Udemy Review: Pros, Cons, Tips, & Alternatives [2023 Update]

In this Udemy review, we'll be going in-depth to cover everything you need to know about Udemy in 2023, including pros and cons, course costs, the types of courses available, and tips on how to find the best courses for your area of interest, including free and paid course options.

As one of the largest and most affordable online learning platforms, Udemy continues to be one of the very best places to learn valuable new skills or to level up your existing skillset. 

Plus, with a vast range of courses on practically any subject,  if you're looking to learn skills at your own pace, there's a strong chance you've heard about Udemy. That's why we've put together this in-depth Udemy review.

So, if you're ready, let's dive into this Udemy review!

Udemy Review: At A Glance

Before we dive into the nitty gritty of this Udemy review, let's take a look at some quick facts about Udemy:

• More than 210,000 courses to choose from.
• Certificates of completion when you complete a paid course.
• Course prices are very affordable when compared with other platforms.
• Thousands of free courses to choose from.
• Regular deep-discount sales, which see discounts of 80-90%.

So, is Udemy worth it in 2023? Well, we'll be covering that question in more detail throughout this Udemy review, but based on our evaluations of various online course providers and after reviewing hackr.io community feedback, we think that Udemy provides incredible value for money.

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If you're in a hurry, we've added our key ratings for the Udemy platform below, including our overall Udemy rating of 4.5/5.

What Is Udemy?

Udemy is an online learning platform primarily aimed at professional adults and students who want to learn new skills. That said, it’s an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn something new, regardless of their background or career goals.

Launched in 2010, Udemy has become one of the largest and most popular platforms for online courses on various topics, including programming, design, business, photography, marketing, personal development, and many others.

But what makes Udemy unique? Let’s dive into the key facts about the Udemy platform.

• User-generated Content: Unlike traditional massive open online course (MOOC) programs driven by collegiate-style coursework, Udemy courses are produced by freelance content creators, including highly experienced professionals.
• Wide Range of Courses: There are over 210,000 courses available in various categories, ranging in quality and depth. Some courses are as short as 30 minutes, while others offer 100+ hours of in-depth training and resources.
• Pricing: Courses on Udemy vary in price, with some as little as $3 and others costing several hundreds of dollars. That said, Udemy has regular sales where you can pick up the more expensive courses for as low as $10. 
• Free content: You can choose from a wide range of free Udemy courses that can be ideal if you’re looking to test the waters before making a financial commitment. You should bear in mind that the content in these can sometimes be a little outdated.
• Lifetime Access: Once you purchase a course on Udemy, you get lifetime access to it, meaning you can learn at your own pace and return to it whenever you wish. This applies even if the instructor stops making updates to the content.
• Certificates of Completion: After finishing a course, you will receive a certificate of completion, which can be shared on job-related social networking sites like LinkedIn.
• World-Class Instructors: One of the biggest plus points about Udemy is that it serves as a platform for instructors and experts in various fields to create courses. This democratized access to world-class instruction is one of our favorite aspects of the Udemy platform. You can even interact via the built-in Q&A feature.
• Reviews and Ratings: Each course comes with user reviews and ratings, which are ideal for helping you decide whether the course is right for you. We highly recommend looking at this, as the quality of courses on Udemy can vary.

As we move into the final part of 2023, Udemy continues to be one of the most popular platforms for online learning in 2023. As of today, Udemy has over 210,000 courses, more than 60 million learners, and over 870 million past course enrollments — though there’s no telling what those figures will look like in a few months.

Is Udemy Legit?

With more than sixty million learners, it’s fair to say that the overwhelming majority of its students think that Udemy is a legit platform for learning. 

In fact, Udemy has been nominated for and won awards in the past, It’s a trusted learning resource for educating employees at giant companies like Samsung, AT&T, Cisco, and Citibank, and it’s also consistently mentioned by well-known publications such as Forbes and Mashable.

Who Should Use Udemy?

With Udemy’s vast and diverse course library, there’s no limit to what you can learn on the platform. We also like that Udemy courses are available at varying levels of difficulty, which means that students of any skill level or experience can find a course that suits them.

So who exactly is Udemy for? Udemy is for people who want to:

• Gain skills to find a job or further their careers
• Change careers and branch out into a new field
• Find free courses to kickstart their learning journey
• Publish courses that they've created themselves (excellent if you have skills you're passionate about sharing)
• Find classes in a huge array of fields in their native language

The TL-DR is that anyone who wants to learn a new skill can significantly benefit from the courses on offer at Udemy. And thanks to Udemy Business, Udemy also works well for SMBs and enterprises that want to invest in their employees.

Is Udemy Recognized and Accredited?

Udemy is not an accredited educational institution, mainly because courses can be produced by anyone. For this reason, Udemy certificates aren’t always recognized as official credentials by potential employers. That said, some employers tend to value skills and experience over credentials anyway. 

How Does Udemy Work?

If you're brand new to the idea of an online learning platform, you might be wondering how Udemy actually works. No problem, let's take a quick glance at how to get started with Udemy.

As you can probably tell from the tens of millions of students who have enrolled in a Udemy course, the process for getting started is simple and intuitive, which means that regardless of how less tech-savvy you are, you can follow along easily.

Here’s how it works: 

• Create an account by signing up on the platform - you just need an email address to get started.
• Check your inbox for a confirmation email to activate your Udemy account and to log in for the first time.
• Search for a course or browse courses by category on the platform.
• Add courses that you'd like to purchase to your cart, then follow the checkout process.
• You now have lifetime access to your chosen courses, which you can access through Udemy’s website or mobile app - just remember to log in :)
• Start learning by following along with the lectures and videos in your course!

It really is as simple as that!

Pros & Cons Of Udemy

How Much Are Udemy Courses?

Instructors set Udemy course prices. Generally, course prices range between free and $300. The purchase gives you permanent access, even if the instructor stops updating the course.

Courses frequently go on sale at a deep discount of 70-90% off, and both Udemy and the instructors can set these sales.

Alternatively, you can also subscribe to Udemy’s personal plan for $29.99/month for on-demand access to over 6,000 courses in web development, IT, design and illustration, data science, digital marketing, communication, leadership, and more.

This is an excellent option if you have your eye on many courses and you find yourself unsure of which to choose, or you've found yourself waiting for the next sale before pulling the trigger.

Does Udemy Offer Free Courses?

Yes! There are many free courses on Udemy. These are either on promotion or permanently available at no cost. Sometimes these are a year or two older than the latest courses on Udemy, but they can be a great starting point before making a financial commitment.

Can You Return a Udemy Course?

Yes. If you purchase a Udemy course, you have 30 days to return it if you are unsatisfied. That said, you will not be qualified for a return if you have already consumed the majority of a course’s content.

Udemy also exercises discretion if they notice serial refunders, so don’t abuse the refund system!

What Kinds Of Courses Are Available On Udemy?

We’re not kidding when we say that Udemy offers a vast array of courses across various categories and fields. It makes sense when you consider there are more than 210, 000 courses to choose from!

If you’re not sure where to start when looking for the best Udemy courses, here are some of the most popular categories and sub-categories for Udemy courses in 2023.  

Development:

• Web Development (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Angular)
• Mobile App Development (e.g., iOS, Android)
• Programming Languages (e.g., Python, Java, C#, Ruby)
• Game Development
• Database Design & Development
• Machine Learning and AI

Business:

• Entrepreneurship
• Finance & Accounting
• Project Management (e.g., PMP, Agile)
• Communications
• Sales and Marketing
• Business Strategy

IT & Software:

• IT Certification (e.g., CompTIA, Cisco)
• Network & Security
• Operating Systems
• Hardware

Office Productivity:

• Microsoft (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Apple
• Google
• SAP
• Oracle

Personal Development:

• Leadership & Management
• Productivity
• Communication Skills
• Life Coaching
• Memory & Study Skills

Design:

• Graphic Design (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator)
• User Experience (UX) Design
• 3D & Animation
• Interior Design
• Architecture

Marketing:

• Digital Marketing (e.g., SEO, SEM, Social Media Marketing)
• Content Marketing
• Branding
• Video & Mobile Marketing
• Affiliate Marketing

Lifestyle:

• Arts & Crafts
• Travel
• Cooking
• Gaming

Photography & Video:

• Digital Photography
• Video Design
• Commercial Photography
• Video Editing

Health & Fitness:

• Yoga
• Mental Health
• Dieting
• Self Defense
• Dance

Music:

• Instruments (e.g., Piano, Guitar)
• Music Production
• Music Theory
• Vocal

Teaching & Academics:

• Online Education Techniques
• Language Learning (e.g., English, Spanish, French)
• Science & Math
• Humanities

This is only a snapshot of the massive range of subjects available on Udemy. Plus, the platform is continuously expanding, with instructors adding new courses regularly, so it's always a good idea to check the platform for the latest offerings in any given field.

How To Find The Best Courses On Udemy

If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably ready to conduct your own research into Udemy classes. Let’s take a look at some helpful tips that you can use to find the very best course on Udemy for your needs.

Use Udemy’s Filters

As you browse the platform, filters will help you find the perfect course. You can use Udemy’s filters to return search results that fit your parameters. Udemy’s filters include:

• Course Rating
• Video material duration
• Topics
• Subcategories
• Difficulty/Levels
• Course language
• Course price
• Features included (quizzes, exercises/projects, and practice tests)
• Subtitles

Explore Udemy Reviews

Every Udemy course has a student rating out of five stars (unless it’s brand new). 

Reviews are a great indicator of a course’s quality. For the most accurate assessment, check how many students have taken the course to get a better idea of how trustworthy a rating is. 

We’d also recommend reading some reviews to see what people have to say about the content and instructor.

Check When the Course Was Released or Updated

Many fields constantly evolve, so you might consider assessing courses for their release date or last update. This is particularly true for fields like development, so you’ll want to make sure you’re not investing time into learning an outdated approach.

Find Out More About the Instructor

Every course page on Udemy has information about the course’s instructor, and their biography also has a small blurb about them and their experience. 

Our advice? Feel free to research instructors to assess their qualifications before choosing to commit to their course. After all, it’s nice to know that the person you’re learning from knows what they’re talking about! 

Preview the Course

Each course has a preview video — this is an excellent way to gauge whether the course will teach you the knowledge and skills you seek. 

That said, some previews aren’t always complete or entirely accurate, so also take a look at the course’s table of contents for more information.

Consider Your Needs

As you look for suitable courses, consider your learning needs and goals. Consider factors such as a course’s length — is it so long that you won’t have the time to finish it?

Also, consider its features, such as whether it has assignments or quizzes, to help you apply what you’ve learned. 

Even if a course is highly rated and regarded, it’s useless to you unless you can complete it. 

Consider Your Budget

Although Udemy regularly features courses with deep discounts, it’s still a good idea to consider costs before purchasing. After all, even affordable courses add up to hundreds of dollars if you aren’t careful about what you spend.

The good news is you can always return a course within 30 days if you aren’t happy with it. 

That said, Udemy can deny refund requests at their discretion if they find you are refunding courses excessively. Additionally, you cannot refund a course if you have consumed a certain amount of its content.

The Best Udemy Courses

Now, this article is not supposed to be a Udemy courses review, but while we’re on the subject, let’s briefly look at some of the best courses available on the platform in a variety of fields:

• 2023 Complete Python Bootcamp From Zero to Hero in Python is a Python course for beginners that takes you from zero all the way to advanced knowledge in the subject. It has more than 1.5 million past enrollees and a rating of 4.6/5.

• The Web Developer Bootcamp 2023 was recently revamped, so new and former students alike can enjoy the changes! The course covers everything you need to learn about web development, including HTML, CSS, Node, JS, etc. It has over 790,000 students and a rating of 4.7/5.

• The Ultimate Drawing Course - Beginner to Advanced is a course that will teach you how to draw. As the primary building block of art, drawing is an important skill to pick up. This course shows you everything from the fundamentals to advanced techniques. Today, nearly 500,000 students have enrolled in the course, which has a rating of 4.6/5.

• Learn Ethical Hacking from Scratch is an excellent choice for those who want a career in cyber security, where you can find system vulnerabilities and patch them up. With over half a million students, this course has an excellent rating of 4.6/5.

• Microsoft Excel - Excel from Beginner to Advanced will show you everything you need to know about using Microsoft Excel. This A-Z course covers the basics and delves into more advanced concepts applicable to Microsoft Excel versions 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365. The course has over a million students and a stellar rating of 4.6/5.

• Graphic Design Masterclass - Learn GREAT Design is an excellent course that shows you how to become a designer. It teaches you the fundamentals of graphic design and even offers a primer in design thinking. You also learn how to use some of the industry-leading graphic design software. This course in particular, has had over 150,000 students and currently holds a rating of 4.6/5.

• Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography helps break photography concepts down into bite-sized, digestible pieces. Through the years, this course has garnered nearly 300,000 students and a rating of 4.7/5.

• Complete C# Unity Game Developer 2D is a course for students who want to develop video games using Unity. This course has 400,000+ students so far and a rating of 4.7/5.

• Complete Blender Creator: Learn 3D Modeling for Beginners is perfect for students who want to work with Blender for 3D Modeling. This beginner-level course starts with the basics and takes you through more advanced concepts to get you comfortable using Blender. Since it was published, this course has gotten over 250,000 students. It currently has a rating of 4.7/5.

Our Udemy Review 2023: Detailed Breakdown

We've covered a lot go ground about Udemy, so it seems like the perfect time to break down our review into ratings for the key criteria you need to know:

• User-friendliness: 5/5 - Getting started on Udemy is incredibly simple and intuitive for learners and instructors. The platform’s user interface and user experience are clean, straightforward, and easy to follow. Courses are meticulously organized and categorized, so learners like you have an easier time finding what you need.

• Convenience: 5/5 - Most people choose online learning because they’re busy and need the flexibility to learn at their own pace. Udemy is ideal for this, as it allows you to take your education offline via the mobile app (or your PC if the offline option is enabled — it isn’t always).

• Accessibility: 4.5/5 - Udemy is available on various platforms, and it works on any computer with a browser and an internet connection. It also runs on mobile via the iOS or Android app. Students can learn entirely through the mobile app, depending on the course’s subject and requirements. Many of the platform’s courses are available in several languages, so more people can access education. Additionally, subtitles can be available (if the instructor has made it possible). We took off half a star because not all courses are available for offline use on desktop.

• Affordability: 5/5 - Aside from the many free courses available on the learning platform, paid courses are usually affordable. Courses cost anywhere from $3 to $300 when full-priced. However, frequent deep discount sales make the courses significantly more affordable.

• Certification: 4/5 - Udemy provides a certificate of completion if you complete a paid course. The certificate is great for bragging rights or throwing onto your resume, but remember that it may not be an official credential since Udemy is not an accredited educational institution. Keep this in mind, as relying solely on a Udemy course certificate isn’t often enough to find employment, although some employers may accept Udemy certificates as valid.

• Course Catalog: 5/5 - Udemy continues to grow as time goes on. As of September 2023, the platform has 210,000+ courses. These courses are distributed into categories and subcategories in a wide variety of subjects. Learn about everything from business to IT and even health and wellness.

• Course quality: 4/5 - Each course must pass a quality check before publishing. Courses must have quality audio and high-definition video, with a minimum of five lectures and 30 minutes worth of video. That said, Udemy course quality varies because anyone can become an instructor. Best-selling courses tend to be high quality because experts in the field have created them, while some others can be mediocre. Always check the reviews before you commit!

• Course curriculum & structure: 5/5 - The self-paced classes on Udemy come in different formats and structures. Notably, Udemy courses often have lectures with videos, PDFs, slides, and other resources at the instructor’s discretion. The quizzes, practice tests, and other assignments are quite helpful to students who want to absorb what they’ve learned.

• User support: 4/5 - Udemy offers customer support through an incredibly detailed knowledge base for students and instructors. You can also ask direct questions to support@udemy.com. But while Udemy offers excellent customer support, we took off 1 star because some users have found support to be middling. Equally, as instructors handle their own FAQs and support sections, this can also vary. Generally speaking, we've found most instructors to be responsive and helpful,  but some may be too busy to respond often.

• Payment and refund methods: 5/5 - Udemy accepts various payment methods, including debit and credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express), cash payments, PayPal, payment via the Apple app stores, payment via Google Pay, and bank transfers. As an instructor, all payments for your courses go to Udemy, so you do not need your own payment processor. Udemy pays instructors monthly via Payoneer, PayPal, or direct bank deposit (for U.S.-based users only). For more information, check their support page.

Final Verdict and Rating

So, how good is Udemy? Based on our evaluation, it takes home a solid 4.5/5 stars.

Udemy is an excellent way to learn new things and develop skills, whether for personal growth, a hobby, or your career. The affordable prices, vast catalog, flexibility, and accessibility make for an excellent learning platform.

So, is Udemy worth it? Yes. Especially if you can purchase courses during deep discount sales.

The only real issue we’ve found with Udemy is that the certificates you earn aren’t considered “official” by many employers. If you want official credentials, try Coursera or edX, which are excellent choices all around.

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Alternatives To Udemy

Is Udemy a good place to learn new skills? Usually, yes, but the platform might not be a great fit if you seek universally accepted credentials for your resume. If this resonates with you, we'd highly recommend considering the following alternatives: 

• Coursera is one of the most reputable online learning platforms that also collaborates with universities and industry leaders to provide courses, projects, specializations, and even degrees on various topics. The platform costs $59 per month after a seven-day free trial. Alternatively, you can pay $399 yearly (with a 2-week money-back guarantee). However, if you want to enroll in some certificate or degree programs, you will have to pay a separate price. 

• edX is another excellent online learning platform that offers interactive courses from more than 160 universities, colleges, and institutions around the world, including Ivy League. Originally founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2012, edX provides a range of courses across various disciplines, including humanities, science, business, and more.

Final Thoughts

You’ve now reached the end of our Udemy review.

If you’ve made it this far, you’ll see that our Udemy review dove into what Udemy is, how to use it, the pros and cons, the types of courses available, typical course costs, and we’ve also included some tips on how to find the best courses on Udemy.

If you’re looking for a single takeaway, this Udemy review has awarded the learning platform a score of 4.5/5 stars, which is pretty darn impressive!

With such a vast array of courses to choose from in so many fields, Udemy continues to provide excellent value for money across the board. And that’s not to mention the free course options that are also available.

We hope you’ve found this Udemy review helpful. Happy learning!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are Courses from Udemy Worth It?

While many students would agree that Udemy is worth it, we'd point out that this depends on the price, value, and course quality you've chosen. It’s also important to remember that although Udemy rewards certificates for completing most courses, they are not “official” credentials since Udemy is not an accredited educational institution.

2. Can Udemy Get You a Job?

Udemy likely won’t get you a job outright. What it can do is give you the skills you need to land a job or potentially earn a promotion. However, if you want to add credentials to your resume, also consider platforms like Coursera and edX.

 3. Is Udemy Accredited in the USA?

People around the world ask, “is Udemy accredited?” Unfortunately, the answer is no. Udemy is not accredited as an educational institution anywhere, so certificates earned from the platform aren’t always accepted as official credentials. However, some employers still accept these certificates if you can prove your skills.

4. Do Udemy Courses Expire?

No, Udemy courses don’t expire. If you paid the one-time fee to purchase a course outright, you get lifetime access to that course. That means no matter what happens, you can access what you’ve purchased, even if the course creator stops updating their product.

5. Can I Watch Udemy Offline?

Yes, you can watch Udemy courses offline on the iOS and Android apps. If you’re using Udemy on your computer’s browser, you can still watch offline, but with limitations. On desktop, some courses do not have the offline feature enabled.

6. Does Udemy Have a Monthly Fee?

There is no monthly fee if you only use Udemy by purchasing courses for lifetime access. However, there is a monthly fee for a Udemy plan subscription (such as the Personal Plan). The personal plan fee is $29.99 monthly after the initial seven-day trial.

7. How Much Does Udemy Cost?

Udemy course prices vary between free and $300. Instructors set the prices for their courses. It’s not uncommon to find courses deeply discounted for as much as 80 to 90% off. Either Udemy or instructors can set these sales.

*Udemy’s personal plan costs $29.99 per month, while Udemy Business’ Team plan costs $360 per user/month for 5-20 users.