Domestika review: Is it the best course platform for 2025?

It’s never been a better time to create online courses.

In 2029, the Massive Open Online Course industry is predicted to exceed $119 billion. Meanwhile, the learning niche that includes non-degree courses is predicted to reach $850+ billion.

Part of the challenge, though, is finding the right platform to sell courses online. That’s not from lack of choice. From Whop to Coursera to Udemy, there are lots of options for teachers and course creators. 

If you’re keen on crafting or the arts, then Domestika is another popular platform. According to data from Similar Web, the platform has an annual revenue of around $75-$100 million. So, it’s clearly in demand. But is it any good?

Get your brushes, pens, cameras, or 3D modeling programs at the ready. Whop’s Domestika review will take you through everything you need to know.

What is Domestika?

Domestika is an online learning platform aimed at creatives. It features thousands of professionally created courses led by expert teachers. The platform keeps their courses to a high standard by producing course content in-house and selecting the best teachers.

There are currently 16 main course categories on the website. These include:

• Illustration
• Photography & Video
• Design
• Web & App Design
• Craft
• 3D & Animation
• Architecture & Spaces
• Fashion
• Writing
• Marketing & Business

In the 2020s, Domestika has grown into an online learning powerhouse. Still, the platform has a humble beginning. First founded in Spain back in 2010, it started life as a forum for creatives. The platform was used to showcase creative work, build connections, and develop skills. 

The platform diversified to offer courses, and the rest is history. According to Tech.eu, by 2022, 13+ million courses had been completed on Domestika. At this point, the company was also valued at $1.3 billion. That’s pretty impressive. 

Domestika platform at a glance

Before we go into the meat of this Domestika review, here’s a quick summary of what you need to know.

Good for: Digital course creators who specialize in the arts or another creative subject. Perfect if you’re looking for a professional team to collaborate with in terms of production.

Not so good for: Online entrepreneurs who want to branch out into other content types, like ebooks, podcasts, and paid community memberships, or course creators who want to set their own prices. 

What can you sell on Domestika?

Domestika is strictly course-focused. So, you can’t also sell digital products or online community memberships like you can with a platform such as Whop. This makes it somewhat limited for creatives looking to monetize their skills in other ways.

Courses on Domestika are also typically for learning creative skills. You won’t find courses on crypto or trading, for example. If you want to create courses on a technical subject, this platform might not be the best choice.

Still, there are lots of niche courses sold on Domestika. So, even if you don’t consider your skills to be “creative”, you might be surprised. You’ll find categories for marketing, artificial intelligence, and wellness. 

For example, consider the course Data Visualization and Information Design: Create a Visual Model by Federica Fragapane (shown below). This course teaches students how to use information creatively through data visualization. 

So, don’t be too quick to dismiss your skills as “not suitable” for Domestika.

Don’t want to stop at courses? There are plenty of other ways to make money online as a content creator.

How do Domestika courses work?

Domestika courses are all studied online, and students can take them at their own pace. They're taught through several elements, including:

• Video lessons
• Text
• Supplementary resources 
• Assignments 

These build towards an end-of-course project, which students can share within the course’s online community. All Domestika courses are produced in-house. So, the process for creating a Domestika course is more complex than other marketplaces (more on this later!). 

Taking a look at the course pages shows more about how Domestika courses work.

At the top of the page, students can view a short video. Here the tutor explains a bit about themselves and what students will learn on the course. 

Next, you’ll see a few lesson examples from the course. Though students can’t watch the videos, they’ll get a sense of your course’s content.

Each Domestika course will include a project that students can submit. There’s a section that shows what other students have created. 

Below this section is information about who the course is aimed at - and what students will need to get started. There are also student reviews, some info about the course tutor, and a quick overview of the course structure. 

Domestika features

As Domestika produces its courses in-house, tutors won't have the same type of dashboard as on other learning platforms. You won't record and upload the videos yourself. The content is produced together with the Domestika team. Still, there are some important features to be aware of:

Production support: If you'd like to make a very high-quality course but lack your own resources, this could be a great opportunity. According to tutors who've talked about their experience with Domestika, they had their travel expenses paid for.

Instructor perks: Along with the marketing support and other helpful resources, your presence on Domestika can help solidify your expertise within your industry.

User base: Domestika has a large global audience and helps target specific demographics of students, helping to match learners with the right course and instructor.

Community features: Domestika’s courses all feature a digital community to connect with your students and other instructors. You can use this to gather feedback, provide guidance, and organize collaborations. Sadly, there’s no option to monetize your learning community on Domestika.

Becoming a teacher on Domestika

So, what do you need to do to become a teacher on Domestika? It’s not as simple as digital marketplaces, unfortunately, where you can usually just create an account and upload your products. Obviously, you have to meet the terms of service, but you can get started quickly with fewer limitations.

Domestika works a bit differently. As mentioned, they create all their courses in-house, so you’d essentially be collaborating with them to make your course. You couldn’t just record and upload it to their site.

Instead, you’ll need to submit a proposal for review. This will be reviewed by the Domestika team. If it’s successful, they’ll be in touch with the next steps. 

Aside from information about your creations and skills, you’ll need to clarify your experience in your niche. That could be through education and training, or professional experience. 

On the other hand, you won’t have to pay the production costs, and you won’t need lots of technical equipment. All you need is a Domestika account.

How to submit a Domestika proposal

To submit a proposal, head to the “Teachers” page on Domestika. You might need to type in the URL: https://www.domestika.org/en/teachers

Then click on the “Teach a Course” button. Next, you’ll be presented with a form to fill in. It should take under 2 minutes to complete.

In the form, you’ll be asked some questions about your email address and country, as well as your specialty. You can choose as many specialties as you like. 

You can then go on to provide details about the types of courses you’d like to teach and your experience. In terms of experience, you can also describe any classes or talks you’ve given in the past.

Once you’ve completed the form, it will be reviewed, and you'll hear back if you’re successful.

Pros & cons of Domestika

We’ve covered the features and application process in this Domestika review, but are they worth it? Domestika has strong quality standards for its online courses. That doesn’t mean the platform has no issues, though.

For one thing, there’s the platform’s Trustpilot rating. It’s currently at 1.7 stars, which is a “Bad” rating. Considering there are 4,551 reviews overall, that’s not a good rating by any means. But is it the full picture?

Taking a look at the Google Play reviews shows a different picture. On this platform, Domestika has a 4.3-star rating from 92,500 reviews. That’s a significant number of positive reviews. 

To understand this, we need to look at what works for Domestika - and what doesn’t. 

Benefits of teaching on Domestika

Let’s start with the best aspects of being a Domestika tutor.

Production support for creating courses

Becoming an online course creator requires juggling a lot of different hats. It’s not just about your specialist skill. You’ll typically need to record video lessons, learn how to use editing software, and more. It can be a challenging process, though it’s also very rewarding.

If you’d rather be hands-off with the production process, you might like teaching on Domestika. They take care of course production themselves, and you won’t pay anything for this. This means you can give your all to teaching, with no distractions. 

As mentioned, it’s a kind of a collab with the Domestika team. You’ll work with them to develop the course materials and present the information in video classes. 

In his video and blog, David Drazil, a.k.a. Sketch Like an Architect, talks about his experience creating a course with Domestika. He describes the process, including initial stages, which involved developing the content itself. 

For David, the production took place in Madrid, and Domestika covered his travel expenses from Prague. It’s clear from his description that he had an amazing experience. You can watch the video here:

Good way to earn money

There’s no information about how much Domestika pays its tutors, so we can’t say what you’ll get. That being said, there are several ways teachers can earn money through the platform. According to David Drazil’s video, these are:

• Advance fees
• Royalties
• Affiliate scheme

So, in theory, you’d arrange an advance fee in the contract, and this would be paid once production has finished. Then, once your course begins and starts earning above the advance, you’ll also start taking home royalties.

Finally, you might be able to become an affiliate partner for Domestika. As with most affiliate programs, you’d provide recommendations for other courses on the platform. If someone uses your affiliate link to buy the course, you’ll get a commission.

To accept payments, you’ll just need a PayPal account.

As we’ll discuss later, there aren’t any other products you can sell on the platform. But you could always set up on other platforms too. 

For example, you could sell ebooks and tutorial guides from an ecommerce marketplace like Whop. You could even set up an online community with paid membership access.

The only issue is that this typically requires multiple platforms. With so many different websites for your products, you run the risk of annoying your customers. It’s better to have everything in one place - like you can on Whop.

Well established platform

Domestika is a big name. The platform has already drawn in millions of students. If you create your own website for your course, it could take you a long time to find students. This also requires a lot of social media expertise.

With high production quality, selling a course on Domestika could add extra weight to your expertise. Still, many creators develop high-quality courses without a full team to help. So, it’s not always a “must-have”. Plus, Domestika isn’t the only platform with a large userbase.

Downside of teaching on Domestika

Nothing’s perfect - here are some cons to consider before you send your proposal.

Strict application process

Although the requirement for a proposal ensures that Domestika’s courses are of a high quality, it’s arguably much too strict. 

For one thing, you’ll need to provide your professional or educational experience. Domestika does provide some leeway with this, as you can include classes you’ve given. Still, it’s relatively limited. If you’ve gained your expertise another way or don’t have the ideal qualifications, it could be harder to get accepted.

It can also be a time-consuming process. First, you have to wait for your proposal to be approved. Then, even if you are approved, you’ll have to develop your course alongside Domestika. 

If you just want to get stuck in, you might prefer creating your own course and selling it on an online marketplace. Platforms like Whop make this quick and easy. And you can bundle your course with other products, like ebooks, audio and video files, community access, and more.

Limited product options

If you’re specifically looking to sell online courses, Domestika is a good fit. Still, that can be too limiting if you want to scale your business. What starts out with a single course can end up as an empire. But that requires the right platform. 

For entrepreneurs who want to grow their brand, a digital goods marketplace like Whop could be the best option. Along with courses, you can also sell:

• Podcasts and audio content
• Video content
• PDF files and ebooks
• Private community access
• Software
• Articles and newsletters
• and more

Lack of control

For some course creators, working alongside Domestika is a real bonus. But if you’re a very independent creator, you could find it stifling. Naturally, you’ll need to follow their guidelines and shape your work to fit the platform. That’s perfect for some but not all.

Aside from the advance fee, your money will come in through royalties and affiliate links. So, you won’t be in direct control of your finances either. It all depends on the popularity of your course. That brings us to the next con…

Competitive platform

According to Domestika, there are thousands of courses on the platform, with another 100+ added each week. The platform’s screening process ensures its content is of a high quality. That’s a bonus for your reputation on the site, but it also adds extra competition. Customers on Domestika are spoilt for choice when it comes to great courses.

Searching for “sketching” on Domestika brings up 100+ different relevant courses. There are several different popular courses available for architectural sketching and urban sketching, for example. 

One of the best sellers is Architectural Sketching with Watercolor and Ink by Alex Hillkurtz. This course has had nearly 160,000 students and sits at a comfortable 99% positive rating. With courses like this on offer, it’s hard for new teachers to compete. 

Other popular architectural sketching courses on Domestika have had between 1,000+ to 80,000+ students. That’s still impressive. But it’s not hitting the same levels as the top course.

Of course, there are still plenty of ways to stand out from the crowd with your course content. It helps to know your audience and have the right niche in mind.

Discover inspiring digital course ideas across all niches.

Poor customer service

As mentioned above, Domestika has a bad rating on Trustpilot, and there are a number of critical reviews online. So, what’s the issue? Most of this criticism comes from Domestika students. Customer service is a particular sore spot. 

Reviews, like the Trustpilot one below, note difficulties with speaking to an actual human being. However, in terms of Domestika course reviews, the course content is still rated highly.

Negative online reputation

Other reviews call the platform a “scam” and criticize Domestika’s sales practices. This review on Trustpilot comments on how, despite courses being advertised for just $1, Domestika includes a 30-day premium trial. This has led to many customers being charged for a subscription without their knowledge.

It should be noted, however, that there is some warning about this charge. For example, the offer for free courses is advertised on their website as a limited-time offer (at the time of writing). 

But it does explain in the small print that this free price is just for a 30-day free trial. After this expires, you’ll then be subscribed to the annual plan, which has a one-off payment of $129.99.

This page also makes it clearer that the offer is for a free trial.

Essentially, with this offer, the courses cost $0.99 on the Plus plan. What you’ll get for free is a 30-day free trial of Plus, after which you’ll need to pay the full price for Plus.

However, considering how unclear this process is - and the number of unsatisfied customers - many will see it as unfair. That’s built up to a poor reputation for Domestika online. Naturally, that’s offputting for course creators who want to build trust and a good reputation with their students.

Other students, like Margaret on Trustpilot, feel there’s a lack of interaction from some course tutors.

Of course, you could see this as an opportunity to stand out from your competition. Giving your students an engaging learning experience is key. One of the best ways to do this is through creating an online community for your students.

Learn more about online community engagement in our handy guide.

Domestika pricing

To be eligible to become a Domestika teacher, you just need a Domestika account. These are completely free of charge. 

So, from a business perspective, your expenses to become a tutor on the platform should be minimal. That’s especially true as Domestika pays for production costs.

On the other hand, you might want to sign up to some Domestika courses for inspiration. If that sounds good, here’s what to expect in terms of costs:

Course prices vary on Domestika, but they typically start at around $19.99. If you’re an avid learner and want to try out a few different courses, you could save money by signing up for Domestika Plus. 

With this subscription service, you’ll get access to discounted prices for courses on the platform - and a number of free courses too. You can pay for Domestika Plus with a recurring annual payment of $129.99 or a recurring monthly payment of $10.83. 

As mentioned above, there are often discounts where the course prices reduce to around $0.99. Keep in mind that this price comes with a free trial of Domestika Plus. So, if you don’t cancel before the end of the free trial, you’ll be charged $129.99 for the annual Plus plan.

Domestika alternatives

For digital creators, platforms like Domestika can be a great way to earn from online courses. It’s not without limitations, though. So, if reading this Domestika review has you interested in alternative options, don’t worry. 

Next, we’ll take a look at three leading Domestika alternatives to try.

1. Creating courses on Whop

As an alternative to Domestika, you could set up your own whop in minutes. Maybe we’re biased, but we think Whop is the best course creation platform. Here’s just a few reasons why:

No lengthy application process: If you want to start selling ASAP, Whop is a good alternative to Domestika. You won’t have to apply to sell courses, or have specific qualifications or experience. You just need the right know-how and a great product. That’s it.

Free course creator: Whop includes a course creation tool free of charge. So, you can create and sell courses from the same dashboard. Plus, you can create courses on any topic you like, not just creative topics. 

Sell digital products: You’re not just limited to courses on Whop. If it’s digital (and it meets our terms of service), you can sell it on Whop. That includes ebooks, podcasts, access to online communities, and much much more.

No monthly fee: You’ll find most digital marketplaces and online course platforms come with a hefty monthly fee. Instead, Whop just charges a transaction fee on your sales, as little as 3%, so you’ll only pay when you sell something.

2. Udemy vs Domestika

Another Domestika alternative is the course creation platform Udemy. On this platform, you can sell courses made up of video, text, and visual content, alongside learning activities. Like Whop, you don’t need to apply to create courses on Udemy. Just create your account and start making video courses.

You don’t have to pay to create a free or paid course. However, if someone purchases a paid course from you, Udemy will retain a percentage of your earnings. The amount they’ll keep depends on how your customer found your course.

As Domstika doesn’t reveal tutor earnings, it’s a little difficult to say whether Udemy is the better platform. It’s definitely more accessible.

3. Comparing Skillshare & Domestika

Skillshare offers online classes on a variety of different topics. Like Domestika, you’ll need to apply to become a Skillshare instructor. The application process varies between languages. 

To teach in English, you’ll fill out a form about your plan for your first Skillshare class, and provide a video of yourself teaching. Once this class is approved, you won’t have to apply to sell other classes (though they’re still subject to moderation).

Students pay for Skillshare on a subscription basis. So, you won’t set course prices and earn money each time a student purchases. Instead, you’ll earn based on how many minutes students spend watching your classes. To start earning, you’ll need to have at least 75 minutes of watch time from students. 

According to Skillshare, about 20% of its revenue is returned to instructors on average. Again, it’s difficult to say for certain how this compares to Domestika. That being said, Domestika’s advance fee provides a higher level of financial security.

Create & sell courses (& much more!) on Whop

Domestika is a solid platform for selling online courses, but it comes with some limitations. If you’re looking for an option with more flexibility, check out Whop.

For one thing, there’s no need to apply. It takes just fifteen minutes to set up your whop. Then you can start adding products. No lengthy wait. No restrictive requirements. 

Beyond that, Whop is tailored to all digital products, not just courses. You add these products via Whop’s native apps, providing a simple way to customize your online learning space.

This gives you the freedom to create custom product bundles. For example, you could sell community memberships or an ebook with your course.

Whop is an affordable, streamlined platform where you can sell digital goods on a single dashboard, handling payment processing and customer support on your behalf.

Share your knowledge and change the lives of digital students around the globe on Whop.

Domestika review FAQs

Does Domestika have an affiliate program?

Yes, Domestika has an affiliate program for promoting the platform’s published content, including courses, promotions, and news. Some Domestika tutors are eligible to take part in the program. If a purchase is made through your unique referral link, you’ll get a percentage of the revenue.

Is Domestika reputable?

Yes, Domestika is a reputable learning platform, with around 8 million students. With a rigorous tutor screening process and in-house production, the quality of its courses is very high.

That’s not to say the platform is flawless. For example, the platform has a “Bad” rating on Trustpilot. Some reviewers feel dissatisfied with the platform’s promotional sales, which they feel are misleading. Others are frustrated with customer support on Domestika. 

How much can you earn with Domestika?

Domestika has not revealed how much it pays its instructors. However, it seems that they are paid in three different ways - with an advance payment, royalties, and through an affiliate program.