The marketplace question splits course creators into camps, but the honest answer isn't a camp — it's a sequence. Here's what each side actually gets you, and the hybrid strategy that uses Udemy's reach to feed a platform you own.
✦
1. Udemy (marketplace)
Millions of students search Udemy daily — distribution you cannot buy elsewhere at any price. The costs: marketplace discounting crushes your price point, Udemy keeps a large share of sales it drives, and crucially, students are Udemy's customers, not yours — you don't get their emails.
Visit Udemy (marketplace) →✦
2. Your own platform
Set your price ($200 courses that would be $15 on Udemy), keep 90%+ of revenue, own every customer email, build a brand. The cost: every student arrives through your marketing. No audience, no sales — the platform doesn't bring one.
Visit Your own platform →✦
3. The hybrid strategy
A shorter, cheaper course on Udemy as discovery — inside it, a lead magnet ('free workbook at yoursite.com') pulls students to your email list — then your flagship course sells at full price on your own platform. Udemy becomes a paid-you acquisition channel feeding an owned business. This is the sequence, not a compromise.
Visit The hybrid strategy →The decision in plain terms
Zero audience and want proof people pay for your teaching? Start on Udemy — treat revenue share and pricing pressure as marketing costs. Have any audience (email list, YouTube, socials, professional network)? Own platform, immediately — the margins and list compound. Either way, the destination is ownership; Udemy is at best the on-ramp.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Udemy take?
Udemy keeps a large share of sales it drives through the marketplace (smaller cut when your own link brings the buyer) — and controls pricing via aggressive discounts. Check current terms; the exact split changes.
Can I sell the same course on Udemy and my own site?
Policies restrict pricing games between them — most creators avoid conflicts by putting different (shorter) content on Udemy. Verify current exclusivity rules.
Is Udemy worth it in 2026?
As a discovery channel and validation tool, yes. As the sole home of your course business, no — you're building on rented land at marketplace prices.