Alison Review 2026

Reviewed by Sophie Hartley  ·  Last updated 10 August 2026

Pricing checked August 2026 · Web & mobile · Official site: alison.com

Official site: alison.com

★★★½ 4.2 / 5
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Pros

  • Genuinely free courses with CPD-recognised certificates
  • Wide catalogue across health, business, IT, and language
  • Premium removes ads for just AUD $12/month

Cons

  • Free tier is ad-heavy and disruptive
  • Content quality inconsistent - older courses feel dated
  • Certificates not formally accredited by universities

Platform Overview

Alison is one of the internet's oldest free learning platforms, founded in 2007. It offers over 5,000 free courses with CPD-recognised certificates - a genuine asset for Australian learners on a tight budget who need to demonstrate continuing professional development. While content depth does not rival Coursera or edX, for foundational skills in Microsoft Office, workplace safety, or digital literacy, Alison is a strong zero-cost option.

Value (Free tier)9.6 / 10
Content Quality7.2 / 10
Certificate Credibility6.8 / 10
Platform UX7.0 / 10
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Reviewed using the free tier and a personally purchased Premium subscription. No complimentary access was received from Alison.

Alternatives

Coursera logo
Coursera
★★★★★ 4.9

Accredited certificates from universities - free audit mode available.

Open Coursera

Reviewed by Sophie Hartley  ·  Last checked 10 August 2026