Coursera Pricing: Costs Explained for the Available Plans

Last Updated on December, 2024

Coursera isn’t the clearest when it comes to course prices. There are so many ways to approach all the courses on the platform and so many different pricing options.

If you’re confused about Coursera costs, you’re certainly not the first one to feel that way. But, hopefully, we can help out with this little pricing guide that’ll answer “How much does Coursera cost?”.

We’ll be walking through all the main services offered by the online learning platform, how they work, what their price is, and how you can pay for them.

Coursera Costs in a Nutshell

The table below provides a quick overview of the prices of courses in Coursera.

How Much Does Coursera Cost?

The confusing thing about their pricing is that there isn’t a specific answer to “How much does Coursera cost?”. Generally speaking, the overall price can be anywhere from completely free to $100. That’s not really much help, though, is it?

Instead of something straightforward, you have all these options with different prices, payment options, etc. But, as we mentioned earlier, we’ll still answer this confusing little question for you.

To do that, it’s important to take a quick dive into the options offered. While doing that, we might answer some questions you have in mind too, starting with…

Is Coursera Free?

Coursera courses are widely regarded as some of the best out there, and the platform’s popularity speaks for itself in that regard. Despite that, a lot of them are actually completely free to go through!

You don’t have to pay a penny to access a bunch of the courses Coursera offers. This includes hundreds of online courses and video lectures about all kinds of subjects.

These subjects include data science, computer science, personal development, and other critical skills.

But, obviously, free courses do come with a catch. For example, depending on the Coursera course you go through, online degrees might be awarded upon successful completion. However, this course certificate is locked behind a paywall almost all the time.

In addition, there could be extra content not found in the free course but is there in the paid version. Many Coursera courses also have graded assignments too, that you can’t take part in without paying. 

So, while many Coursera courses are, in fact, free, you don’t really get the full product without paying for it. Speaking of payments, that brings us to the next thing to look into for prices.

Here’s my complete review of Coursera if you want to know more about this platform.

Pricing of Specific Online Courses

To see how much individual courses cost, you need to have an account on the online platform. Making an account is free and gives you access to a few extra features, one of which is being able to look at pricing options for online courses on the site.

Most of the paid courses cost around $30 to $100. While that’s a lot more than plain old “free”, it doesn’t come without its benefits.

Unlike free courses, these paid Coursera courses offer certain benefits. For example, you get things like unlimited access, bonus videos, instructor feedback, graded assignments, a Coursera certificate, and a lot more, depending on the specific course.

The prices of these courses and the content inside them aren’t related, though. A $100 course won’t necessarily be much better than a $45 one. The price is decided by the online learning platform and the major universities that Coursera partners with.

Pricing of a Monthly Subscription (Specializations)

Among all the options, users can also get monthly Coursera subscriptions if they intend to stick to an online course for long. This is especially helpful for those who want to get online degrees through Coursera specializations.

For those that aren’t familiar, Coursera specialization courses consist of several online lectures, multiple courses, and more about a specific topic. There are graded assignments throughout and a Capstone project at the end.

A Capstone project is like a peer-reviewed test carried out based on all the things you learned throughout the courses. Those who complete the project correctly and finish the course earn a specialization certificate.

Moving on to the main subject, these specializations cost around $30 to $80 in monthly payments. There are some courses priced higher or lower than this, but that is the average price range.

Plus, you can test whether or not a specific option is right for you by claiming a 7-day free trial that comes with almost every specialization Coursera offers.

What Are the Payment Options?

Once you decide whether you want just to take on free courses, paid individual courses, or sign up for a monthly subscription, there are plenty of ways to pay.

For those who choose the free route, there obviously isn’t anything to worry about. However, those who get a Coursera subscription or buy individual courses will need to pay digitally.

Individual courses have more options because they are a one-time payment.

However, these options are much less scarce when you go for monthly payments.

Of course, so far, we’ve only covered the main three options that normal users are most familiar with. The online learning platform offers a lot more than just these things, though.

For example, one of the biggest things on offer is Coursera Plus. Don’t worry, we’ll talk some more about that too.

What is Coursera Plus?

For those who love learning or just those who intend to study through lots of online lectures and courses, there’s a neat little option called Coursera Plus.

Coursera Plus is a subscription service that comes with a lot of benefits across the platform which make life super easy for those that use it a lot. Here’s what you need to know about it, including its price.

How Much Does Coursera Plus Cost?

First of all, let’s get the cost out of the way. It’s not a one-time payment that gives you all benefits permanently.

Instead, it’s a lot like Netflix and other streaming services. But, instead of watching shows and movies whenever you want, you get to go through all kinds of online courses. In short, it’s a monthly subscription, just like the specializations, but with a set price.

Unlike the specializations, though, there’s also the option of paying an annual fee. This annual fee comes at a much-discounted price of $399, which amounts to exactly $33.25 per month. That saves a lot of money compared to $59 per month.

This annual payment even comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee if you start to regret your purchase within that time.

What Are Coursera Plus’s Biggest Benefits?

Coursera Plus has a massive round of benefits for those who actively use the platform.

Is Coursera Plus Worth it?

Whether or not Coursera Plus is worth it comes down to your personal needs. There’s no doubt that it’s one of the most popular online learning platforms out there, with some significant degree programs, online courses, and more.

However, if you’re only after individual courses or a specific Coursera degree, then it could be said that Coursera Plus isn’t worth it. That’s especially the case if you think free courses will do the trick for you. 

However, if the benefits we mentioned earlier look like they fit your use, then it’s definitely worth it.

Either way, you can easily decide whether or not it’s a suitable option for you by checking out the 7-day free trial offered for Coursera Plus. That way, you can get a feel for it and decide if it’s worth the money.

Other Plans Offered By Coursera

At this point, you might be thinking, “How many options does an online learning platform possibly need?”.

Well, Coursera apparently needs plenty of them, and we’ve only covered half! There are still some important ones to go through, which is precisely what we’re going to do now.

Business Plan

Coursera For Business is a version of the service that is great for aspiring or well-established businesses that want to familiarize employees with concepts related to the business. 

With a business plan, the primary user can provide access to dozens of additional users who can then go through a wide range of Coursera courses. They can use these to hone specific skills and go through job-based learning programs.

It lets leaders give their employees a modern learning experience supercharged by AI to give each employee the opportunity to sharpen their skills in specific areas.

Plus, the main owner of the plan can manage and measure the growth and performances of every sub-user on the plan to which they were given access.

That’s because if you want a business plan, you actually need to contact Coursera to negotiate a price with them depending on your specific needs as an entire business.

There is, of course, an option for smaller businesses that don’t have that many members and need something a bit more down to size. This option is…

Team Plan

The team plan on Coursera is pretty much what the business plan is, but it is toned down to suit smaller businesses instead. It’s very similar in other ways, with main account holders being able to give sub-users access to certain things.

They can also manage growth as employees go through a Coursera course. But, it’s limited to 5-125 employees, meaning it’s exclusively for small or slowly growing businesses.

It comes at a price of $399 per user, meaning a minimum price of $1,995 every year for 5 members or a maximum price of $49,875 for 125 members yearly. To make things easier, this payment can be spread between 4 quarterly payments throughout the year.

Professional Certificates on Coursera

Quite similar to Coursera specializations, there are also Professional Certificates on the platform. You can earn these by doing specific courses that are much like specializations and covering a specific topic throughout many video lectures and programs.

At the end of a specialization, you would get a Coursera certificate. But, what makes these Professional Certificates different is that they’re offered by the company that made the course.

How You Can Earn Professional Certificates?

There’s nothing particularly different about earning Professional Certificates. They’re similar to any other Coursera course in that you need to study specific content and apply that knowledge in the manner outlined by the course. 

When you complete every course in a program like this, the company that creates the program will award you a Professional Certificate at the end. The exact way this happens will vary depending on the Course type, so keep that in mind before you enroll.

What Are They Good for?

Professional certificates on Coursera are good for plenty of reasons.

Are Coursera certificates really worth it?

How Much Does it Cost to Get One?

Professional Certificate programs on Coursera cost about $39-$99, depending on your chosen program.

Some can be even cheaper than this price range, while some can be a lot more expensive.Like Specializations, the price of these programs varies depending on who offers them.

But, the course fee is what we mentioned earlier, which isn’t that bad of a cost for a certificate that’ll give you lots of extra knowledge and a better chance of finding a good job.

What Are Coursera’s Degree Programs?

Coursera offers online degrees that users can learn from the comfort of their homes. These are perfect for aspiring students or those who want to get back into their studies.

The platform has options for Bachelor’s degrees and even Master’s programs. Those getting back into studies after graduating can also take postgraduate programs. For each of these types, there are also several categories that the programs are divided into. 

For example, there are data science, computer science, management, analytics, and other various degrees on offer. What’s even better is that all of these programs come from leading universities across the planet.

Once you complete the degree program, you’ll be awarded a degree from the university you enrolled in.

How Much Do They Cost?

Coursera has hundreds of degree programs on offer, all of which have varying prices. Obviously, these are a lot more expensive than any video lectures or guided projects on the site.

Going on a learning journey with Coursera to all kinds of universities worldwide will cost at least $9000, as that’s the starting price. However, depending on the program and the university that’s offering it, that price can go a lot higher.

That’s a lot of money, especially for younger students. Luckily, Coursera pricing options are really lenient with students depending on the course or program in question. So, if you’re a student, here’s what you should know.

Coursera Pricing for Students

To clear up any confusion, Coursera doesn’t have any special discounts for students. Sometimes, there are promotional events that reduce the price of Coursera Plus by a significant amount, but that’s it.

Nevertheless, individuals in dire need of online education who cannot rely solely on free courses may find themselves fortunate when it comes to securing scholarships. 

Scholarship Options

Coursera has all kinds of scholarships and grants available on its website that certain students can take advantage of. These are for bright students who need an education but can’t afford it.

In such cases, students can apply for Financial Aid to take specific courses.

The platform is known to be surprisingly lenient with these scholarships, and you wouldn’t be in over your head to apply for one in hopes of it being accepted. It’s a great incentive from Coursera that helps students in challenging situations around the world get the education they deserve.

Are Coursera Courses and Programs Worth it?

Coursera has its reputation for a reason, and that’s why many will say that it’s absolutely worth studying. However, course quality isn’t the only factor at play here, and we are aware of that.

That’s why our answer is a little different. While we do entirely agree that Coursera has high-quality courses and programs worth the money, it’s also something that you can avoid by sticking to free courses.

Many people make do with those and get the skills and knowledge they need from them. Just because they’re free doesn’t mean they’re not good. They’re still loaded with insight and skill-building tips, making them a really handy option.

However, if you’re in search of a Coursera certificate or a Professional Certificate, then the only option is to pay. In this case, we’d say it’s usually worth it if you can afford it because of the convenience and benefits on offer.

The most challenging decision though, is choosing which specific options you should go for. So, let’s go over that one time to make the decision a bit easier for you.

What Plan Should You Choose?

Coursera has a bunch of plans (as you can see from the information we’ve provided so far, and all those options can be confusing or straight-up overwhelming. When that happens, which option should you choose?

Well, as we mentioned, those who can make do or are struggling financially can rely on the free courses to carry them over for now. They’re really high quality and can teach you lots of new things. Plus, you could give Financial Aid a try to see if you make the cut.

Those who can afford it should definitely go for Coursera Plus because of how much content it unlocks. Almost all of the programs and courses on the website are open to subscribers, which is, frankly, an amazing amount of knowledge to have full access to.

However, it’s crucial to consider just how much of that knowledge you actually want. If you won’t be taking courses regularly and just want one or two, then Coursera Plus isn’t worth it.

And lastly, unless you plan to take on an entire online degree program or have a business you want to supply Coursera for, there’s no need to worry about the other options. 

Does Coursera Offer Refunds?

The 14-day refund policy also applies to Specialization and Coursera Plus. However, if you go with the annual subscription plan, you will not be eligible for a refund. So, going monthly is ideal if you’re on the fence.

To avoid any further payments, you also need to cancel your subscription after the refund is completed. 

Some Good Alternatives for Coursera

So, now that you’ve come this far and read everything above, it should be easier to decide whether or not Coursera is right for you. But, if you decide it’s not or just want to look at all your options, here are some other good learning alternatives to Coursera we recommend:

MasterClass

It has a lot of variety and features some of the best teachers. It’s also not that pricey, with a yearly subscription fee of $180, making it an affordable option.

Udemy

That means you can take them at your own pace whenever you have the time. With Udemy, you have to buy individual courses. These usually have a price of somewhere between $10 to $200.

But one thing to keep in mind is that courses go on sale regularly, meaning you could grab some great deals if the timing is right.

It’s a leading platform for studying all kinds of topics and one that you can’t go wrong with. That’s because it has all kinds of content that you can study and manage the way you want to.

Udacity

The monthly subscription costs $199, but those who can afford it would be happy with their purchase because of the high quality of each course on the service.

Check this out If you want a comparison between Udacity and Coursera.

Conclusion

That’s the very long and detailed answer to “How much does Coursera cost?”. We’ve covered everything there is to about the topic and all the different plans the service has to offer, including Financial Aid.

Now, it’s up to you to decide whether or not any of them are worth the purchase for you. Free courses are a very good option for those who want to save money, but the paid courses are definitely worth the buck too, for those who can afford them.

With a flexible refund policy, easily cancellable monthly fees, so much variety, and good quality content, Coursera earns its reputation as one of the best.

All of these things are available at a fair price too, and you can choose if that price is acceptable or not depending on your needs.

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