Coursera vs Open University:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Coursera had more branded searches than Open University among university online degrees worldwide. Coursera was estimated to have 3.4M branded searches compared to Open University’s 368K, and held a 71.3% Share of Search versus Open University’s 7.8%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Coursera or Open University?
Compare the university online degrees schools and universities use. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Coursera, Open University. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Coursera | University of Phoenix | edX | Open University | Udacity | SNHU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 70.8% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 7.8% | 2.3% | 0.05% |
| Nov 2025 | 68.2% | 9.2% | 11.2% | 9.2% | 2.2% | 0.05% |
| Dec 2025 | 72.7% | 8% | 9.8% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 0.06% |
| Jan 2026 | 71.1% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 7.8% | 1.9% | 0.08% |
| Feb 2026 | 69.6% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 7.6% | 1.9% | 0.06% |
| Mar 2026 | 67.9% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 2.2% | 0.06% |
| Apr 2026 | 70.5% | 11.6% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 2.3% | 0.09% |
| May 2026 | 70.8% | 11.6% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 1.9% | 0.06% |
| Jun 2026 | 72.1% | 11.8% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 1.6% | 0.05% |
| Jul 2026 | 70.1% | 11.5% | 7.7% | 9.4% | 1.3% | 0.05% |
| Aug 2026 | 71.3% | 11.7% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 1.3% | 0.05% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Coursera and Open University comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Coursera was ahead of Open University in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Coursera’s estimated Share of Search among university online degrees worldwide moved from 70.8% to 71.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1M to 3.4M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Open University’s estimated Share of Search among university online degrees worldwide held steady at 7.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 450K to 368K.
How did search popularity change for university online degrees worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Coursera gained estimated Share of Search among university online degrees worldwide, from 70.1% to 71.3%.
In August 2026, Open University lost estimated Share of Search among university online degrees worldwide, from 9.4% to 7.8%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Coursera’s and Open University’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
Open University
1 branded search term
- open university
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.