udemy personal plan vs business plan

Udemy for Business vs Personal Plan: 3 Things You Should Know

Two decades ago, would you have thought it’s possible to learn entirely via the internet?

Now, the internet has become an integral part of education, thanks to the efforts of platforms such as Udemy. You don’t have to send your entire team to a physical school to acquire the necessary knowledge to take your company to the next level.

With Udemy focusing on providing quality and timely learning material, they’ve enabled small businesses like yours incredible flexibility and utility in training staff . For one, it means you can access services at a fraction of the cost of traditional education, while providing intuitive features and convenience.

To this end, Udemy developed the Udemy for Business and Personal plans. The question is, do you know enough to choose the plan to help your team level up ?

The bottom line is, it’s not just enough to know about those two plans; you need to understand how they operate in order to decide which one is best for you.

1: Features Vary by Plan

Every learning program could do with educational aids. That’s why Udemy has ensured to bundle as many necessary features into the subscriptions that enhance the learning experience and outcomes. 

The use of virtual utilities such as analytics help determine milestones such as learning progress and pace, and also point out where learners are encountering problems.

Features enrich the learning environment and its management. To find out which plan works best for your stated aims. Let’s take a look at both.

Udemy For Business

Udemy for Business has three sub plans within it, which are as follows.

The Enterprise plan targets companies looking to enrol 21 or more people onto the platform. It is the best option for an organization looking to create learning paths for its staff, enabling them to level up from beginners to expert level.

The Team plan targets companies with between 5 and 20 users . It has reduced features in comparison to the Enterprise plan, making it easier for a small team to manage.

The Leadership Development Programs is a hyperfocused plan in terms of content, but has no limit as to the number of participants. It is aimed at providing leadership development courses with an emphasis on tangible outcomes.

Here’s a quick look at the features of the three plans within the Udemy for Business offering.

There are features that users across all three sub plans will get to enjoy, though. These include:

• Mobile app access
• Custom logos and URLs
• Insights and analytics reports

If you’re looking to upgrade your tech team’s skills, then the Enterprise plan offers the Udemy Business Pro add-on. It will provide virtual labs and sandbox environments for software teams to practice and accelerate their learning.

You should note, however, that the quality of analytics available depends on the sub plan you choose. For instance, while the Enterprise plan may offer advanced insights, the Enterprise Development Programs offer AI powered insights and analytics.

Udemy Personal Plan

The Udemy Personal plan squarely aims at individuals looking to improve themselves, whether in terms of their job skills, hobbies, interests or personal development.

The only benefit for Personal Plan users is access to thousands of courses for a reasonable monthly fee. The features available are greatly skewed towards the Udemy for Business subscription plans. 

If you are looking to grow your organization’s leaders or provide training to a group of five or more, then the Udemy Business option makes the most sense. If, however, you are an individual or small team looking to grow your skills or develop yourselves, then Udemy Personal it is.

2: Costs Depend on What You’re Looking To Accomplish

Udemy’s pricing is structured in a manner as to serve the needs of different types of learners, and the features they may need. There is a wrench in the works to think of though.

To start with, the Personal Plan costs $30 per month , of which the platform also allows you a free trial of 7 days, after which billing kicks in. For the thousands of courses you’ll have access to, this is a good starting point for an individual.

The wrench comes in with the Udemy for Business plan. How much you will pay depends on the sub plan you find meets your requirements. 

The Udemy for Business’ Team plan costs $360 per person annually, though you can enjoy a 14-day free trial . When you break down the cost into monthly terms, you’ll realize it costs the same as the Personal Plan, with intuitive features added into the deal.

If you’re looking to onboard a team of 10, the cost translates to $3600. When you factor in the features available to the plan users, it starts to seem like a very good deal.

We believe, that is, you and I, that education is not an expense. We believe it is an investment President Lyndon B Johnson

The Enterprise and Leadership Development Programs offer you greater flexibility in terms of pricing. The prices are negotiable and are dependent on the number of people you’re looking to onboard, the course material you’re looking to cover and the extra features necessary for the training.

Also, the fact that the two sub plans allow you to create custom topics for the learning group means you have an incredible level of convenience. This capability makes the two plans more cost-effective for large teams with specialized training needs.

The catch, though, is Udemy requires upfront payments for all its subscription options, though you can enjoy a demo for the Enterprise and Leadership Development programs. 

3: Course Specialization Varies by Plan

Udemy has designed its plans to offer specialized courses, depending on what you may be looking for your team to learn and accomplish. This is the reason why the Udemy for Business plan has three different offerings within it.

The course specialization comes about by Udemy curating the more than 213,000 courses available on the platform to find the ones with the most value. This doesn’t mean if you subscribe to a plan with a certain specialization that you can’t access courses you fancy.

The Personal Plan has access to 6,000 courses, which tend to span a mix of personal and professional development topics . They include:

• IT and software development
• Business and negotiation skills
• Soft Skills and productivity

Udemy for Business, on the other hand, has access to more than 19,000 courses . Among these include expert coaching sessions , while enabling participants to hold live events on the platform such as lectures. 

The content is curated by thought leaders in specific leadership domains and universities. Courses selected for the Udemy for Business plan tend to span topics such as:

• Cloud computing and AI development
• Office productivity
• Project management and operations
• Workplace and human resources
• Finance and accounting

While the users of the Leadership Development Program do have access to the curated business courses, they have access to more than 68 courses tailor-made for it.

Choosing the Best Plan For You

The choice between Udemy for Business offerings or Personal Plan greatly depends on your needs and constitution. Your team’s size, scope of knowledge or skills you’d like to gain, and the overall goal of the training are a few of the criteria that will help direct your choice. 

For large teams looking to share educational materials and resources, then Udemy for Business makes absolute sense. The Leadership Development Programs and Enterprise sub plan can be cost-effective for large teams, and for the long haul.

In contrast, the Personal Plan makes the most sense for individuals and a team of less than five. The large and wide cross-section of courses available to subscribers means you’ll hardly run out of learning material.

In a nutshell, it’s important to note that these plans are an investment. Making the right choice means striking a balance between what you need to accomplish and how much you’re willing to spend.

Share on Facebook:

Katrina McKinnon

I'm Katrina McKinnon, the author behind Small Revolution . With two decades of hands-on experience in online work, running eCommerce stores, web agency and job boards, I'm now on a mission to empower you to work from home and achieve work-life balance. My passion lies in crafting insightful, education content. I have taught thousands of students and employees how to write, do SEO, manage eCommerce stores and work as Virtual Assistants. Join our most popular course: SEO Article Masterclass

Udemy Pricing: Do They Offer a Monthly or Annual Plan?

Carlos Eduardo

February 27, 2024

Certain links on our site are affiliated. When you buy through these links, we might receive a commission without any extra cost to you. This commission helps sustain our work, maintain our website, and ensures our reviews stay impartial despite any affiliate relationships. Learn more .

Last Updated on April, 2024

How expensive is Udemy? How do the costs work with Udemy? Which is better in terms of expenses: individual courses or personal plans? What’s the refund policy?

Are these some of the questions you want accurate and updated answers for?

If so, you’re in the right place.

This article covers EVERYTHING about Udemy costs, with a special section dedicated to teaching you how to get the most value with Udemy.

Hold on; why should you trust me?

Let’s start with a quick summary.

Quick Summary

Costs and pricing vary for different options on Udemy, including individual courses, personal subscription plans, and business plans. Free courses are available, but may not offer as much depth as paid courses. Udemy also offers discounts and a 30-day refund policy for individual courses.

Udemy offers a diverse range of courses for different skill levels, making it a useful platform for professionals, students, and anyone looking to learn new skills.

Instructors have control over the pricing of their courses on Udemy, but discounts are also available through the platform.

Why Trust Me?

Udemy costs 360° summary, is udemy free, udemy free courses.

• Who Decides the Course Price?

Udemy Personal Plan Subscription

Udemy for business, accepted currencies and payment methods, bonus: how to get udemy discount codes, for individual courses, for subscriptions/plans (udemy personal plan + business), udemy vs. masterclass, udemy vs. coursera, udemy vs. skillshare, udemy cost comparison with skillshare, masterclass, and coursera, who is udemy best for, how to purchase udemy, how to get the most value out of udemy: my personal secrets, udemy pros and cons, are there free udemy courses, how much are paid courses in udemy, do udemy free courses offer certificates, are udemy free courses valuable, was this article helpful.

I’ve been using Udemy since 2012 with multiple certificates that upskilled me affordably — I know the platform very well.

I formulated this article after reading the latest Udemy policies and reading several Reddit and Quora threads where there is accurate feedback from real customers. 

Finally, I aim to compare Udemy with competitors and summarize everything as you read through.

The cherry on top is my special Udemy recipe for making the most out of your purchase.

Although I have elaborated all the information in this article, the table below summarizes everything.

**billed annually

Udemy has over 10,000 free courses and offers trials for all subscription plans. It’s safe to say Udemy is free, but you have the paid options with more benefits.

The quality of free courses comes close to that of the paid courses. However, the subject area and the depth are not the same.

I’ll elaborate on them in the next section.

Udemy Courses Cost Breakdown

Udemy has four learning types, as mentioned in the table above. Let’s look at them in detail next.

As I said earlier, Udemy offers hundreds of free courses. You can easily browse them on their website, but they are currently unavailable in the Udemy app.

Here’s a glimpse of what you get.

Additionally, I’ve taken enough paid Udemy courses to confirm that the content depth is relatively lower in free courses. 

The instructors who offer free Udemy courses usually have paid versions of the same topic. The typical free Udemy course sometimes covers the full content, and sometimes the foundation. The covered course content varies depending on the lecturer and the course type.

However, even if you don’t want paid courses, you can still learn so much from free courses. For example, I would recommend this Useful Excel for Beginners course ( Link ) to anyone.

With that covered, let’s dive deep into Udemy’s cost on paid courses.

Udemy Paid Courses

One of the most significant pocket-friendly conveniences with Udemy is that you can buy individual courses. 

Not even MasterClass allows that luxury.

As I’ve mentioned in the summary, the pricing of paid Udemy courses varies between $19.99 and $199.99. However, Udemy constantly offers discounts .

You can simply subscribe to the emails and be notified whenever a special promotion comes up for lower Udemy pricing. Their only rule about discounted courses is that the price cannot be any lower than $12.99, which is fair.

For these prices, the paid courses are, much more profound than any free course. I have also noticed how these courses offer more downloadable resources, whereas most free courses don’t have any.

The personalized certificate is the most impactful difference between free and paid Udemy courses. To ensure the quality of the certification, each course has its completion benchmark requirements. 

After all, you don’t plan on skimming valuable learning content, right? The Udemy app lets you conveniently access the paid Udemy courses. This convenient accessibility increases the value of your investment.

You can learn everything at your own pace as you get lifetime access to all Udemy paid courses. 

And that’s not even the best part.

Most star instructors want to remain at the top while staying relevant as time goes on. That’s why they constantly update the course content with NEW lectures and downloadable materials.

As you have lifetime access to all courses, you can access these new lectures at NO EXTRA COST.

Finally, Udemy has ensured that their learners are satisfied with their investment. If you want a refund, you can get it in under 30 days. I’ve explained the whole process in a later topic.

Who Decides the Course Price ?

Although Udemy moderates it, course instructors have complete control of Udemy pricing. Because Udemy is well-established, the platform can offer discounts just as much as the course instructor.

Instructors should explicitly request to be included in the Udemy Deals programs. However, similar to course approval on the platform, Udemy has the right to decide whether they should be included or not.

This typically depends on the reviews, number of students enrolled, and overall rating. With that covered, let’s discuss the personal subscription.

Udemy’s monthly personal subscription plan comes at $16.58 per month. 

The Udemy personal plan subscription lets you can access a collection of 10,500+ top-rated courses in all categories. We’re talking about tech, business, art, self-improvement, and many more.

In the past, there has been a slight confusion about whether the personal plan offers you the certification; they do. 

All you need to do is finish each lecture and mark it as complete.

This Reddit thread is an excellent example of that. 

However, I disagree with the OP (original poster) as I have received enough customer support. My advice is to contact Udemy Support. When you contact Udemy, the on-platform agents will assist you with anything.

Although there is no direct refund similar to individual courses, Udemy offers an alternative; I’ll discuss it under a forthcoming topic.

If you represent an organization and want to educate your team, choosing Udemy for Business (subscription service) is the most cost-effective solution.

Udemy for Business comes in three subscription service variations:

The Enterprise subscription plan is dedicated to teams with more than 20 people. Its typical price is $30/user/month, but you’ll notice that Udemy requests you to contact sales or request a demo.

I assume this is because they tend to change prices over time.

However, this hasn’t been the case with the Team subscription plan, which is dedicated to 5-20 people. The pricing is $30/user/month (same as the enterprise plan). 

However, there’s a clear difference.

In the enterprise plan, you get the following features that are NOT included in the Team Plan:

The international course collection refers to the online courses delivered in different languages, including French, German, Spanish, Brazilian, Portuguese, and Japanese. 

This makes the platform compatible with different countries.

Then comes the Leadership Academy (subscription model) for groups of 25 or more. The pricing for this is not openly shared and depends on your requirements. Udemy asks for your business email, and they get back to you.

I’ll discuss the refund policies of each subscription model in a later topic.

Next, get to know about each currency Udemy accepts.

Get to know more about Udemy Business in this review. Also look at the bestest best Udemy courses of all time.

You’re good to go as long as you have a debit or credit card like MasterCard or Visa, American Express, JCB, or even Discover. 

There are special plans if you’re a student. If you’re a Brazilian student, you can buy Udemy online courses using a Boleto Bancario.

Conversely, Latin American students and some European and Asian students can also pay using cash payments or bank transfers.

Additionally, you can also pay via PayPal from most countries, including the US.

However, payment methods, except for debit or credit cards, heavily depend on your device and the country you’re located in.

Udemy also allows you to purchase through Apple and Google Play Store.

However, ultimately, it will most likely be the credit or the debit card you use on the platforms. The next subtopic is about getting Udemy discount codes.

Any review sponsored by Udemy will tell you that finding coupon codes is tough. However, I’m here to help.

Udemy discounts or coupon codes are available on many websites, although you need to steer clear of any website that makes claims for 100% off codes; they don’t work.

You can get discount codes from this website , and there’s no harm in trying to reduce the cost of individual courses.

Don’t get discouraged if they don’t work. Sometimes, Udemy itself gives away promotions via email.

That’s why signing up for their emails will save you a small fortune.

On top of that, Udemy also holds sales from time to time that you shouldn’t miss. It’ll be easier If you’re a regular on the site with the email notifications on.

Let’s talk about refunds next.

Udemy Refund: Full Explanation

You can get back the price listed for any Udemy paid course. Let’s look at how it works across different plans, including Business Udemy. 

Udemy has a fair refund policy, which is straightforward and simple.

Considering individual courses, each course has a 30-day refund eligibility period. By that, I mean you won’t automatically receive the refund simply because you requested it within 30 days.

99% of those who didn’t receive the refund, even if they requested it within 30 days, were because they had watched a significant portion of the course.

You need to fulfill 2 requirements to receive an individual course refund:

Here’s the Udemy Refund Process:

Let me explain about Udemy credits and full and partial refunds next.

Will You Always Receive The Cash Back Fully?

Deciding whether you want a full or partial refund is up to you. If you have watched too much in the course, then it’s up to Udemy.

What if you mistakenly bought a course and what you actually want isn’t there?

In such a case, it would be preferable to just buy the course you want instead of receiving a refund.

To cater to this need, Udemy also offers refunds with Udemy credits that apply to the next immediate Udemy course you buy.

Needless to say, the price difference decides whether you’ll have to pay more or end with extra Udemy credits.

(In case you’ve been wondering, none of these features are included in LinkedIn Learning.)

Ever since I can remember, and also currently, Udemy offers refunds for subscriptions, despite what several other online reviews say. 

This applies to any Udemy personal plan, just as much as Udemy for Business.

You get a generous 7-day trial period for personal plans. For Udemy for Business plans, the trial duration is 14 days. So, you can easily get your money back during this period if you’re unhappy with it.

It’s a relief that Udemy for Business offers refunds, whereas most other online learning platforms don’t do so.

Based on some online reviews, there’s no clear indication of what factors determine the refund eligibility of subscriptions. My advice is to do it as soon as possible with less watch time on the content.

Here’s my complete guide on Udemy Refund if you want to learn all about it.

Udemy Vs. Competitors 

Udemy’s top competitors are MasterClass, SkillShare, and Coursera. 

MasterClass is mainly known for its celebrity instructors. Being a person who followed it, I can confidently say that Udemy has more content and diversity. However, the industry expertise MasterClass instructors bring is unparalleled.

Think about learning movie directing from Martin Scorcese and cooking from Chef Gordon Ramsay — there’s a unique appeal to it, isn’t there? However, Udemy has more downloadable content, while MasterClass offers only one coursebook. 

The biggest downside of MasterClass is that it doesn’t offer any kind of personalized certification. However, you’ll love it if you love learning from the stars.

Coursera comes close to the quality that Udemy offers. Coursera’s most significant advantage is that it is heavily affiliated with accredited institutes. Because of that, the average price is much higher. 

Udemy is recommendable if you want to learn impactful skills from certified and recognized instructors with certification for an affordable price.

If accreditation is your priority, and the price isn’t a deciding factor, you may also like Coursera. However, you should know that Coursera doesn’t have the vast course library that Udemy offers.

Udemy offers both individual online courses with lifetime unlimited access and monthly subscriptions; Skillshare only offers monthly subscriptions. If you’re more of a subscription person, you may like Skillshare too.

Like Coursera, Skillshare doesn’t have the big course library Udemy has; it offers only 35,000+ online courses when Udemy offers 210,000+.

Another reason why I personally don’t like Skillshare is because the platform doesn’t provide a certificate of completion. I’m also not satisfied with the instructor base.

With that covered, let me quickly do a price comparison.

I rated Udemy with 5 stars because it’s perfectly balanced; individual courses and monthly plans with generous refund policies and an abundance of courses for which you get completion certificates that you can upload to LinkedIn easily. You can easily purchase any course.

Coursera comes in second place as it offers pretty much the same, but with a smaller course library for a higher price. However, with Coursera, you receive a certificate of completion. 

The third place is a tie between MasterClass and Skillshare, as neither offers personalized certificates of completion. You also don’t get individual courses, although some might love learning from beloved celebrities.

Next, let me tell you who Udemy is ideal for.

I would easily recommend Udemy for you if you are:

I could go on, but I’m sure this draws a clear picture. To make it easier, almost all Udemy courses list down the prerequisites, giving you a clear hint of whether you belong in the group.

Although I briefly covered the next topic earlier, let me quickly explain the purchasing process.

With individual courses, let’s assume you have picked the course you want. For example, let’s pick “ The Complete Digital Marketing Guide – 24 Courses in 1 ”. The image below is the course landing page.

After that, you can either click the Buy Now or Add to Cart buttons. The heart button is there to save them for later viewing. The price is listed in bold letters on the course landing page.

If you have a coupon code, you can click the Apply Coupon button and apply it. Once you click the Buy Now or Check Out from the cart, you will end up on this interface. Check if the country is correct before proceeding. 

As you can see, there are two payment options. Udemy credits will show up here if you have any. If you select the credit/debit card, the menu will drop down to add card details. If you choose to pay with PayPal, Udemy will redirect to PayPal.

Make the payment, and you can start your all-new Udemy course.

I know a lot of readers like my personal secrets to make the most out of all the educational platforms I review. I got you for Udemy as well.

There are so many online reviews that you have to check for the credibility of the instructor and the course rating; there are prerequisites.

When I choose courses, I always check the what you’ll learn section. Instructors are benefit-oriented as the platform aims to fulfill specific objectives. Take a moment and confirm the extent to which these learning outcomes tally with your needs.

The same what you’ll learn tab is an excellent indication of constantly updating courses. Some instructors want to stay on top, which ultimately serves you. They add new course content as the world updates. You should try to find courses like these.

For instance, the top digital marketing courses now feature ChatGPT and other generative AI for marketing. 

So, if you see the “NEW!” tag in this area, it means the instructors are updating the course. Since you have lifetime unlimited access to the courses, you’ll get access to new and up-to-date course-related content for free.

That’s smart shopping!

I would also recommend you check the course content. Check the average course duration with the number of lectures and compare it with the total course length in hours and minutes. The longer, the better.

Finally, check the one and two-star reviews of the course. Look out for words and phrases like basic, outdated, low production quality, all over the place, and irrelevant. Then, come up to check the five and four stars and make a self-evaluation.

This is the best approach with individual courses. For subscriptions, it’s best to plan out your course completion timeline so you can make the best out of plans billed monthly. This applies to personal and business plans.

You also need to remember that business plans charge annually — you need to plan out the timeline well at your workplace.

Next, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of Udemy. 

Even though it is one of the best online learning platforms, Udemy is not perfect. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of Udemy.

Interested in learning more about this platform? Read our complete Udemy review .

Yes, there are over 10,000 free courses available on Udemy. Additionally, paid courses come with a 30-day refund guarantee.

The pricing for paid courses in Udemy starts at $12.99 USD.

No, only paid courses offer personalized certificates of completion.

Yes, Udemy Free Courses are valuable as they cover complete topics from A to Z and also provide a solid foundation for paid courses from the same instructors.

Conclusion: Udemy Costs

Udemy’s overall cost plan is one of the most fair and square plans I have seen, surpassing several competitors. The platform is definitely recommendable due to its multiple positive aspects.

As this article thoroughly covers Udemy costs (with my special secrets), I’m sure it’ll help you make the most out of your investments. 

I hope this review was helpful. Feel free to share this with your community to raise awareness and be a resourceful person.

You May Also Like

Udacity vs Coursera (2024 Upd.) Which One is Better for You?

Udemy vs Coursera (2024 Updated) Which is Better?

How Much Does LinkedIn Learning Cost in 2024?

edX vs Coursera (2024) Which E-Learning Platform is Better?

Pluralsight Pricing: How Much Does The Subscription Cost?

Udacity Pricing: How Much Does Nanodegree Cost in 2024?

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

scorebeyond

We combine a lightning-fast interface with instructional content developed by tutors from Berkeley and Stanford to build the richest educational experience possible. Our App-driven Online Tutoring system helps students and parents succeed in the SAT and ACT tests in the most engaging and effective way possible.

Our Results

Our Approach

Our Technology

Packages & Pricing

Legal Disclaimer

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Address: 650 Live Oak Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025

© Copyright 2024 Scorebeyond,Inc. All rights reserved

What is Udemy? Is it worth it? A comprehensive guide

Written by:

Published :

With the influx of learning platforms filling the .com world today, online educational marketplaces have become practical, budget-friendly alternatives to traditional learning.

At this point, it’s safe to say that Udemy stands as one of the most well-known, long-standing platforms in the online education space, hosting over 180,000 courses in over 65 languages.

Since its foundation in 2009, the platform has become the most populated, go-to global classroom for students everywhere, thanks to its affordability, wide range of subject matters, and diversity of instructors — 40,000 and growing! 

So how exactly does Udemy work, and is it worth your hard-earned money? Read our guide to discover all the platform has to offer!

Affiliate disclaimer: Articles on Tiny Workshops may contain affiliate links.

Table of contents

What is Udemy?

Udemy business, udemy personal plan.

• Is Udemy worth it?
• How much are Udemy courses?
• How is Udemy for teachers?

Best Udemy classes

Udemy competitors.

Udemy is a popular, sought-after online learning platform for its extensive library of courses, frequent sales, and diversity of instructors. 

Despite sharing this space with top competitors such as Domestika and Skillshare , Udemy has maintained a unique position in the market because it does not target a specific niche and offers a multiplicity of subject matters that accommodates all skill sets and budgets. 

Courses on the platform are featured in the form of pre-recorded videos created by teachers and subject-matter experts. As you jump from lesson to lesson, you’ll be guided by your instructor. The great part is that you won’t be learning in real time, which allows you to learn and study at your own pace.

Besides video lessons, teachers usually provide complementary downloadable resources — these will be yours to keep forever once you’ve purchased a class! More often than not, you’ll also be encouraged to work on projects, participate in forum sections, and interact with your mentor. 

To teach on Udemy, teachers must sign up proactively but aren’t required to pay a fee. However, after signing up, instructors must build their course(s) and receive in-house approval before having their content published.

Read also: Best Udemy alternatives

Because the process is so straightforward, it does have some downsides. With no strict, in-depth oversight of content creation, quality varies wildly between one course and another.

Additionally, because each teacher has their own approach and different topics require different time investments, class duration also varies quite a bit. This means you can find classes that last 30 minutes and others that go up to 20 hours!

However, for reference, the average time of most Udemy courses is slightly over four hours long. 

In recent years, Udemy has undergone somewhat of a “facelift,” which has made its navigation experience much more intuitive, updated, and clean-cut. 

Presenting improved, easy-to-follow guidelines, designated areas for student feedback, helpful filter functionalities, and new content every day, the platform seems to be very much alive and kicking and, therefore, an irreplaceable favorite for many.

Udemy is also still ahead of the game in language options, offering a wider variety of voice-over, subtitle, and closed caption options. This is undoubtedly one of the platform’s strongest assets.

For example, while Domestika takes the lead in production quality and creativity, it’s been late to the race in this regard, and only now does it begin to have a greater global reach.

Due to these characteristics and more, Udemy has become one of the most (if not the most!) accessible and relatable online classrooms for virtual learners from all walks of life.

How does Udemy work?

Udemy is home to a vast range of classes set at different prices, languages, durations, and teaching styles. 

You aren’t required to sign up for a subscription to take a course on the platform.

Unlike other platforms like Skillshare or Masterclass, Udemy offers various purchase options but works primarily on a pay-by-course basis instead vs ongoing monthly/yearly subscriptions.

Read also: Skillshare vs Domestika

Also, Udemy courses don’t demand completion within a specific time frame and, instead, encourage learning at your own pace. In addition, once enrolled in a class, lifetime access to video content and downloadable resources is guaranteed!

Because Udemy isn’t an accredited online school, it doesn’t provide official accreditation to students. However, once concluding a paid class, enrollees receive a certificate: a beneficial feature for those dipping their toe into the workforce or wanting to add more skills to their professional portfolio.

Besides one-off purchases, Udemy offers three subscription plans, outlined below. Note that you can only be subscribed to one plan at a time.

Udemy Business is a program that invites businesses to acquire educational packs for their employees, providing them with training materials for areas of skill improvement or personal development.

Currently, there are over 8,000 companies that use this service, inspiring workers to stay afloat with marketplace demands, push for digital innovation, and take on more leadership roles. 

This service includes  over 6,000 classes  to choose from and allows businesses to customize their course packages.

The program has also expanded its terms and now offers this service to different  business sizes and capacities  — a great way to provide ongoing education in diverse sectors and employees.

Plans start at $360 (per user/year) for small businesses, but the bulk of the benefits are for enterprise customers.

Some brands that use this program in the workplace include names such as Volkswagen, Apple, Netflix, and Eventbrite. You can check current pricing and sign up below!

The platform has also developed Udemy Pro — a monthly subscription plan specifically designed to help students accomplish IT certification goals . For the time being, this type of membership is only available for this topic, and it costs $20 a month.

Once you’ve signed up, you’ll have access to a selection of specialized topic areas . If you eventually decide to cancel your subscription, you’ll lose complete access to this content.

It’s a bit confusing to sign up, but typically you do this via the checkout page of any course in the platform or via your account subscription settings in the link below. It includes a 7-day free trial.

Udemy is also test-driving another monthly subscription option called Personal Plan . This membership includes access to all course content on the platform, just like Skillshare .

Nevertheless, the yearly subscription plan is not being rolled out to all students and is currently in pilot mode. So, we strongly suggest you stay on the lookout for updates!

The monthly subscription cost varies according to the location of your account and includes access to over 5,000 courses covering over 1,700 topics. It’s fantastic for jacks-of-all-trades or curious course explorers looking to pick up new skills.

If you want to test out these subscription services without committing, you can try out the platform’s free 7-day trial. Sign up via the subscriptions page linked below.

(Note: this feature may not be available to you in your area.)

Udemy review: Is it worth it?

It’s hard to claim if Udemy is worth it or not since everyone has their personal demands and expectations when it comes down to online learning.

Here’s our list of pros and cons you may want to consider: 

• Affordable prices and constant sales
• Wide range of course content and categories
• Certificate provided upon completion
• 30-day refund policy
• Lifetime access to content upon class sign-up
• Low prices can lead to the assumption of poor content quality
• Goes against the idea that “less is more”
• Udemy is not an officially accredited institution
• The refund policy does not apply to subscription plans
• Lifetime access does not apply to memberships

Pro: Affordable prices and constant sales

One of Udemy’s most attractive features is the prices it offers. With sales all year round, it’s common to find 90% discounts for courses and constant deals: rarely will you find classes at their original cost. The affordability of the content on this platform is perfect for learners on all budgets.

Con: Low prices can lead to the assumption of poor content quality

On the other hand, the frequent price slashing and ongoing trends in sales have made many skeptical about the platform’s quality. The concept of marketing courses at such low prices may lead some to believe this reflects the overall quality of instructors, resources, and the platform.

Plus, paying full price for a course feels like a poor value, with constant sales bringing down prices. You’re always better off waiting for sales.

Pro: Wide range of course content and categories

Another Udemy highlight is the diversity of subject matters it covers. With 13 main categories, including Business, Design, Marketing, and Lifestyle, this is a convenient option for anyone who wants to focus on their professional development or pick up a new hobby!

Con: The immensity of courses can go against the idea that “less is more”

Udemy is home to a remarkably extensive library of content, which can transmit the idea of poorly curated content. While this may be the case for many courses, there is also room for top instructors and excellent classes.

Pro: Certificate provided upon completion

When you conclude a course, a digital certificate will be issued to acknowledge your commitment and achievement. This feature can be especially enticing for young entrepreneurs who want to demonstrate their proactivity in supplementary education and skill development to prospective employers and clients.

Con: Udemy is not an accredited institution

Because Udemy is not an accredited institution, the certificate provided upon course completion may seem useless, as it commonly goes unacknowledged by companies as an official learning experience. A college degree it is not.

Pro: 30-day refund policy

The platform has a 30-day refund policy for when a course experience doesn’t match expectations. This rule comforts hesitant students who know they can get their money back if dissatisfied before the established cut-off date. In such scenarios, students will lose lifetime access to course content and not receive certificates. 

Con: Refund policy does not apply to subscription plans

Contrary to individual course purchases, subscription plans and programs such as Udemy Business packages do not include this refund policy. The platform has also been reputed for lengthy waits when refunding customers.

Pro: Lifetime access to content upon class sign-up

Once you purchase a course, you’ll automatically be given lifetime access to content! This is a great benefit as you’ll be able to review class resources and information at any time: even years after course completion!

Con: Lifetime access to content does not apply to subscriptions

However, this benefit is not incorporated into subscription plans. If you decide to cancel your membership, you’ll lose access to content. As mentioned previously, this will also be the case whenever refunds are requested.

Verdict: Is Udemy worth it?

Udemy is absolutely worth it for any intrepid learner, no matter whether you want to study programming, craft skills, or anything in between. That said, purchasing courses individually is generally better than signing up for a subscription.

Sales make individual courses very affordable, and the value of subscription packages for individuals (unless you’re seeking IT certs) isn’t quite there. Plus, by buying individual courses, you aren’t as locked into the platform and can enjoy great content on other platforms like Domestika , Skillshare , Creativebug , and elsewhere!

How much are Udemy courses? 

Undoubtedly, one of Udemy’s most attractive selling points is its prices. 

With possibilities for all pocket sizes, the platform continues to be sought-after time after time by students on the lookout for low fees and juicy sales. 

One-off courses bought individually on Udemy range between $14-200. Nevertheless, very few classes maintain their original price once you start browsing: if the platform detects buyers’ hesitancy, it starts to offer discounts.

Also, Udemy lives on seasonal sales and campaigns, so there is always an abundance of amazing prices!

Because of the regular price drops the platform is known for, with 90% discounts being applied more frequently than not, the quality of Udemy’s content and instructors has been regarded with some skepticism. At first glance, this is entirely understandable. 

However, the company’s business model is unique in the marketplace and has discovered that lower rates attract a higher number of students who remain engaged and loyal to the platform. The consistent tendency of returning enrollees proves the quality of the platform and the trend of its customer base.

Read also: Udemy vs Skillshare

Knowing you obtain lifetime access to content and resources after purchase makes these prices seem even more surreal. The trick is to continue looking into courses you’d like to take and see how much the price drops so that you can enroll when the cost matches your budget.

As mentioned previously, subscription plans and programs such as Udemy Business, Udemy Pro, and Personal Plan offer different pricing models. 

For example, in the case of the Team package on the Udemy Business program (for 5-20 users), a fee of $360 is set per person/year (+taxes). 

The Personal Plan monthly membership varies per account location, and the specialized IT certification Udemy Pro service requires a nearly $20 payment per month.  

Instructors establish the prices for their courses according to a defined tier. Since Udemy does take a percentage of sales, instructors will commonly create more classes to increase their customer base and income. 

Udemy also continues to gift learners with a collection of free courses!

Although the company has done away with many of its free classes —believed by some as a strategy to transmit quality over quantity — the platform still offers over 500 unlocked courses you can enjoy today! 

 Keep in mind that free courses have specific restrictions: 

• Up to only 2 hours of video content
• No Q&A section
• No certificates 

How is Udemy for teachers? 

Boasting more than 40,000 instructors on its platform (and growing!), Udemy is somewhat of a paradise for all kinds of teachers, whether amateur or experienced. 

Signing up on Udemy as an instructor is as easy as can be —and totally free! Considering the vast amount of course topics it offers, it’s no surprise teachers view the platform as an appealing strategy to monetize their knowledge. 

If you’re thinking of teaching on Udemy, there are a few points to take into consideration: 

• Choose a topic and angle that will make your classes stand out
• Identify your target: Who are you teaching? How will your audience respond to your content? Will they purchase other courses you create?
• What price should be set to attract students but not lose out when discounts are applied? 

How much does Udemy pay instructors?

Ultimately, instructors establish at what price they want to value their course. 

Still, some specific guidelines and rules need to be taken into account. For example, customized courses cannot go beyond $200.  

But how does one know how to set the cost of their course ? 

It’s crucial to know that when you sign up as a Premium Instructor, Udemy will present a set of terms you must follow. These will vary according to your preference to either create free content or build a course for purchase.  

Some of the main points to look into before publishing a course are: 

• Udemy’s  Revenue Share  terms
• Udemy’s Promotional Programs
• Instructor Coupons and Course Referral Links
• Payment requirements
• Refund guidelines
• Currency conversion rates
• Instructor’s obligations

All of these terms are outlined on the platform and should be consulted before building your course. 

To clarify any doubts before you get started, you can also access Udemy’s  support page  to receive expert guidance beforehand! 

How do I make an Udemy class?

To sum it up, building a class on Udemy is easy-peasy!

First of all, signing up as a teacher on the platform is free. 

When signing up as a  Premium Instructor , you’ll be required to follow a set of guidelines to ensure you meet specific technical requirements and present content that will spark engagement. 

Resources will be available to help you set up videos accordingly. You’ll also have access to the platform’s Marketplace Insights tool, which will aid you in analyzing student trends and demands for specific subject matters.

This functionality will also help you shape your content to create an unwavering customer base in the long run. 

The platform also provides a  Teaching Center  that sheds light on best practices such as scripting class content (written and visually) and marketing your course effectively. 

Before publishing your class, Udemy will do a quality check to ensure you’ve ticked off all the boxes to get your content on their page. 

Steps to make a class: 

• Sign up as a Premium Instructor
• Navigate the Teach section in the main menu
• Plan out your custom course against in-house  guidelines  and  restrictions
• Create your content (videos, slides, downloadable resources, etc.)
• Submit your custom course for review (unless you have a Udemy Business account)
• Admin will publish your course

Here are some quick pros and cons to keep in mind before signing up as an instructor: 

Pros: 

• No costs are required to create or publish content
• Maintenance fees aren’t required
• The widespread community will have access to your class

Cons: 

• Your course will most likely need to undergo sales and discounts — understanding Udemy’s policies beforehand is essential 
• Producing excellent course content is crucial — if not, it will eventually get lost in the sauce due to the number of classes published
• Support for teachers is OK but not acclaimed for its speediness

Thanks to its infinite pool of options, selecting a class on Udemy can be challenging.

The platform hosts 13 main categories/topics and corresponding subcategories. 

Read also: 100+ creative hobbies to try and how to get started

To give you an idea of the kind of classes you can find, here’s a list of the best courses you can currently find on Udemy per category.

• Development : Learn Javascript the Right Way
• Business : Coaching Course: Develop Effective Selling Skills
• Finance and Accounting : Accounting —A Brief Introduction in 60 minutes 
• IT & Software : Learn Ethical Hacking from Scratch — For Every Internet User 
• Office Productivity : Google Office Suite Training – Sheets, Docs, Slides, and Form
• Personal Development : Life Coaching Certification Course (Beginner to Advanced)  
• Design : The Ultimate Drawing Course — Beginner to Advanced
• Marketing : The Complete Digital Marketing Course — 12 Courses in 1
• Lifestyle : Reiki Level I, II, and Master/Teacher Program 
• Photography & Video : Adobe Premiere Pro CC Masterclass: Video Editing in Premiere
• Health & Fitness : Therapeutic Art Life Coach Certification (Accredited)
• Music : Complete Guitar Lessons System — Beginner to Advanced
• Teaching & Academics : Spanish for Beginners. The Complete Method. Level 1

As mentioned previously, Udemy has recently undergone a content clean-up and has updated its layout, visuals, and content. 

One of the improved functionalities of the platform is its browsing/filter options. An example of this is how courses have been tagged to give you additional information before you click: “Bestseller,” “Hot & new,” or “Highest rated.”

You’ll also be able to filter by ratings, video duration, topic, level, language, features, and subtitles.  

Reading student reviews and watching class trailers is also a great way to get a general feel of what you can expect before purchasing a course. 

Discovering top instructors on Udemy can take time since there are so many! Find some of the most popular teachers and courses you can find today below: 

• John Purcell – Java 11 for Complete Beginners
• Phil Ebiner – Photography Masterclass: Your complete guide to photography and additional
• Dr. Angela Yu – 100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp for 2022

Since the world of online learning has boomed, Udemy has naturally had to make some wiggle room for upcoming competitors .

Read also: 10 best online course platforms for creatives

Although it continues to be a landmark in this realm, there are many other options you may want to discover for your next learning venture that may suit you more. 

Udemy vs Domestika

These platforms are day and night in terms of content curation, niche, and language features. 

While Udemy boasts a never-ending range of content customized by proactive instructors, Domestika has taken another approach by having a reduced number of classes, mainly focused on creative topics taught by cherry-picked experts.

Read also: 15 best Domestika courses in English (plus 5 in Spanish)

The latter also has an in-house team that works specifically on production, giving this platform a cohesive aesthetic and tone. 

Both are not officially accredited institutions and mainly operate on individual course purchases. Although Domestika does provide affordable prices, it’s a little more “high-end” and does not have as many sales as Udemy. 

The platform also features Domestika Plus, a subscription plan that can be paid yearly or monthly. It includes one course of your choosing per month, and you get to keep it forever.

One of Domestika’s downsides is that its classes are mainly in Spanish (subtitled in multiple languages), unlike Udemy, which offers more options in this aspect. Still, it’s definitely worth checking out for just about any creative skill!

Udemy vs Skillshare

Skillshare is similar to Domestika because its content primarily targets creative/artistic learners and offers a more limited number of courses. 

The platform works solely on a subscription basis (yearly) versus Udemy, which currently offers more enrollment options (even though the platform mostly relies on one-off course purchases). 

Both platforms share similar recruitment processes for instructors: free enrollments for anyone interested in sharing their knowledge, whether experienced or amateur.

Skillshare commonly offers shorter, more “hands-on” tutorial-like classes, while Udemy presents more in-depth, lengthy courses. Also, the platform does not provide members lifetime access to purchased content like Udemy — if you cancel your subscription, you automatically lose all access.

However, it does offer a more attractive free subscription trial. Instead of seven days, you can get access for a full month — free of charge — at the link below.

Udemy vs Coursera

Coursera is an accredited institution and works on a monthly subscription. 

Distinct from Udemy, Coursera does give official course certificates upon completion. Since it’s an accredited academic platform, you can expect a higher price tag on courses and a greater demand in commitment.  

Coursera instructors are qualified university and college professors, guaranteeing professional teaching experience not always found on Udemy.

This platform is best for career-building learners looking for a more traditional academic journey in areas like computer science, humanities, business, and more. 

Udemy vs LinkedIn Learning (Lynda) 

LinkedIn Learning is a popular platform for professionals and offers an all-you-can-watch subscription. 

With just $30 a month, the platform provides unlocked content for all kinds of courses. Commonly sought-after by professionals looking to improve soft/hard skills for the workplace, the platform offers high-quality classes taught by field experts. 

The general tone of LinkedIn Learning is not necessarily formal but is nowhere as relaxed as Udemy. The platform does offer a variety of digital art-related courses associated with programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and Procreate , but it doesn’t highlight crafts of manual arts.

It’s also heavily incorporated into the social media platform LinkedIn, so you can display completed courses on your profile to attract potential employers and clients.

Udemy vs Udacity

Udacity may not share Udemy’s spotlight but is a great platform to consider if you want to specialize in the area of technology.

Appreciated for its intuitive interface, specialized content, and mentor support, Udacity provides a well-rounded experience for students. It may include deadlines, assignments, in-depth resources, and a dynamic student forum. 

Classes on Udemy are shorter, less expensive, and more varied in topics when compared to Udacity, which provides technology-related, nano degree programs in partnership with leading industry partners. 

Like Udemy, Udacity also offers free courses. However, most classes on Udacity are more expensive and usually require a 1-2 month commitment for completion. That said, even free courses on Udacity tend to be more in-depth when compared with Udemy’s open classes. 

Udemy vs Masterclass

Masterclass is simply on another planet when compared to fellow learning platforms!

Starring personalities we all know and love, like Annie Leibovitz, Alicia Keys, Neil Gaiman, Simone Biles, and —wait for it — Metallica, this platform provides a one-of-a-kind experience in terms of production and expertise that is hard to beat. 

Considering its teachers, a subscription to this platform is unsurprisingly on the pricey end of the spectrum, requiring a hefty $200 yearly fee. On the other hand — how cool is it to be mentored by some of your idols?

In general, Masterclass and Udemy are worlds apart in every way and offer completely different opportunities in terms of production, content quality, pricing, and instructors. Still, it’s a fun way to (literally) learn from the pros.

Does Udemy have free courses?

It does! You can find  over 500 free classes  available on Udemy today, covering topics in every category. 

How often does Udemy offer sales?

Very often. In fact, it’s hard to find courses that aren’t on sale! These come along roughly nine times a year, especially during popular campaign seasons such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Valentine’s, and Mother’s Day.

When enrolling in a course, you’ll also get a promotional code or voucher that will knock some dollars off your next purchase. Besides specific seasonal campaigns, Udemy is constantly slashing course prices, so being on the lookout or signing up for the platform’s newsletter is a great way to stay posted on great deals. 

Is Udemy legit?

Because Udemy offers such affordable prices and a diversity of courses, questioning its credibility is common.

But here is the thing: it’s totally legit.

With almost 300 million enrollments to date and over 40,000 instructors, Udemy is a popular online space to learn from everyday experts and continues to engage students year after year. Even though Udemy doesn’t thoroughly oversee or perform detailed quality checks on submitted courses, the in-house team aims to guide instructors in creating the best content possible. 

And for teachers, payments are always made on time and in full.

How do you pronounce Udemy?

The platform’s name comes from the combination of You+Academy. The correct pronunciation would sound something like You-deh-mee .  

Is Udemy accredited? 

No, Udemy is not an accredited institution. 

Does Udemy offer certificates?

Udemy offers a certificate upon course completion for learners who have purchased paid classes. This feature is not available for free courses. Since Udemy is not an accredited institution, these certificates may not be considered by employers. However, they can be a great way to enhance your portfolio, especially if you are new to the workforce or in university. 

How do I get a refund on Udemy courses?

The platform has a 30-day refund policy. To move forward with a refund request, you must meet policy requirements . To know more about how to refund a course, click  here ! 

Can you download Udemy videos?

Udemy videos can be downloaded on the mobile app to view content offline. However, the majority of courses cannot be downloaded to a computer unless instructors enable this function. Read up on how to get the Udemy app  here  and start learning today! 

How do I gift a Udemy course? 

Udemy classes are excellent gifts for family and friends and very easy to purchase.

On the landing page, find the “Gift this course ” option — this may be placed in a different location depending on your account. 

Then all you have to do is enter the gift recipient’s name, email details, and delivery date. Lastly, you’ll be required to proceed to checkout and fill in your payment details. The process will be slightly different whenever you gift a course you’re taking, but the process is pretty much identical. 

To know more,  click here  and buy your next gift!

That’s it for this comprehensive guide to everything Udemy! Let us know if you have any more questions or comments below. Happy learning!

Share this:

Join our newsletter for the latest guides, discounts, and more, leave a reply cancel reply.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy .

Discover more from Tiny Workshops

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Personal Plan: Annual Plan payments and other updates

• English Community
• Announcements
• Community News
• Subscribe to RSS feed
• Mark as new
• Mark as read
• Printer friendly page
• Report inappropriate content

• Platform Announcement

You must be a registered user to add a comment. If you've already registered, sign in. Otherwise, register and sign in.

• *AMA Invite* Let’s chat about AV w/ Frank Kane and Trevoir Williams
• 🔔 Important Announcement: Temporary Read-Only Mode 🔔
• Updated content policies: Audio and Video Standards
• *Coffee Chat Invite* Let’s talk about AV on April 26th
• Evolving our mission and vision as we accelerate growth
• New Month New theme - AV
• Instructor Spotlight - Diego Davila Empowers Communities Through Learning
• *Coffee Chat Invite* Let’s talk about Course Quality on March 29th!
• Coffee Chat Recap - SEO
• It's March and that means a new theme! Course Quality
• Community News 197 Posts
• Platform Announcement 87 Posts
• User Recognition 32 Posts

Something's wrong

Ooops, it looks like you’re not a registered Udemy instructor. Want to become an instructor? We’d love to have you!

Become an instructor Already an instructor? Sign in

The Instructor Club

You can join the Instructor Club after you publish your first course. In the meantime, you’ll find plenty of help and advice in Studio U .