Lukasz 
Wouldn’t it be nice to become skilled in something just by taking an online class? But how much can you actually learn?
Well, let me tell you this:
Everything you currently see here was created by me and I’ve learned everything from online courses, in particular, from Udemy.
However, to not solely rely on my opinion, let’s check some communities. What do professionals think about Udemy? Is Udemy worth it?
Is Udemy worth it?
Here are some upvoted answers I’ve recently found on Reddit.
You can find answers like these on almost every forum on the Internet. Udemy is being highly-praised everywhere.
You’ll even find special course recommendations. For example, there are some courses from an instructor called Colt Steele, which are extremely popular. Colt is teaching web development.
So, according to lots of Reddit users, Udemy is worth it.
Some of the online courses you’ll find on Udemy are so popular, that it’s difficult to find an equivalent learning opportunity elsewhere. Especially, if want to get into web development or AI.
How did Udemy Started?
Udemy was founded in 2010. With a tremendous number of online courses it quickly became a very popular learning school.
From learning to how to cook eggs, to learning how to become an advanced skilled programmer, Udemy has it all. However, what a lot of people underestimated, is that these online courses were actually surprisingly good.
They are available through on-demand video and you can watch them from wherever you want. You can basically watch the videos while you’re on your train.
Just look at all the categories!
Are the Courses Expensive?
Well, sometimes. Udemy courses cost between $100 and $200. However, Udemy also offers special prices. You can get some courses for $10-$20.
And the thing is that it’s always worth it to wait, because these courses are so frequently on sale. That’s actually the only negative thing I was able to find on Reddit. Redditors complain a lot about Udemys pricing methods.
So, if you find a course and it’s not on sale, try to wait a few days.
Reddit’s Ultimative Tips for Choosing Legit Udemy Courses
So, since Reddit is a HUGE commuity, I thought it might be worth to check out other posts as well.
While doing this, I’ve found some nice tips you should be aware of when chosing an Udemy online course.
On this Reddit post I’ve found some pretty interesing comments.
Especially these two:
First of all, we see that online courses had a bad reputation, but these times are over.
And second, when it comes down to Udemy courses, they have ratings just as normal products. When you visit Amazon, the first thing you’ll probably do, before you buy, is to check out the ratings of a product.
An online course is nothing else. It’s a product! Udemy has a clear rating system, so you can easily check out all the current ratings.
If you’ll find ratings like this one:
Go for it!
The other thing this Reddit post was telling us, is that with a paid course, you’re kind of forced to complete it.
Let’s be honest here:
You would leave a free course pretty quickly because even if you’ll never complete it, you didn’t really lose anything, did you? With paid online courses, it’s different.
You want value for your money and by learning something and completing it, you will most likely feel that you have gotten some value for it. That’s why most people will complete a paid course. And that’s the advantage in comparison to a free course.
Udemy Better Than YouTube?
What about the free alternatives on YouTube? If you look through YouTube you will find tons of tutorials and stuff about anything you would like to learn.
So, Why Don’t We Simply Use Youtube?
I for myself, have used YouTube for a lot of things. However, I’ve realized that YouTube tutorials are more like an “udemy preview”.
There is great stuff on YouTube but usually you don’t get a complete course. This Reddit comment from a post about learning sums up my thoughts:
There are definitely tons of good videos on YouTube but in my opinion, Udemy is simply a more up-to-date and more comprehensive platform.
What’s the Difference Between Udemy and Other Platforms?
Udemy is not the only online course platform. Two other well-known are Coursera and Skillshare. But where is the difference? Should you use Skillshare over Udemy? Why is Udemy worth it more than the others?
Well, it depends. Skillshare for instance is only for creatives. If you’re looking to get into programming Skillshare might be not the best option for you. On other other hand, if you’re into learning creative skills like designing or illustrations, Skillshare can be a wonderful alternative.
Skillshare offers a large library of courses, and many of them are project-based, allowing learners to apply their skills in real-world settings.
Coursera, on the other hand, is an online learning platform that offers courses and degree programs from organizations around the world. It offer free and paid courses but from what I see Udemy’s courses are more popular, especially when checking out comparison posts on Reddit.
| Learning Platform | Strengths | Weaknesses | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Udemy | High-quality courses, Affordable courses, flexible learning, Lots of courses available | Inconsistent course quality | | Coursera | Good courses, credibility of institutions, opportunities to earn certificates and degrees | More expensive than Udemy, some courses have strict schedules and deadlines | | Skillshare |Large library of courses, project-based learning, opportunity to get feedback on work | Fewer courses available in other subject areas, some courses may be less in-depth |
What Does Quora Say about Udemy?
Since we’ve checked Reddit, let’s see what Quora says. What do people have to say on there?
It’s pretty much the same as Reddit. The most frequent question has a pretty positive answer about Udemy.
You will always find critics but as you have clearly seen, Udemy offers some real quality online courses.
The Downsides of Udemy
But, there surely must be a downside? Yes, as you’ve already seen in the comparison table, not every Udemy course is good.
As with all marketplaces, there are bad products, and there are good products.
So, make sure to check out the reviews befor you buy. Also make sure to check out the teachers. Some are awesome instructors but you simply may not like their teaching style.
Other than that, there are no real downsides with Udemy itself.
My Tips for Finding The Best Course
- Check the ratings (important)
- Check the last updated date
- Do you like the voice/style of the instructor?
Now, let’s get to the last question.
Are Udemy Certificates Worth it and Useful?
So, for all of you who might be looking to get a job through Udemy, let’s check if the certificates are actually useful.
The truth is:
The certificate itself is clear proof that you’ve completed an online course on Udemy. Usually you don’t get it, if you haven’t done anything.
Now, here is where it get’s interesting.
When researching answers for this question on Quora and Reddit, I’ve found that the majority agrees that it’s worth something, although maybe not as strong as a faculty degree.
Having said that, in todays times of home schooling and Covid-19, things might look different. Online courses have actually found a lot of appreciation through this pandemic.
So, it seems that we can clearly say that the Udemy certificate is very useful. Especially in 2023.
My Udemy Review
So, as you’ve seen according to Reddit, Udemy is worth it and the courses are legitimate. Udemy offers a great variety of online courses, you can learn a lot and you’ll automatically get a 30-day money-back gurarantee. It’s a legitimate company.
Like I’ve said, I did a lot of Udemy courses and I absolutely love Udemy! You’ll be amazed how much you’re actually able to learn. I’ve completely mastered WordPress, just by re-doing one particular course over and over again.
Talked to a senior developer after that and he said my skills were remarkable.
Like I’ve said, all the things you see on my website, I’ve learned through the internet and I started with Udemy.
Now you know that Udemy is worth it. Make sure to check out the latest courses right here:
Disclaimer: The Udemy links you’ll find here are affiliate links.
Frequently asked Questions
Do I Have to Sign up in Order to Buy Courses?
You’ll have to create an Udemy account but it’s totally free. Then you’ll able to buy courses, watch the lessons and you can join the community of your particular course.
When Do I get the Certificate of Completion?
After buying or downloading an online course from Udemy, and after finishing all the online lessons, you’ll automatically get the certificate of completion from your online tutor. There are no other steps involved to get the certificate.