Updated October 1, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Centre of Excellence vs Simplilearn
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Centre of Excellence |  Simplilearn |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £0 | €299 |
| Certificate fee | £25 | €0 |
| Money-back period | 14 daysHigher | 7 days |
| Platform type | Subscription | Bootcamp |
| Number of courses | from 1,000 | 400 |
| Price per month | £16 | Not confirmed |
| Price per year | £192 | Not confirmed |
| University partners | Not confirmed | 40 |
| Markets | GB, IM, JE, GG, IE, AT, BE, BG, HR, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IT, LV, LT, LU, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, NO, CH, IS, GI, CA, US, HK, AU, AL, JP, NZ, AE | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free tier (Yes), Graded assessments (Yes), Offline downloads (Yes), Team plan (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Centre of Excellence scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Money-back period is higher at Centre of Excellence: 14 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Simplilearn offers Phone.
- Founded is lower at Simplilearn: 2010 vs 2012.
- Subjects: only Centre of Excellence offers Creative, Humanities, Languages.
- Subjects: only Simplilearn offers Coding, Data, It.
- Certificate types: only Simplilearn offers Professional.
Our verdict on each
Centre of Excellence
Centre of Excellence suits readers who want a broad catalogue of CPD accredited courses at a modest monthly figure. Grow Access All costs £16 a month on annual billing, so the year works out at £192 and the printed certificate is a separate extra.
Simplilearn
Simplilearn suits self-study learners who want a free tier, a free certificate and a broad catalogue in one place. Its plan runs from €299, the certificate fee is €0, and the money-back period of 7 days is short against many rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | Centre of Excellence | Simplilearn |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherEntry sits at £16 a month, with £192 taken at the start of the year. | 8.9Certificate fee is €0 and a free tier exists, though entry price of €299 is mid-range. |
| Offer | 9.1More than at least 1,000 courses, a team plan and downloadable audio give breadth and flexibility. | 9.1Catalogue of 400 courses spans coding, data and it, with practicum, assessments and tutor support on certification paths. |
| Trust | 8.9Founded 2012, sold by CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE ONLINE LIMITED in the United Kingdom, with refunds allowed within 14 days. | 9.1HigherOperated by Simplilearn Solutions Private Limited, founded 2010, with email, chat and phone and 40 university partners. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Centre of Excellence | Simplilearn |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 82 of 269 | 100 of 269 |
| Fitness, IT and coaching certifications | 11 of 48 | 15 of 48 |
By the numbers
| Fact | Centre of Excellence | Simplilearn |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 14 days | 7 days |
| Number of courses | from 1,000 | 400 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Centre of Excellence | Simplilearn |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Business, Creative, Humanities, Languages, Science | Coding, Data, It, Business, Design |
| Certificate types | Completion | Completion, ProfessionalCovers more |
| Credit recognition | Cpd | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE ONLINE LIMITED | Simplilearn Solutions Private Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2012 | 2010Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Email, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, CommunityCovers more |
Certifications
| Fact | Centre of Excellence | Simplilearn |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | Coaching | It |
| Course hours | 150 hoursHigher | 50 hours |
| Teaching practicum | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Tutor support | Yes | Yes |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | Not confirmed | 6 to 12 |
| Recertification period | Not confirmed | 2 years |
| Delivery | Online | Online |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Centre of Excellence | Simplilearn | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month | £16at the median | Not confirmed | £16 |
| Price per year | £192highest quarter | Not confirmed | £59.99 |
| Money-back period | 14 daysat the median | 7 dayslowest quarter | 14 days |
| Number of courses | from 1,000above the median | 400above the median | 240 |
| University partners | Not confirmed | 40below the median | 80 |
Median across 169 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Centre of Excellence
Pros
- Grow Access All membership costs £16 a month, billed as £192 for the year.
- Tutor support runs in real time, and audio courses can be downloaded for listening away from a connection.
- A free course comes with sign-up, and a team plan is available for organisations buying for staff.
Cons
- Grow Access All is billed as £192 for the year, so joining means committing to the full year rather than a rolling month.
- A professionally printed certificate costs £25 plus postage, which is extra on top of the membership.
- Refunds on digital and audio courses are limited to 14 days, so browse before you buy.
Simplilearn
Pros
- Free courses are available, and the certificate fee is €0, so finishing a course adds no certificate charge
- Support runs through email, chat and phone, which covers phone and community alongside email and chat
- The catalogue spans coding, data and it with 400 courses, so coding, data and business sit side by side
Cons
- The money-back period of 7 days sits below the 14 day median across the platform ranking
- Entry pricing of €299 ranks at position 182 of 220 brands, so it is not a low-cost starter
- Delivery is online only on the listed programmes, so anyone wanting in-person study has no route in
Who each suits
Centre of Excellence
Who it suits
- Readers who want flexible study across a desktop, tablet or mobile.
- Learners who want a membership covering many subjects in one payment.
- Organisations that want a team plan for staff learning.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to pay month to month and stop whenever, since Grow Access All bills £192 for the year.
- Buyers who expect a printed certificate in the course price, since printing one costs £25 plus postage.
- People who want long essay writing, since assessment uses short answers, long answers and multiple choice.
Simplilearn
Who it suits
- Learners who want a free tier and a €0 certificate fee before paying for anything
- Candidates preparing for IT and business certificates who want tutor support and assessments on the same plan
- Teams that need a team plan alongside phone, chat and email support
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers wanting a long money-back window, who get a 7 day period here
- Anyone after in-person delivery, as online covers online only
- Learners wanting a single deep subject rather than a catalogue spread across coding, data and it
Current offers
Centre of Excellence
Current offer
Bonus
27 free Random Act of Kindness courses: 27 courses listed at £0.00
Pay it forward: share a Random Act of Kindness course with three or more people and wait until three of them sign up to unlock the course for yourself
Source, checked October 1, 2026
Questions about each
Centre of Excellence
How much does a Centre of Excellence course cost?+
The paid route in is the Grow Access All membership, shown at £16 a month with £192 for the year. That monthly figure is a way of presenting the annual sum, so the charge is the full £192 when you join rather than a smaller sum at the start.
Is there a free option before paying?+
Yes. Signing up brings a free diploma course, which is a quick way to see how the material is written before you commit to the £192 annual membership. The paid membership adds the wider course list and the audio library.
Simplilearn
How much does Simplilearn cost to start?+
The entry price is €299 for the listed programmes. That sits at position 182 of 220 brands in our price ranking, so it is a mid-range entry rather than a budget one. Learners can still browse the free tier before paying anything.
Is there a free tier and can I get a certificate for nothing?+
Yes, a free tier is available and the certificate fee is €0. That means a finished free course can carry a certificate without a separate certificate charge, which is why the brand ranks at position 1 of 47 on that field.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Centre of Excellence vs Future Skills Academy
- Centre of Excellence vs 101 Blockchains
- Centre of Excellence vs Upgrad knowledgehut
- Centre of Excellence vs Marisa Peer
- Centre of Excellence vs Testprep Training
- Centre of Excellence vs IFAA
- Centre of Excellence vs Summit Professional Education
- Centre of Excellence vs Amen University
- Centre of Excellence vs NFPT