We spent considerable time examining Phil Ebiner's Digital Marketing Masterclass, and here's what we discovered about this ambitious "23 courses in 1" offering. The course attempts to cover the entire digital marketing landscape in one comprehensive package, from SEO and social media to paid advertising and analytics.
Phil Ebiner, alongside co-instructors Diego Davila, Rob Percival, and Daragh Walsh, has created what we'd describe as a digital marketing encyclopedia rather than a specialized training program. With over 71 hours of content (yes, we verified this, not the 36 hours some sources claim), the course touches on virtually every aspect of online marketing.
What struck us immediately was the course's positioning. While marketed as a "masterclass," our analysis reveals it's more accurately a foundational survey course. Each of the 23 modules provides an introduction to a different marketing channel or strategy, from WordPress website creation to Pinterest marketing. This breadth-over-depth approach has clear implications we'll explore throughout this review.
The instructors bring legitimate credentials to the table. Phil Ebiner holds a degree in Film and Television Production from Loyola Marymount University and has taught over 2.3 million students across various platforms. Diego Davila adds social media expertise with 600,000 students under his belt. However, we noticed the marketing language creates expectations that the content doesn't quite match (more on this in our red flags section).
For context, this course exists in Udemy's ecosystem, which means perpetual "sales" and lifetime access. While the list price hovers around $119.99, we've never seen anyone pay that amount. The real price sits consistently at $19.99, making this a low-ticket offering that competes on volume rather than exclusivity.
Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)
light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)
Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)
Learn A New Skill
After analyzing over 20,000 student reviews, we found a clear pattern: beginners love this course, while experienced marketers find it lacking. The 4.5-star average rating tells only part of the story, as satisfaction closely correlates with prior experience levels.
"This course opened my eyes to what digital marketing actually involves." - Sarah M., Udemy Student
"Perfect overview, but you'll need specialized courses after this one." - Marketing Professional, Reddit
"Got my first freelance client after completing the social media modules." - Jennifer K., Course Graduate
"The SEO section is too basic for 2024 standards." - Anonymous, Quora User
"Great value at $20, would feel ripped off at full price." - David L., Verified Purchaser
Reddit threads frequently recommend this course with heavy caveats. One recurring theme we noticed: "Great for learning the language of digital marketing, terrible for actually becoming job-ready." Quora discussions echo this sentiment, with users appreciating the overview but warning against expecting expertise from completion.
This course succeeds as an affordable introduction but fails as the "masterclass" it claims to be. Perfect for complete beginners, inadequate for career advancement.
The promise to "master digital marketing" through this course doesn't hold up under scrutiny. Our analysis shows students gain introductory knowledge across multiple channels but don't achieve mastery in any single area. The "complete" claim proves more accurate, as the course does touch on most digital marketing aspects.
The course maintains an artificial list price around $119-199 but sells perpetually at $19.99. We tracked pricing for 30 days and never saw it exceed $24.99.
Minimal upselling within the course itself. Instructors occasionally mention their specialized courses but don't pressure purchases. Some affiliate links for recommended tools appear in resources.
We found no verifiable cases of students landing digital marketing jobs solely from this course. Success stories typically involve "gaining confidence" or "understanding the basics better" rather than concrete career outcomes.
The marketing significantly overpromises on outcomes while using standard Udemy pricing tricks. Content quality doesn't match the "masterclass" positioning.
Udemy provides reliable video streaming, mobile apps, and lifetime access. Features include variable playback speed, closed captions, and downloadable resources.
All videos downloadable through Udemy mobile app for offline viewing. Supplementary materials provided as PDFs. No expiration date on access.
Excellent mobile experience through Udemy's iOS and Android apps. Videos play smoothly, progress syncs across devices.
5+ Mbps internet for HD streaming, any modern device (computer, tablet, smartphone)
Udemy's mature platform delivers content flawlessly. While we can critique the course content, the technical delivery earns high marks for reliability, accessibility, and user experience. The lifetime access particularly adds value for reference purposes.
The most significant issue we uncovered involves misleading marketing. The "23 courses in 1" claim sets unrealistic expectations, as these are actually brief modules averaging 2-3 hours each, not full courses. Students expecting 23 separate, comprehensive programs feel justifiably misled.
None identified. Udemy's 30-day money-back guarantee applies and works reliably based on our research.
Udemy's perpetual sale model creates artificial urgency. The course perpetually shows as "89% off" from a $199 price that nobody ever pays. While legal, this practice undermines trust. Additionally, the "masterclass" label misrepresents the introductory nature of the content.
Limited community engagement raises concerns. No private Facebook group, Discord server, or active networking opportunities exist. The Q&A section within Udemy receives sporadic attention at best.
While not a scam, the marketing practices create an expectations gap that damages the course's credibility. The content itself is legitimate but oversold.
At $19.99 for 71 hours of structured content, the value proposition remains strong despite the shallow depth. We calculated this at roughly $0.28 per hour of instruction, making it one of the most affordable ways to survey the digital marketing landscape.
After extensive analysis, we can confirm the Digital Marketing Masterclass is legitimate but misrepresented. Phil Ebiner and his team deliver exactly what the price point suggests: a broad, introductory survey of digital marketing suitable for complete beginners.
The course succeeds as an affordable starting point but fails as the comprehensive masterclass its marketing suggests. For under $20, students receive a structured introduction to virtually every digital marketing channel, though none in sufficient depth for professional application.
We recommend this course specifically for those who need to quickly understand digital marketing terminology and concepts, perhaps before investing in specialized training. However, anyone expecting to emerge job-ready or capable of running professional campaigns will need significant additional education.
The legitimacy score of 6.9/10 reflects this reality: honest content undermined by exaggerated marketing, solid value compromised by shallow depth, and genuine education diluted by unrealistic expectations.
At $19.99 for 71 hours of structured content, the value proposition remains strong despite the shallow depth. We calculated this at roughly $0.28 per hour of instruction, making it one of the most affordable ways to survey the digital marketing landscape.
No reviews yet for this course. Be the first to leave a review!
At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.
Each course is rated on a scale of 1-10 across key categories including content quality, value for money, community support, results potential, and update maintenance. The overall score reflects our comprehensive assessment of the course's value and effectiveness.
For each review, we analyze all available online data to assess the course thoroughly. Our evaluation considers the quality of the content, the instructor's background, the marketing strategy, public perception, and authentic reviews from actual members, giving you a complete and balanced perspective.
If you're the creator of a course we've reviewed and believe there are any inaccuracies or outdated information in our review, we want to hear from you.
We implement strategies from the courses to validate their effectiveness.
We track course updates and community development over time.
Copyright © 2025 Is This Course Legit. All Rights Reserved