AppBreakup

Udemy alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Udemy: course quality varies widely, and instructors give up control of pricing and student data. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Udemy, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Coursera currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Coursera logoCourseraFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 366.5
2Skillshare logoSkillsharePaidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 462.6
3LinkedIn Learning logoLinkedIn LearningPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 359.6
4Teachable logoTeachablePaidNoWeb, iOS, Android5 of 557.2
5Thinkific logoThinkificPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 455.3
6edX logoedXFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 353.6
  1. Coursera logo

    1. CourseraTop pick

    Best for: Learners who want university- or company-branded certificates and degrees

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Udemy

    University-backed courses and certificates with more recognised credentials.

    Pros

    • Courses and degrees from well-known universities and companies
    • Many courses can be audited for free
    • Coursera Plus covers most of the catalogue

    Cons

    • Certificates and graded work cost extra
    • Lecture-based format with little live support
    • Independent creators can't publish their own courses
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Coursera a good Udemy alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Coursera Plus trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026coursera.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Catalogue
    10,000+ courses in Coursera Plus
    Checked Oct 25, 2026coursera.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Partners
    458 partners across 38 countries
    Checked Oct 25, 2026coursera.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Skillshare logo

    2. Skillshare

    Best for: Creatives and hobbyists who want unlimited project-based classes for one subscription

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Udemy

    Subscription access to creative, project-based classes.

    Pros

    • Strong catalogue of creative and design classes
    • Short, project-based lessons
    • One membership unlocks everything

    Cons

    • Thin on technical and business topics
    • No accredited certificates
    • Teacher earnings depend on a shared royalty pool
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Skillshare a good Udemy alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Catalogue
    30k+ classes, 9k+ teachers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026skillshare.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Members
    425k+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026skillshare.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Teacher earnings
    Top teachers earn $100,000+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026skillshare.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Billing
    Recurring until cancelled
    Checked Oct 25, 2026skillshare.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. LinkedIn Learning logo

    3. LinkedIn Learning

    Best for: Professionals and employers who want consistent, vetted business and software training

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Udemy

    Professionally produced business and software courses.

    Pros

    • Consistent production quality and vetted instructors
    • Certificates show on your LinkedIn profile
    • Strong admin and HR integrations for companies

    Cons

    • Less depth on niche technical topics than Udemy
    • Independent creators can't publish
    • Individual access is bundled with LinkedIn Premium
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is LinkedIn Learning a good Udemy alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Languages
    Content across 25 languages
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learning.linkedin.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Catalogue
    24,000+ expert-led courses
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learning.linkedin.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Certifications
    Credentials, prep courses and assessments
    Checked Oct 25, 2026learning.linkedin.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Teachable logo

    4. Teachable

    Best for: Solo creators who want a simple hosted course store with payments and tax handled

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Udemy

    For instructors: sell from your own store and keep the customer relationship.

    Pros

    • Quick to set up a course and checkout
    • Handles global payments and sales tax
    • Student apps for iOS and Android included

    Cons

    • Entry plan charges a transaction fee on sales
    • Low product limits on cheaper plans
    • Email marketing and funnels are basic compared with Kajabi
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Teachable a good Udemy alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Starting price
    $39/month billed monthly (Starter)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    No
    Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starter transaction fee
    7.5%
    Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Builder plan price
    $89/month billed monthly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026teachable.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Thinkific logo

    5. Thinkific

    Best for: Course businesses that want solid learning tools and room to scale into communities and apps

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Udemy

    For instructors: own pricing, branding and student data.

    Pros

    • Strong course features: quizzes, certificates, learning paths, SCORM
    • Communities and live sessions sit next to courses
    • Annual billing cuts the monthly price noticeably

    Cons

    • No longer offers a free plan
    • Branded mobile app costs extra
    • Marketing tools are lighter than all-in-one rivals
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Thinkific a good Udemy alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Starting price
    $109/month monthly, $82/month billed annually (Start)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thinkific.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Grow plan price
    $219/month billed monthly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thinkific.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Branded mobile app
    Add-on, $199/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thinkific.com(opens source in a new tab)
    SCORM import
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thinkific.com(opens source in a new tab)
  6. edX logo

    6. edX

    Best for: Learners who want courses and credentials from top universities

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Udemy

    Courses from top universities with a free audit option.

    Pros

    • Courses from Harvard, MIT, Berkeley and other top schools
    • Free audit option on many courses
    • Clear paths to certificates and degrees

    Cons

    • Verified certificates and programmes are expensive
    • Audit access can be time-limited
    • Fewer practical, short courses than Udemy
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is edX a good Udemy alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Founded
    2012 by Harvard and MIT professors
    Checked Oct 25, 2026edx.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Example course
    CS50's Introduction to AI with Python (Harvard)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026edx.org(opens source in a new tab)
    MicroMasters credit
    Up to 25% of a graduate degree
    Checked Oct 25, 2026edx.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Udemy alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Coursera logo

Best Udemy alternative for most people

Coursera

University-backed courses and certificates with more recognised credentials.

edX logo

Best Udemy alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

edX

Courses from top universities with a free audit option.

Skillshare logo

Best Udemy alternative for iPhone and Android

Skillshare

Subscription access to creative, project-based classes.

LinkedIn Learning logo

Best Udemy alternative for working in the browser

LinkedIn Learning

Professionally produced business and software courses.

Udemy alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Udemy?

Coursera ranks first right now. University-backed courses and certificates with more recognised credentials. Skillshare and LinkedIn Learning follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Udemy?

Yes. Coursera (free plan + paid) and edX (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Udemy?

None of the 6 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Udemy?

The complaints we hear most: course quality varies widely; instructors give up control of pricing and student data; constant discounting makes list prices meaningless.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Udemy, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.