Online learning has been around since the late 2000s, but it came to the forefront due to the COVID-19 pandemic when distance learning was the only mode of education possible. Since then, many students have come to prefer online learning over traditional learning because it is much more convenient and affordable. 90% of students in the USA recommend online courses to their peers and agree that it is a better option for working people who want a flexible schedule.
There are several online learning platforms available, and if you have been looking to learn online, you must have come across Udemy and Udacity.
Though both these platforms sound similar, they are anything but identical in what they offer and how they operate. This review will compare Udemy and Udacity to help you understand which platforms fit your needs.
Udemy VS Udacity: Which is the Better Option?
Quick Overview
Udemy
Udemy is known for its various courses (200,000+) in more than ten categories and multiple subcategories. It has courses on almost any subject, from math to music, from coding to cooking, that can help you with personal and professional development. Udemy has a pay-per-course payment system, and the price of courses starts from $20 and can go up to $300, depending on the instructor, subject, and course duration. You can also take their beginner-friendly free courses on a budget. They also provide a subscription and business plans, depending on your needs.
Udacity
Udacity is an online learning platform that teaches learners technical digital skills that help advance their careers. It believes in a more hands-on approach and provides various case studies and projects for the students to complete. It has over 15 million subscribers and more than 600 experienced instructors. Udacity has introduced the concept of “nanodegrees” that aims to advance students’ professional careers. It has a wide array of programming, coding, software development, and more courses available. Udacity offers both free and paid courses. The prices of the courses depend on the type of the course and its duration. It also has a monthly subscription for $249 and an annual subscription for $2390.
Here’s a comparison table for you to go through:
| Udemy | Udacity | |
| No. of courses | 200,000+ | 80+ nanodegrees |
| Categories | 10+ subjects | 8 schools |
| Unique features | Courses led by expert industry instructors on a variety of topics with quizzes and practical exercises | Courses designed by Silicon Valley companies to teach practical and marketable digital skills |
| Pricing | Individual courses from $20-$200Monthly subscription $30 | $249 per month$846 for four months (15% savings) |
| Refunds | 30 days or before you complete the course | 7-day refund policy after enrolling for a course |
| Certificates | Yes (not accredited) | Yes (not accredited) |
| Pros | Variety of courseAffordableExpert instructors | Interactive and simple user-interfaceHigh-quality content Nanodegrees program |
| Cons | No verified certificates Questionable quality (of some courses) | No appLack of accredited certificates |
| Languages | Over 70 languages | Most courses are in English language |
| Overall G2 rating | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
Udemy
Launched in 2009 by Eren Bali, Udemy has since become one of the top online learning platforms in the world. The goal is to provide a unique learning experience affordably. Udemy also has over 200,000 online courses available that cover a variety of different topics. It also has courses on multiple subcategories like finance, marketing, arts, music, and more, catering to all users’ needs in one go. Due to this, over 50 million users choose Udemy for their learning process (including me). There is something for everyone on Udemy, whether you want to help advance your professional career or to let your creative juices flow. You can buy an individual course that interests you (starting from just $20) or get a plan ($30 a month) that lets you take multiple courses. Udemy often has a lot of high-rated courses on discount, so that’s a plus as well. It also has over 500 courses that you can go through for free.
Udacity
Udacity was founded in 2011 by Sebastian Thrun with David Stevens and Mike Sokolsky. Udacity introduced the world to online learning and has successfully amassed over 15 million users. It is an online learning platform that teaches learners technical digital skills that help advance their careers. It believes in a more hands-on approach and provides various case studies and projects for the students to complete. With more than 600 experienced instructors, Udacity developed the concept of “nanodegrees” to advance students’ professional careers. The instructors at Udacity also guide you through creating an appealing resume that will stand out in the sea of candidates and get you hired. They also help with career counseling. Udacity is a subscription-based platform with over 150 free courses for you to check out. The subscription costs $249 per month.
Now that we’ve got more info on these platforms and their unique offerings let’s dive into the ultimate showdown to see who comes out on top!
Udemy VS Udacity: Course quantity and quality
Only some people looking for an online learning platform have the same goal. Some have specific topics they want to explore, while others browse, hoping that inspiration will hit them. A learning platform needs to have a variety of courses that can help with everyone’s unique needs. It is also necessary that the courses they offer are of good quality and taught by expert instructors.
Udemy
Udemy has a massive catalog of over 200,000 courses in over 10 categories and other subcategories. The courses are designed by experienced instructors in a pre-recorded format (no live classes) and contain videos, practical exercises, and quizzes to give you an all-round learning experience. The lessons are well-structured and packed with in-depth information on the subject. Once you buy a course, you get lifetime access to it, so there is no deadline, and you can learn at your own pace. Udemy is an open-host learning platform, meaning anyone can teach a course on Udemy. Of course, Udemy has a system and guidelines that instructors need to follow to maintain the quality of the courses. Still, sometimes, the quality can be inconsistent (a downside).
Udacity
Udacity courses are designed to help career-driven individuals grow professionally by teaching them various in-demand digital and technical skills. Udacity has over 150 free courses on complex topics like data science and coding. Some courses are introductory and basic, while others are detailed and advanced. With its subscription program, Udacity offers a variety of nanodegrees (around 80 courses). These nanodegrees are comprehensive and take 3-4 months to finish. Udacity is an open-host learning platform (just like Udemy), but the instructors are hand-picked and are experts and renowned in the digital and technical world. Udacity has partnered with companies like Amazon, GitHub, BMW, and more to create these courses and the quality is exceptional.
Summary
Although Udemy has more variety in courses, it needs more quality. While Udacity is focused on digital and technical fields with limited courses, it has better quality. (So it is a tie.)
Udemy VS Udacity: User Interface and Layout
When looking at learning platforms, people compare the quality and pricing and sideline the usability and design. It might be inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but backend design and ease of navigation are essential factors when comparing learning platforms (at least for me).
Udemy
Udemy has a standard sign-up process that requires your essential information like name, email address, and password. After you enter it all, Udemy will send you a confirmation mail with a link you need to open to verify yourself and that you are good to go. Once you log into the site, you will notice the interface is simple, clean, and easy to use. You can find course categories and search for the topics you are interested in. Udemy has an excellent filtering system that suggests courses that match your requirements. After you select a course, you will see the lesson plan and practice exercises on the right while the course video, audio, or text is in the middle of the screen. Udemy is easily navigable, even for a beginner with no online learning experience.
Udacity
Udacity has a registration process that is similar to Udemy, and it is pretty straightforward. You can also use your Gmail or Facebook account to sign up directly. Once you have successfully signed in to your account, you will see Udacity’s landing page. This has information on everything that you need to know about this platform. The list of courses and nanodegrees is very well organized, and finding a course that suits your learning needs is straightforward. After you select a course, you are greeted with all the information regarding that course, including a summary and introduction with the lesson plan. The video player that Udacity uses is of excellent quality and provides a cinematic experience.
Summary
Udacity has a better layout and design, and even though it is a little tricky to use at first, its features make up for it.
Udemy VS Udacity: Payment options and refunds
Online learning is significantly cheaper than traditional (read in-person) learning. You don’t just save money on tuition but also other things like travel expenses, food, and utilities. Pricing is essential for anyone who is looking forward to learning online.
| Udemy | Udacity | |
| Free courses | More than 500 courses | More than 150 courses |
| Individual course prices | Start from $20 up to $200 per course | N/A |
| Subscription | Monthly subscription costs $29.99 with access to more than 5000 courses | Monthly subscription costs $249Quarterly subscription costs $846 |
| Free trial | Subscription has a 7-day free trial | 7-day free trial |
| Refund and Cancellation | Individual courses have a 30-day refund policySubscription can be canceled at anytime | 7-day refund policy for nanodegrees Subscription can be canceled at anytime |
Udemy
Udemy has a pay-per-course system when it comes to pricing. The individual courses start from $20 and can go up to $200, depending on the instructor, duration, and topic complexity. The instructor sets course prices and not Udemy, which vary from course to course and instructor to instructor. It offers over 500 courses for free, some of which are perfect for people on a budget. Udemy has a personal subscription plan for $29.99 a month that gives you access to more than 5000 courses (the list of the courses is customized based on your interests). And suppose you are not sure about making the financial commitment. In that case, Udemy also offers a 7-day free trial and has a solid 30-day refund policy if you are not happy with the course quality (there are rules and guidelines you need to follow to get a refund, but it is doable).
Udacity
Udacity, on the other hand, is a subscription-based platform, and you can’t buy an individual course. The subscription costs $249 if you pay monthly, $846 quarterly (15% discount), and $2390 annually (20% discount). Udacity offers more than 150 free courses. These are for any level (beginner or advanced) and are detailed and well-structured. Udacity has a nanodegree program and has around 80 nanodegrees to choose from for more than 8 different categories. If you are unsure about Udacity, you can always opt for its 7-day free trial service to better understand the platform. After buying the subscription, if you don’t enjoy the learning experience, you can get a refund (within 7 days).
Summary
Udemy is cheaper, has more payment options to choose from, and also has a 30-day refund policy.
Udemy VS Udacity: Customer and language support
Education should be a universal language (not everyone speaks or understands English). A great learning platform should welcome everyone with open arms, offering multiple language options. Also, good customer support is essential to any online learning platform (not everything is covered in the FAQ section).
Udemy
One of the things that sets Udemy apart from other similar platforms is its good customer support in case you need any help with its policies and courses. You can contact them through email at [email protected]. Udemy also has a support chat system where you can drop your query with your name and email address, and someone will contact you soon. It also has an extensive FAQ section covering almost any queries a new or existing user can have. Udemy has courses in more than 70 languages (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and more), and you can go to the settings page and change it to the language you prefer.
Udacity
Udacity customer support is straightforward to locate and use. It has a contact page where you can find detailed explanations and articles on everything Udacity offers. The FAQ section is detailed and answers all your questions regarding pricing, course material, instructors, and more. It also has a live chat option to talk to an actual person (not a chatbot). Udacity courses are primarily in English. Some courses have subtitles in other languages (like Chinese and Spanish), but the quality of the subtitles could be better. There is no course transcript; to learn on Udacity, you must be fluent in English.
Summary
Though both platforms have good customer support, Udemy is more inclusive regarding languages and more appealing to a broader audience.
Udemy VS Udacity: Certification value
When hunting for jobs, waving around course completion certificates can set you apart from the crowd and make you the shining star in the eyes of employers. These certificates are like golden tickets that prove your skills and make you the top pick (it’s a plus if they are accredited).
Udemy
Udemy provides a certificate of completion after you are done with your course. Still, since there is no live learning or official grading to evaluate your understanding of the subject, these certificates are only worth a little to potential employers.
Udacity
Udacity offers a non-accredited certificate of completion (just like Udemy). Still, it has partnered with various Fortune 1000 companies like Amazon, GitHub, Nividia, and more to curate courses that help learners understand and practice in-demand technical and digital skills, making its certificates much more valuable in a professional capacity. The instructors at Udacity also guide you through creating an appealing resume that will stand out in the sea of candidates and get you hired. They also help with career counseling.
Summary
Udacity offers career counseling, and its nanodegrees are extensive and take several months to complete, making the certificate of completion a valuable asset.
Udemy VS Udacity: Better for business development
Businesses and organizations constantly seek online learning platforms to upskill their employees. A top-notch online platform should offer plans tailored to their needs and turbocharge their professional development journey.
Udemy
Udemy has business-focused plans curated for organizations to train their employees to increase productivity. It has a Team plan that costs $360 per user annually and is recommended for 5-20 users. It gives the members over 10,000 curated courses that will help them learn professional skills. The Enterprise plan has everything the Team plan does with additional features and is recommended for big organizations (20+ users). The price of this plan is disclosed, and you need to contact Udemy’s sales team to get a custom quote.
Udacity
Udacity also offers an Enterprise plan for companies and organizations, but the details of which are not accessible to individuals. You can request more information on this by contacting the sales team directly, but it is safe to assume that it will be on the pricier side (considering how expensive their nanodegrees are).
Summary
Udemy offers more options for businesses to choose from, and it is also transparent with its pricing and is a much more affordable option for big companies.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about Udemy and Udacity and how they compare against each other, I hope you better understand which platform is the one for you. But if you still need clarification, let me summarize what both offer.
Udemy has more courses to offer, a more user-friendly interface, and caters to a broader audience with its variety of languages. It is also more affordable, which is an essential criterion for many people. Udemy also has more advanced options available for businesses.
Udacity, on the other hand, is focused on teaching job-ready digital and technical skills, and the courses are more detailed and taught by instructors with more than 5 years of proven experience in the field. It also provides good quality free courses for beginners (and broke students).
Both platforms have specialized courses and free courses for people who need help to buy subscriptions. They also offer a free trial and refund if you change your mind, and you can cancel the subscription anytime.
They are both fantastic learning platforms, but if you want to learn digital and technical skills more practically and demandingly, then Udacity is the platform for you. If you want to learn new skills at a reasonable price from an expert instructor, then Udemy is your platform.
Whatever platform you choose and prefer entirely depends on your needs and future goals.