How much does an online course cost?
The short answer
From free to thousands of dollars. Single courses cost $13 to $25 on sale (Udemy, Domestika), subscriptions run $14 to $40 a month, and intensive programs with project review (Udacity) charge hundreds per month. Guide prices, June 2026.
In detail
The pricing model determines what you pay. Marketplaces like Udemy and Domestika sell single courses you keep forever. During their near-permanent sales you pay $13 to $25. Subscription platforms charge for access, with Skillshare at $13.99 a month (billed annually), LinkedIn Learning at $39.99 a month in its iPhone app and Coursera Plus at $33.25 a month (billed annually).
The math is simple. Learning one specific skill, a single course is cheaper. Learning broadly and continuously, a subscription pays off, provided you actually use it. A subscription that idles for months is the most expensive course you will ever buy.
At the top sit the intensive programs. Udacity charges around $249 a month for Nanodegrees with real projects and human code review. That only makes sense as a sprint. Clear your calendar, finish in two months, cancel. Decide your goal first, then your budget.