Investing courses are a great way to learn more about the stock market and develop skills that you can use to grow your wealth. Whether you’ve never invested a dollar or are already an experienced investor, the best investing courses online can help you to learn how to make the right financial moves and plan for your future.
The investing courses below are affordably priced and accessible even to beginning investors who may not have much prior knowledge. These courses provide a comprehensive learning experience and introduce students to all aspects of investing. They also feature supportive communities of instructors and peers, along with plenty of additional resources for further learning.
Best Investing Courses of 2024
- Best Overall: Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners
- Best for Options: Simpler Trading
- Best for a Free and In-Depth Experience: Investing Classroom from morningstar.com
- Most Comprehensive Course: Warrior Trading’s Warrior Starter and Warrior Pro
- Best for the Community-Minded: Bear Bull Traders
- Best for Market Philosophy Enthusiasts: Udemy's Ultimate Stock Market Investing
- Best for the Mobile Trader: Peak Analytics’ Direction First Newsletter
- Best for the No-Frills, Practical Investor: Stocks, Bonds, and Investing: Oh, My! from The University of Central Florida Online
Best Overall : Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners
- Price: $94.99
- Platform: Udemy
- Guarantee: 30-day money-back guarantee
We chose Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners as the best overall investing course because of its accessibility to brand-new investors and its comprehensive coverage of investing topics. This course is entirely asynchronous and comes with full lifetime access to course materials and resources.
Great for complete beginners
Course is often discounted
No live instruction
Not ideal for advanced investors
Udemy is an online teaching and learning platform with more than 70 million students and more than 220,000 courses. Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners is one of those courses. For $94.99, Stock Market From Scratch transforms you from an investment newbie to a stock market pro. You can often catch sales and get the course for much cheaper. The class uses pre-recorded video lessons, ensuring that you can learn on your time and schedule, and it currently has 4.4 out of 5 stars from overall learners.
Taught by instructor Jatin Taneja, a stock market investor with years of experience, you'll learn terms, concepts, and ideas such as technical indicators, the difference between types of financial instruments, how to choose the right broker, and much more. Taneja uses many real-life examples in his courses and has been praised for his ability to explain the complexities of the stock market to people who have no experience. All you need is a computer and an internet connection to get started.
Best for Options : Simpler Trading
- Price: Up to $1,597
- Platform: Simpler Trading
- Guarantee: None
We chose Simpler Trading for its large selection of options trading courses. Users can access a library of learning modules, live trading sessions, interactive Q&As, trading plan checklists, and tracking tools via web and app-based platforms.
Courses offered in Basic, Premium, and Elite packages
Large library of training videos
Extensive curriculum
Expert instructors
No simulator
Not as affordable as some other courses
The world of options is complex, and Simpler Trading offers a variety of courses, available resources, and trading tools needed to help traders have a chance at success. Led by options trader John Carter, who is also the author of the best-selling book "Mastering the Trade," Simpler Trading’s courses are easy to navigate and are complemented with free tutorials, trading news, and newsletters.
Simpler Trading offers 34 options courses ranging in price from $297 to $1,547. Each course is offered in three packages: Basic, Premium, and Elite. Courses are designed to help traders learn how to use the right options strategy during a number of different market scenarios. Additionally, users can access a library of learning modules, live trading sessions, interactive Q&As, trading plan checklists, and scanners.
Best for a Free and In-Depth Experience : Investing Classroom from morningstar.com
- Price: $0
- Platform: Morningstar
- Guarantee: n/a
We chose the Investing Classroom from morningstar.com for its robust selection of free, in-depth courses. While more bare-bones than some other platforms, these courses are an excellent resource for investors who prefer a text-based approach.
Free to use
No need to invest with Morningstar
In-depth course options
Mobile app differs significantly between IOS and Android
Less visual instruction
You can enroll in brokerage and investment firm Morningstar’s free Investing Classroom. There's no need to have any money invested with them to gain access to a comprehensive online catalog.
Through the program, you can learn from seven different course categories: funds, portfolio, stocks, bonds, ETFs, featured content, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing. If you’re just starting out, the "Mutual Fund Basics" course is a great fit. There are no fun animations or a mobile app. But if you prefer a more bare-bones, text-based approach to learning, this is a great option. "Mutual Fund Basics" is a self-study option for both beginners and those who already have a basic skill set.
Most Comprehensive Course : Warrior Trading’s Warrior Starter and Warrior Pro
- Price: Up to $3,997
- Platform: Warrior Trading
- Guarantee: None
If you’re already an experienced investor looking to develop your skills even further, then Warrior Trading’s Warrior Starter and Warrior Pro are great options. A real-time trading simulator and live stream options are available as an add-on.
Supportive community chat rooms
Trading simulator
Expensive
Limited time frame to access materials
If you’re curious about investing and want to go from beginner to advanced, Warrior Trading has five different courses to get you there. Learn from a number of experts, including nationally recognized stock trader Ross Cameron, who moderates many of the courses. With an intuitive and easy-to-navigate program, the five courses will ensure that you’re learning at the level that suits you best.
The Warrior Pro, their most popular offering, is available at $3,997, which gives members access for three years, and has the aforementioned features and course of the starter pack, plus many additional courses. They are small and large cap day trading, swing and options trading, and day trading in an IRA. Additionally, you'll get trading tools demos and layouts and living trading examples and archives. A trading simulator is available as an add-on, too.
Best for the Community-Minded : Bear Bull Traders
- Price: $99 to $199 per month
- Platform: Bear Bull Traders
- Guarantee: 7-day money-back guarantee
We chose Bear Bull Traders for its active trading community and live chat room. Along with access to Intro and Essential lessons, students have access to a supportive community of experienced traders and mentors.
Live chat from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Webinars and mentorship from experienced traders
Pricey monthly membership
The Basic plan has limited features
If you’re looking to connect with one of the top trading industry professionals, Bear Bull Traders might be up your alley. Co-founder Brian Pezim, the author of How To Swing Trade, provides daily live market updates in the Bear Bull chat room, where he discusses swing trading. Additionally, mentors present weekly on different webinar topics.
Pezim is respected in the industry for his insights, and participants value the ability to communicate with him and learn his strategies for trading. These perks are on top of comprehensive lessons that go from basic to elite, a trading simulator, swing trading materials, and more. You also get weekly mentoring and webinars with the elite membership as well as access to the psychology team.
Best for Market Philosophy Enthusiasts : Udemy's Ultimate Stock Market Investing
- Price: $69.99
- Platform: Udemy
- Guarantee: 30-day money-back guarantee
For investors looking for a more philosophical approach to long-term investing, Udemy’s Ultimate Stock Marketing Investing course is a great place to start. The course features 3.5 hours of video along with self-led instruction, and includes full lifetime access to an extensive library of learning resources.
Affordable
Strong focus on long-term investing
Not the best fit for day-traders
No live instruction
If you’ve tried your hand at the market before but are unsure how to make long-term selections that will grow in value, you’ll want to take this Udemy course. It's co-taught by Randy and Kevin Tudor, co-founders of Margin of Safety Investing, who have a combined 40 years of experience in finance. The course is comprised of more than 46 lectures divided into six sections, includes a quiz, and the content has many charts and graphs to help you understand.
If you’re looking for a more philosophical approach and content focused on investing as opposed to trading—you’ll enjoy this course. Learn which types of stocks to buy and when, and how to value stocks appropriately so you don’t underpay for them. With class discussion boards, you'll have direct access to your instructors where questions related to the content of the course will be replied to promptly.
By the end of the course, you'll have a step-by-step game plan to enter the market. Ultimate Stock Market Investing: Learn How to Value Stocks is priced at $69.99, but like most Udemy courses it can often be caught on sale.
Best for the Mobile Trader : Peak Analytics’ Direction First Newsletter
- Price: $14 per month
- Platform: Peak Analytics
- Guarantee: 30-day money-back guarantee
We chose Peak Analytics’ Direction First Newsletter because of its emphasis on mobile trading. For investors looking for bite-sized investing advice on a daily basis, this newsletter is paired with real-time trade alerts and insightful expert commentary.
Daily real-time analysis
Suitable for both day traders and long-term investors
No live instruction or video-based courses
Lack of community interaction
Looking to study in a digestible format? Peak Analytics' course comes in the form of a newsletter. You’ll join subscribers in receiving a daily stock recommendation list and weekly reports on the global stock, currency, bond, and commodity markets from experts in portfolio management and market analysis.
With the newsletter, you’ll also receive Peak Analytics’ daily activity feed, allowing you to set up mobile and email alerts to get news on unusual market movements in real-time. While you’re not getting classes and quizzes with this subscription, you are gaining access to a high-performing portfolio. Priced at $14 a month, this course is definitely on the affordable side.
Best for the No-Frills, Practical Investor : Stocks, Bonds, and Investing : Oh, My! from The University of Central Florida Online
- Price: $129
- Platform: The University of Central Florida Online
- Guarantee: None
For investors who aren’t active traders but still want to set themselves up for a strong financial future, the University of Central Florida’s introductory investing course is a great pick. This course covers the fundamentals of investing in an easy-to-understand, approachable manner.
Great for beginning investors
Instructor-led and self-paced options
Not focused on day traders
Limited community features
Let’s say you’re not too crazy about learning market philosophy. You don’t want to make trading a part-time job, or even a hobby. You just want to save money for retirement, pay down your debt, or reach other kinds of financial goals. “Stocks, Bonds, and Investing: Oh, My!” from The University of Central Florida Online would be an ideal pick.
For $129, you can choose either the self-paced course or the instructor-led course taught by Yale alum Matt Crabtree. Through the six-week syllabus, you’ll learn how to open a retirement account, create plans to save for big goals like a college fund, and how to reach financial goals that are grounded in reality.
People who have taken the class say that it makes investment topics interesting and easy to understand, and you’ll appreciate being able to learn the fundamentals of investing at any age. By the end of this course, you'll be confident in making independent financial decisions without having to pay a broker or a financial advisor.
Final Verdict
We recommend Udemy’s Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners as the best overall course for its affordability and approachability. The course features asynchronous learning that can fit with any schedule, as well as lifetime access to course materials. At $94.99, it's one of the more affordable options on this list and provides comprehensive coverage of investing basics for beginners and intermediate investors alike.
Compare the Best Investing Courses
Course | Price | Platform | Time | Guarantee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners Best Overall | $94.99 | Udemy | Self-guided | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Simpler Trading Best for Options | Up to $1,597 | Simpler Trading | Self-guided | None |
Investing Classroom from morningstar.com Best for a Free and In-Depth Experience | $0 | Morningstar | Self-guided | n/a |
Warrior Trading’s Warrior Starter and Warrior Pro Most Comprehensive Course | up to $3,997 | Warrior Trading | Self-guided | None |
Bear Bull Traders Best for the Community-Minded | $99 to $199 per month | Bear Bull Trading | Self-guided | 7-day money-back guarantee |
Udemy’s Ultimate Stock Market Investing Best for Market Philosophy Enthusiasts | $69.99 | Udemy | Self-guided | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Peak Analytics’ Direction First Newsletter Best for the Mobile Trader | $14 per month | Marketfy | Self-guided | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Stocks, Bonds, and Investing: Oh, My! Best for the No-Frills Practical Investor | $129 | The University of Central Florida Online | Six weeks or self-guided | None |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which Is the Best Investment Course?
The right investment course for you will reflect the way you learn best. If you retain information better when someone is personally guiding you, consider a course at your local community college or sign up for a live webinar. If you prefer going at your own pace, there are online courses that let you work through the material whenever it's convenient. Consider your budget, your schedule, and your personal learning style when choosing an investment course. You'll be more likely to retain what you learn and apply your new knowledge successfully.
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What Are the 3 Asset Classes of Investing?
As you learn about investing, you'll notice that many assets fall into one of three main categories: equities, fixed-income securities, or cash equivalents. Other asset classes you may encounter include derivatives (such as futures and options), commodities, real estate, and alternative assets (such as art or cryptocurrency). Understanding the different asset classes available is a key part of learning to invest.
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Is Paying for a Trading Course Worth It?
Learning about investing doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, many brokerages offer free online libraries to customers, allowing you to teach yourself a range of topics at no cost at all. You can sign up for interactive courses for as low as $49, or spend $4,000 or more on your investing education. Paying for a course can be worth it if the material and strategies you learn help you improve your returns and build a stronger financial future.
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Which Course Is Best for Beginners?
If you are just getting your feet wet, choose basic investing courses designed to teach you about the market, how it works, and what the different types of investments can do for you and your portfolio. Beginner courses should cover the basics of investing, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and retirement funds. Save more advanced topics until you've got a solid understanding of investing and risk.
Methodology
To choose the best investing courses available today, we looked at a number of trusted platforms and compared them against a range of educational criteria. We looked at the types of courses offered and the levels of education provided. We also looked at whether the classes involved any sort of live instruction, community involvement, or if they were self-paced or self-led.
To determine the best value, we also considered the price and what sort of course options were available for users, especially in terms of continued access and resources.