SkillShare Vs MasterClass: The Ultimate Comparison Of 2025

Skillshare and MasterClass are two popular online course competitors loved by millions. Compare Skillshare vs. MasterClass similarities and differences below and see which is better for you!

Feature	Skillshare	MasterClass
Platform	Online learning community	Streaming platform with video lessons
Focus	Creative fields	Various fields with top experts
Classes	25,000+	180+
Members/Instructors	600,000+ members, 8,000+ teachers	180+ top instructors
Annual Subscription	$167.88 (or $13.99/month)	$120
Benefits	Unlimited access, offline viewing, community access	Mobile/TV apps, HD videos, workbooks, offline lessons, newsletter, global community
Courses	Music, drawing, marketing, animation, writing, design, etc.	Business, photography, cooking, writing, acting, music, sports
Duration	Varies	20 videos/class, 10 min/video
Notable Instructors	Marques Brownlee, Alicia Souza, Aaron Draplin, etc.	Bill Clinton, Gordon Ramsay, Lewis Hamilton, etc.
User Experience	App Store Rating: 4.8, offline viewing, community	HD videos, downloadable workbooks, apps, offline lessons, newsletter, global community

When comparing Skillshare vs MasterClass, it’s important to consider their key differences. Skillshare offers a wide range of courses, primarily focusing on creative and practical skills, while MasterClass provides celebrity-led video tutorials on various subjects.

Skillshare offers a subscription model with a vast library, whereas MasterClass operates on a pay-per-course basis. Ultimately, the choice depends on the individual’s preferences and learning goals.

Key Takeaways: Skillshare vs. MasterClass

1. Platform Nature:
   • MasterClass: Comparable to Netflix, offering high production values and courses from internationally recognized experts.
   • Skillshare: Similar to YouTube, catering to creatives with courses focusing on specific skills, with a mix of high-profile and everyday instructors.
2. User Base & Courses:
   • Skillshare: 12 million users with 40,000+ courses across three core categories.
   • MasterClass: 1.5 million users with 180+ high-quality courses across 11 categories.
3. Instructors & Quality:
   • Skillshare: Open platform resulting in diverse instructor backgrounds, leading to variable course quality.
   • MasterClass: Exclusively invites renowned experts and celebrities, ensuring consistent high-quality content.
4. Pricing:
   • Skillshare: Free one-month trial, followed by $32/month or $14/month if billed annually.
   • MasterClass: Three-tier pricing model subscriptions from $10 to $20/month (billed annually) with a one-week free trial.
5. Platform Experience:
   • Skillshare: Web and mobile-friendly, focusing on practicality and easy navigation.
   • MasterClass: Cinematic course production with a premium online and mobile experience.
6. Pros & Cons:
   • Skillshare: Affordable with extensive courses but variable course quality.
   • MasterClass: High production quality and renowned instructors but no course certificates.
7. Customer Support:
   • Skillshare: Mainly email support with some payment-related concerns.
   • MasterClass: Email and automated helper support with occasional account-related issues.
8. Alternatives: Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, CreativeLive, and edX offer diverse eLearning opportunities.
9. Recommendation: Both platforms provide significant value. The choice between Skillshare and MasterClass depends on individual learning goals. It is advised to try out free trials to make an informed decision.

Overview of Masterclass vs Skillshare

In this comparison of MasterClass and Skillshare, I aim to provide a concise analysis of their advantages, drawbacks, content types, and intended users. I will highlight the key features and differences between the two platforms to help potential learners make an informed decision.

MasterClass Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Celebrity Instructors: MasterClass courses are taught by renowned figures in their respective fields.
• High Production Quality: The platform offers cinematic-quality videos that enhance the learning experience.

Cons:

• Cost: MasterClass comes at a premium, with an annual subscription being the only option.
• Limited Practical Exercise: The courses are more lecture-focused with fewer interactive projects.

Skillshare Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Variety of Courses: Skillshare offers various classes covering creative, business, and tech skills.
• Community Interaction: One can interact with a community of learners, which can be valuable for feedback and support.

Cons:

• Variable Quality: As any expert can teach, the quality of courses can vary widely.
• Lesser Known Instructors: Teachers on Skillshare may not have the same level of fame or credentials as MasterClass instructors.

Comparing Content and Categories

MasterClass:

• Content: Focuses on in-depth insights and stories from experts.
• Categories: Covers a variety of subjects such as film, sports, writing, and cooking.

Skillshare:

• Content: Offers hands-on projects and emphasizes learning by doing.
• Categories: Provides a broader scope, including illustration, design, photography, and entrepreneurship.

Target Audience

MasterClass caters to enthusiasts and learners looking for inspiration from world-class experts, who prefer high-quality video content and are less concerned about direct application or community interactions.

Contrastingly, Skillshare targets individuals who prefer a more hands-on approach to learning, value community interaction, and seek a broader range of practical skills to develop hobbies or enhance their careers.

Types of Courses Offered

When exploring online learning platforms like MasterClass and Skillshare, I’ve found that each offers a unique variety of courses tailored to different interests and learning goals. Let’s dive into the specifics of their offerings.

Course Variety on MasterClass

MasterClass is known for its exclusive courses taught by renowned figures in their respective fields. Art enthusiasts can learn painting techniques from contemporary artists, while cooking classes are conducted by Michelin-starred chefs. For writing, best-selling authors share their creative processes. Music lovers can find joy in music production courses from industry giants. Furthermore, MasterClass offers specialized courses in photography by iconic photographers, ensuring that every student finds something to hone their craft.

• Cooking: Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller
• Writing: Margaret Atwood, Dan Brown
• Music: Hans Zimmer, Timbaland
• Photography: Annie Leibovitz

Course Variety on Skillshare

Conversely, Skillshare provides a broader spectrum of classes focusing on creativity and practical skills. In the art category, there’s an abundance of hands-on projects ranging from drawing to mixed media. Cooking classes are less celebrity-driven and more about everyday techniques. Writing and music classes often center around getting started and the fundamentals of each craft. Photography, graphic design, and illustration are rich in content, featuring technical skills and artistic development.

• Graphic Design & Illustration: Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate
• Art: Watercolors, Ink Illustration
• Writing: Creative Writing, Freelance & Blogging
• Music: Guitar Fundamentals, Electronic Music Production

Instructors

SkillShare Instructors

The quality of the instructors who deliver educational content on SkillShare is generally high. They are professionals or experts in their fields.

However, SkillShare is open to accepting classes on their platform from virtually anyone and will publish ones that adhere to their class guidelines.

As a result, you may in some cases be seeing classes taught by individuals who may or may not have the most credibility.

It is essential for users to find instructors who deliver accurate and up-to-date knowledge and practices. This can be done simply by looking around and testing out a few different options.

MasterClass Instructors

MasterClass has earned a reputation for having a roster of high-quality educators that can not be matched by any other online.

Members can learn from some of the biggest names in their respective industries.

Gordon Ramsay teaches home cooking, Alicia Keys teaches singing, Wayne Gretzky teaches the Athlete’s Mindset, and Tony Hawk teaches skateboarding – you get the point.

MasterClass classes have invested in developing and offering an amazing lineup of high-profile instructors for their members to learn from. As a result, it can definitely be argued that their platform offers the best educators out of any online platform.

Certification

SkillShare Certification

Some people are looking for popular online learning platforms that provide certification upon completion of their course programs or classes.

These credentials can often be listed on resumes to help impress employers and develop a career.

Unfortunately, SkillShare does not offer certification or credentials to users who complete courses on their platform.

The program is meant to be more for personal growth than a way to achieve career development and industry qualification.

MasterClass Certification

When it comes to providing certification, whether it is professional or unprofessional certification, MasterClass does not offer anything of the sort.

Completing Masterclass classes or sessions on their learning platform is not accompanied by the attainment of credentials or certification.

MasterClass is more of a casual learning platform that is not designed to provide substantial career development or professional accreditation of any kind.

It is meant to give members an exciting, immersive learning experience where they can develop skills that are applicable to their everyday lives.

Pricing

SkillShare Price Plans

The SkillShare Premium plan, which offers unlimited access to everything on the platform, can be purchased as a yearly plan at an annual cost of $167.88 – this works out to a monthly cost of $13.99.

SkillShare offers new users a free month-long trial subscription to its premium plan so they can test the platform before investing.

This can be canceled before the 30-day period has ended in order to opt out of the subscription and further charges.

SkillShare also offers something called “Teams Plans”. These are subscription plans designed specifically for teams and businesses of different sizes.

• Starter: Best for teams of 2 – 19: $159 USD per user, per year
• Enterprise: Best for teams of 20-50: Contact the sales department for pricing details
• Revive: Great for teams of 51 or more: Contact the sales department for pricing details

Team plans are billed on an annual basis, or through a multi-year contract system. The pricing system is built to offer lower prices to organizations that are purchasing more total individual seats or accounts.

MasterClass Pricing

The MasterClass subscription pricing is very straightforward. Members pay based on how many accounts they would like access to the platform and its content at any one time.

🚨 Updated in 2024 for the lowest pricing ever!

Individual Plan

$10 per month – billed annually

• 1 account: Watch on 1 device at a time

Duo Plan

$15 per month – billed annually

• 1 account: Watch on 2 devices at the same time – Use your MasterClass account with a friend or family who resides with you, on one shared profile/account.
• Users on this plan can download video classes and watch them in offline mode.

Family Plan

$20 per month – billed annually

• 1 account: Watch on 6 devices at the same time – Use your MasterClass account with friends or family who reside with you, on one shared profile/account.
• Users on this plan can download video classes and watch them in offline mode.

MasterClass does not offer any free trial incentive to entice new people to try out their programs.

Even though there is no Masterclass free trial, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to receive a full refund when they opt out of a subscription within the first month.

Customer Support

SkillShare

SkillShare has a customer support email that people can use to contact the organization about any issues they may have with their accounts or general questions.

Unfortunately, they do not have a customer support phone number for members to seek immediate help. This has clearly been a problem for some customers who have left reviews commenting on the lack of a support hotline.

There is also an alarming number of reviews from disgruntled customers who have had issues with their membership payments and free-trial cancellations.

Many have reported that they were charged for full membership after canceling their free trial, or were otherwise improperly billed.

The overall customer support aspect seems to be lacking in some ways, which should be kept in mind when deciding whether or not to purchase a subscription.

MasterClass

The MasterClass online learning platform provides support to its customers through a support email – support@masterclass.com

There is also an automated helper bot built into their website that can field questions and provide answers to some of the more frequently asked questions by members.

MasterClass, unfortunately, does not offer a direct customer support phone line for members with issues to seek immediate help.

However, there is a comprehensive FAQ page that offers in-depth answers to the most important questions and concerns.

A few customer reviews online report difficulties contacting customer support, canceling subscriptions, or dealing with other account issues.

Alternative Options

Alternative options or other Comparisons for Masterclass and Skillshare our users found helpful.

• Masterclass Vs Udemy
• MasterClass Vs LinkedIn Learning
• Skillshare vs Brilliant
• Skillshare Vs Udemy
• Skillshare Vs Coursera

Final Thoughts About SkillShare Vs MasterClass

Comparing Skillshare or Masterclass, we’ve analyzed key aspects like course diversity, usability, pricing, customer support, and instructor quality.

Your choice between SkillShare‘s broad range of topics and MasterClass‘s high-quality, focused offerings depends on your learning objectives and interests. SkillShare excels in variety with over 40,000 courses but varies in instructor expertise and video quality.

MasterClass, though limited in scope, delivers top-notch videos from renowned experts. Price-wise, SkillShare is slightly more affordable than MasterClass, which offers tailored plans for individuals and teams. Consider what you want to learn to decide the best platform for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources:

• TrustPilot.com