Ruzuku vs Udemy & Skillshare: Complete Guide
Marketplaces offer exposure to millions of learners — but take up to 64% of each sale 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.
Should you sell on Udemy or on your own course platform?
Short answer: If you have no audience yet, start on a marketplace like Udemy or Skillshare, where learners are already searching. On Udemy sales the marketplace finds, you keep about 36% of the price; on sales from your own link, about 94%. Udemy keeps the student relationship either way. If you have an audience or are building one, your own platform lets you set prices and email your students. Ruzuku charges zero transaction fees (you pay only your payment processor's fee). You can start free, and paid plans begin at $99 a month (as of November 2026).
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 64% of each sale 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:
- Zero transaction fees from Ruzuku
- 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 64% transaction fees.
Your Course Business
Monthly Revenue: $4,000
Udemy
Ruzuku
Your savings with Ruzuku
$2,461/mo
$29,532/year
Why Course Creators Choose Ruzuku
The key differences that make Ruzuku the better choice for creators who prioritize teaching.
Zero Transaction Fees
Udemy can take up to 64% of each course sale. Ruzuku takes no share of your sales.
For a $100 course sold through Udemy's marketplace, you receive about $35.89. On Ruzuku you receive $100 minus your payment processor's fee.
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?
A 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 course business.
Best if you want:
- You have or can build an audience
- You want to pay no transaction fees on your sales
- 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 pay no transaction fees on your course sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about switching from Udemy & Skillshare to Ruzuku.
Is a marketplace or my own platform the right model for me?
It depends on what you already have. A marketplace sells for you and keeps most of the money; your own platform gives you the tools and leaves the selling to you. If you have no audience yet, the marketplace is doing work. If you already have a list, you are paying a large share for an introduction you had already made. Our Udemy pricing guide works the per-sale arithmetic on the Udemy side, including the number of sales a year at which running your own site takes home more than Udemy's 63% share of the net amount leaves you.
Can I do both — sell on marketplaces and my own platform?
Yes, some creators use marketplaces for exposure and lead generation while keeping premium offerings on their own platform. However, be aware that marketplace sales at $9.99 can undermine your premium positioning elsewhere. Many successful creators eventually leave marketplaces entirely.
How do I get students without a marketplace?
Build an audience through content marketing, social media, email lists, partnerships, and referrals. It takes more upfront work, but you own those relationships forever. Many Ruzuku creators started small and grew through word-of-mouth and strategic content.
Why do marketplaces take so much revenue?
Marketplaces like Udemy spend heavily on advertising to acquire students. When they bring you a student through their marketing, they take a 3% processing fee and then 63% of the rest, about 64% of the sale. When a student comes through your own link, you keep 97% of what is left after that fee, about 94% of the sale. The tradeoff is exposure vs. revenue.
Does Ruzuku offer a free trial?
Yes! You can start free with Ruzuku — no credit card required. Create your first course and see how the platform works before committing to a paid plan.
What payment processors does Ruzuku support?
Ruzuku integrates with Stripe and PayPal, so you can accept credit cards and PayPal payments from students worldwide. Ruzuku charges zero transaction fees — we never take a cut of your sales. (Standard payment processor fees from Stripe/PayPal still apply.)
Can Ruzuku help me migrate my courses?
Absolutely. Our support team can help you move your content, students, and course structure from your current platform. We want to make switching as smooth as possible.
What happens to my students if I switch to Ruzuku?
Your students will receive new login credentials for your Ruzuku courses. Their progress can be tracked fresh, and they'll have access to Ruzuku's student support team for any technical issues.
Does Ruzuku support live courses and cohorts?
Yes. Ruzuku has built-in video meetings — browser-based, with no Zoom account needed — with breakout rooms built in, plus a Zoom integration if you prefer Zoom or need a larger group. You schedule live sessions inside your course, and built-in meetings record by default. That combination suits cohort-based programs and group coaching.