Head-to-head
Udacity vs Coursera
Two career-focused heavyweights: the intensive project school against the university platform.
For work
UdacityUdacity (Accenture)
Udacity
Job-focused Nanodegrees in tech, at a serious price.
Our pick
All-in-one
CourseraCoursera Inc.
Coursera
University courses and certificates that count.
UdacityCoursera
Our score3.9 / 54.6 / 5
PriceFrom $249/moFree
Free planNo
Best forCareer switchers in techRecognized certificates
CategoryCareer & businessEverything under one roof
ProviderUdacity (Accenture)Coursera Inc.
Our verdict
Udacity offers something rare: real projects reviewed by humans, which simulates actual work better than any quiz. But at around $249 a month it demands sprint discipline, and the catalog is narrow. Coursera delivers recognized certificates from Google, IBM, and universities for a fraction of the price, with a far broader catalog. For most people, Coursera wins on value and recognition; Udacity is the special case for funded, focused sprints.
“The Nanodegrees are genuinely job-oriented, with real projects and code review. But at this subscription price you should arrive with a clear goal and a deadline, or it gets expensive fast.”Editorial team, on Udacity
“The courses we took were genuinely university-grade, with graded work and deadlines that keep you honest. For a certificate employers actually recognize, this is the place.”Editorial team, on Coursera