Brandwave

Coursera vs Open Polytechnic:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Open Polytechnic had more branded searches than Coursera among online learning platforms in New Zealand. Open Polytechnic had about 42,100 branded searches, while Coursera had 3,830. Open Polytechnic made up 64.2% of all online learning platform searches we track, and Coursera accounted for 5.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about online learning platforms, Coursera appeared in four of the five answers and Open Polytechnic in three. Coursera and Open Polytechnic were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.

Among online learning platforms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Open Polytechnic, about 11 searches for every 1 for Coursera

Open Polytechnic 42.1K searchesCoursera 3.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Coursera, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Open Polytechnic in 3

Coursera in 4 of 5Open Polytechnic in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Coursera first in 2Open Polytechnic first in 2

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Top online learning platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Coursera was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Open Polytechnic was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Coursera and Open Polytechnic were each listed first in two of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Coursera1st
  2. Open Polytechnic2nd
  3. LinkedIn Learning3rd
  4. Udemy4th
  5. edX5th
  6. Khan Academy6th
  7. Skillshare7th
  8. MasterClass–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Coursera4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • LinkedIn Learning4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Open Polytechnic3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Udemy3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • edX2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Khan Academy1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Skillshare1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • MasterClass0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about online learning platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Coursera or Open Polytechnic more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Coursera and Open Polytechnic by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight online learning platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Coursera and Open Polytechnic among online learning platforms in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthOpen PolytechnicKhan AcademyUdemyCourseraLinkedIn LearningedXSkillshareMasterClass
Oct 202560%17%9.8%6.6%4.1%1.4%1.1%0.03%
Nov 202559.8%17.1%9.8%6.6%4.1%1.5%1.1%0.01%
Dec 202562.3%11.9%12.4%6.9%3.4%1.6%1.3%0.04%
Jan 202660.7%11.7%12.3%8.3%4.2%1.4%1.3%0.03%
Feb 202659.7%17.1%9.9%6.9%4.1%1.1%1.1%0.04%
Mar 202656.7%19.8%9.4%6.5%4.8%1.7%1%0.03%
Apr 202661.6%14.6%10.3%7%4.3%1.2%1.1%0.03%
May 202657.3%20.2%9.6%6.8%4%0.98%1%0.03%
Jun 202656.7%20.2%9.5%6.7%4.9%1.1%0.83%0.03%
Jul 202661.7%14.9%10.3%6%4.4%1.8%0.9%0.03%
Aug 202660.2%17.7%10%5.7%4.3%1.2%0.88%0.04%
Sep 202664.2%15.3%8.7%5.8%3.8%1.5%0.76%0.06%

How has the Coursera and Open Polytechnic comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand online learning platforms in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Open Polytechnic gained share of searches among online learning platforms in New Zealand, from 60.2% to 64.2%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Coursera in New Zealand fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 4.7K to 3.8K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

20 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Coursera’s and Open Polytechnic’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

9 branded search terms

  • coursera
  • coursera accounting courses
  • coursera ai courses
  • coursera business courses
  • coursera certificate
  • coursera courses
  • coursera excel course
  • coursera plus
  • mooc coursera

Open Polytechnic

11 branded search terms

  • iqualify open polytechnic
  • my open polytechnic
  • open polytechnic
  • open polytechnic accounting
  • open polytechnic address
  • open polytechnic ece
  • open polytechnic enrolment
  • open polytechnic iqualify
  • open polytechnic psychology
  • openpolytechnic
  • the open polytechnic

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among online learning platforms

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