When it comes to learning more information and skills online, you don’t have to sign up for a full course.
Thanks to the power of the internet, you can now learn online in a ton of different methods and ways that best suit your learning style.
So, you may want to think out of the box when it comes to learning more about a particular subject or skill.
A lot of people are turning to audio learning through audiobooks, magazines and more – and one great platform to use is Scribd.
Another popular laidback learning platform is
Here we are going to be comparing Scribd and MasterClass to see what each platform has to offer, and then compare them together to see which one comes out on top.
Check out the information below to find the right platform for you.
About Scribd And MasterClass
Before we start with our comparison, let’s first check out the background of each platform and how they work.
This way, you can have a better general idea of what both have to offer.
About Scribd
Scribd is an online e-book and audiobook subscription service which allows its users to access over a million different titles.
It also offers magazines, news articles, and podcasts, as part of its extensive library.
This has led some to refer to Scribd as ‘Netflix for books’.
Scribd was first launched way back in 2007 and over the years, has grown into one of the world’s largest audible subscription platforms.
- Learn from the best!
- New classes added every month
- 180+ classes to choose from
"Bored of TV, check out this Incredible content and cast"
As a company, Scribd values sustainability and providing people with inspiration and knowledge through the media of audio and text.
During the COVID19 pandemic, Scribd opened up its library for free, allowing anyone to access their titles so people could find comfort and entertainment through troubling times – a testament to the company’s care for people.
So, unlike a lot of othe education platforms we discuss on this website, Scribd is not a ‘course’ provider.
Despite this, it’s still a great source of information that you can use to your advantage.
Some people prefer to learn through independent reading or listening, rather than being taught through webinars or test-taking.
So, Scribd is a valuable platform used to educate users about a range of topics.
About MasterClass
MasterClass is an online educational platform which works by a subscription model.
Signing up gives you access to over 180 classes, each one recorded by a celebrity expert in the topic’s field.
A few examples include John Legend teaching songwriting, Gordon Ramsey teaching cooking, and Misty Copeland teaching ballet technique.
MasterClass was originally founded in 2014 as Yanka Industries, set up by a student at Stanford University.
At the time,
Compared to other online educational platforms,
There’s no tests, no enrollment – you just celebrities teaching skills and wisdom they have learnt over their careers.
Scribd Vs MasterClass
So, both Scribd and
Range Of Subjects And Resources
The main benefit of both
With other online education platforms, you are forced to pay for just a single course, while
MasterClass offers over 180 classes stretching across a range of subjects including writing, game development, wellness, business, and so much more.
Each class is structured with numerous videos, each one professionally filmed and the content taught by a professional celebrity from each respective field.
However, there’s no transcript of these videos or any other additional resources you can use.
On the other hand, Scribd offers both text and audio versions of many different books and titles, although don’t expect to find every single book in their library.

Overall, there are over a million titles available through Scribd and they even offer access to podcasts, articles, and even sheet music!
As for topics, Scribd’s titles range from fiction to nonfiction, covering all kinds of topics.
Art, history, music, sport, science, and more! You can access a range of magazines and news articles from the Guardian, Los Angeles Times, TIME, Esquire, and more.
So, in terms of content, Scribd has the bigger catalog touching on more topics, plus it offers plenty of text and audio media.
On the other hand,
Accessibility
Both Scribd and
You can access both Scribd’s library and
This means you can also learn while on the go and check out both platforms during your commute, breaks, and just before going to sleep.
Plus, Scribd and
There’s no waiting for classes to begin, or enrolling for a course – you just pick what you want to learn and go.
You don’t need any past experience to access certain courses or eBooks as both
This makes both Scribd and
Why? Because it offers both audio and visual media for those with sight or audio impairments.
With
This means you have to watch and listen to each lesson – but if you have hearing difficulties, you will struggle to use
Sure, there are subtitles but offering transcripts would make
Scribd offers both audiobooks and ebooks so you can choose which method of learning you prefer. As a result, this wins it for us in this category.
Price
Affordability is a big factor that students need to consider before they sign up to an online course.
Courses can range from as little as $25 to thousands of dollars, but they can also range in length and quality.
Luckily, both Scribd and
Both offer a subscription based model so you can access all of the resources on offer for just one payment per month.
For many, a subscription service works better because you can browse through all that the platform has to offer rather than being confined to just one course and subject.
With both Scribd and
You can switch from an art class to a sport class in
For Scribd, you just need to pay $9.99 each month.
There’s no separate plans, no upselling – just pay the one single price per month and you get to access everything.
For
MasterClass will cost you a minimum of $15, or you can pay a lump sum of $180.
MasterClass also offers additional plans but these allow more people to access your
No matter how much you pay, you still get access to all the same classes and courses, it’s just that if you want your family or friends to share your account, only one person can access their course at a time.
MasterClass’s other plans include a Duo plan for $240 a year which allows two devices to be used simultaneously, or their Family plan for $276 which allows up to 6 devices.
As for free trials, only Scribd offers one. Scribd offers a one month free trial while
So, in terms of affordability, Scribd is the most affordable as it costs less per month than
Plus, Scribd offers far more resources so it will take you much longer to work through all of its titles.
- Learn from the best!
- New classes added every month
- 180+ classes to choose from
"Bored of TV, check out this Incredible content and cast"
And The Winner Is
If it’s access to valuable resources, different mediums, and all for a super affordable price, then Scribd is the way to go.
However, not everyone prefers to learn through reading. Although Scribd does offer thousands of audio books,
So, which is better for you comes down to your preferred learning style.
If you prefer independent reading, Scribd is the better platform for you.
On the other hand, if you prefer learning through audio and recorded lectures from those who made it big in their field, then
So, take a look at the comparison above and think about which platform appeals to you the most. Good luck!