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When I started looking for online resources to help me top up my graphic design game, two names came up frequently: Udemy and Skillshare. But I wasn’t sure which one of the two was the best, in fact, I didn’t know what each exactly offered.
Of course, both providers offer courses on many topics other than graphic design (what I was looking to learn). So, what is it like to use their platforms? And more importantly, which one will be the best choice for you?
To answer these questions, I’ve created an in-depth Udemy vs Skillshare comparison. I’ll tell you all about their prices, course quality, instructors and much more.
Let’s make a Start!
Table of Content
Udemy Vs Skillshare Summary
Udemy is one of the most popular online learning platforms on the market offering more than 200K courses. Its wide range of topics include Development, Business, Music and much more. Each individual course can set you back anywhere between $19.99 and $199.99. Skillshare, by contrast, focuses on creative topics like Graphic Design, Photography, Animation and more offering 35,000+ courses. Skillshare is a subscription-based platform that costs $167.88 annually, a 1-month free trial is included when you first sign up. Udemy, on the other hand, has a bunch of free courses for you to try before buying.
Let’s dive in and examine both providers in detail, so by the end of this comparison, you’ll know if Skillshare or Udemy is right for you.
Round 1: Which One Is More Popular?
As you can see in the Google Trends screenshot below, when it comes to popularity, there’s one clear winner: Udemy
Udemy and Skillshare popularity at Google Trends
Udemy is the biggest and one of the most popular online learning platforms on the market. Udemy has grown to have 57+ million learners and offers 213,000+ courses in 75 languages available. Its wide variety of categories means there is something for everyone.
Skillshare’s numbers seem very humble when compared to Udemy’s. Skillshare has grown quite a bit since it was first founded in 2010: it has over 35,000+ classes and more than 8 million students – not bad if you think they target a smaller niche (creatives and entrepreneurs).
Winner: The fact that Udemy is far more popular than Skillshare globally the point has to go to them.
So, we kick things off with the first point going to Udemy 1 – 0
Round 2: Ease-of-Use & Interface
Alright, we all want easy to follow and intuitive interfaces and straightforward workflows, so let’s find out which one provides the easiest to use system. Shall we?
Registration
The registration process at Udemy is very simple To create an account you’ll only need your name, email and set a password. After that, you’ll only need to confirm the email that they send you.
Udemy registration process
Skillshare works similarly. You can create your account by simply adding an email account and a password. On top of that, you are also allowed to create an account using your Gmail or Facebook account.
Backend & Design
Once you log in at Udemy you’ll realize that an effort has been made to keep the interface intuitive and well-designed. I like how easy it is to create your own ‘Collection’ of courses organized using the same topics (e.g. programming, design, etc.).
The actual course interface is also very smartly designed. Besides the usual video player options (playback speed, video quality, subtitle management, etc.), you also can add a note to a certain moment of a video (see image below).
Udemy adding a note to a lesson
It’s also very convenient how the course lessons are organized in the right-hand sidebar (above image). It provides easy access to each chapter and lesson of the course. You can also tick or untick each lesson to keep track of your progress.
Access Udemy using your favourite internet browser on laptops and desktops, or download the iOS or Android app to watch courses on the go.
Skillshare also offers a way to create course lists to keep your resources organized and adding notes to your courses. I would say that its design is good, but maybe not as modern-looking as Udemy’s (not a big issue though).
Skillshare video player options
The Skillshare’s video player isn’t as advanced as Udemy’s, it lacks some options like being able to set up the video quality or managing captions. The course sidebar with the lessons is also a more simple version of Udemy’s.
As with Udemy, Skillshare is available for desktops and laptops using a browser, and via apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android devices. You won’t be able to watch courses offline with the free version.
Winner: Both are super easy to use, and this is a tough call, but I think Udemy is a bit fancier looking and a tiny bit easier to use.
A couple of questions that you’ll need to ask yourself before choosing between Udemy or Skillshare are: What platform has more choice? Which one allows you to choose easily?
Course Information
A big issue of these platforms is how to filter the vast offering they have. With thousands of online courses available, you could spend days choosing your next class. So they all make efforts to make your life a bit easier.
Skillshare offers some categories to browse its library, you’ll be able to narrow down your searches by topic (currently it has 16 categories). There are also a couple of filters that will offer a more defined search: free vs paid courses when the course was created and the class duration. There is also a section with ‘Recommended Classes’, a selection of internally picked Skillshare classes.
Skillshare filters
All Skillshare courses come with information about the class structure, access to resources and a presentation video about the course and the instructor. There is also an easy way to assess the course level (e.g. beginner, intermediate or advanced), this is based on students’ feedback. Finally, the review section of each course will allow you to read what other students think about a certain course – this is a bit basic as it doesn’t have an aggregated value.
Udemy offers a similar approach. All its courses are classified into topics (13 categories and dozens of subcategories). Udemy’s filters are much more advanced as you have more flexibility, filter by level, student rating, language, duration, available resources and more.
Udemy filters
There is also the ability to read reviews from other users, a video presentation of the course and the instructor and a useful summary of the available resources (e.g. assignments and quizzes).
In terms of the number of courses, Udemy offers a 6 times larger class repository (150,000) and 8,000 free courses versus 2,500 complementary courses from Skillshare and over 25,000 premium courses.
The course quality is difficult to assess, as pretty much everyone can publish on both elearning platforms. Both Udemy and Skillshare have formal requirements instructors must meet (e.g. HD videos, minimum length and educational goals). However, some of the courses at Skillshare are produced internally and by big companies (e.g. Moz, Adobe or Mailchimp), so maybe they offer a tiny bit more.
Winner: Sure, Udemy makes it easier for you to read reviews and find courses, but since I believe the course quality is a bit higher at Skillshare, the point goes for them.
Skillshare is now in the running with the score at 2 – 1
Popular Skillshare & Udemy Courses
Let me mention a couple of popular Udemy and Skillshare courses to get an idea of what types of topics they cover:
Udemy Courses:
Complete Guitar System – Beginner to Advanced – This is a course that has taught around 150,000 people how to play the guitar. It is around 35 hours long and over 15,000 reviews gave it a 4.4. out of 5.
Complete Python Bootcamp: Go from zero to hero in Python 3 – Jose Portilla’s Python course is a Udemy top seller, more than 900,000 people have enrolled in the course. There are 24 hours of lessons and past students awarded a 4.5 out of 5 to this course.
The Complete Financial Analyst Course 2020 – There are also courses about finances, this one was joined by almost 200,000 students and has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.
Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography – This Udemy best seller is a 22-hour long course that will teach anyone how to take better pictures. Around 150,000 students have enrolled and it has a 4.6 out of 5 in the reviews.
Intro to UX: Fundamentals of Usability – Marieke McCloskey teaches in this Skillshare Original course the fundamentals of usability and user experience. So far around 15,000 students have seen this on-demand video course.
Learn How Young Guru Engineers for Jay Z: An Introduction to Audio Recording – This course has taught, more or less, 6,000 people sound engineering in 9 lessons (44 minutes in total).
YouTube Success: Build an Authentic Channel That’s Worth the Follow – Another popular Skillshare Original that has shown around 12,000 people how to build a YouTube audience more effectively.
The JavaScript Toolkit: Write Cleaner, Faster & Better Code – This JavaScript Skillshare Original shows students how to write better JavaScript. 6,000 users have enrolled in this course so far.
I have to say that some of the questions I get asked a lot are related to free courses. What platform is better for free courses?
Browse Udemy Free Courses
Udemy offers close to 600 free courses which are a simplified experience with limited features. For example, you won’t receive a certificate of completion when you complete the course and additional features like Q&A and direct messaging aren’t available. Which means, although Udemy is generous to offer free courses, you won’t necessarily get the full learning experience.
Skillshare recently stopped offering any free classes and now the only way to check out the platform and its classes is by signing up for the premium plan, which will give you access to a free trial. The free trial will give you full access to the platform and its 35,000+ creative classes. By registering for the premium plan, you will get the full learning experience of the platform and are free to cancel before the trial ends so that you won’t be charged anything. Skillshare’s current free trial offer is for 1-month which gives you plenty of time to test the waters and decide if it’s worth keeping.
Winner: As Udemy offers a small selection of free courses and Skillshare a free trial. It’s a hard call to pick one platform over the other, so I will have to give a point to each.
That leaves the score at 3 – 2
Round 5: Available Languages At Skillshare & Udemy
Alright, I promise this will be a short round.
Whilst Skillshare encourages teaching in any language, the reality is that their community is primarily English speaking. It does have several language learning courses (e.g. for Spanish, German or French), but I haven’t been able to find courses about other topics in other languages than English.
Udemy courses in other languages
On the other hand, Udemy does offer courses in many other languages, even some of the English courses have subtitles in Spanish, German or French. In fact, Udemy incorporates a filter to find courses in several languages (see image above).
Winner: This point has to go to Udemy with the sheer quantity of languages offered.
Udemy takes this one at 4 – 2.
Round 6: Udemy Vs Skillshare Certificates
Certificates are good to make your CV more appealing or to hang them on your office, they can help you get a better job or a juicy promotion. However, they have to be issued by a credible institution.
Once you complete an Udemy course, you’ll be able to print a completion certificate. However, Udemy is not an accredited institution, so there’s no real formal value for you. Note that free courses don’t include completion certificates.
Example of Udemy certificate
Skillshare doesn’t provide a certificate after you complete a course, fair enough.
Winner: Since Skillshare doesn’t issue certificates and the ones Udemy issues aren’t accredited, no one gets a point for this round.
Check out Coursera or edX as an alternative if you are looking for an accredited certificate.
Round 7: Skillshare Vs Udemy Teachers & Community
Udemy is open to anyone who is willing to put in a huge effort to create a course, of course, you have to meet some requirements, and you can’t just put together a poor quality 10-minute course about a topic. But yes, if you are willing to put the effort and create a course, you’ll be able to sell it on Udemy. Udemy itselfcreates its own courses(known as Udemy official courses) that are produced by the Udemy Instructor team.
And with Skillshare it is the same case. This elearning platform is open to anyone who is eager to teach a course. Like Udemy, Skillshare also produces some of its own courses(known as Skillshare Originals), and they team up with very successful professionals and companies to push some amazing classes.
SEO course from Moz at Skillshare
For example, you can find a beginner SEO course taught by Rand Fishkin, one of the most important SEO experts in the world – equivalent to having Michael Jordan teaching you basketball fundamentals.
Both Skillshare and Udemy have a way for students to communicate and interact with each other. Having a narrower range of topics and working on a subscription model, I think benefits Skillshare here and its community is a bit more engaged.
Winner: Having a more engaged community and featuring big industry professionals and companies as instructors, this point goes to Skillshare.
Skillshare is catching up with the score at 4 – 3.
Round 8: Is Skillshare or Udemy’s Support Better
Alright, one thing that we all get frustrated with is slow support and bad customer care, right?
Udemy has a well-organized knowledge base with tutorials and guides on how its platform works, it’s also easy to find the information you need about the prices and terms of use.
Udemy support
It’s not easy to contact Udemy with your questions, you can try contacting Udemy’s support via email at support@udemy.com or pestering them on social media.
On the other hand, Skillshare’s knowledge base is a bit more rudimentary, and sometimes I found its support articles a bit thin (not detailed enough). However, reaching out to their support is easy (by email at help@skillshare.com) and I always had a good experience with them – support seems slower when you have a free account, but hey, it’s free.
Winner: Both have good and bad things, so Udemy gets a point for having a clearer support system, and Skillshare gets it because it has friendlier support.
Things are getting exciting, the score is now 5 – 4 with Udemy still out in front.
Round 9: Which One Is Better for Businesses
Elearning platforms are a great way to have your team or company improving skills and learning new drills, especially for fast-changing industries such as marketing or development.
Skillshare offers a Team plan that gives employees unlimited access to 35,000+ courses. The plan is designed for teams of any size, and costs $159 per user annually.
Skillshare teams plans
Udemy offers 3 different business plans. The Team plan is for 5 – 20 users, costing $360 a year per user. Then there is the Enterprise plan for more than 21 users which is custom priced and finally the Leadership Development Program, again custom priced.
Winner: It’s another hard one to pick as Udemy offers more courses, but it’s way more expensive than Skillshare. So, another point for both.
The score is left at 6-5 with Udemy still leading.
Round 10: Udemy Vs Skillshare Pricing
Probably the most important category is the pricing, it’s great if a platform comes with all the blows and whistles, but if you are not able to afford it won’t be useful for you.
Both Udemy and Skillshare have different pricing models, so let me explain to you how much they are.
Udemy
Skillshare
Premium courses
~213,000+
~35,000+
Free courses
600
Free Trial
Platforms
Desktop, iOS & Android
Desktop, iOS & Android
Prices
$19.00 to $199.99 a course
$167.88 annual plan (working out at $13.99 a month)
Unless you have an Udemy Business plan (not cheap), you’ll have to pay for each Udemy course ($19.99 – $199.99 a course) you’d like to enrol. If you only need a couple of courses that’s OK, but if you are planning on becoming an expert in a field, you will most likely need several resources to get your game up. That’s when Udemy could get a bit expensive. Saying that, Udemy does often run sales and discounts on its courses, giving out codes and coupons which then makes the platform more affordable.
On the other hand, Skillshare’s premium plan gives you access to the full library of classes for $167.88 working out at just $13.99. When you consider the number of classes you can access and the free trial, it seems too good to be true.
Winner: This is a tricky one as if you prefer the idea of purchasing just an individual course then Udemy makes sense. Whereas Skillshares premium subscription plan means you will have access to the full library of classes (35,000+) works out as a complete bargain. Due to the fact both platforms are offering different payment options, a point will have to go to each.
Which leaves us at 7 – 6 with Udemy the winner of this comparison.
Bonus Round: Udemy & Skillshare Alternatives
There are a bunch of cases in which Udemy and Skillshare aren’t good matches. For example, you need accredited certificates, or when you are looking for career advice and help to write your CV.
So let me mention a couple of alternatives you should consider:
Coursera
If you are after earning an accredited degree certificate, Udemy and Skillshare won’t get you one, Coursera partners with universities like Duke, Michigan or Johns Hopkins. This obviously means that the courses that they produce are the best around (with edX’s permission).
Coursera is a good alternative to Skillshare and Udemy
Most Coursera courses are free to join, but if you need a certificate you’ll have to purchase a paid version. Coursera has several types of courses: individual ($29 to $100), Specializations ($39 to $89 a month), yearly subscriptions ($399) and even full degrees (starting at $15,000 per program).
Similarly to Coursera, edX offers courses from leading universities like Harvard, The University of Texas, MIT or Berkeley. You’ll be able to earn accredited certificates too for industries such as business, computer science, engineering or humanities.
edX can be a good alternative to Udemy or Skillshare
There are several free courses, but if you’d like to get a certificate from edX, you’ll need to pay for the course ($50 to $300 depending on the course).
Udacity doesn’t offer as many courses as Udemy or Skillshare, but it creates its own resources partnering with leading companies for all their courses (e.g. Google, Mercedes or Nvidia). The list of topics they cover is also limited (mainly business and technology), but the areas are almost Sci-fi (from AI to autonomous driving).
Udacity career advice
There are also a bunch of free courses (about 200). It groups its courses into Nanodegrees, a bundle of 4 to 10 subjects that will let you deepen in a topic. Career advice is also offered and its certificates, even if they are not accredited, certificates are taken seriously by many companies.
However, it won’t be cheap, a Nanodegree will cost you between $700 to $2,000 depending on its duration.
Alright, after this long and detailed comparison, I hope it has helped you choose the right platform for you. To conclude, I have highlighted each platform’s strengths and weaknesses.
Udemy Pros
Affordable: Udemy courses are highly affordable, with prices ranging from $11.99 to $199.99, making it accessible for many.
Free Courses: Learners can take advantage of Udemy’s library of nearly 600 free courses on various subjects, including Investing, Excel, Animation and much more.
Refund Policy: Udemy’s 30-day refund policy is extremely generous, meaning learners can get a full refund within the first month of purchase.
Wide Selection: Udemy boosts the largest collection of online courses. on the market, with over 213,000 courses spanning across 13 categories and numerous subcategories.
Udemy Cons
Non-Accredited Certificates: Udemy does provide a certificate upon completing a course, the certificate isn’t accredited by external partners like a University or Organization.
Lack of Quality: Since anyone can become an Udemy instructor, the quality of its courses may not be guaranteed. It’s important to research the instructor and course thoroughly before enrolling.
Free Trial: Skillshare’s free trial on its premium plan, gives you full access to its platform and its 35,000 classes.
Affordable: Its affordable subscription plan is excellent value for money, allowing learners to access a vast library of classes.
Interactive: Skillshare’s classes are designed to be interactive and engaging, with hands-on projects that learners must submit to ensure a practical learning experience.
Engaged Community: Skillshare boasts an active and engaged community, providing a space for learners to interact, ask questions, and receive feedback from peers.
Skillshare Cons
No Accreditation: Skillshare’s classes are created and designed by individuals, therefore aren’t accredited by an external partner like a University or Organization. If an accreditation is what you are looking for, it may be worth checking out platforms like Coursera.
Instructor Quality: As individuals design and create Skillshare’s classes, there may be variation in the quality of the classes. It’s important you do your due diligence before enrolling in a class.
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions, and I’ll do my best to help you out.
Review Updates:
16/03/23 – Udemy Vs Skillshare Pros & Cons
17/02/23 – Udemy Vs Skillshare Summary Updated
15/01/23 – Udemy Vs Skillshare Update
26/11/21 Udemy Vs Skillshare Quiz
01/10/21 Skillshare Pricing
19/05/21 Free Courses at Udemy & Skillshare
Catherine Cooke
Hey. I am Catherine and I have been working as a freelancer for many years now. In 2005, I graduated from a BA honours in Art & Design from BCU and then went onto complete a Master’s Degree in Teaching from UEL. The skills I gained from learning and teaching have led me to create Upskillwise, a place for learners like myself to find the best possible resources and courses to train and upskill themselves, either personally or professionally. If you have a question, please feel free to ask me anything or leave me a comment.
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Carmine
2 months ago
Thank you for the comparison. I just want to point out that there seems to be a discrepancy in the scoring when we got to Round 4.
Round 1: 1-0 Udemy
Round 2: 1-1 Skillshare
Round 3: 2-2 Udemy and Skillshare
Round 4: Point goes to Udemy so standing should be 3-2 and not 3-3, right? Or am I missing something?
While I respect your review and the outcome, I think the math should be accurate.
And yes, as others have requested, please compare Udemy, Skillshare, and the like as platforms for course creators.
Thanks, Matt. So happy you found the comparison helpful 🙂
Noelle
10 months ago
This is an excellent article. I am sold on skillshare now, however when I clicked on your link to it, the offer changed to a 7 day free trial, not 30 days. I was able to find another link on the internet to a 30 day trial but I am wondering if you have had anyone else notice the issue with the link you provided? I would prefer you get the credit for my signup rather than some random link I found.
Hey Noelle. Thanks for getting in touch, that is strange that the link only offers you a 7-day free trial. You can try this link and you should receive your 1-month free trial. Let me know if that works? 🙂
C Nabi
11 months ago
This truly a good article, it explains the pros and cons thoroughly. however, it appears to me that a yearly subscription with skillshare is affordable and it is equal to having dinner out twice. we ‘human beings’ think too much when it comes to learning and not as much when it comes to eating, not long ago, we would pay hefty prices to learn little compared to what is offered today. don’t think too much. knowledge is power. There is another thing I want to add, is that you can pick up some quality courses from udemy when you want… Read more »
Hey Nabi, Thanks so much for your comment. It is so true what you say. We should all put more value on learning, and it really is a way for us to grow personally and professionally. Good luck with your learning journey 🙂
Hhey Earnest, Thanks for your comment. It really does depend on what you are looking for from an online learning platform and what it is you want to study. If you could elaborate a little? I can give you some advice and point you in the right direction? 🙂
AAKASH RAJ
1 year ago
Thanks for putting your effort in explaining this whole stuff. After reading I get an clear idea of what to choose. Happy with this article. Keep up
Thank you, Brij. Happy the content is valuable and informative. We do our best to keep it updated and relevant 🙂
Carl Wilson
1 year ago
Hi Catherine – thanks for this in-depth article. Like you, I’m more interested in creative courses – drawing, painting, pastels, etc. I believe you mentioned that Skillshare is geared more towards those kinds of courses? The $168 is just a steep price to pay all up front …
Thanks Carl, for your comment. Happy to hear your another creative like me. It is true, the Skillhare premium plan can seem a little costly upfront. It may be worth you trying out the Skillshare one month free trial to get a taste of the platform. Really, hope you find the platform for you 🙂
Thanks, Fahad. Happy the article was so helpful for and you’re team. Happy learning 🙂
Hasib
1 year ago
It’s informative.
I want to learn different things and I also want to apply for US universities as an international. So I also need some certificates that reveals my co-curriculars. But coursera and eDX is much expensive.
Btw, thanks for the info!
Thanks Hasib for your comment. Yes, Coursera and edX come with a higher price tag due to the fact its courses are partnered with Universities and Organizations. Good luck and happy learning 🙂
Lily
1 year ago
Catherine, this comparison is much appreciated! I’ve tried both Udemy and Skillshare, and find there are more classes for painters on Skillshare.
BUT have you found out how to winkle out a “Top Teacher” on Skillshare? There’s not filter that helps you find them so I’m stumbling about a lot!
Meanwhile thank you for such a thorough and helpful deep dive into both!
You are welcome, Lily. Happy you have been able to try out both platforms. It’s true, Skillshare doesn’t have a direct filter to find the top teachers. I find by filtering the most popular classes if gives you an indication that these classes may have top teachers, but it isn’t a guarantee. Anyways keep enjoying these platforms as they both have so much to offer 🙂
Maria
1 year ago
Thanks so much for the in depth comparison! This was very helpful!
Great article, but for me Udemy is better. Udemy is very quick to refund money to dissatisfied customers and the variety of course subject surpasses Skillshare. Skill share focuses on one theme and if you are not a creative you quickly find that the subscription is a waste. With Udemy, there is no subscription and the certificates satisfies professional association continue education requirements.
Thanks Tina for your comment. I am happy to hear you have had such a great experience with Udemy. I agree for some learners like yourself Udemy makes more sense 🙂
Shaheer Alam
1 year ago
If only every article was as clean and informative as this, my knowledge on everything would expand so much more
Thanks so much Andrei 🙂 Really happy it was so helpful and useful 🙏
JAYINI GHOSH
1 year ago
Loved your detailed and in depth comparisons. The analysis of both the e-learning platforms is so helpful. Thanks ton for the article. The information about other e-learning platforms are also precise and useful. 🙏👍
Thanks, Mashuka. Really happy that you enjoyed the article 🙂
Henri
1 year ago
Hello Catherine, thanks for the great and informative article. Much appreciated! 1- So, do you think it is possible for an instructor to teach both on Udemy as well as Skillshare without objection of one or the other? And 2: and if so, will they then do less to promote your work?
Your thoughts wellcome. Thank you, Henri
Hey Henri, I am happy to hear you found the article informative and helpful. In reply to your questions 1. I think it’s possible for you to teach on both platforms, you may need to adapt the course content for each one. In terms of being partial to one, it would need for you to keep a professional head on it, as I am sure there will be aspects of each platform you will prefer. 2. I am sure less work would be needed if you plan to teach the same course, but with variations to the content. I hope… Read more »
Hey Thanh Vo. That’s because you have the same teacher creating this course. At both Skillshare and Udemy teachers are the creators of their courses and they are free to advertise in multiple platforms 🙂
Fanta
1 year ago
Hello, thanks for the article!
I see there are a lot of things to consider to choose between these two. If I want to learn art and design for a considerably long time, I should use Skillshare for its wide selection of high quality courses, is my assumption correct?
Hey Fanta, Thank you for your message. Yes, this is true, there is a lot to consider when deciding between Udemy and Skillshare. If you are looking for a long-term course in art and design for a potential career opportunity or deepening your knowledge, then Skillshare would be a better option. Plus the fact that with the subscription you have access to all its art and design related courses, so you won’t have to commit to just one course 🙂
Jaggu
1 year ago
Udemy, Skillshare, Udacity, edX, Coursera
Between these which one is the best?
Hey Jaggu. Thanks for your comment. That is a hard one to answer as all these platforms offer something different. Udemy and Skillshare are great for learning a new skill or hobby. Udacity is excellent for learning technology skills of the future. Whilst edX and Coursera both offer verified certifications with its paid courses and learning programs. It is important for you to consider your personal needs like time, budget, purpose of the course. I have reviewed all these platforms and linked them here, so it may be both checking them out to help you make your decision. Good luck… Read more »
Marie H. Trope Zanzal
1 year ago
Hi Catherine. Thank you for this interesting and very helpful comparison. I read it not as a student (I actually use both platforms) but as a hopeful instructor. And I was wondering if you’d be able to compare Skillshare and Udemy from the instructor’s point of view. Many thanks.
Thanks Marie for your comment. I am happy you enjoyed the comparison. That is a great point and something I will add to the review. I will let you know when I have updated the review 🙂
Or
1 year ago
Hi if I will like to learn about business which platform is the winner? like storytelling communication and so on..
Hey Or. Both Udemy and Skillshare offer fantastic courses on this topic, but I would say Udemy’s course on Storytelling for Business maybe what you are looking for, you can check it out here. It has a 4.7 rating out of 5 and close to 6,000 students have taken the course. I hope that is helpful and let me know what you decide 🙂
You are welcome. It is true Skillshare has some fantastic courses on communication, copywriting and public speaking too. If you are planning to take multiple courses then Skillshare is a good option for you as with the premium paid plan, you will have access to 27,000+ classes. Whereas with Udemy, you pay for each course individually. I hope that helps 🙂
I am a fan of both. I have used Udemy and Skillshare for graphic design courses in the past and liked them both for different reasons. Udemy for its easy-to-follow video and content and Skillshare for its engaged community and the mobile app is pretty cool. If you get the chance I would try out both 🙂
Catherine, it’s a good comparison but I’d like you to add some information. Please check it out and add this information to your post to make it correct – and fair.
Thanks Catherine, those Udemy discounts make a lot of difference to me. I wouldn’t be able to afford all the courses that I bought from them if I didn’t buy them on sale.
If I like the course, I invest in another course by the same and the instructor, and I tell everyone about them. It’s a win-win.
Thank you, Mustafa. Happy you found it so helpful 🙂
Barry
2 years ago
Excellent analysis! However, I have a different angle for you to weigh in on.
For a course creator, which of the two platforms would offer the best return for:
a. A professional development-oriented course
and separately,
b. A life-long learning course (art and design)
a. Udemy would be best for professional development as they offer certificates
b. Skillshare for life-long learning course (art and design) due to its wide selection of courses and high-quality teaching.
I hope that answers your question and that you pick the right platform for you.
Karl
2 years ago
It’s so rare that Google suggests a search term to you and the first link you click (being this one in my case) is far more informative than you were expecting. Thanks a lot 🙂
Hi Catherine, I am looking for getting valid certificates to help write my cv. I’m currently studying in last year of school. I’ve taken up Business Math with Accountancy, Economics and Commerce.
I wish to pursue Chartered Accountancy in the future. Could you please suggest any courses and the platforms they’re offered at which will help me gain knowledge related to my stream…?
Thanks for your message. edX offers a good variety of accounting courses from Management Accounting, Financial Accounting and Accountant in Business which are all accredited with a valid certificate. The other platform I think is worth looking at is Coursera whose courses are all accrediated aswell, plus they have many degrees and masters courses. I hope that is helpful 🙂
Thanks for replying. I’ll definitely check it out.
Yana
2 years ago
Thanks for very detailed comparison of the two. I casually stumbled on yours while googling Skillshare and found this very helpful. I almost never leave a comment on a blog, but I think I should, so you’ll be encouraged
Thanks so much Sandip. I am glad you found it so helpful 🙂
nancy
2 years ago
I’m surprised no one has commented on this GREAT comparison of the two contenders you reviewed. I’ve researched them myself and found that your review hit the mark on most of the things I discovered, as well as some things I had not considered. Although I’ve provided my insights and findings, I will share your review with my friends and coworkers since its much better organized and thorough. Many of them are looking for good choices to invest their time, money, and attention to – especially during COVID ‘home arrest’ when we’re looking for a beneficial alternative to supplement (or… Read more »
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Thank you for the comparison. I just want to point out that there seems to be a discrepancy in the scoring when we got to Round 4.
Round 1: 1-0 Udemy
Round 2: 1-1 Skillshare
Round 3: 2-2 Udemy and Skillshare
Round 4: Point goes to Udemy so standing should be 3-2 and not 3-3, right? Or am I missing something?
While I respect your review and the outcome, I think the math should be accurate.
And yes, as others have requested, please compare Udemy, Skillshare, and the like as platforms for course creators.
Again, thank you.
Thank you, Carmine, for pointing this out. I’ve actually given the article a bit of an update including the different rounds 🙂
Very well written for compare and contrast.
Thanks, Matt. So happy you found the comparison helpful 🙂
This is an excellent article. I am sold on skillshare now, however when I clicked on your link to it, the offer changed to a 7 day free trial, not 30 days. I was able to find another link on the internet to a 30 day trial but I am wondering if you have had anyone else notice the issue with the link you provided? I would prefer you get the credit for my signup rather than some random link I found.
Hey Noelle. Thanks for getting in touch, that is strange that the link only offers you a 7-day free trial. You can try this link and you should receive your 1-month free trial. Let me know if that works? 🙂
This truly a good article, it explains the pros and cons thoroughly. however, it appears to me that a yearly subscription with skillshare is affordable and it is equal to having dinner out twice. we ‘human beings’ think too much when it comes to learning and not as much when it comes to eating, not long ago, we would pay hefty prices to learn little compared to what is offered today. don’t think too much. knowledge is power. There is another thing I want to add, is that you can pick up some quality courses from udemy when you want… Read more »
Hey Nabi, Thanks so much for your comment. It is so true what you say. We should all put more value on learning, and it really is a way for us to grow personally and professionally. Good luck with your learning journey 🙂
Beautiful article. Thumbs up to you
Thank you Victor. Really happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Thank you for sharing such a great insight..it’s given me a good perspective to understand both the platform better.
Thank you, Sudeshna. Happy you now have a good perspective of both platforms 🙂
Can you please also advice me which one is best among the below learning platform.
Udemy Edvanza Skillshare Pluralsight
Hhey Earnest, Thanks for your comment. It really does depend on what you are looking for from an online learning platform and what it is you want to study. If you could elaborate a little? I can give you some advice and point you in the right direction? 🙂
Thanks for putting your effort in explaining this whole stuff. After reading I get an clear idea of what to choose. Happy with this article. Keep up
Thank you Raj. Really happy you have a clearer idea of each of the platforms now. Happy learning 🙂
Thank you for sharing this valuable content, it is very informative and informal. I hope you keep updating us.
Thank you, Brij. Happy the content is valuable and informative. We do our best to keep it updated and relevant 🙂
Hi Catherine – thanks for this in-depth article. Like you, I’m more interested in creative courses – drawing, painting, pastels, etc. I believe you mentioned that Skillshare is geared more towards those kinds of courses? The $168 is just a steep price to pay all up front …
Thanks Carl, for your comment. Happy to hear your another creative like me. It is true, the Skillhare premium plan can seem a little costly upfront. It may be worth you trying out the Skillshare one month free trial to get a taste of the platform. Really, hope you find the platform for you 🙂
This article made my decision clear. Thanks.
Thanks, Cecil. Really happy the article was helpful to you. Happy learning 🙂
really helpful article, as I already used both this review is on point.
Thanks so much, Radi. So happy you agree with the review and find it helpful 🙂
Super helpful article. I’m looking for a resource for my team to learn. Now it is so much easier to choose. Thank you for your hard work!
Thanks, Fahad. Happy the article was so helpful for and you’re team. Happy learning 🙂
It’s informative.
I want to learn different things and I also want to apply for US universities as an international. So I also need some certificates that reveals my co-curriculars. But coursera and eDX is much expensive.
Btw, thanks for the info!
Thanks Hasib for your comment. Yes, Coursera and edX come with a higher price tag due to the fact its courses are partnered with Universities and Organizations. Good luck and happy learning 🙂
Catherine, this comparison is much appreciated! I’ve tried both Udemy and Skillshare, and find there are more classes for painters on Skillshare.
BUT have you found out how to winkle out a “Top Teacher” on Skillshare? There’s not filter that helps you find them so I’m stumbling about a lot!
Meanwhile thank you for such a thorough and helpful deep dive into both!
You are welcome, Lily. Happy you have been able to try out both platforms. It’s true, Skillshare doesn’t have a direct filter to find the top teachers. I find by filtering the most popular classes if gives you an indication that these classes may have top teachers, but it isn’t a guarantee. Anyways keep enjoying these platforms as they both have so much to offer 🙂
Thanks so much for the in depth comparison! This was very helpful!
You are welcome, Maria. So happy it was helpful 🙂
Hello Caherine, thanks for the article!
Thank you Fadhil. You are very welcome 🙂
Great Article
Thanks Sandara. Happy the article was helpful 🙂
Great article, but for me Udemy is better. Udemy is very quick to refund money to dissatisfied customers and the variety of course subject surpasses Skillshare. Skill share focuses on one theme and if you are not a creative you quickly find that the subscription is a waste. With Udemy, there is no subscription and the certificates satisfies professional association continue education requirements.
Thanks Tina for your comment. I am happy to hear you have had such a great experience with Udemy. I agree for some learners like yourself Udemy makes more sense 🙂
If only every article was as clean and informative as this, my knowledge on everything would expand so much more
That’s really kind, Shaheer. So happy the article was so helpful for you 🙂
Thank you so much for this info, it’s very useful, and you’ve obviously put a lot of effort into it, so thank you, and congrats once again!
Thanks so much Andrei 🙂 Really happy it was so helpful and useful 🙏
Loved your detailed and in depth comparisons. The analysis of both the e-learning platforms is so helpful. Thanks ton for the article. The information about other e-learning platforms are also precise and useful. 🙏👍
Thank you Jayni. So happy you enjoyed the comparison and the reviews on other platforms. Happy learning 🙂
Wow! This is excellent write up/ review thank you
Thank you Gabriel. So happy you enjoyed it and the article has helped you 🙂
YOU DID A GREAT JOB. AMAZING WRITE UP .
Thanks, Mashuka. Really happy that you enjoyed the article 🙂
Hello Catherine, thanks for the great and informative article. Much appreciated! 1- So, do you think it is possible for an instructor to teach both on Udemy as well as Skillshare without objection of one or the other? And 2: and if so, will they then do less to promote your work?
Your thoughts wellcome. Thank you, Henri
Hey Henri, I am happy to hear you found the article informative and helpful. In reply to your questions 1. I think it’s possible for you to teach on both platforms, you may need to adapt the course content for each one. In terms of being partial to one, it would need for you to keep a professional head on it, as I am sure there will be aspects of each platform you will prefer. 2. I am sure less work would be needed if you plan to teach the same course, but with variations to the content. I hope… Read more »
I am learning at Skillshare, and I saw some courses look exactly the same as Udemy. For example
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.skillshare.com/classes/To-Do-App-with-Clean-Architecture-Android-Development-Kotlin/661568231&ved=2ahUKEwievdaR36TzAhWKzpQKHaYcDx4QtwJ6BAg2EAE&usg=AOvVaw1aXX7h4q_S5Pnsnfn72ho4
and
https://www.udemy.com/course/to-do-app-clean-architecture-android-development-kotlin/
Hey Thanh Vo. That’s because you have the same teacher creating this course. At both Skillshare and Udemy teachers are the creators of their courses and they are free to advertise in multiple platforms 🙂
Hello, thanks for the article!
I see there are a lot of things to consider to choose between these two. If I want to learn art and design for a considerably long time, I should use Skillshare for its wide selection of high quality courses, is my assumption correct?
Hey Fanta, Thank you for your message. Yes, this is true, there is a lot to consider when deciding between Udemy and Skillshare. If you are looking for a long-term course in art and design for a potential career opportunity or deepening your knowledge, then Skillshare would be a better option. Plus the fact that with the subscription you have access to all its art and design related courses, so you won’t have to commit to just one course 🙂
Udemy, Skillshare, Udacity, edX, Coursera
Between these which one is the best?
Hey Jaggu. Thanks for your comment. That is a hard one to answer as all these platforms offer something different. Udemy and Skillshare are great for learning a new skill or hobby. Udacity is excellent for learning technology skills of the future. Whilst edX and Coursera both offer verified certifications with its paid courses and learning programs. It is important for you to consider your personal needs like time, budget, purpose of the course. I have reviewed all these platforms and linked them here, so it may be both checking them out to help you make your decision. Good luck… Read more »
Hi Catherine. Thank you for this interesting and very helpful comparison. I read it not as a student (I actually use both platforms) but as a hopeful instructor. And I was wondering if you’d be able to compare Skillshare and Udemy from the instructor’s point of view. Many thanks.
Thanks Marie for your comment. I am happy you enjoyed the comparison. That is a great point and something I will add to the review. I will let you know when I have updated the review 🙂
Hi if I will like to learn about business which platform is the winner? like storytelling communication and so on..
Hey Or. Both Udemy and Skillshare offer fantastic courses on this topic, but I would say Udemy’s course on Storytelling for Business maybe what you are looking for, you can check it out here. It has a 4.7 rating out of 5 and close to 6,000 students have taken the course. I hope that is helpful and let me know what you decide 🙂
Thank you very much. But if I want to learn other things like communication, copywriting and public speaking… which one is the best? and by the way there is a Storytelling course in Skillshare: https://www.skillshare.com/classes/Storytelling-for-Leaders-How-to-Craft-Stories-That-Matter/1980968673/reviews. What do you think?
You are welcome. It is true Skillshare has some fantastic courses on communication, copywriting and public speaking too. If you are planning to take multiple courses then Skillshare is a good option for you as with the premium paid plan, you will have access to 27,000+ classes. Whereas with Udemy, you pay for each course individually. I hope that helps 🙂
Thank you it was very helpful. By the way, which platform do you use the most? waiting for you answer… have a good day 🙂
I am a fan of both. I have used Udemy and Skillshare for graphic design courses in the past and liked them both for different reasons. Udemy for its easy-to-follow video and content and Skillshare for its engaged community and the mobile app is pretty cool. If you get the chance I would try out both 🙂
Thank you very much for your fast response I appreciate that! Have a nice day!
You are welcome. Have a fantastic day too 🙂
Thank you. Your explanation with others options such as coursera or EDX that I didn’t know was really good👌🙏
Thank you, Ralph. Really happy it was helpful and happy learning:)
yo thank you so much this was so helpful in what I should do. 🙂
Thanks so much Novian. So happy it helped you 🙂
Thanks for This Article
You are welcome James 🙂
Thx for this info.
Thanks Joan. Happy you found it so helpful 🙂
Thanks Grazina for your information, it is really helpful. I have added both points to round 6 and 9, hopefully that gives a fairer comparision 🙂
Thanks Catherine, those Udemy discounts make a lot of difference to me. I wouldn’t be able to afford all the courses that I bought from them if I didn’t buy them on sale.
If I like the course, I invest in another course by the same and the instructor, and I tell everyone about them. It’s a win-win.
It is true Grazina. The discounts at Udemy make its course affordable and accessible. There is nothing better than a word of mouth recommendation 🙂
Which one did you end up choosing for graphic design? That’s what I want to do as well…
Hey Anya, I have actually done graphic design courses from both. If you are a complete beginner I really recommend a Skillshare class Graphic Design Basics: Core Principles for Visual Design or if you’re looking to learn Photoshop you can try out Adobe Photoshop CC – Essentials Training Course I hope that helps and good luck on your graphic design path 🙂
Thanks Catherine 🙂
Super helpful article. I’m looking for a resource for my team to learn. Now it is so much easier to choose. Thank you for your hard work!
Thanks, Constantin. Pleased this article helped you so much. Happy learning 🙂
Thank you for fantastic article it helped me a lot
Thank you, Mustafa. Happy you found it so helpful 🙂
Excellent analysis! However, I have a different angle for you to weigh in on.
For a course creator, which of the two platforms would offer the best return for:
a. A professional development-oriented course
and separately,
b. A life-long learning course (art and design)
Thanks, Barry, for your feedback 🙂 I would say
a. Udemy would be best for professional development as they offer certificates
b. Skillshare for life-long learning course (art and design) due to its wide selection of courses and high-quality teaching.
I hope that answers your question and that you pick the right platform for you.
It’s so rare that Google suggests a search term to you and the first link you click (being this one in my case) is far more informative than you were expecting. Thanks a lot 🙂
So glad it was informative and helpful Karl 🙂
Hi Catherine, I am looking for getting valid certificates to help write my cv. I’m currently studying in last year of school. I’ve taken up Business Math with Accountancy, Economics and Commerce.
I wish to pursue Chartered Accountancy in the future. Could you please suggest any courses and the platforms they’re offered at which will help me gain knowledge related to my stream…?
Hey Poornima,
Thanks for your message. edX offers a good variety of accounting courses from Management Accounting, Financial Accounting and Accountant in Business which are all accredited with a valid certificate. The other platform I think is worth looking at is Coursera whose courses are all accrediated aswell, plus they have many degrees and masters courses. I hope that is helpful 🙂
Thanks for replying. I’ll definitely check it out.
Thanks for very detailed comparison of the two. I casually stumbled on yours while googling Skillshare and found this very helpful. I almost never leave a comment on a blog, but I think I should, so you’ll be encouraged
😉
Thanks so much for your comment Yana. I am happy you found it so helpful 🙂
WOW!
This was beyond helpful! Thank you!
:n)
So happy it was helpful Celia. Thank you for your comment 🙂
Excellent comparison very detailed, I have been using udemy and thought of exploring skillshare. This is really helpful.
Thanks so much Sandip. I am glad you found it so helpful 🙂
I’m surprised no one has commented on this GREAT comparison of the two contenders you reviewed. I’ve researched them myself and found that your review hit the mark on most of the things I discovered, as well as some things I had not considered. Although I’ve provided my insights and findings, I will share your review with my friends and coworkers since its much better organized and thorough. Many of them are looking for good choices to invest their time, money, and attention to – especially during COVID ‘home arrest’ when we’re looking for a beneficial alternative to supplement (or… Read more »
Thanks so much Nancy for your lovely feedback on this comparison review 🙂