Coursera pricing plans are a bit complicated. It offers different plans for individuals, businesses, universities, and governments.
In addition, the Coursera price range is very large. The price of Coursera products starts from $9.99, as in the case of Guided Projects, and it goes up to $40,000 for an online degree.
In this article, I’ll explain the free Coursera courses you can take, the pricing structure, accepted payment methods, Coursera financial assistance, and discounts.
Coursera Pricing: Key Points
- The Cheapest Coursera product is Guided Projects, which costs $9.99, while the costliest is an online degree, which can cost up to $40,000.
- A $59/month Coursera Plus subscription is the best option for learning unlimited courses and earning unlimited certificates.
- Coursera financial assistance and discounts lower the Coursera courses’ by 43% to 57%.
Is Coursera Free?
Coursera is not entirely free but offers thousands of free courses.
Guided projects, specializations, professional certificates, MasterTrack certificates, and online degrees do not offer free certificates, but a 7-day free trial exists.
Coursera Free Courses
Coursera offers more than 6,717 free courses. These courses cover a diverse range of subjects, from computer science to the humanities.
Free courses will give you access to Coursera’s community of 87 million learners worldwide. With the community’s help, you can connect with others who share similar interests and goals.
While a free course does not include a certificate, upgrading to a paid subscription allows you to earn one and access additional features.
Although Coursera’s free courses do not provide access to assignments and instructor feedback, they are a great way to get a taste of what a course has to offer before signing up for a paid subscription.
How Does Coursera Pricing Work?
Besides free courses, Coursera has a variety of learning products available for you. These products are individual paid courses, Guided Projects, Specializations, Professional Certifications, MasterTrack Certificates, and online Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees.
Coursera’s pricing model varies depending on the type of content and subscription plan you choose. The basic table below depicts different learning products offered by Coursera and their costs.
| Coursera learning Options | Number of Courses | Price | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Courses | 8,841+ | Free or Paid version $49 to $79 | ✔️ |
| Guided Projects | 2,995+ | $9.99 onwards | ❌ |
| Specialization | 1,050+ | $49/month onwards | ✔️ |
| Professional Certificates | 153 | $49/month onwards | ✔️ |
| Master Track Certificates | 16 | $2,000 onwards | ❌ |
| Degrees | 63+ | $9,000 onwards | ❌ |
Now, let’s get into the details of these Coursera Products.
1. Individual Courses
More than 8,845 individual courses are available on Coursera. Some are free, and the rest are paid.
The paid versions of the course come with a course completion certificate issued by Coursera and its partner. You’ll also be eligible to submit assignments and receive grades.
In addition to that, you’ll be able to get the instructor’s feedback.
2. Guided Projects
Launched in 2020, Guided projects are the best way for learners to work on real-world practical projects and demonstrate their skills.
Guided projects do not need more than two hours to complete. Therefore, they can easily be accommodated into your busy schedule.
Coursera currently offers more than 2,996 Guided projects in its catalog. These projects encompass the following subjects: arts and humanities, personal development, IT, data science, business, computer science, engineering, and physical sciences.
Since Guided Projects cost only $9.99, they are considered the cheapest way to learn on Coursera.
3. Specialization
With more than 1,050 options to choose from, Specialization is the best way to master a particular skill. Specializations are basically a series of related courses that focus on a single topic.
These Specializations are tailored to help you gain in-depth knowledge and skills and are often used to prepare learners for a specific job or career path.
A Coursera Specialization typically involves 4-10 courses. Each course includes video lectures, interactive exercises, assignments, quizzes, and certificates.
Specialization offers a 7-day free trial, but after the trial ends, you must pay $49/month to continue learning.
4. Professional Certificates
Coursera’s Professional certificates are created in partnership with top universities and organizations to impart industry-ready skills and knowledge. There are about 153 Professional certificate courses.
Source: Coursera
Professional certificates are completed in 4-7 months, starting at $39/month. Looking at the duration, Professional certification can also be considered a mini degree.
5. MasterTrack Certificates
Coursera MasterTrack certificates are a university-backed, single-semester online certificate program lasting 4 to 7 months.
These programs are for individuals who want to develop skills for career advancement and receive a certificate from universities to support it.
Upon successful completion of the program, you receive a university-issued certificate that can be counted as college credit towards a full degree if you are accepted into the full Master’s program.
The starting price of a Coursera MasterTrack certificate is $2,000, and many certifications offer the option to pay in monthly installments or one payment.
6. Degrees
Coursera offers online Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in partnership with leading Universities worldwide. These degrees can take 2 to 7 years to complete.
Coursera’s catalog offers about 63 degree programs. These programs start at $9,000 and can cost more than $40,000.
Coursera’s online degrees provide a convenient and flexible way to earn a high-quality education from top universities without the need to relocate or take time off from work.
Coursera Pricing For Users
Coursera’s online learning platform is divided into four sections based on the learning objective, number of learners, and the institutions.
These four divisions are Coursera for Individual, Business, University, and Government.
Coursera Pricing Individual
Coursera is an ideal place for individuals to propel their career prospects. Coursera Individuals focuses on the needs of an individual while learning.
Coursera pricing individuals is bifurcated into individuals and teams.
A. Coursera For Individual
Coursera for individuals gives access to more than 7,000 world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certification programs.
The most popular Individual plan is the Coursera Plus subscription.
| Features | Single Learning Program | Coursera Plus Monthly | Coursera Plus Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $49-$79/month | $59/month | $399/year |
| Free Trial | No | 7-day | 7-day |
| Access to all courses | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Certificate | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
- Coursera Single Learning Program: This plan allows you to learn a single topic or skill to earn a credential. To purchase a single learning program, you need to visit an individual course or Specialization page.
- Coursera Plus Monthly Subscription: With a Coursera Plus subscription, you can complete multiple courses and get unlimited certificates in a short time. You can also choose from more than 15 Professional certificate programs from industry leaders like Google and Meta to earn credentials.
- Coursera Plus Annual Subscription: This annual subscription plan offers everything included in the Coursera Plus monthly plan. Additionally, you can save up to $309/year, which is akin to a 43% discount.
B. Coursera For Teams
Coursera for Teams is a solution for managing skill development objectives for smaller teams with 5 to 125 members.
| Feature | Coursera For Teams |
|---|---|
| Price | $399/year per user |
| Free Trial | ✔️ |
| Access to all courses | ✔️ |
| Certificate | ✔️ |
Coursera for Teams offers unlimited access to 200,000 short videos and more than 8,500 courses. This platform helps teams diagnose issues such as conflict, groupthink, and lack of commitment before they get out of control.
With Coursera for Teams, you can set your team up for success by creating the ground rules and structure needed to achieve positive change.
Coursera For Business
Coursera for Business is a specialized branch of Coursera that is designed for corporate training and professional development.
It serves as a comprehensive training platform for companies to enhance the skills and knowledge of their workforce.
With Coursera for Business, companies can offer their employees access to various courses, specializations, and degrees from top universities and companies.
| Features | Teams | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399/year per user | Contact sales |
| Number of Users | 5-125 | More than 125 |
| Access to all courses | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Certificate | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Mobile apps | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Gen AI, Data, Tech, Leadership Academies | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Billing by PayPal or credit card | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Billing by invoice | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Coursera for Business has two plans: Teams and Enterprise. Let’s take a look at these two plans.
- Coursera for Business Teams: It allows businesses to create customized learning programs for their teams, track employee progress, and measure the impact of their training initiatives.
Coursera for Business Teams suits smaller teams with 5 to 125 members, making it an ideal solution for managing skill development objectives.
- Coursera for Business Enterprise: It offers a diverse range of courses in different fields, such as business, data science, computer science, and more.
Coursera for Business Enterprise is an overarching solution for businesses to upskill, reskill, or develop employees while providing cost-effective and flexible learning.
Many Businesses and Enterprises have found Coursera for Business to be a valuable investment in employee development, citing the high quality of courses and the massive catalog of topics available.
Coursera For Universities
Coursera for Universities, also known as Coursera for Campus, enables institutions to enhance their curriculum, widen their reach, and empower students and faculty with access to a vast array of online courses and degree programs.
Universities, by partnering with Coursera, can create a customized learning experience that aligns with their unique needs and goals.
Coursera for Campus offers two different plans: Career Academy and Full Catalog.
| Features | Career Academy | Full Catalog |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Contact sale | Contact sale |
| Access to Guided Projects, assessments, and quizzes | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Certificate | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Access to courses from top universities | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Access to job-based learning programs | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Plagiarism Tracking in Gradebook | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Mobile apps | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Billing by PayPal or credit card | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Billing by invoice | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Let us take a swift look at these two plans.
- Coursera for Campus Career Academy: The primary aim of the Coursera for Campus Career Academy is to prepare students for in-demand jobs.
Coursera Career Academy helps students earn valuable Professional Certificates from industry leaders, including Google, Meta, IBM, and more.
The Career Academy offers a 5-step job search guide to assist students in navigating the process. The guide includes tips on building a standout resume and LinkedIn profile, virtual interview practice, and access to a professional certificate alumni community.
- Coursera for Campus Full Catalog: The Full Catalog offers all content and advanced features for your campus. Along with access to Guided Projects, assessments, and quizzes, you can get verified certificates upon completion of the course.
The plan also provides courses from top universities and private authoring tools. Additionally, you can benefit from online proctoring and question variants in quizzes.
By leveraging Coursera’s extensive network of top universities and industry experts, institutions can provide their students with a world-class education that prepares them for success in an increasingly global and competitive job market.
Coursera For Government
Coursera for Government is a program that provides online learning opportunities to government agencies. Through this program, government employees can access the vast library of online courses from universities like Stanford, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and more.
Coursera has partnered with various government agencies, including the US Federal Government, to provide access to its courses and Specialization.
This program aims to equip citizens and government employees with the latest skills by training the citizen workforce and upskilling government employees.
Coursera: Accepted Payment Methods And Currencies
Coursera accepts various payment methods and currencies. You can purchase your favorite courses and subscriptions using credit card, mobile payments, or PayPal.
While most Coursera courses display their cost in US dollars, some courses have shown their prices in local currencies.
You can pay with your credit card, even in another currency. But your bank will charge you a little commission.
Coursera Credit Card Payments
Coursera accepts payments from Visa, MasterCard, Discover, JCB, and AMEX credit cards. However, if a company has chosen the Enterprise plan, it will have to pay through invoice or ACH.
You can use a prepaid card from one of the above-mentioned credit card brands for one-time payments, but you can not use a prepaid card for a Coursera subscription.
Note: Coursera does not offer gift cards, so you cannot buy Coursera courses for your friends and loved ones.
Coursera Financial Assistance
Coursera offers financial assistance to learners who can not afford the full cost of a course.
The Coursera financial assistance program was created to help learners from diverse backgrounds access high-quality education.
1. Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Coursera Employer Tuition Reimbursement is a benefit some employers offer to support their employees’ education and professional development.
Through this benefit, employees receive financial assistance to cover the cost of taking online courses or degree programs on the Coursera platform.
To benefit from this plan, you need to find out if your company offers education reimbursement benefits. You can check your employee handbook or meet with your HR to understand your options.
2. Coursera Financial Aid
Coursera offers financial aid to eligible learners to help them access its courses and degree programs.
You can apply for Coursera financial aid by clicking on the link on the course home page.
Once your financial aid is approved, you can access all the course content and earn a certificate. To apply for financial assistance, you must complete an application form with information about your educational background, career goals, and economic circumstances.
3. Scholarship And Grants
Coursera offers various scholarships and grants to help learners worldwide access its online courses. Many different types of scholarships are available on Coursera based on academic achievement, demographic background, and financial need.
Also, scholarships on Coursera can be specific to schools, students, or types of majors. Here are some of the most coveted scholarships.
- Gies College of Business and Coursera Scholarship program
- University of North Texas Scholarships
- Scholarships for underrepresented communities
Coursera grants are available to learners who want to take courses on the platform and earn certificates.
4. Coursera Refund Policy
Coursera’s refund policy is a bit complicated. Coursera offers a 7-day free trial for MasterTrack and Degree programs. If you cancel within this period, you won’t be charged.
However, if you earn a certificate within a trial period, Coursera reserves the right to charge you for one month’s subscription.
Coursera Plus subscriptions can be refunded within fourteen days of payment. If you don’t want to pay for a subscription anymore, you can cancel it.
It is also important to note that Coursera disclaims any responsibility or liability related to any third-party marketplace’s refund policy or the third party’s compliance or noncompliance with such policy.
Note: There are no refunds on Guided projects.
Coursera Discounts Offers
One of the ways to save money on Coursera is by using a discount or coupon. Here are some of the ways to get a Coursera discount.
1. Coursera Annual Subscription Discount
The Coursera Plus plan covers unlimited access to 90% of the course catalog and costs $59/month.
| Subscription Plan | Price by months | Annual Price | Discount | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursera Plus Annual | $708/year | $399/year | 43% | $309/year |
By paying upfront for the yearly plan, you can save up to $309 compared to the monthly plan.
2. Coursera Black Friday- Cyber Monday Deals
Coursera Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are not live. However, you can check the official sites for deals on November 29, 2024, and December 2, 2024.
During the Black Friday & Cyber Monday sale 2023, Coursera rolled out a discount offering $100 off on its annual subscription, making it an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and gain certificates.
We can surely expect similar deals in the 2024 Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Since such deals are only available for a limited time, be sure to act quickly to take advantage of these offers when announced.
Do not forget to check the Coursera website for the latest information on the deals.
3. Coursera $1 Referral Offer
Coursera offers a referral program allowing you and me to refer friends to the platform and earn rewards. According to this offer, when you sign up for Coursera Plus using a friend’s referral link, you can get your first month for just $1.
If you are the first friend the referrer has referred, they will also receive a reward to get their first month of Coursera Plus for $1.
Your referral link is on your Facebook account and the Coursera website. You can also share your friends’ referral links and earn rewards when they sign up for Coursera Plus.
Remember that this offer does not require coupons, and the reward must be redeemed by January 1, 2025.
4. Auditing A Course In Coursera
Auditing a course on Coursera allows you to access all the course materials, including video lectures, readings, and discussion forums, without paying for the course.
When you audit a course, you won’t be able to submit assignments, but you’ll still be able to learn from the course content and participate in discussions with other learners.
You can upgrade to a paid course certificate at any time during or after your audit, and your grades will be transferred to your paid certificate.
It is important to note that not all courses are available for auditing. Also, an audited course does not provide a certificate of completion.
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Conclusion: Coursera Plus Starts $399 Yearly or $59/Month
Despite Coursera’s numerous pricing strategies, Coursera Plus is the best option if you want to apply for multiple courses and earn unlimited certificates at a discounted price.
In addition to unlimited courses and certificates, it also offers personalized learning, career and community support. You can use annual Coursera Plus subscription discounts and deals to reduce prices further.
Overall, Coursera Plus is an excellent choice if you are looking to upskill, reskill, or pursue a new career.
So, invest in your professional goals with Coursera Plus!
FAQs
Coursera courses are a cost-effective way to gain new skills and knowledge, especially compared to traditional university programs.
You can sign up for Coursera’s official newsletter to receive the latest sales and discounts. You can also save money using the Coursera Plus annual subscription discount and free course trials.
The cheapest way to use Coursera is through its Guided Projects, which cost $9.99. Coursera Plus, which offers unlimited access to more than 90% of courses, projects, Specializations, and Professional certificates, is also a cost-effective option.
You can save money on Coursera by opting for the Coursera Plus subscription, free trials, auditing courses, and financial aid.
