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LMS · head to head

edX vs Udemy

edX logo

edX

LMS

Online courses from the world's top universities

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Udemy logo

Udemy

Education

World's largest marketplace for online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Udemy 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; Udemy course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
  • They diverge on capability: edX covers Video lectures, Udemy covers Video courses.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which edX and Udemy actually diverge.

Attributes where edX and Udemy differ
AttributeedXUdemy
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
CategoryLMSEducation
Founded20122010

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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
  • MicroMasters
  • Professional certificates
  • Degrees
  • LMS integrations
  • Enterprise platforms

Only in Udemy

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

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.

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

Udemy

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

edX

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the edX review.

Udemy

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

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 Udemy if

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

Questions people ask

Is edX or Udemy better?
Neither clearly leads. edX starts at On request and Udemy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, edX or Udemy?
Udemy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for edX and Free for Udemy.
Does edX or Udemy 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 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 Udemy is typically brought in for.
What can edX do that Udemy cannot?
edX covers Video lectures, Interactive exercises, Discussion forums, MicroMasters. Udemy covers Video courses, Quizzes, Assignments, Offline viewing. Both handle Certificates, Mobile learning, Web support, IOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

edX: Does edX offer free courses?

Yes, edX allows you to audit courses for free, as indicated by their 'How to Audit a Course' resource. Auditing provides access to course content without earning a certificate.

Source
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.

Source
edX: Do you have to pay for certificates on edX?

Yes, edX offers Verified Certificates which require payment. Exact pricing varies by course but is available when you view individual course pages.

Source
edX: What types of credential programs does edX offer?

edX offers Professional Certificates (multiple bundled courses), Degree Programs (Master's, Bachelor's, MicroMasters, MicroBachelors), and Executive Education premium offerings.

Source
edX: Are there current discounts on edX?

Yes, edX offers periodic discount codes. Currently they have a code ACTION2026 providing up to 20% off for a limited time.

Source
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