Skillshare vs Udemy | Which is Better For You 2024

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If you’ve wanted to learn a new skill or become an online course creator, comparing two of the most popular online learning platforms, Skillshare vs. Udemy, may help you understand which is better for you.

In this Skillshare vs. Udemy article, I’ll answer all your questions and compare the differences, diving deep into the core features, costs, strengths, and potential drawbacks.

What are Skillshare and Udemy?

Skillshare and Udemy are two of the most popular online learning platforms. They both offer a variety of courses on a wide range of topics, including business, technology, creative skills, and personal development.

Skillshare

Skillshare has 12 million users and over 34,000 creative courses. A monthly membership is $32/mo, or $13.75/mo billed annually. If you’d like to try the Skillshare courses and platform, you can do so with a free 7-day trial.

Udemy

Udemy has 59 million users and over 210,000 courses. Users can purchase individual Udemy courses (prices vary) or subscribe to a monthly membership of $29.99 or $16.58/mo billed annually. A monthly membership gives members access to 8000+ Udemy courses.

Skillshare vs Udemy courses

Let’s take a deeper look into what Skillshare and Udemy courses have to offer.

Skillshare courses

Skillshare courses are a great way to learn creative skills. The online learning platform breaks its classes into three primary categories: Create, Build, and Thrive.

Skillshare focuses on more creative courses such as animation, creative writing, film & video, fine art, graphic design, illustration, music, photography, UI/UX design, freelance & entrepreneurship, marketing, lifestyle, and productivity.

Students can watch Skillshare classes at their own pace, create projects to practice what they’ve learned, and communicate with each other worldwide.

On average, Skillshare lessons have 20-60 minutes of pre-recorded video content divided into short, 2- to 8-minute video courses. Rather than teaching a comprehensive, all-encompassing skill set, the most often successful online classes focus on a single topic, concept, or skill.

Skillshare classes have a project that allows students to practice what they are learning throughout the course.

Each Skillshare class has a project gallery where students can showcase their projects. Each class also has a discussion board where teachers and students can share ideas and ask questions in the community.

Udemy courses

Udemy courses are available to members and anyone looking to purchase individual courses and/or subscribe to a monthly membership.

Their courses focus on development, business, finance and accounting, IT & Software, office productivity, personal development, design, marketing, health & fitness, and music.

Udemy courses are often pre-recorded videos that are watched on demand. They can range from an hour to more than 20+ hours and are divided into bite-sized lessons. Most courses offer additional learning materials and resources such as articles and relevant text to what you’re studying.

Unlike Skillshare, Udemy courses offer a certificate of completion.

Skillshare vs. Udemy Teachers

Skillshare and Udemy both have a variety of instructors. Everyone has different learning styles. When considering a course, assessing the instructor and course content is essential.

• How much experience does the instructor have with the topic?
• Is the instructor a recognized expert in their field?
• Does the instructor’s teaching style appeal to and resonate with you?
• Is the course well organized and informative?
• Lastly, what is the feedback, and what do the reviews say?

Skillshare Teachers

Skillshare instructors are typically vetted by the company, meaning they have some experience teaching and a good reputation. They offer a variety of courses taught by well-known experts in their field. If you want to teach on Skillshare and share your passion, you must first apply on Skillshare. Approval typically takes two weeks. Once you’re approved, you’ll create your class. You’ll be paid monthly for every member who watches your classes.

By teaching on Skillshare, you can grow your following, inspire others and earn money. Skillshare offers a teacher’s program to help teachers design and create their first class.

Udemy Teachers

An Udemy instructor can be anyone who wants to create a course. This means that there is a broader range of experience and expertise among Udemy instructors, but it also means that there is a greater risk of finding a course that is not well-taught. Udemy instructors can create free courses. Udemy students should research an online course before investing in it.

Both online course marketplaces Skillshare and Udemy offer a supportive platform where you can earn money online, grow your community, and inspire others.

What are the pros and cons of Skillshare?

Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers a variety of online courses on a wide range of topics. Here are some of the pros and cons of Skillshare:

Pros:

• Skillshare offers a monthly or yearly subscription plan, and there is also a free trial available. Once you enroll, you’ll have unlimited access to all of the classes on Skillshare. You’ll also have additional features, such as offline viewing.
• Skillshare has online courses on various topics, primarily for creatives, so you’ll likely find something that interests you.
• The courses on Skillshare are taught by experienced instructors, and the content is generally high-quality. The one thing I love about Skillshare is that all their instructors are vetted, and their courses are approved.
• You can learn at your own pace and time and access the courses on any device. Skillshare allows you to download the classes for offline viewing, so if you’re traveling or someone won’t have access to good wifi, you’ll still be able to access your courses.
• Skillshare has a community of learners where you can ask questions, get feedback, and connect with other students.

Cons:

• Skillshare does not offer certificates of completion for its courses, so it may not be suitable for people who need formal accreditation. If you want to improve your skills for a specific job or career, consider a platform offering an official certification or degree.
• Skillshare offers few courses than Udemy.
• Most of the courses on Skillshare are available in English, but there are a few that are available in other languages.

Overall, Skillshare is an excellent option for people who want to learn new creative skills and improve their knowledge. You’ll need to be a self-directed learner that is good with learning at your own pace. It’s affordable, flexible, and has a wide variety of online courses to choose from. However, it’s essential to remember that it doesn’t offer completion certificates, and the courses’ quality can vary.

What are the pros and cons of Udemy?

Udemy is an online learning platform with a diverse range of courses on a wide range on a variety of topics. Here are some of the pros and cons of Udemy:

Pros:

• Udemy courses are typically very affordable, with many courses available for under $20. There are also frequent sales and discounts, so you can often find courses for even less. You can purchase individual courses, and the Udemy platform currently offers 500+ free courses.
• Udemy has courses on a wide range of topics, so you’re likely to find something that interests you.
• You can learn at your own pace and time and access the courses on any device.
• Once you purchase a course, you have lifetime access to it, so you can return whenever you need to.
• Some Udemy courses offer certificates of completion, which can be helpful if you’re looking to improve your resume or get a job.

Cons:

• It’s essential to do your research on each Udemy course. The quality can vary as there are many online course creators on Udemy.
• Some courses are more comprehensive and well-organized than others.
• Udemy courses do not offer formal accreditation, so they may not be suitable for people who need formal recognition of their learning.
• With so many courses to choose from, it can take time to figure out where to start.

Overall, Udemy is an excellent option for people who want to learn new skills and improve their knowledge. It’s affordable, flexible, and has a wide variety of courses to choose from. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that the quality of the courses can vary, so it’s necessary to do your research before you enroll.

Should I Teach on Skillshare or Udemy?

If you’re interested in being an online teacher and you’re considering teaching your own courses on Skillshare and/or Udemy, there are several factors to consider when making your decision.

What topic do you want to teach? 

Skillshare and Udemy have different strengths and weaknesses regarding the topics they cover. Skillshare is better for creative and business skills, while Udemy has a broader range of topics, including technical skills.

Who do you want to teach?

Skillshare’s audience is primarily creative professionals and students, while Udemy’s is more diverse. If you’re teaching a creative skill, Skillshare might be the better platform due to its creative-oriented audience. However, for a broader or more academic topic, Udemy could be a better fit.

The large number of students on Udemy means a large potential audience for your course, but it also means more competition among instructors. SkillShare offers a subscription-based model, which gives students unlimited access to its library of courses.

What is your teaching style?

Skillshare’s courses are typically shorter and more project-based, while Udemy’s courses can be longer and more in-depth. As an Udemy instructor, that could mean more work upfront.

How much time are you willing to invest in creating and marketing your online course business? online course business? Skillshare requires less time commitment upfront, but you may have to work harder to get students to see your online course. Udemy requires more time upfront, but you may have more success attracting students.

How much money do you want to make? based on a percentage of the monthly subscription fees paid by students who watch their courses. Udemy pays instructors based on a percentage of the online course sales price.

If you prefer a more predictable revenue model based on online course sales, Udemy might be more suitable. If you like the idea of earning based on minutes watched and fostering a community, consider Skillshare.

How much interaction do you want with the community? Udemy has a Q&A section for students to ask questions, which instructors monitor and respond to. Skillshare’s community goes beyond the class project, and there’s an emphasis on community interaction. Instructors can interact with students in the project gallery and discussion sections.

What are the Skillshare vs. Udemy alternatives?

MasterClass

MasterClass is known for its high-quality courses taught by celebrities and world-renowned experts. These paid courses are more about the experience and gaining insight from leading professionals in their fields, like cooking with Gordon Ramsay or writing with Margaret Atwood.

Masterclass offers 180+ classes across 12 categories: food, design and style, art and entertainment, music, business, sports and gaming, writing, science and tech, home and lifestyle, community and government, and wellness.

The courses are typically longer and more in-depth than those on Skillshare or Udemy. MasterClass also offers a limited number of courses, so it’s not a good choice if you’re looking for a wide variety of topics.

Masterclass memberships start at $120/year (one device). You can also share your account with family and friends and upgrade your membership to $180/year (two devices) or use the family plan, which is $240/year (six devices).

Masterclass does not offer a monthly membership. The memberships are paid on an annual basis only. Masterclass does, however, offer you 30 days to apply for a refund if Masterclass is not a good fit for you.

Skillshare is a more affordable option than MasterClass, offering a wider variety of courses. The courses on Skillshare are typically shorter and less in-depth than those on MasterClass, but they can still be a great way to learn new skills.

Udemy is the most affordable option of the three platforms. It offers a massive library of courses on a wide range of topics, but the quality of the courses can vary.

Skill Success

Skill Success is an online learning platform that offers a subscription-based model similar to Skillshare and Udemy. However, there are some key differences between Skill Success and these other online learning platforms.

Skill Success has a smaller course selection than Udemy or Skillshare, with around 3,000+ online courses. However, the online courses on Skill Success are all curated by the Skill Success team, which means that they are all high quality and relevant to the platform’s mission of helping people succeed in their careers.

Skill Success offers courses in the following categories: business, technology, personal development, creativity, media and production, languages, health, and wellness.

Skill Success allows instructors with a proven track record to teach courses on the platform. This means that you can be confident that the instructors on Skill Success are experts in their subject matter.

Skill Success offers a monthly subscription for all the courses (All Access Pass) for $25.00/mo or an annual subscription for $250/year. This is more expensive than both Skillshare’s and Udemy’s monthly subscriptions.

Skill Success is an excellent alternative to Skillshare and Udemy if you want a high-quality, curated learning experience. However, it is essential to note that Skill Success has a smaller course selection and is more expensive than these two platforms.

CreativeLive

CreativeLive is an online learning platform that offers live and on-demand classes taught by 700+ world-class industry experts like Daymond John, Mel Robbins, and Jasmine Star. Fiverr now owns the company, and its mission is “We champion* creators to live their dreams.”

Taught by online entrepreneurs, CreativeLive offers 2000+ courses on demand that cover many topics, including photo and video, money and life, art and design, craft and maker, music, audio, and more. CreativeLive also offers a variety of other features, such as a community forum, a job board, and a mentorship program.

CreativeLive is a good option for anyone who wants to learn creative skills from top experts. The courses are high-quality and engaging, and the instructors are passionate about online teaching. CreativeLive also offers a variety of pricing options, so you can find a plan that fits your budget.

If you’re looking for the monthly subscription model with CreativeLive, it’s $39/mo. If you’re ready to commit, you can save on an annual plan starting at $12.42/mo ($149/billed annually).

Overall, CreativeLive is an excellent option for anyone who wants to learn creative skills from top experts. It can be expensive if you’re not willing to commit to the annual plan. The courses are high-quality and engaging, and the instructors are passionate about teaching. If you are serious about learning creative skills, then CreativeLive is a good investment.

Coursera

Coursera has partnered with more than 275 universities and companies to bring flexible, affordable, and job-relevant online learning to individuals and organizations worldwide. They’ve partnered with top universities and organizations like the University of Michigan, Yale, and IBM, to name a few.

Coursera offers courses, specializations, guided projects, professional certificates, MasterTrack certificates, and degrees. Through their professional certification programs, you can also gain access to new skills and become a data scientist, Android developer, IOS developer, digital marketer, project manager, career coach, and more.

Coursera offers Monthly and annual subscriptions, as well as pay-per-course. They offer a free 7-day trial and many free courses. Guided projects start at $9.99, specializations and professional certificates start at $49/mo, MasterTrack certificates start at $2,000, and a bachelor’s or master’s degree starts at $9,000.

Recognizing the need for continuous learning, Coursera introduced a platform for businesses, universities, and governments. This allows organizations to continue to educate with new courses tailored to their industry and needs.

Coursera does not offer as many courses as Skillshare or Udemy, and the courses are typically longer and more in-depth. Instructor quality is good; they are typically professors and experts from top universities and organizations.

edX

edX is an online learning platform that offers courses from leading universities and organizations worldwide, such as MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, Boston University, Google, and the University of Cambridge.

The courses cover many topics: artificial intelligence, data science, finance, machine learning, computer programming, business, leadership, economics, statistics, writing, sales, psychology, biology, javascript, web development, sales, software engineering, Spanish, and more.

edX also offers different types of programs or degrees. You can enroll in boot camps, micro boot camps, executive education programs, bachelor’s or master’s degrees, certificates, and many other courses to advance your pathway.

Pricing for edX classes can range from $50 to $300, but boot camps and degrees will cost more.

edX is a good option for anyone who wants to learn from top universities and organizations or pursue a certification and degree. The courses are high-quality and delivered by some of the best educators in the world.

As you can see, edX has a broader range of topics covered than Skillshare and Udemy, and its courses are taught by professors and experts from top universities and organizations. The course quality will be good, but the courses will be more time-consuming than Udemy or Skillshare classes.

Ultimately, the best online learning platform for you will depend on your needs. If you want to complete a more advanced certification or degree from a university or organization, then edX is a good fit.

FAQ’s Skillshare vs Udemy

Q: Which is better for me, Skillshare or Udemy?

A: The better platform for you will depend on your interests, budget, and the time you have to dedicate to the course.

Udemy has more users, courses, and categories than Skillshare. Udemy allows you to purchase individual courses without committing to a subscription model.

With Skillshare, you must be a member if you want to access a course. The platform is typically geared toward creative professionals and creative courses. Skillshare has more of a community, so if you’re creative and looking for others who share the same creative passion, Skillshare may be for you.

Q: Is there a free trial for Skillshare and Udemy?

A: Yes, both Skillshare and Udemy offer a free 7-day trial.

Q: Can Skillshare or Udemy help you get a job?

A: Skillshare and Udemy courses can help you get a job or even start an online business. It will always give you an advantage whenever you improve specific skills relevant to your desired career.