Independent review · No paid placement
Udemy Review (2025)
Individual course purchases at permanently-discounted prices — wide range, lifetime access, but craft content is shallower than Domestika and the inflated "original prices" are misleading.
Hobbify verdict
3.7 / 5
Udemy is fine for the price you'll actually pay (£12–£15), but the pricing model — inflated 'original prices' permanently on sale — is dishonest and worth being aware of. Craft content quality sits below Domestika and the range of genuinely useful craft courses is narrower than it appears. Best treated as a budget alternative when a specific course isn't available elsewhere.
The breakdown
How Udemy scores
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Course quality (craft) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Ranges from solid to poor — read reviews before buying any course |
| Craft catalogue breadth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Wide range, though heavily weighted towards sewing/knitting vs studio crafts |
| Price transparency | ⭐⭐ | Inflated "original prices" are misleading — real price is ~£12–£15 |
| Lifetime access | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | One purchase = permanent access — no subscription required |
| Instructor credentials | ⭐⭐⭐ | Mixed — quality varies significantly, harder to assess than Domestika |
| Live / interactive element | ⭐⭐ | No live sessions; Q&A boards exist but response varies by instructor |
| UK-relevant content | ⭐⭐⭐ | Better than Domestika for UK suppliers mentioned; still varies by course |
At a glance
Pros
- Permanent lifetime access on courses you buy
- 30-day refund policy
- Low real prices (£12–£15)
- Wide range of craft topics
Cons
- Misleading inflated "original" prices
- Craft content shallower than Domestika
- Variable quality with no editorial curation
- Craft is not its core focus
What Udemy does well
Permanent lifetime access
Every Udemy course purchase gives you permanent access with no subscription required. Updates to course content (where instructors provide them) are included. There's no risk of losing access if you don't log in for months — the course stays in your library indefinitely.
Wide range at low actual prices
Despite the misleading sticker pricing, what you actually pay (£12–£15) is reasonable for a multi-hour course with lifetime access. Sewing, knitting, crochet, and jewellery have decent coverage, and there are occasional strong courses that go into genuine depth.
No ongoing commitment
Unlike Skillshare, Udemy has no subscription. You buy what you want, own it, and aren't billed monthly. For someone who wants to pick up a course occasionally without managing a subscription, this is a practical model.
Where Udemy falls short
Dishonest pricing model
Udemy lists courses at artificially high 'original prices' (often £19.99–£199.99) and then permanently discounts them to £12–£15. The 'original price' has no meaning — the real price is always the sale price. This is widely known but worth flagging: don't let the apparent discount affect your judgement of a course's value.
Shallower craft content than Domestika
Udemy is primarily a tech and business learning platform — craft is not its core audience. Craft courses tend to be less professionally produced and go less deep than comparable Domestika courses. The breadth looks impressive in search results, but the quality ceiling is lower.
Variable quality with no editorial curation
Like Skillshare, Udemy allows open publishing. Course quality varies enormously. Always read student reviews before purchasing; specifically look for reviews that mention the depth of technique coverage — general enthusiasm in reviews doesn't always mean the instruction is good.
Who should use Udemy
Best used for craft disciplines that Domestika doesn't cover well, or when a specific course topic is better covered on Udemy. Reasonable as a budget option (the real price is fair). Not the right choice if you want the highest-quality craft instruction — Domestika consistently beats it on that measure. The 30-day refund policy reduces the risk of a poor purchase.
Weighing Udemy against the alternatives? See Domestika vs Udemy → and Skillshare vs Udemy →
Udemy
FAQs
Everything you need to know before you book.