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Software · head to head

Udemy vs edX

Udemy logo

Udemy

Software

World's largest marketplace for online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
edX logo

edX

Software

Online courses from the world's top universities

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Udemy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Udemy course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting; edX individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view
  • They diverge on capability: Udemy covers Video courses, edX covers Video lectures.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Udemy and edX actually diverge.

Attributes where Udemy and edX differ
AttributeUdemyedX
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20102012

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 Udemy

  • Video courses
  • Quizzes
  • Assignments
  • Offline viewing
  • Q&A
  • Reviews
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams

Only in edX

  • Video lectures
  • Interactive exercises
  • Discussion forums
  • MicroMasters
  • Professional certificates
  • Degrees
  • LMS integrations
  • Enterprise platforms

Both cover

  • Certificates
  • Mobile learning
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Udemy

  • Skill buildingnot edX
  • Career transitionnot edX
  • Professional developmentnot edX
  • Team trainingnot edX

edX

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

Where each one falls short

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

Udemy

  • Course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
  • No formal credentials or degrees offered, unlike Coursera and edX which offer institution-branded certificates
  • Courses are self-paced with no instructor interaction or support, making structured learning difficult for some students

edX

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Udemy

Free
  • Personal$19/month
    • 11,000+ courses access
  • Team$360/year
    • For 5-20 people

edX

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the edX review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Udemy if

  • You need video courses.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want quizzes.
Udemy review

Choose edX if

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

Questions people ask

Is Udemy or edX better?
Neither clearly leads. Udemy starts at Free and edX at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Udemy or edX?
Udemy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Udemy and On request for edX.
Does Udemy or edX run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Udemy for free?
Yes. Udemy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. edX starts at On request.
What is Udemy best used for?
Udemy is most often used for skill building, career transition, professional development, team training. Of those, skill building and career transition are not what edX is typically brought in for.
What can Udemy do that edX cannot?
Udemy covers Video courses, Quizzes, Assignments, Offline viewing. edX covers Video lectures, Interactive exercises, Discussion forums, MicroMasters. Both handle Certificates, Mobile learning, Web support, IOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Udemy: Does Udemy offer team/business pricing?

Yes, Udemy's Team plan costs $360 per user annually for groups of 5 to 20 people, in addition to individual Personal plan at $19/month.

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