Softwr

Education & E-Learning · head to head

Blackboard vs Skillshare

Blackboard logo

Blackboard

Education & E-Learning

Comprehensive learning platform for educational institutions

From
$10/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Skillshare logo

Skillshare

Learning Management

Online learning community for creative skills

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Skillshare has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Blackboard user interface is outdated, cluttered, and unintuitive with hidden menus and excessive clicks; Skillshare limited language support available compared to Udemy which offers 75 languages
  • They diverge on capability: Blackboard covers Course management, Skillshare covers Video classes.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blackboard and Skillshare actually diverge.

Attributes where Blackboard and Skillshare differ
AttributeBlackboardSkillshare
Starting price$10/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryEducation & E-LearningLearning Management
Founded19972010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Blackboard

  • Course management
  • Assessment tools
  • Discussion boards
  • Virtual classroom
  • Gradebook
  • Mobile app
  • Analytics
  • Accessibility

Only in Skillshare

  • Video classes
  • Class projects
  • Discussions
  • Offline viewing
  • Mobile learning
  • Workshops
  • Curated paths
  • Teacher studio

Both cover

  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Blackboard

  • Course deliverynot Skillshare
  • Student engagementnot Skillshare
  • Assessmentnot Skillshare
  • Virtual learningnot Skillshare

Skillshare

  • Skill developmentnot Blackboard
  • Creative projectsnot Blackboard
  • Career growthnot Blackboard
  • Side hustlesnot Blackboard

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Blackboard

  • User interface is outdated, cluttered, and unintuitive with hidden menus and excessive clicks
  • Slow response times and platform crashes when opening multiple tabs simultaneously
  • Cannot track detailed student activity beyond most recent login information
  • Limited ability to handle large file uploads for content and assignments
  • Minimal customization options for page and template design

Skillshare

  • Limited language support available compared to Udemy which offers 75 languages
  • Focus on creative skills means limited technical or professional development courses
  • Video quality and instructor expertise varies across courses

Pricing, plan by plan

Blackboard

$10/year

No published plan breakdown. See the Blackboard review.

Skillshare

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Select free classes
    • Class projects
  • Premium$13.99/month
    • All classes
    • Offline viewing
    • No ads
  • Teams$undefined/month
    • Team management
    • Analytics
    • Custom content

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackboard if

  • You need course management.
  • You also want assessment tools.
Blackboard review

Choose Skillshare if

  • You need video classes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want class projects.
Skillshare review

Questions people ask

Is Blackboard or Skillshare better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackboard starts at $10/year and Skillshare at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blackboard or Skillshare?
Skillshare has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10/year for Blackboard and Free for Skillshare.
Does Blackboard or Skillshare run on more platforms?
Blackboard runs on Web. Skillshare runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Skillshare for free?
Yes. Skillshare has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Blackboard starts at $10/year.
What is Blackboard best used for?
Blackboard is most often used for course delivery, student engagement, assessment, virtual learning. Of those, course delivery and student engagement are not what Skillshare is typically brought in for.
What can Blackboard do that Skillshare cannot?
Blackboard covers Course management, Assessment tools, Discussion boards, Virtual classroom. Skillshare covers Video classes, Class projects, Discussions, Offline viewing. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blackboard: What does Blackboard LMS offer?

Blackboard is a learning management system that includes course management, assignment and gradebook tools, discussion forums, and analytics for tracking learner progress in online, hybrid, and in-person courses.

Source
Skillshare: How much does Skillshare cost?

Skillshare Premium membership costs $167.88 per year (about $13.99 per month) when billed annually, or $17.99 to $32 per month when paying month-to-month. New members receive a free trial before billing begins.

Source
Skillshare: What topics does Skillshare cover?

Skillshare offers more than 30,000 project-based classes in design, illustration, photography, video, writing, marketing, and productivity. Courses often include downloadable resources like templates, brushes, and design files.

Source
Skillshare: Can I download Skillshare classes for offline viewing?

Yes, Skillshare Premium members can download classes for offline viewing, allowing you to watch content anywhere without an internet connection.

Source
Skillshare: Does Skillshare offer certificates?

Yes, Skillshare classes include certificates of completion as part of the project-based learning model, allowing you to track and share your learning progress.

Source
Skillshare: Is there a free tier on Skillshare?

Skillshare offers a free one-month trial to new users who provide card details. After the trial, a paid subscription is required for continued access.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Blackboard

More on Skillshare

Keep looking

Other head to heads