Udemy vs Coursera [2022]: Comparison & Review - Online Course How (2024)

Are you trying to decide between Udemy and Coursera when it comes to taking an online course?

This post is an in-depth comparison and review of these two popular E-learning platforms, and I'll also point out some of the best alternatives to each one, based on exactly what kind of learning you're looking for.

Udemy offers a wide range of courses on almost every subject you can imagine, while Coursera is more focused on academic topics. Udemy courses can be taught by anyone and tend to be cheaper and require less of a time commitment, but they don't offer the depth, accreditation and tutor experience that Coursera does.

In this post, I'll discuss each platform, their cost, what types of courses each offers, their pros and cons, and more to distinguish Coursera vs Udemy.

Overview – Udemy vs Coursera

Udemy and Coursera are both popular online learning platforms.

However, they offer quite different types of online education.

That means there isn't necessarily a clear winner from the two.

It will really depend on your own circ*mstances and what you're looking to gain from online course providers.

Udemy focuses more on short-term courses that students can use to learn specific skills like photography or basic computer skills. Anyone can create a Udemy course.

Coursera takes a more academic approach, and the majority of its programs are offered by professors from actual colleges and universities.

Both Udemy and Coursera have their own merits, depending on what type of information you're looking for.

1. Coursera vs Udemy - Costs

Udemy's bestselling courses tend to be "on-sale" almost permanently.

Most list a regular price of $199 but are typically marked down by about 95% to about $10 per course.

So while there are more expensive courses on the platform, you can almost always find a bestselling course on the topic you're interested in for $10 - $15 (see here for more info on how to get Udemy courses on sale).

When you purchase a course through Udemy, you get lifetime access to the material.

Coursera is free to sign up for, and the platform offers over 1,000 courses that you can audit for free.

However, you'll need to pay to get access to specific features such as graded assignments, mentorship, and certificates.

However, if you're just looking to access course readings, video lectures, and discussion forums and aren't necessarily looking to gain certificates that you can list on your resume or CV, then the platform offers a lot of free value.

Individual courses and specialization in Coursera have varying costs.

You won't be able to see pricing information unless you're logged into Coursera, and even then you need to click the blue Enroll button before the amount appears.

Specializations typically contain multiple courses and operate on a subscription basis.

They typically cost between $40 and $80 per month. Individual courses typically charge a one-time payment that gives you access for 180 days.

Coursera also offers the ability to apply for financial aid if you can't afford the fee for a course.

I think it depends how much you're looking to learn, and also how much time you've got to devote to online courses each month.

Udemy is likely cheaper if you're taking a small number of courses or want to work through at a slower pace.

But if you're looking to learn a large amount of material which is more academic in nature, then Coursera could be more cost-effective for you.

2. Subjects and Topics Taught

Udemy has courses available on almost anything you could want to learn.

That includes things like:

• The Arts
• Business
• Entrepreneurship
• Health & Fitness
• Language
• Games
• Music
• Photography
• Technology
• Yoga

Udemy courses tend to focus on more practical, hands-on applications of the topics covered.

If you're looking to learn a specific skill, its courses are great at providing you with step-by-step instructions to accomplish a goal.

Coursera has more of an academic focus on their subjects and courses.

Here are some of their offerings:

• Arts and Humanities
• Business
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Life Sciences
• Social Sciences

3. Coursera vs Udemy Course Examples

You have a basic idea of the kinds of subjects and topics that each of these online course websites offers. But here are some specific course examples to give you a better idea.

Coursera

• Cloud Computing - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• English for Career Development – University of Pennsylvania
• Organizational Design and Management – HEC Paris
• The Science of Well-being – Yale University
• Buddhism and Modern Psychology – Princeton University
• Epidemiology for Public Health – Imperial College London
• Data Structures and Algorithms – University of California San Diego
• Optical Engineering – University of Colorado Boulder
• Graphic Design – California Institute of the Arts

• Microsoft Excel – From Beginner to Advanced
• The Complete Digital Marketing Course – 12 Courses in 1
• Illustrator CC 2019 Masterclass
• The Complete SQL Bootcamp
• Complete Blender Creator: Learn 3D Modelling for Beginners
• Learn Linux Administration and Supercharge Your Career
• Mindfulness Practitioner Course
• The Complete Copywriting Course: How To Sell In 2019
• iPhone Photography- Take Professional Photos on Your iPhone

While some Udemy courses are delivered by experts and come highly recommended, anyone can create a Udemy course.

That means there's a lot of variation in course quality, and you really need to do your research to make sure you're signing up for a reputable course.

Creating a Udemy course simply requires creating an account and watching an orientation video on their basic course guidelines.

You might end up taking a course offered by an author, chef, entrepreneur, public speaker, or some other kind of expert or professional.

But you may also see courses offered by people who simply collect information from the Internet and put together a basic course of their own.

It's important to do some due diligence before taking a Udemy course.

Look up the name of the course instructor before you pay for it.

If they have a LinkedIn profile showing their professional experience or they've got Lynda courses, that's a good sign of a quality course.

• Here you can find more aboutLynda and Courseraplatforms.

In contrast, Coursera works closely with colleges and universities.

Their courses are thoroughly vetted and taught by experienced academics.

That means you're getting access to professors from the top universities and colleges from around the world.

If you pick a random Udemy and Coursera instructor, the Coursera one is more likely to have credentials such as a Ph.D. which gives them more authority.

However, if you're just looking to learn a basic skill like how to use Excel, you may not care about the qualifications of your instructor, as long as they can provide the information that you need.

In that case, a Udemy instructor is perfectly capable of fulfilling your needs.

5. Accreditation & Certificates (How Does It Look On Your Resume or CV?)

Recruiters overwhelmingly agree, online course certificates are an extremely valuable addition to your resume or CV. We conducted a proprietary survey of 250+ US recruitment managers, and 82% described online course certificates as "very valuable" or "extremely valuable".

When comparing Udemy vs. Coursera, which platform offers the more valuable certificate? The two platforms scored very similarly in our survey, with Coursera taking the slight edge over Udemy.

We think the main reason why Coursera ranked better than Udemy in our survey is because its courses are accredited.

Coursera's programs are more structured with graded assignments, access to instructors, and backing from some of the largest colleges and universities. Acertificate from Coursera is fully accredited and often times backed by institutions like Princeton, Yale, or Cambridge.

Additionally, Coursera's course and specialization certificates come in a digitally sharable format. Not only can you print copies to put in your portfolio, but you can put them straight on to your LinkedIn profile as well.

While Udemy does offer some courses on academic topics, they aren't able to offer accredited certificates from academic institutions the way that Coursera does.

Udemy courses do offer unaccredited certificates for completing a course, and as we showed in our proprietary recruitment manager survey, recruiters view these certificates as very valuable.

However, if getting an accredited certificate is the main reason why you're using online learning sites, then Coursera is the clear winner over Udemy. Recruiters tell us that accredited courses are more valuable on your resume or CV.

In summary, we think Coursera looks slightly better on your resume than Udemy does because its courses are accredited. However, recruiters say any online course certificate looks great on your resume as long as it is relevant to the job description. Udemy is a very strong brand name and its certificates are widely recognized by recruiters. Both Udemy certificates and Coursera certificates are legitimate, and we'd recommend listing either on your resume as long as the skills are relevant to the job you're applying for.

6. Udemy vs Coursera Time Commitment

When you purchase a course through Udemy, you get lifetime access to that material.

That means you can really work through it at whatever pace you like. The courses are very self-guided and it's up to you to complete them in your own time.

Some Udemy courses are more in-depth. But some only have a few hours worth of video lectures and written content to read, and can be completed in a single afternoon if you're eager to learn.

Coursera is more like what you'd expect from an online class that you would take from a university or formal institution.

Courses start and finish on specific dates. There's a timeline that you will need to follow.

You watch videos, and then there are auto-graded and peer-reviewed assignments to be completed. There are also discussion forums for you to speak with your coursemates and professor.

Which one will work best for you depends on what you want to learn, and what your personal learning style is.

If you need some pressure and accountability to get the lessons done, then taking a course through Coursera is a good choice.

But if you're a self-motivated learner, then taking a course through Udemy should be just fine.

If you just want to learn a specific skill quickly, Udemy is a good choice. But if you really want to master a topic and go in-depth, that's where Coursera excels.

7. Summary – Pros & Cons of Each

Summary

Udemy is a great platform to pick and choose inexpensive courses from a large catalog.

If you just want to learn a new skill like Photoshop or Microsoft Excel, it can be a great choice.

However, Coursera is a better choice if you're looking for a more curated course experience from an accredited institution.

8. Udemy and Coursera Alternatives

If you're looking for alternative sites for online education that are similar to Coursera, there aren't currently too many similar platforms available.

The one that I'd definitely look into isedX, which offers accredited courses from prestigious institutions like MIT, Harvard, Australian National University, and many others.

-> Read my comparison of Coursera vs edX here for a full guide on these excellent online learning platforms.

You may also be interested in courses from Udacity, who offer a series of nanodegree programs on various tech-related topics, as well as Pluralsight who focus on tech and IT topics.

-> Check out my comparison of Udacity and Coursera here

-> Or my guide to the differences between Udemy and Pluralsight here

-> Or seehow Udemy stacks up compared to Udacity here

When it comes to less formal e-learning websites like Udemy, there are a lot more alternatives available.

Two that I'd recommend looking into are Skillshare and Lynda.

Skillshare is interesting since, for a monthly fee, you get unlimited access to more than 28,000 courses.

Lynda has been recently taken over by LinkedIn and offers a range of career-focused courses in the fields of business, software development, and design.

-> For more info onhow Udemy compares to Lynda read this

So if you're someone obsessed with constantly learning, you can really get your money's worth in terms of value.

-> If you're still unsure which is the right online learning website for you, then check out myComplete Guide To Online Learning Platforms,or see this post on the top alternatives to Udemy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Certificate Has More Value: Udemy Or Coursera?

We would argue that, as a general rule, Coursera courses carry more weight and have more value than most of the Udemy courses you can get.

This is because Coursera takes a far more academic approach when compared to Udemy, and the majority of its programs are offered by professors from actual colleges and universities.

Whereas, in contrast, anyone can make an Udemy course. Moreover, many Udemy courses don’t include any tests or exams, and are simply a series of videos that you can watch, without any skills or knowledge being tested in any way.

Coursera's courses are thoroughly vetted and are taught by experienced academics, giving you access to professors from the top universities and colleges from around the world.

And if you were to pick a random Udemy and Coursera instructor, the Coursera one is more likely to have credentials such as a Ph.D. which gives them more authority.

That’s not to say that Udemy courses don’t have value, they do. But they’re less impressive next to a Coursera course.

Is Udemy Cheaper Than Coursera?

As a general rule, Udemy courses tend to be cheaper than Coursera. And this is because Udemy often has sales on and often sells purses for just $10 or so, and they host a lot of free courses besides.

Cousera, on the other hand, requires a monthly subscription fee. Though you could take advantage of the free trials they offer. However these only last 2 weeks. And they offer specialization courses starting at $39 per month.

Are Udemy Certificates Worth It?

In case you missed it earlier, it bears repeating here.

Here at Online Course How, we surveyed over 250 US recruitment managers, and an overwhelming majority said that they believe online course certificates are either extremely valuable or very valuable on your resume.

And that’s regardless of what platform you get your online course from.

However, as we mentioned earlier we believe that Coursera courses have more value and carry more weight than Udemy courses because they are thoroughly vetted and are taught by experienced academics, and professors from the top universities and colleges from around the world.

If you can’t afford a Coursera course, or if you are not inclined to take one, you could take a more affordable Udemy course in the same field. More often than not, how an Udemy course is seen by a potential employer depends very much on how you dress it up…

If you have room to do so on your resume, you can list some of the topics covered. And if this is relevant to the post you are applying for, the prospective employer will see that.

And, when you send your resume to a prospective employer, you can also send a covering letter and/or covering email, where you have the opportunity to expand on what the course covered and how it puts you in a great position for the job you are applying for.

Is Udacity Owned By Google?

Udacity (not Udemy) is not owned by Google as such. However, they have been working in partnership together, since March 2018, to offer some great free career courses on the Udacity platform.

The first course launched as part of the Udacity and Google partnership was their “Networking for Career Success” course.

And since the launch of this course they have also brought out a series of other career courses, all aimed to increase the chances of the student to land an actual job at the end of their studies.

This partnership has come about through Google’s Grow with Google initiative, whereby they pledged to help one million Europeans either find a job or grow their business by 2020.

These courses are very much still available today. Some of these courses are a little generic, helping to craft your resume and covering letters for example, and on building your brand and your networking on Linked In…

However, some of these career courses are aimed at very specific types of jobs and industries. For example, there’s the data science interview prep, the front-end web developer interview prep, and the full-stack developer interview prep, and more.

Can I Put Udemy On My Resume?

If you are going to take an Udemy course to enhance your career prospects, and move you further to your career goals, we absolutely recommend that you include it on your resume.

Your resume is a personal document that you can tailor and tweak according to whatever job it is you want to apply for. So if you have a relevant qualification, even if it’s not a particularly impressive achievement, it still has some value with prospective employers.

Of course, an Udemy certificate doesn’t hold as much weight as courses taught by universities and colleges. However, they can still prove that you have a knowledge base in that particular field. And if nothing else, they demonstrate a real interest in the topic.

Conclusion

When choosing between Udemy and Coursera, it really depends on what you're looking to get out of an online learning platform.

Coursera is more academic in nature. It's more like taking a formal university or college program online.

If you're looking to get a certificate from an accredited institution that you can put on your resume or CV, then Coursera is the obvious choice.

However, it takes more commitment since each course has a specific start and end dates. As well as graded assignments and participation required in between.

Udemy is a great choice if you are brand new to a particular subject and just want to get a feel for it, or you just need to pick up a particular skill.

For example, if you want to learn yoga, a musical instrument, how to run Facebook advertisem*nts, or to get started with computer programming.

-> Check out my list of the Best Udemy Courses here

Both, Coursera vs Udemy, are effective for learning and offer a wide variety of different courses.