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Education & E-Learning · head to head

MasterClass vs Skillshare

MasterClass logo

MasterClass

Education & E-Learning

Learn from the world's best

From
On request
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: MasterClass annual membership required with no option to purchase individual courses; Skillshare limited language support available compared to Udemy which offers 75 languages
  • They diverge on capability: MasterClass covers High-quality video, Skillshare covers Video classes.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MasterClass and Skillshare actually diverge.

Attributes where MasterClass and Skillshare differ
AttributeMasterClassSkillshare
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
CategoryEducation & E-LearningLearning Management
Founded20152010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 MasterClass

  • High-quality video
  • Workbooks
  • Community
  • Session stories
  • Smart TV platforms
  • Roku support
  • Amazon Fire support

Only in Skillshare

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

Both cover

  • Mobile apps
  • Offline viewing
  • Smart TV apps
  • Mobile apps
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support
  • Apple TV support

What people use each for

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

MasterClass

  • Learning from expertsnot Skillshare
  • Inspirationnot Skillshare
  • Skill development
  • Entertainmentnot Skillshare

Skillshare

  • Skill development
  • Creative projectsnot MasterClass
  • Career growthnot MasterClass
  • Side hustlesnot MasterClass

Both are used for skill development, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

MasterClass

  • Annual membership required with no option to purchase individual courses
  • No instructor interaction or personalized feedback on student work
  • No hands-on exercises, assignments, or peer discussion with other students
  • Limited interactivity with focus on entertainment value over practical skill development
  • Difficult to cancel subscription according to customer reviews

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

MasterClass

On request
  • Individual$10/month
    • All classes
    • One device
    • Mobile access
  • Duo$15/month
    • All classes
    • Two devices
    • Offline viewing
  • Family$20/month
    • All classes
    • Six devices
    • All features

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 MasterClass if

  • You need high-quality video.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want workbooks.
MasterClass 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 MasterClass or Skillshare better?
Neither clearly leads. MasterClass starts at On request and Skillshare at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MasterClass or Skillshare?
Skillshare has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for MasterClass and Free for Skillshare.
Does MasterClass or Skillshare run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Skillshare for free?
Yes. Skillshare has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MasterClass starts at On request.
What is MasterClass best used for?
MasterClass is most often used for learning from experts, inspiration, skill development, entertainment. Of those, learning from experts and inspiration are not what Skillshare is typically brought in for.
What can MasterClass do that Skillshare cannot?
MasterClass covers High-quality video, Workbooks, Community, Session stories. Skillshare covers Video classes, Class projects, Discussions, Mobile learning. Both handle Mobile apps, Offline viewing, Smart TV apps, Mobile apps.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MasterClass: What is the pricing structure for MasterClass?

MasterClass requires an annual membership with no single-course purchase option. Standard plan costs $10/month, Plus is $15/month with offline access, and Premium is $20/month for up to 6 devices.

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
MasterClass: How many courses are available on MasterClass?

MasterClass has over 200 video classes taught by celebrities and experts, with each course containing approximately 20 videos of about 10 minutes each plus detailed workbooks.

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
MasterClass: Does MasterClass provide certificates or formal credentials?

No. MasterClass does not provide certificates upon completing a course, so it does not offer formal recognition for course completion.

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
MasterClass: Do MasterClass courses include personalized feedback from instructors?

No. All MasterClass courses are pre-recorded videos, so there is no direct interaction with instructors or personalized feedback on student work.

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
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