Brandwave

MIT OpenCourseWare vs OpenLearn:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, MIT OpenCourseWare had more branded searches than OpenLearn among MOOC platforms worldwide. MIT OpenCourseWare had about 135,000 branded searches, while OpenLearn had 90,500. MIT OpenCourseWare made up 0.73% of all MOOC platform searches we track, and OpenLearn accounted for 0.49%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about MOOC platforms, MIT OpenCourseWare and OpenLearn each appeared in two of the five answers. MIT OpenCourseWare was mentioned before OpenLearn in two out of three answers that named either.

Among MOOC platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

MIT OpenCourseWare, about 49% more searches than OpenLearn

MIT OpenCourseWare 135K searchesOpenLearn 90.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

MIT OpenCourseWare in 2 of 5OpenLearn in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

MIT OpenCourseWare, named ahead of OpenLearn in 2 of 3 answers

MIT OpenCourseWare first in 2OpenLearn first in 1

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Top MOOC platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, 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. OpenLearn was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. MIT OpenCourseWare was listed before OpenLearn in two out of three answers that named either.

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 MIT OpenCourseWare or OpenLearn more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for MIT OpenCourseWare and OpenLearn 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.

MIT OpenCourseWare and OpenLearn among MOOC platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for MIT OpenCourseWare, OpenLearn. 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 MIT OpenCourseWare and OpenLearn comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • MIT OpenCourseWare was ahead of OpenLearn in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, OpenLearn’s share of searches among MOOC platforms worldwide moved from 0.29% to 0.49%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 90.5K.

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

2 changes

  1. 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.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for OpenLearn worldwide rose 49.6% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 90.5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using MIT OpenCourseWare’s and OpenLearn’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.

MIT OpenCourseWare

2 branded search terms

  • mit ocw
  • mit opencourseware

OpenLearn

1 branded search term

  • openlearn

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among MOOC platforms

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