Udemy: What It Offers and How It Compares to Other Online Learning Platforms

When you think about Udemy, a global online learning platform where anyone can teach and learn skills through video courses. Also known as an e-learning marketplace, it lets you pick up coding, marketing, design, or even yoga—all from your phone or laptop, at your own pace. Unlike universities or structured bootcamps, Udemy doesn’t require enrollment deadlines or degrees. You pay for a course once, and it’s yours forever. That’s why over 50 million people have signed up—most aren’t chasing diplomas. They’re chasing skills that get them hired, promoted, or just better at what they do.

Udemy works because it’s not picky. You’ll find courses made by ex-Google engineers, freelance designers, and even yoga instructors with 10 years of studio experience. The platform doesn’t vet teachers the way Coursera, a platform that partners with universities and offers accredited certificates does. That means some courses are gold, others are trash. But the reviews and ratings help. You can see exactly how many students finished a course, what they said, and whether the instructor still updates it. That’s why people use Udemy to learn Python, a beginner-friendly programming language used for automation, data analysis, and web apps, or how to build a website with WordPress, a content management system powering over 40% of websites worldwide. It’s not about prestige. It’s about getting things done.

Compare Udemy to Coursera or edX, platforms that offer university-backed courses and sometimes official credits. Those are great if you need a credential for your resume. But if you just want to learn how to edit videos, run Facebook ads, or fix your home Wi-Fi, Udemy’s cheaper, faster, and way more practical. Most courses cost under $20 during sales—and many are free. You don’t need a laptop either. You can learn on your phone, just like coding on a smartphone or practicing English speaking with free apps.

What you won’t find on Udemy? Structured degree paths, live feedback from professors, or official certifications accepted by top employers. But you will find real-world projects, downloadable resources, and instructors who actually know how to explain things. That’s why so many people use it to prep for government exams, switch careers, or build side hustles. The courses below show exactly how others used Udemy to learn coding, improve English, or land jobs—even without a degree. Whether you’re starting from zero or brushing up on skills, there’s something here for you.