Online courses: plans and prices compared 2026
Learning subscriptions in the US split into three groups: course libraries with certificates (Coursera Plus), coding and data platforms (Codecademy, DataCamp) and language apps (Duolingo, Busuu). Most have a free tier, and most are much cheaper per month when you pay for a year.
We compare terms from the providers’ US websites. Prices are in the price block on each product’s page, before sales tax.
Quick picks
If you want university-style certificates
Coursera Plus includes thousands of courses and unlimited certificates, including Professional Certificates.
If you’re learning to code
Codecademy has a free Basic plan and career paths on paid plans; DataCamp focuses on data and AI.
If you want data and AI skills
DataCamp Premium has 790+ courses, career and skill tracks, and certifications.
If you’re learning a language
Duolingo has 100+ courses and a 1-week free Super trial; Busuu Premium Plus adds AI conversations in select languages.
If the whole family learns
Duolingo Super Family covers up to 6 Super accounts.
If you want to try for free first
Codecademy Basic, DataCamp Basic (every first chapter) and Duolingo’s free plan; Coursera Plus monthly has a 7-day trial.
If you want to own a course
Udemy single courses – lifetime access while Udemy keeps the license.
If you want to pause instead of cancel
Codecademy and DataCamp pause monthly plans; Coursera Plus has no pause.
$95.99/yr
Super
What should you choose?
The service is picked by our score, the plan is the cheapest one that fits the situation. Prices are checked.
For a recognized certificate
Busuu · Premium
$12.49/moPlus sales tax where applicable
- recognized outside the platform
Services in this category
from $17.95/mo
Price checked
from $12.49/moPlus sales tax where applicable
Price checked
from $95.99/yrFree trial — 7 days
Price checked
from $59.00/moPlus sales tax where applicableFree trial — 7 days
Price checked
from $167.88/yrPlus sales tax where applicableFree trial — 7 days
Price checked
from $35.00/moPlus sales tax where applicableThere’s also a free plan
Price checked
from $35.00/moPlus sales tax where applicable
Price checked
from $29.99/moPlus sales tax where applicableThere’s also a free plan
Price checked
Related comparisons
Related articles
How to choose
- 1
Decide what you need at the end
A certificate for your résumé (Coursera, DataCamp, Codecademy, Busuu), a skill, or a daily habit.
- 2
Start on the free tier
Codecademy Basic, DataCamp’s first chapters and Duolingo free show whether the format works for you.
- 3
Compare monthly and yearly
Codecademy, DataCamp, Coursera Plus and Busuu are cheaper per month on a yearly plan — but only if you keep learning.
- 4
Check the refund terms
Coursera Plus yearly has a 14-day money-back guarantee; monthly has a 7-day free trial instead.
- 5
Set a trial reminder
Duolingo sends a reminder before the free trial ends; for the others, set your own.
- 6
Check the badge before you buy
At Coursera, look for “Included with Coursera Plus” so you don’t pay twice for a course.
- 7
Verify student status first
Codecademy Pro Student is verified through Proxi.id before checkout – do it first instead of paying full price.
Types of learning subscriptions
Online learning in the US comes in four kinds.
Course libraries
Coursera Plus — thousands of courses in AI, business, technology and more, with certificates.
Coding and data platforms
Codecademy and DataCamp — interactive lessons, projects and career tracks.
Language apps
Duolingo and Busuu — short daily lessons; paid plans remove ads and add features.
Free tiers
Codecademy Basic, DataCamp Basic and Duolingo free — limited, but enough to test the format.
Own vs subscribe
Udemy sells single courses to keep; Coursera, Codecademy, DataCamp and Skillshare are pure subscriptions.
AI practice
Codecademy has AI Builder credits, Busuu Premium Plus has AI conversations and Duolingo Max adds Roleplay and Video Call.
What to check before you subscribe
Questions the monthly price doesn’t answer.
| Question | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Is there a free plan? | What to look atCodecademy Basic, DataCamp Basic (every first chapter) and Duolingo — yes. Coursera Plus and Busuu Premium are paid. |
| Is there a free trial? | What to look atCoursera Plus monthly — 7 days. Duolingo Super — 1 week, with a reminder before it ends. |
| Can you get a refund? | What to look atCoursera Plus yearly — 14-day money-back guarantee. |
| Do you get certificates? | What to look atCoursera Plus — unlimited certificates. DataCamp and Codecademy — certificates of completion. Busuu — Busuu certificates. |
| Can you pay yearly? | What to look atCoursera Plus, Codecademy, DataCamp and Busuu — yes, cheaper per month. |
| Is there a family plan? | What to look atDuolingo Super Family — up to 6 Super accounts. |
| Are there AI features? | What to look atBusuu Premium Plus — AI conversations in select languages; Codecademy — AI Learning Assistant. |
| How big is the library? | What to look atCoursera Plus — thousands of courses; DataCamp — 790+ courses; Duolingo — 100+ language courses. |
| Can you pause? | What to look atCodecademy: monthly, 1–3 months. DataCamp: monthly, you pick the length. Coursera: no. |
| Does it work offline? | What to look atCoursera and Skillshare download videos in the app; Codecademy needs a connection. |
When it pays off and when it doesn’t
Pays off
- If you study several hours a week toward a specific goal.
- If a certificate helps with a job or promotion.
- If a yearly plan replaces several individual course purchases.
Doesn’t pay off
- A yearly plan bought on January 1st motivation.
- Paying for two platforms that teach the same thing.
- Upgrading before the free tier has shown you’ll keep going.
- Buying a single Coursera or Udemy course that’s already included in a subscription you pay for.
FAQ
In short
Choosing a learning subscription in the US comes down to the goal — certificate, skill or habit — and whether you’ll keep going long enough for a yearly plan to pay off. This page collects those terms from the providers’ own pages.
Alt-subs is independent of the services on this page. Trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify the service. Prices come from the providers’ own websites and are shown with dates.
Page text updated: