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Best Microsoft Office Classes On-Demand: Reviews, Ratings, and Comparison

Most people interested in improving skills for Microsoft Office applications usually find either in-person courses or live online training. However, a tight work schedule or other obligations might make fitting in time for attending any type of class difficult.

Because of circumstances like these, some people decide to take on-demand courses. On-demand training offers an introduction for learning new skills in a variety of subjects. On-demand courses offer a great alternative that allows people who are more structured and motivated to train at their own pace. This is why on-demand training could help with learning Microsoft Office.

Office software serves as a staple in workplaces throughout the world but also contributes to basic household functions such as logging bills or collecting recipes. Microsoft Office offers applications like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook that perform tasks for word processing, professional-looking presentations, basic data analysis, and email communication. 

Now known as Microsoft 365, Office helps users get work done inside offices or remotely from home by being able to share documents and files online and through the cloud. Anyone working anywhere from a corporate office to a freelance agency to an academic institution uses Microsoft 365 for everything from basic workplace organizing to production design. This means that training in Microsoft Office can deliver the skills required for designing, composing, editing, saving, printing or uploading documents and files to help with developing and maintaining an efficient working environment. Microsoft 365 serves as the hub for working inside offices or at home by being able to work on assignments seamlessly from one place to another. 

On-demand courses vary in how training gets delivered to participants, giving those with busy work schedules or other obligations flexibility with scheduling for taking on training with Microsoft applications. While many on-demand classes are taught using video recordings of lectures with practical exercises, others use digital modules along with hands-on exercises and traditional courses workbooks. Because on-demand courses differ starkly from learning inside a traditional classroom or at a computer through live online training, students should research the various options available to make informed decisions about which on-demand training providers to enroll with.

Office provides a suite of applications for writing documents, compiling spreadsheets, and developing presentations along with other tasks and media. Office software has been designed to handle a variety of work-related functions, including composing documents, building databases, organizing spreadsheets, and designing promotional materials. This includes Microsoft Word for word processing, Excel for spreadsheet functions that include charts and graphs, Access for creating and maintaining databases, and PowerPoint for designing and developing bprofessional-looking presentations. Training in Microsoft Office can provide individuals with the core skills needed for finding the right career. 

On-demand training lets students learn new skills at their own pace and on their own time, which allows them to slow down the training if they come across an area of a topic that they find difficult or if they need to postpone a lesson because something else has come up that interrupts their day-to-day routine. Alternately, students may choose to speed up the pace of learning in an area to get ahead to create time for some other activity. However, on-demand courses require strong self-motivation to avoid the temptation of continually putting off lessons. It’s also a good idea for students to set up their own schedule or syllabus as an incentive for keeping pace with turning in assignments. In a nutshell, on-demand training provides a convenient and effective way for learning new skills.

The # Best On-Demand Microsoft Office Classes

  1. Udemy—Ultimate Microsoft Office; Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Access
  2. ONLC Training Centers—Office 365 On-Demand: Office 365 Introduction
  3. Business Computer Skills—Microsoft Excel (365/2021) On-Demand Course
  4. ITU—Microsoft Word 2019 Training
  5. LinkedIn Learning—Outlook Essential Training (Microsoft 365)
  6. Business Computer Skills—Microsoft Excel (365/2021) On-Demand Course
  7. SkillPath—Mastering Microsoft Excel for Office 365 100 
  8. Udemy—Microsoft Excel—40 Exercises for Beginners—Learn by Doing 
  9. ONLC Training Centers—PowerPoint 2019 On-Demand: Comprehensive (Part 1 & Part 2)
  10. LinkedIn Learning—PowerPoint 2021 Essential Training (Office 2021/LTSC)

#1: Udemy—Ultimate Microsoft Office; Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Access

People looking to improve their skills for using Microsoft Office applications can enroll in the Ultimate Microsoft Office; Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Access online course available through Udemy. This course provides comprehensive training in Office-related software. Because people and organizations throughout the world use Microsoft Office suites for improving productivity, training to learn how to unlock the full potential for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, or managing databases and email could help with enhancing any career.

This course trains participants in basic and advanced skills for the Office applications Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and Access. Lessons include learning about recovering Excel spreadsheets and never losing data; adding animation, audio, and video to PowerPoint presentations; inserting bprofessional-looking pictures and graphics into Word documents; and using the Outlook Calendar for setting meetings, assignments, and appointments.

Upon completing this course, participants will gain comprehensive knowledge in the Microsoft applications Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Access, Teams, and OneNote.

Key Information

This nine-course bundle of 70.5 hours of on-demand video costs $160.

Prerequisites: Enrollees must have Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Teams, and Outlook installed on their computers–preferably Office 2019 or Office 365.

More Details

This course has been designed for individuals who have no experience with using Microsoft Office as well as those looking to upgrade skills with an updated version for improving productivity in the workplace or at home.

Upon finishing training, students will receive a certificate of completion.

All lessons have been recorded for this course using the 2019 versions of Microsoft Office and are applicable for participants training in Office 2013,2016, or Office 365 while the Microsoft Teams and Microsoft OneNote tutorials were recorded using Office 365.

#2: ONLC Training Centers—Office 365 On-Demand: Office 365 Introduction

Students can enroll with ONLC Training Centers for the Office 365 On-Demand: Office 365 Introduction on-demand course that helps them learn skills with Office applications by training on their own schedule. ONLC has gathered self-study resources that allow individuals to train on their own in this Instructor-led Microsoft training course. Office 365 is Microsoft’s cloud-based application suite that includes Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive that focus on accessibility to documents, files, and communication that provides mobility as well as facilitating collaboration. This course provides comprehensive training for software and services available through Office 365 for participants to learn on their own time and at their own pace for gaining the knowledge that can help them contribute to productivity and efficiency in any working environment.

ONLC trains students through learning modules with reading, hands-on projects, knowledge checks, and hours of video instruction where students can follow-along in learning from expert instructors. Lessons include learning to navigate the OneDrive interface for managing and integrating Office 365 applications that includes working with email, scheduling meetings, and collaborating with colleagues though working simultaneously within the cloud.

Key Information

This digital training course includes seven hours of video presentations that equals a single-day session for a traditional class at the cost of $175. This is a Microsoft On-Demand (self-study) course available for 180-day with 24/7 access via the internet.

Prerequisites: Students must have basic knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office, but no prior Office 365 experience is necessary.

More Details

This course is designed for individuals who have no experience with Office 365 and those considering using Office 365 for improving efficiency and productivity within their organizations.

Because on-demand content is presented through multiple sources, the sequencing of that content may vary from source to source.

ONLC Training Centers guides participants through official Microsoft content by directing them through training that provides interactive learning modules along with reading, hands-on projects, knowledge checks, and short videos.

#3: Business Computer Skills—Microsoft Office—On-Demand Course

The online education provider Business Computer Skills offers the Microsoft Office—On-Demand Course that allows students to learn at their own pace through on-demand training. This course provides a comprehensive overview of Microsoft Office in a single self-paced course that can help individuals with contributing to efficiency and productivity in any working environment.

Students will learn from expert instructors who lead training through hands-on projects. Participants will be able to access the course at any time, which provides the most convenient class schedule possible at an affordable price that helps students in achieving their learning goals.

This self-paced course provides training in the fundamental Office applications. Upon completing this course, students will have comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook.

Key Information

This on-demand course costs $99 for a six-month license with 24-hour, seven-day-a-week availability along with unlimited repeats.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.

More Details

Business Computer Skills offers professional IT training services for people interested in improving their skills with technology.

Business Computer Skills provides expert instructors who train students using hands-on lessons that they can access at their own convenience for learning when they want to.

#4: ITU—Microsoft Word 2019 Training

Students can enroll in the Microsoft Word 2019 Training on-demand course for improving skills with the popular word processing application. This course provides participants with basic training in Microsoft Word for using in both professional and personal capacities. Word is the world’s most widely-used word processing software that people and businesses use for a variety of purposes.

Microsoft Word provides a great tool for all types of work involving business, education, marketing, or personal projects that people are able to access on desktop computers, tablets, and even smartphones that helps them get whatever they need done.

This course breaks down training into three categories–basic, intermediate, and advanced–for maximizing skills with the word processing application. Upon completing this course, students will have a better understanding of Microsoft Word for contributing to productivity at work and at home.

Key Information

This course costs $9 for four hours of on-demand training from 39 videos.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites have been listed for this course.

More Details

It should be noted that while this course trains students based on an older version of Microsoft Word, the training nonetheless offers a worthwhile opportunity for improving skill for learning the software application.

#5: LinkedIn Learning—Outlook Essential Training (Microsoft 365)

LinkedIn Learning provides individuals with a convenient way for improving skills through the Outlook Essential Training (Microsoft 395) on-demand course. This course trains students in fundamental knowledge for Microsoft Outlook. Outlook provides features and functions that can help individuals and organizations work as a team by allowing them to set up meetings, track assignments, or collaborate with colleagues in a cloud environment.

This beginner-level course offers lessons on the Outlook interface for connecting, composing, sending, and reading email as well as reducing inbox clutter and sharing contacts. Training includes learning how to schedule meetings, assignments, or and events using the calendar function.

Upon completing this course, students will have better knowledge of Outlook for setting up and managing email, calendars, and contacts with the Microsoft 365 version.

Key Information

This course provides nearly two and a half hours of on-demand training for learning skills with Microsoft Outlook. LinkedIn Learning requires a subscription that costs $40 for the course alone or through a one-month free trial subscription. LinkedIn Learning allows students to upgrade technical skills through video-based training that provides unlimited access for a monthly fee.

Prerequisites: This beginner-level course has no prerequisites, but students must have high-speed internet to access the class on desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones.

More Details

Students who finish this course will receive a Certificate of Completion that they can display in their LinkedIn profile in the “Licenses and Certifications” section. The Certificate of Completion can also be downloaded or printed as a PDF. 

This course is part of a learning path for becoming an Outlook 2013 Microsoft Office Specialist.

Lessons also include training focused on Outlook’s accessibility features for users with disabilities as well as tools for helping to ensure accessibility with their email and calendar invites.

#6: Business Computer Skills—Microsoft Excel (365/2021)—On-Demand Course

Students can enroll in the Microsoft Excel (365/2021)—On-Demand Course from Business Computer Skills for optimizing use with the spreadsheet application. This self-paced on-demand course provides training on basic, intermediate, and advanced functions and features for Microsoft Excel. Students will learn from expert instructors who provide hands-on lessons at an affordable cost through on-demand learning that allows individuals to learn at their own convenience.

Training includes lessons on a variety of Excel functions, including calculations and visualizing data that can help with improving efficiency in any workplace. Additionally, Excel can be used at home for hobbies like collecting recipes or with genealogy for creating an ancestry chart. Upon completing this course, students will have a better understanding of Microsoft Excel for various purposes.

Key Information

This on-demand course costs $99 for a six-month license with 24-hour, seven-day-a-week availability that includes unlimited repeats.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.

More Details

Business Computer Skills offers professional IT training services for people interested in improving their skills with technology.

Business Computer Skills provides expert instructors who train students with hands-on projects that they can access at their convenience.

#7: SkillPath—Mastering Microsoft Excel for Office Level 100

SkillPath offers the Mastering Microsoft Excel for Office 365 Level 100 on-demand training course. This course offers training in the how-tos for learning about spreadsheets, forecasts, graphs, and financial reporting that includes time-saving shortcuts and techniques. 

Participants can use this course for updating their skills with Excel spreadsheets from video tutorials that provide content written and taught by Certified Microsoft Office Specialist Masters. These videos offer tips, tricks, and shortcuts for gaining insight with using Excel in a variety of capacities. This fundamental yet comprehensive training in the spreadsheet application provides hands-on knowledge for creating PivotTables, building datasets, learning conditional formatting, and analyzing data. 

Upon completing this course, students will have comprehensive knowledge in the fundamentals of Microsoft Excel through learning at their own pace and on their own time.

Key Information

This course provides nearly three and a half hours of on-demand video training through a one-year single user license that costs $199.

Prerequisites: This on-demand course lists no prerequisites.

More Details

The link for participating in this on-demand training course will be delivered in a separate email after enrollees receive their order confirmation.

#8: Udemy—Microsoft Excel—40 Exercises for Beginners—Learn by Doing

Students can take the Microsoft Excel—40 Exercises for Beginners—Learn by Doing on-demand course for learning about the spreadsheet applications through a series of practical exercises. This course teaches beginners by using a practical approach to learning about Microsoft Excel as a tool for contributing to workplace efficiency and productivity. 

Training for this course focuses on building a solid understanding in the fundamentals of the spreadsheet software by using over 40 practical exercises that duplicate real-world experience. The course starts with the fundamentals for using Excel that includes learning about PivotTables and PivotCharts for analyzing datasets and applying formulas and functions.

The purpose of this course is to improve on skills for using Microsoft Excel. Upon completing this course, students will be able to build their own Excel spreadsheets for functions ranging from collecting data to compiling a list of recipes.

Key Information

This six-hour on-demand video course costs $60.

Prerequisites: This course has been created using Excel 2016 but includes features for working with Excel 2010,2013,2016, and 2019.

More Details

This course is designed for beginning students who have no experience with Excel. However, anyone with knowledge in Excel may benefit by improving skills with the spreadsheet application through learning by doing.

#9: ONLC Training Centers—PowerPoint 2019 On-Demand: Comprehensive (Part 1 & Part 2)

Students can enroll at ONLC Training Centers to take the PowerPoint 2019 On-Demand: Comprehensive (Part 1 & Part 2) on-demand course. The course provides training in two stages for learning about the presentation application.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2019 Level 1 introduces students to the presentation software with lessons on performing advanced text editing operations, adding and arranging graphics, and modifying graphic elements for creating demonstrations.

The Microsoft PowerPoint Level 2 stage teaches students about customizing design templates using ink to hand draw elements, adding tables, adding charts, working with media, and building advanced transitions and animations for finalizing a presentation. Lessons also include how to customize presentation navigation for securing and distributing the intended message.

Upon completing this course, students will have comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint for creating professional-looking presentations for business, education, or marketing products and events.

Key Information

This on-demand course provides five and a half hours of video training that equals two days of classroom training for $395.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for taking this course.

More Details

Students can take this course at any time with no set dates for completion. This on-demand, self-study training course includes expert lectures, demonstrations, and exercises. The 180-day course access period begins at the time of purchase.

Because on-demand content is presented through multiple sources, the sequencing of content may vary from source to source. 

ONLC Training guides participants through the official Microsoft Learn content by directing them through this training platform that provides interactive learning modules from reading, hands-on experiences, knowledge checks, and short videos.

When enrollees purchase this on-demand course from ONLC, they will receive a printed Learning Guide for access to downloadable practice files at no extra charge. Students must already have the PowerPoint application purchased or have access through a free trial to work with the practice files. It should be noted that printed materials are not provided when purchasing the Office On-Demand Comprehensive bundle or when Office On-Demand is included with the All You Can Learn offer.

#10: LinkedIn Learning—PowerPoint 2021 Essential Training (Office 2021/LTSC)

LinkedIn Learning provides anyone interested in using PowerPoint with a convenient method for improving skills with the presentation software through the PowerPoint 2021 Essentials Training (Office 2021/LTSC) on-demand course. This course provides training for designing and developing bprofessional-looking presentations that include graphics, animation, video, and audio.

An effective PowerPoint presentation can have a greater impact than a simple speech or handouts. Many people tasked with having to make a presentation may not even have much of a background for designing anything much less detailed visual demonstration. However, with PowerPoint, a person does not need to possess elaborate design skills to create visually appealing presentations.

Through this course, students will gain skills with PowerPoint for creating, editing, and presenting compelling and engaging visual presentations. Training includes lessons on the basics for creating modern, bprofessional-looking presentations developed from effective layouts with colors, text and tables, and graphics as well as animation and video that provide audiences with an engaging demonstration. Training includes learning how to organize slides that look professional and clear with the purpose of getting a message across to an audience.

Upon completing this course, students will have fundamental knowledge for delivering effective and compelling PowerPoint presentations to a variety of audiences that includes adding speaker notes that only the presenter can see as well as automating a presentation using multiple screens or sharing a presentation with spectators following the initial demonstration for later reference.

Key Information

This course provides one hour and 40 minutes of on-demand video training for improving skills in Microsoft PowerPoint. LinkedIn Learning requires a subscription that costs $40 for the course alone or a one-month free trial subscription to enroll. LinkedIn Learning allows participants to upgrade technical skills through video-based training in a subscription platform that provides unlimited access for a monthly fee.

Prerequisites: This beginner level course has no prerequisites, but students must have a high-speed internet connection for access on desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.

More Details

Students finishing this course will receive a Certificate of Completion that they can display in their LinkedIn profile under the “Licenses and Certifications” section. The Certificate of Completion can also be downloaded, printed, or saved as a PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an On-demand Microsoft Office Class Worth It?

Students may consider on-demand courses to get familiar with the basics for using Microsoft Office software because many people have jobs or other obligations that would make enrolling in a traditional in-person class or live online course difficult. On-demand training allows students to learn new skills at their own pace, on their own time for getting fundamental knowledge with the client software used in business, education, and for personal tasks. On-demand courses provide a good method for structured and ambitious individuals who don’t need deadlines or the threat of failing an assignment as a whip for completing lessons.

On-demand training offers students an educational option that provides scheduling flexibility for anyone who simply doesn’t have the time to enroll in a class despite having a desire to learn. Many on-demand courses are taught using video recordings of lectures, presentations, or practical exercises. Several classes are structured in digital modules with hands-on exercises or traditional course workbooks. Because there are so many different types of on-demand courses available, anyone considering this approach to learning should research their options to make an appropriate and informed decision about their future.

Some students may choose to take on-demand classes for improving knowledge with Microsoft Office applications through a method that provides them with scheduling flexibility for training at their own convenience. 

What Will I Need for an On-demand Microsoft Office Class?

Generally, anyone enrolled in online training for Microsoft Office on-demand courses will need to have a computer with a high-speed internet connection. Additionally, students will need to have some familiarity with basic computer skills that includes being able to boot up, log in, and navigate an internet browser. Many online education providers require students to have licensed access to Microsoft Office applications for participating in on-demand courses.

Can I Learn Microsoft Office On-demand for Free?

While many people would love the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of Microsoft Office applications, a busy work schedule and other obligations might not allow them the privilege of being able to enroll in a traditional class. However, there are options for anyone interested in picking up skills with Excel, PowerPoint, or other office applications. There are free tutorials, YouTube videos, online seminars, and blog posts for picking up initial knowledge for anyone new to Office software.

For people who don’t feel quite ready to take on a full-time or part-time course for training to improve skills with Microsoft Office applications, there are free training options available from various online sources. This includes Noble Desktop, which offers the Top 10 Beginning Excel Tricks You Need to Know and the PowerPoint Presentation Design seminars. Coursesity offers free Microsoft Office Courses online, MakeUse Of has the REPLACE vs. SUBSTITUTE in Microsoft Excel: What’s the Difference? seminar, and Udemy’s provides the free Microsoft Office 2016 Suite of Applications video tutorial. These types of classes allow beginning students to learn the basic functions associated with InDesign by providing a good foundation for future training.

Is It Better to Learn Microsoft Office in a Live or Self-paced Class?

Students can enroll in live online training courses or on-demand classes to improve knowledge in Microsoft Office applications. Taking a virtual learning class, as opposed to training inside a classroom, can provide individuals with the scheduling flexibility of being able to take a course from the comfort of their own home. The advantage of taking an on-demand class is that students can train at their own pace, on their own time, and from wherever they please.

In addition to live online or on-demand courses, there are also tutorials and videos available for initial training to improve skills with Office applications like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Anyone interested in improving on skills with Office applications has the option of on-demand training that can fit any schedule. Unlike live online courses–which despite providing the convenience of being able to learn from the comfort of a person’s home still requires participants to participate at a designated time–on-demand training provides nearly complete scheduling flexibility that allows students to train at their own pace and on their own time, avoiding the stress of any conflict with work schedules or other commitments. On-demand tutorials like Coursera’s Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Specialization to help students quickly learn the basics for using Office applications.

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