8 Best Coursera Alternatives & Competitors (Updated 2024)

If you want to switch from Coursera or are looking for platforms similar to Coursera, this “Coursera alternatives” article is put together for you. 

There are various platforms that offer amazing online courses. Some are for free, while some come at a cost. As someone who actively searches and reviews multiple platforms, I have shortlisted some of the top alternatives to Coursera. 

I have reviewed each platform in detail to understand the different types of courses it offers, pricing, value, and more. By the end, you can choose the right platform and get access to some of the best courses outside Coursera! 

Note: If pricing is the only reason you’re searching for a Coursera alternative, then check these exclusive Coursera Plus discount offers that can help you save big on your purchase.

This article helps you find a better alternative to Coursera. You can try out a few courses from my recommendations to decide which subscription to invest in.

Top 8 Coursera Alternatives – Quick List (2024)

Before we get into the details, here is my curated list of the alternative platforms and their price- 

Sr. No.	Alternatives	Best For	Price	Free Trial
1.	Pluralsight Skills	Tech Skills	$29/ month	✅
2.	LinkedIn Learning	CV building	$39.99/ month	✅
3.	Khan Academy	High school and SAT prep	Free	N/A
4.	Udacity	Coders and Programmers	$249/ month	✅
5.	Skill Share	Illustrators, Designers, Photographers	$19/ month	✅
6.	Edx	STEM faculty	Courses priced individually	✅
7.	DataCamp	Data Science, Analytics, and BI tools	$39/ month	✅
8.	Udemy	Management Training, Software Use, and Programming	$20/ month	✅

Let us get acquainted with these Coursera alternatives, shall we?

1. Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills is an IT-focused online learning platform with courses curated by IT professionals for IT enthusiasts. Pluralsight also comes highly recommended for small and big organizations.

The platform’s dashboard is a great way to track an individual’s or a team’s progress. As you go ahead in the course, you are given various goals and incentives for achieving those goals, such as awards and achievements, which I found very motivating.

Top 5 Courses By Pluralsight

• JavaScript: Getting Started

Course Duration– 3 hours 58 mins

This beginner-level course by Mark Zamoyta, who has 25+ years of developer experience, makes asics for coding in JavaScript easy.

• Python: The Big Picture

Course Duration– 1 hour 5 mins

Learn the foundation and necessary basics of Python programming language from the course instructor, Jason Olson.

• Data Science with R

Course Duration– 2 hours 31 mins

Learn from expert Matthew Renze the basic concepts of data science, the R programming language, and how to transform data into actionable insight.

• Introduction to Data Visualization with Python

Course Duration– 1 hour 28 mins

Taught by YK Sugi, this course teaches learners scatter plots, line charts, time series, the foundation of data visualization, and data analysis.

Note–  Please check the prerequisites for this course as it is an intermediate-level course.

• Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms in C++

Course Duration– 3 hours 29 minutes

Learn how to implement data structure and algorithms in C++ and Big O notation to evaluate and compare algorithm performance trends from the expert Giovanni Dicanio.

Why to go with Pluralsight?

• Structured learning experience
• Courses updated regularly
• Expert instructors
• 7,000+ courses
• Interactive courses

Drawbacks of going with Pluralsight

• No scope for practical application
• The App doesn’t support all course contents

Pricing: Pluralsight Skills offers monthly and yearly subscriptions for its standard and premium plans. Check the table below for details on the plans available on this platform.

	Standard	Premium
Monthly price	$29	$45
Yearly Price	$299	$449
What it includes	5,000 courses, assessments, and Learning paths	Full library access to 7,000+ courses,  assessments and Learning paths, Certification exam prep, projects, and challenges

2. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is made for the white-collared folks. It is designed to enhance your job-related practical skills and draft strategies to grow in the workplace.

As you finish a course on LinkedIn Learning, it immediately shows on your LinkedIn profile, as both these profiles (LinkedIn Learning and LinkedIn) are connected. This increases your likelihood of discovering job opportunities and keeping your profile up-to-date.

The unique feature of LinkedIn Learning is that with every course, you get a like-minded community. Use this platform for networking and finding jobs after taking specific courses.

Top 5 Courses By LinkedIn Learning

• Communication Skills for Modern Management Course

Course Instructor– Jean Marie DiGiovanna

This course for managers will help you develop what it takes to be a great communicator and create a safe environment for company employees to share what they feel.

• Customer Service Foundations

Course Instructors– Jeff Toister and Madecraft

As the name suggests, this foundational course is recommended for newbies. With this course, you build customer service skills like rapport-building, solving challenges, and exceeding customer expectations.

• How to Manage Feeling Overwhelmed

Course Instructor– Heidi Hanna

Learn stress management and self-regulation, a much-needed technique for corporate employees. This course will help you stay focused, productive, and in control when overwhelmed.

• Nano Tips to Accelerate Your Goals

Course Instructors- Shadé Zahrai

Reignite your passion, confidence, and goal-achieving mindset. This course series allows you to develop skills to set realistic goals and advance your career.

• How to back out of burnout

Course Instructor– Kim Kaupe

Learn to build firm boundaries at work and in your personal life with this course so that you can stay on track and advance in your career. After this course, you will have strategies to prevent and recognize burnout triggers.

Why to go with LinkedIn Learning

• Sharable certificates
• For professional development
• Practical exercises to reinforce learning
• Courses taught by professionals in various fields
• Personal growth

Drawbacks of going with LinkedIn Learning

• Certificates are not accredited
• Lack of technical content
• The app needs much work

Pricing: 

Here is a breakdown of the pricing plan for LinkedIn Learning-

Single Course	Monthly	Yearly
Starts $19.99	$39.99	$323.88

3. Khan Academy

Ideal for school and early college students, Khan Academy is beneficial for mastering basics. The math course (a personal favorite) also clarifies basic concepts and explains assignment mistakes.

Khan Academy comes at no cost and can be used to prep for the SAT, MCAT, LSAT, and Praxis. 

Top 5 Courses By Khan Academy

• All Math courses for Pre- k to College

I have taken most math courses, from those meant for 1st to 9th graders. And I only have one thing to say- I wish I had Khan Academy when I was young; I would have been better at math.

• Official Digital SAT® Prep

Khan Academy is a partner of the College Board and provides free digital SAT prep material and practice tests. I recommend you download their Bluebook™ and get familiar with the digital SAT content.

• MCAT test prep

With support from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Khan Academy offers 14 units of courses to prepare future medical professionals thoroughly for free on their platform.

• Official LSAT® Prep

By teaming up with the official creators of LSAT, Khan Academy brings you all you need, including tools and resources for LSAT. This curriculum will help you through interactive text and video lessons, timed practice tests, and instant feedback and help.

• Official Praxis® Core Prep

As the LSAT course mentioned above, Khan Academy has teamed up with the creators of the Praxis Core test to help students ace the test by providing lessons and practice tests.

Why to go with Khan Academy

• Fun avatars and badges will keep children engaged
• Tracks progress
• Free education
• App available
• Sample Tests are brilliant

Drawbacks of going with Khan Academy

• The pace of the course can sometimes get too fast
• No accredited certificates
• Lack of professional courses

Pricing: Free

4. Udacity

Udacity, while relatively pricey, caters primarily to tech enthusiasts. Google provides numerous free coding courses on this platform, targeting job seekers in technical fields. The courses particularly job-focused skills essential to ready you for joining the workforce. We have also done a detailed comparison between Coursera and Udacity that can help you choose the best.

Top 5 Courses By Udacity

• Data Analyst Nanodegree Program

Duration– 3 months

Industry experts teach this course and will introduce you to Data Analysis with Pandas and NumPy, Advanced Data Wrangling, and Data Visualization with Matplotlib and Seaborn.

• Introduction to Programming

Duration– 4 months

Taught by Kelly Howard, Karl Krueger, and Rachel Manning, this beginner-friendly course is an Introduction to Web Development, Introduction to Programming with Python

• Digital Marketing

Duration– 6 months

Designed for newbies, this course is a wealth of knowledge for future digital marketers to learn marketing fundamentals, data and technology, social media marketing, SEO, SEM, digital advertising, email marketing, and more.

• iOS Developer

Duration– 5 months

All the app makers, this one is for you. Learn more on Swift Programming and get an intro to iOS App Development with Swift. This course will also teach you about UIKit Fundamentals, Network Requests, GCD, and Data Persistence to become a certified iOS developer.

• Business Analytics

Duration– 2  months

This beginner-level course is taught by successful business owners and experts (like Josh Bernhard, Derek Steer, and Mat Leonard). You get to learn hacks for spreadsheet use and gain knowledge on business KPIs, introduction to data, usage of  SQL for data analysis, and data visualization in Tableau.

Why to go with Udacity

• Latest courses on Tech
• Find enthusiastic Tech & Developer Community
• Collaboration with major companies like IBM, Watson, and Google
• Each course has some free trial lessons
• Industry experts offer their courses

Drawbacks of going with Udacity

• Much more expensive than its competitors
• Only for Techies
• Some courses require pre-requisite knowledge
• Expensive

Pricing:

Instead of offering a free trial for a certain number of days, Udacity offers free trial lessons for each course. Udacity does not have an annual subscription plan. You can also claim upto 40% discount on Udacity courses using the coupons from couponuda.city website.

The monthly Subscription is priced at $249, but if your course runs longer than 3 or 4 months, Save 15% by opting for the 4-month subscription for $846.

5. SkillShare

Whether you’re a novice or an expert, SkillShare has something for everyone.

SkillShare gives you access to thousands of courses in illustration, design, photography, and other creative fields.

However, I want to point out that, while using this platform, I felt the absence of community and instructor engagement for some courses. Hence, it is advised that you check the activity under each course.

Top 5 Courses By SkillShare

• Animation for Illustration: Adding Movement with Procreate & Photoshop

With this Course, You will learn to create your initial sketch with an eye toward animation, use Procreate layers to plan movement and motion, activate your animation in Photoshop with just a few clicks, and Export your work as a GIF or video.

• Sell Your Art Online: Launch and Run an Online Store

Learn from the very successful Alicia Souza how to start an art business, price your products, build a brand story, and leverage social media to grow your business.

• Triple Your Speed Reading In Just 7 Days

I took this course because, as a lawyer, I have to read thousands of papers every day. The course has helped me read faster and recollect despite fast reading. I didn’t have to go back and read the same lines repeatedly to understand, which was a problem I had before taking this course.

The course author aims to help you read about 1000 words per minute and push you to be an elite reader. So if you want to be an efficient reader, sign up for this course.

• iPhone Photography: How to Shoot & Edit Conceptual Photos on Your Phone

Learn to get your creative juices flowing and compose your image, find the right colors for your concept, which editing apps and tools to use, and take stunning pictures all on your iPhone. 

• Sewing Basics: Make Your Own Clothing

Learn the basics of sewing with easy-to-follow instructions from Denise Bayron, who will teach you how to sew a perfect hemline, various seam styles, and other such basics of sewing.

Why to go with SkillShare

• Structured learning paths
• Focus on practical skills with hands-on projects
• Affordable
• Sparks originality
• Get your creative juices flowing
• Get creative inspiration

Drawbacks of going with SkillShare

• Lack of community
• Lack of instructor feedback
• No Certificate Courses

Pricing:

A monthly Subscription will cost you $15/ month, totaling up to $180 for 12 months. The annual subscription fee is $99, which is $8.25 each month.

6. edX

edX is founded by the folks from Harvard and MIT. This platform offers university-level courses, making it a credible alternative to Coursera.

You must sequentially take courses as the courses are designed in learning pathways. This can get confusing when the course is an extensive program.

Like Coursera, edX offers Professional certificate courses, Master’s Degrees, and Bachelor’s Degrees. Additionally, edX also conducts online bootcamps, which I found highly unique.

Top 5 Courses By edX

• BrownX: Introduction to Engineering and Design

Duration– 3 weeks

Get acquainted with foundational concepts of all primary engineering fields: chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical with this crash course. Learn various Techniques/ applications of the engineering and design process from teachers at Brown University.

• LSE: Data Analysis for Management

Duration– 8 weeks

If you are a first-year MBA student or planning to do an MBA in the future, this course is recommended. Learn basic skills to make data-driven decisions and extract and interpret essential business insights for competitive advantage and how to use Tableau.

• HarvardX: Introduction to Data Science with Python

Duration– 8 weeks

Learn the Foundation of Data Science and Machine Learning, practice using Python to solve real data science challenges, Pandas, NumPy, matplotlib, and SKLearn.

• IITBombayX: Programming Basics

Duration– 9 weeks

This is a course for beginners venturing into the world of C++. This course will help you learn the Basic programming skills required for  C/C++ programming

• NYIF: Intro to Stock Trading

Duration– 3 weeks

Learn the essentials of stock trading and build a solid footing in the strategies and techniques used to steer volatile equities markets.

Why to go with edX

• Provides step-by-step guides
• Covers latest topics
• Conducts regular bootcamps
• Verified Certificates
• User-friendly Interface

Drawbacks of going with edX

• No personalized feedback
• Lacks Structure
• Limited Subjects
• Few courses are expensive

Pricing: 

With edX, you can audit courses before you pay for them. This will allow you to explore the course’s content, teaching style, and structure without the financial commitment. 

There is no subscription plan available for edX. Courses start from $50 and go up to $300, depending on your course length, course instructor, and course type.

7. DataCamp

Unpopular opinion– Contrary to the belief that live coding on the Datacamp platform will make you a coder, I believe that Datacamp teaches you only the basics of coding. To ace coding, you need much more self-practice outside the platform.

If you want to make a career in data science in 2024, DataCamp offers courses, projects, assessments, and assignments that cover various topics and skills in Python, AI, SQL, Power BI, and more.

I liked learning through this platform as it is very interactive. Being a visual learner, the outstanding balance of videos and text format made it easier for me to grasp concepts. Like Coursera, Datacamp also has structured learning paths that help you sequentially advance each concept.

While the platform efficiently introduces learners to specific subjects, the courses are brief, making them better suited for rapid overviews than in-depth learning. 

Top 5 Courses By Datacamp

• Hypothesis Testing in R

Duration– 4 hours

Get an overview of T-tests, Chi-Square Tests, and other topics related to R. Study the relationships Between R Hypothesis Tests.

• Statistical Thinking in Python (Part 1)

Duration- 3 hours

Learn the Graphical Exploratory Data Analysis, Quantitative Exploratory Data Analysis, Thinking Probabilistically using Discrete Variables and Continuous Variables.

• Introduction to ChatGPT

Duration– 1 hour

This short course will make you the master of writing ChatGPT prompts. After taking this course, you will learn the best way to use ChatGPT for any business use.

• AI Fundamentals

Duration– 10 hours

Gain insight into the trending topic of generative AI. Learn complex, large language models and AI ethics.

• Writing Efficient Code with pandas

Duration– 4 hours

Learn how to function data based on a feature value. After taking this course, you will be able to iterate through big datasets rapidly and efficiently manipulate data from different groups.

Why to go with Datacamp

• Wide topic coverage
• Gamified testing system
• Short course
• App available
• Short courses

Drawbacks of going with Datacamp

• Beginner to Intermediate-level exercises
• Less mathematical/logical emphasis
• Limited API learning material
• Syntax-focused quizzes

Pricing: 

The basic plan encompasses a few lessons. However, if you want to access all the courses, exercises, and quizzes, you must get the premium plan.

Plans	Basic	Premium	Teams
Annual Subscription	Free	$149.04	149.04/ Person
Monthly Subscription	Free	$39	N/A

8. Udemy

Udemy has partnered with big names like Google, Cisco, and Microsoft. If you are looking for a strong foundation course, Udemy is the right choice.

Compared to Coursera, Udemy offers periodic updates to the course content.

One thing that makes me hesitant about Udemy courses is that anyone can contribute to Udemy. So be sure to check your course instructor’s course rating and credentials before you sign up for any course.

Top 5 Courses By Udemy

• Automate the Boring Stuff with Python Programming

This course is best for office workers, academics, and administrators who want to automate computer tasks using Python programs.

• Microsoft Excel – Excel from Beginner to Advanced

Learn the A to Zs of Microsoft Excel with this course. Get an edge over others by learning dynamic formulas with IF, VLOOKUP, INDEX, and MATCH functions.

• The Complete 2024 Web Development Bootcamp

Learn HTML, CSS, Javascript, Node, React, PostgreSQL, Web3, and DApps from this course. Work on your project to create a portfolio to get you job-ready.

• Complete Blender Creator: Learn 3D Modelling for Beginners

If you want to learn and understand Blenders’s interface, create 3d models, and animate your characters, this course is for you. 

• Agile PM 301 – Mastering Agile Project Management

This course is great for project managers who want to understand agile at a deeper level, learn how agile impacts project management, develop an adaptive approach, and enhance their project management skills.

Why to go with Udemy

• Affordable
• 1000+ free courses
• Lifetime access to the course material
• Motivating instructors
• Actionable Video Courses

Drawbacks of going with Udemy

• Very few certificate courses
• User-generated content model

Pricing:

Prices of courses on Udemy vary widely based on courses ranging from $10 to $200+. Udemy offers no Annual subscription, but you can opt for the monthly subscription, which is $29.99 plus taxes.

Verdict: edX & Khan Academy Are Top Coursera Alternative

I discovered various options catering to diverse interests and learning styles while exploring Coursera alternatives.

From the specialized focus on gardening, writing, photography, data science, business, or interpersonal growth, each platform offers unique educational experiences.

After trying out a few platforms and researching them, I decided which ones I liked the best. Here are my top 5 picks–

1. edX
2. Khan Academy
3. SkillShare
4. Udacity 

Most of the abovementioned platforms come for cheaper if you opt for the annual membership, so if your desired course is 3 to 4 months long, get the annual subscription and start your learning journey today.

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