Udacity vs Coursera: A comparison guide for businesses

If digital upskilling is on your list of priorities, then you might be on the lookout for a new training partner. We’re here to help you make the right decision.

In our latest comparison article, we look at Udacity and Coursera, the key stats and the pros and cons they offer. Let’s get started.

Udacity

The stats

• 70+% of graduates get promoted or land a better job.
• 60+ courses on job skills.
• 1400+ mentor network.
• Partners include: Google, Facebook, Mercedes-Benz and more.
• Has operations in the UK, Egypt, Germany, India and the UAE.

Source: Udacity

The pros

• Predominantly tech-focused - If you’re particularly interested in digital upskilling, then Udacity is a good option. They focus predominantly on programming and computer science, backed up by the industry companies it partners with.
• ‘Learning by doing’ - It’s a motto with merit. Udacity believes learning should always be directly applicable to real-life scenarios.
• Content that meets your needs - Content can be tailored to be more specific to your learning goals.
• Hybrid learning model - Whether your employees prefer face-to-face learning or the convenience of online access, Udacity offers both.
• It has the backing of the International Data Corporation (IDC) - Udacity was named in the U.S. IT Training 2021 report for creating job-ready talent through its platform.

The cons

• Variety is limited - If you’re looking for tech-based subjects, then Udacity is the one. If not, it might be better to consider alternatives.

• Price - Udacity is one of the more expensive options, so it depends on how flexible your budget is.

• May lack independence - Partnerships with industry may mean affiliation with their views in the content.
• No partnerships with academia - Udacity prefers to work with industry partners rather than having academic backing.

Coursera

The stats

• Collaborate with 200+ leading universities and companies.
• 87+ million learners.
• 7,000+ courses.
• Access to hundreds of free courses.
• Partners include: Google, IBM, Imperial College London, Stanford, Penn and more.
• 237 partners, across 57 countries, offering 9,750 courses.
• 87% of learners report career benefits

Source: Coursera

The pros

• Industry and academic partners - Often, it’s one or the other. Coursera partners with both industry experts and academia to deliver high-quality learning.

• Online courses, professional certificates and degrees - Every learning level is catered for at Coursera, whether you want to complete a course in a day or invest in degree-level learning.

• Free courses available - There are hundreds of free courses available so you can experience the learning without the commitment.

• Wide range of courses - Whether you’re interested in data and computer science or health and personal development, Coursera has the options.
• Learn anywhere, any time - Coursera is predominantly online and offers downloadable resources for offline learning.

The cons

• May not be suitable for beginners - Some courses might expect a presumed level of basic knowledge.
• Pricing can be confusing - There are many different pricing options depending on the level of learning required, which can be confusing or unclear.
• Courses may need to be updated - With such a large library of content available and digital developments happening all the time, some content may be outdated.
• Degrees can be an expensive option - As you’d expect, degree-level courses can be expensive and not accessible to all organizations due to the level of training delivered.

The results

Udacity vs Coursera — what are the results? Unfortunately, we can’t give a clear-cut answer. Choosing the right digital skills provider relies on many factors unique to you and your organization’s needs.

Before you consider your options, we recommend you conduct an audit first. Outline your learning goals and needs, then take it from there and decide which providers best match your requirements.

Looking for a helping hand?

Then you need to download our guide. Choosing the right digital skills provider covers everything you need to know when looking for a new digital training program. We compare the different types available, how they work and outline the Circus Street process. Click the link below to access your copy.