Udemy and Skillshare have been among the top online learning platforms and marketplaces where professionals can become content creators and publish their creative courses.
While many might choose either of the two platforms, it is only normal to wonder: Can you put the same course on Udemy and Skillshare?
Some might think that sharing the same content on two competing websites is wrong and not allowed, but some people might see this as a rightful opportunity for them to make more money for something that, at the end of the day, they created.
So, regardless of where you stand on this, keep reading below to find out: Can you put the same course on Udemy and Skillshare?
Where Should I Publish My Online Class?
The answer to where you should publish courses is ‘it depends.’
If your subject matter is coding, commercial, financial management, IT and operating systems, self-development, architecture, and brand management, you’ll be better off publishing your online class among Udemy courses.
On the other hand, if you are a creative professional wishing to teach students on topics like the arts, creative writing, and so on, you should share your class on Skillshare courses first and then consider your other options. A Udemy course creator chooses Udemy for those reasons.
As a result, choosing which platform you will publish your online class on at first depends on what kind of class and curriculum you are teaching. (Check out ‘Which Is Better Udemy Or Skillshare? Comparison 2023.’)
Even so, there are several course types that can perform great on both Udemy and Skillshare, which brings us to the main question below.
Can You Put The Same Course On Udemy And Skillshare?
Yes, you can put the same course both on Udemy and Skillshare.
When it comes to Udemy vs Skillshare, the Udemy platform will not penalize you if you share your course on Skillshare or create free coupon codes for your associates.
You, the course creator, are the only one who owns your course, and you are free to do anything you want with it in terms of where you are sharing it and who you are sharing it with. You can even give away free courses.
In other words, your contract with Udemy is non-exclusive.
On the other hand, Skillshare comes with some limitations.
Even though there’s nothing technically stopping you from posting the same course you have on Udemy on their platform too, there are some rules it needs to adhere to so as to appear and stay on it.
For example, Skillshare does not allow for company or personal brand logos to appear during the videos, whereas Udemy has no issue with that at all.
This means that if you wish to share your course on both online course platforms, you will have to make some edits to meet the requirements of Skillshare.
Udemy For Business
The only case where Udemy’s non-exclusive scenario does not apply to your course is when you get signed up for Udemy For Business.
Joining this business program means Udemy has the exclusive right to publish your course and, other than your personal website, there’s no other online learning platform you can share it on.
Should I Offer Classes On My Personal Website?
Of all the questions in this article, this one is the one you need we need to address and elaborate on the most.
Yes, online learning platforms such as Udemy and Skillshare may offer you exposure to a vast pool of learners, but you are still going to have to work hard to market your classes and introduce students to these platforms. (See ‘Skillshare vs Udemy: Are Professional Courses Simply Better?‘)
However, there is a big drawback that comes with that and that is the fact that you never really know who those learners attending your courses are.
Both platforms do not grant you access to your viewers’ emails, so you don’t have the opportunity to connect with them other than through your courses.
As a result, you are totally reliant on Udemy and Skillshare rules and policies, which include essential details like defining your earnings cut and even making you able to qualify for effective internal initiatives like Udemy For Business or the Udemy Personal Plan subscription.
You have little control over this if they modify their online course business model, which is why it is critical to grab hold of your destiny by posting your classes on your own website.
And besides, if you’re willing to try this hard to promote your classes on these platforms, why not try and do the same or more to bring traffic and customers to your own website?
Being flexible like this and having your classes available both on your website and on platforms like Udemy and Skillshare means you can keep earning a passive income while building your brand through your website’s promotion.
Pros And Cons Of Sharing Your Course On Your Personal Website
Pros
- Easy to use
- You have access to your students’ personal details
- You get to send as many promotional/information emails as you want
- There are no other competing courses appearing next to yours
- There are no affiliate or marketplace commissions
- You get to choose your courses’ prices
Cons
- There’s no pre-built audience
- You need to invest more time and money in building the website
Is Combining An Online Marketplace And Self-Hosting Always Doable?
This strategic approach is not always feasible because marketplaces typically require classes to be sold at price established by their platform, or else they will likely not be sustainable as a result of a lack of access to specific advertising options.
Because the platforms’ prices are low, selling your online courses on your own website for a higher price won’t get you any customers, as a simple Google search can present them with your online course at a lower price on, say, Udemy.
Therefore, if you wish to sell your courses through your website and keep them available on such marketplaces as paid courses, you could offer recurring subscriptions on your site for people who want to access all the courses instead of having to purchase individual courses on Udemy or Skillshare.
The Bottom Line
While you can put the same course both on Udemy and Skillshare, you should be aware of any changes you need to make in order to comply with the rules and regulations of each of these marketplaces.
However, even if you choose to sell your courses there, make sure to sell them through your own website first!
