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Course Report

[2024] The 100 Top FREE EdX Courses of All Time

A list of edX’s 100 most popular free online courses. Combined, they’ve gathered over 42M enrollments.

edX Most Popular Courses

EdX, founded in the heyday of the MOOC hype, is one of the world’s largest online course providers and boasts an active catalog of over 4,300 courses.

Some of the world’s most prestigious universities offer courses on edX, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge.

Originally, edX was a nonprofit backed by MIT and Harvard. But in July 2021, it was acquired by 2U for $800 million dollars. To learn more about the acquisition, check out the in-depth article by @dhawal, the founder of Class Central: 2U + edX Analysis: Win for 2U, Risk for edX, Opportunity for Coursera.

To learn for free, pick the Audit Track, on the right

The courses in the list below are free to audit — that is, you get access to the course materials for a limited time, but can’t access graded assignments and exams, and don’t receive a certificate of completion.

100 Top Free EdX Courses of All Time

The most popular edX course of all time is Harvard’s CS50 Introduction to Computer Science, which has over 5.2 million enrollments. Since its launch, CS50 has expanded into a brand that includes 13 courses. The whole series has received over 7.2 million enrollments.

Class Central’s @manoel has published a guide to help you select the right CS50 course for you.


Here’s a quick summary of edX’s 100 most popular free-to-audit online courses of all time, based on the number of enrollments:

  • Enrollments range from 152K to 5.2M. There are five courses with over 1M enrollments.
  • Together, they account for over 42M enrollments, with an average of 423K enrollments.
  • 94 courses are in English and 6 are in Spanish.
  • They’ve received 3400 reviews on Class Central, with an average rating of 4.3/5.
  • Around 74 courses are beginner level, 19 intermediate, and 5 advanced.

Without further ado, here are the top 100 free edX courses available for free audit, sorted by number of enrollments:

  1. CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science from Harvard University ★★★★★(163)
  2. Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(129)
  3. IELTS Academic Test Preparation from University of Queensland ★★★★★(5)
  4. TOEFL® Test Preparation: The Insider’s Guide from ETS ★★★★★(6)
  5. CS50’s Web Programming with Python and JavaScript from Harvard University ★★★★★(24)
  6. Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Excel from Microsoft ★★★★☆(12)
  7. Introduction to Linux from Linux Foundation ★★★★☆(37)
  8. Data Science: R Basics from Harvard University ★★★★★(11)
  9. Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies from Harvard University ★★★★★(10)
  10. CS50’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python from Harvard University ★★★★★(15)
  11. English Grammar and Style from University of Queensland ★★★★☆(32)
  12. CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python from Harvard University ★★★★★(8)
  13. Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking from Harvard University ★★★★★(4)
  14. CS50’s Introduction to Game Development from Harvard University ★★★★★(5)
  15. Introduction to Data Analysis using Excel from Microsoft ★★★★☆(7)
  16. Basic Spanish 1: Getting Started from Universitat Politècnica de València ★★★★☆(403)
  17. The Science of Happiness from University of California, Berkeley ★★★★★(35)
  18. Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) from University of Michigan ★★★★★(2)
  19. Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 1: The Electrical Properties of the Neuron from Harvard University ★★★★★(22)
  20. Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract from Harvard University ★★★★★(13)
  21. Justice from Harvard University ★★★★★(54)
  22. The Architectural Imagination from Harvard University ★★★★☆(13)
  23. Introduction to Project Management from University of Adelaide ★★★★☆(6)
  24. Data Science: Machine Learning from Harvard University ★★★★☆(3)
  25. Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles from Harvard University ★★★★★(7)
  26. Statistics and R from Harvard University ★★★★☆(20)
  27. Excel: Fundamentos y herramientas from Universitat Politècnica de València ★★★★★(585)
  28. HTML5 and CSS Fundamentals from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ★★★★☆(6)
  29. Academic and Business Writing from University of California, Berkeley ★★★★☆(18)
  30. How to Write an Essay from University of California, Berkeley ★★★★☆(28)
  31. Principles of Biochemistry from Harvard University ★★★★★(12)
  32. Introduction to Java Programming: Starting to code in Java from Universidad Carlos iii de Madrid ★★★★☆(9)
  33. Conversational English Skills | 生活英语听说 from Tsinghua University ★★★★☆(12)
  34. Mechanical Ventilation for COVID-19 from Harvard University ★★★★★(26)
  35. Gestión de proyectos de desarrollo from Inter-American Development Bank ★★★★☆(2)
  36. CS50’s Mobile App Development with React Native from Harvard University ★★★★☆(1)
  37. Leaders of Learning from Harvard University ★★★★☆(20)
  38. Italian Language and Culture: Beginner (2023-2024) from Wellesley College ★★★★☆(3)
  39. The Science of Everyday Thinking from University of Queensland ★★★★★(47)
  40. Using Python for Research from Harvard University ★★★★☆(12)
  41. Introduction to C++ from Microsoft ★★★★☆(7)
  42. Introduction to Kubernetes from Linux Foundation
  43. Python for Data Science from University of California, San Diego ★★★★☆(47)
  44. Probability – The Science of Uncertainty and Data from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(34)
  45. Introduction to Java Programming – Part 1 from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  46. Supply Chain Fundamentals from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(14)
  47. Inglés básico: conversacional y networking from Universidad Anáhuac ★★★★★(82)
  48. Supply Chain Analytics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  49. A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations from Cornell University ★★★★★(2)
  50. Artificial Intelligence (AI) from Columbia University ★★★★☆(12)
  51. Child Protection: Children’s Rights in Theory and Practice from Harvard University ★★★★★(5)
  52. Data Science: Visualization from Harvard University ★★★★★(5)
  53. Programming Basics from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
  54. HTML5 Coding Essentials and Best Practices from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ★★★★☆(11)
  55. How to Learn Online
  56. Computing in Python I: Fundamentals and Procedural Programming from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★★★(240)
  57. Learn to Program in Java from Microsoft ★★★★★(5)
  58. Querying Data with Transact-SQL from Microsoft ★★★★☆(4)
  59. Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★☆(31)
  60. Becoming a Successful Leader (Inclusive Leadership Training)
  61. Nutrition and Health: Macronutrients and Overnutrition from Wageningen University ★★★★★(324)
  62. Introduction to Marketing from The University of British Columbia ★★★★★(5)
  63. Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★☆☆(26)
  64. Human Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Cases from Harvard University ★★★★★(8)
  65. Statistical Thinking for Data Science and Analytics from Columbia University
  66. Introduction to Biology – The Secret of Life from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(136)
  67. JavaScript Introduction from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
  68. Buddhism Through Its Scriptures from Harvard University ★★★★☆(6)
  69. Cybersecurity Fundamentals from Rochester Institute of Technology ★★★★★(24)
  70. Becoming an Entrepreneur from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(5)
  71. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies from University of California, Berkeley
  72. Data Science: Probability from Harvard University ★★★★☆(2)
  73. Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry) from Harvard University ★★★★★(14)
  74. Marketing Digital: Content & Community Manager from Galileo University ★★★★★(255)
  75. The Health Effects of Climate Change from Harvard University ★★★★★(9)
  76. The Psychology of Criminal Justice from University of Queensland ★★★★★(16)
  77. CS50’s Computer Science for Lawyers from Harvard University ★★★★★(6)
  78. Computer Science 101 from Stanford University ★★★★☆(19)
  79. C Programming: Getting Started from Dartmouth College
  80. Inglés para todos: nivel básico from Universidad del Rosario
  81. Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology from Harvard University ★★★★★(7)
  82. CS50’s Computer Science for Business Professionals from Harvard University ★★★★★(15)
  83. Excel for Everyone: Core Foundations from The University of British Columbia
  84. Programación para todos (empezando con Python) from University of Michigan ★★★★☆(1)
  85. Operations Management from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore ★★★★☆(2)
  86. Introduction to Probability from Harvard University ★★★★★(1)
  87. Introduction to Corporate Finance from Columbia University ★★★★★(1)
  88. Machine Learning for Data Science and Analytics from Columbia University
  89. Introduction to Family Engagement in Education from Harvard University ★★★★★(8)
  90. CS50’s Understanding Technology from Harvard University ★★★★★(12)
  91. PredictionX: Omens, Oracles & Prophecies from Harvard University
  92. Improving Global Health: Focusing on Quality and Safety from Harvard University ★★★★☆(10)
  93. Hinduism Through Its Scriptures from Harvard University ★★★★☆(3)
  94. How to Code: Simple Data from The University of British Columbia ★★★★☆(15)
  95. Accounting and Finance from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore ★★★★★(1)
  96. Excel: gestión de datos from Universitat Politècnica de València ★★★★★(57)
  97. Christianity Through Its Scriptures from Harvard University ★★★★☆(7)
  98. People Management from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
  99. Machine Learning from Columbia University ★★★★☆(11)
  100. Fundamentals of Statistics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★☆(10)

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Suparn Patra

Suparn developed an interest in MOOCs through a project he worked on during his MSc in Artificial Intelligence. He joined Class Central as a Full Stack Engineer.

Comments 3

  1. Jim

    Suparn, do you mean free to audit? As far as I know, edX doesn’t offer full access to any courses for free if the learner isn’t affiliated. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Suparn Patra

      Yes, You’re correct.
      Free means Free to audit.

      Reply
  2. Nicholas Zwermann

    You can to full access professional certification if you sign up with Verizon Skills Forwarded

    Reply

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