Brandwave

Coursera vs MIT OpenCourseWare:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Coursera had more branded searches than MIT OpenCourseWare among MOOC platforms worldwide. Coursera had about 3.4 million branded searches, while MIT OpenCourseWare had 135,000. Coursera made up 18.1% of all MOOC platform searches we track, and MIT OpenCourseWare accounted for 0.73%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about MOOC platforms, Coursera appeared in all five answers and MIT OpenCourseWare in two. Coursera was mentioned before MIT OpenCourseWare in every answer.

Among MOOC platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Coursera, about 25 searches for every 1 for MIT OpenCourseWare

Coursera 3.4M searchesMIT OpenCourseWare 135K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Coursera, mentioned in every answer we collected

Coursera in 5 of 5MIT OpenCourseWare in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Coursera, named ahead of MIT OpenCourseWare in every answer

Coursera first in 5MIT OpenCourseWare never first

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Top MOOC platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Coursera appeared in all five answers. MIT OpenCourseWare was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Coursera was listed before MIT OpenCourseWare in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Coursera1st
  2. edX2nd
  3. Khan Academy3rd
  4. MIT OpenCourseWare4th
  5. FutureLearn5th
  6. Udemy6th
  7. OpenLearn7th
  8. Udacity8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Coursera5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • edX5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Khan Academy3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • FutureLearn3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Udemy2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • MIT OpenCourseWare2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenLearn2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Udacity1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about MOOC platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Coursera or MIT OpenCourseWare more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Coursera and MIT OpenCourseWare by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight MOOC platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Coursera and MIT OpenCourseWare among MOOC platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Coursera, MIT OpenCourseWare. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKhan AcademyCourseraUdemyedXMIT OpenCourseWareOpenLearnFutureLearnUdacity
Oct 202552.5%19.3%23.6%2.6%0.64%0.29%0.43%0.64%
Nov 202549.7%18.2%27.2%3%0.6%0.27%0.4%0.6%
Dec 202547.6%21.3%26%2.9%0.7%0.31%0.38%0.86%
Jan 202642.7%23.4%28.6%3.1%0.77%0.35%0.42%0.63%
Feb 202647.4%21.2%25.9%3.5%0.7%0.31%0.47%0.57%
Mar 202647.1%21.1%25.8%3.5%1%0.31%0.47%0.69%
Apr 202647.8%21.4%26.1%2.4%0.86%0.32%0.39%0.7%
May 202642.9%23.5%28.7%2.6%0.95%0.35%0.42%0.63%
Jun 202638%25.5%31.1%2.8%1.3%0.38%0.46%0.56%
Jul 202642.8%23.4%28.6%2.6%1.2%0.52%0.42%0.42%
Aug 202652.8%19.4%23.6%2.1%0.95%0.43%0.35%0.35%
Sep 202660.1%18.1%18.1%1.6%0.73%0.49%0.4%0.33%

How has the Coursera and MIT OpenCourseWare comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Coursera was ahead of MIT OpenCourseWare in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Coursera’s share of searches among MOOC platforms worldwide moved from 19.3% to 18.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1M to 3.4M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MIT OpenCourseWare’s share of searches among MOOC platforms worldwide moved from 0.64% to 0.73%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 135K.

How did search popularity change for MOOC platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Coursera lost share of searches among MOOC platforms worldwide, from 19.4% to 18.1%.

  2. MIT OpenCourseWare’s share of searches among MOOC platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.3% to 0.73% in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Coursera’s and MIT OpenCourseWare’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Coursera

1 branded search term

  • coursera

MIT OpenCourseWare

2 branded search terms

  • mit ocw
  • mit opencourseware

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among MOOC platforms

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