Passes vs Udemy
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
10% · of revenue
up to 63% · platform share on organic; 85% on subs
Payout speed
instant
monthly
Minimum payout
$50
$25
Countries
Primarily US, Stripe-supported
Global via PayPal, Payoneer, Tipalti
Email list export
Limited
None (no list ownership)
Custom domain
Yes (subdomain)
No
Community features
DMs, group chats, 1:1 video calls
Per-course Q&A only
Best for
Mainstream creators, influencers, coaches wanting low-fee subs and merch
Instructors who want reach and discovery over margin and list ownership
Passes vs Udemy: which one wins?
Passes charges 10% (of revenue) versus Udemy at up to 63% (platform share on organic; 85% on subs).
On payout speed, Passes pays instant while Udemy pays monthly. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Passes offers limited 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: Passes suits mainstream creators, influencers, coaches wanting low-fee subs and merch. Udemy fits instructors who want reach and discovery over margin and list ownership.