Program Details
| Commission | 10-15% (Cost Per Sale) |
| Cookie Duration | 7 days |
| Network | Impact.com |
| Payment Methods | PayPal, Direct Deposit, Check |
| Min. Payout | $50 |
| Payment Frequency | Net 30 / Net 60 |
| Category | Online Education & E-Learning |
| Countries | Global (excluding sanctioned regions) |
| Website | www.udemy.com |
Udemy is one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with over 210,000 courses spanning programming, business, design, and personal development. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Francisco, it serves more than 65 million students across 190+ countries. The platform operates a marketplace model where independent instructors publish courses, giving affiliates an enormous catalog to pull from regardless of niche.
Udemy Affiliate Program Overview
The Udemy affiliate program pays 10-15% commission on paid course sales, with top-performing affiliates eligible for rates up to 20%. The program runs primarily through Impact.com (with some presence on Rakuten Advertising) and uses a 7-day cookie window. Udemy has recently expanded commissions to include its subscription-based Personal Plan, paying around 14% for monthly sign-ups and 7% for annual ones.
Payments go out on a Net 30 or Net 60 schedule depending on the network, with a $50 minimum payout threshold. Available payment methods include PayPal, direct deposit, and check. One important caveat: Udemy’s 30-day money-back guarantee means refunded purchases result in commission clawbacks.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Massive catalog of 210,000+ courses – easy to find content relevant to almost any niche
- Universal cookie: if a visitor buys multiple courses within 7 days, you earn commission on all of them
- Global brand recognition drives strong conversion trust – students know the Udemy name
- Frequent platform-wide sales (often $10-$15 per course) create urgency that boosts click-to-buy rates
- Multi-language support opens up non-English markets for international affiliates
Cons:
- 7-day cookie is short – competitors like Coursera and Skillshare offer 30 days
- Low average order values ($15-$30) because most sales happen during heavy discount periods
- High refund rates from the 30-day money-back guarantee chip away at commissions
- No commissions on free courses, which are plentiful on the platform
How to Join
Apply through udemy.com/affiliate, which routes you to the Impact.com signup. You’ll need a minimum of 500 monthly visitors to your site or 500 followers on a social channel. The application is reviewed manually and typically takes 3-4 business days. Udemy looks for active content sites with a clear niche – course review sites, programming blogs, and career development content tend to get approved without issue.
Once approved, you get access to deep-linking tools, banner ads, and a product catalog feed through Impact. Note that bidding on “Udemy” branded keywords in paid search and using “Udemy” in your domain name are both prohibited by the program terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Udemy’s affiliate cookie last?
Udemy uses a 7-day cookie window. This is shorter than most competing e-learning programs, which typically offer 30 days. The silver lining is that the cookie is universal – it tracks any paid course or subscription purchase made on Udemy during that window, not just the specific course you linked to.
What commission rate does the Udemy affiliate program pay?
The standard rate is 10-15% on paid course sales, with top affiliates able to negotiate up to 20%. Udemy’s Personal Plan subscription also pays commissions – roughly 14% for monthly sign-ups and 7% for annual plans. Keep in mind that Udemy’s frequent deep-discount sales (courses often sell for $10-$15) keep actual earnings per sale modest.
If someone buys a different course than the one I linked, do I still earn commission?
Yes. Udemy’s cookie tracks the user’s session across the entire platform, not just the linked course. If someone clicks your link to a Python course but also buys a graphic design course during the same 7-day window, you earn commission on both purchases.
What happens if a student refunds a course I promoted?
Udemy offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to students, and any refund within that window results in the corresponding commission being reversed from your account. Refund rates can be noticeable, especially during sale periods when impulse purchases are common. Factor this into your earnings estimates.
Can I use “Udemy” in my website’s domain name?
No. Udemy explicitly prohibits affiliates from registering domains that include the word “Udemy” as a top-level element (e.g., bestudemycourses.com). Violating this rule can result in account termination. You can mention Udemy in your content and sub-pages – just not in the domain itself.
Do I earn commissions on Udemy’s Personal Plan subscriptions?
Yes. Udemy has been expanding its subscription offering with the Personal Plan, and affiliates can earn commissions on those sign-ups – approximately 14% on monthly plans and 7% on annual. Subscription commissions are a relatively new addition, and the exact rates may vary by region and network.
Can I promote Udemy courses on social media?
Yes, social promotion is allowed as long as your account has at least 500 followers and your content aligns with Udemy’s guidelines. You can use affiliate deep links directly in social posts on most major platforms. Paid social ads are permitted, but bidding on Udemy-branded keywords is not.
Final Verdict
The Udemy affiliate program is a reasonable choice for content creators in the education, tech, or career development space – mainly because of the brand’s global recognition and the sheer volume of courses to promote. The 10-15% commission is decent, but the 7-day cookie and low average order values (thanks to Udemy’s near-permanent sale pricing) cap your per-click earnings. It works best as a volume play: high traffic, strong call-to-action content around Udemy’s regular promotions, and targeting audiences already primed to buy.
Commission rates and program terms are based on publicly available information and may change without notice. Always verify current rates on the official program page before signing up.
I’ve been learning coding languages on Udemy for some time now and I just discovered I can help this marketplace, just like it helped me. I am active on my social media platforms and I really hope we will collaborate.