You’ve probably seen Udemy ads plastered across your social feeds or suggested in YouTube sidebars. With discounts that seem too good to be true – courses worth $199 slashed to $12.99 – it’s only natural to wonder: Is Udemy actually worth it? Or is it all just marketing fluff?
As a .NET web developer who’s constantly on the lookout for practical, up-to-date skills, I’ve spent a fair bit of time exploring online education platforms. In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about Udemy from the perspective of a developer, but most of what I cover will apply to learners in any field.
We’ll talk about what Udemy really is, what to watch out for, how to spot quality courses, and when it makes sense to consider alternatives. Let’s dive in.
What Is Udemy?
Udemy is one of the largest online learning platforms in the world. Founded in 2010 by Turkish engineers Eren Bali and Oktay Caglar, alongside co-founder Gagan Biyani, Udemy was built on the idea that education should be accessible to anyone, anywhere. The platform now offers over 200,000 courses in more than 75 languages, covering topics from coding and data science to photography, productivity, personal finance, and even music theory.
Udemy operates on a marketplace model – similar to Amazon or eBay – but for educational content. Anyone can become an instructor and publish a course, provided it meets Udemy’s basic quality standards.
Headquartered in San Francisco with global offices in Brazil, Ireland, India, and Turkey, Udemy has educated over 64 million students worldwide, with more than 75,000 instructors and 870 million course enrollments (as of 2025).
So, Is Udemy Legit?
Yes – Udemy is absolutely legit. But that doesn’t mean every course on the platform is worth your time or money.
Because Udemy is open to virtually any creator, the quality of courses varies significantly. The best ones are excellent – well-produced, structured, and genuinely valuable. But there are also outdated, low-effort, or copycat courses. You have to be selective.
Fortunately, there are some powerful tools baked into Udemy’s interface to help you separate the gold from the garbage:
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Course ratings and reviews
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Instructor bios and credentials
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Number of students enrolled
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Last updated date
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Preview videos and course outlines
As a general rule: if a course has a rating above 4.5, thousands of students, and was updated in the last year, you’re probably looking at a quality product.
How Much Do Udemy Courses Cost?
On paper, Udemy courses range from free to $200+. In practice, most courses are heavily discounted multiple times each month – sometimes almost continuously. It’s not unusual to grab a comprehensive coding bootcamp for $10–$20, even if the listed price is $199.
If you see a course at full price, wait a few days or clear your cookies. Better yet, visit during major sale periods like:
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New Year’s promotions
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Back-to-school events
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Black Friday/Cyber Monday
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Monthly site-wide flash sales
You can even use incognito mode or sign up with a new email to unlock discounted pricing.
Bonus: Lifetime Access & Refunds
Once you buy a course, you own it for life – including future updates from the instructor. Plus, Udemy offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.
What Topics Does Udemy Cover?
Udemy has something for everyone. Categories include:
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Development (web, mobile, game dev)
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IT & Software
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Business & Finance
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Design & UX
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Marketing & SEO
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Photography & Video Editing
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Health, Fitness & Nutrition
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Music & Arts
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Personal Development
For web developers, Udemy is a goldmine of content. Whether you’re into front-end frameworks like React and Vue, back-end tech like .NET and Node.js, or full-stack development, there are hundreds of updated, well-reviewed options.
What’s the Quality of Udemy Courses Like?
Udemy enforces a basic set of quality standards:
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Minimum of 30 minutes of video content
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At least 5 lectures
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HD video (720p or 1080p)
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Clear, well-balanced audio
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Educational – not promotional – content
However, Udemy doesn’t vet instructors for subject-matter expertise. That’s why reading reviews, previewing content, and checking instructor credentials are essential before purchasing.
Are Udemy Instructors Qualified?
Some are. Some aren’t.
Anyone can publish a course on Udemy. Some instructors are industry veterans or bestselling authors. Others are passionate hobbyists sharing their knowledge. You’ll even find courses from ex-Google engineers and Microsoft MVPs.
Do your research. Look at the instructor’s background, LinkedIn profile, and what other students are saying in reviews.
Is Udemy Accredited?
No – Udemy is not an accredited institution. You won’t earn college credit or a recognized degree. What you do get is a certificate of completion – good for LinkedIn bragging rights but unlikely to impress employers on its own.
However, what matters more is the knowledge you gain. Many students use Udemy courses to build projects, transition careers, or fill skill gaps and those projects often carry more weight than credentials in tech.
How to Pick a Good Udemy Course
Let’s say you’re browsing Udemy’s web development category. Here’s how I evaluate a course:
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Rating Above 4.5 – Aim for this threshold for consistent quality.
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Thousands of Reviews – Avoid courses with only a handful of ratings.
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Updated Recently – Tech changes fast. Updated within 6–12 months is ideal.
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Instructor Background – Google their name or check their LinkedIn.
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Preview Lessons – Watch a few intro videos to judge style and clarity.
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Look on Reddit or Quora – Real learners often post honest feedback.
Example: Colt Steele’s Web Developer Bootcamp
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⭐ 4.7 stars
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👨🎓 1M+ students enrolled
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🕓 Last updated within the year
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💬 Glowing Reddit reviews
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💰 Regularly available for $14.99 or less
It’s one of the most respected beginner courses in full-stack development on the platform.
Other Great Udemy Dev Courses
If you’re exploring web development, here are more high-quality picks:
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The Complete Web Developer: Zero to Mastery (by Andrei Neagoie)
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The Modern JavaScript Bootcamp
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Modern JavaScript From The Beginning (by Brad Traversy)
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The Complete ASP.NET MVC 5 Course
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Build Real-World Apps with ASP.NET Core and Angular
👉 There are even more amazing web development courses on Udemy to be claimed together with lucrative discounts!!
Is Udemy Good for Instructors?
If you’re thinking about teaching, Udemy can be a good entry point – but don’t expect passive income to roll in without effort.
Instructor Revenue Breakdown
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97% of the sale if a student uses your personal coupon
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50% if the sale is organic (Udemy website)
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25% if the sale is via paid ads or affiliate links
In other words, unless you’re doing your own marketing, you won’t keep much of the sale price. With Udemy’s reliance on aggressive discounting and frequent promotions, course creators often need to prioritize volume over price.
Instructor Earnings: A Mixed Bag
According to past reports, the average Udemy instructor earns about $7,000/year. Some top-tier instructors earn six or seven figures (Rob Percival famously made $1M+ in his first year). Others sell zero courses.
Success depends on:
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Course quality
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Marketing efforts
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Competition in your niche
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Udemy’s algorithm and SEO
Concerns About Stolen Content
Because Udemy doesn’t vet courses in advance, there have been reports of plagiarized content uploaded by unscrupulous users. While Udemy responds to DMCA takedowns, it puts the burden on original creators to monitor and report.
It’s a valid concern. But for learners, this typically isn’t a huge issue – especially if you’re sticking with well-known instructors.
Best Udemy Alternatives
If Udemy doesn’t feel like the right fit, here are two solid alternatives – especially for aspiring developers:
1. Pluralsight
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🎓 Curated, vetted content
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🧑🏫 Instructors often include Microsoft MVPs
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📚 Best for .NET, C#, DevOps, and enterprise tech
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💰 $35/month or $299/year
2. Treehouse
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👶 Focus on beginners
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🛠 Interactive tracks and quizzes
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📱 Great UI and structured curriculum
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💰 $25/month
Final Verdict: Is Udemy Worth It?
Yes – if you choose your courses carefully.
Udemy offers an unbeatable combination of affordability, flexibility, and course variety. It’s a fantastic starting point for self-taught developers, hobbyists, or professionals looking to expand their skills on a budget.
Just remember: the platform’s open nature means that due diligence is key. Use the tools available to research courses before buying – and take full advantage of those frequent sales.
