After extensively testing the platform, I am writing this Coursera Plus Review. Coursera Plus was worth it for me, and I see it is worth it for most learners.
Coursera’s professional certificates and specializations have helped me gain an edge over my colleagues in terms of knowledge and credentials.
Get 40% Off Coursera Plus
Coursera Annual plan is there to help get exclusive discount of 40% OFF on Coursera plus.
Coursera Plus offers unlimited access to over 7,000 courses, specializations, and professional certificates for a $399/year subscription or $59/month. You can also buy individual courses.
In this Coursera review, I will discuss Coursera Plus pricing, features, pros and cons, and what it offers. By the end, you will know if Coursera Plus is the right investment for your learning goals.
Is Coursera Plus Worth it? My Quick Verdict
Employers recognize Coursera Certificates globally, and Coursera Plus allows you to earn unlimited Coursera certificates. According to a survey conducted by Coursera, 72% of employers agreed that a micro-credential influenced their decision-making during the hiring process.
Let’s quickly look at what Coursera Plus offers its learners to determine if it is worth the cost.
Parameters
Coursera Feature
Coursera Plus Annual Plan
$399/Year
Coursera Plus Monthly Plan
$59/month
Free Trial
✅
Refund Offered
✅
No. Of Courses
7,000+
Certificates
✅
Coursera Plus – Pros & Cons
I have found many benefits of using Coursera Plus and have encountered a few easily fixable cons.
Pros of Coursera Plus
Offers Courses by Ivy League Schools and Industry Titans.
Learn from multiple courses at once.
Save money if you plan to take multiple courses.
Lets you Learn at your pace.
Offers Unlimited Certificates.
Helps Earn Accredited certificates and college credits.
Cons of Coursera Plus
High Passing marks (80%) requirement.
Some Courses need to be updated.
Is Coursera Subscription Worth It – Overview
Coursera Plus is the subscription plan offered by the online learning platform Coursera. With Coursera Plus, subscribers can unlock access to over 7000+ courses at a flat annual or monthly fee.
With the Coursera Plus subscription, you can take many courses at once and earnunlimited course certificates without the hassle of paying for each course individually.
The Coursera Plus discount makes this an excellent opportunity to learn more and earn certificates recognized worldwide.
Who Is Coursera Plus For?
If you want to create a strong CV that will make a good impression on your future employer, Coursera Plus will help you earn accredited certificates.
Coursera Plus is for anyone looking to finish multiple courses on Coursera’s learning platform and earn multiple certificates for industry-relevant topics that help you learn skills essential to perform a particular job.
What I like about Coursera is that it offers courses that help you learn academic knowledge and courses that help you develop your soft skills. In a nutshell, Coursera Plus is for anyone looking for overall development.
Difference between Coursera & Coursera Plus
As previously mentioned, Coursera is the learning platform, and Coursera Plus is the subscription plan. But what exactly are the parameters that make them different? Let us have a look-
Comparison Parameters
Coursera
Coursera Plus
7-day Free Trial
❌
✅
14-day Refund
❌
✅
Number of courses
10,000+
7,000+
No. of Certificates
1 certificate/ course
Unlimited
Subscription
❌
✅
Sharable Certificates
✅
✅
Cost-effective
❌
✅
Lifetime Course Access
✅
❌
If you want in-depth information on Coursera, the learning platform, read this detailed article to understand what Coursera offers.
What Is Included In Coursera Plus?
Now that you have a basic outline of the difference between Coursera and Coursera Plus, let’s look at what is included in the Coursera Plus Subscription in detail.
Free Trials and Refund options (discussed in detail in the Pricing section below) are available only with the Coursera Plus Subscription. Apart from these two perks, other perks that learners avail with the Coursera Plus Subscription are-
Coursera Plus- Course Access
You can access Guided Projects, Specializations, and many professional certificate courses with Coursera Plus.
Guided Projects on Coursera Plus
Coursera has 2,965 guided projects available, and your Plus Subscription gives you access to all of them.
Source: Coursera
Guided Projects are short courses with hand-held tutorials that can be completed in approximately 2 hours or less.
You can finish the project or assignment at the end of the course and earn a course completion certificate.
A few examples of guided Project Courses are-
Spreadsheets for Beginners using Google Sheets
Learn how to use Excel and Google Sheets in detail in just under 2 hours with this course.
Build a computer vision app with Azure Cognitive Services by Microsoft
This free course by Microsoft will help learners implement AI & Machine Learning solutions in Microsoft Azure in just 1 hour and 30 minutes.
GenAI Basics – How LLMs Work by Duke University
In this one-hour course, Duke University professors explain how GenAI models are trained using easy-to-understand, non-technical language.
Specializations on Coursera Plus
Specialization Courses help learners hone a particular skill that will come in handy to perform a particular job over a few months.
Source: Coursera
81% of learners reported career benefits after doing a specialization. Learners can use a specialization course certificate to show their current or future employers that they are equipped with job-ready skills.
Specialization courses are more extensive than guided project courses. Usually, a series of rigorous courses and assessments is required before learners can earn a specialization Certificate.
A few examples of specialization courses are-
Programming with Google Go Specialization
This course is divided into three series where learners will develop skills to create concise, efficient, clean applications using Golang.
Business Foundations Specialization by the University of Pennsylvania
University Professors have designed and developed this specialization to teach learners all the basic concepts and terminologies related to business studies.
Professional certificates are course certificates offered by renowned organizations or institutions like, Google, Meta, or Microsoft.Unlike specializations, you can finish professional certificate courses within a few days or weeks.
It is important to note that Coursera offers 148 professional courses. Only a few are excluded from the Coursera Plus Subscription.
Source: Coursera
To determine whether your desired course is included in the subscription, check the space marked with a red arrow in the image above. You can also check the complete list of professional certificates included in the Coursera Plus Subscription here.
The examples of professional certificate courses available with the Plus Subscription are-
Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificates
Experts at Meta teach this course to learners to help them learn how to build websites using coding. By the end of this course, you will be able to build your website.
HRCI Human Resource Associate Professional Certificate
Leap into the field of Human Resources with this course and learn how professionals at HRCI recruit employees, develop policies for employees, and create a positive work environment.
Google IT Support Professional Certificate
Learn various systems, including Linux, Domain Name Systems, Command-Line Interface, and Binary Code, from Google experts, with this professional certificate course.
Does Coursera Plus Include Certificates?
Courses Plus will allow you to score certificates from all the courses available in the Plus Subscription (7k+), but the main question remains- Are certificates from Coursera Plus worth it?
Source: Coursera
Coursera Certificates are awarded directly by the teaching institution or the organization conducting the course. This makes them worth it, as they cast a good impression on hiring managers.
You can also put the Coursera Certificate on your resume to showcase to your hiring manager that you are serious about building a career in that particular field and possess skills that will likely help the work get done.
What Is Not Included In Coursera Plus Subscription?
A few elements are not included in the Coursera Plus subscription. You must buy these courses individually if they are not included in the Plus subscription.
Since MasterTrack Certificates and Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees are very long courses with intensive curriculums and learning materials, they are not included in the Coursera Plus Subscription.
If you buy a single course on Coursera, you have lifetime access to it. However, with the Coursera Plus subscription, you can access courses only if you have the subscription.
A Coursera Plus subscription gives you access to 90% of Coursera’s learning material at a flat rate. For context, a single course on Coursera can cost approximately $49 and go above $2,000.
Source: Coursera
Annual Plan
When you subscribe to Coursera Plus’s annual plan, you save significantly. Here is how it works:
The monthly subscription of $59 for 12 months will cost you $708 ($59 x 12= $708).
By opting for the annual plan of $399, you significantly save $309 (708-399=309).
Monthly Plan
I recommend the $59 monthly plan for folks who want to take a short course that lasts only 3-4 months. You can also use the Coursera Plus free trial with this plan.
Coursera Plus $1 Dollar Offer
If you get the annual subscription before the offer times out, you will be charged $1 only for the first month of your Coursera Plus Subscription. Read the full details on how to get a discount and save money on Coursera here.
Coursera Plus Financial Aid
Coursera offers financial aid to learners unable to afford course fees, covering up to 90% of costs. Applicants must answer two questions about their financial needs and how the course aligns with their goals.
Applications require at least 150 words, honesty, and a demonstration of commitment. Coursera financial aid approval usually takes 16 days.
Coursera Free Trial And Refund On Coursera Plus
Coursera Free trial is available on Coursera Plus only. You can try Coursera Plus for 7 days without any financial constraints. Check this step-by-step guide to Coursera free trial to start your learning journey today.
After 7 days, you can either continue or stop your Plus plan. You will be charged for your subscription if you do not cancel your days before the free trial ends.
Coursera’s 14-day refund period is another helpful feature. To get a Coursera Plus refund, visit your Account or My Purchases page within 14 days of payment and request a refund. Please note that any certificates earned during this period will be revoked.
Coursera Reviews 2025
Let us find out what other Coursera users have to say about how Coursera has helped them grow in their own words-
“Without Coursera, I feel I would be irrelevant to this world.”
Michael Tumwesigyevia Coursera
“I really appreciate the flexibility I get with Coursera Plus. I can try any course and switch to another one for no additional cost. This motivates me to learn even more-at one point I was taking three courses at the same time.”
Inés K.via Coursera
“ I’ve watched my employees grow into their jobs. That’s gratifying personally, it’s fun to be a part of- and it’s great for the business.”
Richard Rosenfeldvia Coursera
My Recommendation Of The Best Courses On Coursera Plus
The most popular courses included in the Coursera Plus subscription with great ratings are suggested below. I have taken a few of these courses and greatly benefited from them, and I hope this helps you, too.
Source: Coursera
1. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate
Skills you will learn
Skills for managing security risks, Linux and SQL, and automating security tasks with Python.
With this course, you can get professional training from Google and understand the importance of cybersecurity risks, how to protect an organization’s data, and more.
This Yale course has helped me learn how to manage my emotions and regulate my mood. It is a boon for everyone, no age bar, and recently, they have developed a course especially for teens.
3. Google IT Support Professional Certificate
Skills you will learn
Network protocols, cloud computing, Windows operating system, Linux command line, systems administration, encryption algorithms and techniques
In this course, Google experts will teach you how to perform daily IT support tasks, including computer assembly, wireless networking, program installation, and customer service.
4. Bookkeeping Professional Certificate by Intuit Academy
If you want to qualify for the job roles of bookkeeper, accounting clerk, or accounts payable specialist, this course is highly recommended. You will also receive training on how to use QuickBooks Online, which will help you manage accounts efficiently.
5. Vital Signs: Understanding What The Body Is Telling Us
Skills you will learn
Anatomy, physiology, and understanding of how the body functions
I recommend this course for healthcare providers and laymen as well. It helped me understand what my body is trying to communicate with me by examining vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, respiration rate, and pain.
Coursera Plus Reviews: From Other Users
I understand that my experience alone cannot determine if you should be investing your money into the course. Therefore, to complete this review, I took into consideration other people’s experiences and see what they are talking about.
Coming to Coursera Plus worth it Reddit, One of the users purchased Coursera Plus and shared their experience of 6 months.
As someone who takes a lot of online courses, I’m aware that Coursera or the courses are not the issues people might face. A major setback for me after buying Coursera Plus is that a lot of courses felt surface-level, probably because I was aware of the basic information and didn’t need a revision.
I feel Coursera’s courses are ideal for complete beginners who want to learn something from scratch. This is because the courses are structured that way, and if you already have basic knowledge of the topic, you might opt for more in-depth or higher-level courses. You can also filter them easily when browsing through their course catalog.
My Verdict- Coursera Plus Is Worth It Because Of Its Accredited Certificates
With access to thousands of courses from top institutions, the $399 annual plan can save you hundreds compared to purchasing courses individually.
Remember, you can try it risk-free with the 7-day trial and 14-day refund policy. So what are you waiting for? Start your learning journey with Coursera Plus today.
FAQs
What is the point of Coursera Plus?
Coursera Plus offers unlimited access to 7,000+ courses, specializations, and certificates for a flat monthly or annual fee, making it cost-effective for taking multiple courses.
Is Coursera Plus worth it in 2025?
If you plan to take 3+ courses per year. At $399 annually, it’s cheaper than paying for individual courses and provides unlimited certificates.
How much does Coursera Plus cost?
Coursera Plus costs $59/month or $399/year with a 7-day free trial. Annual subscription saves about 44% compared to monthly payments.
Is a degree from Coursera legit?
Coursera degrees are fully accredited and awarded directly by partner universities, not Coursera. They hold the same value as on-campus degrees.
How do I avoid paying on Coursera?
You can audit most courses for free by selecting “Audit Course” instead of “Enroll.” This gives access to course materials without certificates.
What happens when Coursera Plus ends?
When your subscription ends, you lose access to course materials and can’t earn new certificates, but previously earned certificates remain valid.
I am an experienced writer and educator with a passion for online learning. With a background in education and technology, I have spent many years researching and reviewing courses. I always strive to provide valuable insights and honest assessments of each program's strengths and weaknesses.
