In short: Good for sampling university and industry courses before paying; full free auditing has largely been replaced by previews, and certificates cost money.
- First module free
- Financial Aid available
- Auto-billing after trials
- Not tested by us
Before you sign up
Checked 2026-09-28 · based on official and public sources · not tested by us
Online courses from universities and companies worldwide, with the first module of most courses free to preview.
Data sheet
Compiled from the public sources linked below
| What you get | Online courses (MOOCs) from universities and companies worldwide |
|---|---|
| Free access | First-module preview on most courses; some social-impact courses free |
| Realistic view | Full free auditing has shrunk; certificates are paid |
| Support | Financial Aid applications accepted |
| Operator | Coursera, Inc. |
| Caution | Auto-billing after free trials |
When to use it
Learners who want to test a university or company course before committing, or who plan to apply for Financial Aid to earn a certificate.
Before you use it
The old free ‘audit’ option has been replaced by a Preview model, so taking a whole course free is less common and varies by course. Watch for automatic billing after free trials.
How to use it
- Sign up for Coursera with your email
- Find a course and take the first module free as a preview
- To continue, enrol in the paid option or apply for Financial Aid
What to expect
The former free ‘audit’ track has been replaced by a Preview model, so fewer full courses are free. Certificates are paid. Expect to sample courses for free and apply for Financial Aid if you need the full course or certificate.
Checked 2026-09-28 · compiled from public sources; we have not tested it ourselves. Terms change, so check the official pages before you rely on it. · Official site · Source 1 · Source 2