How does Dcider protect my privacy?

Your decisions are stored securely in our database with encryption. We never sell your data or share it with third parties. The AI analysis happens on secure servers and isn't used to train AI models. You can delete your account and all data at any time from the app settings.

How much does Dcider cost?

Dcider offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features. After that, it's $4.99/month or $44.99/year (25% off). The free trial doesn't require a credit card to start.

How is this different from a pros and cons list?

Traditional pros/cons lists treat all factors equally and rely on your in-the-moment thinking. Dcider weighs options against your pre-defined personal values, providing an objective alignment score. The AI also surfaces considerations you might miss and tracks patterns across all your decisions over time.

Does the AI make decisions for me?

No. Dcider provides analysis and alignment scores, but you always make the final choice. Think of it as a thinking partner that helps you see how options align with what you've said matters to you. The goal is clarity, not automation.

Can I use Dcider offline?

You can view your decision history and values offline. However, AI-powered analysis requires an internet connection since it's processed on secure cloud servers.

What kind of decisions is Dcider best for?

Dcider works great for career choices, financial decisions, relationship questions, health and lifestyle changes, and any decision where you want to align your choice with your personal values. It's especially helpful when you're overthinking or facing analysis paralysis.

How do I set up my values?

When you first open the app, you'll go through a quick onboarding where you select values that matter to you (like health, family, growth, financial security) and rate their importance. You can always adjust these later in Settings.

Is Dcider available on Android?

Currently, Dcider is iOS-only. We're focused on making the iOS experience great first. Android support may come in the future based on demand.

EducationUpdated Jan 2026

Should I Take an Online Course? A Values-Based Decision Framework

An online course promises to teach you something valuable—a new skill, a new field, personal enrichment. But you've maybe started courses before and not finished. You're wondering if this investment of time and money will actually lead somewhere or just become another abandoned tab.

Key Takeaway

This decision is fundamentally about Skill Acquisition vs. Self-Discipline. Your choice will also impact your time availability.

The Core Values at Stake

This decision touches on several fundamental values that may be in tension with each other:

Skill Acquisition

Your genuine desire to learn something new. Consider whether the course content actually serves your goals.

Self-Discipline

Your ability to complete self-directed learning. Online courses require motivation without external accountability.

Time Availability

Your realistic availability to commit to coursework. Be honest about whether you'll actually make time.

Learning Style Fit

How well online learning matches your needs. Some people thrive with video instruction; others need live interaction.

Credential Value

Whether the course provides meaningful credentials. Online course certificates vary wildly in recognition.

5 Key Questions to Ask Yourself

Before making this decision, work through these questions honestly:

1What specifically do I want to learn, and is a course the best way to learn it?
2What is my track record with online courses—have I finished previous ones?
3When specifically will I make time for this course?
4Do I need the credential or just the knowledge?
5Could I learn this for free through other resources?

Key Considerations

As you weigh this decision, keep these important factors in mind:

Your history with online learning completion

Whether you need the credential or just the knowledge

The course's reputation and instructor quality

Cost vs. free alternatives for the same content

Your realistic availability to commit to learning

Whether the format matches your learning style

How you'll apply what you learn (application cements learning)

Watch Out For: Course Collection Syndrome

We often buy courses as a form of goal-satisfaction without actually completing them. The purchase feels like progress. Online course completion rates are notoriously low (often under 15%). Be honest about whether you'll finish before buying another course to add to your collection.

Make This Decision With Clarity

Don't just guess. Use Dcider to calculate your alignment score and make decisions that truly reflect your values.

Download on the App Store

Frequently Asked Questions

Are online courses worth it?

If you complete them and apply the learning, yes. The value is in the knowledge gained, not the certificate. But most people don't finish. Be honest about your completion likelihood before investing. Free courses reduce the financial risk of non-completion.

Do employers value online course certificates?

Generally, online course certificates carry little weight with employers compared to degrees or recognized certifications. Exceptions exist for courses from prestigious universities or in-demand technical skills. The learning matters more than the certificate.

How do I actually finish an online course?

Schedule specific time for coursework like an appointment. Set weekly goals. Find an accountability partner or study group. Apply learning immediately through projects. Choose courses that match your genuine interest, not what you think you should learn.

Are free online courses as good as paid ones?

Often yes. MIT OpenCourseWare, Khan Academy, and many YouTube instructors offer excellent free education. Paid courses sometimes offer better production quality, certificates, or community access. But content quality doesn't necessarily correlate with price.

Related Decisions

Should I Learn to Code?

Coding seems like a superpower that could open doors to new careers and opportunities. But you're not sure if you have the aptitude, if it's too late to start, or if you should invest months of effort learning something you might not enjoy. The tech industry's promise beckons while imposter syndrome holds you back.

Should I Get a Professional Certification?

You're considering a professional certification to advance your career. But certifications cost money and time, and you're not sure if yours will actually make a difference or if it's just credential inflation. You're trying to determine if this investment will pay off.

Should I Go to a Coding Bootcamp?

Coding bootcamps promise to transform you into a developer in just weeks or months, opening doors to high-paying tech careers. But they're expensive, the job placement claims seem too good to be true, and you're not sure if you're the right candidate or if the industry has become saturated.

People Also Considered

Similar decisions in other areas of life:

Quit My Job Buy or Rent a Home Move to a New City

Sources

Xu, D., & Jaggars, S. S. (2014). Performance gaps between online and face-to-face courses. The Journal of Higher Education.doi:10.1353/jhe.2014.0028
Means, B., Bakia, M., & Murphy, R. (2014). Learning Online: What Research Tells Us About Whether, When and How. Routledge.doi:10.4324/9780203095959

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