Educational websites are learning platforms that offer various resources for students, teachers, and lifelong learners. While exploring these sites, I found that they often include interactive classes, peer reviews, and discussion boards — all designed to elevate the learning journey, making it easier to connect with others and develop my skills.
If you're thinking about creating your own educational site or online learning platform, Zarla's AI educational website builder is a fantastic tool to help you get started.
Zarla checks that sites meet basic web standards for mobile and desktop. We also use Google's PageSpeed Insights, and WAVE, a service that evaluates accessibility for individuals with disabilities. PageSpeed scores and accessibility are important factors for search engine rankings. PageSpeed scores may not match user experience and can vary substantially.
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Code.org, a nonprofit organization that aims to expand access to computer science in schools, offers an informative and well-structured website that I found easy to navigate. Upon arrival, I was quickly drawn to the Code.org facts listed below the hero image, as these helped me to understand and better visualize the organization's global impact and reach.
I liked that I could explore various statistics about the field of computer science, as well as learn about the different programs on offer. I also appreciated the multimedia content, as the various videos and infographics helped me understand the courses better, while the "New project" feature in the main menu meant I could start a coding project instantly.
I appreciated how concise the home page was, allowing me to quickly focus on the main menu's options, like the informative "About" page and the "New project" feature. I also loved how the classes were neatly organized by grades and age groups, making it easy to find the right fit. The "Districts" page was another highlight, with its example lesson plans and educational videos.
The home page and other sections felt a bit text-heavy, which made absorbing all the information tedious, even with the visuals. I also felt like some resources, such as the LMS integration graphics and additional resources found on the "District" page, would be best served on the home page. Additionally, WAVE flagged missing alternative text and several contrast issues on multiple pages.
Code.org's desktop version sticks to a no-frills, straightforward layout, which I found refreshingly simple. As a result, I wasn't too disappointed by the lack of strong visual entertainment. While I did feel like the graphics in the hero image could use more contrast for impact, I quickly moved on to the main menu's resourceful options.
I did, however, find myself missing hover-activated features, which would have made tracking my selections easier. On the bright side, the ample visual breathing room across separate pages made it effortless to focus on text-heavy sections, especially on desktop. The home page also performed well on Google's PageSpeed Insights, earning 79/100 for performance.
At first glance, I was impressed by the linear layout of the home page, which allowed features like the language translator and social media icons to truly pop — especially compared to the desktop version, where they are less noticeable. On the mobile app, their placement in the footer menu made them stand out much more prominently.
I also appreciated the drop-down presentation in both the top and bottom menus, as it helped tidy up the screen and let me preview different page options before committing to a click. Interestingly, despite my positive experience, the home page scored a low 36/100 in the performance category on PageSpeed Insights.
Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland
Launched in 2012, FutureLearn is an online learning platform that offers a range of courses, programs, and degrees from leading universities and institutions across the world. The website's airy aesthetic, complemented by a lively color scheme, struck a perfect balance between minimalism and vibrancy, which instantly set the website apart and allowed me to hone in on the content blocks.
Although the lack of a hero image made the home page feel sparse, I didn't mind, as I quickly navigated to the "Explore top subjects" section, which made filtering through different courses simple. Adding to this, I felt that the main menu did a great job of streamlining access to the available subjects and courses.
As a newcomer, I found the home page incredibly informative. I could easily browse courses organized by subject, read brief descriptions of each course's objectives, and access pricing information — all without needing to click around. Additionally, after testing several pages, WAVE only flagged one redirect issue, highlighting the site's overall smooth performance.
The "How does it work?" section offered a clear, filtered introduction to FutureLearn, which made it easy to grasp how the platform functions. However, I felt this section would have been more effective toward the top of the home page. I also found the footer menu a bit overwhelming, causing me to initially overlook the "About" and "Contact" pages.
I was immediately impressed by the spaciousness of the website, which managed to pack in plenty of content while still maintaining an airy feel. Although the lack of large, high-quality images or other multimedia content made my desktop experience less visually engaging, I didn't mind, as the well-placed content blocks and CTAs encouraged me to interact.
Additionally, the ample use of hover-activated highlights and drop-down menus helped me focus on my next move. That said, while I didn't mind not having access to a floating menu as I explored the lengthier pages, I couldn't help but long for its convenience. Nonetheless, the home page performed well on PageSpeed Insights, earning 77/100 for performance.
While the mobile site appears neat and compact, there were a few design choices that I felt detracted from the overall experience. For instance, the ability to slide content blocks to the left was not always clearly indicated, which could lead to users not engaging with those sections.
Additionally, the lengthy pages, coupled with the packed footer menu, meant I was constantly longing for a back-to-top button or floating menu. On the positive side, I appreciated the tidy hamburger menu, as well as the fact that the menu kept the "Featured" section seen on the desktop site. On PageSpeed Insights, the home page received a modest 60/100 for performance, which I felt aligned with my experience.
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is an online learning platform connecting more than 86 million students seeking to complete job-relevant courses and programs. The website immediately grabbed my attention with its intuitive home page, which showcased edX's trending courses, popular discussion topics, student reviews, and its free registration process.
I was particularly drawn to the "Popular topics" section, where I could read through what edX's learners were discussing. I found the "Launch, change, or advance your career" section equally impressive, offering well-organized, filtered options that clearly detailed how each course would help me excel in my career.
The "Learn" option in the top menu conveniently concealed an array of choices, which helped the website feel less overwhelming. I was also impressed by the clickable logos of reputable institutions like Google, Berkeley, and NYU, each leading to detailed pages on their specific courses. Moreover, after testing several pages, the site was dubbed accessible on accessScan.
Upon arrival, I was slightly disappointed by the uninspiring hero image, which did little to draw me in or encourage me to explore further. Despite the strategic placement of graphics, images, and colorful CTAs, some of the site's pages felt text-heavy and lacked the visual entertainment I'd hoped for. Additionally, I felt like a live chat feature would be more effective.
At first glance, I was impressed by the hover effects on selections, which made it easier to focus on my choices and navigate the site's many CTAs. While I would have liked more striking images to stand out on desktop, I still managed to find what I was looking for with ease.
The spacious layout of the home page allowed the headings and interactive sections to grab attention better, but I couldn't help but miss having a back-to-top button or a floating menu for smoother navigation. On PageSpeed Insights, the home page performed well overall, earning 77/100 for accessibility and a respectable 62/100 for performance.
The mobile site translates well, with key sections like trending courses and popular topics retaining their engaging features. However, the main drawback of the mobile site was undoubtedly the lack of navigational aids, particularly on text-heavy pages, where a back-to-top button is sorely needed.
While I appreciated having a floating menu on individual pages, I believe this feature would be more effective if streamlined across the site. Despite this, the site performed well overall, though I was surprised to see its home page only scored 31/100 in the performance category on PageSpeed Insights.
Ontario, Canada
OntarioLearn, an online learning space offering courses and programs from top local colleges and universities, has a clean and professional website that I found both efficient and straightforward. I was quickly drawn to the "START" option in the main menu, which led me to an interactive quiz and detailed information about the platform's courses, programs, and partner institutions.
For added convenience, the top menu included a French translation tool, a search bar, and a "Help" option — all of which underscored the site's commitment to accessibility. Additionally, I appreciated that the "COURSES" and "PROGRAMS" pages featured filtered search tools, making it easier to find specific offerings.
I liked the well-organized "PROGRAMS" and "COURSES" pages, which made it easy to filter searches by subject, college, and credentials. The "Start your academic journey" prompt was a great touch, and I loved how the search tool took up the entire screen, keeping my focus. While WAVE found contrast issues on several pages, there were no other serious errors flagged.
I found the site a bit impersonal, with stock images and a cool color scheme being the main visual elements. The pages were concise, but having the same options repeated in the top and bottom menus felt redundant, especially with the floating function in place. I also thought the "COURSES" option in the menu would benefit from a drop-down feature to provide a preview of its offerings.
On desktop, the website is clean and well-structured, but the images lack impact and the absence of video elements felt like a missed opportunity to engage visitors. Moreover, the floating menu felt unnecessary on desktop, where the concise design of the pages and the almost identical top and bottom menus made it feel redundant.
Despite these minor issues, the hover effects on selections, such as page titles and CTAs, ensured I could easily track my movements, and I found the site a breeze to navigate. On PageSpeed Insights, the home page scored impressively, receiving 80/100 for performance and 100/100 for accessibility, demonstrating its excellent usability.
I didn't find anything particularly wrong with the mobile site; it was compact and straightforward, much like the desktop version. However, I found that the floating menu proved more useful on mobile, and I appreciated how the search tool stood out more in the center of the screen.
That said, the lack of visuals once again made the experience feel very quick and straightforward, making it functional but not really memorable. On PageSpeed Insights, the home page retains the desktop site's perfect accessibility score, though its performance score decreased to a solid 61/100.
https://www.skillshare.com/en/
New York, New York, U.S.
Founded in 2010, Skillshare is an online learning platform that empowers creatives and content creators, and I could see that right away. From the moment I landed on the site, I was impressed by how effectively it championed its services and target market. The website gets straight to the point — no fluff, just a streamlined design that's well-structured.
For instance, what would typically be reserved for a hero image is instead utilized to promote a 7-day free trial, making it easier for me to dive in. The rotating banner showcasing various creative mediums ties in beautifully with the messaging, and I liked that the main menu streamlined access through a convenient search bar and browse option.
I appreciated how the "Explore Inspiring Online Courses" section included original and staff-picked selections, plus filtered categories — it made finding the relevant classes simple. The Skillshare facts on the home page, highlighting its membership numbers and App Store rating, were also a nice touch, as these helped me visualize the platform's popularity better.
The reviews section felt oddly placed and would've been more impactful closer to the Skillshare facts. Additionally, the "Teacher Directory" at the bottom of the home page didn't quite fit. I felt it would be best served beneath the "Learn from Creative Experts" section. WAVE also flagged an empty button and a few empty links on the home page.
Although I liked how the site focused on efficiency, the absence of hover-activated features on some images felt like a missed opportunity to interact with content before committing to a click. In the "Explore Inspiring Online Courses" section, the play button on hover didn't play videos, requiring me to visit the individual pages.
Adding to this, the introductory videos themselves were small and lacked the impact I expected. As a result, I walked away feeling like adjustments to the video content would have elevated my desktop experience. Despite our solid real-world tests, the desktop site's home page scored 41/100 in the performance category on Google's PageSpeed Insights, which was a bit underwhelming.
On the mobile site, the menu's placement behind a neat hamburger icon was clean, and I loved that the search bar stayed conveniently accessible. However, the non-rotating banner below the hero section, with no clear prompt to slide, felt like a letdown compared to the desktop experience.
In contrast, I felt like the sliding design worked better in the "Explore Inspiring Online Courses" section, as it encouraged me to engage more. Additionally, I would have preferred a back-to-top button on the mobile site. Despite these setbacks, the mobile site's performance score of 40/100 on PageSpeed Insights was surprisingly low, as it performed well during real-world tests.
An educational website is a dedicated online platform where potential students and teachers can explore diverse courses, access study material, create lesson plans, and build their skills. These websites often provide different methods of learning, including online and in-person classes, as well as interactive lessons, discussion boards, and robust support systems.
We've put together a list of educational websites known for their top-notch accessibility, usability, and user navigation. FutureLearn, in particular, stands out with its well-structured layout, which ensures that all courses and offerings are prominently displayed.
