Codecademy vs Coursera: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Codecademy and Coursera side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Codecademy leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Codecademy
Learn to code interactively with hands-on exercises and real-world projects.
Best for you if:
- • You want excellent for hands-on, interactive learning
Coursera
Learn in-demand skills and earn degrees from top institutions
Best for you if:
- • You want university courses
| At a Glance | Codecademy | Coursera |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $16.20/mo, billed monthly Plus plan | Free plan, paid from $59/mo, billed monthly Coursera Plus plan |
Category | Education & Learning Learning & Training | Education & Learning Online Course Platforms |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.5 · SourceForge 5.0 179 reviews | 2.8/5 Trustpilot 1.4 · G2 4.5 1,867 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Codecademy or Coursera?
Choose Codecademy if
- You want excellent for hands-on, interactive learning
- You want beginner-friendly interface and content
- Budget matters ($16.20/mo, billed monthly vs $59/mo, billed monthly)
Choose Coursera if
- You want university courses
- You want certificates
In-Depth Analysis
Codecademy
Learn to code interactively with hands-on exercises and real-world projects.
Codecademy's pricing is quite fair, offering a generous free tier and well-differentiated paid options.
Strengths
- Pro: Excellent for hands-on, interactive learning
- Pro: Beginner-friendly interface and content
- Pro: Wide variety of courses and technologies
- Pro: Immediate feedback on code
- Pro: Structured paths help guide learning
Weaknesses
- Con: Free content is limited compared to Pro
- Con: Can sometimes lack deeper theoretical explanations
- Con: Reliance on in-browser editor might not suit all advanced users
Key features
Coursera
Learn in-demand skills and earn degrees from top institutions
Coursera's pricing is generally fair, offering a valuable 'Free' tier for auditing courses.
Strengths
- Pro: University courses
- Pro: Certificates
- Pro: Quality content
- Pro: Wide selection
- Pro: Good for upskilling
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive for certificates
- Con: Subscription model
- Con: Self-paced challenges
- Con: Quality varies
- Con: No practical projects
Key features
Plans and prices: Codecademy vs Coursera
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Codecademy |
| codecademy.com/pricing |
| Coursera |
| coursera.org read Sep 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Codecademy pricing and Coursera pricing.
Key Takeaways
Codecademy
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 2.8/5
- Lower entry price: $16.20/mo, billed monthly vs $59/mo, billed monthly
Coursera
- Choose if you want learn in-demand skills and earn degrees from top institutions
What the data shows
On the data below, Codecademy leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Codecademy has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 179 reviews for Codecademy, 2.8/5 from 1,867 reviews for Coursera).
- Codecademy has the lower entry price: $16.20/mo, billed monthly (Plus) against $59/mo, billed monthly (Coursera Plus) for Coursera.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Codecademy and Coursera compare in 2026?
On the data below, Codecademy leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Codecademy has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 179 reviews for Codecademy, 2.8/5 from 1,867 reviews for Coursera). Codecademy has the lower entry price: $16.20/mo, billed monthly (Plus) against $59/mo, billed monthly (Coursera Plus) for Coursera. Both have a free plan.
What are Codecademy and Coursera used for?
Codecademy: Learn to code interactively with hands-on exercises and real-world projects. Coursera: Learn in-demand skills and earn degrees from top institutions.
What does Codecademy cost vs Coursera?
Codecademy's cheapest paid plan is Plus at $16.20/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Coursera's cheapest paid plan is Coursera Plus at $59/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Sep 29, 2026.
What's the main difference between Codecademy and Coursera?
Codecademy's main strength: excellent for hands-on, interactive learning. Coursera's main strength: university courses.