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Education & E-Learning · head to head

Open edX vs Skillshare

Open edX logo

Open edX

Education & E-Learning

Open-source platform powering online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Skillshare logo

Skillshare

Learning Management

Online learning community for creative skills

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Open edX open edX has no licensing fee as open source software, but the vendor's own site states that hosting and infrastructure costs are the operator's responsibility, so there is no bundled managed-hosting price to compare against SaaS competitors.; Skillshare limited language support available compared to Udemy which offers 75 languages
  • They diverge on capability: Open edX covers Course authoring, Skillshare covers Video classes.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Open edX and Skillshare actually diverge.

Attributes where Open edX and Skillshare differ
AttributeOpen edXSkillshare
Pricing modelfreesubscription
CategoryEducation & E-LearningLearning Management
Founded20122010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Open edX

  • Course authoring
  • Interactive videos
  • Assessments
  • Certificates
  • Analytics
  • xBlocks
  • LTI tools
  • SSO

Only in Skillshare

  • Video classes
  • Class projects
  • Offline viewing
  • Mobile learning
  • Workshops
  • Curated paths
  • Teacher studio
  • Smart TV apps

Both cover

  • Discussions
  • Mobile apps
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Open edX

  • MOOC creationnot Skillshare
  • Corporate trainingnot Skillshare
  • Blended learningnot Skillshare
  • Degree programsnot Skillshare

Skillshare

  • Skill developmentnot Open edX
  • Creative projectsnot Open edX
  • Career growthnot Open edX
  • Side hustlesnot Open edX

Where each one falls short

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

Open edX

  • Open edX has no licensing fee as open source software, but the vendor's own site states that hosting and infrastructure costs are the operator's responsibility, so there is no bundled managed-hosting price to compare against SaaS competitors.

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

Open edX

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Full platform
    • Community support
    • All features
  • Managed Hosting$undefined/month
    • Hosted solution
    • Support
    • Maintenance

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 Open edX if

  • You need course authoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want interactive videos.
Open edX 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 Open edX or Skillshare better?
Neither clearly leads. Open edX starts at Free and Skillshare at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Open edX or Skillshare?
Open edX starts at Free and Skillshare at Free.
Does Open edX or Skillshare run on more platforms?
Open edX runs on Web, IOS, Android. Skillshare runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Open edX for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Open edX best used for?
Open edX is most often used for mooc creation, corporate training, blended learning, degree programs. Of those, mooc creation and corporate training are not what Skillshare is typically brought in for.
What can Open edX do that Skillshare cannot?
Open edX covers Course authoring, Interactive videos, Assessments, Certificates. Skillshare covers Video classes, Class projects, Offline viewing, Mobile learning. Both handle Discussions, Mobile apps, Web support, IOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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Related pages

More on Open edX

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