edX is an online learning provider offering courses, certificates, microcredentials, executive education, and degrees from edX, member institutions, 2U, and other organizations. Learners can audit courses at no cost to explore material, but the audit track limits content, excludes graded assignments and certificates, and ends access when the course finishes. Verified individual courses start at around $50 and include graded assignments, a verified certificate, and continued access to lectures, readings, and lessons. Multi-course professional certificate programs start at around $500; executive education programs can cost at least $2,500. Course materials combine video and text with discussions, problems, and assessments. Many courses are self-paced, and individual courses generally take 2-6 weeks. Android and iOS apps support enrollment, most assignments, discussions, and offline video downloads, but timed or proctored exams cannot be taken in the app. Institutional and business offerings include LMS integrations, SSO, grade pass-back, analytics dashboards, and administrative tools. edX reports more than 3,500 courses, over 250 content partners, and a network of 100 million learners.
Who it is for
edX suits people pursuing education or ongoing professional development through courses, certificates, and microcredentials. Its institutional and business options also serve organizations seeking course access and learning-management integrations.
What is good
- Free auditing lets learners explore courses.
- Verified access includes graded assignments and a certificate.
- Many courses are self-paced.
- Mobile apps support offline video downloads.
- Institutional tools include SSO and grade pass-back.
What to know first
- Audit access excludes graded assignments and certificates.
- Auditors lose course-material access when a course ends.
- Timed or proctored exams cannot be taken in the app.
- Executive education programs can cost at least $2,500.
The Geeks Club review
edX: the full review
edX offers a range of learning formats, from free course audits to certificates and executive education. Before enrolling, check what the selected track includes and how long material access lasts.
Overview
edX is an online education provider offering courses and longer programs from edX, universities, institutions, and other content partners. Founded in 2012 by professors from Harvard and MIT, the company is based in Arlington, Virginia. Its catalog ranges from individual courses to certificates, executive education, microcredentials, and degrees. The edX Help Center says learners can explore more than 3,500 courses, and edX reports more than 250 content partners and a network of 100 million learners worldwide.
Courses combine video and text lessons with discussion forums, problems, and assessments. Many are self-paced; individual courses generally take two to six weeks, although some courses have deadlines. The wider program offering includes flexible, hybrid, fully online, and self-paced formats.
For individual learners, the main choice is between free auditing and verified access. Auditing gives a way to explore a course, but has limited content, excludes graded assignments and certificates, and does not preserve course-material access after the course ends. Verified access adds graded work and a certificate, with continuing access to lectures, readings, and lessons after the course ends.
Key features
- Multiple study paths: Learners can choose among standalone courses, professional certificates, executive education, microcredentials, and degrees.
- Certificates with verification: A verified certificate is issued by the university or organization providing the course and includes a link employers can use to check it.
- Mobile learning: The free Android and iOS app supports account creation, enrollment, most assignments, videos, handouts, announcements, and discussions. Learners can download videos for offline viewing. Timed or proctored exams cannot be taken in the app.
- Institutional administration: Institutional tools include analytics dashboards, student portals, and administrative features. Higher-education subscriptions include SSO, social learning, collaboration, and grade pass-back.
- Business integrations: edX for Business supports integrations with platforms including Blackboard, Canvas, Cornerstone, Degreed, Moodle, SuccessFactors, Workday, and LinkedIn Learning Hub, among others. It also supports SAML 2.0 single sign-on, and its Enterprise API can return course data in JSON or XML.
- Accessibility and security: edX aims to conform its website and course-authoring tools to WCAG 2.1 AA and requires timed captions on course videos. Its engineers review and address reported security vulnerabilities.
Pricing
edX uses a freemium model: auditing is free, while verified courses and programs are paid. The free audit track limits content access and excludes graded assignments and a certificate. It also ends access to course materials when the course ends.
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Audit track | 0.00 USD per free | Limited course access, without graded assignments or a certificate. |
| Verified track | Starting at around $50 | Unlimited content access, graded assignments, and a verified certificate. |
| Starter | 349.00 USD per year | Unlimited catalog access and tools for a classroom or department. |
| Campus Plan | Custom pricing | Institution-wide learning access with extended services and features. |
| Essentials | 150.00 USD per year | One academy and 16 self-paced courses. |
| Teams | 396.00 USD per year | Eight academies, 2,300+ self-paced courses, 300+ professional certificates, and a 14 day free trial. |
| Professional Certificate Programs | Starting at $500 | Multi-course professional certificate program. |
| Executive Education Programs | Starting at $2,500 | Executive education program. |
| Enterprise | Contact sales for pricing | For 50+ learners, with eight academies, 2,300+ self-paced courses, and 300+ professional certificates. |
The listed individual verified-course price starts at around $50. Professional certificate programs start at around $500, while executive education programs can cost at least $2,500. Enterprise subscriptions offer employees unlimited access to courses and certificate programs; enterprise plans also include services such as advanced analytics, dedicated support, and tailored integrations.
Platforms
edX is available on the web, Android, and iOS. Its app supports offline video downloads, but exams that are timed or proctored must be taken outside the app. Institutions can connect edX with leading learning management systems and custom platforms, with support for SSO and grade pass-back.
Who it's for
edX suits people seeking university-backed learning for education or continuing professional development. Individual learners can sample course content through auditing or pursue verified courses and broader credentials. Its institutional subscriptions and administrative tools also serve higher-education organizations, while business plans are designed for employee learning at scale.
Pros and cons
- Pros: A broad range of course and program types; free auditing; verified certificates with employer-checkable links; continuing access to verified course materials; mobile apps with offline video downloads; and institutional and business integrations.
- Cons: The free audit track excludes graded assignments and certificates and does not retain course access after a course ends. App users cannot take timed or proctored exams. Some courses have deadlines, and several institutional and enterprise prices require custom pricing or contact with sales.
Alternatives
Compare edX with other online course platforms or MOOC platforms. Other options include Coursera, Alison, Great Learning, and Pluralsight. For course creation or learning management, consider FreshLearn, Moodle LMS, CourseLit, or LearnWorlds.
Verdict
edX brings individual courses, professional credentials, and institutional learning into one catalog, with a meaningful distinction between free auditing and paid verified access. Auditing is useful for exploring content, but it is limited and temporary; learners who need graded work, a certificate, or lasting access to lessons need verified access. Organizations get a separate set of plans and integration options, though pricing is not listed for some institution-wide and enterprise offerings. edX is most compelling for learners who value university-backed study and for organizations that need structured learning programs rather than a simple, unrestricted free course library.
edX plans and pricing
All plansCompared on online course platforms
- Free plan
- Yes
