Side-by-side refund table
| Provider and product | Refund window | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Coursera annual subscription | Cancel within 14 days | No refunds for renewal charges on annual plans |
| Coursera monthly subscription | Generally none | Cancel before the free trial ends to avoid being charged |
| Coursera single course or Specialization (one-time purchase) | Within 7 days of payment or before earning a certificate, whichever comes first | May be denied if a significant portion of content was accessed; no refunds for Guided Projects |
| Coursera degrees and university certificates | Set by the content provider | Check the university's own policy |
| edX certificate track | 14 days after payment or course start, whichever is later | No refunds more than 6 months after payment |
| edX programs | Unused entitlements: 6 months after payment | Used entitlements follow the 14-day rule |
| edX subscriptions | None | No refunds for monthly or annual subscription offerings |
| edX professional education | 2 days after payment (or course start if later) | Same 6-month cap from payment |
| Educative subscription | None on cancellation | Renewal stops; access continues to the end of the paid period |
| Alison Premium monthly | None for the month paid | Benefits continue until the period ends |
| Alison Premium annual | Unspent time refunded | Months used are charged at the monthly rate first |
Coursera: watch the certificate trigger
Coursera's terms give a full refund on a one-time course or Specialization purchase if you cancel within 7 days of payment or before earning a certificate, whichever comes first. For a Specialization, earning a certificate for any course in it counts. The terms also allow refund requests to be denied where a significant portion of the content was accessed first. Annual subscriptions must be cancelled within 14 days for a refund, and renewal charges on annual plans are not refunded.
Certificates cannot be earned during the free trial. If you plan to test a course, decide before the trial ends; our Coursera Plus trial guide has a day-by-day plan.
edX: two clocks and a 6-month cap
edX measures its certificate-track window as 14 days from payment or course start, whichever is later, so paying early for a course that starts next month does not shorten your window. There is an outer limit: no refunds more than 6 months after payment, and the terms say no refund is owed after you earn a certificate. Professional education courses have a much shorter 2-day window, and edX subscriptions are not refundable. Degree programmes follow each member institution's policy.
Educative and Alison: subscription-style rules
Educative's FAQ says cancelling turns off auto-renewal and you keep access until the end of the paid period, and that it will not issue a refund. Its own example: an annual plan bought January 1 and cancelled March 1 stays active through December 31 with no refund. Treat an annual Educative purchase as non-refundable from the moment you pay.
Alison's Premium plan has no minimum term. On a monthly plan the month already paid is not refunded. On an annual plan, Alison keeps the fee for each month used, priced as a monthly subscription, and refunds the unspent remainder; it says it will tell you the refund amount when you cancel. Courses themselves are free, so the main purchase decision is usually the certificate. We did not find a published certificate refund rule.
- Worked example (our arithmetic, assuming the euro prices on the Go Premium page): annual Premium at EUR 79 cancelled after 3 months. Months used at the monthly rate: 3 x EUR 7.99 = EUR 23.97. Expected refund: about EUR 55.03, before any adjustment Alison applies.
Before-you-buy checklist
Udemy's and Skillshare's refund terms are not summarized here; read their help pages directly before buying. Sources accessed 30 October 2026.
- Find the refund rule for the exact product type: single course, subscription, programme or degree.
- Write down the last refund date in your calendar on the day you pay.
- Check whether earning a certificate or accessing much of the content ends eligibility.
- For subscriptions, note whether cancelling refunds anything or only stops renewal.
- Check whether the window counts from payment or from course start.
- If you buy through an app store, expect that store's refund process to apply instead.
- Save a copy or screenshot of the policy page with the date.
Questions before you decide
Can I get a refund on Coursera after earning a certificate?
Coursera's terms say a one-time course or Specialization purchase is refundable within 7 days of payment or before earning a certificate, whichever comes first, so earning a certificate can end eligibility. Annual subscriptions must be cancelled within 14 days.
How long is the edX refund window?
For the certificate track, edX allows refunds for 14 days after payment or course start, whichever is later, with no refunds more than 6 months after payment. Professional education has a 2-day window and subscriptions are not refundable.
Does Educative give refunds?
Educative's FAQ says cancelling stops auto-renewal, you keep access until the end of the paid period, and it will not issue a refund.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Coursera Terms of Use (refund policy sections) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera Plus plans and FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- edX Terms of Service (refund sections) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Educative Unlimited: plans and FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Premium subscription cancelation Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison: Go Premium Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.