Software · head to head
Skillshare vs Pear Deck
Pear Deck
Software
Interactive presentations that engage every student
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Skillshare limited language support available compared to Udemy which offers 75 languages; Pear Deck the Teacher Dashboard, draggable and drawing responses and Reflect and Review require Teacher Premium at $149 per year
- They diverge on capability: Skillshare covers Video classes, Pear Deck covers Interactive slides.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Skillshare and Pear Deck actually diverge.
| Attribute | Skillshare | Pear Deck |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Chrome Extension |
| Founded | 2010 | 2014 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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
- Mobile learning
- Workshops
- Curated paths
- Teacher studio
Only in Pear Deck
- Interactive slides
- Real-time responses
- Formative assessment
- Student-paced mode
- Dashboard
- Audio responses
- Drawing
- Vocabulary
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Skillshare
- Skill developmentnot Pear Deck
- Creative projectsnot Pear Deck
- Career growthnot Pear Deck
- Side hustlesnot Pear Deck
Pear Deck
- Turning slide decks into interactive lessons with student responsesnot Skillshare
- Running formative checks for understanding during classnot Skillshare
- Student paced review activities and assessmentsnot 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
Pear Deck
- The Teacher Dashboard, draggable and drawing responses and Reflect and Review require Teacher Premium at $149 per year
- Pear Assessment Premium is a separate $125 per year purchase from Pear Deck Premium
- Standards aligned content, district library and efficacy reports are only in the Schools and Districts plan
- SIS and LMS integration is only in the Schools and Districts plan
- School and district pricing is by quote with no published rate
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
Pear Deck
Free- FreeFree
- 5 question types
- Real-time responses
- Student-paced mode
- Premium$149.99/month
- All question types
- Audio responses
- Flashcard factory
- School/District$undefined/month
- All Premium
- Admin dashboard
- Rostering
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 Pear Deck if
- You need interactive slides.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Chrome Extension.
- You also want real-time responses.
Questions people ask
- Is Skillshare or Pear Deck better?
- Neither clearly leads. Skillshare starts at Free and Pear Deck at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Skillshare or Pear Deck?
- Skillshare starts at Free and Pear Deck at Free.
- Does Skillshare or Pear Deck run on more platforms?
- Skillshare runs on Web, iOS, Android. Pear Deck runs on Web, Chrome Extension.
- Can I use Skillshare for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Pear Deck is typically brought in for.
- What can Skillshare do that Pear Deck cannot?
- Skillshare covers Video classes, Class projects, Discussions, Offline viewing. Pear Deck covers Interactive slides, Real-time responses, Formative assessment, Student-paced mode. Both handle Web 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