You’re just a few clicks away from paying for your Skillshare subscription when a moment of doubt creeps in. You pause and wonder, ‘Is Skillshare the right option for me?’ Or ‘Is there a better alternative out there?’
Well, I’m here to put your mind at rest, thankfully online learning platforms are in no short supply, especially if you like the idea of learning from the comfort of their own home or, even better, if you’re preparing for a complete career change. Below, I’ve provided a handful of excellent Skillshare alternatives for you to consider.
I’ve thoroughly researched various online learning platforms to ensure this article on Skillshare alternatives is both informative and helpful. With my Master’s in Teaching and Education and years of experience using e-learning platforms, I’ve crafted this comprehensive review.
Catherine CookeUpskillwise Advisor
Skillshare Alternatives Summary Table
Platform
Pros & Cons
- VIP Instructors
- Top Quality Classes
- Money-Back Guarantee
- No Free Trial
- No Certificates
- Top Partners
- Verified Certificates
- Free Learning
- Prior Knowledge
- Time Commitment
- Affordable
- Pay Per Course
- Beginner Friendly
- Quality Control
- Outdated Content
- Industry Instructors
- Engaged Community
- Alternative Learning Experience
- No Free Trials
- Higher Price Tag
- Career Focused
- Affordable Learning
- Interactive Content
- Only Data-Centric Topics
- No Refunds
Skillshare Alternatives in Detail
If you want to dive deeper into Skillshare competitors, keep reading on to learn more about alternative platforms to consider. You can view each option I’ve listed below like a recipe. I’ll list out the most relevant ingredients and from there you’ll hopefully find which one(s) best fit your learning palette.
1. MasterClass
MasterClass is the celebrity alternative to Skillshare, featuring classes led by famous faces. With over 200+ classes on topics like Food, Design & Style, Business, and Home & Lifestyle, it offers something for everyone. I especially enjoyed Gordon Ramsay’s cooking class, where I learned directly from the master chef. You’ll also find other renowned instructors such as Annie Leibovitz and Aaron Sorkin sharing their knowledge.
When you sign up, you can choose from three subscription plans, starting with the Individual plan at just $10 a month (billed annually). Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if it doesn’t meet your expectations, you can request a refund within 30 days of purchase.
Why Choose MasterClass over Skillshare?
While Skillshare has some well-known instructors on its books, completion certificates, and access to creative classes, MasterClass stands out as a top competitor due to its high-profile celebrity teachers who deliver engaging and inspiring classes. Though MasterClass doesn’t provide accredited certificates, its captivating classes make learning feel more like an experience than a task. With polished video content and a diverse range of creative topics, MasterClass ensures an enjoyable and immersive learning journey. Additionally, the intuitive MasterClass app allows you to seamlessly access classes on the go. If you value learning from top experts and prefer a relaxed, enjoyable experience, MasterClass would be the obvious choice.
2. Coursera
Unlike Skillshare, Coursera has an academic foundation at its core and is backed by universities and high-ranking industry leaders like Google and Stanford University. This foundation is what makes Coursera a stellar choice for online learners seeking academic growth, which then can allow for career development and or advancement. With the Coursera Plus subscription, learners have access to over 7,000 courses and programs.
You’ll find that Coursera not only boasts an extensive course catalog but also offers the chance to earn certificates and accredited degrees from prestigious universities and institutions. Many of its courses and programs, follow an academic calendar, providing learners with well-defined timelines to achieve their goals. I found this especially helpful when considering a career shift and wanted more clarity on how long it was going to take me to make a change.
Why Choose Coursera over Skillshare?
Don’t get me wrong, Skillshare is an excellent choice for real skill learning. However, Cousera caught my attention because I had the possibility to earn a certificate, a degree or even obtain college credit—all which helped boost my career prospects. Skillshare courses are more about practical experience, which is great when needed. But, if you’re looking to learn a new skill for an academic or professional purpose, Coursera would be the obvious choice.
3. Udemy
Out of the alternatives I’ve shared here, Udemy is probably the most similar to Skillshare. And yet, the differences can be just enough to justify choosing one over the other. Udemy offers an incredible course library of over 220,000. You’ll pay per course, and regularly it offers discounts on most of its courses.
Not only does Udemy offer five times the number of courses that Skillshare does, but a decent bunch of them are for free, and its extensive range of topics will leave you with plenty of choice. Saying that, sometimes the quality of its courses can vary significantly, as anyone can teach on Udemy. Both platforms provide certificates for completing courses and programs, but be mindful that these certificates aren’t accredited. Saying that, Udemy offers a small selection of courses which can go towards college credits.
Why Choose Udemy over Skillshare?
For anyone who loves learning and practicing new skills, both platforms are great options. If the skill you’re seeking to acquire is available with Skillshare and you want consistent quality content and teaching methodologies, it might be worthwhile considering Skillshare. However, if you’re hoping to have a greater variety and even the possibility to find courses in specific niches, as well be able to obtain credit towards a degree, Udemy ticks those boxes.
4. Mindvalley
Mindvalley harnesses quite literally a valley of great minds, where the lines between teachers, gurus, life coaches and guides become blended into the same learning space. It also fosters a further connection with the learning experience by offering a community filled with other like-minded individuals.
With courses in Mindfulness, Spirituality and Meditation, Mindvalley helps stimulate your personal growth. Personal growth can and often does spill over into professional growth. But that’s likely as close as you will get to professional skill development. If self transformation is what you seek and your budget allows, then spending $49/month or $399/year for the Mindvalley Membership would be a logical choice.
Why Choose Mindvalley over Skillshare?
Skillshare can definitely nourish your need to grow and harness new skills, particularly professional ones. But if you are hoping for a deeper dive into oneself—be it for healing, cultivating a new interpersonal skill or even for becoming a better version of yourself—Mindvalley is the ‘place’ to begin your personal quest.
5. DataCamp
DataCamp, like Udemy, has many shared similarities with Skillshare. Both provide progress checkers to keep you on track with learning objectives. One of the main differences is that DataCamp recently added career certifications, which are designed to prepare you for a specific job role in the Data industry. This could be your ticket to landing your dream data role. Unlike Skillshare, DataCamp is available in Spanish and Portuguese, while Skillshare only offers its platform and courses in English. This localization of the platform might explain why DataCamp has more than double the users, despite having just a sixth of the number of courses.
While it is true that DataCamp only offers just over 490+ courses, its strength is in the quality and consistency of its courses. DataCamp’s main topic focus is on Data, AI and Programming. Another aspect that I felt important to highlight is how comprehensive its courses are, which include interactive quizzes, study guides, webinars and online training sessions. What I am trying to say is this translates into getting your money’s worth.
Why Choose DataCamp over Skillshare?
DataCamp is an easy choice if you’re looking to boost your data skills–particularly when it comes to anything related to code and numbers. Its courses are also very well-designed and make learning technical skills digestible no matter your background. If you are specifically interested in picking up new skills and or professionally advancing in the field of data and programming, then I would confidently recommend DataCamp as a winning contender over Skillshare.
Last Thoughts: Skillshare Alternatives
It’s no walk in the park deciding which online learning platform to choose, but hopefully, after reading this article, you will have gained enough information and gained some clarity on which one(s) are best.
It’s true that every online learning platforms has its pros and cons, and as a learner, we all have specific needs and goals for our learning journey, especially when time and money are at stake. So it’s essential to consider all of these factors carefully to avoid any disappointment.
Key Takeaways:
- Learning goals
- Teaching methodologies
- Platform niches
- Budget
- Course design and diversity
FAQs
There are a few online learning platforms that are similar to Skillshare—Udemy and DataCamp, in my opinion, are quite similar but are different enough to appeal to learners with specific preferences. There are also plenty more alternatives, and depending on what you prefer—price, niche, methods—one could be more suitable than the other.
Skillshare offers both a monthly and a yearly subscription, which gives you full access to all of their courses. For the first month, you’re entitled to a free trial, where you get to try out its full catalog of courses before being charged. If you enjoy learning and adding more skills to your belt or refining already acquired ones, then I’d say yes, Skillshare is worth the money.
These platforms are both great in their own right. However, one may be better for you, depending on what you are looking for in an online learning platform. If learning from and being inspired by some of the most famous in their field is what you want, then MasterClass would certainly be better than Skillshare. BUT if you need to put a new skill to use in a professional setting, as well as have access to thousands of courses designed to give you skills for professional advancement, then learning from Skillshare is a far better choice.