Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
edX vs Future Skills Academy
edX
Higher score in this comparison
Future Skills Academy
What sets them apart
| Compare | edXReviewVisitVisit | Future Skills AcademyReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $50 | $25Lower |
| Certificate fee | $50Lower | $299 |
| Platform type | University | Curated |
| Number of courses | 5,300Higher | 20 |
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $25 to $75 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 days |
| University partners | 250 | Not confirmed |
| Access period | Not confirmed | 12 months |
| Offline downloads | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Free tier (Yes), 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
- edX scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at Future Skills Academy: $25 vs $50.
- Certificate fee is lower at edX: $50 vs $299.
- Number of courses is higher at edX: 5,300 vs 20.
- Support channels: only edX offers Help centre.
- Subjects: only Future Skills Academy offers It.
- Certificate types: only edX offers Completion, University credit, Degree.
Our verdict on each
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.
Future Skills Academy
Future Skills Academy suits IT learners who want a professional certificate fast and a plan that already carries the exam. Entry costs $25, monthly pricing runs $25 to $75 and the certificate adds $299, the figure to weigh against Hotmart at $0 and a refund window of 7 days.
Score breakdown
| Area | edX | Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Entry at $50 and a $50 fee per certificate, so the credential sets the real cost. | 8.9HigherEntry plan at $25, monthly plan at $25 to $75, and a separate certificate at $299 keep the opening outlay low but the award costly. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher5,300 courses from 250 university partners, with assessments and a team plan included. | 8.8Free tier, offline download, assessments, job support and tutor support sit alongside 20 courses inside 12 months of access. |
| Trust | 8.9HigherOperated by edX LLC since 2012 as a university platform, with support on email and help centre. | 8.8CPD credit recognition, assessments and a professional certificate support the claim, while the refund window of 7 days is the weak point. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | edX | Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $50 | $25 |
| Certificate fee | $50 | $299 |
| Number of courses | 5,300 | 20 |
Choosing between them
Pick edX if offer, certificate fee, and number of courses matter most.
Pick Future Skills Academy if cost and price from matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
edX
- edx.org: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Future Skills Academy
- futureskillsacademy.com: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | edX | Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 54 of 349 | 2 of 349 |
| Online professional certificates | 18 of 95 | 2 of 95 |
| Coding and data courses | 23 of 117 | 1 of 117 |
| Fitness, IT and coaching certifications | 8 of 54 | 1 of 54 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | edX | Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Coding, Data, Business | Coding, Data, It, BusinessCovers more |
| Certificate types | Completion, Professional, University credit, DegreeCovers more | Professional |
| Credit recognition | Not confirmed | Cpd |
| Legal entity | edX LLC | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2012 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centreCovers more |
Certifications
| Fact | edX | Future Skills Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | It | It |
| Course hours | Not confirmed | 10 hours |
| Teaching practicum | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Exam fee included | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Tutor support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Job support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | Not confirmed | 4 |
| Delivery | Online | Online |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | edX | Future Skills Academy | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $50above the median | $25below the median | $50.00 |
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $25 to $75below the median | $35 |
| Certificate fee | $50highest quarter | $299highest quarter | $0 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 dayslowest quarter | 14 days |
| Number of courses | 5,300highest quarter | 20lowest quarter | 250 |
| University partners | 250above the median | Not confirmed | 115 |
Median across 172 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Future Skills Academy
Pros
- The entry plan at $25 sits above Hotmart at $0 and level with Academy for Health and Fitness at £25.
- The exam fee is included, so $299 is the full cost of the professional certificate rather than the start of it.
- A free tier, offline download and job support all sit inside the plan, so a learner can sample the material and keep studying away from a connection.
Cons
- The refund window of 7 days ranks 120 of 159, the weakest of the measures tracked here.
- The certificate fee of $299 sits at 47 of 47 among the brands compared.
- Support runs on email alone, so questions to the platform travel in writing.
Who each suits
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.
Future Skills Academy
Who it suits
- Learners in IT who want a professional certificate with the exam fee already inside the price.
- Self-paced learners who want delivery fully online, with a free tier and offline download for study on the move.
- Teams covering several learners, since a team plan is available.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who need a free start, since Hotmart lists $0 as its entry plan price.
- Learners who want a wider catalogue than 20 courses and can accept another subject, where DRCertifications starts at $19.99.
- Anyone who needs a refund window longer than 7 days, since the field reaches 360 days at its most generous.
Questions about each
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.
Future Skills Academy
What does it cost to join Future Skills Academy?+
The entry plan is priced at $25 and the monthly plan runs $25 to $75. A free tier is offered as well, so a learner can look at the material before paying anything. The professional certificate is not folded into either figure and is charged on its own.
How much is the certificate, and is the exam included?+
The professional certificate costs $299. The exam fee is included in the plan, which means $299 is the whole award cost rather than a starting point with an exam charge on top. Course fees and the certificate sit on separate lines in the budget.
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