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Software · head to head

Coursera vs Teachable

Coursera logo

Coursera

Software

Learn from top universities and companies worldwide

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Teachable logo

Teachable

Software

Create and sell courses online

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Coursera has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Coursera free audit does not include certificate upon completion; Teachable starter plan charges 7.5% transaction fee, significantly higher than other plans
  • They diverge on capability: Coursera covers Video lectures, Teachable covers Course builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Coursera and Teachable actually diverge.

Attributes where Coursera and Teachable differ
AttributeCourseraTeachable
Starting priceFree$29/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded20122014

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Coursera

  • Video lectures
  • Peer assessments
  • Mobile learning
  • Offline access
  • Specializations
  • Degrees
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams

Only in Teachable

  • Course builder
  • Coaching products
  • Payment processing
  • Affiliate marketing
  • Email marketing
  • Analytics
  • Zapier
  • ConvertKit

Both cover

  • Quizzes
  • Certificates
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Coursera

  • Skill developmentnot Teachable
  • Career advancementnot Teachable
  • Professional certificatesnot Teachable
  • Degree programsnot Teachable

Teachable

  • Course creationnot Coursera
  • Coaching servicesnot Coursera
  • Digital productsnot Coursera
  • Membership sitesnot Coursera

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Coursera

  • Free audit does not include certificate upon completion
  • Limited offline access to course materials
  • Paid specializations require monthly subscription rather than one-time purchase

Teachable

  • Starter plan charges 7.5% transaction fee, significantly higher than other plans
  • Student limits lift only at $10k+ annual sales for higher plans
  • No free tier, only 7-day trial
  • Custom plan requires sales contact with minimum $30k/year revenue

Pricing, plan by plan

Coursera

Free
  • Free AuditFree
  • Coursera Plus$59/month
  • Professional Certificates$39/month

Teachable

$29/month
  • Starter$39/month
    • 5 products
    • 100 active students
    • 7.5% transaction fee
  • Builder$89/month
    • 10 products
    • 1000 active students
    • 0% transaction fee
  • Growth$189/month
    • 50 products
    • 5000 active students
    • 0% transaction fee
  • Custom$null/month
    • Unlimited products
    • Dedicated success manager
    • Custom pricing

Which should you pick?

Choose Coursera if

  • You need video lectures.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want peer assessments.
Coursera review

Choose Teachable if

  • You need course builder.
  • You also want coaching products.
Teachable review

Questions people ask

Is Coursera or Teachable better?
Neither clearly leads. Coursera starts at Free and Teachable at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Coursera or Teachable?
Coursera has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Coursera and $29/month for Teachable.
Does Coursera or Teachable run on more platforms?
Coursera runs on Web, iOS, Android. Teachable runs on Web.
Can I use Coursera for free?
Yes. Coursera has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Teachable starts at $29/month.
What is Coursera best used for?
Coursera is most often used for skill development, career advancement, professional certificates, degree programs. Of those, skill development and career advancement are not what Teachable is typically brought in for.
What can Coursera do that Teachable cannot?
Coursera covers Video lectures, Peer assessments, Mobile learning, Offline access. Teachable covers Course builder, Coaching products, Payment processing, Affiliate marketing. Both handle Quizzes, Certificates, Web support, IOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Coursera: Can I audit courses for free?

Yes. Most Coursera courses can be audited for free, allowing access to videos and assignments without a certificate.

Source
Teachable: Does Teachable have a free plan?

Teachable offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, but no permanent free plan. The Starter plan costs $39/month (or $29/month annually).

Source
Coursera: What is Coursera Plus?

Coursera Plus is a subscription for $59/month or $399/year providing unlimited access to over 7,000 courses and specializations with certificates.

Source
Teachable: What are the transaction fees?

Starter plan charges 7.5% transaction fee. Builder, Growth, and Advanced plans charge 0% transaction fees. Additional payment processing fees of 2.9%-4.99% plus per-transaction charges apply depending on payment method.

Source
Coursera: Do enterprises get custom integrations?

Yes. Enterprise plans include SSO, APIs, AI-assisted Course Builder, and 30+ LMS integrations with dedicated customer success managers.

Source
Teachable: What integrations are available?

Teachable integrates with Zapier, Stripe, PayPal, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Google Analytics, Calendly, Zoom, and other tools via the App Hub.

Source
Coursera: What is the cost of a degree program?

Coursera offers accredited degree programs starting at $50,000 and above, with costs varying by program and institution.

Source
Teachable: How many courses can I create?

Starter plan allows 5 products, Builder allows 10, Growth allows 50, and Advanced allows 100 courses.

Source
Teachable: What is included in certificate features?

Course certificates are available starting on the Growth plan ($139/month annually). Certificates can be customized with branding and are generated automatically when students complete courses.

Source
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