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Education & E-Learning · head to head

Udemy vs YouTube

Udemy logo

Udemy

Education & E-Learning

World's largest marketplace for online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube logo

YouTube

Entertainment

Video sharing and streaming platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Udemy course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting; YouTube youTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.
  • They diverge on capability: Udemy covers Video courses, YouTube covers Video hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Udemy and YouTube actually diverge.

Attributes where Udemy and YouTube differ
AttributeUdemyYouTube
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
CategoryEducation & E-LearningEntertainment
Founded20102005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Udemy

  • Video courses
  • Quizzes
  • Assignments
  • Certificates
  • Mobile learning
  • Offline viewing
  • Q&A
  • Reviews

Only in YouTube

  • Video hosting
  • Live streaming
  • Content discovery
  • Creator tools
  • Analytics
  • Google services
  • Social media
  • Creator tools

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Udemy

  • Skill buildingnot YouTube
  • Career transitionnot YouTube
  • Professional developmentnot YouTube
  • Team trainingnot YouTube

YouTube

  • Video sharingnot Udemy
  • Content marketingnot Udemy
  • Educationnot Udemy
  • Entertainmentnot Udemy
  • Live streamingnot Udemy

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Udemy

  • Course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
  • No formal credentials or degrees offered, unlike Coursera and edX which offer institution-branded certificates
  • Courses are self-paced with no instructor interaction or support, making structured learning difficult for some students

YouTube

  • YouTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

Udemy

Free
  • Personal$19/month
    • 11,000+ courses access
  • Team$360/year
    • For 5-20 people

YouTube

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited video watching
    • Basic video uploads
    • Community features
  • YouTube Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free videos
    • Background play
    • YouTube Music included

Which should you pick?

Choose Udemy if

  • You need video courses.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want quizzes.
Udemy review

Choose YouTube if

  • You need video hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live streaming.
YouTube review

Questions people ask

Is Udemy or YouTube better?
Neither clearly leads. Udemy starts at Free and YouTube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Udemy or YouTube?
Udemy starts at Free and YouTube at Free.
Does Udemy or YouTube run on more platforms?
Udemy runs on Web, iOS, Android. YouTube runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use Udemy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Udemy best used for?
Udemy is most often used for skill building, career transition, professional development, team training. Of those, skill building and career transition are not what YouTube is typically brought in for.
What can Udemy do that YouTube cannot?
Udemy covers Video courses, Quizzes, Assignments, Certificates. YouTube covers Video hosting, Live streaming, Content discovery, Creator tools. Both handle Web support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Udemy: Does Udemy offer team/business pricing?

Yes, Udemy's Team plan costs $360 per user annually for groups of 5 to 20 people, in addition to individual Personal plan at $19/month.

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Related pages

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