Udemy vs Skillshare for Teachers (which is right for you?)

So you’ve got knowledge worth sharing, and you’re trying to figure out where to put it. That’s a great problem to have!

Udemy and Skillshare both let you teach what you know and get paid for it. But they work in really different ways, and picking the one that fits your topic (rather than just picking the “biggest” one) will save you a lot of wasted effort. Let’s walk through it together…Udemy Vs Skillshare for Teachers…

1. What Is Udemy Best For?

Udemy is a marketplace where you set your own course price, and students pay per course rather than subscribing.

If you’re teaching something practical, you’re in good company here. Think:

Coding and tech skills
Marketing
Business and finance
Productivity tools and software

Udemy has tens of millions of students browsing at any given time, so the audience is already there waiting for you.

That’s a huge head start.

a) Good to Know

Udemy gives you access to a huge audience, but you share revenue and have less control over pricing and promotions than you would on your own platform.

None of this means you can’t earn well – many instructors do.

It simply means that creating a quality course and standing out from the crowd is important.

b) Who Is Udemy Best For?

If you’re teaching something people actively search for with a specific outcome in mind, like “learn Excel,” “pass this certification,” or “build a website,” Udemy’s size works in your favor.

People show up there already looking to solve a problem, which makes it easier for a well-titled, well-reviewed course to get found.

It’s also a great option for beginners because Udemy brings the audience to you, so you don’t need to build your own following before creating your first course.

2. What Is Skillshare Best For?

Skillshare runs on a subscription model. Students pay one membership fee for access to everything.

You get paid based on how many minutes of your class people actually watch.

So content that keeps people genuinely engaged is rewarded, not just content that gets a one-time purchase.

It’s a lovely home for creative subjects, taught in shorter, project-based lessons:

Design
Photography
Writing
Illustration
Video editing

Students complete a hands-on project alongside your class, which creates a real sense of community, something that’s harder to recreate on Udemy.

a) Good to Know

The catch? Your earnings depend on overall watch time across the platform, so income can feel a little less predictable than simply setting your own price.

b) Who Is Skillshare Best For?

If your strength is showing rather than just telling…

think demonstrating a creative process, walking through a design, or sharing a craft…

Skillshare’s project-based format is a great match.

It’s also beginner-friendly, especially if you enjoy creating shorter classes and building your confidence as a teacher over time.

It suits teachers who enjoy giving feedback and building a following, rather than those after a quick one-off sale.

Udemy Teaching Page — Udemy Teaching Centre

3. Is It Easy to Get Started?

Good news: yes, on both!

Neither platform requires fancy equipment, a big existing audience, or technical wizardry.

All you really need is the willingness to record yourself and upload a video.

And if you need guidance, both platforms offer excellent training for beginners, including resources on lesson planning, video creation, course publishing, and marketing.

They’re both genuinely designed so a complete beginner can get a course live without months of prep.

4. Will Teaching Make Me Money?

Both platforms can absolutely pay off, just on different timelines and models.

a) Making Money on Udemy

Udemy gives you more control over pricing, so a well-targeted, useful course can build steady income over time, especially if you put a bit of effort into promoting it yourself.

b) Making Money on Skillshare

Skillshare’s payouts tend to grow as your following and watch time grow.

It rewards teachers who stick around, publish more than once, and build an audience, rather than those who post a single class and disappear.

c) Good to Know

Neither is a guaranteed payday.

How much you earn depends on your topic, your effort, and how consistently you show up.

Think of either platform as a long game you’re building, not a lottery ticket.

Which Should You Choose – Udemy Vs Skillshare for Teachers?

If your subject is practical or career-focused, start with Udemy.
If it’s creative, Skillshare is the better fit.

You don’t have to choose one over the other anyway!

Once your course is built, there’s nothing stopping you from publishing it on both to double your exposure.

What Matters More Than the Platform

Here’s the thing worth remembering: the platform is just the delivery mechanism.

The real foundation is having a course worth teaching in the first place, and that’s something you already have more of than you think. You’ve got this.

Want help figuring out what online business model suits you before you commit to building a course? Grab my free guide to starting an online business and find your starting point