Udacity Vs Coursera 2020 | Which One To Choose? (# 1 Reason)

Are you looking for some great online learning platforms to take up courses to enhance your skills? If the answer is yes, you will still be baffled by the number of platforms that the marketplace is loaded with. In this article, we compare two good platforms for online courses - Udacity vs Coursera.

Udacity is a very new platform in the industry and is amongst the popular e-learning providers that are MOOC-based in the world. This platform has become quite famous and has a very good reputation, even though it is a new service provider.

Another popular platform that has been in this industry for quite some years is Coursera. So, how do you decide which platform to choose? Which is that platform that will offer you the best online training which you need and help you attain the goals set up? Which is that platform that will guide and assist you in securing the dream job that you want? To assist you in making a decision, we have reviewed both these courses and offered an in-depth comparison based on the important elements. Read on to know more about these platforms and to decide on the one for you.

Udacity Vs Coursera 2020 | The Ultimate Comparison( Pros & Cons)

Udacity

Udacity offers the learners' Nano degree programs that have been organized by partnering with renowned industry partners, wherein the programs focus on topics that are related to technology. It is a very different platform and is called the Massive Open Online Course or the MOOC service provider. Udacity partners with many institutions, industries, and universities to develop the programs. Udacity offers many Nano degrees - these are certifications that are an indicator of completion of the course and proficiency in that area.

The platform has limited courses and they mainly concentrate on areas related to computer science or technology. Additionally, along with Nano degree programs which are structured courses, Udacity has 200 or more free courses that do not come with time constraints. The programs give you a similar experience as that which is offered by institutions and universities. The programs include video lectures, many discussion forums, a lot of online assignments, etc. You might need a month or so to complete some of these nano degrees or even more time to complete other nano degrees.

Coursera

Coursera was launched by 2 professors of computer science from Stanford University in 2012. This online learning platform partners with many professors of some of the best universities to create and provide courses that are driven by experts. Coursera has a wide scope and it has approximately 35 million users, about 150 partnerships with universities, and over 2,700+ different courses, about 250 specializations, and 4 full degree courses.

It also provides courses for different purposes. However, in case you want a test prep, this is not the perfect platform for you. Students are allowed to enroll in any course, specialize in any field, and also study various subjects which assist them in their careers. Though it appears to be a generic platform for online learning, it has many unique features, of which, one worth mentioning is the completion certificate which is offered on completing the course.

Udacity

Any e-learning platform or website is judged on the ease of navigation and the interface. Once this is identified, a lot of other factors play their role in deciding which is the better platform. However, the first impression does matter. When you check out Udacity's front page, it appears to be generic, however, it has been created in a neat manner and is very informative. Udacity is no different from the various online platforms for education that can be found, as it offers quite basic information and the design of the website is generic too.

This need not be a bad point for the platform, as the majority of the platforms these days tend to focus and invest more in their content than on the visual aspect of their site. You can get a lot of general information on this page regarding Udacity, what it does, the partners, etc.

The site layout is quite comfortable and one can navigate through the site easily. The colors used are quite simple and the functions are well-placed too, thereby making the site have a very intuitive interface. The pages of the courses are ok and not very appealing. The top portion of the pages where you can find the description of the course, additional info, and similar information is quite pleasant.

Coursera

Many websites focus on having flashy and colorful designs, whereas this is not important, because it can only confuse the user. Any website must have an interface that is intuitive and which offers easy navigation. The website must be easily understood by all those visits or use it. When you visit this site, you come across a greeting that is simple but effective. The catchphrase is quite simple yet serves the purpose.

Coursera 's landing page also is quite simple, both in design as well as the information that is given to the visitors. You get details on courses, the list of partners, and there also is a section on how the system works. You also have the search bar and all the basic requirements. The interface of this site is good and you can choose between entering keywords to find the course or check them out through the drop-down menu. You can choose any topics, the primary as well as subtitle language, etc.

The course or the specialization pages of Coursera are very unique in terms of style and appearance - they are aesthetically pleasing, they have a minimal color pattern, and information on the instructor, the university and the partner, FAQs, etc. Coursera has quite a professional feel.

Udacity has short courses and the main USP of this platform is the Nano degrees which are offered in small videos. You can also download the content of your course for the purpose of the offline study. These programs give you very thorough information on the subject. This platform has no quick fix options to improve your skill sets, instead, the courses require commitment and dedication.

Udacity

The duration of the courses can vary and some can run into months. Students also must be willing to give a lot of extra time for studies and assignments. Additionally, they can learn from the top leaders in the industry through live chats. They could also work on practical projects and gain useful experience. Udacity's learning community is quite active and the students can get engaged with everyone during the course.

(i) Courses which are Open Registration

Coursera

Such courses are those wherein anybody can register for it as well as take it up for self-improvement or even for professional development. However, there is no distinction between who teaches the courses offered. No separate categories of courses taught by professors from leading institutes are available.

Coursera has the below-mentioned types of courses:

(ii) Specialization Courses:

Such courses are quite helpful to those who want to achieve career goals along with goals of professional development. These courses come in series and offer completion certificates. The courses also have many practical activities.

(iii) Online Degree Courses

Coursera also has a few online degrees. However, they are not quite useful in securing college credits. The options are limited as well - Master in Business, Data as well as Computer Science.

Udacity has a very niche and focused curriculum. Most of these courses concentrate on areas like artificial intelligence, data science, cloud computing, programming, development, business, and autonomous systems. In all, about 35 different nano degrees are being offered by this platform. Though the options are limited, the programs are being recognized and have been created by top firms like IBM, or Google,

Udacity

etc. Udacity has more than 200 courses offered free of cost, but it does not give you a completion certificate. A few courses do not have time constraints, however, few would require a student to dedicate 6-10 hours a week. The nano degree courses have many exercises, videos, and you also have to complete a final project.

Coursera has many subject areas to choose from: Art, Humanities, Business, language learning, math, and intuitive, data science personal development, etc. Under these categories, there are subcategories under which you have a lot of programs to choose from. the list is endless. They also have Masters's programs and certification programs that you could opt for in case you are keener on getting accreditation along with knowledge.

Udacity has quite a few features that are very unique - Udacity Nanodegree as well as Udacity Nanodegree Plus.

Udacity Nanodegree- Udacity offers the Nanodegree which is a type of learning wherein payment is made by the user every month and they can study the particular subject for about 6-12 months, post which they also get a completion certificate.

Coursera Udacity

Udacity Nanodegree Plus - This is a special kind of learning where students of Udacity can engage in. The Plus programs distinguishing feature is that it is Udacity guaranteed wherein you will get a job post completion of the program. Udacity guarantees that you will get a job else the course price will be refunded. However, this program has been discontinued.

In case you wish to choose Coursera to learn any course, there are some choices on selecting it - audits, specialization, certified courses, and degrees.

In case you wish to take up a course, learn its materials however you do not want to spend on it, you can opt for auditing it. When a course is audited, you can check the subject materials as well as study them, without any cost. However, you cannot apply for its certificate, or submit homework to get graded, or participate in various activities, etc.

In this basic option, you will be paying a fee, then enroll in it and start learning. Based on the schedule of the user, they can submit assignments or take tests as per their availability. On completing this course, Coursera will grant you the certificate of completion.

Coursera

This refers to many courses packed into a single specific topic. For instance, if you wish to learn on creative writing, a standalone course can be selected or you could specialize in this topic - i.e. opt for a bundle of courses which revolve on creative writing, but covers various subject matter. Once you complete the course, you get a completion certificate.

Audit.

This is the big deal and is similar to that give by universities all over the world. If you opt for this course, you are basically signing up for an online university. Coursera has many different degrees to choose from, and the majority revolve around IT and business categories.

Certified course

Coursera also offers the option of financial aid to students. If, in case, you wish to take up a course, however, you do not have funds for the same, you can submit a special form to Coursera - if they consider you to be worthy of their financial aid, the course compensation will be taken care by them.

Specialization

Udacity has more than 200 different courses that are offered free of cost. All you have to do is register and you can begin learning. The Nanodegrees will cost you around $200 for a month, and you must remember that these degrees can last for 6-12 months, which brings the price of the degree to around more than $2400!

Degree

Coursera has listed all the prices of their courses upfront. Anyone can join Coursera free of cost, however, the courses have their own prices. When you check the course page, it will give you an idea of the price range. A few courses are charged every month, and a few have a fixed price for the full course.

Now, Coursera's Open Access Course will cost you about $29-$99 per course and the course duration is 4-6 weeks.

The Specialization programs will cost you about $39-$79 for a month and the course duration is 4-6 months.

Udacity

Online Degrees will cost you about $15 to $25,000, depending on the program. The programs last from 1-3 years.

Though the courses seem expensive, the company claims to give their students expert-level services. You do not always find an online learning platform that offers you a professional and university-level education that is being taught by certified university professors.

Coursera

There are many reviews on Udacity which claim that they can tell you if the platform is worth investing your money in or not. However, such reviews totally focus on stale and generic points such as prices, the courses, topics, and the like. However, what is important is even the learning experience of users. Many times platforms might get a great ranking because of the looks, the great offers, endless free courses,

yet it could be lacking in a learning experience which is fun as well as interactive. This cannot be measured in numbers, but it is quite important. The general opinion about Udacity is that the learning experience is nice and fun. This is regarding the free courses offered by Udacity. When we talk of the Nanodegrees, these programs are loaded with information, extend over a long duration and are expensive and give you a great positive learning experience.

Udacity

As already mentioned, Coursera gives you a great professional learning experience irrespective of the course. The "instructors or professors are experts and are masters in their field which guarantees that you will get information and knowledge of great quality. The course timetables can be modified as per your requirement. You can study and work at your time.

This is good for those having a full-time job, yet wish to improve their skills. It is great for people who love to keep learning new things and skills. The platform also offers completion certificates that motivate students to complete the courses. You could also attach these certificates to your profile on LinkedIn and it could help you out for your potential future employment.

Pros and Cons of Udacity and Coursera

Coursera

Udacity Cons:

Coursera Pros

Coursera Cons

• The courses at Udacity are organized by experts in the industry
• The free courses are mostly self-paced
• The Nano degrees offered are similar to that offered by real institutions and can improve your CV
• The courses are simple and can be understood easily
• Students can work on practical projects for experience
• Students into coding can get feedback
• Most of the courses are related to IT
• The website has a very Simplistic design
• The quality of paid and free courses are quite good
• Companies can take up courses for their employees

Both Udacity, as well as Coursera, are great platforms for e-learning. However, you must note that what you are looking for matters when you choose a platform. Udacity focuses on technology and IT related skills. So in case you want a course on any IT related skill, you can opt for Udacity. You can also earn a degree if you have time on your hands and are not tight on your budget.

On the other hand, in case you want to check out some free courses on various other subjects like Arts and Humanities, social sciences, IT, data science, Math and Intuitive, you could check out Coursera. Some of the courses here also come with completion certificates which are quite motivating. Just like Udacity, Coursera to enables a company to take up skill training courses for its employees.

• the Nano degrees are costly and for a long duration
• Students with time constraints could find the degrees tough
• The courses are related to technology
• There is no student community
• The site lacks customer support in a few cases

• Most of the courses offer completion certificates
• A lot of courses on this platform are created and offered by top institutes and universities
• There are of free courses on this platform
• You can audit the courses without extra cost
• Courses can be taken up in different languages
• Transcriptions are provided for various languages
• The site offers Professional service
• The timetables are quite Flexible
• Companies can also take up skill-based courses for their employees
• You can also get a degree on this platform
• You can choose from many features

• Most of the Full courses are not free of cost and can be quite pricey
• At times the courses you need may not be available; the waiting period for these courses can be quite long
• Some of the instructors are very camera-shy
• Courses can be tough for absolute beginners

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