How profitable are Udemy courses?

Udemy course profitability varies widely, with many instructors making little, while top creators earn significant income, largely depending on traffic source; instructors earn 97% from their promotions but only ~37% from Udemy-driven sales, with most sales occurring during deep discounts, meaning potential earnings per sale are often low ($3-$18), making large volume or niche high-demand topics essential for substantial profits, though it's not a "get rich quick" scheme.

How much can I earn from an Udemy course?

As a rule of thumb - the median value for most courses at Udemy is in a range between $15-$25 per month, depending on a niche. On the other hand, some courses earn a lot of money steadily (month after month) - most often, those are part of the Udemy for Business program (let's say - champions).

How much money do instructors make on Udemy?

The average instructor earning on Udemy is $3,306 per year. A majority of instructors (75%) make less than $1,000 a year on Udemy.

Is creating a course on Udemy worth it?

While Udemy is a popular starting point for course creators, it isn't the only option, and for many, it's not the best long-term strategy. If your goal is to build a sustainable business, grow your brand, and keep more of your revenue, you should consider self-hosting or using a hybrid strategy.

Who is the highest earner on Udemy?

Rob Percival's courses have reached nearly 120,000 students and exceeded $2.8 million in total earnings. Victor Bastos has reached more than 52,000 Udemy students with his courses, which have earned nearly $900,000. Alun Hill's courses have been accessed by nearly 47,000 Udemy students and have earned about $650,000.

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Do employers take Udemy seriously?

Udemy courses aren't formally accredited, so certificates are "Certificates of Completion," not degrees, but many employers do recognize them as proof of skill development, commitment, and staying current, especially in tech; the real value comes from applying skills in projects you can demonstrate on a resume/LinkedIn, not just listing the certificate. Employers value relevant, up-to-date content, instructor reputation, and tangible results (projects) over just the certificate itself, which shows initiative but not necessarily mastery. 

How much does an Udemy instructor make?

Udemy instructors make anything from $0/year to more than $250,000/year. I'll share case studies of Udemy course creator earnings in the next section. Some estimates put the average Udemy course creator earnings at $3,306/year.

What are the downsides of Udemy?

Udemy's main drawbacks include inconsistent course quality due to a lack of strict curation, making it hard to find truly in-depth or well-taught material despite many good instructors. Other issues are non-accredited certificates, limited instructor interaction, platform-driven pricing (frequent deep discounts), and potential for "tutorial hell" where passive watching hinders actual skill development.
 

Do you own Udemy courses forever?

Yes. Students receive lifetime access to a Udemy course regardless of what price they paid for it, or whether they used a coupon to enrol or not.

Do people actually make money on Udemy?

On Udemy Business, instructors are compensated based on learner engagement. This differs from the Udemy marketplace model, where instructors are compensated based on course purchases. Each month, Udemy allocates 17.5% of monthly subscription revenue from Udemy Business customers as the instructor revenue pool.

How much does it cost to put a course on Udemy?

There is no fee to create and host a course on Udemy, and you can publish as many free and paid courses as you like.

How much does it cost to be an instructor on Udemy?

There is no fee to be an instructor on Udemy. Instructors are paid according to a revenue share model.

Can you make a lot of money on Udemy?

You can make a lot of money with Udemy but like everything in life – the more effort, the more rewards! 97% is very generous – but you have to find the customer. I have been happy for Udemy to do the selling, marketing, and driving traffic – which in most instances means 50% revenue share.

Is Udemy worth it for instructors?

Teaching with Udemy gives you additional earning potential. Some instructors have been able to leave their jobs to teach full time with Udemy. It's free to create and publish a course with us, and you earn revenue share for every paid enrollment.

How to succeed on Udemy?

To succeed on Udemy: – Analyze student feedback, update content, and launch more courses to build a profitable passive income stream. – Start by choosing a profitable course topic using Udemy Marketplace Insights and keyword research. – Plan your course by defining the scope, learning outcomes, and unique value.

Do employers take Udemy courses seriously?

Employers view Udemy courses with mixed feelings: certificates alone rarely get you hired, but the skills gained, demonstrated through projects and real-world application, are valuable, especially in tech, showing initiative, commitment, and continuous learning, though "real" certifications (like CompTIA, Cisco) carry more weight for formal qualifications. The key is combining them with experience and projects, not relying solely on the completion certificate, which isn't accredited. 

Is Udemy worth it in 2025?

Are Udemy Courses Worth It in 2025? Overall, Udemy is worth considering for learners in 2025, especially if you're looking for a flexible, affordable way to acquire new skills or enhance your knowledge in a specific area.

Which site is better than Udemy?

Skillshare – Best overall Udemy alternative for creators in popular and trending skill categories. 3. Domestika – Best for experienced creative professionals who want help with production and reach a design-focused audience.

Why is Udemy in loss?

The logic is straightforward: Udemy keeps 82.5% of subscription revenue versus just 63% from one-off purchases. The subscription margin is set to grow to 85% in 2026, but so far, the bet isn't paying off.

Is the Udemy certificate recognised in the UK?

Can I use Udemy certificates for formal accreditation? Udemy is not an accredited institution. Certificates demonstrate skills and accomplishments, but they cannot be used for formal accreditation.

Who is the highest paid Udemy instructor?

To this day the course has 2 Million+ enrollments. Based on his numbers, we can easily say, he's of the top-performing instructors on Udemy. Jose Portilla is also the highest paid Udemy instructor (Earnings here refer to the payments coming from sale of courses and subscription minutes) Portilla as of January 2026.

Can anyone become an Udemy instructor?

Whether you need help creating your first Udemy course or you already have existing video content, we've got you covered. The first step is to sign up to become an instructor. We're here to help you share your knowledge and give you the potential to reach millions of learners across the globe.

Does Udemy pay monthly?

Billed monthly or annually. Cancel anytime.