Coursera vs Memrise (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Memrise
From $22/mo against from $49/mo
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
Tie
4.3 against 4.3
Same job?
Yes
Both are Education tools

Side by side

Compared on	Coursera	Memrise
Our rating	4.3	4.3
Starts at	$49/mo	$22/moBetter
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Category	Education	Education
Plans	From $49/mo	From $22/mo
Key features	Coursera Coach AI tutor for in-course question answering AI-assisted translation extending courses beyond their original language Full online degree programs alongside single courses and certificates Professional Certificates from named universities and companies Financial aid program enabling free audit access to paid courses	Vocabulary taught through real native-speaker video clips Spaced repetition timed to strengthen long-term retention Exposure to authentic slang and colloquial speech Free tier with limited content Operating since 2010
Pros	Content breadth spans single courses through full accredited degrees Free audit and financial-aid options exist for learners who cannot pay Publicly traded and operating since 2012, lower shutdown risk than newer edtech startups	Genuine exposure to authentic, informal native speech most textbook apps skip Spaced repetition approach is grounded in actual memory research Video format adds real cultural and conversational context
Cons	Full degree programs cost as much as traditional in-person tuition at $15,000 and up Coursera Plus subscription value depends on how numerous courses a learner actually finishes Course quality varies by contributing university or company, less consistent than a single-author platform	Among the higher-priced options in this category Video-based lessons require more bandwidth than text or audio alone Less structured grammar progression than some competitors
Company	Coursera, Inc., founded 2012	Memrise, founded 2010

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260718. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Coursera better than Memrise?

In our reviews Coursera scores 4.3 and Memrise scores 4.3. The better pick depends on the job. Coursera: Coursera hosts university and industry courses, certificates, and degrees online, layered with AI course tools like Coursera Coach. Memrise: Vocabulary taught through real native-speaker video clips.

Which is cheaper, Coursera or Memrise?

Memrise has the lower starting price: from $49/mo for Coursera and from $22/mo for Memrise.

Do Coursera and Memrise have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

More comparisons

Coursera compared with

All Coursera alternatives

Memrise compared with

All Memrise alternatives