Brandwave

MIT OpenCourseWare vs Udacity:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, MIT OpenCourseWare had more branded searches than Udacity among MOOC platforms worldwide. MIT OpenCourseWare had about 135,000 branded searches, while Udacity had 60,500. MIT OpenCourseWare made up 0.73% of all MOOC platform searches we track, and Udacity accounted for 0.33%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about MOOC platforms, MIT OpenCourseWare appeared in two of the five answers and Udacity in one. MIT OpenCourseWare was mentioned before Udacity in every answer that named either.

Among MOOC platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

MIT OpenCourseWare, about 2 searches for every 1 for Udacity

MIT OpenCourseWare 135K searchesUdacity 60.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

MIT OpenCourseWare, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Udacity in 1

MIT OpenCourseWare in 2 of 5Udacity in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

MIT OpenCourseWare, named ahead of Udacity in 2 of 2 answers

MIT OpenCourseWare first in 2Udacity never first

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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. Udacity was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. MIT OpenCourseWare was listed before Udacity in every answer 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 Udacity more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for MIT OpenCourseWare and Udacity 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 Udacity among MOOC platforms worldwide, by month

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

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: MIT OpenCourseWare took it in January 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, Udacity’s share of searches among MOOC platforms worldwide moved from 0.64% to 0.33%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 60.5K.

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 Udacity worldwide fell 55.2% over 12 measured months, from 135K to 60.5K 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 Udacity’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

Udacity

1 branded search term

  • udacity

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among MOOC platforms

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