Udemy vs Skillshare: Whose Courses are Better? (March, 2023)

“Education is one thing no one can take away from you.” – Elin Nordegren

With the several learning platforms on the internet, taking an online course has never been easier.

The problem, however, is when it comes to choosing which is best for you according to your interests, schedule, and budget. To arrive at the best decision, you would have to take the time to do a little research.

Guess what? I’ve done just that! I have created a comprehensive review of Skillshare and Udemy. So, if you are reading this, you are at the right place because, here, you will learn how to make a choice when facing a Udemy vs Skillshare decision.

At some point in your scrolling on the internet looking for great online courses and the best learning platforms, chances are that you have come across Skillshare and Udemy. This is because both online learning platforms are massively popular.

To aid you in the decision-making of Udemy vs Skillshare, I have researched and gathered some valuable tips to help you make the right choice for your online learning goals.

• While Udemy offers you ways to avoid recurrent subscriptions, Skillshare doesn’t.
• Skillshare helps you learn from expert instructors in the field compared to Udemy.
• While Udemy offers a wide variety of lessons, Skillshare offers a rich catalog and access to online lessons too.
• Skillshare offers an opportunity to get instructor feedback and collaborate on projects with other learners, unlike Udemy.

Key Features of Platforms for Learners

In this comparison of Udemy vs Skillshare, let’s look at the key features of both platforms for learners. Both platforms offer you thousands of online courses to choose from with distinct features.

Let’s check out all the important facts to help you decide which learning platform is ideal for you.

• Video-based Courses: Both platforms offer video-based courses on whatever subjects you decide to learn.
• Easy Navigation: Navigating both learning apps is super easy even for newcomers and all their courses are well-indexed.
• Handy Filters: These platforms include handy filters that can help to swiftly access courses via various categories like duration, type, cost, etc.
• Checkout Courses: It is possible to research the subjects you desire to learn and check their features like the duration, instructor, lesson type, cost, ratings, etc. before signing up for the class.

Udemy

If you are looking for an online learning platform, Udemy is a very suitable option that fits the description. It offers video-based courses on any subject that one can think of at any professional level.

Udemy also allows you to do self-paced learning and also offline learning. Once you purchase a course, you can keep it forever and learn it from time to time. With over 185,000 courses and over 49 million students, it is one popular online learning platform.

Navigating the user interface of Udemy is quite simple, and all of its classes are well-indexed. You can easily search for the courses you want to take using the search bar.

The filters on the left-hand side of the site can also come in handy. The filters include price, language, level, topic, subtitles, video duration, ratings, and features.

You can also check out courses using any of these categories: newest, highest rated, most reviews, and most relevant.

Most of the lectures involve assignments, worksheets, and quizzes. If you are aiming to get certified, some of them also have certifications.

By clicking on a lesson, you can learn more about what they offer, what it is about, how much it costs, and who the instructor is, and also read reviews from previous learners.

Once you are convinced, you can go on to buy it, and it is yours forever. Pretty cool, right? Now, Let’s take a look at Skillshare.

Skillshare

This is also one of the most popular online platforms, focusing mainly on entrepreneurial and creative skills. While there are also many other subjects on Skillshare, the platform is better suited to creatives and entrepreneurs.

The courses available on Skillshare are for all skill levels, and they come mostly video-based. Most of the classes on Skillshare are under 60 minutes in duration, but it is not impossible to find classes that are much longer and have more features and content.

Some courses even allow you to get instructor feedback and collaborate on projects with other learners.

Navigating Skillshare and filtering courses is quite easy as the site allows you to search by keyword. The panel on the left-hand side is also used to filter courses by the class length, when it was created, the level, and the class type.

• Class length – < 15 minutes, 15 to 30 minutes, 30 to 60 minutes, or > 60 minutes.
• Created Within – All time, Day, Week, Month, or Year.
• Level – Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced.
• Class Type – All, Original or Staff Pick.

Also, you have the option of browsing through a list of available categories before you make a choice. In the category of your choice, you can then filter out again your choice by trending, popular, or featured courses.

Additionally, Skillshare offers you the option to go through the Originals and Staff Picks categories and select whichever suits you. The Originals consist only of courses produced in-house by the Skillshare team.

Another exciting aspect of Skillshare learning is the ability to try out what you have learned and even share it with others. This is possible through projects and assignments. In all, research the program you are interested in and check its quality before signing up for the class.

Pricing Comparison

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin.

Pricing is surely a major factor when you want to select which learning platform to go with. No one sets out on a learning journey without calculating the costs; well, almost no one.

It can be disheartening to sign up for a superb learning platform just to realize that you can’t afford it.

The good news is you don’t have to worry about that when it comes to Udemy or Skillshare. Although both platforms have very different pricing plans, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Before I dive into the exact details, here’s a summary of the price comparison between Udemy and Skillshare.

Udemy Free Trials

On Udemy, there are more than five hundred courses that you can use for free, which cover about twenty-five topics.

Although their free trial periods are informative enough, it has a superficial coverage that hints to you that you won’t be getting the entire value for free.

You don’t have to worry because the quality is fixed for trial periods and paid courses.

Udemy Personal

The price range for the paid courses is between $19.99 to $199.99. However, you are entitled to major discounts often, so look up the page to find the ones that may interest you.

Also, note that Udemy specifies the course prices based on factors like the course’s length, the subject it discusses, and the certifications of the instructor in charge.

Most of the courses you will find include various videos, textual resources, and audio lessons.

There are also questions and answers sessions with instructors and an open forum where you and other students discuss various topics for more understanding.

Udemy Business

Udemy also offers courses for teams and businesses. A team of about five to twenty people fits perfectly into Udemy’s Team Plan, and this costs $360 per user per year. It gives access to more than six thousand five hundred courses online and on the mobile app.

Udemy’s Enterprise is the best option for large groups with more than twenty-one members. This plan does not come with a fixed price plan, so direct contact needs to be made with the Udemy Sales representatives for information on price ranges.

Being on the Enterprise plan gives access to everything on the Team plan and some more like custom URLs and the opportunity to design and host proprietary courses.

Also, there are more than one hundred executive-level courses from prominent institutions and universities with the chance to join live events and access AI power insights and analytics.

Another benefit of this plan is that Udemy Business joined forces with Corp U to design the Udemy Leadership Development Program.

Free Trial

If you are unsure whether you want to commit to Skillshare yet for your virtual learning, there is an offer for up to one month’s trial.

This way, you can try out a course before subscribing to it. You will have access to more than thirty-five thousand classes during this period to help make up your mind.

Premium Annual Plan

There are also numerous perks for annual members only. They include discounts on Todoist, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Squarespace.

You also have access to view several lessons offline using the mobile app. This costs $168 annually, which is $13.99 per month. With this, you save nearly 60% on the Premium monthly plan.

Premium Monthly Plan

This plan is more suitable for people that don’t think they need the courses here for a whole year. So, you get to pay monthly and opt-out for the months you won’t be available to save some money. This plan works at $32 per month.

If you end up paying monthly for the whole year, you have to pay $384 per annum instead of $168 if you had subscribed for the premium annual member plan for a full 12 months.

Business Plan

If you are interested in upskilling your entire team on this platform, the Standard Teams business plan is one way to go about this. The price for this falls at $159 per person per year.

However, special custom pricing is needed if you need a business plan that includes large membership volumes. You can get this information upon inquiry from the sales representatives on Skillshare.

Quality of Courses and Value for Money

“Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” – said Henry Ford.

The only thing more important than the money you’re paying for an online course is the quality of the course itself. Subscribing for a course that seems shabbily put together almost feels like you’ve been robbed.

To fully understand the quality of courses offered on both Udemy and Skillshare, I had to sign up for a course on each.

Interested in what I found out? Keep reading.

Udemy

On Udemy, there are over 100,000 courses that one can choose from. This means that there is a course on offer for whatever topic one can imagine.

So, if you are interested in specific niches or general academic subjects, there are courses available.

There are several real-life instructors available to teach classes of professional quality in the following areas:

• Foreign languages;
• Biology;
• Chemistry;
• Programming;
• Computer science;
• Mathematics, etc.

You get only the best courses on display based on content, pricing, and user reviews. This also helps you save time selecting which course is ideal for you. The filters can also customize your choice and select the preferred course.

Udemy is not all about business, entrepreneurship, or educational courses. If you are creative, you will also find your interest here. While you can access any of the 600 courses they offer, you can also opt for their paid classes.

However, Udemy will refund your fee if you don’t get the satisfaction you need. At the end of the class, users are eligible for certification. This certification is merely ceremonial as there are no recognized institutions that are affiliated with the institution.

I should add that language is one of the greatest disparities in learning. We are then glad that Udemy has found a way to make people learn despite the language differences.

International students can get their courses translated into their language. Nothing has ever made learning easier!

Skillshare

While Udemy has a larger library that is more related to academics and specific niches, the library for Skillshare is smaller and only offers approximately 30,000 courses.

You can make a selection from the various skill courses:

• Personal development;
• Interior design;
• Photography;
• Animation;
• Creative writing;
• Hand-drawn illustration;
• Digital illustration, etc.

Also, as stated earlier, you can access in-house courses known as Skillshare originals. The courses are made professionally, and they improve the quality of Skillshare. They are also partnered with industry giants, such as Moz, LG, and Adobe.

If there is any online learning platform that understands creativity, Skillshare tops the list. While Skillshare accepts every Dick and Harry as tutors, they help students get the best out of themselves. These tutors are not restricted to a curriculum.

Hence, they have a more engaged community. Studies are taken by dedicated celebrity tutors who had threaded that path before.

The language on Skillshare is the English Language. However, the platform has realized the need for multiple languages and English subtitles. Currently, there are four other main languages for learning.

Skillshare also gives a filter of learning categories. After successful registration, Skillshare recommends a handful of courses for you.

Main Disadvantages of the Platforms

“Everything has its advantages and disadvantages.” – Kabir Bedi

While there are several advantages to both virtual learning platforms but also disadvantages.

Here are the main disadvantages to consider for both platforms before deciding to go with one.

Udemy

• The quality of courses varies

Not all courses on Udemy have the same top-notch quality. This is because Udemy has a wide range of courses; since anyone can just sign up and create a course on Udemy, quality will vary.

For this reason, you must carry out extensive research on the course before you purchase it. Ensure to read the reviews and ensure that it is legitimate.

• Accreditation

Udemy is not accredited and may not be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with accredited degrees from colleges and universities. While it is best for learning and improving oneself, it is not accredited enough to be on your resume.

• Costs accumulation

There are thousands of courses to choose from on Udemy, and with several topics on offer, you will have to pay for each course as there is no subscription plan like Skillshare.

Skillshare

• No issuance of a certificate

There are no certificates offered on Skillshare. There is no provision for a certificate for completing a course.

So, while Udemy offers certificates that are not accredited, Skillshare offers none.

• Lesser content on academics

Skillshare offers more artisan, creative and entrepreneurial courses. They do not have a wide range of non-creative category courses.

• Shorter courses

Skillshare has courses that are less than 15 minutes, as all courses on Skillshare are allowed to be 10 minutes long at the barest minimum.

So, you might have a lot of shorter courses with deep content but shallow information.

Free Courses at Udemy and Skillshare

Free users are going to love this comparison, and if you are one, then there are tons of options that you can choose from. Both Udemy and Skillshare offer free courses on a wide variety of subjects.

Udemy

Udemy is home to over 180,000 courses and offers content in several disciplines. Disciplines include IT, marketing, music, fitness, design, photography, finance, business, etc.

There are several courses on Udemy that are completely free. This gives its learners the chance to learn loads without paying a dime.

Skillshare

On the other hand, while Udemy has a wide range of courses, Skillshare has a small pool of specific content. They offer courses on productivity, web development, music, photography, creative writing, leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, graphics designing, and many more.

Skillshare also offers a free 7-day free trial for its Premium members.

Which One is Better for Business?

Udemy vs Skillshare: which is best for business? Well, both learning platforms have a way of getting the company and the team together to learn new things and acquire new skills.

So, if you are in an industry for development or marketing, you’d want to know which platform is best for business.

Udemy

If you are looking for varieties, Udemy has a lot of courses to offer and plans for businesses in the marketing or development sector.

However, you will need to be a team of at least 5 users, and it will cost each user $360 yearly. While this may be quite expensive, it gives the team access to over 130,000 courses to choose from.

Skillshare

Skillshare, on the other hand, offers 3 team plans that allow companies purchase premium accounts and subscriptions for their employees. This means they get access to over 35,000 courses in the library.

The basic plan is for a minimum of 2 users and costs $139 yearly. There is also a Revive and Enterprise plan to meet the needs of the company or the team.

Overall Comparison Info

They match instructors to students, focusing on transferring practical skills, not just academic knowledge. Both platforms offer thousands of subject topics that one can learn from, and while they are similar, they are also different.

Final Conclusion

“And above all else, remember that the end of a book is never really the end.” – Jen Calonita, On Location

Well, that’s the end. I am certain that you have arrived at the best online learning platform to learn on after this detailed comparison. Each online learning account has its pros and cons.

FAQs

What is better Skillshare or Udemy?

The choice of which online learning platform is better is an individual choice. This is because they all have their selling points. While Skillshare targets creatives and entrepreneurs, Udemy targets academic-related and specific niches.

So, you can create whatever virtual account to learn the language you desire.

Which is cheaper Udemy or Skillshare?

If you are searching for a pay-by-course experience and a budget-friendly online learning account, then Udemy is your perfect fit. It has multiple language options and a plethora of courses for individual learning.

However, if you want the best plan for your team, you must go for Skillshare, as they offer more than courses but also a free one-month trial for a single subscription plan.