Coursera Reviews

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3.48
130 reviews
Average Rating
Based on 130 user experiences
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AI Review Summary Based on 130 reviews

Coursera is widely praised for its extensive course catalog, high-quality content from reputable universities, and flexible learning options, with many users valuing the free audit mode and certificate opportunities. Positive feedback highlights good course structure, helpful resources, and reliable access to materials. However, recurring complaints emphasize issues with customer support responsiveness, opaque subscription billing and cancellation processes, unexpected charges, and restrictive peer-review systems. Some users also report technical problems, platform bugs, and dissatisfaction with paid features or delayed grade processing.

What customers love
  • High quality course content
  • Large course selection
  • Free audit option
  • University partnerships
  • Flexible learning pace
Common concerns
  • Poor customer support
  • Confusing billing system
  • Peer review limitations
  • Unexpected charges
  • Technical issues

Last updated 3 weeks ago

S

I really enjoy learning on this site

I really enjoy learning on this site There is such a wide range of courses to take that are free
O

Amazing Learning Platform

Amazing platform with many financial aid opportunities Variety of courses and specialties makes its suitable for everyone
J

Customer support is a joke

Customer support is a joke The whole peer-review paradigm is also a joke Your grade can be held hostage by random people who face absolutely zero repercussions It s an ineffective method for this application ultimately there are no means for accountability Poor choices Coursera poor choices WT F is wrong with Stanford if this Theranos and a back-alley r4p1st are their significant contributions to society
F

Paid course System error No response Money lost

Took a course for free as advertised and decided to upgrade later to earn a certificate Coursera charged 59 Euros for allowing to submit assignments and complete the course I paid by Mastercard through Apple Pay and was all set but assignments could not be submitted I raised this to support who acknowledged the issue but shortly after fell silent There is no phone or chat to reach the company somehow and emails are not answered I understand technical errors occur but plain silent treatment after paying for a service is not acceptable
B

Coursera does not respond to emails

I enrolled in a cybersecurity course and things went well for a while I was just over half way through the course But I was using an authenticator app to log in and didn t back it up That s on me When my phone died suddenly I was able to remove authenticator access to every app and account I had except Coursera I can t log in to finish my course and Coursera won t respond to email requests to help reinstate my access to the course Been trying for a week now Zilch zada nada My course is now as dead in the water as my phone
M

F Coursera

uses intransparent subscription models to charge people for NOTHING I can t even express how angry I am NEVER subscribe to anything I subscribed to a course with a subscription fee then was asked whether I wanted to UPGRADE to Coursera Plus so that I could access even more courses and I did At some point I realized that for months I had been charged not only 49 USD for the Coursera Plus but another 39 USD EVERY MONTH for the old subscription Great upgrade guys I created an account just to leave this review because the world needs to know what a pile of sh Coursera is
J

I signed up for a free Cousera program

I signed up for a free Cousera program to qualify to join a volunteer organization After the first two parts of the course a request for payment popped up on the screen When I contacted Coursea about this they said that I have to contact my organization The organization said to contact Coursera I then asked Coursera customer service to directly to resolve the problem with the organization Cousera REFUSED The responses from Coursera appear to be AI generated After spending hours on the the course and correspondence with Coursera it is very disappointing to have no way to resolve their problem AVOID COURSERA
N

Probably the worst online learning

Probably the worst online learning service platforms ive ever encountered Been through countless online service platforms because i love learning about new things platforms and generally have a great experience with most Not only does Coursera charge for basic tutorials that you can find through Youtube but their customer service is beyond horrible the worst ive ever encountered Good luck getting a refund there is no way possible to actually talk to a live human being They leave no number and dont even offer an online chat Im actually sure that the customer support email is AI generated because they didnt even address my issue just gave me a blank response After countless emails they eventually just stopped answering me Never write reviews on anything but i wanted to warn anyone before using that theyre horrible Dont waste your money try UDEMY they are way better
J

Can t even access - captcha validation test settings are too prohibitive

I can t actually access the free course I was trying to take because the are you human test is too stringent I don t know how many pages of staircases motorbikes fire hydrants cars or bridges they expect me to click on before they finally advise me that I m human enough or not to access their Finance for Non-Finance Managers but I imagine I ll feel so drained by the validation process that I won t be in a learning mindset by then - and will I have to go through the same ordeal next time I log in Either I m literally not able to spot some of the sneaky little motorbikes or staircases or they really do expect everyone to go through several rounds of validation whichever is the case I definitely wouldn t pay for a course that required me to jump through this number of hoops As it was a free course and they re not the sole provider of courses on this topic I ll be trying LinkedIn learning or one of the many other platforms thank you
E

Coursera will steal your money and not give you what you paid for

Coursera will gladly charge you your monthly 50 for Coursera plus However when it comes to actually giving you the things you paid for they could careless and will actively lie to you about fixing the problem They do not do refunds and will waste your life I have spent 3 months dealing with these doorknobs

About Coursera

Learn online and earn valuable credentials from top universities like Yale, Michigan, Stanford, and leading companies like Google and IBM. Join Coursera for free and transform your career with degrees, certificates, Specializations, & MOOCs in data science, computer science, business, and dozens of...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Coursera is a leading global online learning platform founded in 2012 by Stanford University professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller. Its mission is to provide universal access to world-class education. The platform partners with over 300 top universities and industry leaders to offer a wide range of educational content, serving millions of learners worldwide to develop skills for career advancement and personal growth.

Coursera offers a diverse catalog structured to meet various learner needs. Core offerings include: Single Courses across numerous disciplines; Specializations, which are series of courses to build expertise; Professional Certificates created by industry leaders for job preparation; Guided Projects for skill-building in under two hours; MasterTrack® Certificates, which are credit-eligible modules of master's programs; and fully accredited Online Degrees (bachelor's and master's) from partner universities.

The learning experience on Coursera.org is designed to be intuitive and accessible. It typically includes high-quality video lectures, interactive quizzes, peer-reviewed assignments, hands-on projects using virtual tools, and community discussion forums. Courses are often self-paced or session-based with flexible scheduling. The platform also offers features like financial aid for eligible programs and the ability to audit select courses for free to enhance accessibility.

Upon successful completion of programs, learners earn shareable electronic certificates and credentials recognized by employers globally. The type of credential depends on the program: single courses and specializations award course certificates; Professional Certificates and MasterTrack® Certificates provide career-oriented credentials; and Online Degrees result in fully accredited academic degrees from the granting university.

Yes, Coursera is committed to accessibility. Learners can audit many single courses for free, which allows access to course materials without graded assignments or a certificate. For those seeking certificates or enrolled in paid programs, financial aid is available for many offerings based on application and eligibility. The platform also partners with governments and organizations on initiatives to increase access.
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About Coursera

About Coursera

Coursera is a leading global online learning platform that partners with over 300 top universities and industry leaders to offer courses, professional certificates, guided projects, and full degree programs. Founded in 2012 by Stanford University professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, its mission is to provide universal access to world-class education. The platform serves millions of learners worldwide, empowering individuals, organizations, and governments to develop critical skills for career advancement and personal growth in a rapidly changing digital economy.

Core Offerings and Learning Structure

Coursera's catalog is vast and diverse, structured to meet various learner needs. The primary offerings include:

  • Single Courses:Thousands of individual courses across disciplines like technology, business, data science, arts, and humanities. These are typically self-paced or session-based and include video lectures, peer-reviewed assignments, and community discussion forums.
  • Specializations:Series of related courses designed to build deep expertise in a specific skill area, culminating in a hands-on capstone project.
  • Professional Certificates:Career-oriented programs created by industry giants like Google, IBM, and Meta to prepare learners for entry-level jobs in high-demand fields such as IT support, data analytics, and UX design.
  • Guided Projects:Interactive, instructor-led tutorials that teach job-relevant skills in under two hours using a split-screen workspace.
  • MasterTrack® Certificates:Credit-eligible modules of master's programs that allow learners to earn a university certificate and potentially apply credit toward a full degree.
  • Online Degrees:Fully accredited bachelor's and master's degrees from renowned universities in fields like computer science, business administration, and public health.

Key Features and User Experience

The coursera.org website provides an intuitive and accessible learning environment. Key features include flexible scheduling, financial aid for many programs, and the ability to audit select courses for free. Learning is enhanced through high-quality video content, interactive quizzes, and hands-on projects using virtual tools. Upon completion, learners receive shareable electronic certificates and credentials that are recognized by employers globally. The platform also offers robust solutions for businesses (Coursera for Business) and campuses (Coursera for Campus), helping organizations upskill their workforce and students.

Commitment to Accessibility and Impact

Coursera demonstrates a strong commitment to making education accessible. It offers financial aid, partners with governments for workforce recovery initiatives, and provides a mobile app for learning on the go. The content is often available with subtitles in multiple languages. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, Coursera plays a pivotal role in democratizing education and addressing the global skills gap, enabling anyone with an internet connection to transform their life through learning.