Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Coach Training Alliance vs edX
Coach Training Alliance
Higher score in this comparison
edX
What sets them apart
| Compare | Coach Training AllianceReviewVisitVisit | edXReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3,199 | $50Lower |
| Certificate fee | $0Lower | $50 |
| Free tier | No | YesHas it |
| Platform type | Curated | University |
| Money-back period | 14 days | Not confirmed |
| Number of courses | Not confirmed | 5,300 |
| University partners | Not confirmed | 250 |
| Access period | 6 months | Not confirmed |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Team plan | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Graded assessments (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
- Price from is lower at edX: $50 vs $3,199.
- Certificate fee is lower at Coach Training Alliance: $0 vs $50.
- Free tier: only edX.
- Support channels: only Coach Training Alliance offers Phone.
- Support channels: only edX offers Help centre.
- Founded is lower at Coach Training Alliance: 2000 vs 2012.
- Subjects: only edX offers Coding, Data.
- Certificate types: only edX offers University credit, Degree.
Our verdict on each
Coach Training Alliance
Coach Training Alliance is built for people who want a recognized coaching credential studied online, and its certificate fee of $0 means the credential costs nothing extra. The trade-off is the $3,199 starting price and an access window of 6 months, which suits committed learners more than casual browsers.
edX
edX suits self-paced learners who want university-built courses and a verified certificate without a subscription, and it competes on catalogue depth rather than price. Content comes from 250 partner universities, the free tier lets anyone test a subject first, and the certificate fee is paid once per credential rather than each month.
Score breakdown
| Area | Coach Training Alliance | edX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7HigherCertificate fee $0 and 14 days of money back, but the program starts at $3,199. | 8.6Entry at $50 and a $50 fee per certificate, so the credential sets the real cost. |
| Offer | 8.7A curated catalogue with assessments, a practicum and job support, though access is capped at 6 months. | 9.2Higher5,300 courses from 250 university partners, with assessments and a team plan included. |
| Trust | 9.5Highericf accreditation and a company founded in 2000 back a trust score of 9.5. | 8.9Operated by edX LLC since 2012 as a university platform, with support on email and help centre. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Coach Training Alliance | edX |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3,199 | $50 |
| Certificate fee | $0 | $50 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Coach Training Alliance | edX |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
What we checked
Coach Training Alliance
- coachtrainingalliance.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
edX
- edx.org: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Coach Training Alliance | edX |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 51 of 349 | 54 of 349 |
| Online professional certificates | 16 of 95 | 18 of 95 |
| Fitness, IT and coaching certifications | 7 of 54 | 8 of 54 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Coach Training Alliance | edX |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Business | Coding, Data, BusinessCovers more |
| Certificate types | Completion, Professional | Completion, Professional, University credit, DegreeCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | edX LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2000Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Help centre |
Certifications
| Fact | Coach Training Alliance | edX |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | Coaching | It |
| Course hours | 75 hours | Not confirmed |
| Teaching practicum | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Qualification level | Level 1 | Not confirmed |
| Accreditation | Icf | Not confirmed |
| Tutor support | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Job support | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Delivery | Online | Online |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Coach Training Alliance | edX | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3,199highest quarter | $50above the median | $50.00 |
| Certificate fee | $0at the median | $50highest quarter | $0 |
| Money-back period | 14 daysat the median | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Number of courses | Not confirmed | 5,300highest quarter | 250 |
| University partners | Not confirmed | 250above the median | 115 |
| Access period | 6 monthslowest quarter | Not confirmed | 12 months |
Median across 172 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Coach Training Alliance
Pros
- The certificate fee is $0, so the credential costs nothing extra on top of the program.
- The accreditation on record is icf, and the program issues completion and professional certificates.
- A money-back period of 14 days matches the tracked median of 14 days.
Cons
- No free tier, so the $3,199 start is the only way into the material.
- The $3,199 start is far above DRCertifications at $19.99 and Academy for Health and Fitness at £25, so the $0 certificate fee does little to soften the entry cost.
- Access is limited to 6 months from enrolment, so a slow study pace runs into the deadline.
edX
Pros
- A free tier lets you study before paying, which makes edX an easy place to test a subject.
- The catalogue holds 5,300 courses drawn from 250 university partners, deeper than most single-subject sellers.
- Assessments are part of the offer, so a certificate rests on graded work rather than a completion click.
Cons
- The certificate fee ranks 42 of 47 brands compared, and DRCertifications lists $19.99 against edX at $50.
- Entry at $50 sits above DRCertifications at $19.99 and Academy for Health and Fitness at £25.
- Support runs on email and help centre, while a phone line reaches 52% of the brands tracked on the site.
Who each suits
Coach Training Alliance
Who it suits
- People who want a coaching credential with recognized accreditation and no separate certificate charge.
- Coaches in the US who can study online and want a practicum and job support inside one program.
- Learners who can commit to a fixed study window and want a money-back period of 14 days to decide in.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to sample the field first: Hotmart lists entry at $0, while this program has no free tier.
- Buyers on a small budget: DRCertifications starts at $19.99 and Academy for Health and Fitness at £25, both far below the $3,199 start.
- Learners who want chat support, because support here runs on email and phone.
edX
Who it suits
- Learners who want a university name behind the certificate, paying $50 once rather than on a subscription.
- People studying coding, data or business at their own pace, since delivery is online and a free tier is available.
- Organisations enrolling a cohort, since a team plan is available for groups buying certificates in one arrangement.
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget-first buyers, since DRCertifications lists $19.99 and Hotmart lists $0 for the starting price.
- Learners wanting a single health and fitness qualification rather than a broad catalogue, since Academy for Health and Fitness lists £25.
- Anyone who plans to rely on phone help, since edX offers email and help centre while 52% of the brands tracked here answer the phone.
Current offers
Coach Training Alliance
Current offer
Discount code
Save $750 on Certified Coach Program: $750 off
With code SAVE750
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Questions about each
Coach Training Alliance
What does the certified coach program cost?+
The certified coach program starts at $3,199. The certificate itself carries a fee of $0, so issuing the credential adds no extra charge to that figure. The published price is a single entry fee for the program rather than a per month or per year subscription, and the money-back period of 14 days applies to it.
Is there a free tier or a free trial?+
There is no free tier on the certified coach program, so nothing can be sampled before paying. The nearest thing to a trial is the money-back period of 14 days, which matches the median money-back window across tracked sites at 14 days. Anyone who wants to browse course material at no cost would do better starting with Hotmart at $0.
edX
How much is a verified certificate on edX?+
A verified certificate costs $50, and the entry price is $50. Because the two figures are close, the certificate is the main thing a paying learner buys. The fee is charged per certificate, so learners taking more than one course pay again for each credential they want.
Is there a free tier on edX?+
Yes, edX offers a free tier, so you can work through course material before paying anything. It is worth using to sample a subject and decide whether a credential is worth $50. Across the brands tracked here, 52.7% offer a free tier, so this is common in the category.