Online education is a growing market. Udemy and Skillshare are two main players with fundamentally different business models. How can an affiliate make the most of this? Let’s compare.
Business model
Udemy: pay per course. $12.99-199.99 once — the course is yours forever. “Supermarket” model: huge selection, constant discounts.
Skillshare: subscription. $32/month or $168/year. Access to all 35,000+ courses. “Netflix” model: pay once, watch everything.
Affiliate terms
| Udemy | Skillshare | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | up to 15% per course | $7 per free trial |
| Cookie | 7 days | 30 days |
| Sales difficulty | Low | Medium |
Udemy is easier to sell: “here’s a course for $13, buy it.” But the commission is $1.95. Sold 50 courses — got $100.
Skillshare is harder to sell: a subscription is a commitment. But 30-day cookies, and the freemium model works: a free trial is easy to offer.
Which strategy for which audience
Udemy — for impulse purchases. “10 courses at 90% off” roundups in Telegram, email newsletters, niche blogs. A conveyor belt: lots of cheap sales.
Skillshare — for a loyal audience. YouTube channels with design tutorials, self-development blogs, creators’ social media. Fewer sales, but each brings $7 for a trial and can become recurring.
Best strategy
Combine them. In articles about specific skills, offer Udemy courses. In content about systematic learning and growth — Skillshare. They don’t compete; they cover different needs of your audience.
Official websites: Udemy • Skillshare