Head-to-head · Online Course Marketplaces
Coursera vs edX
Coursera leads on 0 checks, edX on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreCoursera · 9.3/10
- Free planboth
- Free trialonly Coursera
Coursera scores higher on our rubric for online course marketplaces: 9.3 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.
Coursera is the better fit for broad university and professional learning. edX is the better fit for credentials and university-backed learning.
- Coursera fits best
Broad university and professional learning
- edX fits best
Credentials and university-backed learning
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Side by side
| Feature | Coursera 9.3/10 Visit ↗ | edX 9.2/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Ranking | #1 in Online Course Marketplaces | #2 in Online Course Marketplaces |
| Best for | Broad university and professional learning | Credentials and university-backed learning |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | — | $349/user/yr |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
| Money-back guarantee | 14 days | 14 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Docs | Email, Live chat, Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 30+ integrations | 3 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Coursera 4/4 · edX 4/4 | ||
| Subscription access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Course certificates | ✓ | ✓ |
| Business plans | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Mobile apps | Both | Both |
| Course formats | Mixed | Mixed |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Coursera is an online learning marketplace for individual learners, professionals, students, and organizations. Its catalog includes courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, Guided Projects, and online degrees from… Read the review → |
edX is an online course marketplace for students, professionals, and organizations seeking university- and industry-backed learning. Its catalog spans computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, business, finance,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Coursera — where it wins
- Courses, projects, labs, assessments, and certificates in one marketplace
- Auditing, free previews, and a free plan support flexible exploration
- Mobile apps include offline video downloads and personalized AI guidance
Where it doesn't
- Coursera Plus covers eligible programs rather than the entire catalog
- Team learning is designed for up to 125 employees
- Pricing varies by country, currency, taxes, and checkout context
edX — where it wins
- Free auditing plus paid verified certificates
- Professional certificates, microcredentials, and degree programs
- Mobile apps with offline video downloads and business plans
Where it doesn't
- Verified certificate pricing varies by course
- Audit access may be limited by course session
- Enterprise features require a custom plan
- Coursera9.3/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial
A broad learning marketplace with courses, certificates, projects, labs, and team analytics.
Visit CourseraFull verdict → - edX9.2/10 · Free plan
A broad marketplace for learners and organizations seeking structured credentials.
Visit edXFull verdict →
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All online course marketplaces comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update






