MasterClass vs Skillshare | The Difference Between Both

When I was looking for an online learning platform to invest in, I wanted one that didn’t pressure me with homework and that the classes fit in with my busy schedule.

After searching, I was stuck with two options.

MasterClass or Skillshare. These two e-learning platforms focus on creating a unique learning experience for their students, but I had to try out both platforms to understand which platform was the best, and this is what this MasterClass vs Skillshare article is all about.

Here is all you need to know from user experience, pricing, courses, and community support on both platforms.

MasterClass Vs Skillshare (Summary)

If you ask me to give you a quick review on MasterClass vs. Skillshare, I will tell you that MasterClass has the best production quality when it comes to course quality.

The visual experience on MasterClass is unparalleled. The platform focuses on providing an immersive learning experience with professional production values, giving you a lifetime experience of learning from celebrities from the comfort of your home at minimal cost.

Skillshare is a community-driven platform that emphasizes peer learning.

It offers a wider range of courses and is created by various individuals who are passionate about teaching rather than celebrities. Skillshare teaches you more work skills

While this may affect the quality of the Skillshare course, the sheer number of options and the certificates you get at the end of the courses are valuable assets to your learning progress.

Here is a quick comparison of the two platforms.

Feature	MasterClass	Skillshare
Best For	Learners who want expert-led courses from celebrities	Creative individuals and hobbyists
Course Format	High-quality video lessons with cinematic experience	Short video classes with variable quality
Pricing Model	Annual subscription	Monthly/annual subscription
Community Focus	Limited interaction	Active community and project sharing

Skillshare vs MasterClass: Pros and Cons

Let’s start by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of both MasterClass and Skillshare.

MasterClass Pros

1. Expert Instructors: Courses taught by well-known figures and celebrities in their respective fields(e.g., Gordon Ramsay, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Anna Wintour).
2. High Production Quality: MasterClass focuses on creating its courses with cinematic video quality and engaging presentations that give viewers an almost movie-like experience.
3. Has Diverse Topics: MasterClass has a wide range of categories (13 categories), including arts, business, and science.
4. All-Access Membership: On MasterClass, one subscription provides access to all courses.

MasterClass Cons

1. Cost: MasterClass has a higher annual fee than Skillshare.
2. Limited Depth: MasterClass courses are created to provide a unique learning experience from celebrities and get their personal insights. Due to this, it may lack details and a set course format for people who want to develop a new skill from scratch.  
3. Interaction with instructors: MasterClass does not offer to contact your instructors. Here, you will primarily earn experience with pre-recorded videos.

Skillshare Pros

1. Affordable Pricing: Compared to MasterClass, Skillshare offers competitive pricing and flexible plans.
2. Interactive Learning: Skillshare offers ample opportunities to engage with peers and receive feedback. Its community-driven interface includes options for commenting on videos, discussion, and group project work.
3. Wide Variety of Courses: Skillshare offers a wider range of courses. Currently, they offer over 35,000+ courses across various categories of creative skills, including art, design, and photography.
4. Project-Based Learning: Skillshare encourages hands-on practice and application with group projects, giving a more active learning experience than MasterClass.

Skillshare Cons

1. Inconsistent Course Quality: Course quality can vary on Skillshare since anyone can create a course, unlike MasterClass, where each course is a cinematic masterpiece.
2. No Renowned Instructors: Industry leaders on Skillshare may not always teach courses like MasterClass.
3. Limited Formal Education: Skillshare is not ideal for those seeking formal certifications. Skillshare does provide certificates at the end of the courses, but these are not always accredited or formal.

Skillshare vs MasterClass (User Experience)

When you compare Skillshare and MasterClass, the biggest difference is between the platforms.

MasterClass user experience is designed to be engaging and immersive, almost like Netflix. The platform features high-quality video content with a cinematic feel.

Its website is also quite intuitive and easy to navigate

Each course is well-structured, allowing you to navigate through lessons easily. The courses often include downloadable materials, such as workbooks, which enhance the learning experience.

The cinematic feel adds an element of fun while watching the course and makes it feel effortless to learn.

Skillshare, on the other hand, lacks course quality, but the user experience is built around a community-driven approach.

The platform allows you to explore courses, interact with peers, and showcase your projects.

The interface is intuitive, and users can easily find classes based on their interests by searching according to categories.

However, MasterClass lacks such a collaborative environment, so despite the good-quality courses, the overall experience is a little passive.

Skillshare vs MasterClass—Pricing & Refunds

When it comes to signing up for an online learning platform, one of the main concerns for most people is the pricing.

The courses must be worth the investment. Both MasterClass and Skillshare have a membership payment model.

This means you can access all the courses on the platform with a single payment. Now, let’s look at the individual plans on both platforms.

MasterClass Pricing

MasterClass only offers annual subscription plans that give access to the entire library of 200+ courses. You have three options to choose from.

1. Standard Plan: $10/month, billed annually at $120 for one device access.
2. Plus Plan: $15/month, billed annually at $180 for two device access and offline viewing. Here, you can get an all-access plan at $7.5/month.
3. Premium Plan: $20/month, billed annually (totaling $240) for 6 device access. Here, you get an all-access plan for $3.33/month

If you are wondering, MasterClass also offers a 30-day free trial for all new users, allowing them to try the platform risk-free for 30 days.

Want to save more on these plans? You can do it during the MasterClass Black Friday sale, where you can save up to 60% on their premium subscription.

Skillshare Pricing

Skillshare has both monthly and annual plans.

1. Monthly Membership: $29 per month.
2. Annual Membership: $99 per year.

Overall, Skillshare is priced slightly higher than MasterClass, but you get access to a much larger course catalog compared to MasterClass, and you also have the flexibility to choose between a monthly and annual plan on Skillshare.

Skillshare does not offer refunds for membership fees, but like MasterClass, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

MasterClass vs Skillshare — Courses and Instructors

Now, let’s move on to the courses on MasterClass or Skillshare. MasterClass features courses taught by celebrity teachers and industry experts.

Most classes are 10-20 minutes long and come with downloadable materials and workbooks. You can search for your favorite courses by looking through the course categories.

MasterClass also categorizes its courses based on popularity for easier search results. The highlight of MasterClass is its instructor list, which includes celebrity figures with the most experience in the industry.

Compared to MasterClass, Skillshare hosts a vast library of courses created by various instructors.

The courses are generally shorter and focus on practical skills, often with projects that students can share with the community.

The classes are also categorized based on popularity and topic and have a reviews section as well. However, the teachers’ list on Skillshare is not as glamorous as MasterClass.

On Skillshare, anyone can be an instructor. This means they are both amateur teachers as well as industry experts on the platform; you have to choose whom you want to learn from.

Skillshare vs MasterClass—Categories & Classes

Coming to the next round of this MasterClass vs Skillshare comparison. MasterClass has over 200+ courses on the platform from various categories.

The class categories on MasterClass include:

• Acting & Performing Arts
• Art & Design
• Business & Entrepreneurship
• Community & Government
• Film & TV
• Food & Drink
• Games & Digital Media
• Health & Wellness
• Music
• Outdoor Adventures & Events
• Science & Technology
• Sports & Athletics
• Writing

It may seem like there are too many classes to go through. Thus, I have handpicked some of the best MasterClass courses on their platform, which will save you time.

Skillshare currently has over 35000+ courses on its platform in various categories. The class categories on Skillshare include:

• Creative Career
• Creativity & Inspiration
• Design
• Art & Illustration
• Film & Video
• Photography
• AI & Innovation
• Animation & 3D
• Music & Audio
• Productivity
• Writing & Publishing
• Marketing & Business
• Development
• Crafts & DIY
• Home & Lifestyle
• Personal Development

You can go to the Search Option on both platforms and find your favorite courses with a click.

Skillshare vs MasterClass—Community

Now, this is the MasterClass vs. Skillshare category, in which Skillshare is the unparalleled winner. MasterClass has a limited community interaction aspect.

While there is a comment section for discussion with MasterClass, the primary focus is on the individual learning experience. While you can engage with fellow learners through comments, but there is no direct interaction with instructors or group projects.

Skillshare, on the other hand, emphasizes community engagement. It allows you to share their projects, provide feedback, and participate in discussions. You can also interact with your peers and teachers on this platform.

Skillshare vs MasterClass—Customer Support

MasterClass offers customer support through email and an extensive FAQ section. The Help Centre has almost all your needs, but if you need more, you can email them, or if you are a US customer, you can contact them at +1 (855) 981-8208.

The response time promised by the platform is 2-5 working days.

Skillshare also offers customer support via email and live chat during business hours. The platform also has a helpful FAQ section or Resource Centre that addresses various concerns, from billing issues to technical difficulties, although it is not as extensive as MasterClass.

MasterClass vs Skillshare Alternatives

Now, there is something else I would like to mention. MasterClass or Skillshare are both platforms that focus on creative subjects.

Not all of us are looking for creative courses online. You may want to learn something to enhance your job skills or earn an accredited certificate to display on your resume.

In that case, you will have to look for alternatives to both platforms. Some of the best alternatives of Skillshare and MasterClass are:

Here’s a list of alternatives to MasterClass and Skillshare, along with brief descriptions of each:

1. Udemy: is one of the largest learning platforms, offering a wide range of courses (210000+) across various subjects, from programming to personal development, often at affordable prices, and some even offering formal certificates.
2. Coursera: This platform partners with universities and organizations to provide high-quality courses, specializations, and degrees with accredited certificates and formal education in subjects ranging from technology to humanities.
3. LinkedIn Learning: This online platform focuses on professional development, offering courses on business, technology, and creative skills. You can access courses that enhance your career prospects and earn certificates to showcase on their LinkedIn profiles.
4. edX: Offers high-quality courses from top universities and institutions. You can also take free courses or opt for verified certificates for a fee, making it suitable for learners who want academic certificates.
5. Mindvalley: If you are looking for courses focused on personal growth and transformation through mindfulness, wellness, productivity, and entrepreneurship, then this is the platform for you.
6. BBC Maestro: This is another platform like MasterClass where courses are taught by industry experts in creative fields such as writing, filmmaking, and photography.
7. DataCamp: This platform specializes in data science and analytics courses, offering hands-on learning through interactive coding exercises. It is ideal for learners interested in data analysis, statistics, and programming.
8. Pluralsight: is a technology-focused platform that offers courses on software development, IT, and creative skills. Through assessments and hands-on learning paths, you can enhance your technical expertise.

Conclusion

Both MasterClass and Skillshare both offer unique learning experiences and cater to different learning styles and goals.

MasterClass is best for those who want to learn from industry leaders in a polished format, while Skillshare caters to creative individuals looking for a collaborative environment to learn skills.

You can try out both platforms for free for 30 days and choose which is the best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)