9 Best Coursera Competitors & Coursera Alternatives 2024

Are you looking for the best Coursera competitors or a Coursera alternative?

You have come to the right place. If you want to build new skills, train for a particular career, make a career change or learn for fun, an online course is a fantastic way to access courses on demand through video streaming. You can learn cost-effectively, flexibly working around your other commitments in the comfort of your own home. Several excellent Coursera competitors offer classes on various topics ranging from short courses linked to a particular work skill or hobby to full graduate-level degrees.

Coursera is an excellent online education platform, but there are many alternatives. Everyone wants the best experience and value for money, so I will help you navigate the options. I will review the 9 best Coursera competitors and alternatives, along with a summary of my top 3 choices so that you can find the right combination of pricing, features and course options for you. Then, at the end of the blog, I will outline Coursera’s offer, as it will provide a point of comparison with its competitors.

best for Online Degrees and STEM

4.8 out of 5

★★★★★

edX

Elevate your career with edX. Accredited, STEM-focused, and offering free classes, edX provides flexible learning from leading universities. Explore microdegrees, enjoy a 14-day money-back guarantee, and advance your skills affordably.

Enroll today

best for Career Support

4.5 out of 5

★★★★★

Udacity

Udacity stands out for job-focused Nanodegrees with one-on-one mentorship and career coaching. It provides valuable hands-on learning and personalized feedback, making it a worldwide go-to platform for tech careers.

Enroll today

best foR Business Courses and Niche Topics

4.3 out of 5

★★★★★

Udemy

Explore over 210,000 courses on Udemy—ideal for business and niche topics. Benefit from a vast catalog, flexible learning, diverse subjects, and frequent discounts. Learn from experts, preview classes, and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Enroll today

Who am I, and why should you trust my reviews?

My name is Brian Vander Waal and I have invested more than 17 years advising clients on the best courses and learning options for them based on their career goals. Many websites like Coursera offer online education, so I have spent hundreds of hours evaluating them. Based on my expertise and research, I will advise you on the best options for you.

Key Takeaways

• Coursera is a well-regarded online education platform, but there are many alternatives to consider depending on your needs.
• edX: Focuses on online degrees and STEM fields with accredited courses from reputable universities.
• Udacity: Offers job-focused Nanodegrees with one-on-one mentorship and career coaching, which is ideal for career development.
• Udemy: Boasts the largest course catalogue with over 210,000 options in various subjects, often at discounted prices.
• MasterClass: Provides celebrity-taught courses for a unique and inspiring learning experience.
• Pluralsight: Specializes in technology skills for the workplace, is trusted by major companies and offers affordable subscriptions.
• Skillshare: Caters to creative development with a wide range of creative and lifestyle courses.
• FutureLearn: Shines in online UK courses and degrees, partnering with prestigious universities and organizations.
• LinkedIn Learning: Geared towards professional skills development and networking, valuable for career advancement.
• Khan Academy: Offers free, high-quality courses for school students across many subjects.

What are the Best Coursera Competitors and Alternatives?

1. edX– Best Among Coursera Competitors for Online Degrees and STEM

EdX is one of the top Coursera competitors and an excellent alternative to consider. 2U, one of the world’s leading digital education companies, operates it. EdX is similar to Coursera in the way it structures its lessons, offers students certificates for completing courses, and groups of related courses called ‘XSeries.’ Harvard and MIT established this online education platform, which has taught more than 81 million people and garnered 110 million enrollments since its launch.

Degree Offer

In partnership with more than 250 leading institutions (e.g., Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Boston University, Google, etc.), edX offers professional degree certificates (both undergraduate and graduate). They also offer “micro” degree programs at bachelor’s and master’s levels to support people’s professional development and help them advance their careers.

Course Offer

EdX features more than 4400 online programs from 15,000+ real college instructors all over the world in topics such as Computer Science, Languages, Engineering, Math, Psychology, Communication, Writing, Electronics, Chemistry, Biology, Agriculture, Art, Design, Food & Nutrition, History, Music, Philosophy, Marketing, and more. By completing these courses, you can achieve a certificate and online college degree or apply your credits toward a degree at a university. Attending edX courses can also be a clever way to start researching degree programs.

Further, in partnership with Arizona State University, edX offers a “Global Freshman Academy” to earn transferrable undergraduate credits for select lessons. These classes include lectures, reading material, assignments, discussions, quizzes, and more.

Free and Paid Courses

One of the major advantages of edX is that many of its courses are free. However, if you want to complete graded assignments, access the full material, and have a “verified certificate” that you passed the course to provide to a current or future employer, you must pay approximately $50 – £300 per class. Boot camps, Professional Education, Executive Education, bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees may cost more. For example, you must pay $150 to $1,000 for Professional Certificate Programs.

The quality of courses is the same for free and paid courses, but you will not get the certificate if you do not pay. A full degree on edX could cost thousands, but it is still significantly cheaper and more flexible than doing a degree program in person at a university.

2. Udacity – Best Among Coursera Competitors for Career Support

Udacity is another one of Coursera’s competitors, with over 16.9 million users in more than 240 countries. However, Udacity’s platform differs slightly from Coursera’s and many other online education platforms.

Nanodegrees

Udacity’s primary focus is “Nanodegrees” rather than individual classes. Nanodegrees take an average of 4 months to complete and include multiple lessons, projects, hands-on practice, real-world applications, individual code reviews, personalized reviews, class discussions, and one-on-one technical mentoring by experts.

Additionally, students have access to career coaches and advisors who work with them on developing their resumes, LinkedIn profiles and work samples. This is one of the aspects that I believe is most valuable about Udacity’s offer.

Nanodegrees are expensive. The price starts at $399 a month and can go up to $1,995 for four-month access to some courses. However, as mentioned above, they offer excellent value for money due to all the included extras. Also, the degree courses and partial degrees offered by other online education providers are also expensive.

Courses

Udacity focuses on helping people to advance their careers through their courses. As part of this focus, Udacity offers courses in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, programming, web development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, business, career, applying for jobs, and interviewing.

Udacity has a remarkable line-up of teachers from Google, Facebook, Salesforce, Amazon, IBM, YouTube, and more. All their instructors are industry experts with more than 5 years of experience. Udacity has courses in the most in-demand fields.

Further, the platform provides a Bootcamp style of learning. They have a variety of courses available for those trying to develop a new skill set and also for those looking to expand their knowledge of a certain topic.

Pricing: Free and Paid Courses

Udacity offers both free and paid online courses. They offer free programming, data science, web development, product management, marketing, cybersecurity, and more courses.

3. Udemy – Best Among Coursera Competitors for Business Courses and Niche Topics

Are you ready to advance your career with online courses? Are you seeking a training solution for your employees?

Picture this: a platform with 210,000+ courses at your fingertips, covering every topic imaginable. It seemed unbelievable until I came across Udemy, a powerhouse among Coursera competitors. Imagine exploring a plethora of business courses and niche topics, guided by over 75,000 stellar instructors in 75 languages. In this Udemy review, I will discuss the key features of Udemy; what I like, what I dislike, its plans and pricing, and more. By the end of this blog, you should have a clearer idea of whether this platform is right for you or your organization.

Udemy is one of the top Coursera competitors and is a very good Coursera alternative. Although their offer is quite different from Coursera’s in many ways, They have significantly more courses available than Coursera and most other online learning platforms, offering more than 210,000 online courses with new additions published every month. You will likely find it on Udemy if you want to learn something.

Udemy has over 75,000 instructors, with courses taught in seventy-five languages, so you will find an online course in almost every subject area and niche. They have had over 67 million student learners and over 900 million course enrolments. With those numbers, you can be confident they are doing something right. They also have more than 15,000 enterprise customers.

Free and Discounted Courses

Udemy may be especially appealing to you if you are on a budget because they offer many free courses and frequent discounts and specials on their paid classes. Many experts, professors, entrepreneurs, and professionals teach Udemy’s free courses. Udemy also enables students to preview classes they find interesting and provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Courses

One of the biggest differences between Udemy and Coursera is that unlike Coursera (and EdX and Udacity), they do not rely on partnerships with universities and companies to provide their material. As a result, almost anyone can put together an online course to teach on Udemy and they can teach on almost any topic.

Another difference is that Udemy does not offer courses that count toward a university degree. However, some of their courses may count towards a skilled trade certification.

Udemy offers courses in business, marketing, design, development, IT, programming, software, tech, teaching, productivity, language, music, arts, photography, health, lifestyle, hobbies, and much more.

Pricing

There is no clear pricing structure. Courses cost from $9-$300+ for an individual course, but Udemy often provides huge discounts on their courses.

They also offer four Udemy Plans

Summary

Udemy stands tall among online learning platforms. It offers a staggering selection of courses and empowers learners worldwide. With its diverse range of subjects, flexible learning options, and a wealth of talented instructors, Udemy caters to people seeking growth and expertise.

While quirks in pricing and the absence of accredited certifications may give pause, the platform’s commitment to accessible education, frequent discounts, and a 30-day money-back guarantee make it a worthy contender.

Seize the opportunity, explore the vast number of professional courses, and let Udemy be your guide to continuous learning and personal growth. Get started now and develop your skills with Udemy’s expansive universe of knowledge!

4. MasterClass – Best Among Coursera Competitors for Celebrity Taught Courses

MasterClass is another one of Coursera’s competitors and provides a refreshing alternative to Coursera and many other online learning platforms. MasterClass offer courses taught by celebrities, providing students with an incredibly unique and fun opportunity to learn from their expertise and experience. For example, you can learn:

• ‘Cooking’ from Gordon Ramsey,
• ‘Filmmaking’ from Martin Scorsese,
• ‘Writing’ from R.L. Stein,
• ‘Leadership Skills’ from Anna Wintour,
• ‘Photography’ from Annie Leibovitz
• And much more.

Courses

MasterClass provide video-based courses with lectures, practical advice, demonstrations, class discussions, workbooks and more. Most of the courses have around twenty lessons. As a result, you can learn the topic in depth in a very meaningful way. Most of the sessions are, on average, about 10 minutes in length.

Course topics include acting, arts, entertainment, business, music, creative writing, food, sports, gaming, design, style, science, tech and more.

Pricing and Plans

MasterClass has three membership plans, which allow you to attend as many courses as you want within the subscription.

Individual Plan

• Currently, it is $6 / £6 per month but is billed annually.
• It costs $10 / £10 per month when at full price but is billed annually.
• You can watch on one device at a time

Duo Plan

• Currently, it is $9 / £9 per month but is billed annually.
• It costs $15 / £14 per month but is billed annually.
• You can watch on two devices at the same time.
• This allows you to learn with a friend or family member who lives with you with one shared profile.
• You can also download the classes and watch them offline.

Family Plan (Best Value)

• Currently, it is $12 / £12 per month but is billed annually.
• It costs $20 / £19 per month but is billed annually.
• You receive one account and can watch on six devices at the same time.
• This allows you to learn with friends and family who live with you with one shared profile.
• You can also download the classes and watch them offline

Every membership includes:

• Unlimited access to 150+ classes
• New classes are added every month
• Watch on your phone, tablet, laptop, and TV
• Audio-only mode
• Downloadable class guides
• Access to Sessions by MasterClass

5. Pluralsight – Best Among Coursera Competitors for AI, Data & Digital Skills

Pluralsight is one of the Coursera competitors, and they are a strong Coursera alternative, especially if you want to develop technology skills for the workplace and for the digital transformation. Pluralsight has 2,500+ expert authors/instructors who have years of real-world experience. They select the instructors based on their expertise and teaching ability. Pluralsight is trusted by 70% of the Fortune 500 companies. They have more than 22,000 business accounts and do business in 180 countries.

Courses

Pluralsight caters to working professionals, offering courses in subjects such as AI, software development, individual programming languages, 3D development, VFX, design, game design, web design, cybersecurity, security certifications, cloud computing, CAD software, data science, infrastructure, and more.

Learners can take individual courses, which sometimes are only a couple of hours long. However, Pluralsight strongly encourages you to take one of its “paths.”  Paths combine specific courses and tools into one broader mini-degree to teach you any skill from start to finish. They are linked to an individual’s level of knowledge and experience. As a bonus, to ensure you get your proficiency level right, you can do a 10-minute assessment called ‘Skill IQ’ to set your skill level.

Pluralsight’s core library includes over 2,500 of its most popular courses on in-demand topics. Pluralsight’s expanded library gives you access to its full course library of more than 7,000 courses, which includes more advanced topics.

Pluralsight Skills Plans and Pricing For Individuals

Pluralsight Skills is a subscription-based service with monthly or yearly payment plans. It offers two plans: Standard and Premium.

Standard Plan

• $29 / £24 for the monthly subscription
• $299 / £245 for the yearly subscription
• You get unlimited access to the core course library of 2,500+ courses, paths, and skill assessments

Premium Plan

• $45 / £36 for the monthly subscription
• $449 / £370 for the yearly subscription
• You get unlimited access to an expanded course library of 7,000+ courses, exams, projects, and interactive, hands-on learning.

Pluralsight Skills Plans and Pricing For Teams

Pluralsight Skills offers a subscription-based service for teams, offering annual subscription plans. They also have three plans: Starter, Professional and Enterprise.

Starter Plan

• £27.42 per month or $399 for the annual subscription (per learner)
• You get unlimited access to the core course library of 2,500+ courses
• Curated learning paths and channels
• Skill and role assessments

Professional Plan

• £39.92 per month or $579 for the yearly subscription (per learner)
• Includes everything in the Starter Plan and more
• You get unlimited access to the full course library of 7,000+ courses
• Team-level reporting and user analytics
• Secure, hands-on content (*Sandboxes, Labs, Real-world projects)
• Certification exam prep for industry-leading certifications

Enterprise Plan

• $779 for the yearly subscription (per learner)
• Includes everything in Professional and more
• Access to the full library, including:
• Top-of-the-line skills, roles and channels analytics
• Role customization
• Skill development plans and skill progression insights
• Q&A with subject matter experts

6. Skillshare – Best Among Coursera Competitors for Creative Courses

Skillshare is one of Coursera’s competitors and is a great alternative for developing your creative skills. They are a subscription-based online learning platform offering a wide range of creative and lifestyle topics. While the exact number is fluid, Skillshare boasts more than seventy different topics encompassing various creative fields, along with additional subjects like business and technology. Skillshare takes a less formal approach than many other online education platforms, focusing more on enhancing creative skills. At the time of writing, they have over 35,000 classes, 600,000+ members, more than 13 million registered learners, over 8,000 teachers, and a customer rating of 4.8 out of 5!

Courses

Most Skillshare courses have video lessons and set assignments for students to practice their skills. Skillshare has over 35,000 video lessons, divided into Create, Build and Thrive categories. Courses available on the platform include:

• Animation
• Creative Writing
• Film & Video
• Fine Art
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Music
• Photography
• UI/UX Design
• Freelance & Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Lifestyle
• Productivity
• And More

Further, Skillshare provides Workshops that study topics and skill areas in more depth. They also offer in-person workshops in multiple cities.

Professionals who have succeeded in their respective fields and are often still making a living in their area of expertise teach the courses. Moreover, some famous industry celebs have taught courses on Skillshare, including social media consultant Gary Vaynerchuk, fashion designer Marc Ecko, and real estate entrepreneur Barbara Corcoran. Skillshare’s platform allows you to follow your favorite instructors, keep a list of the classes that you want to take and view your class history.

Pricing

Many classes are available to take for free without a membership, from short, 20-minute videos to longer tutorials of an hour or more. Skillshare’s Premium Membership costs either $29 per month or $165 per year if you make a one-off annual payment (equivalent to $13.75/month). Skillshare also offers a free month trial, so you can try it before you buy.

7. FutureLearn – Best Among Coursera Competitors for Online UK Courses and Degrees

FutureLearn is one of the Coursera competitors and is a viable Coursera alternative, especially if you want to access higher education courses from UK universities and organizations. They are a UK-based online education provider founded by Open University and the Seek Group. They partner with over 175 universities worldwide and have had more than ten million learners.

FutureLearn has also partnered with prestigious organizations such as the British Museum, the National Film and Television School, the BBC, the British Heart Foundation, Cambridge University Press, BGI, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and many more.

Moreover, only staff from partner organizations and universities can teach on the platform, which helps to maintain the high quality of the courses and teaching. FutureLearn provides short courses, ExpertTracks, Microcredential programs, certificates, and even full online degrees on its platform. They also offer free courses.

Courses

FutureLearn has many course areas: business, management, creative arts, media, law, literature, IT, computer science, healthcare, medicine, science, engineering, math, politics, sociology, psychology, mental health, study skills, teaching, and more.

FutureLearn offers hundreds of short online training courses from leading universities and organizations.

At the time of writing, FutureLearn has 2045 courses in a wide variety of subjects are on the platform (as highlighted above). However, they have fewer courses available than some of the other big-name online education platforms.

However, despite having fewer courses than some platforms, most partnering universities fully accredit FutureLearn courses. They are also recognized by employers. The universities themselves issue certificates, either in physical or digital form.

FutureLearn divides each course into modules, breaking them down further into individual weeks. When you begin a course, you are provided with a large list of weekly units (so you see what is coming in the weeks ahead) and course materials, including quizzes, reading materials, articles, assignments, videos, audio, and more.

You complete different activities each week that build on the previous week’s work. Clear instructions accompany each assignment. You then use quizzes to assess your learning and understanding before progressing. These quizzes are not scored, allowing unlimited attempts with feedback for each. Upgraded memberships include scored tests, with a limit of three attempts, contributing to your overall score.

ExpertTracks

At the time of writing, you can choose from 122 ExpertTracks on FutureLearn, comprising a series of courses (usually three to four) that award a certificate upon completion. These beginner-level courses aim to deepen learners’ knowledge and acquire new skills relevant to the current job market. You can then highlight this achievement on your resume or CV. FutureLearn is actively expanding its number of ExpertTracks.

ExpertTracks are usually ten to twelve weeks long but sometimes longer. However, learners can take as long as they want to complete them if they pay the monthly subscription fee. ExpertTracks include courses such as:

• “Innovations in FinTech,”
• An introduction to “AI Design and Engineering with Microsoft Azure” (requiring completion of 5 courses in 17 weeks),
• “The Ultimate Digital Marketing Training: SEO, Google Ads, and Cold Email,”
• And “Customer Experience Design for Customer Success.”

Microcredentials

At the time of writing, FutureLearn has 117 Microcredentials you can pursue. Microcredentials allow you to pursue further study in a specialized field. Leading universities create and accredit them as professional credentials. These credentials are designed for you to build in-demand career skills and deepen your understanding of a subject, with the opportunity to earn a professional or academic credential.

Microcredentials are valuable because they assist you in developing the relevant skills necessary for pursuing in-demand careers of the future, all without the time and cost commitment of a full degree. Further, they include a formal online assessment. While Microcredentials can be used as standalone certificates, some also provide the option of earning academic credit that can be applied towards a degree.

Degrees (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)

At the time of writing, FutureLearn has 126 Degrees that you can study. Bachelors Degrees and/or Masters Degrees are currently offered in:

• IT & Computer Science
• Business & Management
• MBA
• Teaching
• PGCE
• Psychology
• Healthcare
• Nursing
• Construction Management
• Leadership
• Disaster & Emergency Management
• Humanities
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Public Health
• Human Resources (HR)
• Cyber Security
• Marketing
• Engineering
• Criminology

Source: FutureLearn

Universities offering degrees with FutureLearn include:

• Arden University
• Brunel University London
• Coventry University
• Deakin University
• Ducere Global Business School
• Nottingham Trent University – Nottingham Business School
• The Open University
• University of Glasgow
• The University of Newcastle Australia
• AcademyEX
• And More

Platform

FutureLearn offers a unique feature not found on many other online education platforms: the ability to complete a profile page. This allows students to “follow” each other, making it easier to find like-minded students. You can then ask each other questions, discuss topics, and learn together.

Additionally, FutureLearn courses have a chat feature and discussion board, allowing you to chat with other students, ask questions, discuss the course, and consolidate learning. You can also get guidance from your instructors.

Plans and Pricing

Overall, FutureLearn’s pricing structure is not completely straightforward, but the breakdown below should help clarify things for you.

Short Courses

• Short courses are one-off courses in a specific subject that typically last between 2-4 weeks.
• FutureLearn offers some short courses you can attend for free.
• Free courses have a time limit and usually do not include tests, grades, or a certificate of completion.
• You will usually need to pay to upgrade to get unlimited access to the course material and a certificate.
• Paid courses usually cost between £39-£99.

Unlimited Plan

• £249.99 for Unlimited annual or £35.99 per month for Unlimited Monthly. (At the time of writing, it is discounted to £24.99 per month for the first two months.)
• Unlimited access to1400+ online short courses from top universities, organizations, and brands.
• Earn certificates and career-related skills to highlight on your resume / CV.
• Learn at your own pace.
• Gain digital Certificates of Achievement on all your courses, which are included in the price.
• If you achieve a Certificate in any course, you can access the course for life.

ExpertTracks

• They can be audited for free with a 7-day trial, then cost £36 a month
• Once you pass an ExpertTrack, you will achieve a certificate
• ExpertTracks can last anywhere between 8-22 weeks
• ExpertTracks are made up of several related short courses, which provide more in-depth training in a subject

Microcredentials

• No free trial is offered
• Prices range from £275 to £9,000, but most cost approximately £1,000.
• They are focused on building in-demand skills

Online Degrees

• Not all prices are listed, but prices often range from £2750 and £25,000.
• You can choose from a broad selection of master’s degrees and graduate certificates.
• You have more flexibility than studying these courses in person.

Is FutureLearn Right for You?

So, is FutureLearn the perfect platform for your online learning needs? Here’s a quick recap to help you decide:

FutureLearn shines for:

• UK-focused courses: If you’re seeking courses from prestigious UK universities and organizations, FutureLearn boasts a strong selection.
• Career-oriented learning: Their curriculum emphasizes in-demand skills with options like ExpertTracks and Microcredentials to enhance your resume.
• Flexible learning: With a variety of course lengths and an unlimited access plan, you can learn at your own pace.
• Community features: Their unique profile and discussion features allow you to connect with like-minded learners and instructors.

However, consider these limitations:

• Course selection: FutureLearn offers fewer courses overall compared to some competitors.
• Pricing transparency: Their pricing structure can be complex, with varying costs for different course types and upgrade options.
• Limited support: Customer support options might be limited compared to other platforms.

FutureLearn is a strong contender for learners seeking high-quality, UK-centric online courses with a focus on career advancement. However, if a wider course variety or more transparent pricing is a priority, you might want to explore other learning platforms.

8. LinkedIn Learning – Best Among Coursera Competitors for Professional Skills Development and Networking

LinkedIn Learning is one of the Coursera competitors and is a good Coursera alternative, especially if you like that it integrates well with your LinkedIn profile and you want to develop your professional skills within the Business, Creative and / or Technology fields. LinkedIn Learning has been trusted by industry leaders such as Kellogg’s, Lego, MGM Resorts, Zillow, and more. So, if you are a manager, you may also want to consider this for your team.

Courses

LinkedIn Learning has a catalog of more than 17,500 courses and learning paths, with dozens added each week. By subscribing to LinkedIn Learning, you will have access to thousands of courses in:

• Business Analysis and Strategy,
• Finance and Accounting,
• Professional Development,
• Career Development,
• Leadership and Management,
• Marketing Sales,
• Audio and Music,
• Photography,
• Design,
• Graphic Design,
• Web Development,
• Art,
• Education,
• Tech
• And much more.

The above topics fit within LinkedIn Learning’s three major Business, Creative and Technology categories.

The Platform

The platform is interactive and allows students to demonstrate the skills they obtained, with online quizzes and exercise files available. The content is also very professional, as LinkedIn Learning sources industry experts to create and teach these online courses.

The platform further provides much flexibility in modes and learning methods via smartphone apps, an audio-only option, and offline learning possibilities. This caters to different styles of learning and situations the learner might be in. For example, if the learner is driving or running, the audio-only option would benefit those situations.

You need a LinkedIn account, but most people already have one, and if you do not, you can easily set one up. LinkedIn Learning provides recommendations for courses based on your current job title and skills (as listed in your LinkedIn profile) and what professionals like you are learning. Since LinkedIn Learning integrates with your LinkedIn profile, you can display completed certificates right on your LinkedIn profile. You can also view what others in your network are learning.

Plan and Pricing

LinkedIn Learning has kept things simple. They have one plan to choose from, which you can subscribe to annually or monthly. The cost is $39.99 per month if you pay monthly and equivalent to $26.99 per month if you pay annually. However, before that, LinkedIn Learning offers a free one-month trial so you can evaluate the platform risk-free!

What is included in the LinkedIn membership?

1. Unlimited library access – Access 17,000+ courses taught by real‑world professionals.
2. Certificate of completion – Earn certificates to add your LinkedIn profile.
3. Flexibility to learn how and when you want – Set your own schedule with bite-sized or in‑depth videos, audio content and offline viewing.
4. Interactive learning – Practice what you learn with activities, assignments, and quizzes.
5. Personalization – Course recommendations related to your interests and role.
6. Free membership in LinkedIn Premium

9. Khan Academy – Best Among Coursera Competitors for School Students

Khan Academy is an excellent, free online education platform for school students. I highly recommend it. We use this resource with our children to help them develop their learning across various subjects.

Khan Academy provides

• A personalized learning dashboard
• Practice exercises
• Instructional videos
• Training in math, science, computing, history, art history, economics, and more
• K-14 and test preparation (SAT, Praxis, LSAT) content.

Students can study and learn at their own pace and develop strong foundations in learning through Khan Academy’s focus on skill mastery.

Coursera – Best Overall

Coursera Inc is an online course provider founded in 2012 by Stanford University computer science professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller. Coursera is an accredited institution with 124 million learners around the world. They partner with over 300+ top universities (e.g., Princeton, Duke, Imperial College London, etc.) and companies (including Fortune 500 companies) to offer university courses, certificate programs, free content videos, and other course offerings to help you achieve your goals.

Further, it is even possible to achieve certifications, degrees, and other recognized credentials completely through Coursera. What makes it even better is that through Coursera, you can achieve your degree at a fraction of the usual cost, with top professors from partnered universities teaching you.

Coursera offer over 7,000 courses, Professional Certificates, and degrees, including more than 2,602 free courses!

All these benefits and features make Coursera a strong edX competitor, Udacity competitor, Udemy competitor, Masterclass competitor, Pluralsight competitor, Skillshare competitor, LinkedIn Learning competitor and FutureLearn competitor.

On his LinkedIn page, Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda said, “I feel lucky to be the CEO of Coursera, a company dedicated to transforming lives through learning. Our goal is to become the world’s learning platform. Coursera attracts millions of individuals from around the world who want to learn and prosper, education partners who want to teach the world, and employers who need to transform their talent to keep up in a world of accelerating change.”

Coursera’s Offer and Pricing

Guided Projects

Choose this to learn job skills and industry tools quickly. The cost starts at $9.99. The average time commitment for Guided Projects is 1-2 hours.

Courses

Choose this to gain new knowledge. The cost starts from free. The average time commitment for a Coursera course is 4-12 hours.

Specializations

Choose this to master a specific skill. The cost starts at $49 per month. The average time commitment is 1-3 months.

Professional Certificates

Choose this to get job-ready for an in-demand career. The cost starts at $49 per month. The average time commitment is 1-6 months.

MasterTrack Certificates

Choose this to earn a university-issued certificate and credit towards a degree. The cost starts at $2,000. The average time commitment is 4-7 months.

Degrees

Choose this to earn your bachelor’s or master’s degree. The cost starts at $9,000. The average time commitment is 2-4 years.

Coursera Plus

Choose this to get unlimited access to 7,000+ courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs for $399 per year (currently $199 per year). You start with a 7-day free trial and cancel anytime.

Guided Projects

A key highlight in the Coursera offer is Guided Projects, which give people training in skills which are relevant to the current job market. Guided Projects offer a hands-on, interactive experience that includes step-by-step instructions from an expert in the subject matter.

An easy-to-use learning platform is provided, which offers a unique, side-by-side learning interface, where you complete each step in a virtual workspace as you watch video instructions from your instructor on the other side of the screen (Source: “Announcing Guided Projects: Gain Job … – Coursera Blog”).

Projects include topics such as “building basic business skills,” “machine learning for beginners,” “software engineering,” “learning techniques for transformational algorithms like neural networks,” and more. Whatever your area of interest, Guided Projects offers focused and efficient ways to master skills that are in demand in the job market.

Conclusion: Best Coursera Competitors / Coursera Alternatives

Now that you have learned the pros, cons, price and focus of each online education provider, you have the tools and information to make the right choice for you. There are several good Coursera competitors and alternatives.

Your choice will ultimately depend on your goals, interests, preferred learning style, personal taste, and budget. You may even choose Coursera itself. I would love to hear how this article has helped you, what provider you chose and how it helped you advance your career, hobbies, and lifelong learning.

Online education courses can help you gain skills for in-demand jobs and careers in the future. Learn more about my top picks for best future careers. If you have an upcoming interview, read my interview tips.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Coursera Competitors and Coursera Alternatives