GALWAY, IRELAND - 2026-06-17
Alison has released version 2 of its Android App widgets, giving Learners a choice between a simple progress widget and a more illustrative widget for their phone’s home screens.
The update builds on Alison’s first Android App widget, released in 2025, which allows Learners to preview course progress without opening the Alison App. The first version proved popular with Android users, with thousands of Learners tapping the widget and returning to their courses.
Course Progress at a Glance Leads to More Learning
Alison App widgets are designed to make learning progress easier to notice whenever people use their phone. Instead of opening the App to check where they left off, Learners can add a widget to their home screen and see a quick preview of their course progress. That small prompt can make it easier for people to continue their courses when they have a spare moment.
More Choice on the Home Screen for More Personalisation
With version 2, Android Learners can now choose between a simple progress widget and a more illustrative widget that uses playful imagery. The choice lets Learners pick the home screen style that best fits how they like to organise and personalise their phone.
The simple widget keeps the focus on progress, while the illustrative option adds a more visual prompt to return to learning. Both are built around the same practical goal: helping Learners keep their course journey in sight without needing to open the App first.
Simple Prompts That Keep Learning Moving Forward
The popularity of the first widget showed that Android Learners responded to a lighter, more visible way of reconnecting with courses. By expanding the widget options, Alison is giving Learners another simple tool to help them keep going and stay motivated.
The release also reflects Alison’s wider focus on improving the everyday learning experience on mobile. For Learners who use the Alison App regularly, widgets can turn the phone home screen into a gentle reminder of progress already made and the next course that is waiting for them.
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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 Numerical, 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.
