Editor's Review
edX began in 2012 as a joint project between MIT and Harvard, and the catalogue still leans that way: university courses, taught by university staff, with syllabi that assume you intend to do the work. The app is a way to keep going between study sessions rather than a lighter version of the subject.
How a course runs:
Most courses are built around video lectures, readings, quizzes and a discussion forum. Enrolling to audit is normally free and gives you the teaching, but usually not the graded assignments or a certificate. Paying for the verified track adds assessment, identity verification and a certificate you can share. Longer programs bundle several courses into a sequence.
What the app adds:
Video downloads are the important one. Lectures can be pulled onto the device and watched with no connection, which suits commutes and anywhere data is expensive. Progress syncs with the web version, so you can watch on a phone and write on a laptop without losing your place. Subtitles and transcripts accompany most videos.
The limits:
Not every course component survives the move to mobile. Anything involving a code editor, a simulation or a long written submission is far better on a desktop, and some course tools do not render well on a small screen. Completion rates in open online courses are low everywhere, and no app fixes the discipline problem. The 4.78 rating across 10M+ installs reflects software that is stable and does not overreach.
Features
Catalogue of courses from universities and industry organisations
Video lectures with subtitles and transcripts
Offline video downloads for study without a connection
Quizzes and graded assignments on the verified track
Discussion forums attached to each course section
Progress that syncs between the app and the website
Pros
Free audit access to serious university material
Offline downloads make commuting time usable
Course progress carries over cleanly between phone and desktop
Subject range runs well beyond the usual programming and business staples
Cons
Certificates and graded work cost money, which is not obvious at enrolment
Coding exercises and long written assignments are painful on a small screen
Nothing here addresses the real difficulty, which is finishing a course
Questions people ask
Are the courses free?
Enrolling to audit is usually free and covers lectures and readings. Graded assignments, certificates and program tracks are paid, and audit access to some courses expires after a set period.
Do the certificates count as university credit?
Most do not. They are certificates of completion tied to the institution that taught the course. A small number of programs are designed to feed into credit at a specific university, and those say so on the course page.
Can I study without an internet connection?
Videos can be downloaded for offline viewing, which covers most lecture time. Quizzes, assignment submission and forums need a connection.
