- Learn from a prestigious business institution
- Access to associated programs
Cons:
- Less detailed than the top courses on this list
- Not as much focus on UI
Who it’s for: This course is intended for beginner-to-intermediate learners who are keen to pursue UX Design within a collaborative business context. Lesage focuses on key ideation methods to enable you to design the best user experiences and long-term plans.
Overall: Lesage’s course values Design Thinking as a crucial methodology for guiding UX Design practices. With no previous knowledge needed, this course teaches you how to understand and apply divergent ideation methods to guarantee long-term results.
4. User Experience Design Essentials – Adobe XD UI UX Design (Skillshare)
Platform: Skillshare | Teacher: Daniel Scott | Course length: 85 lessons totalling 9 hours and 45 minutes
This 10-hour course is led by Adobe-certified trainer, Daniel Scott. With multiple assignments throughout, Scott teaches you how to build your portfolio and become job-ready in 85 lessons.
You’ll learn to:
- Get started with Adobe XD
- Create your own brief, wireframe, and artboard
- Unlock existing UI kits in Adobe XD
- Form prototypes and mockups
- Transition to mobile design
Pros:
- Learn from a qualified teacher and Adobe expert
- Over 700 projects that can go toward your portfolio
- Engaging and knowledgeable teacher
- Relevant content to real-world experiences
Cons:
- More focused on Adobe XD than UX
- Some of the teaching is outdated
Who it’s for: This course is mostly suited to anyone looking to use Adobe XD for their UX/UI Design. While it is a UX Design course, Scott mostly focuses on how to navigate and use Adobe XD as a program. That being said, if you’re planning to use Adobe XD in your day-to-day work, this is the course for you.
Overall: An engaging course led by a clear teacher, this is the kind of course that will keep you motivated through integrated projects and bitesize video content. Scott also encourages students to share their content, which is a great way to take an active role in learning and gain constructive feedback.
5. Introduction to User Experience Design (Coursera)
Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Dr. Rosa I. Arriaga | Course length: 6 hours
Dr. Rosa I. Arriaga, Senior Research Scientist at Georgia Institute of Technology, leads this beginner-level UX Design course. With a flexible learning schedule and shareable LinkedIn certificate, this course is ideal for anyone wanting to learn on their own time and to showcase their skills.
You’ll learn to:
- Understand the purpose of UX Design
- Grasp the ‘four-step’ user interface design cycle
- Use psychologically-backed techniques to conduct research
- Design and model user-centered interfaces
- Overcome usability constraints
Pros:
- Great attention to user design theory and practice
- Clear and usable teaching from start to finish
- Suitable for complete novices
- Free course track with upgrade available
- Well-structured course content
Cons:
- Can be too theoretical at times
- Does not cover as much depth as other courses
Best for: In my view, this course is best suited to entry-level learners with no prior experience. This is because a lot of the teaching covers design fundamentals and mainly sticks to the basics. As there’s less practice than with other courses, it’s best taken as a foundation-level theory course and as an introduction to the discipline.
Overall: Shorter than some of the courses higher on this list, Coursera’s ‘Introduction to User Experience Design’ is a strong place to start if you’ve heard of UX but don’t entirely understand its function. While it’s definitely not a one-stop shop, it’s a viable option to test the waters and see what UX Design is about.
6. UX Foundations: Interaction Design (LinkedIn Learning)
Platform: LinkedIn Learning | Teacher: David Hogue | Course length: 3 hours and 28 minutes
David Hogue is an applied psychologist and UX designer. In this course, he brings his background in psychology to bear on how we can better understand and design for users.
You’ll learn to:
- Create meaningful experiences between user and product
- Understand user interaction and behaviors
- Apply psychology to practical design elements
- Handle errors and overcome access issues
- Enhance usability and cater toward the widest range of users
Pros:
- Learn from an applied psychologist with real-world experience
- Suitable for beginners and advanced designers alike
- Clear and easy-to-understand teacher
- Includes a certificate of completion to display on your LinkedIn profile
Cons:
- Could benefit from more shared-screen examples
- More theory-heavy than practical
Who it’s for: This course is best suited to beginners who want to get down the basics of UX Design. Backed by user psychology, Hogue takes you through how and why UX Designers apply the methods they do, and how you can incorporate these into your own practice.
Overall: A theory-heavy course, this program lays a strong foundation for user psychology and how you can better understand your audience. While the course is less focused on practice, it does provide a strong framework for what users need and how they interact with design elements.
7. Introduction to UX Design (FutureLearn)
Platform: FutureLearn | Teacher: Various | Course length: 4 weeks
This FutureLearn course is an introduction to how UX Design shapes user experience and leads to increased sales. Through four weeks of training (at a recommended three hours per week), you’ll come to grips with the critical skills needed to become a UX Designer.
You’ll learn to:
- Add business value at all levels using UX Design
- Drive engagement through enhancing UX quality
- Understand and apply end-to-end UX Design processes
- Navigate business challenges and implement long-term plans
- Utilize common frameworks like empathy mapping
Pros:
- Digital certificate of completion
- Jargon-free and beginner-friendly
- Good foundational course with extra resources
- Practical and applicable knowledge
Cons:
- Could have benefitted from more video tutorials
- Might be too basic for some
Who it’s for: This FutureLearn course is geared towards novices with little to no understanding of UX Design. As such, you’ll learn the key definitions of what UX Design is and how it impacts businesses.
Overall: An accessible introduction to UX Design concepts and principles, by the end of the course, you’ll gain awareness of what UX Design is and how it can shape business-customer interactions. It will also guide you toward further study in more advanced topics.
8. UX Academy Foundations (Designlab)
Platform: Designlab | Teacher: Various | Course length: 4-8 weeks with 80 hours’ coursework
Designlab is a specialized platform dedicated to forwarding your UX/UI Design career. With courses ranging from beginner to advanced, there’s something for every skill level and niche you can think of. That being said, one of Designlab’s standouts is its ability to equip you with the top industry tools for launching your UX career.
You’ll learn to:
- Build your UX skills 1:1 with an experienced mentor
- Lay the groundwork for advanced learning through a major design project
- Put together a diverse and impressive portfolio
- Supercharge your career through a range of classes
- Prepare for your career through mentoring and networking
Pros:
- Learn from the best (and most up-to-date) industry experts
- Create the best portfolio that employers are looking for
- One-to-one coaching and personalized feedback
- Varied learning content from text, video, and practical assignments
Cons:
- Courses must be completed within a set timeframe
- Limited course options
Who it’s for: As a fully specialized site, Designlab has courses and short videos for UX Designers at any stage in their career, from beginners to advanced users. Because of this, it reaches a wide audience within UX/UI related fields and offers a place for professionals to connect.
Overall: Designlab is a valuable resource for anyone involved in (or keen to enter) the UX Design fields. That being said, I think it’s particularly valuable to newcomers due to its extensive career-based and practical resources. Plus, it’s significantly cheaper than a college degree that teaches the same material!
9. UI/UX Design Using Adobe XD (Alison)
Platform: Alison | Teacher: Pierluigi Giglio | Course length: 1.5-3 hours
Created by senior UI/UX Designer, Pierluigi Giglio, this free Alison course offers the chance to gain valuable experience in Adobe XD. Each lesson will impart valuable knowledge that will help you kickstart your UX Design career.
You’ll learn to:
- Get to grips with Adobe XD procedures
- Identify shortcuts for grouping/ungrouping layers
- Understand the roles different components play in design
- Create illustrations, icons, and typography
- Design prototypes, websites, and iOS applications
Pros:
- Learn from an experienced UI/UX Designer
- Final assessment and CPD accreditation
- Practical guidance for completing UX Design tasks
- Further learning and skill-building suggestions
Cons:
- Less attention to UX Design theory
- Specific to Adobe XD
Who it’s for: This course is designed for budding UI/UX Designers who are keen to get to grips with the practical elements of Adobe XD. A practical course focused on building your skills and getting you confident with the software, this course will bring you up to speed with how to get the most out of Adobe XD.
Overall: In this course, Giglio prioritizes tactical learning to get you job-ready by the program’s end. With a final assessment and CPD accreditation, you’ll also receive a certificate you can display on your job profiles, as well as the hands-on knowledge to exceed in your career.
10. Introduction to UX Design (UX Design Institute)
Platform: UX Design Institute | Teacher: Various | Course length: 7 lessons totalling 40 minutes
A short but informative free course, UX Design Institute’s ‘Introduction to UX Design’ is a risk-free starting place for your career journey. Whether you’re looking to work for a business or set yourself up as a freelancer, this course is a good place to start.
You’ll learn to:
- Comprehend what UX is and why it matters
- Create desirable UX products
- Understand the business benefits of UX
- Kickstart your career with your knowledge of key processes
Pros:
- 100% free course
- Under one hour of learning
- Bitesize lesson plans
- Engaging video-based content
Cons:
- Non-accredited course
- Shorter than other courses on this list
Who it’s for: As I see it, this course is perfect for someone who’s unsure about whether or not UX Design is for them and is wanting a commitment-free way to test the waters. At under an hour in length and free of charge, this course saves you time and money while still imparting valuable information about what a UX career might look like.
Overall: While it’s not a one-stop shop, this course is a suitable ‘trial’ course for anyone keen to see whether UX Design is for them. You’ll learn the basics of what UX Design is and how it can benefit businesses, and will leave the course with a clearer idea of where UX Design could take you.
What are the advantages of taking an online UX Design course?
To put it simply, there are many! Such as:
- Getting ahead in a UI/UX Design career – including working for top companies and having an advantage in the job market. These courses aim to teach you the most current information to help you stand out from the crowd
- Learning skills that can enable you to take your career into your own hands – such as becoming a freelance UX Designer and working on your own terms
- Being able to master a range of programs and keep abreast of emerging technology
- Saving time and money by opting for affordable online learning and becoming accredited in a relevant field
- Synthesizing complex information and even train your future teams
Buyer’s guide: what to look out for in an online UX Design course
With the surge of online courses, there are now a wealth of UX Design classes to choose from. But, to choose the best one for you, I recommend taking the following points into account:
- Teacher experience – if you’re spending time and money on a UX Design course, you want to be sure you’re learning from someone who knows what they’re talking about! So, I’d recommend looking into teachers’ experience, specializations, and currency, before committing to a program
- Develops skills – regardless of what level you’re starting from, the best UX Design courses will enable you to build upon your skills both during and after the course. In fact, the best ones will even signpost you to further learning so you can keep abreast of the latest changes
- Transferable knowledge – while some courses are specific to, say, Adobe XD or Figma, the best courses will still teach you skills that can be applied to a range of programs and scenarios. With a range of UX Design careers to choose from, the right course for you should show you just how broad your options are
- Syllabus and skill level – it’s also important that the course you choose is right for your skill level and needs. For example, if you’re an intermediate-to-advanced Adobe XD user, a beginner-level course probably isn’t the best investment
- Price – of course, price is going to be a deciding factor when it comes to choosing a course. That being said, it’s important to consider the value you’ll get out of a class. For instance, if a class is twice the cost but taught by an instructor with 10x the experience, this could generate more value in the long run
How much do online UX Design courses cost?
With the courses on this list varying in terms of length, content, and expertise, they also vary in cost from free of charge to $399+ for longer courses (some of these are also subscription-based).
For instance, Udemy’s stand-alone course, ‘Complete Web & Mobile Designer’, costs $75.59 for 27.5 learning hours. This works out at less than $3 per hour, which is considerably cheaper than in-person teaching. Plus, there are also additional resources beyond the course content.
As some of the options on this list show, there’s also ample to learn from free resources. For example, edX’s ‘UX Design’ course, led by HECMontrealX offers a free version (though no certificate/accreditation is available). Yet, you still gain access to university-level learning and edX’s website support.
While it’s often true that you get what you pay for, there are plenty of resources available for those who are on a budget, as some of the above courses attest to. But, as you’d expect, certified courses often come at an additional cost, and do tend to generate more value in the long run.
All in all, though, the best course for you will depend on a range of factors, including how much of a budget you have at your disposal.
How long do online UX Design courses take to complete?
The courses on this list vary in length from under an hour to several months! They also address different skill sets and levels, with varying end goals in mind. For example, some offer introductory knowledge, some build upon existing skills, and some work toward a final project or portfolio.
How do we rank our results?
Overall, I’ve ranked these courses according to which ones I believe to be the best. Of course, this is subjective, but here’s what I’ve considered:
- Instructor experience
- Teaches transferable skills
- Has a strong and varied syllabus
- Is well taught
- Student feedback
- Production quality
- Overall impressions
Where possible, I’ve taken these courses to best evaluate them. But, where this hasn’t been possible, I’ve researched the course to gain a fair view of its quality.
Conclusion
As you’ve probably realized, you’re not short of options when it comes to learning UX Design online. Whatever your end goal, there’s bound to be something that’s right for you.
That being said, my top choice is Coursera’s ‘Google UX Design Professional Certificate’. This is because it offers top instruction from the best in the business and is comprehensive enough to prepare you for a UX Design career.
Apart from this, Udemy’s ‘Complete Web & Mobile Designer’ course is a close contender, offering expert teaching at a fraction of the price. It also boasts generous additional resources and articles, so you can take your learning beyond the course hours.
As edX’s ‘HECMontrealX: UX Design’ and Alison’s ‘UI/UX Design Using Adobe XD’ courses show, there are also numerous free options that offer valuable learning that you can transfer to the workplace. Of course, these options do lack the accreditation and certification you get with the more expensive options.
So, all in all, there are plenty of options to suit your budget, skill level, and goals. I would recommend having an even closer look at each syllabus to help determine whether a course is right for your needs. But, hopefully, this review has helped give you a better idea of what course might be best for you!
Related reviews: Best online app development courses, Best Tableau courses, Best AutoCAD courses
Online UX Design courses: frequently asked questions
My top choice for the best UX Design course is Coursera’s ‘Google UX Design Professional Certificate’.
The options on this list vary in price from free of charge to $75+.
While the courses on this list vary from between one hour to several months, you should also account for practice time. I’d estimate at least a couple of months to get to grips with UX Design software.
Rebecca graduated from King's College university with a first class honours in English Language, followed by a Masters' Degree in Eighteenth Century Studies.