Coursera Vs Domestika: Which Is Better (Side-By-Side Comparison)

Thinking about signing up for a unique online learning platform, but aren’t sure which one will suit you the best?

There are so many platforms to consider nowadays, and many of them have only recently been created.

In this article, we will be comparing Coursera and Domestika – two very different and excellent but best online learning platforms that can help you reach your goals.

Both options have something unique to offer, so it’s worth checking both of them out yourself before you make your final decision!

If you’re interested in learning about these platforms, keep reading. We will cover everything you need to know in order to make a decision between Coursera Vs Domestika!

Coursera Vs Domestika: Which Is Better?

This is a difficult comparison, but the overall winner between Coursera and Domestika has to be Coursera.

Why? Well, Coursera had a much wider range of course categories to choose from compared to Domestika, which only focuses on the arts.

Both options are excellent and have their place in the learning space on the internet. However, Coursera objectively has a lot more to offer, with 45 million global users and almost 4k high-quality courses available like programming courses, computer science, career development, and much more.

With that being said, Domestika will likely be the preferred online course platform for individuals who would like to focus on the arts. Their courses are high quality and excellent, but there are limitations to consider.

Anyone who needs to learn working creative skills will benefit from signing up for Coursera. There, learners also have the option to sign up for degree-level courses and individual courses that give college credit.

Overview Of Online Learning Platforms

Coursera

Number of users – 45 million users worldwide
Course level – beginner and advanced
Languages – 10 language options

Pros

• Timetables are flexible
• Services are professional
• Learners can get degrees
• Plenty of feature options

Cons

• Some courses may be too difficult for beginner-level students
• A more expensive option
• Instructors may be camera shy for some courses

Domestika

Number of users – 8 million learners worldwide
Course level – beginner and advanced
Languages – 8 language options

Pros

• Certification for course completion is available
• Courses are taught by experts in the field
• All content is of very high quality

Cons

• Customer support could be greatly improved
• Most courses available are only in Spanish
• Captions and subtitles are auto-generated from Spanish.

What Do They Offer? The Basics Of Each Platform

Here, we will cover all the basic information that you need to know about both top online learning platforms before moving on.

The information given here can give you the first insight into deciding which platform would be better for your personal needs.

Coursera

Number of courses – 3.9k courses are available
Course types – wide variety available for all interests
Degree courses? – yes
Progress checker? – not available
Languages changing – done in the account settings
Certification for completion? – yes
College or university credit – yes
Exam needed to pass courses – yes
Accredited certification – yes
Free? – paid

Coursera is a popular online learning platform that learners can pay for via subscriptions and monthly or annual payments.

This platform has a very wide range of course options available for beginners and advanced learners. With almost 4k courses, there will be something here for everyone’s interests.

This online learning platform offers degree courses that can go towards college or university credit to help students achieve their dreams.

Not only that, but every course that gets completed is accredited, so learners never have to worry about future employers not recognizing their hard work.

Although there are no progress checkers for this site, the platform uses gamification to keep students engaged.

There are a number of language options available, which we will cover later, language settings can be changed in account settings to suit needs and preferences.

Domestika

Number of courses – 1k+
Course types – wide variety available for all interests, especially good for artistic courses
Degree courses? – no
Progress checker? – no
Languages changing – done in the account settings
Certification for completion? – yes
College or university credit – no
Exam needed to pass courses – possibly
Accredited certification – no
Free? – paid

Course Types – What Courses Are Offered?

The types of courses that an online learning platform offers will play a huge role in whether you decide to sign up or not.

Depending on your own personal needs and interests, the courses that are available will need to suit you and your intentions or goals.

In many cases, popular online learning platforms will lean towards particular fields, such as STEM or the arts. Other platforms may have a wide range of courses that cover all the bases.

Coursera

Music & Arts – yes
Math & Logic – no
Health – yes
Social Sciences – yes
Business & Management – no
Data Science – yes
Engineering – no
IT & Software – yes
Personal Development – yes
Philosophy – yes
Languages – yes

With its thousands of courses, Coursera covers a wide variety of topics. Their online learning degrees are beneficial to anyone, and are categorized into the following fields:

• Online MBA And Business Degrees
• Computer Science and Engineering Degrees
• Data Science Degrees
• Public Health Degrees
• Management Degrees
• Data Analytics Degrees
• Social Sciences Degrees

However, there are also thousands of non-degree courses that cover all the other bases, including dozens of art and philosophy courses.

Many of the courses are offered for free, such as this one. These courses can be beginner-friendly, or suitable for more advanced students who wish to get university-level learning.

Domestika

Music & Arts – yes
Math & Logic – no
Health – no
Social Sciences – no
Business & Management – yes
Data Science – no
Engineering – no
IT & Software – yes
Personal Development – no
Philosophy – no
Languages – no

Although Domestika focuses on creative courses, they do cover every topic in great detail.

From creative writing to illustrations, there is nothing that a creative person will not find on this platform. The categories offered by Domestika include the following:

• Music & Audio
• Fashion
• Calligraphy & Typography
• Writing
• 3D & Animation
• Craft
• Illustration
• Web & App Design
• Architecture & Spaces
• Photography & Video
• Marketing & Business
• Design

They also cover “areas” that learners may be interested in. These are as follows:

• Communication
• Social Media
• Drawing
• Design
• Illustration
• Sketchbook

Finally, Domestika has a dedicated “Software” section on their website to help learners find out more about the following topics:

• Cinema 4D
• Blender
• Figma
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator

Which Comes Out On Top?

Coursera is the clear winner in terms of the diversity of courses. This online learning platform covers a wide range of courses, from arts and music, health, social sciences, data science, languages, philosophy, personal development, and IT & software.

Domestika focuses on a very specific category for its courses – the arts. However, they cover arts topics thoroughly and have in-depth courses on design, 3D & animation, technology, architecture & spaces, craft, illustration, video & photography, writing, and more.

So, Coursera has a much larger pool of categories to choose from compared to Domestika. As such, they are the winner in this category.

However, Domestika certainly has its place for those who are interested in focusing on the arts.

Pricing – Everything Money-Related

In this section, we will take a look at everything you need to know about the costs associated with both of these online learning platforms. This includes whether there are free trials, refunds, and all the subscription options, if applicable.

We will also look at whether the online learning platforms offer any free courses that students can make use of, or if they are all paid for.

Coursera

Is payment necessary? – no. Free, non-certificated courses are available
Free trial – yes, a 7-day free trial
Refund period – 14-day refund period
Cheapest subscription option – free
Number of free courses available – over 2k courses can be taken for free on this platform

Plans – there are several plan options available on Coursera, and are as follows:

• Free – dozens of courses can be accessed for free, but there is no certification upon completion
• Guided Projects – starts at $9.99 per month
• Professional Certificates – start at $39.99 per month
• Coursera Plus – costs $399 per year
• Full Degrees – start at $9,000 per full degree

Coursera has a range of courses that are free to take, but they do not come with accreditation or certificates.

In order for learners to get the certificates, they must pay for the course and the certificate. Learners may also have the chance to pay one-off payments rather than subscriptions for courses or specializations they wish to take.

Prices vary greatly depending on what you would like to get out of the online learning platform.

Auditing is a good way to access the courses for free, but you will not get grades or assignments, and therefore no proof of completion.

Full degrees will cost several thousand dollars but are likely to still be more affordable than traditional college courses.

Domestika

Is payment necessary? – no. Free to sign up, but payment is necessary for most courses
Free trial – no
Refund period – 14-day refund period
Cheapest subscription option – no subscription options
Number of free courses available – is unknown. Their #KeepOnCreating courses are 100% free

Plans – there are no monthly or annual subscription fees with Domestika. Instead, learners pay for each course individually, so you only ever pay what you actually want.

Course prices on Domestika vary, but they are generally very affordable and will cost somewhere between $20-$30. However, there will be more expensive options depending on the courses.

Not only that, but Domestika frequently has huge sales on the platform, where learners are able to purchase courses for big discounts.

Which Comes Out On Top?

Preferences will vary greatly regarding which online learning platform wins in this area. You are likely to end up spending more money with Coursera subscriptions, as you can pay them either monthly or annually.

For Domestika, learners only need to pay for the lessons that they take, rather than pay every month for something they may or may not use.

With that being said, Domestika courses can range in price. Although there are frequently huge discounts going around Black Friday, Christmas, or other holidays, they can still rack up.

Overall, this will come down to preferences and how much you will use each online learning platform. It is likely that Domestika will end up being the more affordable option.

Accessibility And Availability – What You Need to Know

In this section, we will be looking at aspects related to both online learning platforms’ accessibility and availability.

This will look into how easy the site is to use and navigate, the format of the learning material, homework, and mobile app access, among other things.

There’s no point in having an online learning platform with thousands of courses to take if the site itself is not accessible or easy to use.

Things like offline availability and the supported languages will play a crucial role in deciding which option is best for you.

Coursera

Easy to use? – the site is intuitive and easy to use and navigate
Learning course material format – written, gamification, and short video clips
Are courses available offline? – yes, paid courses can be downloaded to be accessed while offline
Discussion board availability – yes
Is homework given? – yes, homework is delegated to learners by professors
Grades are given for work? – yes
Mobile app unlimited access? – yes. Coursera has a mobile app that can be used on Android, iPhone, and iPad devices
Ability to connect with the lecturer? – yes, Coursera allows learners to connect with their professors via email, chat, or another method for communication and aid
Language availability – 10 language options are available

Coursera is available in the following languages, and language settings can be changed in account settings:

• Arabic
• Russian
• Chinese (simplified and traditional)
• German
• Japanese

• French
• Korean
• Portuguese (Brazilian)
• Spanish
• English

Domestika

Easy to use? – the site is intuitive and easy to use and navigate
Learning material format – most, if not all, the material is in the format of videos
Are courses available offline? – courses you pay for will be available offline forever
Discussion board availability – yes, there is a community forum page where learners and lecturers can post and discuss topics
Is homework given? – possibly
Grades are given for work? – no
Mobile app access? – yes. Domestika has a mobile app that can be used on Android, iPhone, and iPad devices
Ability to connect with the lecturer? – Domestika offers a forum where learners are able to connect with their lecturers
Language availability – 8 language options are currently available

Domestika is available in the following languages, and language settings can be changed in account settings:

• Spanish
• English
• Dutch
• German

• French
• Portuguese
• Polish
• Italian

It should be noted that the subtitles on Domestika videos are auto-generated. Because of this, there may be some issues with translations.

This could make it difficult to learn in some of the languages if learners will rely on closed captions for their course.

Which Comes Out On Top?

In terms of accessibility and availability, Coursera is the clear winner here. Although this platform only offers 10 languages, which isn’t a lot compared to some others (like Khan Academy), it’s better than 8.

This online learning platform also doesn’t have the issue of auto-generated subtitles, which may not be completely accurate.

Domestika’s courses are primarily in Spanish. While this is great for many countries, from an English-speaking point of view, this is not ideal for all learners.

Both options have Android and iOS apps available, and courses can be downloaded and accessed offline when paid for.

On top of that, they both use video clips and audio in their courses to be more accessible to students, and the sites are incredibly easy and straightforward to navigate.

Suitability – Who Would Benefit from Each Platform?

Coursera

Coursera is an online learning platform that primarily targets young and working adults.

The courses available on the site typically lean toward work skills, which topics such as data analysis, business and management, and much more.

Because of this, working people, or those who are going to college, are likely to get the most out of the platform.

There are beginner-friendly courses, as well as courses on arts and humanities, among others. However, with the number of online degree courses available, the target audience for this platform is clear.

The courses offered here are a good fit for any adult who is looking to learn their desired skills. Everything is flexible and 100% online, which allows everyone to participate equally.

With the option for certified courses, this site can also help learners get the skills needed for their dream job.

Domestika

Domestika is an incredible online learning platform for anyone who is interested in creative topics. It covers a range of creative courses, including writing, illustration, 3D, app design, photography, and much more.

Generally, Domestika is lacking in academic courses that would interest those that are interested in topics like social sciences, engineering, or health.

There are coding courses that cover JavaScript and website coding. However, this is not the focus of this online learning platform, and the majority of the courses are geared toward creative minds rather than academics.

While there are no degree-level courses like there are for Coursera, Domestika still has extremely high-quality products for sale.

The courses can be suitable for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced professionals, depending on the course they choose.

Their “Domestika basics” courses cover everything that beginners need to know, giving clients the perfect opportunity to continue their learning.

Overall, they offer online courses that Domestika is suitable for anyone who is interested in learning about the topics they have to offer.

Because most lessons are in Spanish and learners may need to rely on subtitles, it may be easier for adults. However, the material is suitable for all ages.

Which Comes Out On Top?

There is no winner in this category! Both Coursera and Domestika are the perfect and unique online learning platforms for young and working adults who have an interest in the topics offered.

Coursera has a wider range of courses available, which may appeal to more people. However, this does not impact suitability, as they cater to a similar age group.

With that being said, Coursera does have the benefit of having degree-level courses, as well as a contribution towards college credit.

Not only that, but this online learning platform also offers accredited courses that can be useful in the workplace.

This means that college-age learners may learn towards this option, as it may be more beneficial to them in online education or work.

However, Domestika leans strongly towards the arts, with music, fashion, design, crafting, and architecture being popular categories on the site.

There is no mention of college credit or accredited courses, as the courses offered by this online learning platform don’t typically fall into the academic category.

Because of all this, these two online learning platforms serve their purpose well. While they cater to the same age range, there is likely to be a difference in the specific populations that will lean towards one or the other, depending on their needs and preferences.

Which One Is Best?

The answer to this will depend on what you are looking for in an online learning platform, and what you intend to learn.

Coursera has more unlimited online courses available, and they cover more topics, but Domestika has in-depth courses on niche topics in the arts.

Both platforms are targeted towards a similar age group – young and working adults. However, the courses offered by Coursera cover topics that are useful in many jobs and even degrees.

For example, they have courses covering data science, data analytics, and all kinds of coding. These kinds of courses are not available on Domestika.

Learners may see Coursera as the option that is more suitable for academics, while Domestika is for creatives.

Final Thoughts

Coursera vs Domestika – what a battle! Both of these online learning platforms are amazing in their own respect. However, Coursera is the winner when you break everything down.

They have more topics and courses to offer compared to Domestika, and even have degree-level courses to choose from.

Domestika is still amazing, but it is certainly only really suitable for those who are interested in learning about the arts and associated categories.

If you are deciding which option to go with, be sure to check out some of the courses these platforms offer first!