edX vs Alison

edX9.2Visit Alison8.8Visit

Higher score edX #2 in MOOC Platforms 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit edX

vs

Alison #5 in MOOC Platforms 8.8/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Alison

• edX fits best

  Professional certificates and university learning

• Alison fits best

  Low-cost learners needing broad course access

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Side by side

Feature	edX 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Alison 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.8
Ranking	#2 in MOOC Platforms	#5 in MOOC Platforms
Best for	Professional certificates and university learning	Low-cost learners needing broad course access
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$349/user/yr	$5/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Live chat, Tickets, Community, Docs	Email, Live chat, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features edX 0/5 · Alison 0/5
Completion certificates	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Degree programs	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Enterprise plans	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Mobile apps	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Offline learning	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Course access model	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free auditing for many courses, with verified certificates available Professional certificates, microcredentials, and degree programs Offline mobile learning plus LMS and single sign-on integrations	More than 6,000 free, self-paced courses Offline learning through iOS and Android apps LMS+ plans include paths, assignments, tracking, and reporting
Cons	No free plan; paid access starts at $50 one time Verified certificate pricing varies by course Business plans require annual billing	Offline access is limited to English-language courses Assessments and certificate earning require an internet connection Certificates and diplomas are optional purchases
Our verdict	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 →	Alison is a freemium online learning marketplace for learners seeking broad, self-paced skills training. Its catalog covers business, health, languages, information technology, management, and teaching, with courses organized into modules,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• edX — where it wins

  • Free auditing for many courses, with verified certificates available
  • Professional certificates, microcredentials, and degree programs
  • Offline mobile learning plus LMS and single sign-on integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; paid access starts at $50 one time
  • Verified certificate pricing varies by course
  • Business plans require annual billing

• Alison — where it wins

  • More than 6,000 free, self-paced courses
  • Offline learning through iOS and Android apps
  • LMS+ plans include paths, assignments, tracking, and reporting

  Where it doesn't

  • Offline access is limited to English-language courses
  • Assessments and certificate earning require an internet connection
  • Certificates and diplomas are optional purchases

• edX9.2/10 · Free plan

  A broad learning platform for certificates, university courses, and organizational training.

  Visit edXFull verdict →
• Alison8.8/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A broad, low-cost learning catalog with useful offline access and organizational LMS plans.

  Visit AlisonFull verdict →