Teachable vs Udemy: which platform suits which goals?

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 9 Nov 2026 · 8m ago

Two ways to sell a course

Course creators face a basic choice: sell through a marketplace that already has learners, or build their own school and attract students themselves. Udemy and Teachable are well-known examples of each approach. Neither is better in every situation. This guide compares them by goal, so you can match the platform to what you want to achieve. Fees, plans and revenue shares change, so check the current terms on each platform.

Goal table

| Goal | Usually suits | Why |

|---|---|---|

| Reach new learners quickly | Udemy | Built-in marketplace search and promotions |

| Keep more of each sale | Teachable | You set prices and keep most revenue |

| Control branding | Teachable | Your own school, domain and design |

| Own student relationships | Teachable | Students are your customers |

| Keep admin low | Udemy | Platform handles payments, support and promotion |

| Sell coaching and bundles | Teachable | Supports coaching, bundles and memberships |

| Test a course idea | Udemy | Low setup and immediate audience |

Goal 1: reaching new students quickly

If you have no audience, Udemy's marketplace offers a way to reach learners searching for your topic. Good titles, strong previews, quality content and reviews help courses appear in search. Competition is heavy, but the potential audience is large.

Goal 2: keeping more of each sale

On Teachable, you set your price, and after subscription costs and payment processing, you keep most of the revenue. On Udemy, marketplace sales pay a smaller share, while sales through your coupons pay more.

Worked example: one course, two platforms

A creator sells a course for 120 dollars on Teachable. With payment processing at about 3 percent, she keeps 116.40 dollars per sale. Ten sales a month bring 1,164 dollars, minus a 39 dollar monthly plan, leaving 1,125 dollars. On Udemy, the same course sells during promotions for 15 dollars, and at a 37 percent marketplace share she earns 5.55 dollars per sale. She would need about 203 marketplace sales a month to match the Teachable total. The percentage calculator on this site helps model this.

Goal 3: controlling pricing and branding

Udemy sets pricing rules and runs frequent site-wide promotions, which can lower prices. Teachable lets you set any price, run your own discounts and design your school to match your brand.

Goal 4: owning student relationships

On Teachable, you can email students, build a community and sell future products. Udemy limits off-platform contact and promotional messages, so building a long-term relationship is harder.

Goal 5: building a coaching or membership business

Teachable supports bundles, payment plans, coaching products and memberships, which suit creators building a larger education business.

Goal 6: keeping admin low

Udemy handles payments, refunds, taxes in many places and customer support. On Teachable, you handle marketing, student questions and policies, though the platform processes payments.

Goal 7: testing a course idea

Publishing a short course on Udemy can show whether learners are interested before you invest in your own school.

Goal 8: building authority in your field

If your aim is to be known as an expert, both platforms can help in different ways. A well-reviewed course on a large marketplace can introduce your name to thousands of learners who would never have found your website. A branded school, on the other hand, sits alongside your own content, podcast or newsletter and reinforces your reputation every time a student logs in. Many experts use the marketplace for visibility and their own school for flagship programmes, linking the two through their wider content and social channels.

Goal 9: earning with minimal marketing

Some creators simply do not want to run ads, write newsletters or post on social media every week. For them, the marketplace's built-in search, recommendations and promotions are the main attraction. Results still depend on the quality of the course, the title and description, the preview video and early reviews, so some effort is needed at launch. On your own school, almost every sale comes from your marketing, so a creator unwilling to promote would usually struggle.

Goal 10: selling to companies and teams

Organisations often buy training for teams. Udemy offers a business subscription that companies use for staff learning, and selected courses can earn from that programme based on engagement. With your own school, you can sell group licences, cohort programmes or custom training packages directly to companies, setting your own prices and terms. Direct corporate sales require relationship building but can be valuable.

Course format and student experience

Both platforms support video lectures, quizzes, downloadable resources and certificates of completion. Your own school can add more flexibility, such as drip release of lessons, cohorts, live sessions, community spaces and custom completion rules, depending on the plan. On the marketplace, the learning experience is standardised, which is familiar to learners but limits customisation.

Refunds and student expectations

The marketplace has its own refund policy, which learners use when a course does not meet expectations, and frequent refunds can affect your earnings. On your own school, you write the refund policy, within consumer law where you sell. A clear policy and accurate course description reduce refund requests on either platform.

Time investment

Creating a good course takes time: planning, scripting, recording, editing, writing resources and answering questions. Running your own school adds time for marketing, emails, sales pages and support. Estimate the hours honestly before choosing, and remember that updating content every year or two keeps courses relevant and reviews strong.

Common mistakes

Creators often publish courses that are too broad, underestimate marketing needs, use poor audio, ignore student questions or rely on one platform without testing alternatives.

Goal 11: launching with a small budget

Creators with very little money to invest often start on the marketplace, because publishing is free and there is no monthly subscription. A free or low-cost plan on a school platform is also possible, though transaction fees and limited features may apply on lower plans. Whichever you choose, the main costs at launch are usually a decent microphone, screen recording software, editing time and a clear thumbnail or cover image. Keeping the first course short and focused reduces both cost and risk while you learn what students want.

Goal 12: building recurring revenue

If you want predictable monthly income, a school that supports memberships, subscriptions or payment plans offers more options, such as a monthly community with new lessons, live calls and resources. Marketplace income tends to come from individual course sales that rise and fall with promotions and search visibility, although subscription programmes add some regular earnings for eligible courses. Recurring revenue requires ongoing content and community management, so plan the time before launching.

Marketing your course on either platform

Even marketplace courses benefit from outside promotion. Share useful free content related to your course, build an email list, appear on podcasts or in communities where your learners spend time and collect testimonials. On your own school, these channels are essential, and many creators also use webinars, free mini-courses and launch periods to drive enrolments.

Reviews and social proof

On the marketplace, ratings and reviews strongly influence search placement and buying decisions, so early reviews matter. Encourage honest reviews by delivering a polished course and answering questions promptly, without offering incentives that break the rules. On your own school, testimonials on your sales page play a similar role. Ask satisfied students for permission to quote them, and keep testimonials accurate and representative, because exaggerated claims about results can break advertising rules.

Switching later

Your first choice does not have to be permanent. Creators often begin on one platform and add the other as their audience grows. Keep your source files, scripts and resources organised so you can adapt the course for a different platform without rebuilding it.

Content and quality rules

Both have content guidelines, and Udemy reviews courses before publishing. Use only content you own or have licensed.

Taxes

Course income is taxable. Platforms may collect sales taxes in some places, but creators remain responsible for income tax.

Decision guide

No audience and little time: start on Udemy. An audience and a wish for control: start on Teachable. Both: use Udemy for discovery and Teachable for deeper programmes.

Reader questions

Questions about teaching online? Send them through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only. Fees and terms change; check official support pages. No income is guaranteed.

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