What Offline Learning is, and its three big limits
Alison courses are free to study online, but you cannot download or print course content from the website. Alison's help center says its publisher agreements mean course content can only be distributed through its website and app. The only way to study without a connection is Offline Learning inside the Alison App, which Alison says needs an internet connection only for the initial download.
Before you plan around it, check three limits that Alison states in its help center. If any of them applies to you, offline study will not work for that course.
- English only: Offline Learning is available for English-language courses only. Alison says it is exploring other languages but has not added them.
- Creator permission: some course creators have not granted Vimeo access, so their courses cannot be downloaded. The course page shows a banner saying offline access is not available, and a Suggest Offline Access button lets you register interest.
- Assessments stay online: quizzes, assessments and the final exam must be completed online so scores are logged, and you need a connection to earn a certificate or diploma.
What works offline and what still needs a connection
The practical result: you can do all the reading and video study offline, but each assessment needs a connected session. Budget a connected session for each quiz or assessment you reach, not just the final exam.
| Task | Offline? | What Alison says |
|---|---|---|
| Studying a downloaded course or module | Yes | After download, study without internet; reopen the app with data and Wi-Fi off |
| Downloading a course or a single module | No | Needs a stable connection and enough storage; Wi-Fi recommended for large courses |
| Quizzes, assessments and the final exam | No | Must be completed online so scores are logged to your account |
| Earning a certificate or diploma | No | Needs a connection; plan to be online for the final assessment |
| Getting course updates | No | Downloads do not update automatically; download again if the online course changes |
| Downloading or printing course content outside the app | Not offered | Publisher agreements limit distribution to the website and app |
| Non-English courses | Not offered | Offline Learning currently covers English-language courses only |
Lite or Unlimited: choosing a download plan
Prices are the in-app purchase items on Alison's US App Store listing on 30 October 2026. Google Play prices and other countries may differ, and Alison's help articles do not list prices, so confirm the amount in the app before paying.
At those listed prices, one Lite purchase ($3.00) is cheaper than a month of Unlimited ($5.00) if you will finish one course. Two Lite purchases ($6.00) already cost more than a month of Unlimited, so if you plan two or more courses in the same month, Unlimited is the better deal. The trade-off is permanence: Lite downloads stay on your device until you remove them, while Unlimited downloads are deleted when the subscription period ends.
Offline Learning is separate from Alison Premium, which removes adverts and gives certificate discounts.
| Plan | What you get | US App Store in-app price | When it ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite (one-time) | One course; once bought, the course choice cannot be changed | $3.00 (listed as Alison offline learning lite) | Downloads stay until you remove them |
| Unlimited (monthly) | As many courses as you like while subscribed | $5.00 (listed as Alison offline learning monthly sub) | Downloads deleted after the billing period in which you cancel |
| Unlimited (yearly) | Same as monthly, billed yearly | Not shown on the listing we checked | Same as monthly |
Device requirements and storage
Alison's help center lists Android 7 or higher and iOS 15.6 or higher as minimums for the app. The US App Store listing shows the iPhone app at 124.2 MB before any course downloads, and requires iOS or iPadOS 15.6 or later.
Alison does not publish course download sizes in the articles we read, but it repeatedly advises checking that your device has enough storage. If space is tight, download individual modules instead of the whole course. On Android, files downloaded in the app go to the Downloads folder; on iOS they go to the Files app.
Step by step: download and study offline
- Install the Alison App from the App Store or Google Play and sign in to the account you use on the website.
- Open an English-language course page. If you see a banner saying offline access is not available, the course cannot be downloaded.
- Tap the download icon. Buy Lite (choose the course now or later) or Unlimited.
- Connect to Wi-Fi, then choose the full course or specific modules to download.
- To study offline, close the app, turn off data and Wi-Fi, then reopen it.
- When you reach a quiz or assessment, reconnect and complete it online.
- If the online course changes, download it again; downloads do not update themselves.
A low-data study routine
This routine is for readers on a small mobile data allowance who have occasional Wi-Fi, for example at home, work or a library. It uses only the behaviour Alison documents.
Worked example (invented): Tomas has a small prepaid data plan and Wi-Fi only at a public library on Saturdays. He buys Lite for one English-language course. Each Saturday he downloads the next two modules on library Wi-Fi, completes last week's assessments while still connected, then removes finished modules to free space. During the week he studies offline on the bus. His mobile data is used only if he chooses to take an assessment away from Wi-Fi.
- Download one or two modules at a time on Wi-Fi, not the whole course, so failed downloads cost little and storage stays free.
- Study offline during the week and keep a short list of the assessments you have reached.
- Take all pending assessments in one connected session, ideally on the same Wi-Fi you use for downloads.
- Remove completed downloads afterwards. Alison says progress stays saved and Lite or active Unlimited users can download again later.
- Before your final assessment, make sure you have a reliable connection; it must be completed online.
Removing downloads, cancelling and troubleshooting
To remove a course, open your dashboard, select View Your Downloaded Courses, tap the three dots next to the course and choose Remove Download. Alison says course progress remains saved.
To cancel Unlimited, open the Alison App, go to Settings, then Offline Purchases and Subscriptions. Downloads stay available until the current billing period ends and are then deleted, but progress is saved and you can continue online. If you hold both plans, only Unlimited downloads are removed; Lite downloads stay until you remove them.
If downloads are slow or fail, Alison suggests a stable Wi-Fi connection, checking storage and downloading modules one at a time. If a downloaded course will not open, close the app, make sure you are fully offline, and reopen it before contacting support.
Who it suits and who should skip it
- Suits: commuters, travellers and readers with limited or expensive data who study English-language Alison courses and can get online for assessments.
- Suits: anyone finishing one course who can use Lite and keep the download.
- Skip: if your course is not in English or shows the not-available banner.
- Skip: if you rarely have any connection; you cannot complete assessments or earn a certificate offline.
- Skip: if you want printable notes; Alison does not offer downloadable or printable course material.
Questions before you decide
Can I take Alison assessments offline?
No. Alison says assessments, including the final exam, must be completed online so your scores are logged and your achievements appear on your account.
What happens to my offline downloads if I cancel Unlimited?
They stay available until the end of the current billing period and are then deleted. Alison says your course progress is saved and you can keep studying online. Courses downloaded with a Lite plan stay until you remove them.
Why can I not download some Alison courses?
Offline Learning covers English-language courses only, and some course creators have not granted Vimeo access. Those courses show a banner on the course page, and you can press Suggest Offline Access to register interest.
What phone do I need for the Alison app?
Alison lists Android 7 or higher and iOS 15.6 or higher. You also need enough free storage for the course or modules you download.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Alison Help Center: What is Alison Offline Learning? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: How can I get Offline Learning for my course? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Why can I not complete my course assessment with Offline Learning? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Why is my course not available for Offline Learning? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: How do I download the course after purchase? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Remove downloaded course Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: How do I cancel my Offline Learning subscription? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Common download issues in Offline Learning Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: How can I download the Alison App? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Where to find files downloaded in Alison App Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Can I download/print the course contents? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Alison Premium overview Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison: Online learning app page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Apple App Store (US): Alison: Online Education App listing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.