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Udacity has quickly become one of the world’s leading online learning platforms. Partnered with industry leaders like Google and Amazon, Udacity has over 16 million learners and is considered a breakthrough provider when it comes to digi-tech learning.
Does Udacity have a subscription?, Can I buy Nanodegrees individually, Can I try Udacity courses for free? And can I get a refund if I don’t like it? Is Udacity worth it?
I tried out Udacity for myself to answer these questions and more in this balanced Udacity review.
Firstly, here’s a quick overview:
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Quick summary
Features
- 200+ free courses taught by leading experts
- 80+ “Nanodegree” programs
- Personal, academic, and business solutions
- Talent Transformation Suite for tailored learning
- Support Forum to get answers and discuss ideas
Pros
- Expert mentors with real-world experience
- Programs designed for businesses, government, and individuals
- Extensive course catalog to build your skillset
- Career services to complement tech courses
- Quality content co-created with leading partners
Cons
- Focused on “harder” tech skills like data science
- More detailed than other platforms
Best for: Business and individuals in the tech industry as well as for government hiring. With Udacity, you can learn a range of tech skills (with certificates) such as C++, product management, digital marketing, and data science.
Overall: A tech-oriented mega learning platform that appeals to governments and businesses alike, as well as individuals. This platform is a worthy investment for anyone looking to optimize their business and/or take practical steps in data science or programming.
So, now for the detail. In this Udacity review, I’ll cover:
- What is Udacity and who are its instructors?
- How does Udacity work and how much does it cost?
- Udacity free trial
- What a Udacity course is like
- Best Udacity courses and offers
- How I reviewed Udacity
- What I liked and disliked
- Alternatives to Udacity
- What others have said about Udacity
- Is Udacity worth it?
- FAQs
That being said, let’s get started.
What is Udacity?
Udacity is an American educational site striving to offer the best online courses for governments, businesses, and individuals in tech.
First launched in 2011 by Stanford teachers Sebastian Thrun and David Stavens, Udacity equips you with the skills you’ll need in “jobs of the future.”
Reaching a milestone of 14 million users in 2020 and 170,000 Nanodegree certificates awarded, Udacity has more than made its mark in the world of e-learning platforms.
Also, with over 200 free courses, there really is no reason not to head over and see what all the hype is about.
Who are the instructors?
Partnering with leading third parties like Google and Amazon, it’s no wonder Udacity also boasts expert mentors. With instructors from Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies, Udacity’s teaching caliber means you can be assured you’re receiving high quality tutelage from experts in their fields.
Teachers also include:
- Security engineers
- CEOs
- Published authors
- College professors
How does Udacity work?
As of September 2025 Udacity stopped offering individual enrolment in, and purchase of, its programs.
It is now a subscription platform.
A Udacity subscription membership includes access to the:
- Entirety of Udacity’s catalog of best-in-class content including 80+ Nanodegree and Executive programs and all their courses
- Talent Transformation Suite for tailored learning
- Support Forum to get answers and discuss ideas
Udacity is best known for its Nanodegree programs. These are 3-4-month skills-based programs that help you to learn and grasp a set of skills through a series of lessons and projects.
For each project, you receive personal feedback from a mentor, and, at the end of the Nanodegree, you get a certificate.
Udacity also offers shorter courses which focus in detail on very specific content.
If you’re new to Udacity, signing up is easy (and free). All you need to do is link your Google/Facebook account or provide your email address. Then, select “Get started for free.”
After this, you can explore Udacity’s programs and resources. You can also answer a 2-step assessment to see if you’re eligible for a personalized discount.
If you’re using Udacity for business, you can sign up for a free consultation to find the best learning solutions for your team. Namely, Udacity operates a 3-step Talent Transformation Suite to optimize your business and deliver measurable results.
The great thing about the Talent Transformation Suite is that Udacity builds a personalized plan to assess talent gaps and develop core competencies. Udacity also ensures your results are measurable and impactful so you can gain advantage in your market.
How much does Udacity cost?
A Udacity subscription membership costs:
- $249 per month
- $2,390 per year (a saving of 20%)
Are Udacity’s subscription costs good value?
When compared to a college MBA, which is around $40,000, the cost of Udacity’s individual Nanodegrees was already excellent value for money.
With the new subscription model you are saving over $150 per month on the cost of an individually purchased Nanodegree.
And if you purchase the annual subscription the value you are getting is exceptional:
| Cost per month | Saving per month | |
| Average Nanodgree cost per month* | $399 | – |
| Monthly subscription | $249 | $150 |
| Annual subscription (billed annually) | $199 | $200 |
*Remember Nanodegrees can no longer be purchased individually
What’s more, the value of a Udacity Nanodegree is enhanced in the context of a subscription because you can supplement your learning at no extra cost.
For example, if you want to be a Product Manager, and have noticed many PM roles require SQL experience, you can take the Product Manager Nanodegree and incorporate content from Udacity’s Intro to SQL courses.
For full details on Udacity’s pricing, check our article Udacity Cost.
Udacity free trial
Udacity offers a 7 day free trial of its subscriptions.
Udacity Scholarship
One of Udacity’s standout features is its scholarship programs. If you don’t have the financial resources to pay for a Nanodegree, you can apply for a scholarship program (for US residents only).
To date, Udacity has launched 10 scholarship programs and awarded 22,000 students with certificates. All scholarship programs are sponsored by third-party organizations like Google and Amazon.
Sadly, there are no federal/state aid programs accepted at Udacity. But, to help break down costs, PayPal credit and Affirm loan options are available.
