The rise of digital technology has transformed nearly every facet of our lives, and education is no exception. Over the past decade, digital education—the use of digital tools and platforms to deliver, enhance, and facilitate learning—has exploded in popularity.
Today, millions of students of all ages rely on digital education companies for everything from elementary school math to professional certifications. These companies are not only changing how we learn, but also expanding access to education across the globe.
In this article, we‘ll take an in-depth look at the 15 largest digital education companies in the world. We‘ll explore what makes each company unique and consider how they are shaping the future of education.
1. Coursera
Coursera is the world‘s largest online learning platform, with over 82 million registered learners accessing courses from more than 200 universities and companies. Founded in 2012 by two Stanford computer science professors, Coursera‘s mission is to "provide universal access to world-class learning."
Coursera partners with leading universities, like Stanford, Yale, and the University of Michigan, as well as major companies like Google and IBM, to offer thousands of online courses, specializations, certificates, and degrees. Their offerings span across data science, business, computer science, personal development, and more.
Beyond traditional courses, Coursera has expanded into Guided Projects, which help learners gain job-relevant skills in under 2 hours, and Coursera for Campus, which enables any college or university to offer job-relevant online education to students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
In 2021, Coursera became a publicly traded company valued at $4.3 billion. With over 30 degrees and 20 certificates, Coursera is a leader in helping learners achieve their career and educational goals through flexible, affordable online learning.
2. VIPKid
VIPKid is an online education platform that connects children in China with English teachers in the United States and Canada for one-on-one language lessons. Founded in 2013, VIPKid‘s mission is to "inspire and empower every child for the future."
Through its proprietary platform, VIPKid provides pre-recorded and live video lessons to over 700,000 paying students. Lessons are based on the U.S. Common Core curriculum and are designed to be engaging and interactive.
VIPKid‘s network includes over 100,000 teachers, who are able to work from home and set their own schedules. The company provides extensive training and support to ensure a high-quality learning experience.
VIPKid has received over $1 billion in venture capital funding and is valued at over $4 billion. While growth has slowed recently due to regulatory changes in China, VIPKid remains a dominant player in the online English education market.
3. Byju‘s
Byju‘s is India‘s largest edu-tech company, offering highly adaptive, engaging, and effective learning programs for students from elementary school through high school. Founded in 2011, Byju‘s uses a proprietary blend of content, media, and technology to make learning accessible, effective, and personalized.
Byju‘s flagship product is its learning app, which offers interactive content tailored to each student‘s unique learning style and pace. The app covers a comprehensive curriculum, from math and science to history and English.
In addition to the app, Byju‘s offers online tutoring and in-person coaching at Byju‘s Learning Centers across India. The company also acquired the leading Indian test prep company Aakash Educational Services in 2021.
Byju‘s has over 100 million registered students and 6.5 million annual paid subscriptions. The company has raised over $2 billion in funding and is valued at nearly $16.5 billion, making it one of the most valuable startups in the world.
4. Udemy
Udemy is a global marketplace for learning and teaching online. With a mission to "improve lives through learning," Udemy provides a platform for experts to create courses and share their knowledge with learners around the world.
Udemy offers over 183,000 courses across a wide range of subjects, from programming and data science to personal development and music. Courses are self-paced and include videos, articles, and downloadable resources.
Udemy‘s courses are created by over 65,000 instructors, including CEOs, celebrities, and Ivy League professors. The top 10 instructors on Udemy have earned over $17 million in total revenue.
Udemy has over 44 million learners in more than 180 countries. The company has raised over $300 million in venture capital and is valued at $3.25 billion.
In addition to its consumer offerings, Udemy also provides Udemy for Business, an enterprise learning solution used by companies like Adidas, General Mills, and Toyota to upskill their workforce.
5. Zuoyebang
Zuoyebang is a Beijing-based online education startup that offers after-school tutoring and live courses to K-12 students in China. Founded in 2014, Zuoyebang‘s mission is to "make quality education accessible to all."
Zuoyebang‘s flagship product is a mobile app that allows students to take a photo of a homework problem and receive instant explanations from the company‘s proprietary AI system. The app also connects students with certified teachers for online tutoring sessions.
In addition to homework help, Zuoyebang offers live streaming courses, recorded video lessons, and practice tests for a variety of academic subjects. The company‘s personalized learning system adapts to each student‘s needs and progress.
Zuoyebang has over 800 million registered users and 50 million monthly active users. The company has raised over $2.5 billion in funding and is valued at nearly $10 billion, making it one of the world‘s most valuable education technology startups.
6. Chegg
Chegg is an education technology company that offers a range of services to help students learn more effectively and affordably. Founded in 2005, Chegg‘s mission is to "improve the overall return on investment in education by helping students learn more in less time and at a lower cost."
Chegg‘s core offering is textbook rentals, which allows students to rent textbooks for a semester at a fraction of the purchase price. The company also offers online tutoring, homework help, writing tools, and test prep through Chegg Study.
In addition to its student services, Chegg partners with colleges and universities to provide online program management, student recruitment, and curriculum development through its Chegg Learning Services division.
Chegg has over 6.6 million subscribers and reaches nearly 90% of college-bound high school seniors in the United States. The company generated $644 million in revenue in 2020 and has a market cap of over $12 billion.
7. Course Hero
Course Hero is an online learning platform that offers course-specific study resources contributed by a community of students and educators. Founded in 2006, Course Hero‘s mission is to "enable every student to achieve their full potential, and graduate confident and prepared."
Course Hero‘s library includes over 60 million course-specific study resources, including practice problems, study guides, class notes, and step-by-step explanations. Students can also ask questions and get answers from subject experts.
In addition to crowdsourced materials, Course Hero offers 24/7 homework help, online tutoring, and writing tools through its subscription service, Course Hero Tutor. The company also partners with educators to share resources and ideas through its Faculty Club.
Course Hero has over 1 million subscribers and reaches more than 9 million students each month. The company has raised over $100 million in venture capital funding and is valued at $1.1 billion.
8. Duolingo
Duolingo is a language-learning platform that offers free, gamified courses in over 35 languages. Founded in 2011, Duolingo‘s mission is to "develop the best education in the world and make it universally available."
Duolingo‘s courses are designed to be fun, engaging, and effective. Lessons are bite-sized and adapt to each learner‘s pace and progress. The platform also includes features like leaderboards, streaks, and rewards to keep learners motivated.
In addition to its consumer app, Duolingo offers Duolingo for Schools, a free platform that allows teachers to track student progress and assign homework. The company also partners with governments and nonprofits to provide language learning in underserved communities.
Duolingo has over 500 million registered users and 40 million monthly active users. The company has raised over $180 million in funding and is valued at $2.4 billion. In 2021, Duolingo went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
9. DreamBox Learning
DreamBox Learning is an adaptive learning platform that offers personalized math and reading instruction for K-8 students. Founded in 2006, DreamBox‘s mission is to "radically transform the way the world learns."
DreamBox‘s platform uses intelligent adaptive technology to adjust instruction in real-time based on each student‘s unique needs and learning progress. Lessons are designed to be engaging and game-like, with built-in rewards and challenges.
In addition to its core math and reading offerings, DreamBox provides professional development resources and data insights for educators. The company also offers a Spanish-language version of its math curriculum.
DreamBox is used by over 3 million students and 130,000 teachers in all 50 U.S. states and across Canada. The company has raised over $130 million in funding and is valued at over $1 billion.
10. Boxlight Corporation
Boxlight Corporation is a provider of interactive classroom technology solutions designed to enhance learning outcomes. Founded in 1985, Boxlight‘s mission is to "help educators engage students, enhance learning, and easily manage their technology-enabled classrooms."
Boxlight offers a range of hardware and software solutions, including interactive flat panel displays, projectors, touchscreens, and STEM learning tools. The company‘s MimioConnect platform enables teachers to create and deliver interactive lessons and assessments.
In addition to its classroom solutions, Boxlight provides professional development services to help educators effectively integrate technology into their teaching practice. The company also offers a range of customer support options.
Boxlight‘s solutions are used in over 60 countries and have earned numerous industry awards. The company generated $43.5 million in revenue in 2020 and has a market cap of over $100 million.
The Future of Digital Education
As these 15 companies demonstrate, the digital education landscape is vast and rapidly evolving. From language learning apps to comprehensive online degrees, there‘s a digital education solution for nearly every learning need and modality.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the adoption of digital education, as schools and universities worldwide were forced to quickly pivot to remote learning. Many experts believe that this shift will have lasting effects, with digital education becoming an increasingly integral part of the education ecosystem.
As digital education continues to grow and mature, we can expect to see even more innovation from these companies and others in the space. Artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and blockchain technology all hold immense potential for transforming how we learn and teach.
At the same time, the growth of digital education raises important questions about access, equity, and efficacy. As these companies expand their reach and influence, it will be critical to ensure that their offerings are accessible to learners of all backgrounds and deliver meaningful learning outcomes.
One thing is clear: the future of education is digital. These 15 companies, and the many others working to innovate in the space, will play a crucial role in shaping that future. As learners, educators, and education stakeholders, it‘s up to all of us to engage with and critically evaluate these tools and platforms to ensure that they truly serve the needs of all learners.
