Online Course Sales – 5 Platforms and Why RefSpace is an Alternative to Udemy and Others?

Selling online courses is one of the most popular ways to earn money online, but also one of the most misunderstood. In theory: you record once, sell all the time. In practice: you upload a course on Udemy, grab 25%, and pray someone finds it. And when they do – you still have no idea who your client is. If you plan to make money from knowledge, you need more than a course – you need a strategy, control, and a model that doesn’t eat you from the inside.

Is it possible to live off selling courses? 

Yes – but only if you manage not just the content, but also the platform that won’t ruin that content. Most creators starting on Udemy, Skillshare, or Thinkific quickly realize one thing: the problem isn’t in the course, but in commissions and algorithms. It’s no joke – average earnings on Udemy today are about 250 dollars a month, which is less than 1000 PLN. And that’s only if you have more than 1 course.

Let’s break it down into specifics:

• Udemy pays out an average of 25% of the course value (if you don’t have your own sales link),
• Skillshare pays for watched minutes – realistically that’s about 20–100 PLN per week if you don’t have reach,
• Teachable and Thinkific perform better – earnings start from about 4500 PLN monthly, but only if you’re acquiring clients yourself and managing advertising.

To start living off online courses, you generally need a somewhat larger income, and this is only realistic if you have your own platform or model that doesn’t limit you. Such a model can be RefSpace – more on that in a moment. But first, let’s see what doesn’t work.

Selling courses through Udemy is a limited game – check who really earns from it

Udemy is a great place to start… and an even better one to get frustrated. Yes, you have a ready platform, clients from all over the world, and a huge catalogue. But the catalogue today includes over 260,000 courses – and you’re just one of them. And unless you already have an established brand or invest in promotion, you end up in course purgatory.

The biggest limitations of Udemy are below.

• Commission – only 25% of the course price if you don’t use your own link.
• No contact with the client – you can’t build an email list or upsell anything outside the platform.
• Aggressive discount policy – a course for 199 PLN? Cool, but Udemy will sell it for 49 PLN anyway without asking.
• Fighting for attention in a crowded marketplace – without a promotional video and top-notch thumbnail, you’re lost.

The superstars on Udemy do make a lot – even over 60,000 PLN monthly. But to reach that level, you need 40+ courses, years of activity, and external traffic sources. For most creators, it just doesn’t work – not in this form. So if you prefer to earn more from fewer courses, you need a different approach. 

Want to earn from online courses on your own terms? These platforms offer more freedom

Marketplaces like Udemy have reach, but platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, or self-hosted systems finally let you take control. Although they may seem more demanding at first, they offer what you need most in 2025 – independence, data, and scalability. In this model, you decide how much your course costs, what the sales process looks like, and what the buyer sees. Most importantly – you retain 100% influence over building relationships with your audience.

Disadvantages? Of course, there are.

• You need your own traffic or paid promotion because you’re not using the platform’s algorithm.
• You must manage payments, sales page, and automations – at least once at the start.
• Not every system works well without technical help – for example, LearnDash requires WordPress and integration.

Advantages? Incomparably higher profits. An example from research: a self-hosted course creator selling at 59 dollars (~220 PLN) only needed 20 sales monthly to break even. On Udemy, to earn the same, they would need over 120 sales, because the commission leaves them with just about 17 PLN per course. 

And this is where RefSpace comes in – a model that combines the simplicity of a marketplace with the independence of self-hosting.

Why does RefSpace make a difference in selling courses? A model that works from the first course

RefSpace, while not a typical course platform, is an option for those who don’t want to wait for the perfect moment – they just want to get going. You can add your course in minutes, set a price, describe the product, and… go. Without starting a company, without integrations, without a complicated funnel. Everything happens in a system that takes care of the technicalities for you, leaving you with what’s most important – control over sales and relationship with the audience.

The biggest differences that make an impact:

• You don’t need a business license – you can legally sell as an individual.
• You get full automation of payments, distribution, and notifications.
• Set a commission for people who want to promote your course – build a sales network without an advertising budget.
• You have access to sales data and can respond – without blind guessing.

That’s why more and more people treat RefSpace not as an “alternative to Udemy” but as a base for managing all sales activities. No jumping between tools, no juggling with invoices and registrations. Everything works instantly – and you can focus on what you truly do best: creating and making money.

FAQ

What should a good online course include to sell well?

• A specific topic – preferably solving a real problem or showing the path from A to B.
• Modular structure – short lessons, checklists, exercises.
• Add-ons – e.g., templates, PDFs, bonus live sessions.
• The feeling of a complete package – people want to feel like they’re buying a process, not a collection of videos.

Is there still a point in creating an online course since “everyone is doing it”?

Yes, but only if you’re not copying – if you genuinely bring something of your own. Nowadays, customers are much more aware. They have already seen 10 courses on Instagram and 5 on Notion. But if you speak in your own voice, teach from experience, and deliver results, there will always be room for one more good course. Especially in niches.

Do you need a business to sell courses through RefSpace?

No. You can start as an individual – without setting up a business, without social security contributions, without bureaucracy. Everything works legally and automatically.

How much can you earn from a course on RefSpace?

It depends on the topic, price, and traffic – but with a course priced at 150-200 PLN, all you need is 50-100 sales per month to earn 5000-10,000 PLN. Much faster than on Udemy.

Who is this a good option for?

For creators, educators, specialists, but also for those just starting out. If you have an idea for a course but no company, website, or budget – RefSpace is the ideal starting point.

Is it worth getting into this if I don’t have a large reach?

Yes – because you can make your course available for others to promote. RefSpace works like a referral network: even small accounts can generate real sales if the product is well-described and meets needs.