Ruzuku vs Udemy & Skillshare: Complete Guide
Marketplaces offer exposure to millions of learners — but take up to 63% of your revenue and don't let you own student relationships. Here's how to decide.
Own Platform vs. Course Marketplaces: Which is right for your business?
What's in This Guide
A complete comparison to help you choose between Ruzuku and Udemy & Skillshare.
What's in This Guide
A complete comparison to help you choose between Ruzuku and Udemy & Skillshare.
Platform Overview
Understanding who each platform is built for helps you make the right choice.
Udemy & Skillshare
Course marketplaces with built-in audiences
Ideal for:
- Creators who want exposure to millions of learners
- Those without an existing audience
- Side income from passive course sales
- Testing course ideas with marketplace validation
Strengths:
- Access to millions of potential students
- No upfront marketing required
- Built-in review and discovery systems
- Established brand trust with learners
Limitations:
- Heavy revenue share (up to 63% to platform)
- No student email access or relationships
- Race to the bottom on pricing
- You don't own your audience
Ruzuku
Your own course platform
Ideal for:
- Coaches building long-term client relationships
- Educators who want to own their audience
- Experts who can charge premium prices
- Course creators who want student tech support included
Strengths:
- 0% transaction fees — keep 100%
- Own your student relationships and data
- Set your own prices (premium pricing possible)
- Student tech support included free
Limitations:
- You need to bring your own audience
- Marketing is your responsibility
- No built-in discovery or marketplace
- Requires more upfront effort
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Click any feature to learn why it matters for your course business.
Revenue & Pricing
Student Relationships
Course Experience
Discovery & Marketing
Support & Branding
Transaction Fee Calculator
See how much you could save by avoiding Udemy's 50% transaction fees.
Your Course Business
Monthly Revenue: $4,000
Udemy
Ruzuku
Your savings with Ruzuku
$1,901/mo
$22,812/year
Why Course Creators Choose Ruzuku
The key differences that make Ruzuku the better choice for creators who prioritize teaching.
Keep 100% of Your Revenue
Udemy can take up to 63% of your course sales. On Ruzuku, you keep everything you earn.
For a $500 course, that's the difference between $185 (Udemy) and $500 (Ruzuku) per sale.
Own Your Student Relationships
Marketplaces don't give you student emails. Every sale is a one-time transaction with no follow-up possible.
On Ruzuku, you build a list, nurture relationships, and create repeat customers for life.
Premium Pricing Power
Marketplace courses race to $9.99. On your own platform, you can charge what your transformation is worth.
The same course that sells for $9.99 on Udemy can command $500+ on your own platform with the right positioning.
"Seamless, instant customer service, on a holiday weekend! My experience so far with Ruzuku is top notch. It's a clean, elegant and easy to use platform... but the customer service makes it a no-brainer if you are teaching hybrid learning courses."
David Browder
Course Creator
Which Platform is Right for You?
An honest guide to help you choose the best platform for your specific needs.
Choose Marketplaces If...
Marketplaces make sense when you have no audience and want exposure over revenue.
Best if you need:
- You have no existing audience or marketing ability
- You want passive income without marketing effort
- You're testing a course idea before investing more
- You're okay with low per-sale revenue
Choose Your Own Platform If...
Your own platform is the right choice when you're building a real course business.
Best if you want:
- You have or can build an audience
- You want to keep 100% of your revenue
- Student relationships matter to you
- You want to charge premium prices
- Courses are your primary business, not a side project
The Bottom Line
This is less about which is 'better' and more about what you're building. Marketplaces like Udemy and Skillshare are the better choice if you want instant exposure to millions of learners and don't mind giving up most of your revenue. Ruzuku is the better choice if you want to own your student relationships, set premium prices, and keep 100% of your course revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about switching from Udemy & Skillshare to Ruzuku.