Skillshare vs Udemy: what’s the difference, and which is better?
I’ve written about Skillshare and Udemy before, and a few of you have asked me if I prefer Skillshare over Udemy.
I actually use both, so here’s an unbiased breakdown of the pros and cons of each.
Udemy
Udemy is a one of the top online learning platforms, with a pay-per-class model.
Courses are typically $10 – $15 per course. I’ve found that the quality of the instruction on Udemy is usually incredibly high, and most courses run between 2 and 5 hours. This is typically enough time to cover topics in depth without over-explaining things, and it seems like the right length for most students.
Udemy doesn’t have the same project features that Skillshare has (more on that below), but it does have quizzes designed to help you gauge whether you’ve mastered a topic before moving on. These are especially useful for complex topics to make sure you’ve grasped the core concepts.
Udemy has a significantly larger content library in terms of total number of courses, and since many students want to learn a specific niche topic, this makes a big difference. Overall, I give Udemy a A because of the solid course content, selection, and in-depth content.
Skillshare
Skillshare is a subscription-based online learning platform.
There is some free content, but most content falls under the Premium Subscription plan. Premium starts at just $8.25/month, and you can get a 2-month free trial with my subscription link.
But is it worth it?
What I love about Skillshare is the all-you-can-eat nature of the subscription. At $8.25, a month of Skillshare costs less than the average price of a single Udemy course. You can cancel or pause any time, so it’s trivial to sign up when you have time to learn and stop paying when you don’t.
The quality of the content on Skillshare is solid. Award-winning logo designers, famous TED-talk presenters, and leaders from top companies like Google, Spotify, and Github all teach courses on Skillshare. You can also find a few of the exact same classes you can get on Udemy.
Most Skillshare’s courses utilize a bite-sized, project-based approach to learning. Every course has a project, ostensibly designed to help you learn by doing. However, the vast majority of courses are 30 minutes or less. While in some cases this means you can learn a concept quickly, in many cases Skillshare teachers gloss over topics that could use more depth.
Skillshare also has an active community of students, so you can check out what other students are creating for their projects and get inspiration. Overall, I give Skillshare an B+, because while the price-point and community are top notch, the courses tend to be a bit on the short side.
Want to try Skillshare for free for 2 months? Use my subscription link.
Skillshare vs Udemy: Conclusion
So who wins in the battle of Skillshare vs Udemy? While the edge isn’t huge, I have to give it to Udemy. It’s a better value and its in-depth approach helps students learn faster and develop real-world skills they can actually use. However, if you prefer to go with a buffet-style plan, Skillshare is still a solid choice.