Skill learning is essential, right? If you have also thought about upgrading or acquiring skills, you must have heard about Skillshare and Udemy. They are the most popular e-learning platforms offering plenty of courses. But which one will suit you best? Well, you can find your answer here. This article is about “Skillshare vs Udemy: Which should you pick in 2023”.
E-learning has gained huge popularity. It allows you to learn anywhere and anytime. There are many e-learning platforms. You often get confused about which one to pick. In this article, I will discuss Skillshare vs Udemy, the best e-learning platform.
Table of Contents
Skillshare vs Udemy: Overview
Skillshare and Udemy are the two most popular e-learning platforms. They offer plenty of courses in different niches. Here is the overview of Skillshare vs Udemy.
Overview of Skillshare:
Skillshare, a US-based e-learning platform, was founded in 2010. At present, it is composed of more than 10 thousand teachers and 800 thousand learners from different countries. It offers more than 35 thousand classes in different niches.
Overview of Udemy:
Udemy was also founded in 2010, but older than Skillshare by a few months. It has more than 50 million learners and 75 thousand instructors from different nations. Udemy offers more than 213 thousand courses in various niches.
Differences Between Skillshare vs Udemy
| Skillshare | Udemy | |
| Courses | 200000+ | 35000+ |
| Free Courses | One month free trial to all courses | 500+ |
| Costs | Annual Subscription for all courses (150 USD – 170 USD) | Roughly 13 USD to 199 USD per course |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, and Desktop | Android, iOS, and Desktop |
| Website | Visit Site | Visit Site |
Skillshare vs Udemy: Pros and Cons
Skillshare and Udemy both are dominating market players in e-learning. This is because of their various courses. However, through my experience, I am penning down here the pros and cons of these two e-learning platforms. It will help you better understand the topic ‘Skillshare vs Udemy: Which should you pick in 2023?’
Skillshare:
Skillshare Pros:
- 35000+ video courses are available.
- Offline access is also available.
- One-month free trial.
- Access to all courses at an affordable price.
- Instructors host live classes.
- Courses are precise, to the point, and short.
Skillshare Cons:
- A single course is not available like Udemy.
- No course completion certificate
- Most of the courses are available in English language only.
Udemy:
Udemy Pros:
- 210,000+ courses are available for various niches.
- Lifetime access to the purchased course.
- Udemy offers course completion certificates.
- Courses are available in different languages.
- You can buy a single course on Udemy.
Udemy Cons:
- It is not an accredited institution. So, certificates are not too valuable for your CV.
- Content quality is not promising for all courses.
Skillshare vs Udemy: Course Quality
Being the top most popular e-learning platforms, Skillshare and Udemy both offer high-quality courses. However, a deep comparison of Skillshare vs Udemy courses can help you to choose the best platform.
Skillshare Course Quality:
Skillshare offers more than 35 thousand courses in various niches with high-quality content. Skillshare courses are straightforward, to the point, and engaging. They demand their classes to be at least 10 minutes long with precise content from their instructors. However, most of the premium content over Skillshare is available in the English language only.
Moreover, Skillshare offers you to switch to another course immediately if you do not like the previous one. We have made a list of the top 10 courses available on Skillshare based on the learners’ reviews, pricing, and content quality.
10 Best Courses on Skillshare:
- Digital Illustration – Learn To Use ProCreate
- Interior Design Basics – Steps To Your Perfect Space
- Animation for Illustration: Adding Movement with Procreate & Photoshop
- Modern Money Habits – Steps To Build The Life You Want
- Social Media Marketing: Growing Followers and Going Viral
- Introduction To SEO: Tactics and Strategies for Entrepreneurs
- YouTube Success: Build an Authentic Channel That’s Worth the Follow
- Graphic Design Basics: Core Principles for Visual Design
- Web Design Essentials: Creating Marketing Homepages That Drive Results
- Character Illustration: Drawing Faces, Figures & Clothing
Udemy Course Quality:
Udemy comprises more than 213 thousand courses in different niches and languages. They also provide good quality content. However, quality is not promising in every course. Some courses are engaging; whereas some are boring. Unlike Skillshare, the average class duration in Udemy is at least 30 minutes.
You have to buy the courses on Udemy separately. That means, if you do not like the content of the present course, you cannot switch to another course. You have to pay money for the new one. Based on the learners’ reviews, we have curated a list of the best courses available on Udemy.
10 Best Courses on Udemy:
- Web Developer Bootcamp
- Data Science: Create Real-World projects
- Ajax Development
- The Ultimate Cryptocurrency Trading Course
- Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch
- Ethical Hacking: Reverse Shells
- Microsoft Excel Basics
- SAP ABAP Programming for Beginners
- MS Office Advanced – Efficiency Training
- Graphic Design Masterclass – Learn GREAT Design
Our Personal Opinion:
Discussing Skillshare vs Udemy based on the course quality is quite a tough task. Both are popular for creating quality content. However, some courses at Udemy are lacking in quality and unnecessarily long.
On the other hand, Skillshare only creates high-quality content. That is why you can find fewer courses in Skillshare than on Udemy. According to us, Skillshare is a little better in terms of course quality.
Skillshare vs Udemy: Instructors
The quality of a course greatly depends on the quality of the instructors. Here, we will discuss Skillshare vs Udemy based on the quality of instructors.
Skillshare and Udemy are both e-learning platforms that allow anyone to be an instructor. You might get surprised right? Well, that is true. Anyone can sell courses on these platforms. However, you have to meet some basic requirements they want.
Confused? Well, nothing to worry about. Both e-learning platforms check the content quality by experts and professionals in that niche.
Besides, both Skillshare and Udemy sell their courses of high-quality content. In Udemy it is known as Udemy Official Courses. In Skillshare, their courses are known as Skillshare Originals.
If you do want more verified instructors, then Masterclass might be the platform for you. We compared Skillshare to Masterclass here, so check it out to see which is better for you!
It is confusing choosing the best courses. Here is a tip that I follow before buying any course at Udemy. I go through the reviews of the learners thoroughly and also seek suggestions from different websites. It helps me greatly in choosing the right course.
Skillshare vs Udemy: Affordability
Pricing is another essential parameter of discussing Skillshare vs Udemy. They have a huge difference in terms of pricing. Here is how they charge for their courses.
Skillshare Cost:
Skillshare offers you an annual subscription of around 150 USD. Through the annual subscription, you can access all the courses available on Skillshare. In a nutshell, you can access all courses by just paying only 13 USD per month. Moreover, Skillshare allows a one-month free trial for every new learner.
Udemy Cost:
Udemy costs you separately for different courses. That means you have to pay separately for each course that you want to enroll in. The pricing of the courses ranges from around 13 USD to 199 USD. However, Udemy offers a few free courses.
Our Personal Opinion:
Udemy and Skillshare have their unique pricing techniques. If you are sure about enrolling in some particular courses, Udemy may be better for you. On the other hand, if you are willing to acquire skills in various niches, then Skillshare must be more affordable to you.
Skillshare vs Udemy: Interface
The popularity of e-learning platforms is greatly dependent on the interface and ease of use. It is a hard task to choose the right course among the lakhs of courses available. Here, the more organized e-learning platform wins the race. We will discuss Skillshare vs Udemy based on their user-friendly interface and ease of use.
Skillshare Interface:
Skillshare offers you access to them through desktop, iOS, and Android platforms. Their interfaces are quite basic and easy to use. The courses are divided into categories that help you to find your desired course within a few minutes.
Udemy Interface:
Udemy also offers multiple platforms like Desktop, iOS, and Android to access them. They have also categorized their courses based on various niches. They also have a futuristic and easy-to-use interface.
Our Personal Opinion:
Both Udemy and Skillshare come with a user-friendly interface. You can access them through multiple platforms like desktop, iOS, and Android. However, based on personal experience, I would conclude that the interface of Udemy is a bit better than Skillshare. However, this difference does not matter a lot.
Skillshare vs Udemy: Course Completion Certificates
Skillshare Certification:
Skillshare offers no certification after the successful completion of the courses. Here, you can learn and upgrade your skills.
Udemy Certification:
Unlike Skillshare, Udemy provides certificates of successful completion of the course. However, Udemy is not an accredited institution. Therefore, Udemy certification may not add additional value to your CV or resume.
Our Personal Opinion:
Skillshare does not offer any certification. On the other hand, Udemy provides you with a course completion certificate. In my opinion, not being an accredited institution, the Udemy certificate is not as valuable. I would recommend readers choose Skillshare vs Udemy based on course quality.
Conclusion: Skillshare vs Udemy
The 21st century is the era of digitalization. In this era, Udemy and Skillshare have become leading players in e-learning. In this article, we have discussed Skillshare vs Udemy. They both are popular and provide high-quality content. However, they differ a lot in many aspects.
Skillshare vs Udemy: Which should you pick? Well, it depends on your requirements. I prefer Skillshare over Udemy, as I like to acquire skills in different niches. Here, I am penning down who should join Udemy or Skillshare according to their requirements.
Who is best suitable for Udemy?
- Those who want to learn coding, web development, It, or blockchain.
- Those who want to buy a particular course in a particular niche.
Who is best suitable for Skillshare?
- Those who want to access various courses in a niche.
- Those who want to learn photography, interior designing, and other creative skills.
Frequently-Asked Questions: Skillshare vs Udemy
What is Skillshare?
Skillshare is an online learning community that offers courses on a variety of topics, including design, business, technology, and more.
What is Udemy?
Udemy is an online learning platform that offers courses on a wide range of topics, from programming and business to personal development and more.
What are some good alternative to Udemy?
There are many Udemy alternatives such as Linkedin Learning, Codecademy, and Pluralsight. You can read my full round up of the best Udemy alternatives.
How do Skillshare and Udemy compare in terms of course variety?
Skillshare offers a more curated selection of courses, with a focus on creative skills such as design and photography. Udemy, on the other hand, has a wider variety of courses, covering everything from technical skills to personal development and beyond.
Which platform offers better quality courses, Skillshare or Udemy?
Quality can vary widely on both platforms, as both offer courses created by independent instructors. However, Skillshare does have a more rigorous vetting process for instructors, so there may be more consistency in course quality on that platform.
Are Skillshare and Udemy subscription-based or pay-per-course?
Skillshare offers a subscription model, where you pay a monthly or annual fee for unlimited access to their courses. Udemy is pay-per-course, meaning you pay for each course individually.
Can you get a certificate or credential for completing a course on Skillshare or Udemy?
Skillshare does offer certificates of completion for some courses, but they are not accredited. Udemy also offers certificates of completion, but they are similarly not accredited.
How do Skillshare and Udemy compare in terms of pricing?
Skillshare’s subscription model starts at $19/month or $99/year. Udemy’s courses vary in price, but they typically range from $10 to $200.
Can you access courses on Skillshare and Udemy offline?
Skillshare does offer the ability to download courses for offline viewing on their mobile app. Udemy also allows you to download courses for offline viewing, but this feature is not available on all courses.
Which platform is better for beginners, Skillshare or Udemy?
Both platforms offer courses for beginners, but Skillshare’s focus on creative skills may make it a better fit for those just starting out in fields such as design or photography. Udemy’s wider variety of courses may make it a better choice for those looking to explore different areas of interest.
Are there any free courses available on Skillshare and Udemy?
Skillshare offers a selection of free courses, as well as a 14-day free trial. Udemy also offers some free courses, but the majority of their courses require payment.
