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Learning Management · head to head

edX vs Instapaper

edX logo

edX

Learning Management

Online courses from the world's top universities

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Instapaper logo

Instapaper

Browser Extensions

Save anything for reading later

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Instapaper has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: edX individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view; Instapaper full text search across saved articles is Premium only, at $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year
  • They diverge on capability: edX covers Video lectures, Instapaper covers Save for later.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which edX and Instapaper actually diverge.

Attributes where edX and Instapaper differ
AttributeedXInstapaper
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX)
CategoryLearning ManagementBrowser Extensions
Founded20122008

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 edX

  • Video lectures
  • Interactive exercises
  • Discussion forums
  • Certificates
  • MicroMasters
  • Professional certificates
  • Degrees
  • Mobile learning

Only in Instapaper

  • Save for later
  • Clean reading
  • Highlighting
  • Full-text search
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari support

What people use each for

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

edX

  • Learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (MIT, Harvard, Cambridge)not Instapaper
  • Career changers pursuing MicroMasters or professional certificatesnot Instapaper
  • Individuals in regions with limited access to higher educationnot Instapaper

Instapaper

  • Saving articles to read later with the clutter stripped outnot edX
  • Building a searchable personal archive of things worth keepingnot edX

Where each one falls short

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

edX

  • Individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view

Instapaper

  • Full text search across saved articles is Premium only, at $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year
  • Free accounts are limited to 5 notes a month, against unlimited on Premium
  • Text to speech, speed reading and the permanent archive are all Premium only
  • The free web experience carries advertising

Pricing, plan by plan

edX

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the edX review.

Instapaper

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Instapaper review.

Which should you pick?

Choose edX if

  • You need video lectures.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want interactive exercises.
edX review

Choose Instapaper if

  • You need save for later.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX).
  • You also want clean reading.
Instapaper review

Questions people ask

Is edX or Instapaper better?
Neither clearly leads. edX starts at On request and Instapaper at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, edX or Instapaper?
Instapaper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for edX and Free for Instapaper.
Does edX or Instapaper run on more platforms?
edX runs on Web, iOS, Android. Instapaper runs on Web, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX).
Can I use Instapaper for free?
Yes. Instapaper has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. edX starts at On request.
What is edX best used for?
edX is most often used for learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (mit, harvard, cambridge), career changers pursuing micromasters or professional certificates, individuals in regions with limited access to higher education. Of those, learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (mit, harvard, cambridge) and career changers pursuing micromasters or professional certificates are not what Instapaper is typically brought in for.
What can edX do that Instapaper cannot?
edX covers Video lectures, Interactive exercises, Discussion forums, Certificates. Instapaper covers Save for later, Clean reading, Highlighting, Full-text search.
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