edX vs Maven

edX is an online course provider offering courses, certificates, executive education, microcredentials and degrees from edX, member institutions, 2U and other organizations. Learners can audit courses for free, but the audit track limits content, omits graded assignments and certificates, and ends access to materials when the course ends. Verified individual courses start at around $50 and include graded work, a certificate and continued access to lectures, readings and lessons. Multi-course professional certificate programs start at around $500; executive education programs can cost at least $2,500. Courses combine video and text, discussions, and different problems and assessments; many are self-paced, and individual courses generally take two to six weeks. Android and iOS apps support enrollment, most assignments, discussions and offline video downloads, but not timed or proctored exams. Institutional and business offerings include LMS integrations, SSO, grade pass-back, analytics dashboards and administrative tools. edX reports a network of 100 million learners and more than 250 content partners.

Maven is a free web platform for experts and creators offering cohort-based courses directly to their audiences. It also supports one-day workshops and free interactive Lightning Lessons. Cohort courses emphasize active learning through projects and learning with peers. Course formats include Classic, Weekend Seminar, Hybrid, live sessions, projects, pre-recorded videos, readings, templates, and resource links. Maven describes its instructor tools as an all-in-one set covering email marketing, landing pages, lead generation, content, and community. Stripe processes enrollment payments and instructor payouts. For course events, Maven can create Zoom links and share recordings with students. Lightning Lessons work with Zoom Pro or Business, but not Google Meet, Teams, or other webinar platforms. Maven is free until a student pays; for paid enrollments, it keeps 10%, while instructors receive 90% minus Stripe fees. Its guidance sets a $200 minimum for any paid offering. Maven handles refund requests, and its guarantee allows full refunds through halfway completion.