Building a Website Like Udemy or Coursera: Step-by-Step Guide

According to recent studies, the E-Learning Market size is projected to grow at 20% CAGR from 2022 to 2028. That’s over 100% growth!

People are always going to learn. And we don’t judge their desire to do it from the comfort of their home, right?

So, we say starting an online learning platform is worth it in 2025, too!

So, here, we at ProCoders will show you:

• the features of a winning app
• how to make money with it
• what tech stack to choose
• how to build an e-learning platform

Let’s go!

The Secret of Success Udemy and Coursera: Main Features

A secret or great planning and research?

Let’s see!

Here, we talk about the features that presumably made sites like Coursera or Udemy successful.

Udemy Magic Ingredients

• User-Friendly Interface.
  Easy to navigate and designed for a high-quality user experience.
• Large and Diverse Course Catalogue.
  It offers a wide range of courses on various topics and for skill levels.
• Affordable Pricing.
  Its budget-friendly options make learning accessible to a broader audience.
• Supportive Community.
  It engages students and instructors to create an interactive learning environment.
• Focus on Skills-Based Training.
  It helps not just to learn the material but to apply it as well.
• Attracts Top-Quality Instructors.
  Expert educators create the sources, which often guarantees user satisfaction.

Coursera Magic Ingredients

• Partnerships with Top Universities and Institutions: Provides high-quality courses backed by renowned organizations.
• Flexible Learning Experience: Enables students to learn at their own pace and convenience.
• User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive platform design simplifies navigation and course selection.
• Gamified Elements: Features like achievements and progress tracking keep students motivated and engaged.
• Focus on Value: Prioritizes providing a meaningful and beneficial experience for students.

Recommended: How to Create an Online Education Platform?

Udemy and Coursera: a Detailed Comparison

Feature	Coursera	Udemy
Pricing model	Subscription-based and individual course pricing	Individual course pricing
Number of courses	Over 4,000 courses	Over 130,000 courses
Average course price	Over 4,000 courses $49-$99	$9.99-$199.99
Revenue model	Monthly subscription fee, course certification fee	Course sales, promotions
Key features for students	Interactive learning experiences, project-based learning, peer feedback	Wide range of courses, lifetime access to course content, flexible learning options
Key features for teachers	Ability to create and sell courses, access to a large student community, earn revenue	Ability to create and sell courses, course analytics, flexible course creation options

How Does a Website Like Coursera and Udemy Make Money?

So, if you’ve already decided to create a website like Udemy, it’s time to figure out how you can make money on it:

Donation

Offering free training materials and asking users to make donations at their discretion comprise this monetization strategy. Even though it’s not the most reliable source of income, non-profit organizations and commercial companies might still make investments in enhancing your open-source platform. As an example, Google and AT&T donated over $10 million to Khan Academy.

Premium Services

In this approach, consumers must pay for extra materials or services, but access to lessons is free. These premium services could consist of distance learning, longer courses, additional audio and video content, etc. This strategy can produce a steady income and offers value to consumers who are prepared to pay for additional services.

Corporate Partnerships

You can form partnerships with companies and provide them with great deals. Thus, you raise funding for your platform and increase its popularity. This model is particularly useful for business-related courses and training.

Verified Certificates

Users can have free access to courses and training materials. However, if they want a certificate after they pass a course, they have to buy it. People are going to do it because certifications improve their credentials.

Paid Subscription

This is a straightforward way of monetizing an e-learning platform. A fee is charged regularly, and it is recommended to offer different payment plans to meet the needs of different users.

An annual subscription is a great example. Your users save 10-20% compared to monthly payments. However, this eliminates the possibility they will leave during this year, so you’re still profiting.

Tech Stack To Build a Website Like Udemy and Coursera

To build a website like Udemy or Coursera, you need a solid tech stack. But what does it consist of? Let us clear things up:

Component	Options
Programming Languages	PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, Node.js
Front-end Framework	React, Angular, Vue.js
Database Management System	MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL
Video Hosting and Streaming	Amazon S3, Vimeo, YouTube
Payment Gateway Integration	PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net
Analytics Tools	Google Analytics, Mixpanel
Content Delivery Network	Cloudflare, Akamai, MaxCDN

How to Make an E-learning Platform Like Udemy or Coursera: Steps and Advice

Step 1. Preparation and Research

Here are some of the key tasks at this stage:

• conduct market research
• assess the needs of your target audience
• determine what features and services they need

This data helps you create a unique value proposition. It also shows what your solution will do and who will use it.

Step 2. Revenue Model

At this stage, you decide on the methods of getting revenue.

Let’s recall some popular models include:

• donation model
• premium access
• corporate programs
• verified certificates
• paid subscriptions

Again, look at your competitors. What are they doing right? What are they doing wrong? How can you create a better payment model without compromising profit?

Step 3. Tech Stack

The tech stack you choose has a major impact on the performance and scalability of your platform.

But you don’t need the most powerful tools available if you don’t have tech requirements of that level yet. We’ve seen many people try to choose the most complex tech with the illusion that it will work best.

We at ProCoders recommend consulting development professionals. During our Discovery Phase, for example, we study the requirements and expectations of our partners and choose a tech stack of compatible tools based on what they need.

Step 4. Design and Build Similar Sites Like Udemy

This stage is all about turning your ideas into a functional platform that looks great and works effectively. It involves two key areas:

Design

• Create a user-friendly interface (UI) that’s visually appealing and easy to navigate.
• Focus on intuitive user experience (UX) to make the platform practical and enjoyable for users.
• Prioritize responsiveness so the platform works well across devices, from desktops to smartphones.

Development

• Implement all the planned features and services, ensuring they align with your goals.
• Use scalable technologies to allow for future updates and growth.
• Test accessibility to make the platform usable for all audiences.

At ProCoders, we specialize in both design and development. Our team can help you create a platform that not only looks great but also performs exactly how you need it to.

Step 5. Testing

Testing is a critical step to identify and fix potential issues before your platform goes live. This stage ensures that your product is reliable, functional, and delivers the experience you intended. It includes several key areas:

Functional Testing

• Verify that every feature and service works as planned.
• Check workflows and processes to confirm they align with user expectations.

Performance Testing

• Assess how the platform handles different levels of traffic and load.
• Optimize speed and responsiveness for all devices.

Usability Testing

• Gather feedback from real users to identify areas for improvement.
• Test navigation, design elements, and overall user experience.

Security Testing

• Identify potential vulnerabilities to protect user data.
• Test compliance with relevant standards and regulations.

At ProCoders, we can guide you through this process, using our expertise to help test and refine your platform for maximum reliability and user satisfaction.

Step 6. Launch

The launch is the moment your platform goes live and becomes available to users. This stage includes:

• Deploying the platform to production.
• Monitoring performance to address any immediate issues.
• Gathering early user feedback for future improvements.

With ProCoders, your launch will be smooth and well-coordinated, ensuring your platform is ready to impress from day one.

Step 7. Continuously Improve Your Platform

Collect feedback from your users, monitor your metrics, and make continuous improvements to your platform to meet the changing needs of your users.

ProCoders’ Advice

We’ve been in software development for over 10 years. And yes, we’ve created some great e-learning solutions. So, drawing from our experience, here’s our advice for building a successful e-learning platform:

• Focus on Simplicity. Create a platform that’s intuitive and easy to navigate. When users can find what they need without frustration, they want to come back more often.
• Deliver Real Value. Develop courses that genuinely help students achieve their goals. You may need additional educational experts to build the courses, but it’s worth it. It can be learning new skills or advancing their careers. People are ready to pay for real value.
• Foster Community Building. Encourage meaningful interaction between students and instructors. Social features help people not feel alone when they struggle to learn something. Provide spaces for learners to connect and support each other.
• Be Patient. Success doesn’t happen overnight. Dedicate time and effort to refining your platform and growing your audience. Try different marketing approaches and listen to feedback closely. The key is to always do something to promote your platform.
• Stay Open to Feedback. Listen to your users and be ready to make adjustments. Your audience may have slightly different views, but sometimes, it’s necessary to be flexible and communicate with users to find a common ground.
• Build a Strong Team. Surround yourself with skilled, passionate people who share your vision and can help bring it to life. We at ProCoders are always ready to become your ally along the way.

With these principles in mind, you’re well on your way to creating a platform that stands out. You can make it like one of the popular websites or apps. But you can also do your own research, find your unique audience, and cover their educational needs!

ProCoders Impact in Building a Website Like Coursera, Udemy, or EDX

As a team of skilled developers at ProCoders, we understand how to create an educational website successfully. We focus on proper planning, which makes design, development, launch, and maintenance easier. We mitigate risks and always have a solution for a problem.

We have a proven track record of delivering solutions on time and within budget. Our developers have helped more than 150 teams complete their projects.

They can join at any stage. But, of course, ProCoders recommends approaching a product responsibly from day 1. This means going for a Discovery Phase, where our team:

• Collaborate to clarify your vision and goals.
• Identify key features, target audience, and technical needs.
• Assess potential challenges and validate ideas with technical insights.
• Develop a clear plan with timelines, priorities, and deliverables.
• Provide detailed estimates for time, costs, and team composition.

Whether you are looking to create a platform from scratch or want to upgrade an existing platform, our team of experts can help you every step of the way.

Here are some of our cases in the industry.

Quartz Network

We were approached by Quartz Network to help bring their innovative idea of a B2B platform to life. The platform is a one-stop online destination for professionals. They can network and learn there. Features include

• deep library of courses
• online conference spaces
• matching based on interests

Quartz Network was facing challenges in assembling a large enough coding team onshore and reached out to ProCoders for assistance. With our large pool of engineering resources in budget-friendly Central Europe, we were able to offer a fast team assembly and get the project off the ground.

We at ProCoders thoroughly researched and implemented a complex full-stack solution for Quartz Network, including an administrative panel, a deep library of coursework, a matching system for profiles and vendors, a payment system, and an individual system for meetings and discussions.

Our team worked directly with Quartz Network, and the whole process was seamless. As a result, hundreds of courses are now available, and successful conferences have been conducted. Quartz Network is now well-prepared for exciting opportunities ahead, thanks to the stable platform built by ProCoders.

Membean

Membean is a learning platform with interactive tools to help students memorize things easily. The company faced a common challenge that many education technology companies face. That is, how to make an eLearning platform that is scalable and user-friendly.

Our team of experienced developers was able to step in and offer a solution. We used React.js, Node.js, and AWS to build a scalable platform for Membean. We improved the platform’s performance, making it faster and more efficient for users.

The results? The platform is now:

• more user-friendly
• more scalable
• faster than ever before

We are proud to have helped Membean reach their goals. Besides, we’re continuing to provide ongoing support and maintenance for the platform.

Your project can become the next successful story! Contact us at ProCoders and let’s discuss your product!

Conclusion

Many people ask us, “How to create Udemy like website?”, “How to make a website like EDX?” Well, it can be a complex and challenging task, but with the right resources and planning, it can be accomplished successfully. The key is to understand your target audience, determine the features you want to include and choose the right technology to build your platform.

ProCoders has the expertise and experience in working with various technology stacks, that can help you build learning platforms like Udemy or Coursera. Furthermore, it is essential to have a strong team of developers who can handle any development and technical issues that may arise during the project. By following these steps, you can build a website that is user-friendly, engaging, and offers a great learning experience for its users.