Offering your courses for free on the Udemy marketplace is one way instructors can try teaching on our platform, help build a student audience, and test the demand for a topic. It’s also another way for instructors to receive student feedback about your teaching methods.
This article includes answers to some of the common questions we receive from instructors, regarding free courses and the simplified learning experience.
Please note: additional information regarding changes Udemy made to free courses in 2020, and how instructors can utilize free courses effectively, is available in this Teaching Center resource.
- Is there any difference between a free and paid course? Other than the price?
- What are the minimum requirements for a free course?
- What if a student enrolls in my paid course through a free coupon I shared out? Will they have access to all the course content and features?
- Can I change my course from free to paid? Or vice-versa?
- How can I change a course from free to paid?
- Can I charge a price for my course on Udemy but offer it for free elsewhere?
Is there any difference between a free and paid course? Other than the price?
Yes. Free courses on Udemy offer students a simplified learning experience. This simplified experience limits the features that are available in a free course compared to a paid course.
For example, free courses do not offer a certificate of completion. Additional course features like the Q&A and direct messaging (even if enabled by the instructor) are not included in free course enrollments.
In addition, all free courses published after March 17, 2020 must be under 2 hours in video length.
What are the minimum requirements for a free course?
The minimum requirements to publish a free course are the same as a paid course, except, all free courses published after March 17, 2020 must be under 2 hours in video length.
What if a student enrolls in my paid course through a free coupon I shared out? Will they have access to all the course content and features?
Yes. Students who enroll in paid courses via instructor coupons, our gifting option, or Udemy credits will have access to all the course features. The term “free course” refers to courses that do not have a price set for them by the instructor.
Can I change my course from free to paid? Or vice-versa?
While instructors can change the price of their course at any time, a course can only be switched from free to paid once. If the course is switched from free to paid and back to free (or vice versa) after the course is published, the promotional announcements for the course will be permanently disabled.
How can I change a course from free to paid?
In order to change a course from free to paid you must be registered as a premium instructor. Learn how to set the price of your course.
Can I charge a price for my course on Udemy but offer it for free elsewhere?
No. Courses that you charge for on Udemy cannot be offered for free off of Udemy (e.g. YouTube, your own site, other sites).