Each year, online learning platforms are becoming more and more popular. Students find that online courses are less expensive and more flexible, meaning that you can learn at your own pace anytime you want.
If you came to this article it means that you’re looking for the most recommended MOOC providers. However, how can you know which one of them to choose? Well, this thorough Udemy VS Coursera comparison will help you to decide.
Both Udemy and Coursera are considered to be among the top online learning platforms, however, they’re also very different and have both pros and cons.
To help you decide which of the two Udemy VS Coursera is better for your personal needs, I will evaluate each of them based on multiple factors. At the very end of this article, you’ll know whether Udemy or Coursera is better for your personal needs.
Aside from Coursera VS Udemy comparison, I will also introduce to you other sites like Udemy and Coursera that you might want to check out.
Table of Contents
Udemy VS Coursera: What You Should Pay Attention to
It can be difficult to claim which of the two, Udemy or Coursera, is better for you as each of us values different features. What some of you might see as a huge advantage, others will evaluate as a deal-breaker.
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Even though that’s the case, we’ll take a look at both Udemy and Coursera as well as evaluate each of them based on 5 aspects that are considered to be the crucial ones when choosing online learning platforms. These factors include course variety and quality, certificates, language support, usability and pricing.
Let’s take a look at each of them individually:
- Course Variety & Quality. No matter what kind of courses you’re planning to choose, course quality is important at all times. After all, you don’t want to end up paying for courses that include outdated content and low-quality videos. The quantity of available courses is also important. If you’re interested in different subjects, it’s nice when you can find them all on one learning platform.
- Certificates. If you’re looking for the most reliable online learning platforms, I bet that certificates are a necessity for you. Even though some of you are learning just for the purpose of self-improvement, others want to have a certificate of completion that they could show to their current or future employers and get a promotion or a better job offer. Now, when looking for certificates, it’s crucial to make sure that they’re accredited. When evaluating Udemy VS Coursera, we’ll check out which of the two can provide you with a more valuable certification.
- Language Support. Most of the online learning platforms that you’ll come across provide courses only in one language - English. While that’s pretty common that can also be a huge issue for non-native speakers who do not yet have such great English skills. It’s fair to say that when comparing Coursera VS Udemy, a platform that offers more languages to choose from is going to be a more recommended one.
- Usability. It seems that when people are looking for the top online learning platforms, they completely forget about usability. While the quantity and quality of courses are the most important aspects when choosing a reliable online learning platform, if you’re planning on using the platform for quite some time, you should also make sure that it’s easy to use. This adds a lot to the entire user experience.
- Pricing. When it comes to online learning, there are multiple pricing models. Some platforms charge for individual courses, others offer subscriptions. However, some platforms can provide you with both payment options. We’ll take a look if either one of them provides you with multiple payment methods.
Now that you’re aware of what to look for when choosing between Udemy and Coursera, let’s move further.
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Udemy VS Coursera: The Comparison
To make sure that this Udemy VS Coursera comparison is super clear, I’ll go through each of the aspects that I introduced you in the previous section and evaluate each of the platforms based on them. What is more, I will include Udemy alternatives as well as sites like Coursera, so you would have more options to pick from.
Course Variety & Quality
Let’s begin with critical aspects - course variety and quality. The top online learning platforms will always make sure that you have a long list of courses to choose from as well as ensure that the content is up-to-date.
While Udemy VS Coursera reviews claim that both of them provide high-quality courses, let’s take a look at each of the platforms separately and compare them with one another.
First of all, Udemy. Many people choose this online learning platform because it provides a vast variety of courses to choose from. You will find multiple courses on digital skills, such as computer science, IT and software, data science, as well as classes that are created for your personal growth.
Udemy offers 130k courses, in total. Many of them can be completed in a few hours and are recommended for those who want to acquire soft skills and other specific knowledge, such as cooking, drawing, and so on. Needless to say, very few other online learning platforms can complete with Udemy when it comes to the course quantity.
However, when there’s quantity, it can be difficult to ensure quality. Based on student reviews, some Udemy courses are outdated and include low-quality videos. So, when choosing a specific course, it’s recommended to do research before. Other than that, Udemy deserves to stand among the top players in the industry. If you’re looking for Udemy competitors, you should also check out Skillshare.
Coursera, on the other hand, offers university-level courses for people who prefer more traditional learning (except that it’s online). Even though the number of available courses is much lower compared to Udemy - 3,9k -, Coursera’s courses include high-quality videos and regularly-updated information.
It’s also crucial to mention that Coursera works with multiple elite universities and other institutions to open new possibilities for students who were dreaming about studying at Harvard, Yale, Stanford and other first-class universities. If you’re looking for sites like Coursera, you should also check out Udacity.
After the Udemy VS Coursera course comparison, it’s clear that these online learning platforms are very different. Udemy offers shorter courses for a more carefree learning style, whereas Coursera is suggested for those of you who prefer traditional learning.
That being said, it’s for you to decide which of the platforms is more suitable for your personal needs.
Certificates
As I’ve already mentioned, if you’re looking for a reputable online learning platform, one of the aspects that you should take into consideration are certificates. Even though multiple platforms will provide you with certificates of completion, the question is, are they accredited?
You see, non-accredited certificates can be used to show off your new skills, however, they will rarely help you to get a better job offer. Accredited certificates, on the other hand, are usually offered after completing longer courses that include an examination. Such type of certification can help you to land a better job offer or promotion.
Now, let’s see what’s the situation when it comes to Udemy VS Coursera.
First, Udemy. Since Udemy is considered to be not an accredited institution, its course certificates are also not accredited. However, Udemy offers verified certificates that you’ll be able to add to your portfolio, CV or simply share with friends.
Now, since Coursera offers university-level courses, its certificates are accredited. Moreover, you can use it to get a better job offer or even start a new career.
Needless to say, the Udemy VS Coursera certification comparison revealed that Coursera is stronger at this point.
Language Support
If you’re not a native speaker, you would probably choose an online learning platform that offers multiple languages. This way, the chances of finding courses in your native language are so much higher.
Most of the time, though, the majority of courses will be in English, however, they will have subtitles in other languages. The case varies from course to course, so you should check out each of them individually in order to make sure that subtitles in your native language are available.
After Coursera VS Udemy comparison, the situation is clear - Udemy provides subtitles in 65 languages, whereas Coursera offers subtitles in only 10 languages. If you’re looking for sites like Udemy that would support more languages, you won’t be able to find one.
Needless to say, Udemy supports a significantly higher number of languages, however, 10 languages to choose from sounds pretty good as well. Most sites like Coursera provide way fewer options.
Thus, it doesn’t matter if it’s Udemy, Coursera, or any other learning platform, if you’re not a native speaker, always check out what languages are supported.
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Usability
While all the previously discussed factors are crucially important, you shouldn’t forget about usability. After all, if you’re planning to choose months-long courses, it will make a huge difference.
If you visit Coursera’s page, you’ll see that information is provided super clearly. You’ll find a list of the most recommended programs, a drop-down menu that includes programs, and additional information for students as well as enterprise. After clicking on individual programs and courses, you’ll be provided with a syllabus and other important information that will help you to decide whether or not that program is suitable for you.
Udemy’s homepage is also super clear. You can search for courses by including a keyword in the search bar. Moreover, you can find the most recommended programs as well as a drop-down menu where you’ll be able to find all the available categories.
You can also filter courses based on category, level, language and other factors. That being said, it will take you seconds to find the course that you were looking for.
So, when it comes to Udemy VS Coursera, usability is not something that you should be worried about, both platforms are super simple to use and navigate, so you’ll be having a pleasant learning experience.
- Easy to use with a learn-by-doing approach
- Offers quality content
- Gamified in-browser coding experience
- Free certificates of completion
- Focused on data science skills
- Flexible learning timetable
- High-quality courses
- Nanodegree programs
- Student Career services
- Nanodegree programs
- Suitable for enterprises
- Paid certificates of completion
- A wide range of learning programs
- University-level courses
- Easy to navigate
- University-level courses
- Suitable for enterprises
- Verified certificates of completion
Pricing
The final point to discuss before finishing this Udemy VS Coursera comparison is pricing. You’ll see that pricing is relatively confusing when it comes to Udemy, Coursera, and other online learning platforms, as some of them provide multiple payment options.
Both Coursera and Udemy have subscriptions as well as prices for individual courses. When it comes to Udemy, you will find courses that will cost you as low as $10. The pricing of individual Coursera courses starts from $29.
When it comes to subscription prices, Udemy will cost you from about $29 per month, whereas Coursera’s subscription price starts from $39 per month.
It’s crucial to mention that you’ll be able to find some free Udemy courses, however, they won’t provide you with a certificate. Coursera provides even more possibilities. The majority of courses that you can find on Coursera can be accessed completely free unless you need a certificate.
Also, Udemy, Coursera and other reliable online platforms offer multiple coupon codes that can decrease the pricing of individual courses as well as subscriptions. You can find all of the currency-available coupons here.
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Conclusions
Therefore, after this thorough Udemy VS Coursera comparison, one thing is clear - both of these online learning platforms are highly recommended and will suit the needs of different individuals. However, they’re also very different.
Udemy provides students with the highest number of courses to choose from. Most of them are relatively short and focused on less technical knowledge, so they’re suitable for those who are looking for stress-free learning. Coursera, on the other hand, offers in-depth university-level courses that include paid accredited certifications.
If you want to have even more options to pick from, you should also check out Skillshare that is one of the Udemy alternatives. Moreover, if you’re looking for sites like Coursera, then it’s recommended to check out Udacity.
All in all, you should always rely on your personal preferences and choose a platform that you find the most suitable for your personal needs
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