Both MasterClass and Coursera offer valuable online learning experiences, but they cater to different needs. MasterClass is ideal for those seeking inspiration and learning from renowned experts in creative and professional fields. Coursera is better suited for individuals pursuing academic or career-focused learning with a wider variety of subjects and credentials.
| Attribute | MasterClass | Coursera |
|---|---|---|
| Course Variety and Depth | Offers over 200 courses across 13 diverse categories, including arts, business, sports, and more. New classes are added regularly. Courses are designed for all skill levels. Classes are broken down into bite-sized lessons. | Offers a wide range of courses, specializations, and professional certificates in subjects like computer science, data science, business, and personal development. Partners with universities and organizations to provide over 22,000 courses. Courses range from beginner to advanced levels. |
| Instructor Credentials and Expertise | Instructors are renowned experts, leaders, and celebrities in their respective fields. They include award-winning actors, celebrated chefs, bestselling authors, iconic musicians, and visionary entrepreneurs. | Instructors are often experts in their fields, sometimes from top universities and companies. The Coursera Instructor Network is a group of instructors with demonstrated expertise. Instructors generally need to be part of an institution that partners with Coursera. |
| Pricing and Subscription Models | Annual membership model with three plan types: Standard, Plus, and Premium. Standard: Around $120 per year. Plus: Around $180 per year. Premium: Around $240 per year. | Offers free courses (audit access), individual courses ($49-$99), Guided Projects ($9.99), Specializations ($39-$79/month), Coursera Plus ($59/month or $399/year), MasterTrack Certificates ($2,000-$5,000), and University Degrees ($9,000-$45,000). |
| Hands-on Projects and Assignments | Includes workbooks to practice skills learned during classes. Sessions provide hands-on learning with projects, activities, and community feedback. Some courses have interactive assignments where students work together. | Many courses include hands-on projects and assignments. Specializations often include practical projects and a capstone project. Guided Projects offer a quick, hands-on experience. |
| Community Engagement and Support | Provides access to a member's only community hub for discussions. Some classes have Facebook groups. Allows you to share your work with an engaged community and get feedback from peers. | The Coursera platform facilitates discussions with fellow learners. |
| Mobile App Availability and Features | Has mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. The apps allow you to watch classes on the go and offer features like audio mode and offline viewing (for some plans). | Mobile app for iOS and Android with flexible schedules, on-demand courses, downloadable videos for offline viewing, audio-only support, mobile-friendly courses, coursework saved across devices, video subtitles, transcripts, note-taking, and personalized reminders. |
| Offline Viewing Options | The Plus and Premium plans allow downloading video lessons for offline viewing on mobile devices. This feature is not available on the Standard plan. Not all courses are available for offline download due to legal restrictions. | Allows downloading course videos and materials for offline viewing on computer or mobile device. The mobile app allows saving a week's worth of content for offline access. |
| Certificate of Completion and Accreditation | A certificate of completion is awarded upon finishing a course. The DEI Practitioner Master Class is SHRM-accredited. | Offers certificates upon completion of individual courses, specializations, and professional certificates. Partners with universities and organizations to offer these credentials. |
| User Interface and Experience | The app has a user-friendly interface with easy navigation. It delivers a familiar interface that complements the high-quality content. | Designed for those interested in starting careers in UI/UX, emphasizing key concepts, tools, and methodologies used in front-end development. The platform provides videos, readings, activities and quizzes. |
| Personalized Learning Paths | The "Discover" dashboard offers personalized recommendations for courses and lessons. The "Quick Lists" option enables you to pick a skill and get a playlist of relevant classes. | Offers personalized learning paths based on your goals and provides a selection of courses tailored to achieve career or personal learning goals. |
| Skill Assessment Tools | Offers downloadable workbooks for every class to reinforce learning. | Has skill assessment tools like LevelSets to help learners identify their proficiency in specific skills and recommend suitable courses. These tools assess skills such as data, analytics, cloud computing, and machine learning. |
| Career Services and Job Placement Assistance | It does not appear that MasterClass offers career services or job placement assistance. | Offers professional certificates focused on job-ready skills with employer recognition and career services support. |