Education & E-Learning · head to head
MasterClass vs Udemy
Udemy
Education & E-Learning
World's largest marketplace for online learning
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Udemy 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; Udemy course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
- They diverge on capability: MasterClass covers High-quality video, Udemy covers Video courses.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MasterClass and Udemy actually diverge.
| Attribute | MasterClass | Udemy |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2015 | 2010 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education & E-Learning).
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
- Mobile apps
- Smart TV apps
- Session stories
- Smart TV platforms
- Mobile apps
Only in Udemy
- Video courses
- Quizzes
- Assignments
- Certificates
- Mobile learning
- Q&A
- Reviews
- Slack
Both cover
- Offline viewing
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
MasterClass
- Learning from expertsnot Udemy
- Inspirationnot Udemy
- Skill developmentnot Udemy
- Entertainmentnot Udemy
Udemy
- Skill buildingnot MasterClass
- Career transitionnot MasterClass
- Professional developmentnot MasterClass
- Team trainingnot MasterClass
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
Udemy
- Course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
- No formal credentials or degrees offered, unlike Coursera and edX which offer institution-branded certificates
- Courses are self-paced with no instructor interaction or support, making structured learning difficult for some students
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
Udemy
Free- Personal$19/month
- 11,000+ courses access
- Team$360/year
- For 5-20 people
Which should you pick?
Choose MasterClass if
- You need high-quality video.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want workbooks.
Choose Udemy if
- You need video courses.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want quizzes.
Questions people ask
- Is MasterClass or Udemy better?
- Neither clearly leads. MasterClass starts at On request and Udemy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, MasterClass or Udemy?
- Udemy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for MasterClass and Free for Udemy.
- Does MasterClass or Udemy run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Udemy for free?
- Yes. Udemy 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 Udemy is typically brought in for.
- What can MasterClass do that Udemy cannot?
- MasterClass covers High-quality video, Workbooks, Community, Mobile apps. Udemy covers Video courses, Quizzes, Assignments, Certificates. Both handle Offline viewing, Web support, IOS support, Android support.
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.
SourceUdemy: Does Udemy offer team/business pricing?
Yes, Udemy's Team plan costs $360 per user annually for groups of 5 to 20 people, in addition to individual Personal plan at $19/month.
SourceMasterClass: 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.
SourceMasterClass: 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.
SourceMasterClass: 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