Udemy is an online learning platform that offers the opportunity to study a wide variety of topics and receive an unofficial certificate to show your competency. With over 65,000 course offerings, the possibilities are endless for self-improvement, and the super flexible structure allows you to fit learning into almost any lifestyle.

Because it is not accredited, the certificates you receive upon completing a course cannot be used for formal education, but they can still be offered as proof of competency when it comes to your resume or your next job interview. Because teachers offer courses in exchange for a portion of the class fees, the site is able to keep costs relatively low compared to formal education options, giving you a chance to learn without breaking your savings:) 

Background

The founder of Udemy, Eren Bali, grew up in Turkey with limited access to education. When his family purchased its first computer, his world opened up, and the internet allowed him to pursue his passion for math and chess, eventually winning a silver medal in the International Math Olympiad. In 2010, he teamed up with Oktay Caglar and Gagan Biyani to start Udemy, a site offering quality education at prices people can afford.

Process

To write this Udemy review, we sifted through the overwhelming selection on the site in order to see what was available. Classes are sorted into fifteen categories which you can browse to find something interesting to you. If you’re looking for something in particular, the search bar allows you to locate relevant classes even faster. Since there are so many course offerings, you may want to do a free preview in order to compare similar options before deciding which one to buy, but when you make a decision, you pay for the course and you can start learning immediately.

All course purchases give you lifetime access, meaning that you can move through the material at your own pace and review it anytime you want after you’ve finished. When you have completed all the parts of the class, you will receive a certificate of completion which can be used as proof of your new skill.

Advantages

• 65,000+ course offerings give you unrivaled variety
• Classes available in over fifty languages
• Everything is completely self-paced and can be adjusted to fit in whatever time you have available

Disadvantages

• Not accredited, giving certificates limited value
• Anyone can post a class, so there is no quality control

Bottom line

If you are looking to learn something new, hone jobs skills, or explore a hobby, our Udemy review thinks it is a fantastic option.

Its classes are moderately priced, impose no time limits or deadlines, and cover virtually any topic you might want to know about. Many of the classes on the site are extremely good, and it is possible to weed out the duds by paying attention to the ratings and reviews.

The only real downside to this choice is the lack of accreditation, meaning that any learning you do won’t count towards official credentialing or degree work. If that isn’t a problem for you, this is a great site!