Great Learning vs Simplilearn: which one should you choose?
Quick answer: Choose Great Learning if you want a low-cost subscription (Academy Pro+ at $19/month), a large free course library, or an online master's or doctoral degree. Choose Simplilearn if you want live, instructor-led cohorts or prep for certification exams such as PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL and Certified ScrumMaster.
Great Learning vs Simplilearn at a glance
| Great Learning | Simplilearn | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free courses; Academy Pro+ $19/month | See official site; fees vary by program |
| Free courses | 1000+ free introductory courses | 500+ free SkillUp courses |
| Trial | 7-day trial of Academy Pro+ | Not listed |
| Format | Online courses and university programs, with weekend formats | Live online cohorts and self-paced courses |
| Certification prep | Microsoft exams such as AZ-104 and PL-300 | PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL, Certified ScrumMaster |
| Degrees | Online master's and doctoral options | University-partner programs |
| Best for | Working professionals changing or growing careers | Career changers and IT/business professionals |
From each official site, checked November 14, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you buy.
Key differences
- Great Learning publishes one subscription price, $19 per month for Academy Pro+ with 500+ courses, while Simplilearn does not show a fixed price list.
- Great Learning lists 1000+ free introductory courses and Simplilearn lists 500+ free SkillUp courses.
- Simplilearn is built around live, instructor-led cohorts with fixed start dates, which give structure but may not suit every time zone.
- Great Learning goes up to online master's and doctoral degrees with partner universities.
- For both, fees for longer university-partner programs are not shown upfront and vary by program.
In one line each
Great Learning
Online courses and university-partner programs in AI, data science, tech and management. Starting price: Free courses; Academy Pro+ $19/month. Free plan / trial: 1000+ free courses; 7-day trial of Academy Pro+. Best for: Working professionals changing or growing careers.
Read the full Great Learning summary →Simplilearn
Online certification training and university-partner programs in tech, data, cloud and management. Starting price: See official site. Free plan / trial: 500+ free SkillUp courses. Best for: Career changers and IT/business professionals.
Read the full Simplilearn summary →Frequently asked questions
Is Great Learning cheaper than Simplilearn?
Great Learning has the only published price of the two: Academy Pro+ at $19 per month. Simplilearn's fees vary by course, country and start date, so you need to check each course page.
Do Great Learning and Simplilearn have free courses?
Yes, both do. Great Learning has 1000+ free introductory courses with certificates. Simplilearn has 500+ free SkillUp courses with completion certificates.
Which is better for PMP or ITIL certification, Great Learning or Simplilearn?
Simplilearn lists exam-prep training for PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL and Certified ScrumMaster. Great Learning's listed exam prep covers Microsoft certifications such as AZ-104 and PL-300.
Does Great Learning or Simplilearn offer live classes?
Simplilearn does, with live instructor-led online cohorts on fixed start dates. Great Learning offers flexible online and weekend formats, and leadership programs in a blended format.
See all online learning compared →
We summarise each product from its official website, pricing page and documentation. We don't run hands-on tests or give star ratings. Some links on this site may be affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure.