Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Reed Courses vs Upgrad knowledgehut
What sets them apart
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £15 | €305 |
| Money-back period | 14 daysHigher | 7 days |
| Platform type | Marketplace | Bootcamp |
| Number of courses | 30,759Higher | 250 |
Same on both: Free tier (Yes), Graded assessments (Yes), Team plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- Reed Courses scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Money-back period is higher at Reed Courses: 14 days vs 7 days.
- Number of courses is higher at Reed Courses: 30,759 vs 250.
- Support channels: only Reed Courses offers Help centre.
- Support channels: only Upgrad knowledgehut offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Subjects: only Reed Courses offers Design, Creative, Languages.
- Certificate types: only Upgrad knowledgehut offers Professional.
Our verdict on each
Reed Courses
Reed Courses rewards buyers who know their subject and want options: a marketplace of 30,759 courses from £15, backed by a 14 day refund window. It suits self-directed learners who want coding, data and business side by side, and a completion certificate recognised for cpd credit.
Upgrad knowledgehut
Upgrad Knowledgehut suits people who want an IT certificate with tutor support, a practicum and the exam fee folded into one payment rather than added later. IT certification fees start at €305, and the 7 days refund window gives a short way out if the training is not the right fit.
Score breakdown
| Area | Reed Courses | Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherEntry at £15, a free tier and a 14 day refund window keep the outlay small and reversible. | 8.8The entry price of €305 is listed once, the exam fee is included, and the 7 days refund window limits the downside. |
| Offer | 9.1A catalogue of 30,759 courses across many subjects, with completion certificates, assessments and a team plan included. | 9.1Tutor support, a practicum, job support and delivery across online and in person formats, with free courses alongside paid programmes. |
| Trust | 9.2Reed Online Ltd in GB, founded 1995, issues completion certificates carrying cpd credit. | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Reed Courses | Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
A third option
Hotmart has number of courses at 80,000, against 30,759 for Reed Courses and 250 for Upgrad knowledgehut.
Hotmart reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Reed Courses | Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 42 of 269 | 15 of 269 |
| Coding and data courses | 15 of 104 | 7 of 104 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Reed Courses | Upgrad knowledgehut |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Coding, Data, It, Business, Design, Creative, Languages, Humanities, ScienceCovers more | Coding, Data, It, Business |
| Certificate types | Completion | Completion, ProfessionalCovers more |
| Credit recognition | Cpd | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Reed Online Ltd | upGrad Education Private Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1995 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Reed Courses | Upgrad knowledgehut | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 14 daysat the median | 7 dayslowest quarter | 14 days |
| Number of courses | 30,759highest quarter | 250above the median | 240 |
Median across 169 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Reed Courses
Pros
- Entry at £15 sits below DRCertifications at $19.99 and Academy for Health and Fitness at £25, so a single course is cheap to test.
- A catalogue of 30,759 courses covers coding, data, IT, business, design, creative, languages, humanities and science, so one purchase rarely forces a compromise on subject.
- Every certificate is a completion certificate and carries cpd credit, which is the credential training budgets and employers usually ask to see.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so a course question is answered in writing rather than by a person on the phone.
- The certificate is a completion certificate (completion), a weaker credential than a professional accreditation or a regulated licence.
- As a marketplace (marketplace), the platform sets no single standard across 30,759 courses, so quality depends on the provider behind each listing.
Upgrad knowledgehut
Pros
- The exam fee is included in the programme price, so the certificate does not add a second charge on the day of the test.
- Tutor support, a practicum and job support sit inside the same package, which covers more ground than a practice-test bundle such as CrackCerts at $9.99.
- Delivery spans online and in person formats, so the same IT programme works for a remote candidate and for an employer booking a room.
Cons
- The money-back period of 7 days is short, so a change of mind after the first week of a 16 hour course costs the fee.
- The listed certification type is it and the subjects are coding, data and it, so coaching, language and first aid certificates fall outside what this provider sells.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone channels, which leaves learners who prefer a written help centre or a community forum without one.
Who each suits
Reed Courses
Who it suits
- Learners buying a single course in coding, data or IT rather than committing to a subscription.
- Employers and training managers who need several seats covered under a team plan.
- Anyone who wants a completion certificate carrying cpd credit alongside a short course.
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners chasing a professional or regulated certificate: DRCertifications starts at $19.99 in a specialist catalogue rather than a general one.
- Buyers who want a free entry point: Hotmart lists its entry price at $0, which undercuts Reed Courses on price alone.
- People who want one provider's standard across a catalogue: Academy for Health and Fitness starts at £25 and stays inside health and fitness.
Upgrad knowledgehut
Who it suits
- IT candidates who want the exam fee, a practicum and tutor support settled in one payment.
- Learners who need job support alongside the certificate, since job support is part of the training.
- Employers sending several staff through the same certification, since a team plan is offered and delivery includes in-person training.
Who should look elsewhere
- Testprep Training at $12.99 fits candidates who only need exam practice and no tutor support.
- CrackCerts at $9.99 is the cheaper pick for self-study learners who want practice tests alone.
- Marisa Peer, whose listed certification type is coaching, serves coaching candidates rather than the IT track.
Questions about each
Reed Courses
What does a course cost on Reed Courses?+
Reed Courses is a marketplace, so the price sits with each course provider rather than a single platform rate. Courses start at £15, and the catalogue holds 30,759 of them, so the same subject can carry a wide spread. Read the listing for the specific course before paying.
Is there a free tier on Reed Courses?+
There is, which lets you browse the catalogue and try free material before committing to a paid course. Paid purchases are then covered by a 14 day refund window, so a first paid course is not a blind bet.
Upgrad knowledgehut
What does an Upgrad Knowledgehut IT certification cost to start?+
The listed starting price is €305 for an IT certification programme, and the exam fee is included in that figure rather than charged later. Tutor support and a practicum come in the same package, which is where the money goes compared with a bare practice-test product.
Is tutor support included, or is it self-study?+
Tutor support is part of the training rather than an upsell, so a learner has someone to ask during the 16 hours of study. The programme also carries assessments and a practicum, which means the work is marked and practised rather than only watched. Job support is offered as well.
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