Skillshare and
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 offers a subscription model with a vast library, whereas
Key Takeaways: Skillshare vs. MasterClass
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Platform Experience:
- Skillshare: Web and mobile-friendly, focusing on practicality and easy navigation.
- MasterClass: Cinematic course production with a premium online and mobile experience.
- Pros & Cons:
- Skillshare: Affordable with extensive courses but variable course quality.
- MasterClass: High production quality and renowned instructors but no course certificates.
- Customer Support:
- Skillshare: Mainly email support with some payment-related concerns.
- MasterClass: Email and automated helper support with occasional account-related issues.
- Alternatives: Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, CreativeLive, and edX offer diverse eLearning opportunities.
- Recommendation: Both platforms provide significant value. The choice between
Skillshare andMasterClass 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 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 asMasterClass 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
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,
- Cooking: Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller
- Writing: Margaret Atwood, Dan Brown
- Music: Hans Zimmer, Timbaland
- Photography: Annie Leibovitz
Course Variety on Skillshare

Conversely,
- 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
However,

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,
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,
Completing
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 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.
- Learn new skills
- Explore your passion
- Take classes on the go.
"1 year in and still going, their content and courses are great"
MasterClass Pricing
The
🚨 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.
Individual
1 device
No offline mode
1 Device you can watch
Download for Offline viewing
All 200+ classes across 11 categories
Access to Sessions by
Watch on your computer, TV, phone, or tablet
Bonus class guides & content
Duo
2 devices
Offline mode
2 Devices you can watch
Download for Offline viewing
All 200+ classes across 11 categories
Access to Sessions by
Watch on your computer, TV, phone, or tablet
Bonus class guides & content
Family
6 devices
Offline mode
6 Devices you can watch at
No Download for Offline viewing
All 200+ classes across 11 categories
Access to Sessions by
Watch on your computer, TV, phone, or tablet
Bonus class guides & content
MasterClass does not offer any free trial incentive to entice new people to try out their programs.
Even though there is no
- Learn from the best!
- New classes added every month
- 180+ classes to choose from
"Bored of TV, check out this Incredible content and cast"
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
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.
- Learn new skills
- Explore your passion
- Take classes on the go.
"1 year in and still going, their content and courses are great"
Alternative Options
Alternative options or other Comparisons for
- Masterclass Vs Udemy
- MasterClass Vs LinkedIn Learning
- Skillshare vs Brilliant
- Skillshare Vs Udemy
- Skillshare Vs Coursera
Final Thoughts About SkillShare Vs MasterClass

Comparing
Your choice between
MasterClass, though limited in scope, delivers top-notch videos from renowned experts. Price-wise,
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between MasterClass and Skillshare?
MasterClass and Skillshare are both online learning platforms. MasterClass offers high-quality, in-depth video courses taught by well-known experts in various fields, while Skillshare provides a broader range of classes taught by professionals and amateurs.
Is it worth paying for Skillshare?
Yes, Skillshare is worth paying for if you want access to various online courses covering various skills like design, photography, writing, and more.
Are the MasterClass courses worth it?
Yes, MasterClass courses are worth it if you’re seeking high-quality, expert-led online learning experiences
Resources: