OneClass Review: Flexible Side Hustle For Excellent Notetakers

Comprehensive class notes can streamline your study sessions and the right notes, plus lots of hours spent studying, can ultimately result in higher grades. 

Taking comprehensive notes can be tough, so OneClass can connect you to the notes you need. If you already take excellent notes, OneClass can turn those skills into a side income.  

Let’s explore how OneClass helps students at all levels. 

What Is OneClass?

OneClass is an online platform that connects students to educational resources. Founded in 2010, the platform has worked with over 4 million college students and amassed a library of over 20 million pieces of content. 

As a student, you can use the platform to find educational resources. But you’ll also have an opportunity to turn your note-taking skills into cash flow. 

Currently, the company operates in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

What Does It Offer?

OneClass promises to be a resource for students on all levels. Here’s what the platform offers. 

Selling Notes

OneClass has over 120,000 contributors. The premise for contributors is simple—you’ll get paid to upload class notes. However, the payment structure isn’t straightforward. 

Instead of getting paid a flat rate for your notes, you’ll get paid as students use your materials. The current rate is 20% of the revenue when someone purchases a subscription from your content. This ranges from $1.80 to $24 per subscription purchase. So, if a lot of students use your notes, you stand to earn more than if only a handful of people use your notes. 

If you become the Official Note Taker for a course, the payment structure is more straightforward. You’ll be responsible for recording comprehensive notes for every day of class. Through this program, you can earn between $370 to $470 per course.

Knowledge Points

In addition to getting paid when someone uses your notes, you’ll earn Knowledge Points along the way. These Knowledge Points can help you tap into contributor privileges, like free access to OneClass’ education resources. 

You can collect Knowledge Points by completing tasks within the app. A few of the tasks include:

• Uploading a document
• Answering questions
• Completing your profile
• Logging in to the platform each day

There’s a leaderboard that tracks weekly Knowledge Point standings. If you find yourself at the top of the leaderboard, you score an extra $25. 

Buying Notes

On the other side of the coin, students can use OneClass to tap into education resources. 

The platform promises access to educational assistance at a wide range of colleges. The assistance includes class note downloads, verified answers from tutors, textbook note downloads, textbook solutions, study guides, and more. 

Depending on your needs, this solution could be more affordable than hiring a private tutor.

Are There Any Fees?

As a contributor, you can track your earnings in the OneClass dashboard. You’ll need to reach a balance of at least $25 USD to cash out your earnings. 

The company pays out these earnings via PayPal on the 8th of every month. If you haven’t hit the $25 threshold, you won’t have an opportunity to cash in your earnings. 

As a student looking for help with school, you can sign up for a subscription with OneClass. 

Here are the subscription options:

Be prepared for the subscription to bill you annually. If you want to limit your costs, consider becoming a contributor.

How Do I Contact OneClass?

If you need to get in touch with OneClass, you can send an email through a website form. Or email [email protected]. If you have questions about becoming an Official Note Taker, reach out to [email protected].

Based on the 3.8 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot, you can expect a reasonably good customer experience. However, some of the negative reviews focus on slow customer service responses.

How Does OneClass Compare?

OneClass isn’t the only company willing to pay you for your notes. 

Nexus Notes also offers to pay students for original notes. Like OneClass, Nexus Notes promises a percentage of the monthly subscriptions generated by your class materials. Earn a 50% commission for each set of notes that sell each month. Average earners make a few hundred dollars per year while top-performers can make thousands each year.

Stuvia is another platform that allows you to earn money for your notes. To cash out with Stuvia, you’ll only need $10 in your wallet. Instead of a subscription, you get to set the price point for your packet of notes, which could lead to more earnings. 

Docmerit: Just like Stuvia, Docmerit lets you set your own prices. You keep 85% of what you sell, so you have the potential to earn more than Nexus Notes or OneClass. Another great perk is that you receive the funds within 24 hours of selling your notes. 

How Do I Open An Account?

If you want to open an account as a learner, you’ll need to sign up for a subscription. Be prepared to provide your: 

• Name
• Email
• School
• Credit card information

If you want to be a contributor, you’ll follow a slightly different process. You’ll start by creating an email and password. From there, you can start uploading documents and answering questions. 

However, if you want to become an Official Note Taker, you’ll need to apply for the position. Within the application, you’ll need to indicate which classes you want to take notes for. 

If your application is accepted, you’ll begin a Performance Trial Period to confirm your note-taking skills are top-notch. Keep in mind you must pass the trial period first. Then, you’ll be required to upload your notes on a weekly basis. 

Is It Safe And Secure?

OneClass doesn’t hold any financial information, but it may collect some personal data. The good news is that the privacy policy indicates OneClass won’t share your personal data beyond their contractors to help them maintain and operate the website. 

If you are concerned about your personal information, reach out to OneClass for more information.

Is It Worth It?

OneClass can be worth it for the right student. As a notetaker, signing up for OneClass is a no-brainer if you are approved as the Official Note Taker for a course. You’ll know exactly how much you are earning upfront, which can help you stay motivated to upload notes. 

If you aren’t an Official Note Taker, the rewards are more of an unknown. You might earn a lot if you post helpful notes for a popular course. But it seems likely that the uploads of many diligent students will fall through the cracks, which leads to minimal financial gain. 

While you might not earn as much without the title of Official Note Taker, you can still complete enough tasks to lean on the OneClass resources when you need them. 

Before signing up for OneClass, be clear about your goals. If you want to make hundreds of dollars, try to become an Official Note Taker. If you just want to skirt the subscription fees, consider posting documents and answers on your own schedule.

Want a different way to earn money in college? Scope out this extensive list of ideas. 

OneClass Features