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Mobile learning can make Continuing Professional Development easier to fit around work, travel and other commitments, but not every service described online as a “CPD app” is actually a native mobile application. Some are browser-based learning platforms, some are directories or tracking tools, and others provide dedicated iOS and Android apps.
This guide from CPDCourses.com compares six well-known services that professionals may encounter when looking for CPD apps UK, learning apps or CPD mobile tools. Each product has been checked against current official information so you can see what it actually offers and how it can support professional learning.
Oxford Home Study Centre (OHSC) Free Courses is included as a free, flexible online learning option. OHSC provides free course access, online learning materials and required assessments across a broad range of subjects, while certificates are optional paid products. It is best understood as a browser-based online learning platform rather than a native mobile app.
If you are looking for structured courses rather than a comparison of mobile tools, browse the CPD course categories. For a broader introduction to digital professional development, see our guide to CPD online.
Product information checked: 6 October 2026. App availability, pricing, platform features and course access can change, so always confirm the latest information on the provider's official website or app-store listing before subscribing or enrolling.
| Service | What It Is | Native Mobile App? | Useful For |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHSC Free Courses | Browser-based online learning platform | No native learner app verified | Free course access, learning materials and required assessments with optional paid certificates |
| eLearning College | Browser-based online learning platform | No native learner app verified | Free-to-study online courses with optional certification |
| CPD Standards Office | CPD accreditation body and provider directory | Not presented as a learner app | Checking accredited providers and activities |
| OU Study | Native Open University student app | Yes — iOS and Android | Accessing OU module materials, planners, forums and offline content |
| FutureLearn | Mobile-responsive online learning platform | No — official support says the app is not currently available | Short online courses and social learning through a mobile browser |
| LinkedIn Learning | Online learning platform with dedicated mobile apps | Yes — iOS and Android | Business, technology and creative learning with offline viewing |
The phrase “CPD app” is often used loosely. Before choosing a mobile learning tool, it helps to distinguish four different types of service.
A native app is installed from an app store and is designed specifically for a mobile operating system such as iOS or Android. Features can include notifications, offline downloads and device-specific functionality.
A mobile website runs in a browser rather than being installed as an app. A well-designed responsive site can still support learning on a phone or tablet, but features such as offline access may be more limited.
A learning platform provides access to courses, lessons, assessments, progress information or certificates. It may operate entirely through a website, through a native app, or through both.
A tracker helps record professional-development activity, while a directory helps users find or verify training. Neither should automatically be described as a learning app unless it actually delivers learning through a dedicated application.
Oxford Home Study Centre (OHSC) Free Courses is included in this comparison for professionals who want flexible online learning without paying a course fee. OHSC is a browser-based online learning provider rather than a verified native mobile app, so learners access courses through its online learning platform on a suitable internet-connected device.
OHSC’s current free-course model is particularly clear about what “free” includes: online enrolment, course access, learning materials and the assessments required for course completion are provided without a course fee. Certification is separate and optional, with certificate types, prices, formats and delivery arrangements depending on the individual course.
Best suited to: professionals, beginners and career-focused learners who want to build or refresh knowledge through structured online study without paying a course-access fee.
Important distinction: OHSC Free Courses is a browser-based free online learning option in this comparison, not a native mobile app. Free study and free certification are also different: OHSC states that free-course access, learning materials and required assessments are included without a course fee, while certificates are optional paid products.
eLearning College is also a browser-based learning platform rather than a verified native mobile app. The provider describes its model as flexible online learning, with courses available to study without a tuition fee and optional certification offered separately where applicable.
Official guidance from eLearning College states that a compatible smartphone may be suitable for accessing some online content. It also notes that longer reading, detailed activities and assessments may be more comfortable on a laptop or tablet.
Best suited to: learners who want to explore online subjects without a tuition fee and do not require a dedicated native app.
Important distinction: free study access does not mean that optional certification is necessarily free, and no native eLearning College learner app was verified from current official sources.
The CPD Standards Office should not be described as a general consumer learning app. It is an independent CPD accreditation organisation that assesses training providers and learning activities against its standards.
For professionals looking for verified training, its most useful public tool is the CPD Directory. The directory allows users to search for accredited training providers and activities across multiple sectors.
Best suited to: professionals and organisations that want to check whether a provider or activity appears in the CPD Standards Office directory, or understand the provider's accreditation status.
Important distinction: the CPD Standards Office is not the same thing as a course-delivery app or personal CPD tracker. Its core role is accreditation and verification.
The Open University does provide a verified native mobile application called OU Study. It is available for iOS and Android and is designed for students who are registered on Open University courses or qualifications.
The app gives enrolled students access to module materials and study information on mobile devices. Official Open University support information confirms that learners can access their study planner, download many learning materials for offline use, view key dates, access tutorials and forums, and check module news.
Best suited to: enrolled Open University students who want mobile access to their registered modules.
Important limitation: the Open University states that free or paid learning hosted on partner websites such as OpenLearn is not currently available through OU Study. The app should therefore not be presented as a general OpenLearn or public CPD app.
FutureLearn is a major online learning platform, but it should not currently be described as a native mobile app. FutureLearn's own support information states that the FutureLearn app is not currently available.
The platform remains usable on phones and tablets through a supported mobile web browser. FutureLearn says its website is designed to work across mobile, tablet and desktop screen sizes.
Best suited to: learners who want university- and organisation-led online courses and are happy to study through a mobile browser.
Important distinction: older references to a FutureLearn app are now outdated. The provider's current support guidance says the native app is not available, so the correct description is a mobile-accessible learning platform.
LinkedIn Learning is both a web-based learning platform and a verified native mobile learning app. LinkedIn's official help centre confirms that LinkedIn Learning apps are available for iOS and Android phones and tablets.
The platform covers business, technology and creative subjects. LinkedIn also confirms that learners can download courses and videos for offline viewing through the mobile app, subject to the relevant account or subscription conditions.
Best suited to: professionals who want a broad skills library, regular video-based learning and the option to study offline on a phone or tablet.
Important distinction: completion of a LinkedIn Learning course does not automatically mean that the activity meets the CPD rules of every UK regulator or professional body. If you need formal CPD recognition, check the requirements that apply to your profession.
The right tool depends on what you actually need. A native app can be convenient, but app availability should not be the only deciding factor.
| Your Priority | Tool to Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Native mobile learning with offline access | LinkedIn Learning | Verified iOS and Android apps with offline downloads |
| Mobile study as an enrolled OU student | OU Study | Built specifically for registered Open University modules |
| Free-to-study browser-based courses | eLearning College | Online courses can be studied without a tuition fee; certification is optional |
| Free flexible browser-based professional learning | OHSC Free Courses | Free course access, materials and required assessments; optional certificates available separately |
| University and partner-led online courses | FutureLearn | Mobile-responsive website with a broad online course catalogue |
| Checking CPD-accredited providers | CPD Standards Office Directory | Searchable directory for accredited providers and activities |
A polished mobile interface does not tell you whether a course will meet your professional-development needs. Before committing time or money, check the following.
Start with the skill or knowledge you need to develop. Compare the syllabus and learning outcomes rather than choosing a platform simply because it has a large catalogue.
If you need CPD for a regulator, employer or professional body, check that organisation's rules directly. Requirements for accepted activities, hours, evidence and reflection can differ.
If offline study matters, confirm that a genuine native app exists and that the required content can be downloaded. A mobile-responsive website can work well online but may not offer the same offline functionality.
Check what evidence the platform provides. Depending on your purpose, you may need a certificate, assessment result, course record, reflection or another form of evidence.
“Free access” can mean different things. Some services provide free learning but charge for certificates, while others use subscriptions, individual course fees or restricted access periods.
Do not assume a mobile service works without an internet connection. Verify whether lessons, videos or documents can actually be downloaded and what account conditions apply.
A phone may be convenient for short videos or reading, while detailed written assessments or document-heavy courses can be easier on a larger screen.
Mobile access is most useful when it supports a clear development goal. Instead of collecting unrelated course completions, connect each activity to something you want to improve.
If you are still deciding what type of learning is appropriate, the CPDCourses.com CPD resources library covers planning, accreditation, career development and other professional-learning topics.
There is no single best native app for every profession. For learners prioritising free course access rather than an installed app, OHSC Free Courses is one of the browser-based learning options in this comparison. OU Study and LinkedIn Learning are verified native mobile apps, while FutureLearn, eLearning College and OHSC are better described as browser-based learning platforms. The CPD Standards Office provides accreditation and directory services.
No current native app was available when this guide was checked on 6 October 2026. FutureLearn's official support information states that its app is not currently available, although its website is designed to work on mobile and tablet browsers.
Yes. OU Study is available for iOS and Android. It is intended for students registered on Open University courses or qualifications and gives access to eligible module materials and study tools.
No. The Open University states that free or paid learning from partner websites such as OpenLearn is not currently available inside OU Study.
Yes. LinkedIn states that learners can download courses and videos for offline viewing through its mobile app, subject to the relevant account and subscription conditions.
OHSC is suited to learners who prioritise free, flexible online study. Its free-course model includes course access, online learning materials and required assessments without a course fee across a broad range of subjects. Certificates are optional paid products.
No native OHSC learner app was verified for this review. OHSC delivers its courses through an online learning platform accessed through a web browser, so it is more accurate to describe it as a browser-based learning service rather than an iOS or Android app.
No. OHSC states that eligible free courses include course access, learning materials and required assessments without a course fee, while certificates are optional paid products. Check the individual course page for the current certificate options and prices before ordering.
We did not verify an official native learner app. eLearning College delivers courses online, and its own guidance notes that compatible smartphones may be suitable for some course content.
It is primarily an independent CPD accreditation organisation. Its public CPD Directory can be used to search for accredited training providers and activities, but it should not be described as a general learner course app.
Not necessarily for every formal purpose. A learning activity can support professional development, but whether it satisfies a specific CPD requirement depends on the rules of the relevant employer, regulator or professional body.
No. A certificate can provide evidence of completion, but you should also consider the relevance of the syllabus, assessment, learning outcomes, provider status and whether the activity meets the requirements that apply to you.
Mobile technology can make professional learning easier to organise, but accurate product descriptions matter. A native app, mobile-friendly website, learning platform, directory and CPD tracker are different tools, and each solves a different problem.
For professionals who prioritise free flexible online learning, OHSC Free Courses is one of the browser-based options reviewed here because eligible courses include course access, learning materials and required assessments without a course fee. For professionals who specifically need a native mobile app, LinkedIn Learning and OU Study are the clearest verified app options, although OU Study is restricted to registered Open University students. FutureLearn, OHSC and eLearning College provide browser-based learning access, while the CPD Standards Office is best used for accreditation information and provider verification rather than course delivery.
Choose your platform by starting with the professional-development need, then check the course content, evidence, cost, mobile format and any requirements set by your employer or professional body. If free study access is your priority, consider OHSC Free Courses. If you want to compare additional structured professional-development courses, explore the CPDCourses.com course catalogue.
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