Top Udemy Instructors of 2025: Who’s Leading the Platform?

Udemy continues to dominate the global online learning landscape in 2025, boasting nearly 80 million registered users and over 260,000 courses across virtually every field of study. Combined, Udemy courses have amassed more than 830 million enrollments to date :contentReference. With such scale, a small cohort of instructors drives the majority of engagement and learning outcomes. Here’s an in-depth profile of Udemy’s most popular educators in 2025—based on enrollments, student ratings, course longevity, and visibility.

Udemy Today: By the Numbers

By early 2025, Udemy hosts over 260,000 courses, with global enrollment numbers exceeding 830 million learners. Around 90% of courses are paid offerings, with only about 10% free. The platform’s most popular categories are Technology and Business, accounting for nearly 75.8% of all enrollments; Technology courses average nearly 4,859 learners per course—well above the platform average of ~3,176.

Criteria for “Most Popular” Instructors

• Massive enrollments: Million‑plus student counts signaling broad reach.
• High ratings and reviews: Consistently strong feedback.
• Course longevity and updates: Long‑term success, regularly refreshed content.
• Diverse appeal: Covering multiple skill levels and disciplines.

1. Jose Portilla — Python & Data Science Powerhouse

As of mid‑2025, José Portilla remains one of Udemy’s top instructors, best known for his flagship Complete Python Bootcamp: From Zero to Hero in Python. This course has reportedly enrolled over 1.5 million students and ranks among Udemy’s all‑time bestsellers. Portilla excels at transforming complex machine learning and Python concepts into beginner‑friendly modules, guided by quizzes, mini‑projects, and real‑world code walkthroughs. He updates his titles regularly—helping maintain relevance in AI and data science trends.

2. Dr. Angela Yu — Real‑World Web & Python Mentor

Dr. Angela Yu’s signature course, 100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp, continues to attract massive enrollment numbers—even in 2025. Its structured daily‑project approach is highly rated for keeping learners motivated and focused on practical application over rote theory. Her content covers web apps, automation, game development, and backend tools—ideal for both novices and intermediate learners.

3. Colt Steele — Full‑Stack Developer’s Favorite

Colt Steele is widely recognized for beginner‑oriented full‑stack courses like The Web Developer Bootcamp and Modern Python 3 Bootcamp. These consistently rank among the highest‑enrolled development courses on Udemy. Colt’s ability to break down core topics—Git, REST APIs, JavaScript frameworks—makes him a trusted instructor for learners transitioning into software development careers.

4. Jonas Schmedtmann — JavaScript & Front‑End Innovator

As of February 2025, Jonas Schmedtmann has amassed over 2.1 million enrolled students across seven core Udemy courses focused on JavaScript, front‑end frameworks, and responsive web design . His course content is praised for its polished presentations and project‑driven curriculum, making it ideal for students building real web applications and professional portfolios.

5. Chris Haroun — “MBA®” in a Course

Chris Haroun has become synonymous with business education on Udemy. His An Entire MBA in 1 Course has reached nearly 2 million students across 196 countries. With experience at Goldman Sachs and Columbia Business School, Haroun delivers business strategy, finance, leadership, public speaking and startup lessons in a streamlined, accessible format for individuals and professionals alike.

⭐ Honorable Mentions

• Ben Tristem (gamedev.tv): A go‑to instructor for game development and programming topics, with wide appeal and consistent ratings in creative tech categories.
• Rob Percival and Phil Ebiner: Frequently listed among Udemy’s top‑rated web development and marketing instructors, with long histories and large followings.

Why These Instructors Continue to Thrive in 2025

Several factors set top Udemy instructors apart:

• Timely content updates: Frequent course revisions keep pace with evolving tools and languages.
• Structured, project‑oriented learning: Hands‑on assignments, quizzes, and real‑world apps reinforce retention.
• Cross‑platform relevance: From beginners to advanced users, their courses cover the full learner spectrum.
• High course quality: Student ratings consistently exceed 4.5/5, with thousands of detailed reviews.
• Strong brand presence: Outside Udemy, these instructors often publish blogs, books, and free resources that boost discovery.

Enrollments & Earnings Ecosystem

While not all Udemy instructors disclose revenue, recent reports indicate vast variation—from zero earnings for some to over $250,000/year for top earners. In fact, Udemy’s top 10 instructors previously made over $17 million combined; individual lifetime earnings range into the millions. Despite shrinking instructor royalties—Udemy takes ~63% of marketplace sales and ~82.5–85% from Udemy Business transactions—elite instructors still earn significantly due to scale.

Course Categories Dominating Enrollments

According to 2025 data:

• Technology & Business courses make up ~75.8% of enrollments.
• Courses longer than 20 hours average nearly 11,900 enrollments each—reflecting student preference for in-depth content.
• While English remains dominant, Udemy offers content in over 70 languages, though the majority are not in English.

Recommendations for Learners & Content Creators

If You’re Looking to Learn:

• Choose instructors with high lifetime enrollments and consistent course updates.
• Look for project-based courses—especially in programming, business, and web design.
• Read recent student reviews to ensure course relevance and quality.

If You’re Creating Courses:

• Focus on niche areas with strong demand, especially in emerging tech trends.
• Maintain regular updates to boost relevance and ratings.
• Engage students with quizzes, mini‑projects, and real use cases.
• Be strategic: the platform is increasingly saturated and revenue shares are shrinking—diversify your presence if possible.

Final Takeaway

In 2025, Udemy’s most popular instructors—such as José Portilla, Angela Yu, Colt Steele, Jonas Schmedtmann, and Chris Haroun—stand out due to their ability to attract millions of students with high‑quality, frequently refreshed, project‑based content. Fueled by tech and business demand, these instructors shape trends in online learning while also proving that Udemy success ties to evergreen content, strategic updates, and strong learner engagement.