Coursera Vs Coursera Plus: Which is Best to Consider in 2024?
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Coursera or Coursera Plus, which one should you opt for?
In today’s article, I’m going to cover everything about Coursera and Coursera Plus. By the end of this article, you will have figured out which one is the best choice for your online learning journey.
Ready?
Let’s start with a basic question…
What are Coursera and Coursera Plus?
If you have taken any online courses before, you must have heard about Coursera. In case, you’re not familiar with it, Coursera is a top-notch online learning platform that offers courses in a wide variety of fields from top universities and tech companies.
Whether you want to learn business skills, any job-oriented tech profession, or develop some soft skills like communication skills or leadership, you may consider Coursera and take separate courses.
On the other hand, Coursera Plus is a subscription plan offered by Coursera that allows learners to access over 7000 courses, both free and paid at an affordable. (I’ll tell you later about the cost and why I consider… it affordable.)
This subscription plan also includes Coursera Professional Certificates and Specializations programs which are in demand.
Coursera Plus is specially designed for learners who want to learn several skills and plan to take multiple courses on the platform, making it a cost-effective option for them.
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Here is what Coursera offers:
Coursera offers you different types of courses depending on your learning goals. With free certificates, you can also pursue online degree programs from world-class universities. Let me break down…what you can pursue with Coursera…separately.
Online Degree Programs:
Coursera offers fully online degrees in partnership with universities and colleges. You can earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees in various subjects through Coursera, from the comfort of your home.
MasterTrack® Certificates:
These Certificates are advanced programs that provide in-depth knowledge and skills in a specific field. They are often delivered by top universities and include graded assignments and assessments. These courses usually take 4–7 months to finish the course and advance your knowledge.
To enroll in the MasterTrack® Certificate courses may require certain skills and qualifications (have a graduate or bachelor’s degree), depending on the subject you choose.
Specialization Programs:
Specializations are a series of courses that focus on a specific topic or skill set. They often include hands-on projects and capstone assignments. Completing a specialization can lead to a certificate.
These specialization programs include a series of courses that may take 3–6 months to complete, depending on the program you choose.
Professional Certificates:
Professional certificate programs are designed to help you gain specific skills in areas like data science, project management, digital marketing, and more. These programs also include a series of courses and often have a hands-on component.
You must have heard about Google Career Certificates, which prepare you for entry-level jobs in in-demand and tech fields without any college degree or prior experience. These certificates are also part of Coursera Professional Certifications.
Guided Projects:
Guided Projects are shorter, project-based courses that focus on practical skills and applications. They are a great way to learn specific skills quickly.
Free Courses:
Coursera also offers you thousands of free courses on various subjects. You don’t need to fill in any card details to start your learning. You just need to create your account to access these free courses from top universities and companies. With these free courses, you may also earn a Course of Completion Certificate which may cost you some bucks.
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What Coursera Plus Offers:
As mentioned earlier, Coursera Plus includes over 7000 courses. This may include Specialization Programs, Professional Certificates, Guided Projects, and all free courses.
However, it does not include any degree programs and MasterTrack Certificates. Furthermore, there are some universities and companies that are excluded from the Coursera Plus subscription. For example, the IBM Professional Certificates which are popular, are not part of Coursera Plus. (You may check this list for what’s included and what’s excluded.)
How Much Does Coursera and Coursera Plus Cost?
So, yeah! Coursera Plus includes Specialization programs and Professional Certificates which you may have to pay separately for each program you enroll in.
However, it is also important to note, that some best programs from top universities and companies such as IBM, and Deeplearning.AI are not part of the Coursera Plus subscription. You may pay for their programs separately.
Let me tell you the cost, so you can understand better Coursera Vs Coursera Plus, which is worth investing.
Well, here is the cost of Coursera for all the different programs it offers:
- Full Degrees: Start at $9,000
- Specializations Programs: Cost $39.99+ per month
- Professional Certificates: Start at $49
- Guided Projects: Start at $9.99
While a Coursera Plus subscription only costs $59 per month or $399 per year. If you notice the Professional certification alone costs $49 per month for each program it offers, which is only $10 less than Coursera Plus monthly subscription.
(Note: Coursera often offers huge discounts on its Plus subscription, which is worth considering. To stay updated with these offers, you can subscribe to my newsletter here. Being an affiliate, I receive the notifications first.)
>> Claim your Coursera Plus 40% Off!
>> India Exclusive: Get Coursera Plus at just ₹7,999 for 1 year!
If I compare Coursera subscription cost with other e-learning platforms such as Udacity which cost thousands of dollars, it costs you very less.
[For Udacity subscription cost, you may refer to this article:
Don’t you think, Coursera Plus is affordable than Coursera, paying for separate courses?
The best part, Coursera Plus gives you the flexibility to switch between different programs. After all, you will have access to over 7000 courses. If you don’t enjoy one course and want to some other skills you have the option to choose another.
Where you choose to enroll in one paid program or a Coursera Plus monthly or annual subscription, Coursera offers you a 7-day free trial in both cases.
>> Claim your Coursera Plus 40% Off!
>> India Exclusive: Get Coursera Plus at just ₹7,999 for 1 year!
However, In Coursera Vs Coursera Plus, it completely depends on your requirements and goals for learning. Let me tell you whether Coursera or Coursera Plus is best for…
Who is Coursera best for?
If you want to pursue degree programs or MasterTrack Certificates, there is no need to take Coursera Plus subscriptions.
Furthermore, if your goal is just to pursue a particular program on a specific subject, I’d recommend you purchase it separately, or if it’s free, just enroll in it. As with Coursera Plus, it may cost you more.
It is also important to consider, that there are some universities and companies best programs such as IBM Professional Certificates are not part of Coursera Plus. In any case, if you want to pursue those certificates, you better choose Coursera and pay for the program you choose to enroll in.
Who is Coursera Plus best for?
As mentioned earlier, Coursera Plus is beneficial for learners who want to learn and pursue several skills and plan to take multiple paid programs on Coursera, as it makes it a cost-effective option for them.
Further, If you want flexibility in your learning and may want to explore other courses from different universities and companies in the same and different subjects, Coursera Plus can be the best option to choose.
Coursera Plus can be useful for avid online learners. If your goal is lifelong and unlimited learning, you may consider going with Coursera Plus.
>> Claim your Coursera Plus 40% Off!
>> India Exclusive: Get Coursera Plus at just ₹7,999 for 1 year!
Advantages of choosing Coursera Plus over Coursera:
- Coursera Plus can be a cost-effective option if you want to learn several skills from personal skills to professional skills.
- Coursera Plus allows you to explore different topics and courses without worrying about the cost of each course. This flexibility is valuable for learners who want to broaden their knowledge and skills across various domains.
- With Coursera Plus, you can earn certificates of completion for all the courses you complete during your subscription. These certificates can be valuable for showcasing your skills and knowledge to potential employers.
Advantages of choosing Coursera over Coursera Plus:
Choosing Coursera means I’m considering the advantages of purchasing their programs separately. So, here are some advantages I have identified…
- If your goal is to pursue only one program then paying only for that program can be a cost-effective option for you. As the earlier you finish a program, the less money it would cost.
- Some professional certificates and specialization programs are not part of the Coursera Plus subscription. You better purchase those programs with Coursera. There is no need to sign Up for Coursera Plus.
- When you take and pay for one course, you are more likely to complete it as it is the only option available to you. With Coursera Plus when you have multiple choice, you may enroll in many courses and end up completing nothing.
My Final Verdict: Which one should you opt for?
In Coursera and Coursera Plus, ultimately it depends on you and your learning goals. Looking at their costs, there is not a big difference. Additionally, Coursera also offers huge discounts on its Plus subscriptions from time to time.
In my opinion, Coursera Plus is best for you if you want to pursue several skills. However, if you have very specific courses in mind and don’t plan to take many, the pay-per-course model of Coursera might be more suitable. There is no need to sign up for Plus subscriptions.
>> Claim your Coursera Plus 40% Off!
>> India Exclusive: Get Coursera Plus at just ₹7,999 for 1 year!
Now It’s Your Turn:
So, I hope you enjoyed this Coursera and Coursera Plus comparison and found it helpful.
Now I’d like to hear from you:
Are you going to choose Coursera or Coursera Plus?
If you’ve got any thoughts or questions about this guide and Coursera, please let me know in the comments.
(Note: I have also published a detailed review of Coursera and Coursera Plus on my blog. If you’re interested in reading more, you may check out those articles.)
>> Claim your Coursera Plus 40% Off!
>> India Exclusive: Get Coursera Plus at just ₹7,999 for 1 year!
Coursera Vs Coursera Plus: FAQs
Is Coursera Plus necessary?
Well, I don’t think Coursera Plus is necessary for everyone. Yeah! It offers benefits like unlimited access to courses, specializations, programs, and professional certificates, but it may not be cost-effective if you only plan to take a few courses.
You better consider your learning goals, budget, and the number of courses you intend to take. Many learners find value in the free and individual course payment options on Coursera, so whether Coursera Plus is necessary depends on your specific needs and usage patterns.
Is Coursera Plus Worth It?
I believe, Coursera Plus is worth it and if you intend to take several courses, it is the best and most affordable option for you.
As with the Coursera Plus subscription, you get access to 90% of its content (over 7000 courses) which also includes professional certificates and specialization programs.
As mentioned earlier, pursuing these certificates alone costs you $39 to $49 per month, which I believe is not much less than a Coursera Plus subscription, costing $59 per month.
Furthermore, comparing this cost to other learning platform subscriptions such as Udacity, it’s not that much.
Again, I would say Coursera Plus is worth it but you better consider your budget, the number of courses you plan to take, and the duration of your learning journey to determine if Coursera Plus provides good value for your circumstances.
>> Claim your Coursera Plus 40% Off!
>> India Exclusive: Get Coursera Plus at just ₹7,999 for 1 year!
Happy Learning :)
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