How does a Coursera Subscription work?

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Written by Pat Bowden Last updated on March 17th, 2023

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Some courses, particularly those in Coursera Specializations, are available on a subscription basis. When you sign up, the first 7 days are free, then you are charged monthly. Check the course or Specialization page to find the cost in US dollars or your local currency. You may also need to check the exchange rate to calculate the cost. The faster you learn, the less you will pay to complete the course or Specialization, in one-month increments. Your subscription will automatically cancel when you complete all the courses in the Specialization.

If you want to complete one or some courses in a Specialization but not the whole Specialization, you need to cancel your subscription after receiving your certificate. 

When signing up for Specializations, you cannot select the audit for free option, only a 7-day free trial. To access the materials for free, you need to sign up from the individual course pages.

See this guide from Class Central: A Guide on How to Sign up for Coursera Courses for Free

Coursera Plus is a monthly or annual payment that gives access to over 90% of the Coursera catalog, around 7,000+ courses, Guided Projects, Specializations, and Professional Certificates.

Class Central's Help Center represents our best effort to answer the most common questions new learners face. It may not be completely accurate in every circumstance.

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