Learning Management · head to head
Skillshare vs Absorb LMS
Skillshare
Learning Management
Online learning community for creative skills
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Absorb LMS
Learning Management
Enterprise LMS for measurable business impact
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Skillshare has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Skillshare limited language support available compared to Udemy which offers 75 languages; Absorb LMS pricing not transparently listed on website
- They diverge on capability: Skillshare covers Video classes, Absorb LMS covers Course management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Skillshare and Absorb LMS actually diverge.
| Attribute | Skillshare | Absorb LMS |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Cloud-based |
| Founded | 2010 | 2003 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Learning Management).
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 Skillshare
- Video classes
- Class projects
- Discussions
- Offline viewing
- Workshops
- Curated paths
- Teacher studio
- Mobile apps
Only in Absorb LMS
- Course management
- AI-powered learning
- Compliance tracking
- E-commerce
- Reporting
- Gamification
- Social learning
- Salesforce
Both cover
- Mobile learning
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Skillshare
- Skill developmentnot Absorb LMS
- Creative projectsnot Absorb LMS
- Career growthnot Absorb LMS
- Side hustlesnot Absorb LMS
Absorb LMS
- Employee onboarding and professional developmentnot Skillshare
- Compliance training with automated updatesnot Skillshare
- Customer education and product trainingnot Skillshare
- Partner enablement and sales trainingnot Skillshare
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Absorb LMS
- Pricing not transparently listed on website
- Requires implementation and setup time
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Absorb LMS
On request- Core$undefined/month
- Course management
- Reporting
- Mobile app
- Professional$undefined/month
- All Core
- E-commerce
- Custom branding
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- All Professional
- AI features
- SSO
Which should you pick?
Choose Skillshare if
- You need video classes.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want class projects.
Choose Absorb LMS if
- You need course management.
- You work on Web, Cloud-based.
- You also want ai-powered learning.
Questions people ask
- Is Skillshare or Absorb LMS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Skillshare starts at Free and Absorb LMS at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Skillshare or Absorb LMS?
- Skillshare has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Skillshare and On request for Absorb LMS.
- Does Skillshare or Absorb LMS run on more platforms?
- Skillshare runs on Web, iOS, Android. Absorb LMS runs on Web, Cloud-based.
- Can I use Skillshare for free?
- Yes. Skillshare has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Absorb LMS starts at On request.
- What is Skillshare best used for?
- Skillshare is most often used for skill development, creative projects, career growth, side hustles. Of those, skill development and creative projects are not what Absorb LMS is typically brought in for.
- What can Skillshare do that Absorb LMS cannot?
- Skillshare covers Video classes, Class projects, Discussions, Offline viewing. Absorb LMS covers Course management, AI-powered learning, Compliance tracking, E-commerce. Both handle Mobile learning, Web support, IOS support, Android 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.
SourceSkillshare: 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.
SourceSkillshare: 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.
SourceSkillshare: 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.
SourceSkillshare: 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