Udemy credits stay in your Udemy account and cannot be transferred to a bank account
Udemy credits are a form of store credit, not cash. They exist only within the Udemy platform and can be used only to buy courses there. Your bank will not accept them as a deposit, and Udemy does not offer a way to convert them to money in your checking or savings account.
This is true whether the credits came as a gift, a refund, a promotional offer, or a purchase you made yourself. The moment you received them, they became locked to your Udemy account. No third-party service can unlock them either — Udemy's terms of service prohibit the sale or transfer of credits to anyone else.
If you have credits sitting unused, your only real option is to spend them on courses within Udemy itself. If you no longer want to use Udemy, the credits will expire or remain in your account indefinitely, depending on Udemy's current policy.
Key Takeaways
- Udemy credits are store credit only and have no cash value outside the Udemy platform.
- Udemy does not offer a cash-out feature, refund to bank account, or any conversion tool for credits.
- Credits cannot be sold, traded, or transferred to another person under Udemy's terms of service.
- The only way to use credits is to purchase courses directly through your Udemy account.
- If you received credits as a gift or promotion and do not want them, contact Udemy support to ask about your specific situation.
How Udemy credits work as a payment method
When you have a credit balance in your Udemy account, it appears as a dollar amount in your account settings. At checkout, Udemy automatically applies available credits to reduce the price of any course you buy. If your credit balance is larger than the course price, Udemy keeps the remainder in your account for future purchases.
Credits do not earn interest, do not accrue value over time, and do not convert to a higher amount. A $50 credit is always worth $50 toward Udemy courses, nothing more. Udemy sets the prices of its courses, so the actual number of courses your credits can buy depends on what Udemy is charging at the time you make a purchase.
Some credits come with restrictions — for example, a promotional credit might be valid only for a specific course or category. Check the terms that came with your credit to see whether it has limits. Udemy's support team can tell you the exact restrictions on any credit in your account if you contact them.
Where Udemy credits come from and why they cannot be cashed out
Udemy issues credits in several ways: as refunds when you return a course within the return window, as gifts from other users, as rewards for completing surveys or referrals, or as promotional offers during sales. In each case, Udemy treats the credit as a liability to itself — money it owes you in the form of course access, not cash.
Udemy's business model depends on keeping money within its platform. If Udemy allowed credits to be converted to cash, it would lose control over how that money is spent and would have to treat credits as actual currency, which carries different tax and regulatory obligations. For that reason, Udemy's terms explicitly state that credits have no cash value and cannot be refunded as money.
This is standard practice across most online platforms. Amazon gift cards, Apple Store credit, and Google Play credits all work the same way — they are locked to their respective platforms and cannot be moved to a bank account. Udemy follows the same model.
What to do if you received credits you do not want to use
If you have Udemy credits but no interest in taking courses, your options are limited. You cannot sell the credits, give them to someone else, or convert them to cash. You can only let them sit in your account or use them to buy a course you might take later.
If the credits came as a refund and you believe Udemy made an error, contact Udemy support through your account settings. Explain the situation and ask whether they can issue a refund to your original payment method instead. Udemy sometimes makes exceptions for refunds, though they are not required to do so.
If the credits were a gift or promotional offer and you genuinely do not want them, you can ask Udemy support to remove them from your account. They may decline, but it costs nothing to ask. Keep in mind that Udemy may not honor this request — the credits may remain in your account indefinitely.
How refunds work if you return a course
Udemy allows you to return most courses within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. When you request a return through your account, Udemy issues the refund as a credit to your Udemy account, not as money back to your bank or card. This means if you buy a course with your own money and then return it, you receive a credit instead of a cash refund.
If you want the money back to your bank account instead of as a Udemy credit, contact Udemy support immediately after requesting the return. Explain that you prefer a refund to your original payment method. Udemy support can sometimes process a cash refund instead of a credit, but this is not may provide and depends on your account history and the reason for the return.
The 30-day return window is strict. After 30 days, Udemy will not refund or credit you, even if you contact support. Mark the purchase date on your calendar if you think you might return the course.
Payment methods that work with your bank account instead
If you want to buy courses and have the payment come directly from your bank account, Udemy accepts several methods. You can pay with a debit card linked to your checking account, a credit card, or PayPal. At checkout, select your preferred payment method and complete the purchase. The charge will appear on your bank statement or card statement within one to three business days, depending on your bank.
Udemy does not offer a direct bank transfer or ACH payment option at checkout. You must use a debit card, credit card, or PayPal. If you do not have a card or PayPal account, you cannot buy courses directly from Udemy using your bank account alone.
If you have credits in your account and want to use them, Udemy will apply them automatically at checkout before charging your card or PayPal account for any remaining balance. This is the only way to "spend" credits — by using them toward a course purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell my Udemy credits to someone else?
No. Udemy's terms of service prohibit the sale or transfer of credits to any other person. If you try to sell credits or give them away, Udemy can suspend or close your account. There is no legal marketplace for Udemy credits, and any third-party site claiming to buy or sell them is operating outside Udemy's rules.
What happens to my credits if I close my Udemy account?
If you close your account, your credits are lost. Udemy does not refund unused credits as cash or transfer them to another account. Before closing your account, use any remaining credits to buy courses you might want to take, or contact Udemy support to ask about your options.
Can I use Udemy credits to pay for a subscription or Udemy Business?
No. Udemy credits can be used only to purchase individual courses. They cannot be applied to Udemy Pro subscriptions, Udemy Business plans, or any other Udemy product. Check the terms of your specific credit to confirm what it can be used for.
If I paid with a credit card and got a credit instead of a refund, can I dispute it with my bank?
You can contact your bank or card issuer to dispute the charge if you believe Udemy made an error. However, if you requested the return yourself and Udemy issued a credit as intended, your bank will likely side with Udemy. Try contacting Udemy support first to ask for a cash refund to your card. If they refuse, then consider disputing the charge.
Do Udemy credits expire?
Udemy's policy on credit expiration varies and has changed over time. Some credits expire after a set period, while others remain in your account indefinitely. Check the terms that came with your credit, or log into your account and look at your credit details. If you are unsure, contact Udemy support to ask when your specific credits expire.