Coursera Review In 2024 Worth It? Legit?

Have you ever thought of finishing that major that you dropped out of in college or maybe taking up that language that you couldn’t in high school? Coursera has got you covered. Coursera provides accredited online courses on several different subjects like finance, health, and data science. 

But if you are skeptical and want to know more about Coursera, you will get all your questions answered in this review. 

But if you are short on time, here is a quick summary:

Coursera Review In 2024 Worth It? Legit?

Coursera was founded in 2012 by two Stanford University computer science lecturers, Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng. The thought behind Coursera was to make education more accessible for less privileged people. It soon became one of the best online learning platforms.

Coursera lets the students choose the course and subject they want to study to let them move forward professionally. 

It has made university-level content accessible to people all over the world. Also, the pricing of these courses is on the affordable side, making it possible for everyone to get a good education.

Coursera has been strategically designed for students who want to study online without compromising on the quality of their education. 

But you can wonder why Coursera is better than the plethora of online learning platforms. What makes Coursera different from every other platform is the fact that several universities and institutions have partnered with Coursera to provide courses that are of superior quality by professional instructors.

It also offers unique features, making learning fun and the platform a delight to use.

Who should get Coursera?

It is natural to wonder if Coursera is the right fit for you. 

Well, the answer to this question depends on your preferences and needs. The goal of Coursera is to provide a platform for people who are serious about learning and want quality education from esteemed educators. If you are looking for great courses at an affordable price and with accredited certification, then Coursera is the platform for you. 

Coursera also offers a variety of courses for free, so if you aren’t ready to make any commitment yet, you can still go through those courses to get an idea of what Coursera has to offer. You can also audit any class you want for free as well.

The courses on Coursera are specially crafted for people who are looking to improve their skills, learn new skills for professional development, or are just curious to learn.

There are also guided projects and options for specialized courses that help you acquire new skills from experts. These skills are all career-based and focused on professional development. Coursera is the perfect choice for people who are looking to master all parts of that particular skill.

If you fit any of these categories, then Coursera is the platform for you. But you may be wondering whether the price range fits your budget. Let’s get to that.

How much does Coursera cost?

As I mentioned earlier, Coursera has a complicated pricing system. But I will simplify it as well as I can; here is a complete and detailed guide about how much Coursera costs and which plan you should get.

Pricing is an essential aspect of online learning platforms, but I suggest against buying the cheapest available course without prior research. Compromising quality when it comes to learning is not very wise. Coursera has partnered with several established and esteemed universities and institutions to provide the best education for you, and the best part about it is that you get an accredited certificate recognized by most organizations.

Coursera has a wide range of learning programs, and because of that, they have multiple different pricing options available. Their courses are on the expensive side when compared to other online learning platforms, but that is because most of their courses are accredited, which makes them more valuable.

You can buy a single course focusing on one skill or get a subscription. You also get a 7-day free trial before committing to any Coursera program to see if the courses are worth it. Most courses with accredited certification start at around $49, but the prices may differ depending on the concept’s complexity and the video’s length. You can also opt for guided projects that are on the cheaper side, starting at just $9.99.

The unique thing about Coursera is that you can get degree courses just like any university, ranging from $9000 to $50,000 (cheaper than tuition fees at any reputable school). You can also get MasterTrack Certificates that start at $2000 and are shorter than degree courses. The main focus of these courses is to familiarize you and give you credit for more advanced degree courses, making them a little less intimidating.

If you are planning to learn a few skills, then it makes more sense for you to buy Coursera Plus. It is the subscription plan that Coursera offers that includes a lot of specialty courses. You can opt to sign up for the majority of the courses available on Coursera without any additional cost. These courses also come with verified certificates after you are done with the class. 

For Coursera Plus, you get two payment options; you can choose either a monthly or annual subscription, depending on your requirements. Coursera Plus Monthly includes a 7-day free trial and costs $59. The annual subscription includes a 14-day refund policy if you are not satisfied with the course, which costs $399.

The pricing module is complicated because of the variety of different courses Coursera has to offer. Research will help you understand which plan will suit your needs the best. The courses are a little on the pricey side but you get quality content with accredited certificates making them worth the money.

My Experience on Coursera

To honestly judge any online platform, it is important to get into all the minor details about it. In my experience, Coursera provides a unique and valuable learning opportunity. The instructors are experts in their field with years of experience, making sure that the education you receive is on par with that of esteemed universities.

The platform is designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, making your educational journey as easy as possible. As you go through the platform, you see that it is easy on the eyes and visually striking at the same time. The design is simple, and color patterns complement the overall look of the platform. With every course, you get an overview of what it has to offer, including a summary, information about the instructor and university partner, and the number of lessons. 

Coursera offers a wide range of learning formats, and you can schedule your classes when it is convenient to you. So you can work without compromising on your education. There are video lessons with subtitles and transcripts, assignments that are reviewed by your peers, and quizzes. You can learn at your own pace and time without needing to sacrifice the quality of the courses.

The dashboard of any course you select is also appealing and stands out. It is minimalistic and engaging. The video player is on the right, and you get the lesson plan on the left. There is an option to add notes and download the supplemental course material. You can also interact with other students and the instructor to ask any questions that you might have. This is a useful feature that Coursera offers.

These are a few things that I enjoyed while learning on Coursera. All in all, my experience was pleasant and hassle-free. 

What did I like about Coursera?

As I have mentioned multiple times earlier, I really admire the simplistic nature of Coursera. The design is well thought out, making the platform easily navigable and user-friendly. In my opinion, learning platforms should always avoid complicated designs and features, as they will drive away any potential learners. 

Coursera aims to provide college-level education online. That is what makes Coursera stand out in my eyes. People like me, who work full-time but still want to learn to improve their skills, can benefit a lot from the courses available on Coursera. There is also a wide variety of courses to choose from, and all these courses are designed by the best lecturers.

If you just want to learn without receiving accreditation, Coursera is your haven. You get over 5,000 courses for free. You can receive the same education as the people who buy the course; the only difference is that you don’t get the certificate, quizzes, or supplemental course material. This feature is ideal for people who want to learn multiple skills but are on a budget.

The highlight of Coursera is the fact that the majority of its courses are accredited, and you get a chance to learn from highly respectable universities and institutions (Harvard University, Duke University, and IBM, to name a few). Certificates from these prestigious organizations help you move ahead in your career while improving your existing skills.

I also like the flexibility Coursera provides when it comes to finishing the courses. You can choose your own time and set your own pace. You can also download a lot of the course material so you can use it offline, and I appreciate that feature as not everybody has access to WiFi at all times. 

And lastly, on Coursera, you can get bachelor’s, master’s, or even postgraduate degrees online. It is as simple as registering for that degree program at a university, but instead of doing so in person, you can do it online. All these degree programs are in partnership with prestigious universities, making the degree much more valuable.

Conclusion 

To sum up this review, we need the answer to the question, “How does Coursera measure up?”.

The answer is that it measures up remarkably well in terms of my ridiculously high expectations. It is a unique platform offering a variety of courses with accredited certificates. It is affordable and easily understandable, making education simple and accessible to everyone. 

The pricing is a little complicated because of the different types of courses that Coursera provides, but it is manageable. 

So if you are looking to learn new skills or improve your existing ones, develop your career, complete a degree at your convenience, or get professional certificates, then Coursera is the place for you.