edX was founded in 2012 by MIT and Harvard as a nonprofit online learning platform and was acquired by 2U, a for-profit education technology company, in 2021. The platform now hosts over 4,000 courses from more than 200 universities and institutions including MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, Microsoft, IBM, and Google. The free audit track is edX’s most distinctive feature. Most courses on edX can be audited at no cost — learners access video lectures, reading materials, and discussion forums without paying. The audit track does not include graded assignments or a certificate of completion. For learners who want formal recognition of their learning, a verified certificate costs typically $50-300 per course depending on the institution and subject. This model provides genuine access to world-class educational content at zero cost, with payment required only for formal credentialing. Professional certificate programs, which bundle multiple related courses into a structured learning path, range from $200-1,000+. MicroMasters programs, designed to provide graduate-level skills in a specific area, range from $600-1,500 and can count toward full master’s degree credit at participating universities. The 2U acquisition has raised concerns about the platform’s future direction. 2U raised prices on certificate programs and reduced the prominence of free content between 2022 and 2025, drawing criticism from the educational access community. edX’s MicroDegree programs have been under scrutiny for high prices relative to alternatives on Coursera. For learners who want free access to high-quality university content without formal credentialing, the audit track remains genuinely valuable. For learners wanting credentials, the cost per certificate is higher than Coursera’s professional certificate programs from comparable institutions. edX is the right platform for learners who want MIT, Harvard, or Berkeley course content and are willing to navigate its pricing complexity.
edX
Coursera has a comparable university content library with more consistently priced professional certificates and a better-valued subscription plan for learners completing multiple courses
Course Info
- Skill Level: beginner
- Instructor: university
- Free audit track on most courses — genuine access to MIT, Harvard, and Berkeley content at no cost
- University-backed certificates recognized by employers in technical and professional fields
- MicroMasters programs can count toward full master's degree credit at participating universities
- Certificate prices are higher than Coursera for comparable institutional credentials — $50-300 per course versus Coursera's subscription model
- 2U acquisition in 2021 raised prices and reduced free content prominence — platform direction has concerned the educational access community
- Audit track learners lose access to course materials after a set period on some programs — verify access duration before starting
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Frequently Asked Questions
The audit track allows learners to access most edX courses for free, including video lectures, readings, and discussion forums. Audit learners cannot submit graded assignments or receive a certificate of completion. Access to course materials on the audit track may be time-limited on some courses. For learners who want content without formal credentialing, the audit track is genuinely valuable.
Verified certificates for individual courses typically cost $50-300 depending on the institution and course length. Professional certificates (multi-course programs) range from $200-1,000+. MicroMasters programs range from $600-1,500. Prices vary by institution and are subject to change — always check current pricing on the specific course page before enrolling.
edX was founded by Harvard and MIT in 2012 as a nonprofit platform. In 2021, edX was acquired by 2U, a for-profit education technology company, for approximately $800 million. Harvard and MIT continue to publish courses on the platform but are no longer the owners or operators. The platform now hosts 200+ institutional partners.
Both platforms offer university-backed online courses. edX has stronger direct connections to MIT and Harvard content. Coursera has a larger catalog, more professional certificate programs from Google, IBM, and Meta, and a more straightforward subscription model ($59/month or $399/year for access to most content). For learners who want access to many courses, Coursera's subscription is often better value. For learners specifically wanting MIT or Harvard content, edX is the direct source.
Some edX MicroMasters programs are designed to count toward full master's degree credit at partner universities. Learners who complete a MicroMasters program and apply to the affiliated master's program may receive credit for those courses. This pathway is available on specific MicroMasters programs — verify with the specific program page whether degree credit is available and at which universities.
Advertiser Disclosure: Pricing verified April 2026 from edX's official pricing page. Certificate prices vary by course and institution.. We may receive compensation for clicks or purchases on this site.