Coursera Plus for $1: How to Get Skill Training on a Budget

Getting career-boosting courses for just a dollar? Sounds unbelievable, but that’s what Coursera Plus for $1 is offering right now. If you're someone who wants to learn new skills but hates dropping hundreds on subscriptions, this limited-time deal is seriously hard to ignore.

Here’s the scoop: Coursera Plus is usually a pricey subscription, but with the current $1 offer, you unlock full access for the whole first month. That means you can binge top courses—think project management, coding, graphic design, and more—without worrying about your wallet. You don’t just peek at lessons; you get graded assignments, certificates, and official recognition for what you’ve learned.

This isn’t one of those trial gimmicks where you only get old or boring classes. Coursera teams up with big names like Google, Meta, and top universities, so it’s the real deal. You can pick from thousands of options. Heads up: you do have to enter payment details, and you’ll be auto-billed the regular price after your first month if you don’t cancel—but if you plan your time well, you can load up on big skills for dirt cheap.

• What Is Coursera Plus?
• How Does the $1 Offer Work?
• What Courses and Certificates Can You Get?
• Who’s Eligible and Are There Any Catches?
• Tips for Making the Most of Your $1

What Is Coursera Plus?

Coursera Plus is a subscription plan that lets you take as many courses as you want from a huge catalog of online learning. Instead of paying for each course or certificate, you pay once and unlock almost everything on the platform. Right now, with the Coursera Plus $1 deal, you can get in on this for almost nothing—at least for the first month.

Normally, Coursera Plus costs $59 per month or $399 a year. For that price, you get unlimited access to more than 7,000 courses covering tech, business, health, personal development, and more. You’ll find courses from top universities like Yale, University of Michigan, and leading companies such as Google, Meta, and IBM. The subscription also includes most Professional Certificate programs and Guided Projects, so you can earn career-boosting proof of your skills.

• Full access to 7,000+ courses and certificates (excluding a few degrees and specialty programs).
• Downloadable course materials for offline study.
• Official, shareable certificates upon course completion.
• No extra charges for grades, quizzes, or assignments.
• Access to new courses as they’re launched within the subscription.

Most people use Coursera Plus to pick up in-demand skills fast, stack certificates for their LinkedIn profile, or prep for job changes without paying a fortune. The platform’s certificates are recognized by big-name companies, so your resume gets a real boost if you finish the course and share your cert.

If you want a low-risk way to try out quality learning without getting nickel-and-dimed, Coursera Plus is designed for you—especially with deals like the $1 promo.

How Does the $1 Offer Work?

This deal is simple: pay just $1, and you get full Coursera Plus access for an entire month. After that first month, your subscription rolls into the regular monthly rate—so make sure to keep track if you’re planning to cancel. This isn’t the usual unpaid trial where features are locked. For $1, you can enroll in any included course, finish assignments, and even earn certificates if you move fast enough.

Here's what you need to know to get started:

• Go to Coursera’s site and look for the $1 Coursera Plus deal.
• Sign up with your email, set a password, and fill in payment info (credit card or PayPal works).
• As soon as you’re signed up, you’re in—no hoops. You get instant access to thousands of courses.
• The $1 is billed right away, and shows as “Coursera Plus – promotional offer” on your statement.
• Regular charges take over after 30 days unless you cancel. In the US right now, that’s $59 per month.

Take a look at this breakdown for a quick reference:

This offer pops up every few months and isn’t always around. It’s fair to say it’s the lowest-cost way for most people to get started with Coursera Plus, especially since you get full, not watered-down access. Set a calendar reminder to cancel or continue—don’t get caught off guard.

What Courses and Certificates Can You Get?

If you grab Coursera Plus for $1, you basically get the run of the place. We’re talking access to over 7,000 classes, and hundreds of professional certificates. These aren’t random lectures. They’re real-deal programs built with companies and universities you’ve definitely heard of—think Google, IBM, Yale, Meta, and top schools from around the globe. So if you’re looking to break into a new industry or add proof to your resume, you’re in a good spot.

Maybe you want to smash your way into tech? Check out the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. It’s basically the starting block for folks landing real entry-level IT jobs. If business skills are your thing, the Yale "Financial Markets" course pulls back the curtain on how Wall Street really ticks. For folks eyeing social media careers, Meta’s Social Media Marketing Certificate is a legit stamp employers recognize.

Here’s a quick snapshot of some popular certificate programs you unlock with Coursera Plus:

And it’s not just about tech and business. Into graphic design? There’s a whole string of courses on Adobe, UX/UI, and digital design. Want language skills or to learn something for fun, like cooking or photography? There’s loads of variety.

Here are a few tips to squeeze the most value out of your $1 access:

• Focus on certificates that boost your job search or let you pivot careers faster.
• Look for courses with hands-on projects—these carry more weight when you share them in a portfolio or on LinkedIn.
• If you’re not sure where to start, check the “Professional Certificates” section in Coursera’s menu. These are legit pathways to jobs and have clear outcomes.

The best part? Most certificates are self-paced. Race through them or take your time—just be sure to finish before your trial runs out if you want those bragging rights for only a buck.

Who’s Eligible and Are There Any Catches?

If you’ve never had Coursera Plus before, you’re in luck—that’s the main requirement to snag the Coursera Plus for $1 offer. Existing members or folks who’ve already tried a Coursera Plus free trial or discount may get blocked from this bargain. You’ll know right away when you sign up; Coursera will either show the $1 promo or nudge you toward the regular price.

This deal is open pretty much worldwide, but country restrictions sometimes apply. If you’re on a company account, or your school pays for your Coursera access, the $1 plan isn’t for you. You have to sign up as an individual using a regular email address and valid card or PayPal—no gift cards or promo codes allowed.

Now for the catches. The biggest: you have to enter your payment info, and after the first month, it auto-renews at the full monthly rate, which is usually $59. So set a reminder if you only want the $1 month. Certificates and progress stick even if you cancel, but if you let the month lapse and keep learning, you’ll pay the higher fee.

Some specialized courses, degrees, or university-tied programs aren’t included. The $1 covers most professional certificates and thousands of general courses, but stuff like full degrees and some MasterTrack programs cost extra, no matter what.

• First-time Coursera Plus users only
• Not valid with other trials or company/school access
• Requires payment info and manual cancellation to avoid extra charges
• Nearly all courses included, but not everything

Bottom line: if you’re new to Coursera and you’re not using a work or school account, you’re probably good to go. Just don’t forget about the cancellation deadline, or that $1 could turn into $59 without you even noticing.

Tips for Making the Most of Your

Your $1 can go surprisingly far if you use it right on Coursera Plus. The first trick—don’t pick courses at random. Figure out which skills matter most for your goals. Want a better job or switch industries? Go for courses with professional certificates like Google’s IT Support or Meta’s Social Media Marketing. These look legit on a resume.

Here’s how to really stretch that dollar:

• Pack your calendar. The $1 trial lasts just 30 days. Plan ahead—mark your start date and set reminders to cancel if you don’t want to get charged after.
• Make a learning schedule. You can earn multiple certificates if you’re focused. Grab syllabuses ahead of time, set daily or weekly targets, and track your progress.
• Go after popular or high-value courses. Search for Coursera’s career certificates or classes from universities like Yale, Duke, or Stanford. These usually cost $39-$79 each on their own—you get them all included.
• Use the mobile app. Download the Coursera app to take lessons whenever you’re commuting or have down time—makes it easier to keep up.
• Don’t skip graded work. Certificates only unlock if you complete the assignments and quizzes, so don’t just watch the videos.

Here’s a quick look at what you unlock with your $1 vs regular payment:

One pro tip: right before your trial ends, Coursera sometimes offers a discount if you try to cancel or pause. So if you need more time, look for these offers.

If you’re hustling, it’s possible to finish a few full-length courses and grab several certificates on busy weekends. Track your certificates in your LinkedIn profile or your resume so everything you learn counts. It’s wild, but some folks have used this $1 hack to build certified skills worth hundreds—just by being organized and picking their courses smartly.