The Great Courses Plus 30-Day Free Trial
A Story of Hidden Treasures
When Thomas lost his job during the pandemic, he suddenly had more time than he knew what to do with. At first, the days dragged on — news cycles, half-finished books, endless scrolling on his phone. One day, while browsing online, he stumbled across something different: The Great Courses Plus 30-day free trial.
Curious, he signed up. Within minutes, his living room transformed into a lecture hall. A Yale historian explained the rise and fall of ancient civilizations. A concert pianist broke down Beethoven’s genius. A psychologist walked through the mysteries of the human brain. Thirty days later, Thomas hadn’t just filled his time — he had reignited his curiosity and discovered passions he didn’t know he had.
That’s the magic of The Great Courses Plus. It’s not just content. It’s a portal into thousands of expertly taught subjects that help you grow, explore, and keep learning for life. And with their 30-day free trial, you can test it all without spending a dime.
👉 Start Your 30 Days Free Trial
The Age of Lifelong Learning
We live in a time when learning has escaped the walls of traditional classrooms. No longer do you need to pay hefty tuition or relocate to a university town to learn from top professors. The internet has democratized education, and platforms like The Great Courses Plus are at the heart of this revolution.
Unlike many platforms that focus narrowly on career advancement or certificates, The Great Courses Plus celebrates knowledge for its own sake. It’s for the curious. The kind of people who want to know how Shakespeare influenced modern drama, how Einstein changed our understanding of time, or how to cook authentic Italian pasta.
This article dives deep into The Great Courses Plus 30-day trial, showing you what it offers, how to make the most of it, and why it could be the spark you need to fall in love with learning again.
What is The Great Courses Plus?
The Great Courses Plus was born out of The Teaching Company, which started more than 30 years ago. Its original mission was simple: capture the brilliance of world-class professors and bring it to people’s homes. Back then, this meant VHS tapes and DVDs. Today, it’s a slick streaming platform with an enormous library of courses.
Here’s what you’ll find inside:
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Over 13,000 video lectures spanning history, literature, philosophy, music, science, mathematics, economics, and more.
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Lectures taught by award-winning professors and experts from top institutions like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford.
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Streaming across all devices: web browser, iOS and Android apps, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire.
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Options for both video and audio formats, so you can watch or listen on the go.
Think of it as a cross between a university library and Netflix. You browse, you pick what fascinates you, and you dive in.
The 30-Day Free Trial: How It Works
The 30-day free trial is your golden ticket. For one month, you get full, unlimited access to the entire library — no watered-down selection, no hidden limitations.
Here’s how it works:
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Sign up online with just your email and payment details.
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Stream instantly from any device. No waiting, no extra apps needed beyond the free Great Courses Plus app.
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Cancel anytime within 30 days and pay nothing. If you don’t cancel, your subscription rolls into a monthly or annual plan.
During those 30 days, you could:
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Watch a complete 24-lecture course on World War II.
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Sample a cooking class on Mediterranean cuisine.
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Take a crash course in financial literacy.
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Explore the mysteries of black holes.
The variety is staggering, and you don’t need to commit financially to explore it.
👉 Start Your 30 Days Free Trial
Pros of the Free Trial / Platform
What makes The Great Courses Plus stand out in a crowded market of online learning? Let’s break it down.
a. Risk-Free Exploration
Most subscription services ask you to pay upfront. The Great Courses Plus gives you a full month to decide. It’s a rare chance to try without pressure.
b. Access to Renowned Professors
This isn’t YouTube or a random blog. These are professors who’ve won teaching awards, researchers at the forefront of their fields, and experts with decades of experience.
c. Variety Across Disciplines
Want to brush up on art history while learning about astrophysics? Or take a class on how to play better chess while also watching lectures on U.S. government? The range is unmatched.
d. High-Quality Production
Courses are professionally filmed and edited. The pacing feels like sitting in an actual classroom, but with the bonus of pause, rewind, and rewatch anytime.
e. Learn Anywhere
Whether on your commute, treadmill, or living room couch, The Great Courses Plus fits into your lifestyle.
In short: the 30-day trial is more than a preview. It’s an immersive experience that lets you live as a student again, without exams or tuition fees.
Tips to Make the Most of the 30 Days
A month may sound long, but with thousands of courses to choose from, it can fly by. Here are strategies to squeeze the most value from your trial.
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Set a Learning Goal
Decide what you want to explore. It could be something practical (personal finance) or something purely for curiosity (ancient mythology). -
Pick 3 to 5 Courses
Don’t try to sample everything. Narrow down your list and commit to completing at least one course from start to finish. -
Schedule Study Time
Treat it like a university class. Block out time each day or week, and stick to it. -
Use the App Features
Download lectures for offline viewing, bookmark favorites, and take notes. -
Mix Fun with Depth
Pair a heavier course (say, quantum mechanics) with something lighter (like cooking or music appreciation). That balance keeps learning fresh. -
Review Before Day 30
As your trial nears the end, reflect: Did you use it enough? Is it worth continuing? That honest audit will help you decide.
👉 Start Your 30 Days Free Trial
Comparison with Other Platforms
With so many e-learning platforms around, where does The Great Courses Plus fit?
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Versus Coursera / edX: Those focus on university-style courses with certificates. Great Courses Plus is about learning for personal enrichment, without tests or grades.
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Versus Udemy: Udemy has thousands of user-generated courses, but quality varies. The Great Courses Plus guarantees expert-level instruction.
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Versus MasterClass: MasterClass is celebrity-driven (think Gordon Ramsay or Serena Williams). Great Courses Plus is professor-driven, rooted in academia.
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Versus YouTube: YouTube is free, but it’s scattered. The Great Courses Plus is curated, organized, and distraction-free.
If your goal is a diploma, you might look elsewhere. If your goal is to feed your curiosity and keep your mind sharp, The Great Courses Plus is a leader.
Post-Trial Subscription Options & Pricing
So what happens when your 30 days are up? You have two main choices:
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Monthly Plan: Typically around $20/month, billed monthly.
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Annual Plan: Around $150/year, which brings the cost down significantly if you commit upfront.
Occasionally, discounts or promotions are available, especially for annual memberships. And here’s something unique: while The Great Courses Plus is subscription-based, the original Great Courses model also lets you buy courses outright. So if you fall in love with a specific class, you can own it forever.
For Thomas — the man from our opening story — the annual plan was a no-brainer. For the price of one dinner out, he gained access to a year of learning that rekindled his sense of wonder.
👉 Start Your 30 Days Free Trial
Conclusion: Why You Should Try It Today
The Great Courses Plus isn’t about chasing grades or padding résumés. It’s about something more profound — keeping the joy of learning alive.
The 30-day free trial is your chance to rediscover curiosity without risk. Whether you’re looking to expand your mind, explore a hobby, or simply bring more meaning into your downtime, it’s an invitation worth accepting.
So, like Thomas, take that step. Sign up, press play, and let yourself be surprised at what catches your imagination. Because once you taste the thrill of learning again, those 30 days might just change the way you spend the rest of your year.
