EdX, founded in the heyday of the MOOC hype, is one of the world’s largest online course providers with an active catalog of over 4,500 courses, up from just under 4,300 in 2024.

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.

In July 2024, 2U filed for bankruptcy and we’re faced with a harsh reality: 2U is bankrupt, edX seems to have stagnated, and Axim Collaborative (the non-profit from the sale that retained the $800 million) has barely made a peep. Since the acquisition, there have been at least five rounds of significant layoffs.

Meanwhile, edX courses continue to attract learners.

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 6.7 million enrollments. Since its launch, CS50 has expanded into a brand that now includes 10 courses. The whole series has received over 12 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 165K to 6.7M. There are seven courses with over 1M enrollments
• Together, they account for over 48M enrollments, with an average of 480K enrollments
• 95 courses are in English and 5 are in Spanish
• Between them, they offer over 4,300 hours of learning
• They’ve received over 3300 reviews on Class Central, with an average of 35 reviews
• Average rating: 4.34/5.0
• 77 courses are beginner level, 18 intermediate, and 5 advanced.

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 ★★★★★(198)
2. Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★☆(131)
3. IELTS Academic Test Preparation from University of Queensland ★★★★★(6)
4. CS50’s Web Programming with Python and JavaScript from Harvard University ★★★★★(38)
5. TOEFL iBT Test Preparation: The Insider’s Guide from ETS ★★★★★(7)
6. CS50’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python from Harvard University ★★★★★(26)
7. CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python from Harvard University ★★★★★(11)
8. Data Science: R Basics from Harvard University ★★★★★(12)
9. Introduction to Linux from Linux Foundation ★★★★☆(38)
10. Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies from Harvard University ★★★★★(12)
11. Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking from Harvard University ★★★★★(5)
12. Python Basics for Data Science from IBM ★★★☆☆(5)
13. English Grammar and Style from University of Queensland ★★★★☆(32)
14. Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles from Harvard University ★★★★★(32)
15. Data Science: Machine Learning from Harvard University ★★★★☆(3)
16. Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 1: The Electrical Properties of the Neuron from Harvard University ★★★★★(22)
17. Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract. from Harvard University ★★★★☆(16)
18. Basic Spanish 1: Getting Started from Universitat Politècnica de València ★★★★★(443)
19. Justice from Harvard University ★★★★★(58)
20. The Science of Happiness from University of California, Berkeley ★★★★★(35)
21. The Architectural Imagination from Harvard University ★★★★☆(16)
22. Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) from University of Michigan ★★★★★(20)
23. Introduction to Project Management from University of Adelaide ★★★★☆(6)
24. Statistics and R from Harvard University ★★★★☆(20)
25. Excel: Fundamentos y herramientas from Universitat Politècnica de València ★★★★★(620)
26. HTML5 and CSS Fundamentals from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ★★★★☆(6)
27. Principles of Biochemistry from Harvard University ★★★★★(12)
28. Academic and Business Writing from University of California, Berkeley ★★★★☆(18)
29. Leaders of Learning from Harvard University ★★★★☆(21)
30. Italian Language and Culture: Beginner (2025-2026) from Wellesley College ★★★★☆(3)
31. Introduction to Kubernetes from Linux Foundation
32. How to Write an Essay from University of California, Berkeley ★★★★☆(28)
33. Conversational English Skills | 生活英语听说 from Tsinghua University ★★★★☆(12)
34. How to Learn Online ★★★★★(2)
35. CS50’s Mobile App Development with React Native from Harvard University ★★★★★(2)
36. Introduction to Java Programming: Starting to code in Java from Universidad Carlos iii de Madrid ★★★★☆(9)
37. Gestión de proyectos de desarrollo from Inter-American Development Bank ★★★★☆(2)
38. Mechanical Ventilation for COVID-19 from Harvard University ★★★★★(27)
39. Using Python for Research from Harvard University ★★★★☆(12)
40. CS50’s Introduction to Cybersecurity from Harvard University ★★★★★(4)
41. Human Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Cases from Harvard University ★★★★★(13)
42. Probability – The Science of Uncertainty and Data from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(34)
43. Python for Data Science from University of California, San Diego ★★★★☆(48)
44. Supply Chain Analytics. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★☆☆(3)
45. Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★☆☆(30)
46. Becoming an Entrepreneur from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(5)
47. Supply Chain Fundamentals. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(14)
48. A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations from Cornell University ★★★★★(3)
49. Data Science: Visualization from Harvard University ★★★★★(6)
50. Inglés básico: conversacional y networking from Universidad Anáhuac ★★★★★(106)
51. Child Protection: Children’s Rights in Theory and Practice from Harvard University ★★★★★(5)
52. Programming Basics from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay ★★★☆☆(18)
53. Analyzing Data with Excel from IBM
54. Computing in Python I: Fundamentals and Procedural Programming from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★★★(268)
55. HTML5 Coding Essentials and Best Practices from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ★★★★☆(12)
56. Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(30)
57. Computer Science 101 from Stanford University ★★★★☆(19)
58. CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Scratch from Harvard University ★★★★☆(6)
59. AI for Everyone: Master the Basics from IBM ★★★★★(1)
60. Introduction to Marketing from The University of British Columbia ★★★★★(5)
61. Introduction to Biology – The Secret of Life from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★★(147)
62. Introduction to Data Science with Python from Harvard University ★★★★☆(3)
63. Nutrition and Health: Macronutrients and Overnutrition from Wageningen University ★★★★★(360)
64. Becoming a Successful Leader (Inclusive Leadership Training) from Catalyst ★★★★☆(1)
65. Inglés para todos: nivel básico from Universidad del Rosario
66. CS50’s Computer Science for Business Professionals from Harvard University ★★★★★(21)
67. PredictionX: Omens, Oracles & Prophecies from Harvard University ★★★☆☆(2)
68. Buddhism Through Its Scriptures. from Harvard University ★★★★☆(6)
69. Data Science: Probability from Harvard University ★★★★☆(2)
70. JavaScript Introduction from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ★☆☆☆☆(1)
71. CS50’s Computer Science for Lawyers from Harvard University ★★★★★(8)
72. Cybersecurity Fundamentals from Rochester Institute of Technology ★★★★★(24)
73. CS50’s Understanding Technology from Harvard University ★★★★☆(15)
74. Introduction to Probability from Harvard University ★★★★★(1)
75. Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry) from Harvard University ★★★★★(14)
76. Data Analytics Basics for Everyone from IBM
77. The Health Effects of Climate Change from Harvard University ★★★★★(9)
78. Excel for Everyone: Core Foundations from The University of British Columbia
79. Introduction to Corporate Finance from Columbia University ★★★★★(1)
80. Excel for Beginners from Davidson College ★★★★★(1)
81. C Programming: Getting Started from Dartmouth College
82. Managing Happiness from Harvard University
83. Machine Learning with Python: A Practical Introduction from IBM ★★★★★(1)
84. Remote Work Revolution for Everyone from Harvard University ★★★★★(4)
85. Introduction to Family Engagement in Education from Harvard University ★★★★★(8)
86. Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology from Harvard University ★★★★★(7)
87. Calculus Applied! from Harvard University ★★★★★(2)
88. Operations Management from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore ★★★★☆(2)
89. How to Learn Math: For Students from Stanford University ★★★★☆(17)
90. Fundamentals of Statistics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ★★★★☆(10)
91. Accounting and Finance from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore ★★★★★(1)
92. Improving Global Health: Focusing on Quality and Safety from Harvard University ★★★★☆(10)
93. Christianity Through Its Scriptures from Harvard University ★★★★☆(7)
94. Programación para todos (empezando con Python) from University of Michigan ★★★★☆(1)
95. Introduction to Data Science from IBM ★☆☆☆☆(1)
96. Introduction to Bookkeeping from ACCA ★★★★★(2)
97. Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Power BI from Davidson College ★★★★★(1)
98. Building Personal Resilience: Managing Anxiety and Mental Health from Harvard University
99. Hinduism Through Its Scriptures. from Harvard University ★★★★☆(3)
100. How to Code: Simple Data from The University of British Columbia ★★★★☆(15)