Updated October 18, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Coursera vs National Academy of Sports Medicine
Coursera
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Higher score in this comparison
Where Coursera and National Academy of Sports Medicine differ
| Compare | CourseraReviewVisitVisit | National Academy of Sports MedicineReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €42 | $47 |
| Price per month | €51 | $35 |
| Price per year | €346 | $349 |
| Free tier | YesHas it | No |
| Money-back period | 14 daysHigher | 7 days |
| Platform type | University | Curated |
| Number of courses | 10,000Higher | 400 |
| Free trial length | 7 days | Not confirmed |
| University partners | 375 | Not confirmed |
| Access period | Not confirmed | 6 months |
Same on both: Graded assessments (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
- National Academy of Sports Medicine scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Free tier: only Coursera.
- Money-back period is higher at Coursera: 14 days vs 7 days.
- Number of courses is higher at Coursera: 10,000 vs 400.
- Support channels: only Coursera offers Community.
- Support channels: only National Academy of Sports Medicine offers Phone.
- Certificate types: only Coursera offers Degree.
Our verdict on each
Coursera
Coursera Plus suits learners who want a single subscription across many subjects, with 10,000 courses from 375 university partners. It fits study at whatever pace suits, and it costs more at renewal than single-qualification rivals such as DRCertifications, which lists $19.99 at entry.
National Academy of Sports Medicine
National Academy of Sports Medicine suits adults who want a widely recognised fitness credential they can finish online in 4 to 6 weeks and pay for from $47. The certified personal trainer plan carries NCCA accreditation and a 2-year renewal cycle, though the 7-day window is short against the field.
Score breakdown
| Area | Coursera | National Academy of Sports Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Entry at €42, renewal of €51 a month or €346 a year, and a money-back period of 14 days. | 9.3HigherEntry at $47, then $35 monthly or $349 yearly, with only 7 days to change your mind. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherA catalogue of 10,000 courses and 375 university partners, with assessments and a team plan included. | 8.9fitness credential in 4 to 6 weeks, job support, assessments and a team plan in one programme. |
| Trust | 8.9Certificates in completion, professional and degree forms, an operator founded in 2012, and help through help centre and community. | 9.0HigherNCCA accreditation, a 2-year renewal cycle and National Academy of Sports Medicine, LLC as the named provider. |
By the numbers
| Fact | Coursera | National Academy of Sports Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 14 days | 7 days |
| Number of courses | 10,000 | 400 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Coursera | National Academy of Sports Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 41 of 349 | 34 of 349 |
| Online professional certificates | 13 of 95 | 9 of 95 |
Where these facts come from
Coursera
- coursera.org: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
National Academy of Sports Medicine
- auth.nasm.org: 9 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- nasm.org: 5 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Coursera | National Academy of Sports Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Coding, Data, It, Business, Languages, Humanities, Science | Not confirmed |
| Certificate types | Completion, Professional, DegreeCovers more | Completion, Professional |
| Legal entity | Coursera Inc. | National Academy of Sports Medicine, LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2012 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Coursera | National Academy of Sports Medicine | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 7 daysbelow the median | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Money-back period | 14 daysat the median | 7 dayslowest quarter | 14 days |
| Number of courses | 10,000highest quarter | 400above the median | 250 |
| University partners | 375highest quarter | Not confirmed | 115 |
| Access period | Not confirmed | 6 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 172 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Coursera
Pros
- Entry at €42 sits below the €44.59 recorded for online course platforms, and the €346 annual plan for Coursera Plus sits under the €169 for the same group.
- A catalogue of 10,000 courses drawn from 375 university partners, spread across coding, data and it.
- Certificates come in completion, professional and degree forms and assessments are included, so a paid subscription ends in something to show.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community only, while 52% of the brands compared list phone support, so anyone wanting a direct line meets a gap.
- Renewal is the figure to watch on Coursera Plus: €346 a year against single-certificate entry prices of $19.99 at DRCertifications and £25 at Academy for Health and Fitness.
- The free trial lasts 7 days, which is shorter than the 10 day median across the site.
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Pros
- NCCA accreditation gives the certified personal trainer credential standing in the fitness field.
- Completion takes 4 to 6 weeks, so a part-time adult can finish without a classroom.
- Delivery is online, so no travel or fixed class times are needed.
Cons
- The 7-day money-back window sits below the 14-day median across the sites compared.
- There is no free tier, so nothing can be sampled before paying.
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, with no live chat or community channel listed.
Who each suits
Coursera
Who it suits
- Learners who want coding, data and business material under a single subscription rather than a single paid certificate.
- People who need a credential, since completion, professional and degree certificates are available on Coursera.
- Teams and study groups, since a team plan is available on top of the free tier.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone buying a single nursing certificate, where DRCertifications lists $19.99 at entry.
- Learners after a health and fitness qualification, where Academy for Health and Fitness lists £25.
- Readers whose budget starts at nothing, since Hotmart lists $0 at entry rather than a subscription.
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Who it suits
- Adults moving into personal training who want an NCCA-accredited credential.
- Coaches who want study material alongside a fitness certification.
- Gym owners who need a team plan for new trainers.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs a free trial before paying, since there is no free tier.
- Buyers who want a long money-back window, given 7 days.
- IT and Azure exam candidates better served by CrackCerts.
Questions about each
Coursera
How much does Coursera Plus cost?+
Coursera Plus has an entry price of €42, then renews at €51 a month or €346 a year. The entry figure is what a new subscriber meets, while the monthly and annual figures are the ongoing cost of keeping the plan. Anyone budgeting for a term of study should work from the renewal figure rather than the entry price.
Is there a free trial or a free tier?+
There is a free tier, and the paid plan carries a free trial of 7 days. That is shorter than the 10 day median across the site, so a trial suits a single module or a short course rather than a full programme. The free tier is the better place to browse the catalogue before paying anything.
National Academy of Sports Medicine
How much does the National Academy of Sports Medicine cost to start?+
The personal trainer programme starts at $47. A separate membership runs at $35 each month or $349 a year, so readers comparing entry price with the cost of staying subscribed should look at both figures before signing up.
Does the certification lead to a job in fitness?+
Job support comes with the personal trainer programme, which is aimed at people changing careers. The credential is NCCA accredited, so employers in the fitness sector recognise the designation.