Best Udemy alternatives for instructors in 2024

Udemy is an online platform for hosting and selling your courses. However, it might not be a good fit for you for various reasons. In this blog post, let me help you explore some better (and futuristic) options for hosting your courses online which are some great Udemy alternatives in 2024.

What is Udemy?

Udemy is an online learning platform that aims to connect students with instructors around the world, enabling them to learn new skills or improve existing ones at their own pace.

Here’s what Udemy instructor dashboard looks like:

Drawbacks of Udemy

Revenue-Sharing Model for Instructors: Udemy operates on a revenue-sharing model that can sometimes be less favorable for instructors. The platform takes a significant percentage of course sales, especially for students that Udemy brings to the instructor through its marketing efforts. This model can result in lower earnings for instructors compared to selling courses on their own platforms or other alternatives where they might retain a larger share of the revenue.
Market Saturation: The ease of publishing courses on Udemy has led to a saturated market in some subject areas. This saturation can make it difficult for new instructors to stand out and for students to sift through the plethora of courses to find the ones truly worth their time and money.
Limited Control Over Branding and Pricing: Instructors have limited control over the pricing of their courses due to Udemy’s frequent discounting practices and promotional campaigns. This can undermine the perceived value of courses and limit instructors’ ability to brand and market their offerings effectively.

Top Udemy Alternatives In 2024

Let us look at some alternatives to Udemy in 2024 that make sense.

Codedamn

Codedamn is an online platform specifically for technical courses. It is an amazing choice for you as an instructor if you make a technical/programming-focused course. Here are some features of Codedamn:

Over 5 million visitors every month from 150+ countries: Codedamn gets over 5 million visitors every month all around the world. These are aspiring developers looking to get their next programming/tech course to upskill themselves.
Higher revenue share compared to Udemy: As a comparison, Udemy offers 25% subscription revenue sharing. On the other hand, Codedamn offers 70% revenue sharing via subscriptions.
Interactive tools for technical courses: Codedamn allows using interactive coding labs or cloud sandboxes for technical courses (more on this below).

What is an interactive course?

On Codedamn, the courses you build can be interactive. This means that alongside your regular video elements, you can also include coding labs in your course.

Example of videos in a course:

Example of coding lab in a course:

As you can see, on Codedamn, it is possible to insert a fully functional VS Code powered coding lab inside your course. You, as an instructor, can browse hundreds of practice labs and insert a lab with a click of a button.

Example of coding lab challenges in a coding lab:

The coding labs on Codedamn can be evaluative. This means that user will have to complete a certain task and evaluate it before they can mark the lab as completed.

Example of cloud sandbox lab:

If you are creating a cloud development course, you can also provide a free cloud sandbox inside your course for students to practice in a real cloud environment, say this AWS cloud panel.

Can I sell only a course on Codedamn?

You can sell a course, yes, alongside learning paths, interview kits, and practice exams. Codedamn does not hold any exclusivity clause, therefore you can host your course on your own platform alongside Codedamn as well.

You can also create a learning path on Codedamn that can be featured on our explore page.

A learning path is a collection of technical courses that help students achieve a broader goal. This is an example of how a learning path looks like on Codedamn:

The team at Codedamn can help you setup your own learning path with a bunch of courses that you can sell to your audience.

What will be my revenue sharing?

Codedamn offers the best terms in the industry for revenue sharing with instructors. You can find the revenue sharing breakdown on real examples here:

https://codedamn.com/instructor/terms

Also, note that Codedamn does monthly payouts on 15th of every month directly through bank transfer.

How can I get started with Codedamn?

The best way to self-start is to sign up for an instructor account here

https://codedamn.com/instructor

Alternatively, if you are interested to learn more first, you can contact the support here:

https://codedamn.com/contact

Skillshare

Skillshare stands out as a community-driven platform that primarily focuses on creative education, where professionals and creatives come together to learn and teach a wide array of subjects.

These subjects range from illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing, and more.

Subscription Model: Unlike platforms where students purchase individual courses, Skillshare operates on a subscription basis. This means students pay a monthly or annual fee for unlimited access to the platform’s courses.
Earnings for Instructors: Instructors on Skillshare earn money through royalties and referrals. The royalty system is based on the number of minutes watched in their classes, incentivizing high-quality, engaging content. Additionally, instructors can earn by referring new premium members to the platform.
Community Engagement: Skillshare emphasizes the community aspect of learning, encouraging students to share their project work, provide feedback to peers, and engage in discussions within the course. This can enhance the learning experience and create a sense of belonging among users.
Ease of Use: The platform is user-friendly for both instructors and students. Instructors can upload videos, create class projects, and interact with students without needing extensive technical skills. Skillshare also offers resources and support to help instructors create successful courses.
Global Reach: Skillshare’s audience is global, allowing instructors to reach students from around the world. This can be particularly beneficial for niche topics that might not have a large audience in a specific geographic location.

Podia

Unlike Udemy, which operates primarily as a marketplace for individual courses, Podia provides a comprehensive platform that empowers creators to build and market their online business with more control over pricing, branding, and customer relationships.

Direct Sales and Marketing Control: Creators have full control over the pricing and marketing of their courses and products. This includes the ability to offer coupons, bundles, and upsells, as well as build email marketing campaigns directly within the platform.
Customizable Branding: Unlike Udemy, which maintains consistent branding across all courses, Podia allows creators to customize their storefronts, courses, and sales pages to match their brand identity.
Integrated Payment Processing: The platform handles payment processing directly, offering an integrated checkout experience for customers. This simplifies the sales process for creators and provides a seamless purchasing experience for customers.

Coursera

Coursera partners with universities and organizations worldwide to offer a wide range of courses, specializations, professional certificates, and degrees.

Academic Partnerships: Coursera partners with top universities and educational institutions around the globe, offering courses that are often taught by university faculty. This ensures a high level of academic rigor and quality.
Accredited Certificates and Degrees: Unlike Udemy, which offers non-accredited certificates of completion, Coursera provides learners the opportunity to earn accredited certificates and even university degrees online. This can be a significant advantage for career advancement.
Financial Aid and Scholarships: Coursera offers financial aid and scholarships for learners who need support, making higher education more accessible to a broader audience.
Enterprise Solutions: Coursera also offers Coursera for Business, providing companies with access to professional development courses for their employees. This feature is particularly appealing for organizations looking to upskill their workforce.

Teachable

Unlike Udemy, which is a marketplace for courses where instructors have limited control over branding and pricing, Teachable provides a platform for instructors to build their own online course business with more autonomy and customization.

Custom Branding: Teachable allows instructors to customize their course pages and sales funnels to align with their brand identity. This includes custom domains, logos, and theme customization, offering a more personalized and professional appearance.
Control Over Pricing: Instructors on Teachable have full control over the pricing of their courses. This flexibility enables them to set their own prices, offer discounts, bundles, and memberships, and adjust their strategies based on what works best for their audience and content.
Direct Student Relationships: Teachable provide instructors with the tools to manage and communicate directly with their students, fostering stronger relationships.

While Teachable offers significant advantages for those looking to have more control over their online course business, it’s important to consider the need for self-promotion. Unlike Udemy, which provides a built-in audience, instructors on Teachable need to market their courses independently to attract students. This requires a solid marketing strategy and an understanding of digital marketing tactics.

Conclusion

Whatever platform you choose, remember that your audience always values high-quality content. Building and hosting a great course is really hard, and I hope this blog post gave you some clarity on what are your possible options in this space. All the best!