Education · alternatives
Alternatives to MasterClass
22 education tools sit alongside MasterClass in this directory. Below is what separates each from MasterClass on the figures we hold, price, model, tier count and rating, and a direct comparison for every one.
- Alternatives listed
- 22
- With a free tier
- 17
- Cheaper to start
- -
- MasterClass starts at
- On request
Why people look past MasterClass
Only what the record supports. Each point below is a figure on the MasterClass entry measured against the tools listed beside it.
There is no free tier
The record for MasterClass carries no free tier, so evaluating it means paying first. 17 of the 22 alternatives below can be used without paying.
What each alternative does differently
Ordered by the aggregated rating on each catalogue entry. Differences are drawn from price, pricing model, tier count and rating, the fields the category listing carries. For a feature-level difference, follow the head-to-head link on each card: those pages read both full records.
Watch TV shows and movies anytime, anywhere
- Publishes an entry price of $6.99/month, where MasterClass does not.
Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
- Publishes an entry price of $8.99/month, where MasterClass does not.
- 2 tiers to MasterClass's 3.
Vocabulary and spaced repetition language app built around video clips of native speakers
- Can be used without paying; MasterClass cannot.
- Sold on a Free with a Pro subscription model rather than subscription.
- 1 tier to MasterClass's 3.
Camera based maths solver that shows step by step working, owned by Google since 2022
- Can be used without paying; MasterClass cannot.
- Sold on a Free with a Plus subscription model rather than subscription.
- 1 tier to MasterClass's 3.
Piano-only learning app from JoyTunes using microphone listening, no MIDI keyboard required
- Can be used without paying; MasterClass cannot.
- Publishes an entry price of $119.99/year, where MasterClass does not.
- Sold on a Per user per year or month model rather than subscription.
- 2 tiers to MasterClass's 3.
Cognitive skills training app from Elevate Labs covering reading, writing, maths and speaking games
- Can be used without paying; MasterClass cannot.
- Sold on a Free with a Pro subscription model rather than subscription.
- 1 tier to MasterClass's 3.
Every MasterClass alternative at a glance
A dash means the catalogue entry carries no figure, not that the answer is nothing.
| Tool | Entry price | Model | Tiers | Head to head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MasterClass (this page) | On request | Subscription | 3 | |
| NetflixPremium streaming video entertainment platform with high production quality content, though focused on entertainment rather than education | $6.99/month | Subscription | 3 | vs MasterClass |
| Amazon Prime VideoSubscription video streaming service with educational content alongside entertainment options | $8.99/month | Subscription | 2 | vs MasterClass |
| Memrise | Free | Free with a Pro subscription | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Photomath | Free | Free with a Plus subscription | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Simply Piano | Free, then $119.99/year | Per user per year or month | 2 | vs MasterClass |
| Elevate | Free | Free with a Pro subscription | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Seek by iNaturalist | Free | Free, no ads and no in-app purchases | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Merlin Bird ID | Free | Free, no ads and no in-app purchases | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Stellarium | Free | Open source, no licence fee | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Flowkey | Free, then $119.99/year | Per user per year or month | 2 | vs MasterClass |
| Lumosity | Free | Free with a subscription | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Sky Guide | Free | Free download with Plus and Pro subscription upgrades | 3 | vs MasterClass |
| Busuu | Free | Free with a Premium subscription | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Pl@ntNet | Free | Free, no ads and no in-app purchases | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Star Walk 2 | Free | Freemium, low-cost ad-free subscription upgrade | 2 | vs MasterClass |
| Yousician | Free, then $9.99/month | Per user per month or year | 2 | vs MasterClass |
| Melodics | Free, then $9.99/month | Per user per month or year | 2 | vs MasterClass |
| eBird | Free | Free, no ads and no in-app purchases | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| Anki | Free | Open source, no licence fee except a paid iOS app | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| PictureThis | On request | Per year, sold via a short free trial that auto-renews | 1 | vs MasterClass |
| SkySafari | On request | One-time purchase per tier | 3 | vs MasterClass |
| Jackrabbit Class | $49/month | Per month by student count | 6 | vs MasterClass |
Ratings are aggregated from third-party sources and imported with each catalogue entry; Softwr hosts no reviews of these products. How each figure is used is set out on the MasterClass badges page.
Cheaper ways to solve the same problem
Free to start (17)
These publish a tier that costs nothing, so they can be evaluated before any money changes hands.
- Memrise , Free
- Photomath , Free
- Simply Piano , Free, then $119.99/year
- Elevate , Free
- Seek by iNaturalist , Free
- Merlin Bird ID , Free
- Stellarium , Free
- Flowkey , Free, then $119.99/year
What you would be giving up
MasterClass is most often brought in for learning from experts, inspiration, skill development, entertainment. Anything replacing it has to cover the ones you actually depend on, and a cheaper tool that misses one of them is not cheaper.
Two things this page cannot settle. It compares on price, model, tier count and rating, because those are the fields the category listing carries, feature-level differences need both full records, which is what the head-to-head pages load. And the ratings are third-party aggregates imported with each entry rather than reviews written here, so a 0.2 difference between two tools is noise rather than a finding.
If MasterClass is broadly right and the question is cost, the MasterClass pricing breakdown covers every tier and what each one adds. If you want the whole field rather than a shortlist, the Education category lists everything the directory holds, and best education tools ranks them.
MasterClass runs on web, ios, android. Platform coverage is not carried on the category listing for the alternatives, so it is one more thing to check on each head-to-head page rather than here.
Questions about MasterClass alternatives
- What are the main alternatives to MasterClass?
- 22 other education tools are listed in this directory, led by Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Memrise, Photomath. They are ordered by the aggregated rating on each catalogue entry, not by any Softwr ranking.
- What is the best free alternative to MasterClass?
- 17 of the alternatives listed here can be used without paying: Memrise, Photomath, Simply Piano, Elevate, Seek by iNaturalist.
- Why do people look for an alternative to MasterClass?
- On the figures on record, one thing stands out: there is no free tier. Each is set out with the numbers behind it above.
- What would I give up by switching from MasterClass?
- MasterClass is most often brought in for learning from experts, inspiration, skill development, entertainment. Anything you replace it with has to cover the ones you actually rely on, the side-by-side comparisons linked from each alternative below put the two feature records against each other.
- Is there an open-source alternative to MasterClass?
- None of the education tools listed here are recorded as open source. That is what the licence field on each entry says, and the field is not always filled in, so it is worth checking directly for any tool you are serious about.
- How were these MasterClass alternatives chosen?
- They are the tools filed in the same category, Education, ordered by the aggregated rating on each entry. There is no editorial shortlist, and nothing on this page is paid: no sponsored placement runs on alternatives pages and the order cannot be bought. Softwr has not used these products.
- Where can I compare MasterClass against one of these directly?
- Every alternative below has a side-by-side page against MasterClass covering price, platforms, features and what each one is used for. Those pages read the full record for both products rather than the summary shown here.
- Does this list cover every education tool?
- No. It covers what this directory holds in the Education category, 22 tools beside MasterClass. The category page lists the rest of the catalogue as it grows.