GALWAY, IRELAND – 2026-01-22

Alison, a global leader in providing free online courses, psychometric assessments, and various career development tools, closed 2025 by surpassing 12.5 million lifetime downloads of its free learning App, underscoring the growing demand for flexible, mobile-first education worldwide.

The milestone reflects a broader shift in how people build skills today. As smartphones become a primary learning tool for professionals, the Alison App enables Learners to upskill from anywhere with practical, career-focused courses.

Mobile Learning Takes Centre Stage as Skills Needs Grow

Across the world, people are looking for flexible, affordable ways to upskill and reskill as the labour market evolves at speed. This urgency is reflected in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, which finds employers expect 39% of workers’ core skills to change by 2030.

At the same time, mobile-first education has become increasingly essential, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) notes mobile is often the primary (and sometimes only) way people access the internet. GSMA also reports that 73% of recent internet users in surveyed LMICs rely solely on mobile access.

Mobile Learning Meets Learners Where They Are

Surpassing 12.5 million lifetime downloads highlights the Alison App’s growing impact in helping Learners achieve real, practical outcomes in a convenient way. By providing access to thousands of free, career-focused courses, the App enables Learners to build in-demand skills, track their progress, and develop consistent learning habits that fit around their lives.

Features such as Offline Learning remove connectivity barriers by allowing Learners to download courses in advance and continue studying without reliable internet access. With courses designed and delivered in line with CPD UK standards, completed learning can contribute towards recognised professional development hours. Together, these capabilities empower Learners to stay employable, adapt to changing job markets, and take greater control of their career progression – at any time, from anywhere.

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Resources

Learners can download the Alison App to access thousands of free courses that support upskilling and reskilling across diverse career paths.

Media Contact

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About Alison

Alison is a global leader in free online learning and skills development. With over 50 million registered Learners across 193 countries (as of October 2025), Alison empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to upskill quickly and effectively – at zero cost.

The Alison platform provides immediate access to over 6,000 free, CPD-accredited courses, covering essential areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Business Operations, Healthcare and Sustainability. Courses are created by a mix of independent experts and global leaders, including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft.

For organisations, Alison offers a Free Learning Management System (LMS) that enables unlimited Learners to access thousands of courses with no upfront cost. A premium version with advanced analytics and customisation is also available. Alison's offering includes a full suite of assessments and psychometric tools, including a Workplace Personality Assessment, Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, English Language Proficiency Test, as well as Numeracy, Verbal, and Abstract Reasoning tests.

To further support career development, Learners also gain access to a Career Guide, a Resumé Builder, and the ability to study offline through the Alison App.

In 2026, Alison will launch a Global Recruitment Service to directly connect skilled, motivated Learners with hiring employers. The platform is also expanding its reach with multilingual versions, starting with complete Spanish, French, and Hindi offerings – reaffirming its mission to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere.

Founded in 2007, Alison pioneered the concept of free, large-scale online learning and is recognised as the world’s first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform. Today, its mission continues: to break down barriers to learning, helping people gain skills, build confidence, and improve their lives — no matter where they live or what they earn.
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