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.

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.

Read Skillshare Review: Is It Worth It in 2024? Free Trial

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.

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.

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.