Checked 29 Oct 2026
Udemy 3.4Gold 60 pts
The largest open course marketplace, where anyone can publish a video course and reach learners worldwide. Instructors earn a revenue share that depends on how the sale was made.
Good for Course creatorsTutors
- Free to joinNo sign-up fee
- Open worldwideWorldwide
- Easy sign-upQuick profile or ID check
- Pays via PayPal+1 more way to get paid
- Work from homeOnline, from anywhere
- Public companyNASDAQ: UDMY
- Since
- 2010 16 yrs
- Web rank
- #1,918 worldwide
Can you join Udemy?
Answer three questions and we check them against Udemy's sign-up rules.
Pick your country and age, tick what you have, then press Check. Your answer shows here and in “Can I join?” below.
Udemy is a San Francisco-based online course marketplace where instructors create and publish pre-recorded video courses on almost any skill for learners worldwide. Instructors set their course price, and receive 97% of sales made through their own coupon or referral link but 37% of other marketplace sales, plus a share of a 15% subscription revenue pool based on minutes watched. Instructors must be 18 and pass ID verification before publishing. Earnings are paid monthly via PayPal or Payoneer once they reach the payout minimum.
Last updated
Getting paid
What the platform takes, when you get your money and how
Not verified yet: Payment protection Know the answer? Tell us
From the published fees above, before payment-processing, currency or withdrawal charges.
What people actually earn on Udemy
Sourced figures from the platform, filings and independent studies
Figures published by Udemy or by independent studies and surveys, as dated. Individual earnings vary widely.
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
1 update · latest Sep 12, 2026
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
- Minimum payout added: $25 (smaller balances paid in December) source ↗
Every change we make to this listing, with the official page we checked. Recent updates across all platforms →
How complete is this profile?
We have 12 of the 17 things we track for every platform. Fees, payouts, join rules, countries and real earnings count most.
- Payment protection
- Review ratings
- Support channels
- Mobile apps
- Social accounts
- Plain-English overview
- What kind of platform it is
- Year founded
- Headquarters
- Fees
- Minimum payout
- How fast you get paid
- Withdrawal methods
- Join requirements
- Countries it accepts
- Real earnings figures
- Wikipedia or reference page
Every fact is checked against the platform's own pages. How we check →
Our rating
Worked out from the facts on this page, the same way for every platform
Strong on access and track record. Weaker on fees.
- Fees1.5
- Getting paid2.3
- Access4.8
- Track record4.5
- Proof of earnings4.0
Not a review of service quality: a score from verified fees, payouts, access, track record and earnings data. How the rating works
Achievements
60 of 100 points from 8 of 14 achievements, Gold tier. Earned from verified facts, never paid for
Verified earningsA sourced figure for what people earn or are paid there+10
Why it matters You can judge the pay from a real number instead of the platform's own promises.
How we check We need a figure for what earners are paid, earn typically, or how many people earn, with a link to the filing, pay page or study it came from.
Udemy $168M (2025)
Every platform with this badge →Open worldwideAccepts people from almost every country+10
Why it matters Most earning platforms only take people from a handful of countries. This one lets almost anyone join.
How we check The platform's own terms or sign-up pages say it accepts people worldwide, with no more than eight countries left out.
Udemy Worldwide
Every platform with this badge →Free to joinNo fee to sign up+5
Why it matters Paying to join is a red flag on many work sites. This one costs nothing to start.
How we check The platform's sign-up and pricing pages show no fee to register as an earner.
Udemy free
Every platform with this badge →Clear feesPublishes its cut as a percentage+5
Why it matters You can work out what you keep before you start.
How we check The platform publishes its cut as a percentage on its pricing or help pages, which we record as a range when it is tiered.
Udemy 37%
Every platform with this badge →Top 10K websiteAmong the world's 10,000 most visited sites (Tranco)+5
Why it matters Big platforms have more clients and buyers, and a lot to lose from treating earners badly.
How we check The site ranks in the world's 10,000 most visited on the Tranco list, a research-grade ranking.
Udemy #1,918 worldwide
Every platform with this badge →10 years runningFounded at least 10 years ago+5
Why it matters Platforms that have lasted a decade are less likely to vanish with your balance.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 10 years ago.
Udemy Founded 2010
Every platform with this badge →Public companyListed on a stock exchange, with audited filings+5
Why it matters Listed companies publish audited accounts, so their finances and risks are public.
How we check The company has a stock ticker on a public exchange, with filings we can read.
Udemy NASDAQ: UDMY
Every platform with this badge →Fully documentedFees, payouts, countries and company details all verified+15
Why it matters Everything you need to decide is verified here, not left as guesswork.
How we check Fees, payouts, minimum payout, who can join and the company details are all recorded from official pages.
Every platform with this badge →Low cutTakes 10% or less of what you earn10
Why it matters More of every payment reaches you. Many marketplaces take 20% or more.
How we check The highest percentage the platform names in its published fees is 10% or less.
Udemy 37%
Every platform with this badge →Low payout barLets you cash out $10 or less5
Why it matters Small earnings are not left stuck in your account waiting for a high threshold.
How we check The platform's published minimum withdrawal is $10 or less, or it has no minimum.
Udemy $25 (smaller balances paid in December)
Every platform with this badge →Fast payoutsPays out instantly, daily or on demand5
Why it matters Money arrives when you need it, not weeks later.
How we check The platform says payouts are instant, same-day, daily or on demand.
Udemy Monthly
Every platform with this badge →Payment protectionHolds or guarantees payment before you work10
Why it matters Something stops you working for nothing, such as client money held before the work starts.
How we check The platform publishes how it protects earners' payments: escrow, guaranteed pay or a dispute process.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Udemy.
Every platform with this badge →Loved appA mobile app rated 4.5 or higher5
Why it matters A well-rated app usually means smooth day-to-day work and fewer payout problems.
How we check The platform's app is rated 4.5 or higher on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Udemy.
Every platform with this badge →20 years runningFounded at least 20 years ago5
Why it matters Two decades of paying people is a strong track record.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 20 years ago.
Udemy Founded 2010
Every platform with this badge →
How achievements and tiers work · Open any badge for the details
Can I join Udemy?
Age, countries, equipment and how sign-up works
Yes, if you are 18 or older.
You need a computer and reliable internet. Your profile and ID are reviewed before you start. First payout: 30+ days.
Enter your country and age in the quick check and we will tell you here whether Udemy accepts you. Your answers stay on your device.
Check with my countryAge 18 or older
We have not verified which countries Udemy accepts yet.
- A computer
- Reliable internet
- A government ID
- Sign upFree
- Quick profile or ID reviewIncluding an ID check
- Do your first workJobs, tasks or sales
- First payout30+ days
Good to know: Must be 18 and pass ID verification before publishing, sales are paid about two months after the month earned with a $25 minimum.
Udemy's official requirements ↗Every platform you can join →
How Udemy compares
Against similar platforms in our directory
- Udemy is the only one of the 12 course platforms we track that pays out via Payoneer.
- Founded in 2010, Udemy has been running for about 16 years — longer than 10 of the 14 course platforms we track with a known launch year.
Compared with the course platforms in our directory. See them all →
Is Udemy legit?
What we could verify about the company
Udemy is a real, operating platform. What we could verify:
- Operating since 2010 (16 years)
- Headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States
- Publicly traded (NASDAQ: UDMY)
- Has a Wikipedia article
- Its domain udemy.com was registered in 2009 (registry record)
- Among the world's top 10,000 websites by traffic (Tranco rank #1,918)
Listing last updated October 2026 · how we verify platforms · Missing or out of date? Tell us
Udemy in public records
Company filings, web traffic and app store data
- Website rank
- #1,918 worldwideAmong the top 10,000 sites (udemy.com)
- Domain registered
- Aug 2009udemy.com, 17 years ago
- Founders
- Eren Bali and Gagan Biyani
- Industry
- Educational system
Sources: Tranco · RDAP registry · Wikidata. Retrieved October 29, 2026.
Udemy timeline
Founding, funding, milestones and news
-
Founded
Udemy founded by Eren Bali and Gagan Biyani
Headquarters today: San Francisco, California, United States
-
Milestone
$168M
Udemy instructors collectively earned $168 million in 2025, per Udemy's annual report (Form 10-K).
Source ↗ -
Milestone
90,000+ instructors
Over 90,000 instructors create content on Udemy, per its 2025 annual report (Form 10-K).
Source ↗ -
Milestone
11 earned $1M+
Udemy's top 11 instructors each earned more than $1 million in 2025, per its annual report (Form 10-K).
Source ↗ -
Milestone
~1,600 above local avg
Nearly 1,600 Udemy instructors earned more than the average annual income in their home country in 2025, per Udemy's 10-K.
Source ↗ -
On FreelanceSites
Added to the FreelanceSites.net directory
Checked against its official pages before listing.
From the platform's own reports and press coverage we checked, plus company records on Wikidata. Know a milestone we're missing? Tell us
Guides
Step-by-step help for this platform
No step-by-step guide for Udemy yet. Browse all guides or find the right way to earn for you.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Udemy
How much does Udemy charge?
Udemy fees: Revenue share by sale channel (37%-97%).
How do you get paid on Udemy?
Udemy pays out via PayPal and Payoneer. Minimum payout: $25 (smaller balances paid in December). Timing: Monthly.
Which countries is Udemy available in?
Worldwide.
How much do people earn on Udemy?
Udemy instructors collectively earned $168 million in 2025, per Udemy's annual report (Form 10-K). Over 90,000 instructors create content on Udemy, per its 2025 annual report (Form 10-K). Individual earnings vary widely.
Is Udemy legit?
Yes, Udemy is a real, operating platform: operating since 2010 (16 years), headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States and publicly traded (NASDAQ: UDMY). As with any platform, check its current terms before relying on it for income.
What are the best Udemy alternatives?
Similar platforms include Kajabi, LearnWorlds, Skillshare and Whop. Compare their fees and payouts in the alternatives section below.
Compare Udemy with…
Udemy alternatives
More course platforms like Udemy
KajabiAn all-in-one platform for knowledge businesses - courses, coaching, podcasts, and communities under your own brand, with marketing tools built in.
Fees $179-499/month, 0.5-2% other-gateway fee, no gateway fee on Kajabi Payments/PayPal, processing extrakajabi.com
LearnWorldsA course platform focused on interactive learning - quizzes, interactive video, and assessments - for creators selling under their own brand.
Fees Starter $49/mo ($44/yr) + $5 per enrollment. Pro Trainer and Learning Center have no platform transaction feelearnworlds.com
SkillshareA subscription learning community focused on creative skills, where teachers publish classes and earn from a royalty pool based on watch time. Class creation is open to anyone.
Fees Royalty pool based on watch timeskillshare.com
WhopA marketplace for digital products - courses, communities, software, and memberships - where creators open a store and sell access.
Fees 3% platform fee + 2.7% + $0.30 processingwhop.com
ThinkificA Canadian course platform for creating, marketing, and selling online courses on your own site. Paid plans advertise no transaction fees on course sales.
Fees Plans from $109/mo ($82/mo yearly), 2.9% processing via Thinkific Payments, extra gateway fee if using Stripe or PayPalthinkific.com
TeachableA course platform where creators build and sell courses and coaching under their own brand. Creators set prices and keep their audience, paying a plan fee to the platform.
Fees Monthly plans plus transaction feesteachable.com