Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Future Skills Academy vs International Open Academy
Where Future Skills Academy and International Open Academy differ
| Compare |  Future Skills Academy |  International Open Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $25 | €129 |
| Price per month | $25 to $75 | €29.99 |
| Certificate fee | $299 | €23.99 |
| Free tier | YesHas it | No |
| Money-back period | 7 days | 14 daysHigher |
| Platform type | Curated | Subscription |
| Number of courses | 20 | 300Higher |
| Access period | 12 monthsHigher | 2 months |
| Price per year | Not confirmed | €169 |
| Course languages | Not confirmed | English, French, Spanish |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Graded assessments (Yes), Team plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- Future Skills Academy scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Free tier: only Future Skills Academy.
- Money-back period is higher at International Open Academy: 14 days vs 7 days.
- Number of courses is higher at International Open Academy: 300 vs 20.
- Access period is higher at Future Skills Academy: 12 months vs 2 months.
- Support channels: only International Open Academy offers Help centre.
- Subjects: only Future Skills Academy offers Coding, Data, It.
- Subjects: only International Open Academy offers Languages.
- Certificate types: only International Open Academy offers Completion.
Our verdict on each
Future Skills Academy
Future Skills Academy suits IT learners who want a professional certificate fast and a plan that already carries the exam. Entry costs $25, monthly pricing runs $25 to $75 and the certificate adds $299, the figure to weigh against Hotmart at $0 and a refund window of 7 days.
International Open Academy
International Open Academy suits learners who want one subscription covering many subjects rather than a single certificate, and it prices below the certificate specialists. It holds an overall score of 8.7 out of ten, and the team plan makes it workable for a small group buying together.
Score breakdown
| Area | Future Skills Academy | International Open Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9HigherEntry plan at $25, monthly plan at $25 to $75, and a separate certificate at $299 keep the opening outlay low but the award costly. | 8.7Subscription pricing starts at €129, monthly billing is €29.99 and yearly is €169, with a certificate fee of €23.99. |
| Offer | 8.8HigherFree tier, offline download, assessments, job support and tutor support sit alongside 20 courses inside 12 months of access. | 8.7A subscription catalogue of 300 courses in English, French and Spanish, covering business and languages, with assessments yes and a team plan yes. |
| Trust | 8.8CPD credit recognition, assessments and a professional certificate support the claim, while the refund window of 7 days is the weak point. | 8.8Money back runs 14 days, and support runs on email and help centre. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Future Skills Academy | International Open Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 7 days | 14 days |
| Number of courses | 20 | 300 |
| Access period | 12 months | 2 months |
Licences and countries
| Country | Future Skills Academy | International Open Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Ireland |
A third option
Alison has number of courses at 6,000, against 20 for Future Skills Academy and 300 for International Open Academy.
Alison reviewWhat we checked
Future Skills Academy
- futureskillsacademy.com: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
International Open Academy
- internationalopenacademy.com: 18 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Future Skills Academy | International Open Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 2 of 269 | 17 of 269 |
| Online professional certificates | 2 of 86 | 8 of 86 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Future Skills Academy | International Open Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Coding, Data, It, Business | Business, Languages |
| Certificate types | Professional | Completion, ProfessionalCovers more |
| Credit recognition | Cpd | Cpd |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | North Royal Training Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Ireland |
| Support channels | Email, Help centreCovers more |
Certifications
| Fact | Future Skills Academy | International Open Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | It | Not confirmed |
| Course hours | 10 hours | Not confirmed |
| Teaching practicum | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Exam fee included | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Tutor support | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Job support | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | 4 | Not confirmed |
| Delivery | Online | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Future Skills Academy | International Open Academy | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per year | Not confirmed | €169below the median | €180 |
| Money-back period | 7 dayslowest quarter | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
| Number of courses | 20lowest quarter | 300above the median | 240 |
| Access period | 12 monthsat the median | 2 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 169 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Future Skills Academy
Pros
- The entry plan at $25 sits above Hotmart at $0 and level with Academy for Health and Fitness at £25.
- The exam fee is included, so $299 is the full cost of the professional certificate rather than the start of it.
- A free tier, offline download and job support all sit inside the plan, so a learner can sample the material and keep studying away from a connection.
Cons
- The refund window of 7 days ranks 120 of 159, the weakest of the measures tracked here.
- The certificate fee of $299 sits at 47 of 47 among the brands compared.
- Support runs on email alone, so questions to the platform travel in writing.
International Open Academy
Pros
- A single subscription price of €29.99 covers 300 courses, so the cost per course falls as study volume rises.
- The yearly option at €169 costs less per year than paying the monthly rate, which is the cheaper choice for steady learners.
- Courses run in English, French and Spanish, which suits learners who want to study in a second language.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no live channel listed for questions that cannot wait for email.
- There is no free tier, so the 14 day money back window is the only way to test the subscription before paying for a longer period.
- The certificate is not included in the subscription, so €23.99 sits on top of €29.99 for anyone who needs the document.
Who each suits
Future Skills Academy
Who it suits
- Learners in IT who want a professional certificate with the exam fee already inside the price.
- Self-paced learners who want delivery fully online, with a free tier and offline download for study on the move.
- Teams covering several learners, since a team plan is available.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who need a free start, since Hotmart lists $0 as its entry plan price.
- Learners who want a wider catalogue than 20 courses and can accept another subject, where DRCertifications starts at $19.99.
- Anyone who needs a refund window longer than 7 days, since the field reaches 360 days at its most generous.
International Open Academy
Who it suits
- Learners who want broad business and languages study on one subscription instead of a single course purchase
- Anyone budgeting monthly, since the monthly and yearly plans let you switch between a smaller and a larger commitment
- Groups and small teams that want a shared subscription and completion or professional certificates
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who only need a professional certificate in a regulated field, who will find DRCertifications cheaper at $19.99 for a single route
- Anyone who wants to browse before paying, since there is no free tier and no trial to sample the catalogue
- Learners after a wide technology catalogue, who get more subject choice from Hotmart
Questions about each
Future Skills Academy
What does it cost to join Future Skills Academy?+
The entry plan is priced at $25 and the monthly plan runs $25 to $75. A free tier is offered as well, so a learner can look at the material before paying anything. The professional certificate is not folded into either figure and is charged on its own.
How much is the certificate, and is the exam included?+
The professional certificate costs $299. The exam fee is included in the plan, which means $299 is the whole award cost rather than a starting point with an exam charge on top. Course fees and the certificate sit on separate lines in the budget.
International Open Academy
How much does International Open Academy cost to start?+
The entry price is €129, and the platform runs as a subscription rather than a one off purchase. Monthly billing is €29.99 and the yearly plan is €169. Buyers who already know they will study for a full year find the yearly rate the cheaper commitment.
Is there a certificate included in the subscription?+
No. The certificate is charged separately at €23.99, on top of the subscription. Two types are offered, completion and professional, so a learner taking a single course or a longer route can pick the document that matches the course. Budget the fee on top of €29.99 if you plan to pay monthly.
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