When comparing Coursera vs PluralSight, the Slant community recommends Coursera for most people. In the question“What are the best websites to learn to code?” Coursera is ranked 9th while PluralSight is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Coursera is:
There is an option to earn a verified certificate as proof you completed the course (for use on LinkedIn, resumes etc.). The cost varies between courses, but is generally around $49-$60.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Some courses offer a verified certificate for a fee
There is an option to earn a verified certificate as proof you completed the course (for use on LinkedIn, resumes etc.). The cost varies between courses, but is generally around $49-$60.
Pro High quality courses from well known universities
Many courses offered at Coursera are from well known universities (such as Stanford and Princeton) and instructed by their professors. Often the material taught in the Coursera courses is material from the actual university course.
Pro Wide selection of courses
Coursera offers over 1000 courses on a variety of different topics. Courses are offered on learning to code and specific languages, but there is also a large selection of courses that would be beneficial to someone wanting to learn more about computer science as well (algorithms, data science, computer security) and plenty others.
Pro You can audit courses for free
Pro Courses offered in a variety of languages (with transcriptions available)
Coursera offers courses from all around the world, resulting in courses taught in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Turkish and a long list of others. Transcriptions for a large number of languages are offered for each course.
Pro Offers advanced content
PluralSight offers programming courses for intermediate and advanced students, providing more depth than many of it's competitors.
Pro Offers learning paths
PluralSite offers learning paths, which help you figure out which courses to take and in what order.
Pro Mobile apps available
Available iPhone and Android apps.
Pro Consistent quality
The course quality is high because Pluralsight has a full-time editing staff that carefully reviews every video produced. They enforce audio, video and content standards that help ensure a consistent and high quality result.
Pro You can check your skill in learned language
You get rating for each tested language. This rating is compared to the other users of pluralsight.
Pro Huge breadth of content (over 4000 courses)
Courses on software development, design, 3D modeling, and much more.
Pro Notes in courses
You can add notes to each course, which makes it easier to repeat what you learned in past.
Pro New material added frequently
PluralSight is constantly adding new courses to reflect the evolving industry. Currently they offer over 4000 courses.
Pro Assessments and certificates of achievement
Plural site offers both pre-course and post-course assessments. Passing post-assessments will allow you to view and print off a certificate of achievement.
Pro Public profile statistics page
You can share your learning progress and interests. Useful to attach to a links section in resume.
Cons
Con Courses are not always available
Courses are run on set dates, though some courses provide access to the material whether or not the course is running (however, there will be far less student activity in the forums when the course is not running).
Some courses only make their material available when the course is running, so you may have to wait a long period (sometimes months) for your course to be offered.
Con You cannot take the full courses for free
While you used to be able to take courses for free and earn a statement of accomplishment, this is no longer the case. You can only audit the courses if you are not paying. Coursera makes it seem like you should also do the quizzes, but the submit button says "Upgrade to submit".
Con Some courses are outdated
Some of the courses are years old, so they are fairly outdated.
Con No coding exercices
There is no space where you can test your learned skills.
Con Paid
Not Free
