Top 10 Udemy Alternatives for Course Creators: (+Global Online Education Insights)

In search of Udemy alternatives? Cost, course types, or platform capabilities often drive learners to consider different online learning spaces.

This guide uncovers a spectrum of alternatives that blend academic thoroughness, creative freedom, or technical focus, helping you pinpoint a platform aligned with your learning objectives.

What we will explore together:

• The growing global online education market is projected to reach $475 billion by 2030, and how platforms are innovating with AI, gamification, and personalized learning to meet the demand for technical skills and professional development.
• A comprehensive guide to Udemy alternatives, highlighting platforms that offer specialized learning experiences, from academic rigor and creative skill-building to community-centric and technical courses.
• Lastly, the rise of community-centric learning platforms like Disco, allows educators to retain full control over pricing and content, fostering a more engaging and collaborative online learning environment.

The Global Online Education Landscape

The global online education market, which was valued at $217 billion in 2022, is on a robust growth trajectory. It is projected to rise with a CAGR of nearly 9.1% from 2023 to 2030, reaching an impressive market volume of US$475 billion by the end of the decade.

This comprehensive market report serves as an indispensable guide, detailing the growth factors, challenges, restraints, and opportunities within the global online education market space.

Online learning platforms are responding to these changes with innovations like AI-assisted course creation, gamification for enhanced engagement, and mobile learning for on-the-go accessibility. Notably, computer science courses are in high demand, reflecting the importance of technology skills in today’s job market.

Understanding Udemy's Market Position

Udemy has successfully secured a significant portion of the online learning market, holding a 3.88% share in the learning management systems sector.

Its growth has been fueled by its diverse course offerings and its revenue-sharing model, which has made it appealing to a wide spectrum of course creators and learners. However, it’s not all sunshine and roses.

Some constraints on Udemy have prompted course creators and learners to consider other online learning platforms.

❌ One of Udemy’s major drawbacks is its lack of control over the customer relationship and pricing. The platform also grapples with the complexities of being a multi-sided platform, affecting both free and paid courses.

❌ Furthermore, Udemy’s pricing model is a mixed bag, with a plethora of different prices, most of which get slashed to under $50 with coupon codes. This model is driven by data and market trends, and takes into account factors like the type of course and the location of its sales, leading to the rise of alternatives to Udemy in the online learning market.

❌ Additionally, selling your online courses in Udemy is limited. Udemy is known for its MOOCs or self-paced courses. You can't build or sell a community-based course using Udemy. You need a different online course platform for that.

The Shift in Online Learning Demands

The advent of the digital age has triggered a change in online learning demands, with an increasing number of people enrolling in online programs. Even traditional universities saw a surge in students taking online courses during lockdowns.

This shift is driven by a multitude of factors, including:

• The ease of access to information
• Advancements in technology and AI
• Increased competition in the education sector
• Strategic moves by big educational businesses such as M&A and partnerships

This has led to an increased demand for technical skills in the job market.

Coding and programming remain in high demand on online learning platforms, underscoring the importance of technology skills in today’s job market.

The shift towards community-centric learning is also becoming more prevalent. This approach, seen as an alternative to Udemy, focuses on connectivity and personalized learning, enhancing the overall learning experience.

Diving into Udemy Alternatives: What You Need to Know

Venturing beyond Udemy, we encounter a vibrant landscape of alternative online learning platforms, each catering to different learning needs and preferences.

Coursera, Skillshare, and the Disco platform are a few notable examples. Each of these platforms brings unique features and benefits to the table, helping to create a more diverse and flexible online learning environment.

Aside from this, Thinkific and Teachable emerge as prominent platforms. These platforms simplify the process for online educators, offering an array of tools to create, market, and sell online courses.

1. Coursera: Academic Rigor Meets Flexible Learning

Coursera has earned its reputation for offering academically rigorous courses. The platform partners with colleges, universities, and academic institutions to deliver high-quality, expert-led instruction and course content.

These courses are structured to emulate a real academic experience, offering a stark contrast to Udemy’s more informal approach to online education.

The platform’s Global Community of course instructors brings an impressive level of expertise to each course, ensuring a top-notch learning experience for students.

Additionally, Coursera goes the extra mile by providing a personalized learning experience with features like a comprehensive dashboard for progress tracking and a Coursera Coach powered by AI, which helps learners access expert content and improve their learning process.

Coursera primarily targets individuals aged 18-55 who are at different stages of their careers and are seeking high-quality education. Its focus on academic rigor and flexible learning makes it a popular choice among learners looking for structured content and expert instruction.

2. Skillshare: Turn Your Creative Skills into Profits

Skillshare presents itself as an excellent Udemy alternative for those inclined toward creativity. Unlike Udemy’s broad course offerings, Skillshare focuses on creative pursuits such as:

• photography
• graphic design
• drawing
• animation

This focus on creativity allows learners to unleash their potential and learn practical skills that can be applied in various creative fields.

Skillshare’s subscription model provides access to all classes along with additional features like offline viewing and subtitle translations.

With around 12 million active users and 2 million students, it’s evident that Skillshare’s emphasis on creativity is resonating with a broad audience.

How much can you earn as a Skillshare Teacher?

Becoming a teacher on Skillshare is accessible to anyone with expertise in a creative field and a desire to share their knowledge.

By planning and producing engaging video lessons, you can earn royalties based on class viewership and premium referrals, with new teachers averaging $200 in their first month and top teachers earning $3,000 or more.

3. Disco Platform: Create Community-centric Learning Products

Disco.co emerges as a distinctive contender among online learning platforms. Disco combines learning, community, productivity, and monetization tools in one platform, making it easy to build and grow a thriving community-powered learning business.

Disco distinguishes itself by offering course creators transparent pricing, where 100% of the revenue generated from their courses is theirs to keep. This is a direct solution to Udemy's limitation, where control over pricing and revenue can be opaque and less favorable.

Moreover, Disco provides unparalleled flexibility, empowering creators with the freedom to set their own course prices and create multiple courses.

Whether you choose to offer courses for free, implement a paid model, or provide discounted rates, the decision lies entirely in your hands, free from the constraints of a platform-dictated pricing structure.

In addition to these benefits, Disco supports a diversity of learning products, accommodating various teaching styles and learning preferences.

Course creators can design self-paced courses, a mix of self-paced and cohort-based courses, fully cohort-based courses, community-centric programs, and even event series. This variety addresses the one-size-fits-all limitation of Udemy, offering a more tailored and dynamic approach to online education.

How to Become an Instructor at Disco:

Disco isn't just another online course marketplace—it's a dynamic online course platform that puts you in the driver's seat of your educational enterprise.

Here, you're not just an instructor; you're an entrepreneur with the freedom to shape your earning potential and retain 100% of your revenue without any platform fees cutting into your profits.

1. First things first, get yourself set up with a Disco account. Haven't got one? No worries! Jump into our Disco's 14-day free trial.
2. Once you're onboarded, it's time to unleash your creativity and start building your course within an interactive community. You'll have access to a suite of tools designed to help you craft an engaging learning experience. Learn how to create learning products with Disco guides!
3. To ensure you're making the most of what Disco has to offer, follow our comprehensive getting started checklist. It's your roadmap to mastering the platform.
4. And if you hit a snag or need some guidance, our support team is just a support ticket away. Plus, keep an eye on our product updates for helpful video tutorials and the latest features.

Embark on this exciting journey and watch your vision come to life—best of luck! 💜

4. Udacity: Real-World Projects for Aspiring Tech Professionals

Udacity has become a go-to for aspiring tech professionals seeking real-world project experience. The platform’s approach to learning revolves around the philosophy of “Learning by Doing”.

It offers a range of programs aimed at imparting practical skills and critical thinking, making it a go-to platform for tech professionals looking to upskill.

The focus on real-world projects is a defining feature of Udacity. By covering areas such as:

• programming
• data science
• AI
• digital marketing

Udacity ensures that learners gain practical skills that are directly applicable to their respective fields. The platform’s courses are designed by industry professionals, guaranteeing learners an up-to-date curriculum and in line with current industry trends.

With Udacity, aspiring tech professionals can choose from a range of popular programs like Machine Learning Engineer, Data Scientist, and Full Stack Web Developer. These programs are designed to equip learners with the necessary skills to excel in their chosen technological fields.

Want to become a Udacity Teacher? Learn first how Teachers earn from Udacity.

5. Codecademy: Coding Courses for Every Level

Whether you’re a beginner wanting to learn coding from scratch, or an experienced coder aiming to advance your knowledge, Codecademy is an ideal choice. The platform caters to all skill levels, offering courses in various programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, C#, Ruby, R, and SQL.

Codecademy’s learning experience stands out for its:

• Interactivity and hands-on approach
• Practical coding exercises and interactive learning experiences
• User-friendly interface
• Comprehensive course offerings

With Codecademy, learners can start with the basics and gradually progress to more advanced levels by taking multiple courses, including engaging video lessons.

6. DataCamp: Data Science Learning Made Interactive

For those interested in data science, DataCamp is a platform worth exploring. With its focus on interactive learning, DataCamp offers an engaging and hands-on approach to mastering data science.

DataCamp’s courses are designed to be practical and engaging, mirroring real data science projects. This approach allows learners to gain practical skills as they progress through the course. The platform offers a range of courses including:

• Introduction to Python
• Introduction to SQL
• Understanding Data Science
• Introduction to ChatGPT

This makes it a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to delve into the world of data science.

How to become a DataCamp's Instructor:

To become an instructor at DataCamp, you'll need to showcase your expertise in data science or a related field. Submit a course proposal outlining your course idea, structure, and what makes it unique.

DataCamp looks for instructors who can create interactive, hands-on content that provides practical knowledge. Once your proposal is accepted, you'll collaborate with DataCamp's curriculum designers to develop your course, leveraging their platform to engage learners through video lessons, coding exercises, and real-world projects.

7. LinkedIn Learning: Courses for Professional Development

LinkedIn Learning has gained popularity among professionals looking to expand their knowledge and upskill. The platform offers over 16000 free courses, both online and on-demand, to help with career development and personal growth.

These courses cover a wide range of fields including business, creative, and technology, catering to a broad spectrum of professional needs.

How to become a Linkedin Learning Instructor:

LinkedIn Learning typically seeks professionals with strong presentation skills who can deliver engaging, high-quality video content.

Interested candidates can visit the LinkedIn Learning website and fill out the "Become an Instructor" form, providing details about their expertise, proposed course ideas, and any previous teaching experience.

LinkedIn's team reviews applications, and if there's a match, they will reach out with the next steps in the course development process.

8. EdX: University-Level Education at Your Fingertips

Professionals can also utilize EdX as a resource for upskilling. EdX offers university-level education from top institutions, making it an accessible option for learners seeking accredited courses.

EdX offers a wide range of courses in different fields, making it a versatile platform for learners.

Its courses are designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, preparing them for the challenges of the professional world.

9. Thinkific: Customizable Course Creation

Thinkific is a leading platform that offers customizable course creation tools. It allows educators to design courses that suit their unique needs, catering to a wide range of learning styles.

Thinkific’s course builder offers the following features to create courses:

• Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
• Ability to create and organize lessons and chapters effortlessly
• Bulk import content to save time
• Support for a diverse range of course formats, including video-based, multimedia, text-based, PDF, audio, and narrated presentations

These features make Thinkific a user-friendly option for course creation and ensure that educators can cater to a broad spectrum of learning needs.

Learn more about our comparison Disco vs Thinkific!

10. Teachable: Simplifying the Teaching Online Experience

Teachable is another platform that simplifies the online teaching experience. With its user-friendly interface, Teachable provides a seamless platform for course creators, making it easier to create and deliver online courses.

Teachable offers a range of tools to aid in course creation. It includes AI features for making course outlines and quizzes, a course and website builder, lesson scheduling, live webinars, and a sales dashboard.

Moreover, Teachable offers various ways for course creators to monetize their content, including selling online courses, digital products, affiliate marketing, brand sponsorships, and setting up membership websites.

With its comprehensive offerings, Teachable simplifies the online teaching experience, making it a preferred choice for many online educators.

Dig deeper into Teachable through our comparison page: Teachable vs Disco!

The Rise of Community-Centric Learning with DISCO 🪩

As the digital tide surges, the concept of community-centric learning is gaining unprecedented momentum, and Disco is navigating these waters with finesse. Disco is not just an online learning platform; it's a vibrant ecosystem that intertwines:

• Learning with enjoyment
• Community building with networking
• Productivity with innovation
• Monetization with empowerment

This multifaceted platform is ingeniously designed to cultivate a thriving community-powered learning business that resonates with the heartbeat of collective growth and shared success.

Disco’s suite of standout features is as eclectic as it is essential, comprising:

• Interactive online courses that captivate and educate
• Peer groups that offer solidarity and support
• Project-based learning that bridges theory and practice
• Channels & forums that buzz with discussions and ideas
• Mobile access to learn on the move
• A member directory that connects like-minded individuals
• Customizable learning journeys that cater to individual growth

Each element of Disco's platform is a cog in the wheel of community-centric learning, propelling learners and educators toward a dynamic and collaborative educational experience.

Disco’s commitment to enhancing engagement goes beyond the norm, providing a rich, multi-dimensional learning environment where every student's voice can be heard, and every educator's knowledge can be amplified.

Embrace the future of learning with Disco, where education is not just about absorbing information, but about thriving in a community that values knowledge sharing, active participation, and collective achievement.

The Unique Proposition of Disco for Modern Educators

Disco’s emphasis on community building and engagement presents a distinctive proposition for modern educators. Disco creates a more interactive and inclusive classroom vibe, helping to build new relationships, strengthening existing ones, and setting up opportunities for future collaboration.

Disco’s all-in-one platform is purpose-built for learning, providing a personalized learning experience with:

• On-demand videos
• Learning modules
• Live training
• Tools for customizing learning and understanding student progress

As a complete package, Disco caters to the needs of both educators and students, making it easier to create and deliver courses and improving the overall learning process.

Leveraging Disco's AI-Powered Tools for Enhanced Learning

Disco leverages AI to elevate course creation and community management, featuring an AI writing tool for content generation, an AI image generator for visual aids, and an AI co-pilot for community assistance. These tools streamline course development and enhance learner engagement, offering a personalized and efficient online learning experience.

Join Our Thriving Community and Launch Your Own Community-based Learning Courses in 21 Days for FREE!

Join the vibrant community of Thrive by Disco, where like-minded individuals converge to share insights, connect, and grow together. With Thrive, you're not just joining a mastermind group; you're becoming part of a large network of peers dedicated to mutual success.

Plus, with our 21-day challenge, you'll have the opportunity to launch and improve your own community-centric courses, fully harnessing the power of collective wisdom and support. Don't miss the chance to elevate your learning and teaching experience with Disco today!