MasterClass Vs LinkedIn Learning: Which One Is the Best

When it comes to online learning platforms, the likes of MasterClass and LinkedIn Learning should rank close to the top.

Both offer a vast range of courses to cater to a wide variety of students on many different subjects.

Whether it is graphic design, or acting, coding, or cooking, it should not prove too difficult to find the right course. Which platform you decide to stick with can be another decision altogether.

For those looking to advance in their professions, online learning can provide a means to do so in someone’s spare time.

However, each platform comes with its own pros and cons, payment plans and levels of expertise.

Finding the right course can be one thing, yet finding the right online platform to carry on learning can take a lot of research.

In this guide, we will compare MasterClass Vs LinkedIn Learning to find out which could be the preferred online learning platform for you out of the two.

Price

There is a substantial difference in price between LinkedIn Learning and MasterClass which perhaps leads into the content offerings on each platform.

For instance, an annual subscription for LinkedIn Learning should effectively cost $26.99 per month or $323.88 in total.

However, if you decide to pay on a monthly basis then that cost goes up to $39.99 per month.

It should be noted that these prices are set to rise as LinkedIn Learning even though more competitive prices can be found with its competitors, which you can certainly count MasterClass as one.

There are two types of membership on offer at MasterClass (see also ‘Can A Family Share A MasterClass Membership?‘) which is a similar offering to LinkedIn Learning.

That’s where the similarities on price end as complete access to every course on the learning platform comes with an ‘All-Access Pass’.

This annual subscription costs $180 per year which is excellent value.

That’s especially considering that if you want to complete just two courses in 12 months you essentially cover the costs of that annual subscription as each course is individually priced at $90.

Content

It is worth bearing in mind that both MasterClass and LinkedIn Learning do have vast libraries of content. The difference is what specialisms each can offer which may be the deciding factor.

Though you will find content for classes on sport, art, business, general entertainment and politics, there is a bigger focus at hand on MasterClass.

When you consider the likes of Martin Scorsese, Aaron Sorkin, Samuel L. Jackson, and Natalie Portman are involved then you can see why MasterClass can draw in such a caliber of recognized talent.

For classes on the arts such as acting, TV, music, film, and creative writing, you should head to MasterClass.

It helps when the instructor is a recognized face that you either know from onscreen, featured high in the credits, or in the director’s chair.

These are well-known celebrities and if you want a course that errs more on the creative side then opt for MasterClass.  

LinkedIn Learning tends to focus its content more on academia, business, and the technological.

Once you have a membership, you should enjoy content that centers on programming and software, two burgeoning industries in their own right.

That means courses on something broad like finance, education and career development, but also software and graphic design.

Rather than entering the creative industry like you would expect from a few classes on MasterClass, LinkedIn Learning is more about careers.

If you want to shift industry or add some skills to your resume then there is probably a course for you.

This is more of a traditional learning environment where courses are centered around teaching rather than having the wow factor of being taught by a known celebrity.

Down to the sheer amount of content, even though they are not taught by celebrities at the very top of their known fields, LinkedIn Learning wins this round.

Ease Of Use

While the amount of courses is one thing, how easy it is to use them can be a deciding factor too.

Frankly, MasterClass is ludicrously simple to use that it puts most online learning platforms to shame.

Simply register with your email address, decide on your password, and the membership plan that you want then you are all set.

With an All-Access Pass you can watch whichever course takes your fancy and benefit from the resource materials that come with it.

You do not even need to use an internet connection the entire time. With a download option, you can store various courses after they have been downloaded to view them offline.

Even finding a course that you should want to try is almost effortless. Each course is divided into categories so as long as you know your subject, the course should be easy to find. 

How you view the course is also very important and with MasterClass you have a wide choice of viewing options.

There are specific apps for the MasterClass platform on both iOS and Android services so you can catch up with your course on a mobile device.

Once you get home, you can access the content for your course from your TV. That’s right, MasterClass works on a Roku device as well as with Chromecast, Smart TV, and Amazon Fire TV. 

While probably not as accessible, LinkedIn Learning looks to opt for a more personalized touch when it comes to watching your courses.

Once you sign up and subscribe, you will be asked for your preferences and the site will look to garner the courses that should be of interest to you.

The course content changes so you will have access to a page that contains the courses that are ‘trending’ and those that are popular at the moment or ‘top liked’.

There is an app for LinkedIn Learning so you should be able to take your courses on either an Android or iOS device though it is not currently supported by Smart TV devices.

The Pros And Cons Of MasterClass

MasterClass is well-known for having a large selection of celebrities to call upon as instructors. However, the site is competitively priced for those who want to enter the creative industry.

There are also some downsides to the online learning platform that should be mentioned too.

The Pros

Even if you only want to complete two to three courses a year, you can effectively enjoy the entire catalog from MasterClass.

That’s excellent value for a single course at $90, or the All-Access Pass at $180. For anyone wanting to enter the creative and entertainment industry, there is a huge range of courses to take that are taught from well-known celebrities.

Even how you watch it is easily done as the courses are available on any device that can stream the internet, from the ones in your pocket to the TVs in your living room. 

The Cons

While the value of MasterClass’ online offerings should not be underestimated, there is no offer of a free trial.

Many try before they buy and without that option it can be difficult to work out whether to spend $90 on a specific course.

Even after completing the course, you will not receive a completion certificate in the mail.

The online learning platform is not entirely recommended for those who want to learn from more technical content too, which you would expect for one catering for creatives.

The Pros And Cons Of LinkedIn Learning

For those that want to take a step up in their career, then LinkedIn Learning is the right online learning platform to do so.

With a personalized range of courses, which you can try before you buy, it should be a rewarding experience. Then again, there are some limitations to the service that are worth mentioning.  

The Pros

LinkedIn Learning does opt for that more tailored approach by making you decide on what you want to learn about.

Once you have made those decisions, the algorithms get to work to provide you with recommendations to keep you learning.

If it is coding you are after then there are hundreds of courses to choose from. There should be even more for business-related content and for web development, photography, and design.

Even before you pay to subscribe, you can take on a free trial to see if the service is right for you.

After you do finish a course then you will be provided with a course completion certificate and there is so much content to choose from.

The Cons

How you view that content may be the difference between choosing the online learning platform and trying another one.

It is currently only possible to view a course on a mobile app or the desktop site so you cannot learn while sitting in front of a Smart TV.

Though their course resources are substantial, it is sometimes unclear how recent the course is and the exercises can take up a huge space on your computer or device. 

What cannot be escaped is the pricing and, certainly for individual users, the amount for a subscription has increased in recent years.

Another jarring problem is that a lot of product-specific courses can be considered out of date.

Expertise

If expertise is a deciding factor in which online learning platform you decide to choose then there really is only one winner.

While competitors can call upon a roster of thousands of instructors, few are as recognizable as those instructing on MasterClass.

Take a look at filmmaking and view the teaching from those with vast experience in the director’s chair. From Martin Scorsese to David Lynch, via Ron Howard.

Who better to learn comedy from than Steve Martin, or Music For Film than Danny Elfman? They even have a course from Dan Brown on writing thriller novels and from Margaret Atwood on creative writing.

While they may not be considered academic experts in the truest sense, each one is known for being at the top of their field.

With that standing, each instructor can give you a glimpse into what happens in the creative process, whether that be a film, book, or TV show. 

Though LinkedIn Learning has a huge range of courses, they can call upon such a range of well-known instructors.

You would still be learning from someone who knows what they are talking about, but perhaps without the same enthusiasm.

There is something to be said about celebrity culture that the public are more inclined to learn from them but it has worked for MasterClass.

Final Thoughts

Comparing MasterClass with LinkedIn Learning may seem unfair but they are both popular online learning platforms.

That discrepancy largely comes from the focus for both services. While MasterClass can call upon some of the most well-known faces in modern culture as instructors, this is primarily for the creative industries.

For a more academic and career-driven service, you are probably better off using LinkedIn Learning.

The difference between the two online learning platforms can best be explained by who they are aimed for.

Creative types are likely to use MasterClass to learn from those few individuals who have made it onto bestseller lists or onto the big screen.

However, for a more personal approach and for an educational standing, it is perhaps best to opt for LinkedIn Learning as there are so many courses to choose from. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Online Learning Platform Between Masterclass And Linkedin Learning Is Better For Career Development?

Breaking into the creative industry that houses film, TV, and creative writing is notoriously difficult.

Yet if that is your career of choice then learning acting from the likes of Samuel L. Jackson and Natalie Portman can only help.

For more academic and professional vocations, LinkedIn Learning is undoubtedly the preferred choice for career development.

Certainly if you need to add a few vital skills to your resume to increase your skillset.

Do The Course Completion Certificates From Linkedin Learning Ever Expire?

Just like your elementary and high school education, learning moves on with time.

Unfortunately, all learning has an expiration date as fields change with technology and new understandings. You can typically expect some courses to only be certified for a year until it is updated.