Skillshare vs. Udemy
Online Learning Platforms Comparison 2024
In this article Skillshare vs Udemy. We will discuss pricing, accreditation, library and classes, pros and cons of each service, explain the difference between them, and determine which one offers the best value for money.
The demand for online learning platforms is increasing day by day. In present-day society, where constant upskilling has become a norm for professionals, people need to learn more and fast. However, not everyone has time to go back to college, and that is why every year more and more people choose to study online. Besides flexibility and convenience, there is another reason why online education has become so popular: it is way more affordable.
Skillshare vs. Udemy Overview
Udemy students pay for each course. Skillshare's cheap monthly subscription gives unlimited access to all 30,000+ classes. Udemy offers certificates of completion for paid courses. Skillshare has a project-based learning approach.
Pricing, Free Classes, And Refunds
Skillshare Unlimited Pricing Model
Skillshare subscription grants unlimited access to all classes and costs $15 per month. However, if you decide to purchase an annual Premium membership then you will be paying just $8,25 per month ($99 per year). This is an amazing deal considering that you can take as many classes as you wish. And if you are a student with a valid .edu e-mail, then you can get a 50% off an annual Premium subscription!
Skillshare also offers a free membership that includes access to over 2,000 high-quality courses. You are welcome to create projects when you take free classes and participate in discussions.
If you sign up for an annual Premium membership, but for some reason, decide to cancel your subscription, you can get a refund up to 7 days after the charge has been processed. The company doesn't offer refunds on monthly membership payments, though.
Udemy Pricing Breakdown
Udemy doesn't offer unlimited subscription plans, and you have to pay for each course individually. The prices range from $9 to a few hundred dollars. However, it is not uncommon to see a course offered at a value much lower than its regular price. For instance, I often see courses originally offered at $200 full price discounted to $10.
I also want to note, that many Udemy courses are offered at no cost. You can find them by browsing the library.
And lastly, there is Udemy for Business, a learning platform for organizations, which is an excellent option for teams of 5 to 20 people. The annual subscription gives access to more than 4,000 high-quality professional courses and costs $360 (plus taxes) per person per year. A minimum of 5 users is required to purchase this plan.
If you are unhappy with any Udemy course, you can get a full refund within 30 days of the original purchase.
Answer this simple question to determine which platform is more suitable for you - Skillshare or Udemy:
"Are you constantly learning new skills or you just have one or two courses in mind that you want to take?"
Skillshare annual unlimited subscription would cost you $99 per year. For that price, you could get 10 courses on Udemy.
If you opt for Skillshare monthly subscription then you will be paying $180 per year. For that amount, you would be able to purchase 18 courses on Udemy.
Free Trial
Skillshare offers a 30-day free trial
Skillshare offers a one-month free trial to anyone who wants to try the service. If you are still having doubts about joining the platform, then I suggest you sign up for a free trial first to see whether you like it or not. If you don't like the service for any reason, don't forget to cancel your account before the trial ends to avoid any charges.
Udemy does not offer free trial
Udemy doesn't have a free trial at the moment. However, Udemy for Business comes with a 14-day free trial.
Library
Skillshare
Skillshare library contains over 27,000 courses. The classes are grouped into 3 categories: Create (Animation, Creative Writing, Film & Video, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Music, Photography, UI/UX Design, and Web Development), Build (Business Analytics, Freelance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Management, Marketing), and Thrive (Lifestyle and Productivity). The majority of Skillshare classes are taught in English, although courses in other languages are accepted as well. All classes are labeled as "Beginner", "Intermediate", "Advanced", or "All Levels".
Udemy
Udemy library includes over more than 150,000 courses on thousands of topics. All courses are divided into several categories: Development, Business, Finance & Accounting, IT & Software, Office Productivity, Personal Development, Design, Marketing, Lifestyle, Photography, Health & Fitness, Music, and Teaching & Academics. Most Udemy courses are in English, but classes in foreign languages - including Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, German, and more - can also be found in the library. If you purchase any course on Udemy, you get lifetime access to it (as long as Udemy continues to have a license to it and your account remains in good standing). Udemy offers courses for different levels, from absolute beginners to more advanced learners.
Before you sign up for any platform make sure you check the courses you are most interested in taking. You can watch class previews on both Skillshare and Udemy and see which one you like best.
Course Structure
Skillshare Classes Explained
Skillshare courses are taught by prominent creatives and influencers, award-winning artists and writers, and other industry leaders. Most Skillshare classes are just 20-60 minutes long divided into a series of 2-5 minute videos. Skillshare has a project-based approach and encourages students to utilize the skills they learn. Therefore, all Skillshare classes include a class project. You can share your project with other students and get feedback from them, too.
You don't get any certificate after you complete a course on Skillshare, but you can share the project that you have created on your resume.
Skillshare classes can be accessed from a variety of devices: Windows and PC computers, tablets, and iOS and Android mobile devices.
Udemy Courses Explained
Udemy courses are taught by experts in their field. Most courses are video-based and can include quizzes, assignments, and practice tests. Each course includes a minimum of 30 minutes of video content and 5 lectures Most courses' average length is 5 hours long. With Udemy, you can learn and study at your own pace as there are no deadlines whatsoever.
Although Udemy is not an accredited institution, you can still get a certificate of completion after you complete a paid course.
Udemy courses can be accessed from Mac and Windows computers, and iOS (11.0 and above) and Android (5.0 and above) devices.
And now, before you make any decision, answer these questions:
Do you want a sense of community during the learning process? Do you want to participate in workshops and discussions with other members? And, perhaps, showcase your projects and see the ones that were created by other students? Or do you enjoy learning by yourself more?
Are Courses Accredited?
Skillshare Classes
Skillshare does not provide any certificate upon completing the courses. If you want to add something to your resume you might share a link to a project that you have created in one of the classes. This way you will be actually showcasing your work rather than a piece of paper.
Udemy Courses
Udemy does provide a certificate of completion for paid courses. However, these certificates of completion are not recognized by or accredited by any governed institution.
The good news is that after taking any of the classes you will end up with real knowledge which, in my opinion, is much better than any diploma
Learning Platforms Pros:
Why Skillshare is better:
Unlimited access to the whole library
One flat fee and low monthly cost
Thousands of high-quality courses covering all kind of topics
Bite-sized and project-based "learn by doing" approach
Students receive teacher and peer feedback when sharing project
Annual Membership Perks include discounts for services like Pond5, Shutterstock, Adobe Acrobat Pro, etc.
Free membership that grants access to more than 2,000 classes
Groups feature that allows students to connect with each other, participate in discussions, ask questions, and share projects
Access to Skillshare Workshops - a curated collection of classes, each one lasts for a few weeks and has a designated schedule
Possible to access courses while offline
7-day refund policy on Annual membership
Easy to navigate platform and user-friendly app
2-month free trial
Why Udemy is better
Large library with a variety of courses on different topics
No deadlines, you learn at a pace that suits you
Practice activities like quizzes help students apply what they have learned
More in-depth learning
Courses offered in foreign languages
Regular sales
Lifetime access
30-day refund policy
Available offline
Can learn on the go
Thousands of free classes
Cons
Skillshare
Courses are not accredited and you don't get any certificate
Some courses are outdated
If you fail to cancel your free trial you will be charged a monthly fee
Some courses are too short, and some lack quality
Udemy
Passive learning approach (fewer projects, more lectures)
Pay-per-course pricing model, no unlimited subscription option
Some courses are overpriced
Course certificates have no value
Which is better Udemy or Skillshare?
Both Skillshare and Udemy are excellent learning platforms, but if I had to choose one, I would pick Skillshare. I just think that it offers more value for money, and I love having unlimited access to the whole library. Plus, I enjoy Skillshare's project-based learning method that helps me learn faster and the fact that I get to share my work and interact with other students. Overall, Skillshare is a better choice for creatives who are constantly learning and who care more about acquiring practical skills rather than getting a diploma.
However, if you are planning to take just a couple of courses on a particular topic, I suggest you take a look at Udemy's extensive, multi-language library which obviously offers more courses than Skillshare. And since Udemy courses often go on sale, it is fairly easy to get a good deal. For that reason, I believe that Udemy is the right option for entrepreneurs who want to learn certain skills quickly and effectively.
