Coursera, founded in the heyday of the MOOC hype, is one of the world’s largest online course providers and boasts an active catalog of over 12,000 courses, up from 8,000+ last year.

Boosted by the momentum provided by the COVID-19 pandemic to online education companies, Coursera went public in March, 2021. Class Central’s analysis of Coursera’s IPO filing showed that the company made $293.5M revenue in 2020. In 2021, the company made $415.3M. To learn more about Coursera, read our analysis of their business: A Deep Dive Into Coursera’s Financials.

In 2022, Coursera’s stock dropped by 20% due to a degree enrollments slowdown in the US as well as headwinds for their consumer and business segments in Europe.

Coursera experienced strong growth in 2023, adding 24 million new learners and increasing revenue by 21% to $636 million, driven primarily by its consumer business and tech partnerships. However, the company faced challenges in early 2024, revising down its revenue projections and experiencing a significant stock price drop, while focusing on expanding its AI-related offerings and proprietary content to drive future growth.

At one time, Coursera’s courses were completely free. But as time went on and Coursera focused on monetization, graded assignments and certificates were put behind a paywall. Eventually the courses went from free to “free to audit”.

But an investigation by Class Central found that there are still 1,700 completely free courses on Coursera (minus the certificate). If you have trouble signing up for the audit mode, please read our guide on How to Sign up for Coursera Courses for Free.

250 Most Popular FREE Coursera Courses

Here’s a quick summary of Coursera’s 250 most popular free online courses of all time, based on the number of enrollments:

• Enrollments range from 211K to 4.7M. There are 22 courses with over 1M enrollments
• Together, they account for over 130M enrollments, with an average of 522K enrollments
• 230 courses are in English, 16 in Spanish, 3 in Portuguese, and 1 in French
• They’ve received 114K reviews on Class Central, with an average of 548 reviews
• Average rating: 4.2/5.0
• 146 courses are beginner level and 31 are intermediate.

Here are the courses:

1. The Science of Well-Being from Yale University ★★★★★(29)
2. Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects from Deep Teaching Solutions ★★★★★(25744)
3. Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) from University of Michigan ★★★★★(44319)
4. Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere from Google ★★★★★(4)
5. English for Career Development from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★★(22)
6. Foundations of Project Management from Google ★★★★☆(1)
7. Financial Markets from Yale University ★★★★☆(34)
8. Technical Support Fundamentals from Google ★★★☆☆(9)
9. Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills from University of Michigan ★★★★★(219)
10. First Step Korean from Yonsei University ★★★★★(122)
11. AI For Everyone from DeepLearning.AI ★★★★★(6)
12. COVID-19 Contact Tracing from Johns Hopkins University ★★★★★(16)
13. Introduction to Psychology from Yale University ★★★★★(17)
14. Neural Networks and Deep Learning from DeepLearning.AI ★★★★★(16)
15. Chinese for Beginners from Peking University ★★★★☆(60)
16. Algorithms, Part I from Princeton University ★★★★☆(62)
17. Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design from Google
18. HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers from Johns Hopkins University ★★★★★(20)
19. Crash Course on Python from Google ★★★★★(2)
20. Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions from Google ★★☆☆☆(3)
21. Python Data Structures from University of Michigan ★★★★★(16706)
22. What is Data Science? from IBM ★★★★☆(4)
23. Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce from Google
24. Write Professional Emails in English from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★★☆(5)
25. Python for Data Science, AI & Development from IBM ★★☆☆☆(3)
26. Stanford Introduction to Food and Health from Stanford University ★★★★☆(46)
27. Excel Skills for Business: Essentials from Macquarie University ★★★★☆(7)
28. Speak English Professionally: In Person, Online & On the Phone from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★★★(5)
29. Foundations of Cybersecurity from Google
30. Prepare Data for Exploration from Google
31. The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking from Google ★★★★★(4)
32. Fundamentals of Graphic Design from California Institute of the Arts ★★★★☆(22)
33. Introduction to Data Science in Python from University of Michigan ★★☆☆☆(46)
34. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies from Princeton University ★★★★★(18)
35. Google Cloud Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure from Google ★★★★☆(8)
36. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox from Johns Hopkins University ★★★☆☆(166)
37. Grammar and Punctuation from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(32)
38. Project Initiation: Starting a Successful Project from Google
39. Supervised Machine Learning: Regression and Classification from DeepLearning.AI
40. R Programming from Johns Hopkins University ★★★☆☆(245)
41. Introduction to Philosophy from University of Edinburgh ★★★★☆(73)
42. Process Data from Dirty to Clean from Google
43. Using Python to Access Web Data from University of Michigan ★★★★★(5721)
44. Social Psychology from Wesleyan University ★★★★★(88)
45. Étudier en France: French Intermediate course B1-B2 from École Polytechnique ★★★★★(4)
46. SQL for Data Science from University of California, Davis ★★★★☆(5)
47. Introduction to Negotiation: A Strategic Playbook for Becoming a Principled and Persuasive Negotiator from Yale University ★★★★★(11)
48. Indigenous Canada from University of Alberta ★★★★☆(9)
49. The Strategy of Content Marketing from University of California, Davis ★★★★☆(8)
50. Analyze Data to Answer Questions from Google
51. Data Analysis with R Programming from Google ★★★★☆(1)
52. Programming Foundations with JavaScript, HTML and CSS from Duke University ★★★★☆(14)
53. Introduction to Data Analytics from IBM
54. Marketing in a Digital World from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ★★★★★(620)
55. Introduction to HTML5 from University of Michigan ★★★★☆(52)
56. Contabilidad para no contadores from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
57. Improving Deep Neural Networks: Hyperparameter Tuning, Regularization and Optimization from DeepLearning.AI ★★★★★(3)
58. Finanzas personales from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
59. Share Data Through the Art of Visualization from Google
60. Primeros Auxilios Psicológicos (PAP) from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Autonomous University of Barcelona) ★★★★★(1)
61. Psychological First Aid from Johns Hopkins University ★★★★☆(51)
62. Introductory Human Physiology from Duke University ★★★★★(28)
63. Algorithmic Toolbox from University of California, San Diego ★★★★☆(23)
64. Game Theory from Stanford University ★★★★☆(35)
65. Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User from Google ★★★☆☆(3)
66. Writing in the Sciences from Stanford University ★★★★★(14)
67. Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate from Google
68. Convolutional Neural Networks from DeepLearning.AI ★★★★★(8)
69. Agile Project Management from Google ★★★★★(1)
70. Introduction to Mathematical Thinking from Stanford University ★★★★☆(51)
71. Learn to Speak Korean 1 from Yonsei University ★★★★★(12)
72. Child Nutrition and Cooking from Stanford University ★★★★☆(31)
73. Cryptography I from Stanford University ★★★★★(53)
74. Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time Management for Personal & Professional Productivity from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(43)
75. Using Databases with Python from University of Michigan ★★★★★(4689)
76. Google Data Analytics Capstone: Complete a Case Study from Google
77. Introduction to Programming with MATLAB from Vanderbilt University ★★★★★(204)
78. Introduction to Statistics from Stanford University ★★★★★(2)
79. Introduction to Psychology from University of Toronto ★★★★★(28)
80. English for Business and Entrepreneurship from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★★(7)
81. A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment from Indian School of Business ★★★★★(502)
82. Tools for Data Science from IBM ★☆☆☆☆(3)
83. Learn to Program: The Fundamentals from University of Toronto ★★★★★(110)
84. Introduction to Social Media Marketing from Facebook ★★★★★(1)
85. Google AI Essentials from Google
86. Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python from IBM ★★☆☆☆(1)
87. Project Planning: Putting It All Together from Google
88. Structuring Machine Learning Projects from DeepLearning.AI ★★★★☆(6)
89. Data Science Math Skills from Duke University ★★★★☆(12)
90. Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential from McMaster University ★★★★★(7879)
91. Data Analysis with Python from IBM ★★★★☆(2)
92. Machine Learning with Python from IBM ★★★★☆(4)
93. System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services from Google ★★★★☆(2)
94. Initiating and Planning Projects from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(19)
95. Introduction to User Experience Design from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★☆☆(3)
96. Modern Art & Ideas from The Museum of Modern Art ★★★★★(5)
97. Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand and Behaviour from University of London International Programmes ★★★★★(2)
98. Introduction to Cybersecurity Tools & Cyberattacks from IBM ★★★☆☆(2)
99. English Composition I from Duke University ★★★☆☆(19)
100. Python Basics from University of Michigan ★★★★★(2)
101. Design Thinking for Innovation from University of Virginia ★★★★★(5)
102. Sequence Models from DeepLearning.AI ★★★★★(4)
103. Project Management: The Basics for Success from University of California, Irvine ★★★★★(26)
104. Business Analytics with Excel: Elementary to Advanced from Johns Hopkins University ★★★★★(1)
105. IT Security: Defense against the digital dark arts from Google ★★★★☆(3)
106. Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming from University of Edinburgh ★★★★☆(11)
107. Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose from Princeton University ★★★★★(1)
108. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) from IBM ★★★★★(2)
109. Seeing Through Photographs from The Museum of Modern Art ★★★★☆(5)
110. Introduction to Marketing from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★☆(71)
111. Machine Learning Foundations: A Case Study Approach from University of Washington ★★★★☆(40)
112. Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★★(51)
113. Mathematics for Machine Learning: Linear Algebra from Imperial College London ★★★☆☆(9)
114. Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software from Duke University ★★★☆☆(15)
115. Aprendiendo a aprender: Poderosas herramientas mentales con las que podrás dominar temas difíciles (Learning How to Learn) from Deep Teaching Solutions ★★★★★(9)
116. Project Execution: Running the Project from Google ★★★★★(1)
117. Introduction to TensorFlow for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning from DeepLearning.AI ★★★★★(1)
118. Lesson | Small Talk & Conversational Vocabulary from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★★★(1)
119. Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success from Imperial College London ★★★★★(15)
120. Competitive Strategy from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München ★★★★★(22)
121. Introduction to Generative AI from Google Cloud ★★★★★(1)
122. Fundamentals of Music Theory from University of Edinburgh ★★★★☆(27)
123. Introduction to Front-End Development from Meta ★★★★★(7)
124. Medical Neuroscience from Duke University ★★★★★(52)
125. Science of Exercise from University of Colorado Boulder ★★★★★(7)
126. Excel Basics for Data Analysis from IBM
127. Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks from Google
128. Cybersecurity for Everyone from University of Maryland, College Park ★★★★★(1)
129. Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life from The University of Chicago ★★★★★(27)
130. Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management from University of Virginia ★★★★☆(30)
131. Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate I from Macquarie University ★★★☆☆(1)
132. Understanding Research Methods from University of London International Programmes ★★★★☆(15)
133. Mastering Data Analysis in Excel from Duke University ★★☆☆☆(27)
134. Build Your First Android App (Project-Centered Course) from École Centrale Paris ★★★★☆(4)
135. Introduction to Cloud Computing from IBM ★★★★☆(1)
136. Generative AI for Everyone from DeepLearning.AI ★★★★★(1)
137. Introduction to Public Speaking from University of Washington ★★★★☆(14)
138. Marketing Analytics from University of Virginia ★★★★☆(12)
139. Introduction to Financial Accounting from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★☆(63)
140. Introduction to the Internet of Things and Embedded Systems from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(12)
141. Agile with Atlassian Jira from Atlassian
142. Algorithms, Part II from Princeton University ★★★★★(21)
143. Introduction to Big Data from University of California, San Diego ★★★☆☆(34)
144. Google Cloud Big Data and Machine Learning Fundamentals from Google Cloud ★★★☆☆(5)
145. Introducción a la programación en Python I: Aprendiendo a programar con Python from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile ★★★★★(1)
146. Capstone: Applying Project Management in the Real World from Google
147. Fundamentos de Excel para Negocios from Universidad Austral ★★★★★(1)
148. Think Again I: How to Understand Arguments from Duke University ★★★★☆(11)
149. Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes from Google
150. Introduction to Google SEO from University of California, Davis ★★★★★(6)
151. Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★☆(28)
152. Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT from Vanderbilt University ★★★★★(2)
153. Attract and Engage Customers with Digital Marketing from Google
154. English for Common Interactions in the Workplace: Basic Level from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile ★★★★☆(3)
155. Data Science Methodology from IBM
156. Guitar for Beginners from Berklee College of Music ★★★★★(22)
157. Camino a la Excelencia en Gestión de Proyectos from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
158. Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot from Wesleyan University ★★★★☆(15)
159. Positive Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ★★★★☆(27)
160. Applied Machine Learning in Python from University of Michigan ★★★★☆(6)
161. C for Everyone: Programming Fundamentals from University of California, Santa Cruz ★★★★☆(5)
162. Introduction to Personal Branding from University of Virginia ★★★★☆(15)
163. Object Oriented Programming in Java from University of California, San Diego ★★★★☆(16)
164. AWS Cloud Technical Essentials from Amazon Web Services
165. Generative AI with Large Language Models from DeepLearning.AI
166. Basic Statistics from University of Amsterdam ★★★★☆(12)
167. Customer Analytics from University of Pennsylvania ★★★☆☆(17)
168. Business Metrics for Data-Driven Companies from Duke University ★★★★☆(10)
169. Capstone: Retrieving, Processing, and Visualizing Data with Python from University of Michigan ★★★☆☆(6)
170. Introduction to Probability and Data with R from Duke University ★★★★☆(6)
171. Data Visualization with Python from IBM
172. Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health from The University of Sydney ★★★★★(21)
173. Introduction to Git and GitHub from Google
174. Data Structures from University of California, San Diego ★★★★☆(16)
175. Advanced Learning Algorithms from DeepLearning.AI
176. Management of Fashion and Luxury Companies from Università Bocconi ★★★★★(5)
177. Álgebra básica from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
178. Supply Chain Logistics from Rutgers University ★★★★★(7)
179. Cameras, Exposure, and Photography from Michigan State University ★★★★☆(6)
180. Aprender from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México ★★★★★(107)
181. Introduction to Data Analysis Using Excel from Rice University ★★★☆☆(2)
182. Fashion as Design from The Museum of Modern Art ★★★★☆(5)
183. Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress from Yale University ★★★★★(1)
184. Private Equity and Venture Capital from Università Bocconi ★★★★☆(6)
185. Computer Architecture from Princeton University ★★★★☆(6)
186. Robótica from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México ★★☆☆☆(2)
187. How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics from University of Virginia ★★★★★(28)
188. Introduction to Engineering Mechanics from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★★★(175)
189. Connect and Protect: Networks and Network Security from Google
190. Everyday Excel, Part 1 from University of Colorado Boulder
191. Preparing to Manage Human Resources from University of Minnesota ★★★★★(154)
192. Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(11)
193. Greek and Roman Mythology from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★★(20)
194. Creative Problem Solving from University of Minnesota ★★★☆☆(19)
195. Visual Elements of User Interface Design from California Institute of the Arts ★★★★★(1)
196. Competencias digitales. Herramientas de ofimática (Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point) from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Autonomous University of Barcelona) ★★★★☆(4)
197. Cómo hacer una tesis from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México ★★★★☆(1)
198. Tricky American English Pronunciation from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(14)
199. Writing in English at University from Lund University
200. Blockchain Basics from University at Buffalo ★★☆☆☆(1)
201. Using Python to Interact with the Operating System from Google
202. C++ For C Programmers, Part A from University of California, Santa Cruz ★★★☆☆(26)
203. Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts from Google
204. Introduction to Classical Music from Yale University ★★★★★(25)
205. Introdução à Ciência da Computação com Python Parte 1 from Universidade de São Paulo ★★★★★(2)
206. Fundamentals of Visualization with Tableau from University of California, Davis ★★★★☆(2)
207. Introduction to Calculus from The University of Sydney ★★★★★(6)
208. Nutrición y obesidad: control de sobrepeso from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México ★★★★★(1)
209. Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space from University of Arizona ★★★★★(23)
210. Introduction to Web Development from University of California, Davis ★★★★★(2)
211. Marketing Digital from Universidade de São Paulo
212. Finding Purpose and Meaning In Life: Living for What Matters Most from University of Michigan ★★★★★(5)
213. Divide and Conquer, Sorting and Searching, and Randomized Algorithms from Stanford University ★★★★★(68)
214. Gestión Empresarial Exitosa para Pymes from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
215. English for Journalism from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★☆(15)
216. Inspiring and Motivating Individuals from University of Michigan ★★★★★(8)
217. Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma from Google ★★★★★(1)
218. Python and Statistics for Financial Analysis from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ★★★★☆(569)
219. Spanish Vocabulary: Meeting People from University of California, Davis ★★★★☆(2)
220. Getting Started with Essay Writing from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(18)
221. Teach English Now! Foundational Principles from Arizona State University ★★★★★(8)
222. Introduction to Electronics from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★★☆(6)
223. Fundamentals of Quantitative Modeling from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★☆(5)
224. The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs from University of Toronto ★★★★☆(5)
225. Introducción a Data Science: Programación Estadística con R from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México ★★★★☆(2)
226. Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL) from University of Michigan ★★★★☆(3)
227. Moral Foundations of Politics from Yale University ★★★★☆(15)
228. Introduction to Corporate Finance from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania ★★★★☆(20)
229. Business English: Networking from University of Washington ★★★★☆(4)
230. Advanced Writing from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(7)
231. Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing from Yale University ★★★★☆(5)
232. How to Write a Resume (Project-Centered Course) from State University of New York ★★★★☆(15)
233. Python Project for Data Science from IBM
234. De-Mystifying Mindfulness from Leiden University ★★★★★(99)
235. Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau from Duke University ★★★★☆(7)
236. Cómo hablar bien en público from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Autonomous University of Barcelona)
237. Tools of the Trade: Linux and SQL from Google
238. Introduction to CSS3 from University of Michigan ★★★★★(14)
239. An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1) from Rice University ★★★★★(3375)
240. Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate II from Macquarie University ★★★☆☆(1)
241. Programming Fundamentals from Duke University
242. Java for Android from Vanderbilt University ★☆☆☆☆(1)
243. Functional Programming Principles in Scala from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne ★★★★★(65)
244. Excel Skills for Business: Advanced from Macquarie University ★★★★☆(3)
245. Teamwork Skills: Communicating Effectively in Groups from University of Colorado Boulder ★★★★★(8)
246. Aprendendo a aprender: ferramentas mentais poderosas para ajudá-lo a dominar assuntos difíceis (em Português) [Learning How to Learn] from Deep Teaching Solutions ★★★★☆(5)
247. Unsupervised Learning, Recommenders, Reinforcement Learning from DeepLearning.AI
248. Introduction to Logic from Stanford University ★★★☆☆(20)
249. Dog Emotion and Cognition from Duke University ★★★★☆(18)
250. Influencing People from University of Michigan ★★★★☆(6)