edX vs Udemy (2026): Which Is Better?
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Quick verdict
edX wins overall with 9.0/10 vs 8.9/10 in our Online courses comparison.
- Free access to top universities
- Academic depth
- MicroMasters programmes
- Huge choice
- Cheap during sales
- Lifetime access to bought courses
Head-to-head
| Feature | edX | Udemy |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 9.0 | 8.9 |
| Best for | Best free university courses | Biggest course catalog |
| Pricing | Free audit, paid certificate | Pay per course |
| Certificates | Verified, MicroMasters | Completion certificate |
| Free option | Yes, audit for free | Some free courses |
| Best for | STEM, business, data | One specific skill |
| Trustpilot | No rating | 1.6/5 |
Pros & cons
Courses from MIT, Harvard, Berkeley and 200+ institutions that you can audit for free. Pay only if you want a verified certificate.
- Free access to top universities
- Academic depth
- MicroMasters programmes
Pros
- Certificates can be expensive
- Less practical than Udemy for quick skills
Cons
What users say
250,000+ courses you buy one by one, often for $10–20 during sales. Great for one specific skill; certificates are completion certificates only.
- Huge choice
- Cheap during sales
- Lifetime access to bought courses
Pros
- Quality varies by instructor
- Refunds refused if you watched a lot
Cons
What users say
FAQ
Is edX better than Udemy?
In our Online courses ranking edX scores 9.0/10 and Udemy 8.9/10. edX: Courses from MIT, Harvard, Berkeley and 200+ institutions that you can audit for free. Pay only if you want a verified certificate.
What is the main difference between edX and Udemy?
edX is our pick for “Best free university courses”, while Udemy is best for “Biggest course catalog”.
See all 5 Online courses we compared →