Neither is universally better, the right choice depends on your self-discipline, your goal, and your resources. Self-study suits disciplined students who can plan and stay consistent; coaching suits those who need structure, guidance and a fixed routine. Many toppers use a mix of both.
Self-study works if you are disciplined. It is flexible, cheap, and lets you go at your own pace and focus on weak areas. The risk: without structure or doubt-solving, some students drift, waste time, or miss topics.
Coaching works if you need structure. It gives a schedule, expert teaching, doubt-solving, peer competition and tests. The downsides are cost, travel time, a fixed pace that may be too fast or slow, and the chance of becoming dependent.
Match it to your exam and level. For boards, disciplined self-study with good books is often enough. For tough exams like JEE or NEET, many benefit from coaching or at least a structured test series, though plenty of self-taught students also succeed.
Example: A JEE aspirant in Jaipur who was self-disciplined used free online lectures and a test series instead of full coaching, scoring well and saving money. A friend who struggled with consistency did far better with the routine coaching gave him.
Be honest about yourself. Ask: can I make and follow a plan, and solve my own doubts? If yes, self-study can work. If you need accountability, coaching or a structured online course helps.
One practical tip: Whatever you choose, the deciding factor is your own study hours, because even coaching only works if you revise and practise on your own. Coaching teaches; self-study is where the learning actually happens.