Real feedback. A stackable path. Not self-paced video.
IxDF offers a huge self-paced library for roughly EUR 20 a month. UX Academy is the live alternative: small groups, real tutors, weekly feedback, a real client project.
287 career-changers hired — accountants, teachers, nurses, marketers.
UX Academy vs Interaction Design Foundation.
| UX Academy | Interaction Design Foundation | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Live online, small groups (max 10), real-time tutors | Self-paced on-demand video and text; no live sessions |
| Schedule | Structured 8-week cohort, evening classes | Study at your own pace, any time |
| Length | 8-wk foundation, stackable to ~12-wk full career programme | Ongoing membership; course length varies by title |
| Price | GBP 2,000 (one course); GBP 99 deposit; price-match guarantee on comparable live courses | Approx EUR 20 per month billed annually; access to full library |
| Class size / support | Max 10; weekly tutor feedback; free ongoing mentorship | No 1:1 human mentor; AI career coach |
| Certificate | UX Academy certificate | Certificates per course (self-paced) |
| Client project | Real client project, portfolio-ready case study | Portfolio exercises; no live client brief |
| Based | London, UK (live online) | Global / fully online |
IxDF details from interaction-design.org, captured June 2026 (membership and course pages). Verify current pricing and feature set on their site before relying on this.
What you get with us.
Live feedback, not passive watching
A working designer reviews your work every week and helps you fix it.
Structure, accountability, and a stackable career path
A structured 8-week cohort (GBP 2,000) that stacks into the Career Track (GBP 1,000).
A portfolio piece and a second client project
A real client brief from week one, and a case study to show in interviews.
Not sure which course is right for you?
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Before you decide.
Is IxDF cheaper than UX Academy?
Yes, significantly. IxDF membership is approx EUR 20 per month billed annually, giving access to a large library of courses. UX Academy is GBP 2,000 for an 8-week live cohort. These are genuinely different products: IxDF is a self-paced reference library; we're a structured live course with tutors, a real client project, and a small cohort. If you're highly self-directed and want broad theory access on a tight budget, IxDF is cheaper. If you want live teaching, structure and feedback, UX Academy is built for that.
Should I choose IxDF or UX Academy?
IxDF is the right choice if you're self-directed, comfortable learning from video at your own pace, and want a broad library of UX theory at low monthly cost. UX Academy is the right choice if you want to finish a course, get real feedback from working designers on your actual work, build a portfolio case study, and make the career change in a defined time frame. Many designers use IxDF as ongoing professional development after completing a structured course - the two aren't mutually exclusive.
Does UX Academy have live tutors, unlike IxDF?
Yes. Every UX Academy session is live and real-time with a working UX designer. IxDF doesn't offer live human instruction; their support is an AI career coach and peer community forums.
Is the UX Academy certificate as recognised as an IxDF certificate?
Both award a certificate. Employers typically weight portfolio work and demonstrable skills more than the certifying body -- the case study is the real differentiator.