Ghost vs Udemy
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
from $9/mo · monthly subscription
up to 63% · platform share on organic; 85% on subs
Payout speed
instant
monthly
Minimum payout
$0
$25
Countries
Stripe-supported
Global via PayPal, Payoneer, Tipalti
Email list export
Full access
None (no list ownership)
Custom domain
Yes
No
Community features
Comments, paid tiers, member signups
Per-course Q&A only
Best for
Independent publishers and creators who want ownership and zero revenue share
Instructors who want reach and discovery over margin and list ownership
Ghost vs Udemy: which one wins?
Ghost charges from $9/mo (monthly subscription) versus Udemy at up to 63% (platform share on organic; 85% on subs).
On payout speed, Ghost pays instant while Udemy pays monthly. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Ghost offers full access email export and Udemy offers none (no list ownership). Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.
Best for: Ghost suits independent publishers and creators who want ownership and zero revenue share. Udemy fits instructors who want reach and discovery over margin and list ownership.