How much does an online course cost?
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.
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: Skillshare and DataCamp around $14 a month (billed annually), LinkedIn Learning about $20, Coursera Plus around $33 a month.
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.