UdemyLearn More |
CourseraLearn More |
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| $ Pricing | $240/year | $29 |
| Best for |
This platform is for those who wants to learn everything from basic to master level. |
Best for Career Paths & advanced learners |
| Features |
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| Pros | |
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| Cons | |
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| Ease of Use | |
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Learning with Udemy is really easy because of its user interface. The course structure is really straightforward. |
Coursera with LinkedIn is really easy because of its user interface. The course structure is really straightforward. |
| Value For Money | |
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udemy is affordable in terms of pricing and the features and tools are good but you will have to pay transaction fees. Except for all that it is a really great platform and worth investing in. |
Coursera is bit expensive and offers high level of courses for advanced learners. |
| Customer Support | |
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Connect with customer support via email, or live chat to get solutions to any problem. |
The customer support is great in Coursera. They offer you live-chat support |
Hey there! Did you know that Udemy and Coursera are the top eLearning platforms in 2023?
It really depends on your personal preferences and learning style. Udemy offers various courses on various topics, while Coursera partners with top universities to provide more structured and academic courses. Ultimately, deciding which platform suits your needs is up to you.
I’m excited to share my thoughts on Udemy and Coursera. Let’s dive in and compare their course offerings, pricing, student populations, teacher quality, certifications, and platform features.
So, how exactly does Udemy differ from Coursera?
Udemy vs Coursera: Overview
Udemy Overview
Approximately 15 million people undertake about 65,000 or more courses offered by Udemy. The instructors register themselves with Udemy, post which they create courses that fall in the area of their expertise. At present, this platform has industry experts, educators, as enthusiasts creating a wide range of courses.
Every single course is in a video-based format with features for PDF attachments, discussions, and quizzes. The courses are created to assist and enable students to enhance their skills in a particular area.
Coursera Overview
Coursera is being used by approximately 20 million or more individuals. This platform has about 2,000+ courses. To ensure quality in the courses, the company has partnered with various educators and universities to get online courses to this educational platform.
The majority of the online courses are quite similar to the courses which are being offered at universities. This indicates that this platform guarantees top-quality education. By using the Coursera platform, the students might even get technical certifications, or they could also get a Master’s Degree in any subject from an accredited school.
Pricing Plans: Coursera Vs Udemy
Udemy Pricing
The pricing model of Udemy relies on users who sign up for free. These users hunt through a wide range of courses to select the one that matches their requirements. There is no monthly membership on this platform.
Every single course has a fixed price, which lies in the range of $20 – $200, which is permitted by Udemy. The price is fixed by the instructor, and the price is visible when you check the list.
You must bear in mind that free courses have no restrictions. If a course has been listed as a “free” course, the user can access it easily without any extra steps.
When it comes to the paid courses on Udemy, the student has to make the necessary payment, and once the payment is cleared, they can access the course materials. The materials can be accessed anytime and any number of times once you have paid for them.
Coursera Pricing:
Coursera has a free signup that gives users access to all the free courses. However, no graded assignments will be provided once you complete these courses, nor will you get the completion certificate. You get access to all the material of the course. The platform also has many paid courses with no limits on the price.
This means that you could be paying for graded assignments, the certificates, or even to access the admissions hours in case it is necessary. The details on pricing can be found in the category “Pricing” for every single course on this platform.
So, which platform is affordable? This depends on how much the user intends to learn, and the time he or she can devote to an online course every month. Udemy is quite reasonable in case you plan to go for short courses or wish to function at a slow pace.
However, if you wish to learn a lot of academic material, Coursera would be pretty cost-effective.
Udemy vs Coursera: Commitment in Terms of Time
Udemy
When you are buying a course via Udemy, it offers you lifetime access to the course material. This indicates that you can work on this whenever and at any pace.
The courses are self-guided, and the completion of the courses totally depends on the user. A few courses in Udemy are quite detailed. Only a few courses have some video lectures and written content that you can read, and you can complete this in a day if you are an eager learner.
Coursera
Coursera is quite similar to an online class that you might take from any formal institution or university. The courses on this platform begin and end on specific dates. The courses come with a timeline that has to be followed.
You can check out the videos, and you will also have peer-reviewed or auto-graded assignments to be completed. There will also be discussion forums wherein you can discuss with your professor or coursemates.
The platform selection will depend on an individual’s learning style and the course you intend to learn. If you require pressure and the responsibility to complete the lessons, you can opt for a course at Coursera.
If you are quite self-motivated, you can opt for a course at Udemy. Also, if you wish to learn a particular skill, the best choice would be Udemy. But if you want to master and learn about a topic in detail, the best option would be Coursera.
Is Udemy much better than Coursera, or vice versa?
This depends on what you intend to gain from such online platforms. Udemy is a good option for people looking for a particular learning requirement and they wish to get a feel for that subject.
Udemy is great for students who want to learn a non-academic hobby or want to learn something specific, for instance, programming or even yoga. There are a lot of courses that are generally not provided by educational institutions, like eSports or simple Microsoft Excel.
Another reason behind opting for Udemy is that people can skill up in a specific area where they wish to, and they do not have to worry about time or work constraints. The courses on Udemy are pretty affordable in general. A masterclass in a subject like web development can be done cheaply.
However, in Udemy, the course quality can vary. You can have a look at the course reviews to reduce this risk. Also, low prices and lack of structure could indicate that many students do not complete the courses. When building up the resume, the completion certificate holds very little value.
On the other hand, Coursera focuses on teaching courses that are academic-based, which can be found in a college program or in a university, for instance, mathematics, accounting, biology, etc. If you want to understand which platform is better, this will depend on what you intend to gain from this entire experience.
Coursera concentrates on teaching and learning from various academic courses like accounting or psychology, similar to that taught in a college program or university.
This platform provides structured and accredited learning opportunities, granting access to top university materials and instructors. The benefit of this platform is that it is quite cheap, and you can also avoid the painful application process of colleges.
This indicates that one can avoid the SAT or ACT, apply for scholarships, and save money on college application fees. Some of the courses have been accepted by institutions for academic credit. Once you enroll yourself in a course, you have to be dedicated, and you will get limited time to complete it.
Which e-learning platform is the Best For You?
This depends on your goals and what you want to gain from the learning experience. If your aim is to get a legitimate certificate of completion from any academic institution that will hold weightage, then Coursera is ideal for you.
If you wish to learn specific skills but at a pace suitable to you, without any deadlines, Udemy is the preferred choice. So, you must first consider what you want, after which you can check out the courses and decide on the best platform to learn them.
Udemy vs Coursera – Availability of Courses
It is clear that when you opt for Udemy, you can access all the courses and their content anytime. Once you buy any course, it becomes yours forever. On the Coursera platform, many courses have a beginning and ending date.
They have deadlines to be followed. Some courses provide their materials only for the duration of the course. This will lead to a lot of time spent waiting for the course.
What Are the Topics and Subjects Taught?
Udemy has many courses on anything and everything you intend to learn. It includes:
– Business
– Arts
– Health and Fitness
– Entrepreneurship
– Games
– Language
– Music
– technology
– Photography
– Yoga
Some of the courses offered are:
– Microsoft Excel – Beginner to Advanced
– Masterclass Illustrator CC 2019
– Digital Marketing Course – includes 12 Courses in 1
– Complete SQL Bootcamp
– Mindfulness Practitioner Course
– Complete Blender Creator: 3D Modelling for a Beginner
– Linux Administration
– iPhone photography
The courses in Udemy concentrate on practical and hands-on application of the various topics covered. If you want to learn specific skills, the Udemy courses are good enough to give detailed instructions to achieve a goal.
Coursera has a lot of courses that are academic-based. They include:
– Arts and Humanities
– Data Science
– Business
– Life Sciences
– Social Sciences
Some of the courses offered are:
– Cloud Computing by the University of Illinois
– Graphic Design by California Institute of Arts
– Data structures and algorithms by California San Diego University
– Science of Well-being by Yale University
– Buddhism & Modern Psychology by Princeton University
– Optical Engineering by Colorado Boulder University
Course Instructors
Udemy
Quite a few courses on the Udemy platform are being delivered by experts and are highly recommended. In Udemy, anybody can develop a course. This indicates that when it comes to the quality of the course, there can be variation. Hence, research must be done to ensure you have signed up for a good and reputed course.
To create a course on Udemy, you only need to create your account and watch their orientation video on the introductory course guidelines. In Udemy, you could land a course offered by entrepreneurs, chefs, public speakers, authors, or professionals.
You might also come across offered courses wherein people just collect the data from online sources and create their basic course. Due diligence must be conducted before taking any course from Udemy.
Coursera
In Coursera, check the instructor’s name before you take the course and pay for the same. In case they have their LinkedIn profile, which indicates their professional experience, and if they have Lynda courses, a sign of some quality courses.
Also, Coursera works with universities and colleges very closely. Hence, the courses are vetted and taught by some experienced instructors. So, you can access experts from some of the best colleges and universities worldwide.
Randomly, if you select an instructor from Udemy and Coursera, the one from Coursera would probably have credentials like a Ph.D. that gives them authority.
But, if you just want to learn some new basic skills, for instance, Microsoft Excel, the instructor’s qualifications might not be important, provided they can teach you what you want. In such a scenario, the instructor from Udemy can fulfill your requirements.
Udemy vs Coursera: The Accreditation and Certificates
If the reason behind opting for an online course is to get a certificate or accreditation, then Coursera will be a better option than Udemy. Though Udemy has some offerings on academics, they cannot give you any certification from an academic institution or university that Coursera can offer.
Udemy can just give you a certificate for completing the course. However, the weightage of this certificate is not known.
Coursera programs are structured and have graded assignments, legitimate backing from colleges or universities, and access to instructors. Due to this, the certificates provided by Coursera have some weightage when added to the CV in contrast to the ones from Udemy.
The main reason is that the certificates have names of institutions such as Yale, Princeton, or Cambridge, ensuring that the credentials are legitimate.
The course, as well as specialization certificates in Coursera, are offered in a digitally sharable format. You can print copies of these or even place them on your LinkedIn Profile. If your aim is to enhance your resume, Coursera is way better.
Time Commitment, Reputation, and Credibility of Programs
Udemy
The courses on Udemy are self-led. They provide the user lifetime access, and the material can be accessed anytime. The courses are good if you wish to learn new fundamental skills. However, they are not entirely credible and cannot be added to your CV or LinkedIn profile.
Coursera
The courses on Coursera, are very structured. The user will have a syllabus to follow, they also get guidance on the subject, and they can get feedback from the instructors and peers. Every course on Coursera is given a digital certificate that can be added to your CV, website, or LinkedIn profile.
Pros & Cons: Coursera vs Udemy
Pros of Udemy:
- Udemy has a wide variety of courses offered
- The courses offered are intermediate as well as advanced
- Some courses are provided free of cost
- Udemy gives lifetime access to the materials of the course you pay for
- The courses are offered in about 80 or more languages
- Udemy offers regular discounts on the courses
- The top courses are of top quality
- The courses here are value for money
- Basic skills/ interests can be learned here
- There is no deadline for completing the course
Cons of Udemy:
- Anybody can become an instructor; hence, the quality of courses is questionable
- Some of the courses are very expensive
- Tough to opt for many courses simultaneously
- The certificate of completion is not from universities/ colleges and hence does not enhance your CV
Pros of Coursera
- The platform offers numerous courses
- The courses are offered in collaboration with well-known and reputed universities/colleges
- It is quite similar to online academic courses with a syllabus, access to instructors, and a deadline
- The certificate is legitimate and has the names of universities on it, which makes it easy to add it to your CV
- A few courses offer a verified certificate for a certain fee
- Courses are offered in different languages
- Courses can be audited for free
Cons of Coursera
- The courses may not be available all the time
- The full courses cannot be taken free of cost
- It might not be apt for those who have time constraints
Alternatives To Udemy and Coursera Platforms
If you are looking for some alternative websites that provide online education similar to Coursera, it is pretty tough to find any, as there are limited options.
One option that can be considered is edX – It provides accredited courses from prestigious institutions such as MIT, Australian National University, Harvard, and the like.
Udacity might be one more platform that might be of interest to you. Udacity offers many nano degree programs on numerous tech-related topics. Is a platform that concentrates on issues related to IT and technology.
On the contrary, many alternatives are available if you want some e-learning websites that are not very formal, similar to Udemy.
The two platforms recommended are Lynda and Skillshare. Skillshare is quite interesting as you can have unlimited access to about 28,000 or more courses for a certain monthly fee.
Lynda is now part of LinkedIn, and it offers a lot of courses that are career-focused and related to business, design, and software development. If you are a person who loves to keep learning and is passionate about learning, it is worth your money!
Udemy Vs Coursera Testimonials & Customer Reviews
Udemy Customer Reviews:
Coursera Customer Reviews:
FAQs On Udemy vs Coursera:
Are Coursera courses free?
Coursera provides free online courses, many of which are led by major universities or corporations such as Google. Learners have access to all course materials, and a certificate of completion is available for a modest price. The classes include everything from public health to résumé writing.
What is a course in Coursera?
Coursera is an online education platform that delivers MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) from renowned universities and businesses throughout the world. Coursera courses are made up of pre-recorded video lectures that you can watch weekly or whenever you choose.
Do Coursera courses have value?
Taking a MOOC has clear advantages: flexible learning hours for a fraction of the cost of a regular business degree. Coursera's certified credentials start at $49. MBA degrees can cost upwards of $100,000.
How much is Coursera Python?
The Python for Everyone specialty course will set you back $49. You can begin the Python for Everyone Specialization for free for a seven-day trial period.
How many courses are free on Coursera?
For a Limited Time, Coursera is giving Free Certificates for 115 Courses
How much is a Coursera certificate?
The cost of a Professional Certificate programme varies from $39 to $99 per month. You can begin with a free 7-day trial. The cost of a MasterTrack Certificate programme normally ranges between $2,000 and $5,000.
Is Coursera certificate valid for resume?
You should add Coursera credentials in your Education section unless there is a compelling reason not to. Suppose you have previously acquired academic credentials in a discipline unrelated to the career you're pursuing. In that case, you may want to make an exception.
Is Coursera good for resume?
Coursera has some intriguing courses and awards certificates to those who complete them. They're useful not simply for learning new topics, but also for reviewing content gained at a traditional institution.
Is Coursera recognized by employers?
Coursera's courses are approved by some of the world's most prestigious universities. Its certifications are accepted by a wide range of businesses. Unlike many other eLearning course providers, it offers validated certificates and degrees that can help you advance in your job.
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Verdict: Udemy vs Coursera 2023
I explored all of the corners of the platforms to gather all the essential details about pricing, refunds, and the variety and quality of their offerings.
That’s great! It’s always good to explore different courses and see what interests you. I took courses in topics I was confident in, which helped me assess the teaching quality.
I wanted to challenge myself by taking courses outside of my comfort zone. I was curious to see if the courses that claimed no prior experience was necessary would deliver on their promise. I was looking for engaging and incremental teaching that would keep me learning.
I also checked out what other people said about the platforms and looked into alternatives.
