Do you wish to learn skills or courses online? If so, you must be wondering which platform is the right one for you? So, are you also confused and stuck between Udemy vs Udacity? If you want to enhance your skills or a specific skill required for work or business, there are two options to select from - you can either opt for Udemy, which has been in this business of online learning for quite some time and it is quite a popular choice.
On the contrary, Udacity is amongst the new competitors to Udemy, but somehow it has gained a good reputation in a short span. So, which platform can give you the online training that you are looking for and which will help you achieve the goals you have set for yourself? Which platform will help you get the job of your dreams? And which platform will fit the budget you have allocated? In order to help you in this decision, this review will give you a detailed comparison between the two platforms on various criteria such as choice of courses, user-friendliness, course length, quality of instructors, support service, certifications, and the price.
Udemy Vs Udacity 2020 | The Ultimate Comparison
Udemy Vs Udacity: Overview
Udemy
This platform provides courses of short duration and which are not very expensive. There are a lot of topics that can be converted into a course by anyone. This is a platform wherein any person can register and become an instructor, create their course and release it for purchase. Such courses are not accredited.
So, when you receive a certificate of completion from Udemy for any course, it will not be quite impressive on the resume. Also, due to this reason, the course quality varies based on the instructors and the classes. The courses are quite short on this platform and the minimum length is 30 minutes.
Udacity
Udacity gives you Nano degree programs that are organized in partnership with some of the renowned industry partners and it focuses on topics related to technology. This platform is quite different and is better known as MOOC or a Massive Open Online Course service provider. This platform partners with industries, universities, and many other institutions. They are also offering Nano degrees, which are certifications to indicate that you have completed a specific course and you are proficient in a particular area.
There are limited courses at Udacity which focus on computer science and technology. Furthermore, along with the Nano degree programs which are structured, there are about 200 free courses that can be learned at your own pace. The experience offered by them is similar to that offered by universities and they consist of video lectures, discussion forums, as well as online assignments. A few nano degrees need a month to complete, whereas a few need three or more months.
Udemy vs Udacity - Costs
Udemy as well as Udacity offer free courses. But, there is a drastic difference in the quality of these free courses between the two platforms. Udemy's free courses do not offer a lot of value, whereas those on Udacity are detailed and cover a lot of industry-relevant matter which is also included in the Nano degree programs. The difference is that a free course will not offer mentorship, certificates, and project reviews. For instance, on Udacity, the course "Introduction to Computer Science" which is free requires 3 months for completion. When this is compared with the course on Udemy "Foundation of Computer Science", this course needs just 4.5 hours to complete.
At Udemy, paid courses could be priced between $10 to $200 and they could be even more expensive. Generally, you can get the course on Udemy at a discount of 90% off at times. So you can get a course which has a good rating for a lesser rate when it is offered on sale. On the other hand, Udacity offers its nano degree programs at a fixed price of $399 for every course.
Udemy Vs Udacity - How to find the best course?
Udemy
Udemy has courses with better descriptions. Both providers have a great platform that is seamless and user-friendly. Udemy has divided the catalog of courses into various sections as well as subsections and this will help the user to browse through it easily. In fact, in this manner, it becomes quite easy to identify the perfect course. You can also type the keywords in Udemy's search bar and find the course.
Once you find a suitable course, Another way to find the right course on Udemy is to type keywords into the search bar. Once something catches your eye, you can check the course page that provides an overview along with a video preview.
Udacity
Udacity is a simple platform and is quite easy to use. In Udacity, the user can find courses by way of typing in the keywords in the search bar on the homepage. Or the menu can be used to search through all the courses available.
And the user can also select a course by choosing the level of the course (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) along with the duration of the course. Once you get a suitable course, you can check the description and the time needed. However, the description is not as detailed as in Udemy, which makes it a bit tough to understand the offerings of the course.
In this aspect, Udemy is a clear winner, as you can get a lot of information on courses in Udemy which will help you finalize the course.
Udemy Vs Udacity: Courses offered
Udemy
The courses in Udemy are mainly video-based, and the content can be downloaded offline. The length of the course varies. For a few courses, you might need just 8 hours to learn, however, for a few courses, you might need to put in 50 hours or more.
When you decide on the course, do check out the course duration. Some of the courses consist of external projects, so keep a watch on these in case you love to do hands-on work and want to have a practical aspect of learning.
Udacity
Along with shorter courses, the unique selling point of Udacity is its Nano degrees. These degree courses are provided by video in small chunks. The course content can be downloaded for offline study. This gives you a thorough approach to the subject whenever you opt for such courses. Udacity does not offer quick fixes to hone your skills, but it calls for dedication and commitment.
The course duration can be for many months, and the students have to dedicate extra time to do extra work. Students can also learn from some of the top industry leaders directly through live chats. Furthermore, students also can work on some real-world projects that give a lot of experience which can prove to be quite useful. Udacity also has a very active learning community wherein the student can engage with all through the course.
Udemy is a good option for those who want a fast way out to hone their skills in many areas. However, Udacity is good for those who want to have a deep learning class on topics related to technology.
Udemy Vs Udacity: Subjects/Topics
Udemy
Udemy has numerous courses that cover a wide variety of topics. Some of the course subjects covered consist of business, marketing, health, fitness, personal development, design, etc. Over here, you can choose short courses which interest you. The courses do not merge to form a large program in contrast to the nano degrees of Udacity.
- Udemy photography
- Google Analytics Certification
- Wedding Photography
- Portrait Photography, Posing For Photographers
Examples of courses offered:- Get Certified and Earn More
- SEO Training With Peter Kent!
- Six Sigma -Green belt
Udacity
The curriculum in Udacity is focused and niche. The majority of the courses focus on artificial intelligence, programming, and development, cloud computing, business, data science, as well as autonomous systems. In total, there are about 35 nano degrees offered by Udacity.
However, though there are few courses offered, they are programs that are recognized and created by some of the top companies such as Google, IDM, AT&T, and the like. there are about 200 free courses, though no certificate of completion is provided. Some of the courses offered can be self-paced, however, a lot of the students will have to devote six to ten hours a week. The nano degree programs consist of exercises, instructional videos, and a final project when the program comes to an end.
- Marketing Analytics
- C++ Engineer
- Data Engineering
- Business Analytics
- Data Scientist
Examples of courses offered:- Blockchain Developer
- Natural Language Processing
- Deep Reinforcement Learning
- Android Basics
Udemy Vs Udacity - Instructors
Udemy
On this platform, almost anybody can register and become the instructor of a course. This could lead to a variation in the course quality. A few courses are conducted by experts and have many positive reviews, whereas a few others seem to be just a course created to earn some quick money.
Research is a must before you choose a course on Udemy. You must check the instructor, their background, the course rating as well as reviews prior to purchasing the course.
Udacity
On this platform, the instructors are curated, and one need not worry about the ability of the instructor to deliver an exceptional course. The instructors on this platform include graduates, former teachers, CEOs of firms, content developers, and the like.
Many times, courses are available wherein the founder and president of Udacity, himself leads the course. There can be smaller courses which are led by one person, and there can be courses which have the contribution of ten experts.
Udemy Vs Udacity: Accreditation and Certificates
Udemy
Though Udemy offers certificates of completion for any course completed on this platform, the courses are not accredited similar to that of a university or educational institution.
This indicates that the certificates have limited value and might not enhance your resume. The courses offered on this platform are ideal for enhancing certain skills. In case you wish to enhance your CV, opting for a course from Udemy might not be a great choice.
Udacity
Udacity is an e-learning platform and not a renowned and accredited university. It does not provide traditional degrees. But, the nano degree courses offered are created in collaboration with some of the leading industry partners. The experts from the industry help in creating the course content and they also hire some of the graduates of Udacity's programs.
Though the nano degree certification obtained from Udacity might not be impressive like a university degree, they are increasing in value and reputation, especially in the tech industry. There are some tech firms that might value these nano degree programs much higher than the regular degree, as they would be aware of the course material being customized to the jobs they hire for.
In general, in case you apply for a job that is in the tech sector, the Udacity nano degree would be more impressive on the resume or CV instead of the Udemy course certificate.
Udemy Vs Udacity - Personal Mentoring
Udemy
A student of Udemy can benefit from the support forum as well as interact with instructors conducting the course. But, this could vary based on the instructor.
Udacity
Udacity has flexible learning as well as individual mentoring in all their courses. The student can interact with instructors through office hours or Slack channels. A lot of helpful webinars are offered. Additionally, the instructors assist you in creating a great portfolio.
Udemy Vs Udacity - Refund Policy and Pricing
Udemy
Udemy courses have a refund window of 30 days. Udemy offers free courses. Many of the paid courses range between $20 to $200.
The student also can get lifetime access to the content and material of the course. Also, Udemy will charge per course and does not have monthly charges.
Udacity
Udacity courses have a refund window of just 7 days. They have free as well as paid courses. To complete the nano degree there is a monthly charge. The monthly fee could be a few hundred dollars for some courses and once you graduate, you can get access to the content for just 12 months.
Udemy vs. Udacity - Time Commitment
Udemy
Udemy courses could be for a duration of 30 minutes, or 3 to 5 hours or even 20 or 30 hours. This is based on the course and its offerings. There are not many courses in Udemy which require weeks or even months to complete.
Udacity
On the contrary, Udacity has courses that call for the commitment of time. The beginner courses can be completed in a month or even less. However, most of the courses need about 3-4 months for completion.
Udemy & Udacity Alternatives
In case you need alternatives to Udemy, Skillshare is highly recommended. Skillshare follows the subscription model. On this site, you can pay about $15 a month and undertake unlimited courses on this platform. This means you need not keep buying individual courses. Skillshare has a wide range of courses on numerous topics.
Another platform following the subscription system is Lynda where you can take up multiple courses. It is called LinkedIn Learning as LinkedIn took over Lynda recently. Lynda has a lot of courses, which focus on career-based topics like business, design, software or web development. If you want more courses into IT or which offer tech-based skills, you can check out Pluralsight. If you want courses that are more academic in nature, check out Coursera or edX. Coursera is good if you want certificates to enhance the CV.
Pros and Cons of Udemy and Udacity
Udemy
Udacity
Who Should Buy the Udemy courses?
ProsUdemy is amongst the largest platforms for the online courses. There are numerous courses on every single topic. People who intend to upgrade certain skills can opt for Udemy. Udemy is recommended if you are working and all you need is an upgrade of skills. Even if you wish to learn a new hobby such as singing, playing the guitar or dancing, Udemy is perfect.
- The platform offers a wide variety of courses
- The courses do not require the commitment of a lot of time
- There are many free courses
- Regular discounts are offered due to which many courses are offered at a lower price
- Courses are available in many languages
- The site offers value for money courses
- The students can engage in a friendly community
- There are an intermediate and also advanced level of courses
- You can enhance specific skills
Who should Buy the Udacity Course?
Cons:As mentioned, Udacity can also offer a "Job Call", hence this is ideal for students. You can learn the latest and current technical skills which are required by Employers. This portal could also open up job opportunities for you. It is good for those who want to switch jobs, and want to learn new technology which is in demand in the Industry.
- The completion certificate might not enhance your CV
- Many of the courses are expensive
- Anybody can become an instructor and create a course, due to which quality of course varies
- You cannot undertake multiple courses
Customer Review & Testimonials
Customer Reviews of Udemy
Pros:- The courses are being conducted by industry experts
- Nano degrees are offered which enhance the resume
- The courses are self-paced
- The courses are quite easy to understand
- You can get feedback on coding projects
- you can even work on real-time projects
- The courses are related to technology
Customer Reviews of Udacity
- the degrees are expensive
- The student who has time constraints might find it tough to allocate time
- Most of the courses are tech-related
Conclusion: Udemy Vs Udacity 2020
As we have understood, Udemy is the perfect platform for those who want short and casual courses. It focuses on practical skills and does not go through academic content and technical details. A lot of courses are available on Udemy, however, it is advised to check the instructor, the rating and the review prior to selecting the course. On the other hand,
Udacity offers a detailed and extensive learning opportunity on technology and computer science topics. This platform has partnered with many leading companies to provide nano degree courses. If you love to learn about technology, Udacity is the perfect choice for you! I hope the detailed Udemy Vs Udacity helped in giving you a clearer picture of both platform.
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