EdX, founded in the heyday of the MOOC hype, is one of the world’s largest online course providers with an active catalog of just under 4,300 courses, a number that has dropped slightly from late 2023.

Some of the world’s most prestigious universities offer courses on edX, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge.

Originally, edX was a nonprofit backed by MIT and Harvard. But in July 2021, it was acquired by 2U for $800 million dollars. To learn more about the acquisition, check out the in-depth article by @dhawal, the founder of Class Central: 2U + edX Analysis: Win for 2U, Risk for edX, Opportunity for Coursera.

In July 2024, 2U filed for bankruptcy and we’re faced with a harsh reality: 2U is bankrupt, edX seems to have stagnated, and Axim Collaborative (the non-profit from the sale that retained the $800 million) has barely made a peep. The future of edX now rests in the hands of 2U’s creditors.

Meanwhile, edX courses continue to attract learners.

The courses in the list below are free to audit — that is, you get access to the course materials for a limited time, but can’t access graded assignments and exams, and don’t receive a certificate of completion.

100 Top Free EdX Courses of All Time

The most popular edX course of all time is Harvard’s CS50 Introduction to Computer Science, which has over 6 million enrollments. Since its launch, CS50 has expanded into a brand that now includes 14 courses. The whole series has received over 10 million enrollments.

Class Central’s @manoel has published a guide to help you select the right CS50 course for you.

Here’s a quick summary of edX’s 100 most popular free-to-audit online courses of all time, based on the number of enrollments:

• Enrollments range from 152K to 6M. There are seven courses with over 1M enrollments
• Together, they account for over 44M enrollments, with an average of 440K enrollments
• 94 courses are in English and 6 are in Spanish
• They’ve received over 3400 reviews on Class Central, with an average of 37 reviews
• Average rating: 4.3/5.0
• 75 courses are beginner level, 20 intermediate, and 5 advanced.

Here are the top 100 free edX courses available for free audit, sorted by number of enrollments:

• 1. CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science from Harvard University ★★★★★(182)
  2. Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★☆(130)
  3. IELTS Academic Test Preparation from University of Queensland ★★★★★(6)
  4. TOEFL iBT Test Preparation: The Insider’s Guide from ETS ★★★★★(6)
  5. CS50’s Web Programming with Python and JavaScript from Harvard University ★★★★★(26)
  6. CS50’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python from Harvard University ★★★★★(20)
  7. CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python from Harvard University ★★★★★(12)
  8. Data Science: R Basics from Harvard University ★★★★★(12)
  9. Introduction to Linux from Linux Foundation ★★★★☆(38)
  10. Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies from Harvard University ★★★★★(12)
  11. English Grammar and Style from University of Queensland ★★★★☆(32)
  12. Python Basics for Data Science from IBM ★★☆☆☆(3)
  13. Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking from Harvard University ★★★★★(5)
  14. Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles from Harvard University ★★★★★(18)
  15. Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 1: The Electrical Properties of the Neuron from Harvard University ★★★★★(22)
  16. Basic Spanish 1: Getting Started from Universitat Politècnica de València ★★★★★(428)
  17. Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract from Harvard University ★★★★☆(15)
  18. Data Science: Machine Learning from Harvard University ★★★★☆(3)
  19. Justice from Harvard University ★★★★★(57)
  20. The Science of Happiness from University of California, Berkeley ★★★★★(35)
  21. Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) from University of Michigan ★★★★★(9)
  22. The Architectural Imagination from Harvard University ★★★★☆(14)
  23. Introduction to Project Management from University of Adelaide ★★★★☆(6)
  24. Statistics and R from Harvard University ★★★★☆(20)
  25. Excel: Fundamentos y herramientas from Universitat Politècnica de València ★★★★★(608)
  26. HTML5 and CSS Fundamentals from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ★★★★☆(6)
  27. Principles of Biochemistry from Harvard University ★★★★★(12)
  28. Italian Language and Culture: Beginner (2023-2024) from Wellesley College ★★★★☆(3)
  29. Conversational English Skills | 生活英语听说 from Tsinghua University ★★★★☆(12)
  30. Introduction to Kubernetes from Linux Foundation
  31. Leaders of Learning from Harvard University ★★★★★(22)
  32. Introduction to Java Programming: Starting to code in Java from Universidad Carlos iii de Madrid ★★★★☆(9)
  33. CS50’s Mobile App Development with React Native from Harvard University ★★★★★(2)
  34. Gestión de proyectos de desarrollo from Inter-American Development Bank ★★★★☆(2)
  35. Mechanical Ventilation for COVID-19 from Harvard University ★★★★★(26)
  36. Using Python for Research from Harvard University ★★★★☆(12)
  37. Python for Data Science from University of California, San Diego ★★★★☆(48)
  38. Probability – The Science of Uncertainty and Data from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(34)
  39. Supply Chain Analytics. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★☆☆(3)
  40. Supply Chain Fundamentals from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(14)
  41. Introduction to Java Programming – Part 1 from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ★★★☆☆(6)
  42. Inglés básico: conversacional y networking from Universidad Anáhuac ★★★★★(100)
  43. How to Learn Online ★★★★★(2)
  44. A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations from Cornell University ★★★★★(2)
  45. Data Science: Visualization from Harvard University ★★★★★(5)
  46. Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★☆☆(28)
  47. Human Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Cases from Harvard University ★★★★★(10)
  48. Becoming an Entrepreneur from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(5)
  49. Programming Basics from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay ★★★☆☆(18)
  50. HTML5 Coding Essentials and Best Practices from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ★★★★☆(11)
  51. Analyzing Data with Excel from IBM
  52. Computing in Python I: Fundamentals and Procedural Programming from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★★★(254)
  53. Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(30)
  54. Introduction to Marketing from The University of British Columbia ★★★★★(5)
  55. Nutrition and Health: Macronutrients and Overnutrition from Wageningen University ★★★★★(343)
  56. Becoming a Successful Leader (Inclusive Leadership Training) ★★★★☆(1)
  57. Introduction to Biology – The Secret of Life from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(146)
  58. Inglés para todos: nivel básico from Universidad del Rosario
  59. JavaScript Introduction from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ★☆☆☆☆(1)
  60. CS50’s Computer Science for Business Professionals from Harvard University ★★★★★(18)
  61. Buddhism Through Its Scriptures from Harvard University ★★★★☆(6)
  62. Cybersecurity Fundamentals from Rochester Institute of Technology ★★★★★(24)
  63. Data Science: Probability from Harvard University ★★★★☆(2)
  64. CS50’s Understanding Technology from Harvard University ★★★★☆(15)
  65. CS50’s Introduction to Cybersecurity from Harvard University ★★★★☆(1)
  66. Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry) from Harvard University ★★★★★(14)
  67. CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Scratch from Harvard University ★★★★☆(6)
  68. Marketing Digital: Content & Community Manager from Galileo University ★★★★★(273)
  69. Introduction to Probability from Harvard University ★★★★★(1)
  70. CS50’s Computer Science for Lawyers from Harvard University ★★★★★(8)
  71. AI for Everyone: Master the Basics from IBM ★★★★★(1)
  72. The Health Effects of Climate Change from Harvard University ★★★★★(9)
  73. Excel for Everyone: Core Foundations from The University of British Columbia
  74. C Programming: Getting Started from Dartmouth College
  75. Introduction to Corporate Finance from Columbia University ★★★★★(1)
  76. Machine Learning with Python: A Practical Introduction from IBM ★★★★★(1)
  77. PredictionX: Omens, Oracles & Prophecies from Harvard University ★★★☆☆(2)
  78. Operations Management from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore ★★★★☆(2)
  79. Introduction to Family Engagement in Education from Harvard University ★★★★★(8)
  80. Programación para todos (empezando con Python) from University of Michigan ★★★★☆(1)
  81. Data Analytics Basics for Everyone from IBM
  82. Accounting and Finance from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore ★★★★★(1)
  83. Fundamentals of Statistics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★☆(10)
  84. Introduction to Data Science with Python from Harvard University ★★★★☆(1)
  85. Improving Global Health: Focusing on Quality and Safety from Harvard University ★★★★☆(10)
  86. How to Learn Math: For Students from Stanford University ★★★★☆(17)
  87. Introduction to Data Science from IBM ★☆☆☆☆(1)
  88. Hinduism Through Its Scriptures from Harvard University ★★★★☆(3)
  89. How to Code: Simple Data from The University of British Columbia ★★★★☆(15)
  90. Christianity Through Its Scriptures from Harvard University ★★★★☆(7)
  91. Excel for Beginners from Davidson College ★★★★★(1)
  92. Excel: gestión de datos from Universitat Politècnica de València ★★★★★(62)
  93. People Management with Impact from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
  94. Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Power BI from Davidson College ★★★★★(1)
  95. Upper-Intermediate English: Business and Modern Life from Universitat Politècnica de València ★★★★☆(43)
  96. Analyzing Data with Python from IBM ★★★☆☆(4)
  97. Calculus Applied! from Harvard University ★★★★★(2)
  98. Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster from Harvard University ★★★★★(9)
  99. Introduction to Bookkeeping from ACCA ★★★★★(2)
  100. Masterpieces of World Literature from Harvard University ★★★★★(4)