Updated October 17, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
edX vs ISSA
edX
Higher score in this comparison
ISSA
Where edX and ISSA differ
| Compare | edXReviewVisitVisit | ISSAReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $50Lower | $868 |
| Free tier | YesHas it | No |
| Platform type | University | Curated |
| Number of courses | 5,300Higher | 25 |
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $89 |
| Certificate fee | $50 | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 days |
| University partners | 250 | Not confirmed |
| Course languages | Not confirmed | English, Spanish |
| Access period | Not confirmed | 6 to 8 months |
Same on both: Graded assessments (Yes), Team plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- Price from is lower at edX: $50 vs $868.
- Free tier: only edX.
- Number of courses is higher at edX: 5,300 vs 25.
- Support channels: only ISSA offers Phone, Community.
- Founded is lower at ISSA: 1988 vs 2012.
- Subjects: only edX offers Coding, Data.
- Certificate types: only edX offers 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.
ISSA
ISSA suits adults who want a fitness certification they can finish at their own pace, with accreditation from ncca plus tutor support and job support in the fee. The Certified Personal Trainer plan starts at $868, and that entry price is what to weigh before you enrol.
Score breakdown
| Area | edX | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6HigherEntry at $50 and a $50 fee per certificate, so the credential sets the real cost. | 8.5Entry at $868 ranks 69 of 87 by price from, with $89 monthly terms available. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher5,300 courses from 250 university partners, with assessments and a team plan included. | 9.1For a fitness certificate, tutor support, job support, assessments and the exam fee are included, though the practicum is not. |
| Trust | 8.9Operated by edX LLC since 2012 as a university platform, with support on email and help centre. | 9.4HigherAccreditation from ncca, founded 1988 in US, with a 7 days money-back period. |
How they place
| Ranking | edX | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 54 of 349 | 57 of 349 |
| Online professional certificates | 18 of 95 | 21 of 95 |
| Fitness, IT and coaching certifications | 8 of 54 | 10 of 54 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | edX | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
Also worth a look
Alison has number of courses at 6,000, against 5,300 for edX and 25 for ISSA.
Alison reviewWhere these facts come from
edX
- edx.org: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
ISSA
- issaonline.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | edX | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Coding, Data, BusinessCovers more | Business |
| Certificate types | Completion, Professional, University credit, DegreeCovers more | Completion, Professional |
| Legal entity | edX LLC | ISSA, LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 2012 | 1988Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Certifications
| Fact | edX | ISSA |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | It | Fitness |
| Teaching practicum | Not confirmed | No |
| Accreditation | Not confirmed | Ncca |
| Exam fee included | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Tutor support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Job support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | Not confirmed | 12 |
| Recertification period | Not confirmed | 2 years |
| Delivery | Online | Online |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | edX | ISSA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $50above the median | $868highest quarter | $50.00 |
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $89highest quarter | $35 |
| Certificate fee | $50highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 dayslowest quarter | 14 days |
| Number of courses | 5,300highest quarter | 25lowest 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.
ISSA
Pros
- The Certified Personal Trainer plan folds tutor support, job support and the exam fee into one payment, so the headline price covers the test and the help around it.
- Assessments are part of the program and the certificate comes as completion and professional, so a completion route and a professional route sit side by side.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is available by phone and email as well as through the help centre and the community.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so the only way to see the material is to pay $868 for the Certified Personal Trainer plan up front.
- The practicum is not part of the program, so anyone needing supervised placement hours has to source that elsewhere.
- The entry fee ranks 69 of 87 brands by price from, and the money-back period of 7 days is shorter than the 14-day median across the site.
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.
ISSA
Who it suits
- Adults fitting study around work, since delivery is online and access to the material runs 6 to 8 months.
- Learners who want the test cost handled up front, because the exam fee is included in the Certified Personal Trainer plan.
- Spanish speaking candidates, since course material runs in English and Spanish and the company is ISSA, LLC in the United States.
Who should look elsewhere
- IT candidates: CrackCerts and Testprep Training cover it and it certifications, while ISSA is fitness.
- Coaching candidates: Marisa Peer awards coaching qualifications, a different track from the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer plan.
- Learners who need supervised placement hours, because the practicum is not part of the ISSA program.
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.
ISSA
How much does the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer plan cost to start?+
Entry is $868 for the Certified Personal Trainer plan, which places it at 69 of 87 brands by starting price, so this is a premium tier fee rather than a budget one. The monthly option is $89, and access to the material runs 6 to 8 months.
Do I have to pay again later to keep the certificate?+
The exam fee is included in the Certified Personal Trainer plan, so the assessment stage carries no separate charge. The credential itself is renewed every 2 years, which is the point to plan for later in a career. Buying the plan does not lock in a lifelong certificate.