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

M

The descriptions of charges are

The descriptions of charges are unclear and a lot of the content is of bad quality in my opinion Udemy LinkedIn Learning formerly Lynda and many online professional certification courses curate their content much better and each certification costs significantly less After I finish what I have already started on Coursera I doubt I will ever touch the platform again And I think that s going to be the case with most users It s just going to be another start-up that inevitably goes bust after failing to provide the service they advertise
M

Never again

Purchased a number of different courses in 2020 nothing to upgrade education or anything but just personal learning I expected to have access to the courses for life I was wrong My account now shows no purchases and I have no access to the courses Won t buy anything from them again
K

Coursera peer reviewed assignment mess

Coursera just brushed me off closed the chat and did not answer my very valid question For a course I needed to get my assignments reviewed by 1 peer if submitted on time which I have I have contacted 1 peer via LinkedIn to ask him to review my documents which he had done It still said grading in progress which meant I could still not go through to the final course of the program Anyway I had a whole conversation about this through chat in which the employee had not given me an answer but only started to talk about metacognitive skills and how peer reviews save time from the teachers Then he said he will get in touch with his support team and get back to me via email about it I told him I would keep the chat screen open for faster communication since I know people tend to get brushed off via email but he closed the screen anyway Very unprofessional Now I feel like Coursera is just trying to get me to go over the 7 day free trial and scam me out of a lot of money
R

I ve been paying for a 40 USD month

I ve been paying for a 40 USD month subscription Lets forget about the super confusing UI of Coursera I ve been taking the IBM Data Science Certificate course and it is by far the worst premium course I ve ever taken - Poorly worded and designed videos make learning and understand extremely confusing- You re being upsold all of the IBM services and they re incredibly unstable more confusing UI free-to-use but you run out of usage credits IN THE COURSE making you troubleshoot the tools- Some labs are written so poorly that I had to go out and find my own resources to learn that particular piece skill - counter to the point of a premium learning subscription- Overall incredibly buggy frustrating experience trying to get around the whole IBM coursera set up in order to actually do what I came here for which is to learn Just trying to wrap this damn certificate up and never come back to use this platform 2 stars because inspite of the design with my own persistence I m actually learning
A

Poor customer support

Good material within the Google course that I chose but when I faced a problem with media playing they couldn t fix the problem They didn t even offer a refund for the days that I lost They only said that they will offer other options but never specified what Note Still waiting for the issue to be fixed
P

This rating is because i have enrolled

This rating is because i have enrolled few courses but im not able to complete but this site collects debit or credit card information at the start for enrolling and viewing the course within 7 days one need to de-enroll otherwise one will be charged without consent it happend couple of times there is no audit option and pay once you feel confident of completion This like cheating
W

Robbing C nts

While the course material to an Introduction to Common Law has a a sketchy user interface which often won t load or allow the user to participate Then the help centre drag their feet in providing a solution until the 7-day trial period ends and 1 The course cannot be finished and 2 Coursera have debited your account with a Sub fee which you cannot then formally challenge 3 The subscription process is a pop up window which prohibits u from from participating with the material before the due date so that u unwittingly end up subscribing just to uae the FREE time COURSERA need to have a Class Action Law suit filed against them in America for routinely RIPPING PEOPLE OFF Robbing ponzi style c nts Try and Sue me for Libel
A

greedy with poor customer support

One star added for the great idea of the platform however I feel like the greediness of coursera was taken to the next level I dont want to pay monthly for my courses I want to do them in my pace without stressing myself out For me it might take 2-4 months to accomplish simple course and so what now I have to pay 200 for one simple certificate Payment per course or at least reasonable monthly price will justify it but this Now I wasted my time and money as I had a goal of getting certificate and will never take any other courses there Besides that my ongoing course disappeared and their customer support works horribly
P

Unethical revenue model and impossible to contact

Some good courses but the company uses dark patterns for payments and subscriptions There s a no refund policy and no way to contact the company when you have a query I m very angry about the money they took from me when I wasn t using their service
B

Unprofessional

While the courses are good the subscription refund process is convoluted the help site is full of incorrect information and the staff contradict the site s stated policies Additionally the subscription is expensive given that the courses have no real world value The courses are great for hobby learning or as a supplement but that s it

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.