This report compares the top online platforms that help marketers upskill themselves or their teams. Availability is shown for both individuals and teams.
Target Internet
LinkedIn Learning
Coursera
Udemy
Grow with Google
HubSpot Academy
Digital Marketing Institute (DMI)
CXL
Simplilearn
FutureLearn
We wanted to give an honest view on our key competitors to help you see if our platform is right for you. We assessed each platform against Target Internet’s key benefits: cost, breadth and depth, content formats, exclusive resources, accreddited certifications, skills benchmarking with personalisation, CPD planning, and cadence of live masterclasses and updates. We also considered availability for individuals and teams, employer recognition, and the practicality of applying learning to live campaigns. We're obviously biased but the research, strengths and weaknesses in the report were collated using ChatGPT Deep Research Pro, and after validating, we have left unedited.
| Platform | For individuals | For teams | Pricing at a glance | Standout strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target Internet | Yes | Yes | From approx £30 per month, team pricing available | Exclusive full podcast library, CIM-accredited benchmarking with personalised plans, CPD tracking, live masterclasses and monthly updates with string community |
| LinkedIn Learning | Yes | Yes | Typical individual plan £40 per month, team plans available | Huge catalogue, career-oriented pathways, enterprise integration |
| Coursera | Yes | Yes | Coursera Plus typically about $59 per month or $399 per year | University-backed courses and Professional Certificates |
| Udemy | Yes | Yes | Personal plan often around £15 to £27 per month, Team plan commonly about $360 per user per year | Very wide choice, frequent discounts, fast topic coverage |
| Grow with Google | Yes | Limited | Many courses free, some certificates via partners | Official Google product training and certifications |
| HubSpot Academy | Yes | Yes | Free certificates, software-specific practice may require HubSpot subscription | Inbound and content specialisms with recognised badges |
| Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) | Yes | Yes | Professional Diploma pricing commonly four-figure, varies by region | Structured diplomas and exam-based certification |
| CXL | Yes | Yes | Often around $249 per month or $1,499 per year | Advanced, practitioner-led programmes in CRO, analytics and growth |
| Simplilearn | Yes | Yes | Large programmes commonly £700 to £2,000+, varies widely | Bootcamp style with projects and capstones |
| FutureLearn | Yes | Yes | Unlimited plan often ~£180 to £200 per year with offers | University-led short courses and microcredentials |
Pricing varies by country and plan, so always check the latest on each provider’s site. Team pricing is often bespoke. Where ranges are shown, they reflect typical public information at the time of writing.
Target Internet is a professional learning platform built specifically for marketers. It combines structured courses, benchmarking, certifications and community into one place.
Low cost with plans commonly starting around £30 per month. Breadth and depth across strategy, channels, analytics and AI. Range of formats including bite-size courses, templates, videos and articles. It is the only place online with the entire back library of The Digital Marketing Podcast, which you can browse and integrate into learning plans. It offers multiple accreddited certifications that are CPD accredited and CIM endorsed. Its skills benchmark is the most comprehensive globally in digital marketing and is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, generating personalised learning plans for each learner. You also get CPD planning and tracking in-platform, plus live half day masterclasses and one hour live update sessions every month.
Individuals can subscribe on monthly or annual plans with a 30 day free trial. Teams get portals, reporting, bespoke pathways and team benchmarking.
Benchmark-to-plan learning, accreditation, frequent live sessions, huge interactive course library and all podcast back catalogue in one environment.
Certificates are practical and assessment is embedded in learning rather than proctored exams, so if you want to learn at your own pace it's perfect, but if you need external high-stakes examinations for compliance you may also consider DMI.
Official site | Podcast library | Skills Benchmark | Certificates | Live sessions | Pricing example
Benchmark published with CIM | CIM article on global benchmark scale | Back catalogue access statement | CPD accredited, CIM endorsed certificates | Live update and masterclass schedule
Large library of short professional courses with pathways for marketing, analytics and creative skills.
Breadth and depth are strong for introductory and intermediate practice. Content formats are mainly video with quizzes. Certifications are provider badges rather than CIM or CPD. No built-in skills benchmarking or CPD planning comparable to Target Internet. No exclusive podcast archive. Live sessions are not a core feature.
Individual subscriptions are typically around £20 to £40 per month depending on billing cycle. Team and enterprise plans are available.
Map role skills to learning paths, save collections for campaign-specific upskilling, and align course completion to your appraisal or PDP.
Official plans page | Typical pricing guide
University-backed courses and Professional Certificates, including marketing strategy, analytics and Meta or Google programmes.
Strong academic depth and structured assessment. No CIM-accredited benchmarking or CPD planner built in. Certificates are institution or industry partner branded. Live elements vary by course and are not monthly marketing updates.
Coursera Plus is commonly about $59 per month or $399 per year, with business plans available for teams.
Pick a Professional Certificate aligned to your role, time-box weekly hours, and apply capstone projects to live campaigns.
Coursera Plus | Coursera for Business
Marketplace of courses across every marketing topic, from SEO and PPC to GA4 and AI tools.
Very broad topic coverage and mainly video format. Quality varies by instructor, so vet reviews and update dates. No CIM-accredited benchmarking or CPD planner. No exclusive podcast library. Live sessions are not standard.
Personal Plan often around £15 to £27 per month depending on offers. Team Plan commonly around $360 per user per year, Enterprise custom.
Filter by most recent update, set a shortlist of instructors you trust, and create a learning playlist per campaign objective.
Plans and pricing | Personal Plan | Udemy Business
Official pricing hub | Personal Plan UK example | Team plan guide
Free and low-cost training for Google products and core digital skills. Includes Skillshop certifications and the Digital Garage Fundamentals of Digital Marketing.
Excellent product credentials and search or ads relevance. No CIM-accredited benchmarking, no CPD planner, and limited live update cadence compared to Target Internet.
Most modules are free. Some certificates are delivered via partners and may require a paid subscription.
Complete the Fundamentals for breadth, then take Skillshop certifications aligned to your channel responsibilities.
Skillshop overview | Google Ads training help
Free training and certifications focusing on inbound marketing, content, email, CRM and automation.
Strong content and inbound specialism with recognised badges. No CIM-accredited benchmarking or CPD planner. Live cadence is event-based rather than monthly updates.
Courses and certificates are free. Some software exercises require access to HubSpot tools. Team learning is supported informally.
Build an inbound certification stack, then apply workflows and content templates directly inside your CRM.
HubSpot Academy | Digital Marketing Certification
Structured, examination-based diplomas that are widely recognised in industry.
Good depth and formal assessment. No built-in CIM-accredited skills benchmarking or CPD planner. Live elements vary by cohort.
Professional Diploma pricing is typically in the low four figures and varies by region and provider. Team solutions are available.
Plan 6 to 12 hours per week, sit practice exams, and implement each module on a live campaign to build a portfolio.
Official site | Professional Diploma
Advanced, practitioner-led training with strong specialisms in CRO, analytics, experimentation and growth.
Depth and instructor quality are excellent for specialists. No CIM-accredited benchmarking or CPD planner. Live components are workshop style rather than monthly updates.
Individual plans are often around $249 per month or $1,499 per year. Team plans available.
Pick a Minidegree, set weekly build-measure-learn cycles, and ship experiments as coursework.
Bootcamp-style programmes with live classes, projects and capstones across digital marketing roles.
Hands-on project focus is strong. No CIM-accredited benchmarking or CPD planner built in. Live learning depends on cohort schedule rather than monthly marketing updates.
Pricing varies widely by programme and country, commonly from hundreds to low thousands in GBP. Team options available.
Select a job-role pathway, complete capstones that match your roadmap, and add deliverables to your portfolio.
Digital marketing courses | Digital Marketing Specialist programme
Course hub | Programme overview
Short courses and microcredentials from universities and institutions, including marketing, analytics and communication topics.
Academic breadth is good. No CIM-accredited benchmarking or CPD planner. Live learning depends on course design rather than monthly marketing updates.
Unlimited subscription for most short courses typically sits around the high-£100s per year, with seasonal promotions. Team solutions are available.
Use Unlimited to sample several short courses, then stack a microcredential if you need academic credit.
Unlimited overview | Help pricing page
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