Stepik

Overview

Stepik pairs online study with tools for building courses, including assignments that are checked automatically. It is a strong fit for educators and organizations that want to publish structured learning or connect courses to an existing learning platform. Free public-course creation is its clearest advantage; authors who need a private Enterprise setup will have to look elsewhere because new subscriptions are closed.

Key features

Registered users can create public courses at no charge using video, text and automatically checked assignments. That combination suits authors who want learners to work through material and get assignment feedback, rather than simply watch lessons. Stepik also supports paid courses with expanded functionality and built-in payment processing, but takes a commission on course payments, which authors need to account for when setting prices.

Authors can embed courses with an iframe, connect through OAuth 2, or use LTI 1.1 to integrate with learning platforms. Stepik names Moodle, Open edX, Coursera, Blackboard LMS, Canvas and Sakai as LTI-compatible platforms. This makes it a plausible option for organizations working within those systems. OAuth 2 allows limited permissions without sharing a user's password, and Stepik says its site works through an API, with API information on GitHub.

Learners can study on the website or mobile app, and Stepik supports offline learning and completion certificates. The company says it can help authors create courses and provide support after launch, including promotion. Authors planning contests, staff training, professional development or customer courses have a stated use case for the platform, though Enterprise is no longer open to new subscriptions.

Pricing

Stepik uses a freemium model. Free open courses cost free and let authors create public courses with video, text and automatically checked assignments. This is the practical starting point for anyone comfortable publishing a free course; it does not cover the paid-course functionality.

Paid courses have no plan or subscription fee, but Stepik takes a commission from course payments. The plan includes paid courses with expanded functionality and built-in payment processing. It suits authors who want to charge learners without a subscription commitment, but the commission reduces payment revenue.

Enterprise is unavailable for new subscriptions since May 2023. It previously included private courses, proctoring, complex assignments, priority support and an account manager, with a limit of 1,000 learners per private course. Organizations seeking that combination cannot start a new Enterprise subscription.

Platforms

Stepik supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows and the web, as well as API access. Learners can use the mobile app or website, while course creators can connect Stepik content with compatible external learning platforms.

Who it's for

Stepik suits independent educators and organizations that want to build public courses with structured content and automatically checked work. Its paid-course option is relevant to authors seeking payment processing without a subscription fee, provided they accept a commission. Organizations that need private-course management for a new Enterprise deployment should choose another solution.

Pros and cons

• Free public course authoring: Authors can publish video, text and automatically checked assignments without a plan fee.
• Integration choices: iframe embedding, OAuth 2, LTI 1.1 and API access support different ways to connect courses with other systems.
• Paid-course payment processing: Authors can charge learners without a subscription fee, though the commission cuts into proceeds.
• Enterprise access is closed: New subscriptions have been unavailable since May 2023, ruling out the plan's private courses, proctoring and priority support for new customers.

Alternatives

For a broader MOOC platform directory or a directory of online course marketplaces, compare the category listings. Alison is worth considering for learners seeking free self-paced courses with certificates and diplomas. edX offers a free audit track, but that track excludes graded assignments and certificates. Khan Academy is another freemium learning option, with an Enterprise Starter plan priced at $10 a year for U.S. schools and districts with 1,000 or fewer student licenses.

Brilliant may suit learners who are comfortable with a free allowance of two lessons or practice sets per day. Great Learning offers self-paced free courses and certificates for a nominal fee. freeCodeCamp is a free option for readers focused on its open-source project and coursework use. Codecademy offers a free Basic tier for exploring its learning platform, while DataCamp provides a free Basic tier with the first chapter of every course and limited practice and project access.

Verdict

Choose Stepik if you want to author structured public courses for free, or sell courses through built-in payment processing while avoiding a subscription fee. Its mix of assignment checking and integration options gives course creators practical flexibility. Look elsewhere if a new private Enterprise deployment is essential, or if the commission on paid courses does not fit your revenue model.