Udemy V/S Skillshare: Which is the one for you? in [*2024] (2024)

In a rapidly changing and growing world, staying current with all the new skills needed for proficient work can be a little daunting (especially if you don’t know where to begin). Learning has no age or gender, whether you’re a creative enthusiast, a beginner exploring new hobbies, or a hobbyist guru wanting to acquire new skills for personal and professional growth. Continuous self-education is available to all if you know where to look.

Udemy and Skillshare are the most prominent online platforms in creative learning and interests, offering many courses customized to fulfill all your creative needs. Though they are similar to an extent, a few differences make each platform unique in its own right. This review will delve into a detailed comparison to help you make an informed decision.

Quick Overview

Udemy

Udemy is one of the top online learning platforms, with the broadest range of courses available on various subjects. It has over200,000 coursesavailable in more than10 different categories. You can choose a course you like, pay for it, and get lifetime access. The courses start at$20 and go up to $200,depending on the length and complexity of the subject matter. You can also take their beginner-friendlyfree courseson a budget. They also provide a subscription and business plans, depending on your needs.

Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning platform that focuses on the creative side of education. It offers over50,000 coursesand has over10 million users. Skillshare provides graphic design, photography, abstract arts classes, and many more. The instructors are the best in their respective fields of art and are passionate about what they are teaching. You can choose amonthly subscription for $20 or an annual subscription for $99. Currently, Skillshare offersno free courses, but you get a free trial.

Here’s acomparison tablefor you to go through:

Udemy

Udemy was established in 2009 by Eren Bali and has since become one of the leading online learning platforms in the world. Its massive content library (over 200,000 courses) makes learning accessible and affordable. Udemy has over 40 million users worldwide and is used by popular companies like Apple, Glassdoor, and Volkswagen for their employees to learn new skills.

You can buy an individual course starting at $10 with lifetime access or a personal plan for $26.99 per month that gives you access to over 5000 courses available on Udemy. If you don’t wish to buy any courses, you can take any free courses (more than 500) available.

Skillshare is a learning platform best known for its various creative subjects. The platform was founded by Michael Karnjanaprakorn and Malcolm Ong in 2011 and has grown to be the most sought-after e-learning site. Skillshare has a massive catalog of over 50,000 courses and has amassed over 10 million subscribers. The most distinctive feature of Skillshare is its community forum, where you can discuss your interests with like-minded people and also communicate with your instructors.

Skillshare follows a subscription method for payment, so you cannot buy a single course. The subscription is $29 if paid monthly and $99 if paid annually (which is on the affordable side). Currently, there are no free courses available on Skillshare.

Criteria for Comparison

There are several criteria that you can use to compare two products, but I will compare Udemy and Skillshare based on seven main criteria, which are:

1. Course variety and quality: The most essential aspect of any online learning platform is the quality of its courses. Just because you are learning online does not mean you have to compromise on the quality of your education. Regarding the variety of courses, it is more for people who want to take multiple courses and prefer them to be available on the same platform.
2. User interface and layout: A learning platform must be easily navigable and user-friendly. The design and layout of the site should also be engaging and interactive while being informative at the same time.
3. Payment options and refunds: An online learning platform must be affordable, as only some can splurge on expensive courses (regarding creative pursuits). People have different needs, and it is necessary to provide multiple payment options to cater to everyone’s specific requirements. Also, people can make payments by mistake or are unsure about a subscription after making the purchase, so it is a gesture of good faith if you provide them with a refund option.
4. Customer and language support: Only some people speak or understand English, and a learning platform should provide language options to include a variety of learners worldwide. Language should never become a barrier when it comes to education. Customer support is another essential thing to consider when choosing a learning platform.
5. Instructors and community: When it comes to an open platform where anyone can host a class, it is essential to know the credentials of your instructors. A course can only be as good as its teacher. Community support also plays a key role when it comes to online learning, as forming bonds with fellow learners can help you stay motivated and focused.
6. Certification value: Most courses available on most online learning platforms come with a certificate of completion. But more often than not, these certificates need to be recognized by potential employers, rendering them completely useless. So, if you are taking a course specifically to further your professional journey, you must check whether the course provides accredited certificates.
7. Better for business development: It is important to note that users can only sometimes be individuals. Some companies and organizations constantly look for online learning platforms to upskill their employees. An excellent online platform should have plans that match their needs and help with professional growth.

Now, let’s understand what each of them has more to offer about these criteria, and then you can decide which platform is better for you.

Udemyhas a massive course catalog (over 200,000) on various subjects. From computer science to culinary science, Udemy has it all. It has courses in 10 categories and several subcategories. A few of the main subjects include finance and accounting, IT and software, office productivity, personal development, design, and marketing. You can buy individual courses or a personal plan and start learning. Udemy also offers various discounts on their popular courses, and often, you can get amazing-quality courses at a reasonable price. Udemy lets instructors worldwide create courses in their area of expertise and then thoroughly vet these courses to see if they follow the company guidelines and match the quality standards. Though some courses could be better quality, most are interactive and provide in-depth information.

Skillsharehas a wide range of courses (over 50,000) on creative skills like photography, jewelry making, stitching, painting, and more. Skillshare courses are divided into three main categories (create, build, and thrive) and 16 subcategories. These courses are categorized based on beginner, intermediate, or advanced skill level. You can choose the level you feel most comfortable with and start learning. Skillshare has a more practical approach to learning and is not one-sided. The instructors encourage you to work with them step-by-step so you can mimic their actions and progress. It is a unique way of learning. The courses are 2-3 hours long and divided into lessons, making it easier to follow the instructors.

Summary

When it comes to course variety and quality,Udemytakes the cake. With its massive content library, there is something for everyone, and the courses are of superior quality.

Udemyhas a straightforward signup process where you need your name, email address, and password. Once you are signed in, you arrive at the landing page, and Udemy has a simple landing page with a clean design. You also get many intuitive features, and the platform is easily navigable. The courses are well-organized and easy to find. Once you start taking a course, you will see the lesson plan and practice exercises on the right while the course video, audio, or text is in the middle of the screen.

Skillsharehas a similar signup process, but it lets you log in directly with your Gmail or Facebook account, making it much more convenient. Regarding design, Skillshare has some distinctive features that make it stand out, like creating a custom course list that lets you check out only the courses you are interested in. The platform is designed well, but it needs to be updated. The video player is similar to Udemy’s, with similar sidebars, making it easy to use.

Summary

Though both platforms have similar design and usability,Udemyis more modern and easy to use.

Udemyhas a pay-per-course approach when it comes to pricing. The courses start at as little as$20and can go up to$300,depending on the duration, subject matter, and instructor. It also has a monthly personal plan for$30 per month, giving you access to over5000 courseson Udemy. If you are on a budget, you can take one of the500+ free coursesto familiarize yourself with a new skill. And if you are still deciding about a course, you also get a30-day money-back guarantee. Many good courses are often on discount, which is another plus.

Skillsharehas amonthly subscription for $20 or an annual subscription for $99(working out to $8.25 per month). Considering Skillshare’s massive library ofover 50,000 courses, the subscription is affordable. The subscription lets you take any course you want as often as possible. Although Skillshare has no free courses, it does offer a7-day free trial. If you are unsatisfied with the subscription plan, you can also request arefund within 14 days of payment. It is important to note that the refund service is offered onlyonce per customer.

Summary

Udemyoffers more courses that you can pay for individually or get a personal plan at a reasonable price that comes with more than 5000 courses. You also get an option to request a refund more than once. That makes Udemy a much more affordable option when it comes to pricing.

Udemyoffers courses in more than 70 languages, like English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and more. This range of inclusivity makes Udemy an ideal learning platform for people worldwide. Udemy also offers decent customer support if you need help or have doubts regarding their policies and courses. You can contact them through email at[emailprotected].

Skillsharehas courses primarily in English and has recently started branching to other languages like Spanish, French, and German. They have transcripts and subtitles for their video lessons, which is good. Skillshare’s customer support is excellent, and the people are friendly and helpful. You can contact the support team through email at[emailprotected].

Summary

Skillshare has a better support system, but Udemy has more language options and a more detailed FAQ section, and their support system is also good enough. So,Udemyis a better option in that regard.

Udemyis an open platform where any good instructor can post a course on a subject they are an expert in. Though there are specific quality measures and company guidelines to follow, as long as you are passionate about the topic you are teaching and are willing to put effort into making your course engaging and informative, Udemy will let you post your content on its platform. They also partner with industry experts to collaborate on specific topics, and these courses are known as “Udemy Originals.” Udemy also comes with community access, but it could be more active, and the instructors rarely get back to you with your answers.

Skillshareis also an open platform where anyone can teach a course as long as they are passionate about their subject matter and have experience in the field. The disadvantage is that the course quality can sometimes be inconsistent and leave you underwhelmed. In an initiative to provide great content, Skillshare has started teaming up with expert industry veterans with years of experience to produce its original courses, “Skillshare Originals.” Regarding community access, Skillshare has a more supportive and active community where teachers often communicate with the learners.

Summary

Skillsharehas better instructors and community support, and the courses are more detailed and interactive with a practical approach compared to Udemy.

Udemyoffers a certificate of completion after you finish a course. Since Udemy has a lot of courses taught by many instructors, the value of the certificate depends on the type of course and who conducted it. If it is a popular course taught by a recognized instructor, your certificate of completion would be much more appealing to a potential employer. Nevertheless, every course on Udemy comes with an accredited certificate.

Skillshareprovides no certificates (accredited or not) after completion of any courses on the platform.

Summary

Even though any institution does not accredit certificates provided by Udemy, they still help you feel accomplished and have a personal value for the learner. It is better to have a non-accredited certificate than no certificate at all.

Udemyhas 3 plans designed for companies and organizations depending on the requirements and the number of employees.

1. Team Plan: This plan is recommended for a team with 5-20 users. It costs $360 per user annually (no monthly plan) and gives you access to over 10,000 courses and 200+ practice exercises for certificate exams.
2. Enterprise Plan: This plan is for companies with more than 20 users. The price of this plan is not disclosed, and you can contact Udemy support for a custom quote. It gives you access to over 24,000 courses and 200+ practice exercises for certificate programs. You can also use various analytical tools and get customized content that meets your needs.
3. Leadership Development Program: This service is a custom plan designed especially for leadership roles and is recommended for a team with over 25 users. The program is tailored to meet your requirements, and you can request a demo and get a custom quote from Udemy’s sales team.

Skillsharehas a Team Plan option that gives you unrestricted access to their wide range of courses (over 20,000) and is curated for teams of all sizes. The plan is priced at $159 per user and is billed annually.

Summary

Skillshareis more affordable regarding team plans and has good courses that can help with professional growth and increase work productivity. The team plan is straightforward; you can pay for it without hassle.

Conclusion

Udemy and Skillshare are amazing learning platforms with unique features and great courses. The instructors on both platforms are experts with years of experience, and the course quality is standard. But which platform best suits your needs depends on what and how you want to learn.

I believe Udemy offers a great variety of courses at an affordable rate and has a universal appeal. Overall, subjectively speaking, Udemy is a better learning platform.

However, Skillshare focuses on the creative side of learning. Its unique course design and practical approach stand out in online learning. So, if you want to explore your horizons and learn more about arts and crafts, Skillshare is the better option.