thegreatcourses.com
Affiliate Disclosure: WebShopsCompare.com contains affiliate links and has commercial relationships with some or all of the companies, products or services featured on this page. We may receive compensation if you click a link, make a purchase, register, submit an enquiry or complete another qualifying action. Where applicable, compensation may influence which offers or providers are featured and their placement. For more information, please read our Affiliate Disclosure & Disclaimer. We also display third-party advertisements served by Google. See our Cookie Policy.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, WebShopsCompare.com is an independent website operated by International Ads Ltd. We are not the manufacturer, retailer or provider of the third-party products or services featured on this Site and are not an employee, agent or representative of the companies mentioned. All third-party trademarks, logos, product names and brand names are the property of their respective owners.
TheGreatCourses.com sells in-depth, professor-led video and audio lecture series across liberal-arts and practical topics. Compare here if you want college-style courses you can buy outright (or stream) and you’re willing to wait for the frequent sitewide discounts.
Predictable sale cadence
Sitewide and featured sales recur regularly — waiting for a promotion usually saves far more than one-off coupons.
Buy or subscribe
Compare buying a single course to subscribing to the streaming service if you plan to watch many titles; subscription often beats multiple purchases.
Satisfaction promise
Most purchases come with a 30-day satisfaction window — useful if you want to preview and request a refund.
What the site is known for
The Great Courses is strongest for deep, university-style lecture series taught by professors and field experts — full multi-hour courses on history, science, philosophy, music, photography and more. Expect long-form lessons designed for repeat reference rather than short how-to clips: ideal if you want a comprehensive single-topic deep dive.
How to get the best price
They run predictable featured sales (holidays, summer, year-end) that cut prices dramatically; sales often include bundles and ‘courses under $X’ promotions. Sign up for emails, check the site’s featured-sale page, and compare single-course purchase cost versus subscribing to the company’s streaming service if you’ll watch multiple courses — the subscription can be cheaper for heavy users.
Shipping, returns and trust
Streaming and downloadable courses are available immediately; physical DVD sets ship within days. Most purchases are covered by a 30-day satisfaction/return window — read the product page for exceptions (some digital add-ons differ). The site uses standard secure checkout and has longstanding customer-support/help pages if you need refunds or media replacements.
What they sell
Verdict
Worth it when
- Great depth: long, multi-lecture courses taught by academics — ideal for serious self-study
- Buy-once ownership option: download or own DVDs for repeated reference
- Frequent big sales and bundles — you can get premium courses at steep discounts
Skip it if
- Skip it if you want short, interactive tutorials or badge/certificate-driven courses
- Skip it if you need live instruction or one-on-one feedback rather than recorded lectures
FAQ
Does The Great Courses match prices?
When do the biggest discounts happen?
What is the returns policy?
