Online Course Marketplaces

Suitable for: Teachers, subject matter experts, instructors

Detailed overview of the commission structures and requirements for selling on Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera and edX:

Commission Rates:
- Instructor Earnings: Typically 50% of the course price when students purchase via organic traffic.
- If the student uses a coupon created by the instructor, the instructor earns 97% of the course price.
- For sales generated through Udemy’s promotions, instructors earn 25%.
Fixed Fees: No upfront fees for course creation.
Differences: No significant differences between individual and business instructors.
Payout Frequency: Monthly payouts to instructors.
Minimum Payout: Minimum payout is $50.
Transaction Fees: No separate transaction fees; the commission is taken from the total course price.
Seller Membership Requirements: Registration as an instructor on the platform and adherence to Udemy’s course quality standards.
Initial Registration Fee: No registration fees.
Launch Fee: No fees incurred to publish courses.

Commission Rates:
- Instructors earn royalties based on the number of minutes watched in their courses monthly; the amount fluctuates based on the total pool of revenue available for distribution.
- Typically, instructors can earn around $10-$30 per month for a small number of students who watch their classes.
Fixed Fees: No fees to join or publish courses.
Differences: Similar commission structure for individuals and business users.
Payout Frequency: Payments are distributed monthly.
Minimum Payout: No specified minimum payout threshold.
Transaction Fees: None; earnings are based on views and premium membership subscriptions.
Seller Membership Requirements: Must create an account to become an instructor and follow platform guidelines.
Initial Registration Fee: No registration fees.
Launch Fee: No fees to publish courses.

Commission Rates:
- Revenue sharing varies widely by partnership agreement; many universities and organizations receive around 40%-50% of the course fees.
Fixed Fees: No upfront fees for instructors, but institutions usually incur development and operational costs.
Differences: Typically, institutional partners negotiate terms; individual instructors may have different terms based on their affiliations.
Payout Frequency: Payments can vary by partnership agreement but generally follow the academic calendar.
Minimum Payout: Varies by contract; typically, no specific minimum stated.
Transaction Fees: Standard payment processing fees may apply.
Seller Membership Requirements: Institutions partner as course providers; individuals typically need institutional affiliations.
Initial Registration Fee: None for instructors, though institutions may have administrative costs.
Launch Fee: There are no fees to publish courses, but costs can be incurred for course development.

Commission Rates:
- Similar to Coursera, edX partners with educational institutions, and revenue sharing varies widely, usually around 30% to 50% based on course fees.
Fixed Fees: No direct fees for instructors, though partner institutions may incur costs.
Differences: Revenue sharing and terms vary based on institutional agreements.
Payout Frequency: Monthly payouts aligned with the academic calendar.
Minimum Payout: Specific minimum payout can vary by contract and institution’s arrangement.
Transaction Fees: Standard processing fees may apply.
Seller Membership Requirements: Institutions partner with edX to offer courses; individual instructor agreements depend on institutional affiliation.
Initial Registration Fee: None for instructors, but institutions might have development costs.
Launch Fee: No upfront fees to publish courses.