Annual cost for five learners
The table prices the same team, five people for 12 months, on each option at the list prices shown on October 30, 2026. Team plans charge per seat for the year, so the useful comparison is not the headline price but what the seat buys: admin reporting, assignment tools and refund rights.
| Option | Price per person | 5 learners for a year | Seat rules | Refund or trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursera for Teams | $399 per user per year | $1,995 | 2 to 499 users; larger groups go to Enterprise | 14-day refund; certificates earned are revoked if refunded |
| LinkedIn Learning for Teams | $379.88 per license per year | $1,899.40, or $2,279.28 with a separate admin seat | 2 to 20 licenses online; up to 50 per account after the first purchase; admins need a license | One-month free trial |
| Educative, five individual Standard annual plans | $149 sale price ($298 crossed-out) | $745 at sale price; $1,490 at the crossed-out price | No public team price; the business page offers a demo and a free trial | No refunds on cancellation |
| Coursera Plus, five individual annual plans | $399 a year | $1,995 | Individual accounts, no team admin | 14-day money-back guarantee on annual |
| Alison Free LMS | $0 platform | $0, plus any certificates you buy | Assign courses and track progress | Not applicable |
What the team plans add over individual accounts
Coursera says Teams covers groups up to 499 people and includes its full catalog, learning paths, translations, an AI guide for learners and tracking features. Its FAQ separates it from Coursera Plus, the individual subscription, by skill tracking, proficiency testing and a library of almost 200,000 short videos and labs. You can pay by card, PayPal or invoice; checks are not accepted.
Coursera's compare-plans page lists Teams at $399 per user per year with a 14-day money-back guarantee, the same as Coursera Plus annual for one person. At five people, the team plan does not cost more at list price, and it adds the reporting and invoicing an owner usually needs. That makes Teams the default if you are paying for everyone for a full year anyway.
LinkedIn Learning for Teams is bought and managed online. Its help page says you can buy a minimum of two and a maximum of 20 licenses online, add more later up to 50 per account, and that admins managing the account also need a license. That last rule matters for a five-person team: if the manager is not one of the five learners, budget six seats.
Educative's business page describes one dashboard for team learning and onboarding metrics and custom onboarding plans, and offers a demo and a free trial, but lists no price; the pricing page publishes only individual plans. Alison's LMS page describes a free LMS with course assignment and real-time tracking and reporting, aimed at small businesses and budget-conscious teams.
When reimbursing individual plans is cheaper
Team plans charge for 12 months. If your people need training for a short project, individual monthly plans that you reimburse can cost less.
| Scenario | Team plan cost | Individual reimbursement cost | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|
| All five need a full year | Coursera for Teams $1,995 | Coursera Plus annual 5 x $399 = $1,995 | Teams: same price, plus admin tools |
| All five need 3 months | Coursera for Teams $1,995 | Coursera Plus monthly 5 x 3 x $59 = $885 | Reimbursement, by $1,110 |
| 2 heavy users all year, 3 users for 2 months | Coursera for Teams $1,995 | 2 x $399 + 3 x 2 x $59 = $1,152 | Reimbursement, by $843 |
| Five developers, technical text courses | No public Educative team price | Educative Standard annual 5 x $149 = $745 at sale price | Reimbursement, if the sale price applies at checkout |
| Compliance or soft-skill basics, certificates optional | Alison Free LMS $0 | Not needed | Alison |
Hidden costs and terms to check
- Admin seats: LinkedIn says admins need a license, so a non-learning manager adds $379.88 a year.
- Refund timing: Coursera for Teams gives 14 days and revokes certificates earned if you take the refund. Educative states it does not issue refunds on cancellation.
- Certificates on free platforms: Alison courses are free to take, but certificates are bought. Alison Premium was shown at EUR 79 a year or EUR 7.99 a month, and adds a 10% certificate discount for each month of membership, up to 50%.
- Sale prices: Educative's annual price was a promotion on October 30, 2026; budget at the crossed-out $298 if the sale has ended.
- Seat ceilings: Coursera for Teams tops out at 499 users and LinkedIn's online purchase at 20 licenses; above that, both route you to enterprise sales.
Tax treatment of paying for staff training
IRS Publication 970 says that if an employer pays more than $5,250 in educational assistance benefits for an employee during the year, the employee generally pays tax on the amount over $5,250. Every per-seat price in this guide is far below that, so an employer educational assistance program that meets the IRS requirements can generally cover it without the employee owing tax on it. Benefits above the limit may still be excluded if they qualify as a working condition fringe benefit.
This is general information from the IRS publication, not tax advice. The related guide on employer tuition assistance covers the program requirements.
A decision checklist for a 5-person team
- Count seats including the admin, and check whether the admin must be licensed.
- Estimate months of real use per person; if most need under six months, price monthly individual plans first.
- Decide whether you need reporting. If not, individual plans cost the same or less.
- Match format to the work: Educative for text-based developer courses, Coursera for university and company certificates, LinkedIn Learning for short business and software videos, Alison for free basics.
- Use the trial or refund window to check that people actually log in: LinkedIn's one-month trial, or Coursera's 14-day refund.
- Put the renewal date in the calendar the day you buy.
Questions before you decide
How much does online training cost per employee?
At list prices on October 30, 2026, Coursera for Teams was $399 per user per year and LinkedIn Learning for Teams $379.88 per license per year. Individual Educative Standard annual plans were $149 at a sale price, and Alison's LMS was free, with certificates paid separately.
What is the minimum team size for Coursera for Teams and LinkedIn Learning for Teams?
Coursera says Teams covers 2 to 499 employees. LinkedIn says you can buy a minimum of two and a maximum of 20 licenses online, add more up to 50 per account, and that admins managing the account need their own license.
Is it cheaper to reimburse employees for their own subscriptions?
Often, when people need training for only a few months. Five people on Coursera Plus monthly for three months cost $885, against $1,995 for a year of Coursera for Teams. For a full year the list price is the same, $399 per person, so the team plan wins on admin features.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Coursera for Teams: price, seat range and FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera Plus: individual monthly and annual prices Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- LinkedIn Help: Learning for Teams self-serve purchase FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Educative: individual plan prices and refund policy Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Educative: business and team onboarding page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison: Free LMS for business Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison: Premium membership prices and certificate discounts Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- IRS Publication 970 (2025): employer-provided educational assistance limit Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera for Business: compare plans and Teams price Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: is Alison really free Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.