In today’s digital age, acquiring new skills no longer requires attending physical classes at a college or university. With the rise of online course providers, learning has become more accessible, offering convenience and flexibility. Two of the most popular platforms for online learning are Skillshare and Udemy. Both offer a wide range of courses across various subjects, but there are significant differences in how they operate. Here’s a comparison to help you decide which platform might be the best fit for your learning needs.

Which is the cheapest?

The answer to this question depends largely on your preferred payment method, as Skillshare and Udemy use different pricing models.

Skillshare operates on a subscription model, where you pay a flat fee to access all courses available on the platform. This means that once you subscribe, you can explore an unlimited number of classes. There is a free version available, which allows you to access a few select courses, but most of these free offerings only provide access to the first lesson of a course. To access the complete library, you’ll need to sign up for Skillshare Premium. The premium subscription costs US$17 per month on a rolling basis or US$110 per year, which averages out to US$9 per month. New users often get promotional offers, such as two months of free access, and Skillshare frequently runs discount campaigns. Additionally, students or learners with specific skills may qualify for Skillshare scholarships.

On the other hand, Udemy operates on a pay-per-course model, which means you pay for each course individually. Udemy also has free courses, and unlike Skillshare, you gain full access to all lessons within these free courses. However, the selection of free courses is more limited in terms of topics. The price of Udemy’s premium courses can vary significantly, ranging from as low as US$14.5 (especially during sales) to as high as US$260. Udemy is known for running frequent sales, with courses often appearing heavily discounted, sometimes by hundreds of dollars. However, these discounts tend to be ongoing throughout the year, so while you might feel you’re getting a great deal, the listed savings may not always reflect a limited-time offer.

Conclusion

When choosing between Skillshare and Udemy, it really comes down to how you prefer to pay and what you’re looking for in a learning platform. Skillshare’s subscription model is ideal if you want access to a broad range of courses and plan to take multiple classes, while Udemy allows you to pay for only the specific courses you need, making it a better option if you’re only interested in a single topic or course at a time. Both platforms offer free content, though Skillshare’s free courses are more limited compared to Udemy’s.