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

D

You can cancel your subscription and it

You can cancel your subscription and it might even show cancelled under your account but they will keep charging you THIS IS A RIP OFF
I

Shady site

I signed up for an IBM certificate program and found that the provided labs were constantly crashing I tried Safari Chrome and Mozilla but ran into the same issues I struggled with that for a few days and then suddenly while I was on the site I got an error message that I had been blocked from the site because of too many requests What I can t get back in now to continue my coursework and do not plan to continue This site seems very shady
B

This was a great company when they

This was a great company when they started but off late I don t feel the same These days the only thing they care about is to generate more money from the students On the other hand no customer service and very limited resources to get help through chat or email I went through a paid certification a few years back and received the certificate but the link no longer works now and I ve been trying to contact them on this topic but without success
H

Good courses so far but customer

Good courses so far but customer support is so useless
C

Can t unsubscribe from emails

Clicking unsubscribe in their emails leads to a blank page Had to do about 12 steps to unsubscribe from their site Not good
S

Material 3 5 - Customer Service 1

I have completed 7 online certificates and found most of the material informative If I were rating Coursera simply on material I would have given a higher rating but their customer service is their downfall In each of the courses though the instruction given in the video did not always explain how to solve answer questions in the quiz or graded assignments I don t mind trying to use theories formulas to figure out an answer but there were a few just too far off in my opinion Their customer service though is horrendous I emailed them to report my certificate s verification address was incorrect and I was told the issue was reported to IT and would receive an email with a new certificate once the issue was corrected I have still not received a new certificate with a correct verification code so my certificate is essentially useless Then I had another issue with billing and this time I called Their outgoing message states you can leave a message but the support team is unable to respond to phone calls Obviously have not received a return phone call and certainly not a refund
C

The IBM brand is strong and prestigious

The IBM brand is strong and prestigious and is a global leader in the computer market I enrolled into this course as did several other classmates excited to learn the the topics that are advertised with the Coursera course description for full stack cloud stack cloud developer Very Excited Unfortunately the course material although engaging is not supported by the Coursera or IBM staffers respective of helping answer questions related to the needed assignments Don t get me wrong do the work and you should get the grade but the assignments are subjectively written with NO support by email or by chat YOU my friend are on your own The Coursera and IBM course says that Mr Rav Ahuja is the one to reach out since he is the author and basically the one in charge of student interaction Don t hold your breath He is a great disappointment as the discussion forums and chats within the course are FILLED with angry frustrated really hard working student who are realizing that they have been duped by the claims of support Too bad I was really begin to think that Coursera and IBM were on to something Meanwhile if you are a student keep at it Don t depend on the amateur sorts like Mr Rav Ahuja and spend the tuition until you get certified Hopefully Coursera and IBM will awaken and dump the problem and hire fresh Good Luck and Work Hard Christy
B

Course grading is a scam

The course was excellent Coursera on the other hand was a nightmare Getting customer service is almost impossible -- they have no way to speak to a human They delayed my grade so they could charge me for another month When I complained they said that they would give me the lowest possible grade if I didn t want to wait to be graded They then did that without contacting me I did 5 peer reviews Only 1 person probably admin and not a student gave content is satisfactory feedback without ever reviewing my content I know that because my assignment was on a fileshare that alerts me when it s accessed NOBODY ACCESSED IT So the grade was a scam I spend several days on this assignment only to find out that NOBODY reviews your work and somebody puts in a fake low grade to shut you up if you complain I was interested in taking other courses but because of the scam involved in grading never doing this again
H

Poor quality course even though it was free

I chose the course Responsive Website Basics Code with HTML CSS and JavaScript I didn t fancy paying 65 for it and so I applied for free funding from Coursera and while waiting for their decision I began the first couple of modules which were free anyway The course moves along at a fairly rapid pace but it soon became apparent that this a low quality affair using tutors who seemed very ill at ease with the subject At times it was hard work just listening to them In addition the course title was misleading This course does not teach CSS and Javascript but instead Bootstrap and JQuery These are CSS and Javascript libraries and while learning them is certainly useful it encourages the student to ignore the vital underlying CSS and Javascript fundamentals Finally the VS code sandbox provided for file submission is very flaky I found submitting files for assessment to be a hit and miss process and simply not worth my time On the day my approval for free funding came through from Coursera I had had enough and deleted my account This is not for me and I feel genuinely sorry for anyone who has actually handed over money for this course
A

I finished 3 courses in 3 months in the

I finished 3 courses in 3 months in the IBM cloud platform course I was delighted to only pay 39 dollars for each course Its expensive compared to competitors but the courses are on a good level for the price Unfortunately the courses I did involved IBM Cloud While working through my three courses I used many tools in the IBM cloud platform was urged to create new ones and with no strong warnings about the HUGE costs that would amass just by creating one resource duplicate etc After receiving several expected 0 dollar billings during my 3 months of doing the courses now 1 whole month after my last activity on the courses and having cancelled all coursera subscriptions Im hit with a whopping 1350 5 before tax no less dollars bill from IBM Cloud To make matters worse Coursera are completely uninterested in giving any assistance in the matter basically telling me good luck without even a suggestion on making the dangers of the course more clear The courses using IBM cloud are not bad but they are a BIG economic risk and coursera does not warn you what happens if you do not purge any accounts on IBM between each course Im a bit dissappointed Coursera does not have a bit more foresight around external resources

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.