In short: Good for studying university course material at no cost; free audit access expires, and certificates are paid.
- Free audit track
- Founded by Harvard & MIT
- Audit access expires
- Not tested by us
Before you sign up
Checked 2026-09-28 · based on official and public sources · not tested by us
A MOOC founded by Harvard and MIT where you can audit university courses free or pay for a certificate.
Data sheet
Compiled from the public sources linked below
| What you get | University courses delivered online as MOOCs |
|---|---|
| Free access | Audit track with course materials |
| Limits | Time-limited access; no grading or certificate |
| Certificates | From about $50 per course |
| Operator | 2U LLC |
| Caution | Audit access expires |
When to use it
Learners who want university-level lectures without paying, with the option to upgrade to a verified certificate.
Before you use it
Free audit access is time-limited — materials become unavailable afterwards — and it excludes graded assignments and certificates. Certificates start at about $50 per course.
How to use it
- Sign up for edX with your email
- Pick a course and enrol on the free audit track
- Finish within the access period, or upgrade to the paid certificate track
What to expect
Auditing gives you the course materials for free, but only for a limited period, with no graded assignments or certificate. A verified certificate costs from about $50 per course.
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