Skillshare vs Udemy: Which Platform Should You Teach On?

Two Giants, Very Different Models

Skillshare and Udemy are the two largest open marketplace platforms for online courses, but they operate on fundamentally different business models. Choosing the right one impacts how much you earn, who finds your content, and how you build your teaching brand.

How Each Platform Pays You

Udemy's Revenue Model

Udemy uses a per-sale model. When a student buys your course through your own marketing link, you keep 97% of the revenue. When Udemy drives the sale through their marketplace or ads, you keep 37%. Courses are individually priced, typically between $12.99 and $199.99, though frequent site-wide sales bring effective prices to $10-$20.

Skillshare's Revenue Model

Skillshare pays creators from a royalty pool based on minutes watched. Your monthly payout depends on how many premium members watch your classes relative to all other teachers. Typical earnings range from $0.05 to $0.10 per minute watched, though top teachers earn significantly more.

Audience and Discovery

Who Uses Udemy

Udemy has over 70 million students worldwide and strong SEO presence. Students come to Udemy searching for specific skills like Python, Excel, or Photoshop. The platform skews toward professional development and technical skills.

Who Uses Skillshare

Skillshare attracts a younger, more creative audience. The platform is strongest in design, illustration, photography, writing, and creative business topics. With its subscription model, students browse and explore rather than searching for one specific course.

Content Format and Expectations

Udemy Course Expectations

Udemy courses tend to be comprehensive and longer, often 5-30 hours. Students expect high production value, structured curriculum, quizzes, assignments, and a certificate of completion. The marketplace is competitive, so polished content stands out.

Skillshare Class Format

Skillshare classes are shorter, typically 15-60 minutes. They emphasize practical projects and creative exploration over comprehensive coverage. Production quality matters less than authenticity and teaching style.

Which Platform Is Right for You?

Choose Udemy if you teach technical or professional skills, want to charge premium prices, and are willing to invest in comprehensive, polished courses. Choose Skillshare if you teach creative skills, prefer shorter-form content, and want to build an audience through the subscription discovery engine.

The Best Strategy: Use Both

Many successful instructors publish on both platforms. Create a comprehensive course on Udemy and break the highlights into shorter Skillshare classes. This lets you maximize reach while tailoring content to each platform's audience.