Today, there are two major players in the online education market: Coursera and Udemy. They both offer courses on a variety of topics and they both have millions of users. So, which platform should you use to host your course? The answer is that it depends on what type of audience you're trying to reach and how much control you want to have over your pricing structure.
At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide which platform is best for you. Both Coursera and Udemy have their pros and cons, they both have loyal users who swear by them, but they also both have strong competitors trying to take their place in the market. So how do you know which one is right for your course?
A MOOC, or massive open online course, is an online class designed to be accessible to anyone with an internet connection, no prerequisites or special requirements needed. These courses are typically packed with resources like video lectures, reading materials, assignments, and quizzes, all presented in a flexible, self-paced format.
On top of the traditional learning materials, MOOCs often include interactive components such as discussion boards or community forums. This lets students connect with instructors and classmates from around the world, ask questions, and share insights, kind of like a virtual classroom that never closes.
MOOCs have been around since the late 2000s and gained their real momentum in the early 2010s, thanks to their promise of high-quality education available to everyone, everywhere, on their own schedule.
Coursera has a large customer base and a lot of traffic. If you want to get your course out there, Coursera is the best place to start. It's easy for students to find courses on Coursera, and there are lots of people looking for courses on the platform.
Let's look at the stats. Udemy boasts an enormous selection, with over a quarter of a million courses spanning practically every topic you can imagine, everything from web development to baking sourdough bread. They work with a global community of more than 80,000 instructors, teaching courses in dozens of languages, so you’re almost guaranteed to find something in your niche.
On the other hand, Coursera focuses more on academic and professional subjects in partnership with prestigious institutions like Yale, Princeton, and Duke. You’ll find over 10,000 courses, professional certificates, and degree programs to choose from, plus nearly 9,000 options that are free. Their reach is significant, with millions of learners around the world tapping into content from over 350 top universities and leading companies.
So, in short:
Udemy has a larger variety of courses on different topics. Udemy's audience is also much larger than that of Coursera, making it easier for you to reach your target audience. In addition, Udemy offers more ways to make money with your course through their affiliate program and promotions with other companies (like Amazon).
If you’re wondering exactly what kinds of courses sell well on these platforms, there’s plenty to choose from, no matter your niche.
On Coursera, you'll find a powerhouse lineup of professional certificates and degrees from respected names in tech, business, and science. Think job-ready certificates from places like Microsoft, Google, IBM, or highly regarded universities such as Yale, Stanford, and Imperial College London. You can study everything from artificial intelligence and data analytics, to psychology and advanced healthcare, all backed by big players in their fields. Want a proper credential with a university stamp? Coursera’s packed with options.
Over on Udemy, the playing field is just as broad, but the vibe is a bit different. Here, you’ll find everything from blockbuster web development bootcamps to crash courses in Photoshop, digital marketing, machine learning, AWS certification prep, and even public speaking. Whether you’re looking to upskill in something technical, polish your soft skills, or start a side hustle, chances are Udemy has a course (or several dozen) that fits the bill.
No matter where you land, both platforms offer top-notch courses that can give your personal or professional life a boost.
Udemy will reward you with more money per sale than Coursera does.
Udemy takes a flat 30% cut of the sale price, while Coursera takes a flat 20%. This means that if your course sells for $100 on Udemy and $150 on Coursera, you'll make $40 more with Udemy (30*(100-150)). This can really add up over time!
Additionally, Coursera also takes a flat $250 fee for each course they host - so if someone wants to buy one of your courses through them instead of directly from your website or store page (which is unlikely), they're going to have to pay an extra $250 just so they can access it through their platform instead of yours!
While both Coursera and Udemy offer commendable platforms to host and sell online courses, CourseApp is emerging as a more dynamic and flexible choice for educators and learners alike. Here's why CourseApp stands out from these industry giants:
Of course, Coursera isn't the only player in the field. Depending on your needs and preferences, you may want to consider a variety of other top online learning platforms, each with its own strengths:
Choosing the right platform for hosting your online courses is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your success as an educator. CourseApp's unique features and capabilities make it a strong contender in the online education market and a worthy choice for course creators, but it's wise to explore all your options to find the best fit for your goals and audience.
If you're still exploring where to launch your online course, it's good to know that there are several other established platforms to consider beyond Coursera and Udemy. Many educators also turn to alternatives such as Edx, Udacity, or MasterClass, each bringing their own specialties and audiences to the table.
Other notable options include:
With such a diverse range of platforms available, you can choose one that best aligns with your subjects, teaching style, and desired learner community.
Are you considering hosting your course on Coursera or Udemy, but are unsure which platform best suits your needs? Our FAQ section will provide a comparative analysis on various aspects including audience, pricing, rights, engagement, revenue, and marketing support.
If you're an academic, then Coursera is the platform for you. It has a more formal and academic feel to it than Udemy does and attracts mostly people who are interested in higher education or have already completed their degrees.
If you're looking for more of a professional development kind of course and would like access to more than just one subject area, then Udemy might be better suited for your needs. The audience base on Udemy is much wider than that of Coursera; therefore, there will always be someone somewhere who wants to learn about whatever topic it is that interests you most (or even something totally unrelated).
You can find everything from web development skills like JavaScript coding or Java programming through virtual reality design all the way down through basic finance concepts such as managing your personal finances responsibly!
When it comes to language options, both Coursera and Udemy cast a global net, but with different approaches. Udemy leads the pack by offering courses taught in an impressive range of over seventy languages. This diversity means you’re likely to find instruction and support in everything from Japanese and Portuguese to Swedish and Turkish, catering to learners and instructors from virtually every corner of the globe.
Coursera, while more selective, still provides a substantial multilingual experience. Courses are available in twenty-one languages, including major world languages like Spanish, Russian, Chinese, French, and Arabic. Coursera often includes interactive transcripts, making it easier for students to follow along and review course material, especially helpful for non-native speakers. Whether you’re looking to teach or learn in your preferred language, both platforms strive to make education accessible to a global audience.
Coursera's pricing structure is based on the number of students enrolled in your course. If you have a small audience, then you will pay less per student than someone who has a large one. This is similar to how Udemy works as well; however, their plans are more flexible and have no minimum fee requirement (so long as it's under $25 or so).
The price of your course is an important factor in determining how much revenue you'll make from it. When it comes to setting your own prices on Coursera, there are no restrictions or limitations placed on you by the platform. You can charge whatever amount of money you like for your courses, but keep in mind that there is a maximum price point set by Coursera's content partner (i.e., Stanford University) that students will not exceed if they want access to these courses through their subscriptions.
This means that if one of their partners has charged $300 per credit hour for their online course material, then any other provider who uses those same materials cannot make more than this amount through its own pricing structure even though they may be selling access directly through their own website instead of using Coursera's platform as an intermediary between themselves and consumers looking for educational opportunities online - which means there could be some serious competition between providers trying maintain pricing structures similar enough so as not lose customers who would otherwise consider taking advantage today's technology while still offering something unique enough where consumers wouldn't feel like they weren't getting enough bang-for-their buck when comparing prices across multiple vendors/providers offering similar products/services.
If you choose to publish your course on Coursera or Udemy, they have the right to sell it. This means that if a student purchases your course through one of these platforms, the platform gets paid and you do not get any royalties from that sale. It also means that if someone buys an in-house subscription for their company and wants access to all of the courses available on their platform (including yours), there's nothing stopping them from doing so.
Let's take a look at how student engagement opportunities differ on Coursera and Udemy.
On Coursera, courses are limited to 50 students per course. If you need more, you may want to consider creating an online program rather than just one class. On the other hand, there is no limit on how many people can enroll in your Udemy course as long as they pay the price of admission (or less). This means that if you have an audience with thousands of potential buyers ready to learn from you, and there are plenty out there who do!, Udemy might be better suited for hosting your content than its competitor platform would be.* How many students do I need to get my course approved?
If this question has crossed your mind before now then don't worry , it happens all the time! Let me reassure you: neither company requires anything more than just having some great ideas about what kind of content should go into each lesson plan or module.* What does approval process look like?
If you're looking to make money with your online course, Udemy is the way to go. You can also use Coursera if you prefer its platform and customer base, but it won't be as lucrative as Udemy's model.
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