Unacademy started as a YouTube channel offering free educational videos. Over time, it transformed into one of India’s largest online learning platforms, especially strong in competitive exam preparation. Today, Unacademy serves millions of students preparing for UPSC, SSC, Banking, NEET, JEE, CAT, and several state-level exams.
The platform also offers skill-based learning, programming, and classroom coaching.
Even though Unacademy began by offering free lessons, it now runs a massive business built on subscriptions, test series, and coaching centers. Here’s a simple breakdown of how Unacademy earns money.
The Core Idea Behind Unacademy
Unacademy works on a hybrid ed-tech model:
- Digital classes for competitive exams
- Subscription-based learning
- Offline coaching centers
- Live and recorded courses
- Premium educator-led teaching
Unacademy brought top teachers from across India onto one platform, giving students access to quality education at affordable prices. Its focus is on scalability—educators teach once and thousands of students can attend.
How Does Unacademy Make Money?
Unacademy earns money through subscriptions, test series sales, offline coaching fees, advertising, branded content, and several specialized learning programs. Here’s the detailed breakdown.
A. Unacademy Plus Subscriptions (Primary Revenue Stream)
This is Unacademy’s biggest source of income.
Students subscribe to Unacademy Plus to access:
- Structured live courses
- Unlimited recorded lectures
- Doubt-solving sessions
- Study materials
- Previous year questions
- Educator mentorship
- Batch-wise learning
Subscription plans vary based on exams:
- UPSC
- NEET
- JEE
- SSC
- Bank exams
- State PSC
- CA & CS
- CAT and MBA
The pricing ranges from a few thousand rupees to over ₹20,000 depending on duration and exam category. Since thousands of students subscribe every month, this forms the backbone of Unacademy’s revenue.
B. Iconic Subscription (Mentorship-Based Premium Plan)
Iconic plans offer:
- Personal mentors
- Study planners
- Detailed progress tracking
- Dedicated support
These plans cost more than regular Plus subscriptions.
Unacademy earns high-margin revenue from these premium packages.
C. Offline Coaching Centers (High Ticket Revenue)
Unacademy has entered the offline coaching market with centers for:
- UPSC
- JEE
- NEET
- CAT
- State PSC
- Foundation courses
The company earns from:
- Admission fees
- Classroom program packages
- Hybrid learning plans
- Offline test series
Offline coaching is one of Unacademy’s fastest-growing revenue sources due to high demand and premium pricing.
D. Test Series & Mock Exams
Unacademy sells exam-specific test series, including the famous Unacademy Combat and other mock tests. Students pay for:
- Full-length mock exams
- Sectional tests
- Topic-wise practice
- Monthly test packages
High-quality test series are essential for exam preparation, making this a consistent income stream.
E. Graphy by Unacademy (Creator Monetization Platform)
Graphy allows creators to:
- Launch their own courses
- Sell e-books
- Conduct workshops
- Build paid communities
Unacademy earns commission from every sale made on Graphy.
This is similar to Teachable or Kajabi and expands Unacademy’s business beyond competitive exams.
F. Relevel (Employment Assessment Platform)
Relevel offers job-focused assessments and skill courses. Unacademy earns money through:
- Registration fees
- Course fees
- Placement commissions from partner companies
This helps students get job-ready while adding a new revenue line for Unacademy.
G. CodeChef Integration
CodeChef, now part of Unacademy, earns through:
- Programming competitions
- Data science and coding courses
- Corporate sponsorships
Unacademy uses CodeChef to attract tech learners and monetize through premium tech programs.
H. Advertisements & Brand Collaborations (Minor Revenue)
Unacademy occasionally earns through:
- Sponsored content
- Brand campaigns
- In-app promotions
Since the majority of content is paid, ads are a smaller part of revenue but still contribute.
I. YouTube Monetization
Unacademy runs multiple YouTube channels across exam categories.
Income comes from:
- Ad revenue
- Sponsored videos
- YouTube memberships (in some cases)
This also acts as a marketing funnel for pushing users into paid subscriptions.
Why Unacademy’s Business Model Works?
Several factors make Unacademy successful:
a. Large Educator Network
Top teachers attract students, and students attract more teachers.
b. Scalability
One educator can teach thousands of students at once.
c. Affordable Pricing
Courses are cheaper than traditional coaching institutes.
d. Hybrid Strategy
Combining online + offline gives Unacademy stronger reach than competitors.
e. Strong Exam-Focused Demand
Competitive exams create a steady supply of new students every year.
Challenges Unacademy Faces
Even with strong growth, Unacademy deals with:
- High customer acquisition costs
- Intense competition from BYJU’S, Vedantu, Physics Wallah, and offline institutes
- Pressure to maintain quality across thousands of courses
- Educator retention and revenue-sharing issues
- Dependence on exam cycles
Still, Unacademy continues to expand due to brand strength and diversified learning segments.
Conclusion
Unacademy makes money through Plus and Iconic subscriptions, offline coaching fees, test series sales, creator monetization (Graphy), job-focused programs (Relevel), YouTube ads, and brand partnerships. Its hybrid education model, strong educator network, and wide exam coverage have made it one of India’s most influential ed-tech platforms.
