Teaching online in 2026? The choice between Udemy and Skillshare isn't just about platform features—it's about maximizing your earnings per student. With dramatically different revenue models, pricing controls, and student lifetime value, understanding where instructors actually earn more is crucial for building sustainable online course income.
This detailed 2026 comparison breaks down real instructor earnings data, revenue share percentages, promotional strategies, and long-term income potential. Whether you're creating your first course or scaling an existing teaching business, discover which platform pays more per student and when each makes financial sense.
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📋 Table of Contents
Platform Overview & 2026 Positioning
Udemy and Skillshare approach online education from fundamentally different angles in 2026, which directly impacts instructor earnings.
Founded: 2010 | Business Model: Course Marketplace | Students: 59M+
Udemy operates as a traditional course marketplace where students purchase individual courses. In 2026, it continues to dominate the "pay-per-course" model with a massive catalog across professional and technical topics. Instructors set course prices (within limits) and earn revenue share on each sale.
🎯 2026 Positioning:
The go-to platform for comprehensive, structured courses in professional development, technology, business, and certifications. Strongest when you want to sell courses individually at specific price points.
Founded: 2010 | Business Model: Subscription | Students: 12M+
Skillshare uses a Netflix-style subscription model where students pay monthly/annual fees for unlimited access to all courses. Instructors earn royalties based on "minutes watched" by premium subscribers. In 2026, it remains dominant in creative, lifestyle, and soft skills categories.
🎯 2026 Positioning:
The leading subscription platform for creative skills, hobbies, and lifestyle learning. Best for instructors who produce engaging, watchable content that keeps students coming back month after month.
⚡ Quick 2026 Earnings Insight:
Udemy: Higher potential earnings per enrolled student (typically $10–$50 per sale), but depends heavily on promotions and pricing.
Skillshare: Lower earnings per student view ($0.05–$0.15 per hour watched), but can accumulate across many students over time through subscriptions.
Key Difference: Udemy pays per sale, Skillshare pays per watch time. This fundamental distinction shapes everything about instructor earnings.
Earnings Per Student: Real 2026 Data
Let's break down what instructors actually earn from each student on both platforms.
Per-Student Earnings Comparison
| Metric | Udemy | Skillshare | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Revenue per Enrolled Student | $18–$32 | $0.50–$3.00 | Udemy |
| Revenue Share Percentage | 37%–97%* | Royalty pool** | Depends |
| Minimum Payout | $10 | $25 | Udemy |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly | Monthly | Tie |
| Typical Course Price | $19.99–$199.99 | Free with subscription | Udemy |
| Student Access Period | Lifetime | Active subscription | Udemy |
*Udemy Revenue Share: 37% for organic sales, up to 97% for instructor-driven sales via coupons. Varies by region and promotion type.
**Skillshare Royalties: Calculated from a monthly pool based on premium membership minutes watched. Typically $0.05–$0.15 per hour watched.
📈 Revenue Timeline: First 12 Months
Aggressive discounting (75–90% off) drives initial enrollments. Revenue per student: $3–$8. Focus is on building reviews and rankings.
Steady accumulation of watch minutes. Earnings build slowly as course gets discovered through platform recommendation algorithms.
Course reaches stable price point ($19.99–$49.99). Organic sales increase. Revenue per student: $15–$25. Promotions become less frequent.
Watch minutes compound as more students discover course. Monthly royalties become predictable. Students often watch multiple times.
Steady organic sales from SEO. Occasional promotional spikes. Lifetime value accumulates as students purchase other courses.
Royalties compound as back catalog continues earning. Students who joined for one class often watch others. Passive income stabilizes.
Pricing Models & Revenue Share
Understanding the revenue mechanics is crucial for maximizing earnings.
Base Revenue Share: 37% for sales through Udemy's marketplace (organic, ads, promotions).
Instructor Promotions: 97% for sales through instructor coupons or personal links.
Mobile App Sales: 25% due to app store fees.
Corporate/Team Sales: 25–45% through Udemy Business.
Royalty Calculation: Monthly pool ÷ Total premium minutes watched × Your minutes watched
Typical Rate: $0.05–$0.15 per hour of watch time
Factors Affecting Rate: Total premium subscribers, total minutes watched across platform, your class popularity
Referral Bonus: Earn $10 for each new premium member referral (first month)
Promotions & Discounts Impact
How platform promotions affect your bottom line in 2026.
Promotion Impact on Earnings (2026)
Key Insight: Udemy runs frequent deep discounts (75–90% off) that can significantly reduce per-student earnings unless using instructor coupons (97% revenue share).
⚠️ Udemy Promotion Reality Check:
The $9.99 Problem: Most Udemy sales occur at $9.99–$19.99, not your set price. At $9.99 with 37% revenue share, you earn only $3.70 per sale.
Instructor Coupon Solution: By driving your own traffic with coupons, you maintain 97% revenue share. At $9.99, that's $9.69 per sale—161% more.
Skillshare Consistency: No promotions affect earnings directly. Royalties are based purely on watch time, providing more predictable income.
Student Lifetime Value Comparison
Beyond the initial sale, how much is a student worth over time?
Earnings Calculator: Project Your Revenue
Estimate potential earnings based on your course specifics.
Best Use Cases for Each Platform
Your course topic, format, and teaching style determine which platform makes more financial sense.
- You teach professional/technical skills (coding, business, certifications)
- Your course is comprehensive (5+ hours, structured curriculum)
- You can drive your own traffic (social media, email list, YouTube)
- You want control over pricing (within limits)
- You prefer one-time larger payments over small recurring royalties
- Your content has high perceived value for career advancement
- You're comfortable with frequent platform promotions and discounts
💼 Ideal Udemy Course Topics:
Programming (Python, JavaScript), data science, digital marketing, project management, financial analysis, language certifications, software training, business strategy.
- You teach creative skills (design, photography, writing, art)
- Your content is highly engaging and re-watchable
- You value community interaction and student projects
- You produce shorter, project-based classes (1–3 hours)
- You want passive, long-term income from back catalog
- Your audience prefers subscription access over individual purchases
- You enjoy teaching as a hobby or side income rather than primary business
💼 Ideal Skillshare Course Topics:
Illustration, graphic design, photography, creative writing, calligraphy, watercolor painting, hand lettering, digital art, DIY crafts, lifestyle skills, productivity.
Multi-Platform Strategy for Maximum Earnings
Many successful instructors use both platforms strategically. Here's how in 2026.
🚀 The Hybrid Approach That Works:
1. Repurpose Core Content: Create a comprehensive Udemy course (5–10 hours), then break it into shorter Skillshare classes (1–2 hours each).
2. Differentiate Pricing: Offer the complete solution on Udemy at premium pricing, while providing introductory content on Skillshare to build audience.
3. Cross-Promote Strategically: Use Skillshare classes to funnel students to your comprehensive Udemy courses through referral links.
4. Timing Matters: Launch on Udemy first to capitalize on initial promotion period, then repurpose to Skillshare 3–6 months later for passive income.
5. Diversify Risk: If one platform changes policies or algorithms, you're not completely dependent on it.
- "Complete DSLR Photography Masterclass" - 12 hours
- Price: $89.99 (often discounted to $19.99)
- 5,000+ students enrolled
- Monthly revenue: $3,500–$5,000
- 6 shorter classes from masterclass
- Each 1.5–2.5 hours, project-based
- 15,000+ total watch hours monthly
- Monthly royalties: $1,200–$1,800
Decision Matrix & Final Verdict
Based on 2026 data and instructor feedback, here's how to choose.
🏆 2026 Final Verdict:
For maximum earnings per student: Udemy wins, especially if you can drive your own traffic to get 97% revenue share. Professional/technical courses typically earn $18–$32 per enrolled student.
For long-term passive income: Skillshare wins for creative topics. While per-student earnings are lower ($0.50–$3), courses continue earning for years through subscriptions.
Best overall strategy: Use both platforms strategically. Put comprehensive professional courses on Udemy at premium prices, and create shorter creative spin-offs on Skillshare for passive income and audience building.
Critical factor: Your ability to drive traffic determines Udemy earnings. Without it, you're at the mercy of platform promotions (37% share at deep discounts).
Building Sustainable Teaching Income in 2026
The choice between Udemy and Skillshare in 2026 ultimately comes down to your course topic, teaching style, and income goals. For professional skills where students expect to pay for certification and career advancement, Udemy's pay-per-course model delivers higher per-student earnings.
For creative, lifestyle, and hobby topics where students prefer subscription access and community engagement, Skillshare's royalty model provides more sustainable long-term passive income through watch time.
The most successful instructors in 2026 don't choose one platform exclusively. They strategically use both: comprehensive premium courses on Udemy for high-value transactions, and engaging shorter content on Skillshare for discoverability and recurring royalties. This diversified approach maximizes both immediate revenue and long-term passive income.
🚀 Next Steps for Instructors:
1. Audience Analysis: Are your students professionals seeking certifications or hobbyists seeking inspiration?
2. Traffic Assessment: Can you drive students via email, social media, or YouTube? If yes, Udemy with coupons.
3. Content Strategy: Plan how core content could work on both platforms (comprehensive vs modular).
4. Income Projection: Use the calculator above with realistic student numbers for your niche.
5. Test & Iterate: Start with one platform, learn, then expand strategically to the other.
✅ Keep Learning
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but strategically. Udemy requires exclusivity only for courses enrolled in their Udemy Business program. For regular marketplace courses, you can publish elsewhere. However, it's better to differentiate: put the comprehensive version on Udemy and create shorter, project-based versions for Skillshare. This avoids platform conflicts and serves different student needs.
Udemy: Top instructors earn $100K+/year, but median is $1,000–$10,000/year. A successful professional course with 5,000 students at average $20 revenue per student earns $100,000. Most courses have 100–1,000 students.
Skillshare: Top teachers earn $30K–$50K/year, median is $500–$5,000/year. Earnings compound over time as back catalog continues earning. A class with 10,000 monthly watch hours at $0.10/hour earns $1,000/month.
Skillshare is generally easier for beginners because the barrier to entry is lower. Courses can be shorter (30–90 minutes), production quality expectations are more flexible, and the community is supportive of new teachers. Udemy requires more polished, comprehensive content (minimum 30 minutes, but 2+ hours recommended) and has stiffer competition in professional categories.
Udemy promotions can drastically reduce per-student earnings. A $99 course discounted to $9.99 earns you only $3.70 at 37% share. However, promotions drive volume. The key is using instructor coupons for your own traffic (97% share).
Skillshare has no direct promotions affecting earnings. Your royalties are based purely on watch time from premium subscribers. Platform-wide subscription discounts don't affect your per-minute rate, though they may affect total subscriber count.
Yes, but it requires strategy. Full-time income ($50K+/year) typically requires either: 1) Multiple successful Udemy courses in high-demand professional categories, 2) A large catalog (10+ classes) on Skillshare with consistent watch time, or 3) A hybrid approach using both platforms plus your own website/email list. Most successful full-time instructors use multiple revenue streams beyond just platform earnings.
Udemy: First sales often within days if promoted, but meaningful income ($500+/month) typically takes 3–6 months as reviews accumulate and course ranks improve. The first month often has highest revenue due to launch promotions.
Skillshare: Slower start—first royalty payment after 2 months. Meaningful income ($200+/month) usually takes 6–12 months as watch time compounds. However, income is more stable and long-term once established.