Online learning… It’s all the rage these days.
But it’s not just about earning college credits anymore.
It’s about people wanting to better themselves.
Improve upon their current situation.
Yes, the new face of online learning isn’t that of a traditional student…
- But it’s you.
- It’s me.
- It’s the parents.
- The working professionals.
- The enthusiasts.
- The curious.
Today, online learning is accessible to anyone with a computer or smartphone.
And while there are a handful of competitors, nobody does online learning quite like Udemy.
Some classes are intended to be fun.
Some are meant to increase your knowledge of a particular subject.
Others even offer certifications.
In my Udemy review, I will cover the following topics:
- What is Udemy, and the Type of Courses Being Offered
- How Much Udemy Costs
- How to Find the Best Udemy Course
- My Top 5 Course Recommendations
- Is Udemy Legit? Final thoughts on Udemy and what you think about the quality of the service.
(Side note: There is also another way to learn something new every day. A great tool to do this is to join over 1 million others and start your day with the latest fun, informative news from this website.)
What is Udemy?
Udemy is an online learning platform offering more than 100,000 courses.
These courses are hosted by instructors from all over the world who are looking to spread their knowledge on a particular subject.
Udemy is not an accredited institution, nor is it affiliated with such, so any certificates you earn may not apply in the “real world”.
(If you're looking for massive open online courses (MOOCs), check out Coursera. It has more than 2,500 courses, hundreds of specializations, and even four academic degrees offered.)
This also means that anybody can teach with Udemy.
Just upload a video and establish a following.
Course pricing and instructor revenue are based on a revenue share model Udemy utilizes.
Therefore, unlike one of its prime competitors, Skillshare, most of Udemy’s courses cost money. (Choosing between Skillshare and Udemy? Our comparison review can help you decide.)
It’s a la carte learning, if you will.
You pay for each course individually… and while a handful are free, I found that prices typically started at $12.99 and went as high as a few hundred dollars.
The quality of the information and the instructor's expertise come into play here.
Udemy offers courses in the following categories:
Within each category are subcategories.
For instance, under Personal Development, you will find topics such as:
To name a few.
Sadly, this Udemy Review won’t cover every single subcategory…
But, if you keep reading, I will offer some of my favs later… which I think are worthwhile to check out.
Udemy offers something for everyone.
To best suit your particular interests and needs, Udemy will ask you to answer a few questions before you get started.
First, Udemy will ask you to identify your current interests. This is limited to 5.
Next, it will ask you to identify subcategories within those main interests.
Finally, you’ll be asked to select a username and password so Udemy can deliver your customized course recommendations.
It’s your choice to go with those suggestions, or keep searching on your own.
You may come across an interest you didn’t even know you had!
How Much Does Udemy Cost?
As I mentioned, the cost of each course varies on the quantity and quality of information being shared.
You can search for courses by category.
From there, you can add filters such as:
As a mom to four young children, I tend to be drawn to parenting, education, child psychology, and relationship articles… blogs… courses… etc….
When I did a search on Udemy for what interested me, I was surprised at how many courses there were:
- Under 2 hours
- Receiving reviews of 4.5 stars and higher
Twenty-two courses to be exact.
This was impressive… especially given how specific my search filter was.
It is worth noting, however, that only 2 of those 22 courses were “free”.
All of the others cost $12.99.
As I mentioned earlier, I found this price point to be fairly common for these shorter lessons.
And while you may think, “do I have $12.99 to spend?”.
Or, “What if I’m interested in more than one course? That could add up.”.
Well… you can put your mind at ease because Udemy offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
That’s right, if you are unhappy with any course… for any reason… they will refund your money.
No questions asked.
Or so they claim.
Full disclosure… I did come across a few consumer comments when posting their own Udemy Review that mentioned it taking longer than they anticipated to get the refund… but Udemy customer service was responsive to all of those comments.
So that’s a plus.
Since there is no monthly fee to enjoy Udemy, the 30-day refund option applies to any course you select to try.
How Do I Find the Best Udemy Course for Me?
To find the best Udemy courses for you… you would start with the search by category.
Like we talked about.
Then, add your filters.
Like we talked about.
Then it would help if you took the time to read the course description of any lecture or quiz that interests you.
These explanations outline:
Once you’ve done that, you can watch a preview video.
I strongly suggest this.
It’s a great way to get a feel for the flow and content of the course, as well as the instructor.
And, finally… read the reviews.
Or at least a good number of them.
This is key!
Reading the course reviews is the best way to learn what other students thought about the course.
Similar to the reviews you’d read when contemplating a purchase on Amazon.
The more reviews there are… the better idea you’ll get.
If 2,000+ people reviewed a course and gave it on average 4.5 stars… chances are it’s worth the money.
Also posted along with the reviews is the total number of people enrolled in the course.
Most often, reviews will touch upon:
I also recommend reading a few of the “bad” reviews (the 1 and 2 star)… not just the positive ones.
It is always good to hear both sides of the story, as this can help you form a better opinion.
Udemy Review: My Top 5 Course Recommendations
So…
Before I share my favs with you… know this…
Yes, I’m a mom.
But that does not mean I am only interested in parenting courses.
I am also a freelance writer.
I am a 5K runner.
A kickboxer.
I enjoy watching soccer and football.
I try and eat well… but I enjoy craft beer and pasta immensely.
I love the arts… writing, photography, film.
I am open to yoga, although I have never once taken a course in public.
I recently developed an interest in natural healing and essential oils.
I have always wanted to learn to play the drums… but I played piano as a child.
I like to sing, but am not sure that I am good enough to do it in front of anybody… besides my kids.
I have an Italian temper.
I am self-conscious on occasion.
I am sleep deprived.
I wish that I cooked better… and that I enjoyed baking more.
I know very little about make-up.
Yes… my kids and my husband are my world…
But they don’t define me.
There is more to me than being a mom… and that is why so many of Udemy’s courses speak to me.
So, without further adieu, here are some of my favorites:
- EFT Tapping for Anxiety, Stress & Worry: The Complete EFT Course for Anxiety
- Learn How To Brew Beer At Home In 5 Easy Steps
- Neuroscience for Parents: How to Raise Amazing Kids
- Blog Blueprint: How to Turn Blogging into a Career
- Aromatherapy- Using Essential Oils
Now, if a course made the cut… you need to know that it wasn’t an easy decision.
There are too many that interested me to count.
And, to be honest, I only have so much free time on my hands.
That said, I used a few additional criteria of my own… in addition to the general topics and search filter.
Among them:
1. The speaker/instructor had to be easy to understand
I can’t tell you the number of people were from countries outside the United States… and either had extremely thick accents or poor presentation skills. They were either bland and monotone… or overly zealous.
Neither was going to keep me interested.
2. The price had to be less than $50.00 US
This was my comfort zone for spending, compared to competitor sites with a more extensive selection of free material.
3. I preferred them to be shorter than 8 hours in total duration
Life can be pretty hectic for me sometimes between keeping up with the house, the family, work…. So, a shorter course time increases the likelihood of my completing it.
These all fit the bill.
For me.
And up first (in no particular order)…
EFT Tapping for Anxiety, Stress & Worry: The Complete EFT Course for Anxiety
Cost: $12.99 USD, Length: 2 hours
Ok, before passing judgment… just hear me out.
EFT (also known as Emotional Freedom Techniques) Tapping is a set of techniques that utilize the body's energy meridian points. You can stimulate these meridian points by tapping on them with your fingertips—literally tapping into your body's own energy and healing power.
Therapists have been using these methods for years. Masseuses too.
This course explains how Meridian Tapping has helped countless individuals realize their innate healing power. It delves into the theory that our body has an inherent wisdom… but it’s up to us to tap into it.
EFT Tapping for Anxiety will help you utilize Meridian Tapping to reprogram your relationship with the things that contribute to and trigger stress, worry and anxiety. The instructor also touches upon the scientific basis of tapping, the EFT Tapping method, and troubleshooting tips.
This class includes guided meditations for anxiety, stress, worry… along with several bonuses.
The instructor, Dr. Arianna, is highly credible, upbeat and easy to understand.
And if I’m being honest, she’s also quite attractive… which may provide some of you with a little extra motivation.
Learn How To Brew Beer At Home In 5 Easy Steps
Cost: $49.99 USD, Length: 2 hours
I’m pretty sure I mentioned I enjoy craft beer.
But did I mention my husband and I fancied ourselves homebrewers at one point? Well, until our second child came along.
We bought kids from catalogs. Watched YouTube videos on brewing and saved empty bottles.
Nothing we came across, however, was as good as this video for the novice brewer.
The course starts you at the very beginning and guides you through an easy-to-understand process of brewing beer in your kitchen using basic equipment.
You will:
The course also includes:
Instructor Adam Ward is a low-key guy who clearly knows his stuff… yet explains it in a very clear and concise way so you don’t feel lost.
Neuroscience for Parents: How to Raise Amazing Kids
Cost: Free with Premium
Ok… ok.
Here lies my token parenting class recommendation.
Are you really surprised that I snuck one in there?
In all seriousness though… this video can be helpful for parents, sure.
But it can also be helpful for:
The target age is children 0-17 years of age.
I was pleasantly surprised by this course.
The instructor, Gregory Caremans, did have an accent… but it did not get in the way of the lecture. He came off as knowledgeable and approachable.
He also founded the Brain Academy, which you may have seen ads pop up for a variety of social media sites.
While some of the content and suggestions in Neuroscience for Parents seemed “obvious”… I still found it somewhat fascinating with regards to how an adolescent brain functions.
The course will help you:
Caremans is a father of two and puts a personal spin on his lecture He provides you with the keys to understanding why your child is behaving in a certain way and, more importantly, how to react to it.
He also touches on some fascinating studies about parenting, some do's and do n'ts, tips and tricks and puts to rest some common myths about parenting.
You'll learn when to stay firm and when to be lenient, how to keep calm when you're about to lose it… and much more.
The course is packed with concrete, real-life information.
Perhaps what I found most impressive was the ability for us to submit questions via email… which Caremans typically replies to within 24 hours.
It’s like having access to a personal parenting coach on your computer.
Blog Blueprint: How to Turn Blogging into a Career
I blog… therefore, I am.
Yes, I am a work-from-home blogger… freelancer… whatever you kids call it these days.
And I love it.
But it takes work to get to a point where you are making enough money to impact your life. Whether that means helping to pay the bills… or simply having the extra cash for things like vacations, a new wardrobe, a larger house, a car, etc….
How to Turn Blogging into a Career was chock full of good information.
The instructor has been successfully blogging since he was 16-years-old… and is willing to share his tricks of the trade with you.
He’s still pretty young but seems to know his stuff.
Voted “The Best And Most Comprehensive Blogging Course On Udemy” in 2019, this course guarantees to show you how to secure a massive following… putting you well on your way to a six-figure income.
Instructor Daniel Boehm is young but has made hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2008.
From blogging.
He’s also very personable and speaks in exact and specific terms.
The course will teach you:
There are no gimmicks and no expensive software you need to buy.
Instead you are given the exact blueprint, with no stones left unturned.
Boehm gets straight to the good bits and shows you how to do blogging properly.
A step-by-step module guide is also provided so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
Aromatherapy – Using Essential Oils
Something funny happened when I turned 40. My body started to recover a lot slower from exercise, indulging in food and beverages, you name it.
Things that never bothered me before we suddenly and subtly coming to the surface.
Aching joints and muscle spasms.
Lower back pain.
Insomnia.
Sinus headaches.
Gastrointestinal issues.
Sure, you can blame the four pre-school and elementary-age children running around our house…
But, honestly, I’ve heard of them causing a few grays… I’ve yet to hear of a child causing joint tenderness.
And then, about one year ago… I went for a massage with this amazing therapist.
She actually took the time to ask me questions and explain to me how things are connected. For instance, the pain and swelling I was having in my index finger was likely caused by a pinched nerve in my neck.
Who knew?
Sinuses, allergies, headaches, joint pain, stress… it can all cause seemingly unrelated symptoms to arise in your body.
So in addition to massage, she recommended my having an open mind to more holistic methods like yoga, EFT and acupuncture… but, above all, essential oils.
Prescription and OTC medications are not always the answer… and can cause problems of their own after prolonged usage.
I’ve seen firsthand what prescription drug usage can do to people…have witnessed loved ones experiencing memory confusion, extreme fatigue, and stomach upset from being on a daily pill regime.
And the doctor’s answer? More pills!
That is why this essential oils hype spoke to me.
I bought a diffuser and oils starter kit from my masseuse… who was kind enough to share some blends for various ailments.
For instance, my 5-year-old suffering from seasonal allergies was able to skip the antihistamine for a few days by breathing in lemon, peppermint, and lavender through the diffuser overnight.
My 9-year-old relaxed and fell asleep easily the night before a big exam by simply inhaling a “peace and calm” blend.
And this left me hungry for more.
I rubbed panaway oil on my finger, and the swelling went down within a day and a half.
Instead of non-stop texting my masseuse for advice, I wanted to learn more about the various oils and what they could do.
Enter, Udemy’s Aromatherapy – Using Essential Oils course.
Instructor Mark Perren-Jones is upbeat from the get-go. He believes in the effectiveness of these oils and is excited to share that with you.
This is a complete and comprehensive beginner's aromatherapy course that will guide you in using essential oils in your everyday life.
After completing this course, you will be able to use oils to make your own all-natural cleaning products, bath bombs, toilet fizzes, muscle and joint-relieving balms and salves, diffuser blends, bath salts, foot scrubs, room sprays, and so much more.
Mark emphasizes ways in which you can apply aromatherapy and essential oils to all aspects of your life to improve the quality of your health, your home and your happiness… specifically:
Informative and fun.
Almost like taking a cooking class, but with essential oils.
I can’t recommend it enough.
So, is Udemy Legit? My Final Review of Udemy and the Quality of the Service
It’s no secret that I can be a bit skeptical about paying for services online.
After all, isn’t Google chock full of free information on almost any topic?
As I mentioned, there are free sites similar to Udemy that offer tutorials, videos, blog posts, webinars, courses, etc.… on almost anything you want to learn more about.
That being said, it boils down to the quality of the information for me… and the cost over time.
The majority of Udemy courses that I found interesting were not terribly expensive… especially given it is a single payment for lifetime access to the material.
Also, the 30-day money-back guarantees on all courses were a huge factor. They take a lot of the pressure off wanting to try something out.
Finally, the quality of Udemy instructors and vast quantity of course offerings is miles above the competition.
Perhaps it’s the payment structure they offer to their teachers to attract a better pool of talent.
Perhaps it’s the fact that these instructors are internationally renowned… passionate about what they do… either way, the quality is top-notch.
If you take anything away from my Udemy review, it’s that you have nothing to lose by giving it a try for 30 days.
And then add it to your cart.
I promise it is very unlikely you’ll be disappointed.
Finally, there is also another way to learn something new every day. A great tool to do this is to join over 1 million others and start your day with the latest fun, informative news from this website.)
Similar Posts About Adult Learning:
- 45 Best Courses to Take on Udemy
- 101 New Skills: Learn Something New in 2025
- 37 Free Udemy Courses for Personal Development
- 21 Best Tools To Learn Something New Every Day [2025 Update]
Nicole Krause has been writing both personally and professionally for over 20 years. She holds a dual B.A. in English and Film Studies. Her work has appeared in some of the country’s top publications, major news outlets, online publications, and blogs. As a happily married (and extremely busy) mother of four… her articles primarily focus on parenting, marriage, family, finance, organization, and product reviews.