Udemy: What It Really Offers for Online Learning and Teaching
When you think of Udemy, a global online learning platform where anyone can create or take courses. Also known as an e-learning marketplace, it connects millions of learners with instructors on everything from coding to cooking. But here’s the truth most people don’t tell you: Udemy isn’t a school. It’s a marketplace. And like any marketplace, success depends on who’s selling, not just what’s for sale.
For students, Udemy offers cheap, on-demand courses—often under $20 during sales. You can learn Python, Photoshop, or even how to start a side hustle without enrolling in a degree program. But here’s the catch: the quality varies wildly. Some courses are polished and taught by industry pros. Others are rushed, outdated, or just rehashed YouTube videos with a fancy intro. There’s no quality control. You’re on your own to find the good stuff.
For teachers, Udemy is a double-edged sword. It gives you access to over 50 million students worldwide. But the platform takes a huge cut—up to 97% of your revenue if you don’t drive your own traffic. Most instructors make less than $100 a month. Only a tiny fraction earn serious money, and they all have one thing in common: they already had an audience. If you’re starting from zero, Udemy won’t build your brand for you. That’s why top earners use Udemy as a lead generator, not their main income. They promote their Udemy course to build an email list, then sell higher-priced coaching, books, or their own teaching online, the practice of delivering education through digital platforms outside of traditional institutions products.
Udemy doesn’t compete with e-learning income, money earned by creating and selling digital educational content—it’s one way to get started in it. But if you want real earnings, you need your own website, your own audience, and your own pricing power. Platforms like Teachable or Thinkific let you keep 95%+ of sales, but they require marketing muscle. Udemy handles the traffic for you—but at a steep price.
What you’ll find below are real stories and data from people who’ve used Udemy—both as learners and creators. We’ll show you what actually works, what’s a waste of time, and how to decide if it’s right for you. No fluff. Just what you need to know before you click "Enroll" or hit "Publish."
