If you’ve been scavenging the internet for online courses, chances are you’ve come across Udemy and Skillshare at some point.
Both platforms are very popular, butcomparing Udemy vs Skillshare is a bit more complicated than it first seems.
Hosting an extensive library of courses, Udemy is an excellent place to explore a wide range of subject matters and take advantage of great deals.
Exploring the creative entrepreneur within? ThenSkillsharemight be the perfect choice for you due to its selection of artsy tutorial-like classes and interactive online community.
Udemy vs Skillshare: which platform will you choose? Keep reading; we’ll tell you all you know!
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Udemy vs Skillshare:
- Overview
- Courses
- Pricing and value
- Platform
- For teachers
- Verdict
Udemy vs Skillshare: Overview
Udemy
- Pay-by-course platform ($14-$200)
- Over 180,000 courses covering multiple areas of interest
- Course completion certificate
- Content available in over 60 languages
- Features an extensive list of free courses
- Course quality varies
- Udemy Business, Udemy Pro, and Udemy Personal Plan subscription plans
Skillshare
- Yearly subscription ($157)
- Rich catalog of ~30,000 creative courses
- Bustling online community
- Offline access to courses
- Content primarily in English (closed captions)
- Courses taught by amateurs and industry experts
- Free one-month trial
- Does not offer individual course purchases
Despiteits ever-growing competition, Udemy continues to be a popular reference in the online education marketplace.
As one of the most sought-after options for online learners, Udemy thrives on its loyal customer base and eclectic range of affordable courses.
Skillshare’s slogan says it all: “Expand your Creativity.”
With a collection of segmented video lessons, this platform is a haven for entrepreneurial creatives looking to bolster their skills.
Learn more: Is Skillshare worth it? Pricing, free trial, best classes, and more
But let’s explore these ideas further.
Udemy vs Skillshare: Courses
Home to over 180,000 courses, Udemy offers content about every realm you can think of! From business and marketing to lifestyle and music, you’re sure to find something that interests you in Udemy’s extensive course catalog.
Boasting excellent prices and discounts that go as low as $14, it’s easy to understand why Udemy has won over a huge audience.
Udemy also provides unlimited access to purchased content and encourages customers to learn at their own pace. So whether lessons reach 17+ hours or less, you’ll have all the time in the world to get your study on!
Another unique feature is that Udemy features courses in over 60 languages, making it an attractive choice for students around the globe and more accessible than other online learning platforms.
For example, the majority of the courses you’ll find on Skillshare are in English with closed captions. The platform also focuses on a smaller range of topics.
With content organized under three main categories — Create, Build, Thrive — Skillshare (along with Domestika) has become one of the most sought-after platforms by creatives. Illustration, animation, creative writing, graphic design, and music are only some of the many subjects you can explore.
Learn more: Skillshare vs Domestika
However, courses on Skillshare are not purchased individually and require a yearly subscription. The good news is that once you have a membership, all courses will be unlocked, and you’ll be able to take as many as your heart desires!
In comparison to Udemy, Skillshare’s courses are way more succinct and set up in shorter video segments. Skillshare courses regularly undergo content audits to reinforce quality over quantity and ensure classes are up to snuff.
While neither provides official accreditation, Udemy does reward learners with a course completion certificate which may be a plus for young professionals or anyone looking to add new skills to their portfolio.
Udemy and Skillshare are very similar when it comes to recruiting teachers. Both have an open, fee-free enrollment policy.
While this is good news for potential teachers, Udemy does not perform ongoing audits of published courses, which at times may lead to poorly curated content and production.
However, classes are generally good quality on either platform, but there is no consistent guarantee of quality. We would say user reviews are your main tool for selecting courses!
Udemy vs Skillshare: Pricing and value
When deciding between Udemy vs Skillshare, one of the biggest differences is their pricing models. Nevertheless, they’re both quite affordable, especially considering all they have to offer!
Known for its inconsistent prices, with courses commonly ranging between $14-$200,Udemy is a flash-sale machinenotable for its juicy deals. That said, you can purchase classes individually for very low prices without committing to a subscription. As a result, Udemy is an excellent option for learners looking to learn on a budget!
However, Udemy does have a few optional subscription options: Udemy Pro and Udemy Personal Plan.
Udemy Pro is a monthly membership ($20/month) designed to guide and support students interested in obtaining specific IT certifications. The subscription offers courses specialized in IT-related topics only for the time being.
Apart from one-off course purchases, the platform has also created a monthly subscription option called Udemy Personal Plan. The cost of this membership varies according to the location of your account. However, please note that this service is still not rolled out globally and may not be available in your area yet.
Learn more about both subscriptions (and how to sign up) in our Udemy guide!
One of Udemy’s most convenient features is its 30-day refund rule. This means that you can ask for a refund up to 30 days into a course you’ve purchased if it’s not meeting your expectations.
If you’re looking for employee learning opportunities, Udemy Business is a fantastic option, offering over 6,000 in-demand courses at $360 per person per year.
Unless you just want to settle for Skillshare’s free courses, you will need to sign up for a Skillshare Premium membership. This will give you full access to all of the platform’s content. The subscription is annual and costs $157 (equivalent to $13 per month).
Benefits of Skillshare Premium:
- Unlimited access to all classes: ~30,000 classes are available.
- No ads: Remove all ads, even from free courses.
- Enhanced community access: Get feedback and support from Skillshare’s community of creatives.
- Offline access: Download classes on your phone or tablet for offline learning.
- Support your favorite teachers: Membership fees go toward paying teachers.
- Other perks: Discounts on Squarespace, Adobe Creative Cloud, Todoist, and others (annual membership only).
With Skillshare Premium, you’ll have unlimited access to ~30,000 ad-free courses, a lively creative community, and discounts for external services such as Squarespace and Adobe Creative Cloud. You’ll also be able to view lessons offline through the mobile app.
Not sure if you want to commit? Skillshare offers a free one-month trial; test it out before subscribing by clicking below!
Udemy vs Skillshare: Platform
When comparing Udemy vs Skillshare in terms of user experience, Skillshare comes out on top.
Skillshare stands out because it has built a particular visual identity and displays content in an appealing, well-designed manner. The layout features category titles and themes, which makes navigation straightforward, smooth, and intuitive.
When selecting a class, the platform allows you to view a course trailer, giving you a general feel of the lessons as well as the main topics covered in each. You can also get additional information about a lesson by checking the reviews tab, discussion board, or teacher profile.
Skillshare also makes it easy to find the very best courses. TheStaff Pick, Original, and Recommended Classes tabshelp you discover trending courses and particularly well-curated content.
In addition to this, the platform offers Workshops where students can enroll to participate in week-long sessions with fellow creatives to perfect their craft. Although being a Skillshare Premium member will grant you free access to most, some workshops may occasionally require an additional fee.
Udemy’s website has recently been revamped and improved and presents a cleaner, subdued design and layout, although it still features an extensive menu of subject matters.
Hosting what seems to be an endless variety of courses, Udemy does a great job of providing useful filter features to help you narrow down your options.
The platform also allows you to preview courses before purchase and displays reviews and ratings by former students — these are great bits of information to consider before buying a course!
While one of Skillshare’s highlights is its devoted online community, Udemy is a better match for self-starters looking for autonomous learning experiences.
Regardless of your preference, both platforms can be accessed through mobile apps, which is a bonus if you’re one to study on the go!
Udemy vs Skillshare: For teachers
Teaching online is a great way to expand your audience — and turn your skills into cash!
If this interests you, you’re in luck because Udemy and Skillshare are both great places to teach.And signing up to do so is especially easy on both platforms.
The only requirements are signing up, creating content, and publishing your course. So, Udemy vs Skillshare: which is best for teachers? Neither platform requires fees or in-depth approval from in-house teams.
Once you’ve signed up, both platforms will provide resources to assist you in your venture, whether this means tips on creating video content or guidelines for technical requirements.
On Udemy, teachers can look into the Marketplace Insights section to learn more about student trends and what the demand is. With this information, potential tutors can start building a following and start monetizing within the blink of an eye!
Skillshare also provides a detailed handbook, including guidelines for course creation and best practices. Instructors can also find support and interact with fellow teachers through the platform’s Teacher Center.
At the end of the day, if you’re passionate about a subject and looking into online teaching opportunities, both platforms are great options!
Udemy vs Skillshare: Verdict
So, Udemy vs Skillshare: what’s the best pick for you?
If you’re looking for abudget-friendly, pay-by-course experience, Udemy is an excellent match, with a cornucopia of courses, multiple language options, and additional subscription possibilities.
More of a jack-of-all-trades? Want to tweak your creative skills and learn tips and tricks from industry experts?Skillshare offers tons of great courses for a single subscription fee. So dig in because it’s truly all-you-can-eat!
If you want to decide for yourself, check outUdemy’s collection of free courses, or sign up for Skillshare’sfree one-month trial!
That’s it for this in-depth Udemy vs Skillshare comparison! How has your experience been with each platform? Let everyone know in the comments below!
