Self-paced online courses let you learn when and where you want, with no fixed schedule. To compare them, don’t stop at the sticker price. Look at the cost per skill you actually learn and use, how much practice and feedback you get, and whether you’ll realistically finish.
A free course you drop after the second lesson is expensive in time. A paid one you finish and use at work can be a bargain. Below you’ll find the main training formats compared side by side, what to check on any online learning platform, and a checklist to run through before you pay.
What training really costs you
The price on the page is only part of the bill. Learning has three costs:
- Money: what you pay for the course, subscription or sessions.
- Time: the hours you put in, which you could spend on something else.
- Follow-through: the energy it takes to come back when nobody is making you.
That’s why the useful math isn’t “course price.” It’s price divided by the courses you finish. Better still, divided by the skills you end up applying.
Training formats compared
| Format | Self-paced? | Cost | Cost per skill | Practice | Feedback | Certificate | Follow-through |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free resources (videos, articles, podcasts, library books) | Yes | None | Low, if you stick with it | Up to you | No | Usually not | All on you |
| Single paid course | Usually | Medium | Medium | Varies: from video only to exercises | Varies | Often a certificate of completion | Medium |
| Subscription or annual license to a catalog | Usually | Medium, one payment | Low if you take several courses; high if you take one | Depends on the course format | Varies | Often one per course | You have to plan it |
| In-person class | No | High | High | High, with other people | From the instructor | Attendance or completion | High: fixed dates and times |
| One-on-one coaching | Partly | High | High | On your real situation | Personal | Usually not | High: you’ve committed to someone |
No format wins on everything. Free content is unbeatable for exploring, but it rarely gives you feedback. In-person classes and coaching give you practice and accountability at a higher price. Paid courses and catalogs sit in between.
When to choose each format
Free resources
To find out whether a topic interests you before you spend anything. They work if you’re disciplined and have someone to practice with.
Single paid course
When you need one specific skill and don’t plan to tackle others soon. You pay only for what you use.
Subscription or annual license to a catalog
When you want to work on several skills over a year, say time management, sales and communication. The more courses you finish, the lower the cost of each. If you’ll only take one, a single course is probably the better deal.
In-person class or coaching
When you need to practice with real people, want someone watching you, or struggle to keep going on your own. It’s the most expensive option, and sometimes the right one.
What to check on an online learning platform
Before you compare prices, compare what you get. These questions separate a bargain from a sunk cost:
- How do you learn? Watching videos isn’t the same as practicing decisions that have consequences.
- Is there feedback? Knowing what you did well and what to change speeds things up a lot.
- How long is each course? Look for the actual length, not just “at your own pace.”
- What certificate do you get? Check what kind it is and whether you can add it to LinkedIn. Our guide on how to add a certificate to LinkedIn covers it.
- Does it renew automatically? Many subscriptions do. Find out how to cancel.
- Is there a refund policy? Read it before you pay, not after.
- Does it work on any device? If you can only learn on your phone, make sure it works there.
Pros of an annual license
- One payment covers many skills.
- The cost per course drops with every one you finish.
- You can switch topics based on what you need each month.
Cons
- If you don’t use it, the money is gone.
- It takes self-organization: nobody sets your dates.
- It doesn’t replace practicing with real people.
Checklist before you pay
- Write down the two or three skills you want to build this year.
- Check that the course or catalog covers them with practice, not just theory.
- Do the math: total price divided by the courses you’ll really finish.
- Check for automatic renewal and read the refund policy.
- Block a fixed weekly slot in your calendar before you start.
The cheapest course is the one you finish. Before you pay, book your first three sessions in your calendar. Think of it as saving your game before the final boss.
Not sure which skills to pick yet? Start by setting your professional development goals. With a plan in front of you, comparing options gets much easier.
Where Game Strategies fits in
Our format is an annual license to a catalog of self-paced training games: each course has a story, simulators to practice in and feedback on your decisions. It’s 100% online and works on any device with nothing to install. Three examples to start with:
- Allegro (1 hour 30 minutes): how to turn a vague wish into an action plan that gets you to your goals.
- Triskelion (10 hours): you design your own time management system, prioritize and learn to say “no.” It’s part of our time management training.
- Lumière 1 (1 hour 30 minutes): the basics of sales prospecting, with simulators to practice the key skills. It’s part of our sales training.
The annual license costs €299 per person (VAT included) and gives you one year of access to all 71 games, about €4.20 per game if you use them all. It’s a one-time payment with no automatic renewal, and you get a certificate of completion for each course you finish. If you run a small business, the admin panel lets you assign courses and track each person’s progress.
To be honest: if you only want to work on one skill, a single course may cost you less. The license pays off when you plan to take several courses in a year. And like any online format, it doesn’t replace practicing with real people.
Frequently asked questions
Are cheap self-paced online courses worth it?
Yes, if they include practice and you finish them. Focus less on the price and more on how you learn, whether there’s feedback and whether the course covers a skill you need.
Is it better to pay per course or for an annual license?
It depends on how many courses you’ll finish. For one skill, a single course usually makes sense. For several in the same year, a catalog lowers the cost per course.
Does the Game Strategies license renew automatically?
No. It’s a one-time payment for one year of access. If you want to continue, you decide whether to buy it again.
Can I get a refund?
Once you have access to the courses, the purchase is non-refundable. That’s why it’s worth browsing the catalog first and choosing the skills you want to work on.