Skillshare Review: Is It Worth Buying Skillshare Courses In 2023?
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Sonalika S.
- Updated Date: July 5, 2023
- 34,000+ Online Classes
- Offline Access
- 1 Month free trial
If you want to learn new skills and further your knowledge, Skillshare is a great place to do that. Giving you access to hundreds upon hundreds of online courses and educational videos.
As an online creator and consultant, I’m constantly learning new skills to keep up with the trade and make clients happy. To do so, I’ve relied heavily on online learning over the past five years. Typically, when I want to learn something new, I go to YouTube and type in a question. However, this isn't always the most effective way to learn. Recently, I've been trying out some other methods for learning like taking online courses and joining forums where I can talk to experts. These have been much more helpful because I can get the specific information that I need and ask follow-up questions. I was done with free online courses that are full of ads and people trying to sell me something. I decided to try Skillshare, an online learning platform that people have been talking about. I'm glad I made the switch! The courses are high quality and the instructors are experts in their field. Overall, I wanted to give 4 ratings out of 5 to Skillshare.
Table of Contents
Skillshare Review
Skillshare is an online education platform with 34K+ classes for creative people and entrepreneurs. Its categories include Music, Animation, Creative Writing, UI/UX design Marketing and much more. You can try Skillshare for free with its premium trial plan that gives you access to all of its features and benefits for a limited time. After the trial, the premium plan is billed annually at Rs. 1923(which equals Rs. 160 per month).
Skillshare has a plan for teams and businesses that skillshare costs which vary per user per year and provides unlimited access to all classes and business features. The plan is designed to be adaptable for teams or businesses of any size or stage. Skillshare also offers scholarships and financial aid for eligible learners, as well as a 7-day refund period for annual memberships.
Pros
- Access to high-quality education
- Variety of courses
- The flexibility of Learning
- 14 days refund policy
- Comparatively Affordable
Cons
- Lack of accreditation
- Limited resources
- No certificate
- No feedback from instructors
What is Skillshare?
Skillshare was founded in 2010 by Michael Karnjanaprakorn and Malcolm Ong as a way for people to learn new skills by completing projects while watching online video content. The company is based in New York.
skillshare is a cost-effective e-learning platform that is perfect for people who want to improve their career skills or explore new interests. With a wide range of courses available, Skillshare is an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn something new.
Skillshare divides its courses into the following categories:
- Advertising
- Business
- Design
- Entrepreneurship
- Fashion and style
- Film and video
- Food and drink
- Gaming
- Music
- Photography
- Social media
- Technology
- Writing and publishing
Who Is Skillshare for?
Skillshare is focused on helping creatives develop new skills or improve existing ones. The platform offers classes on topics like illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing and much more. This makes it ideal for creative workers (e.g. designers, chefs, artists, etc.), entrepreneurs (e.g. marketers or SEOs), freelancers or small businesses who want to take their creative journey to the next level.
Skillshare for Educators
Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers professional-level educational content to teachers, professors, and other educators. It is an excellent resource for educators. With Skillshare, educators can access over 25,000 courses, videos, and tutorials related to topics ranging from coding and design to business and marketing. Skillshare also offers a variety of interactive tools, such as online discussion forums, to help educators foster engagement among their students. With an affordable subscription, educators can access all of Skillshare’s content and resources to stay informed and inspire learning.
Skillshare for Business
Skillshare for business is a platform that provides businesses with access to hundreds of online courses and training materials, as well as a powerful technology platform that enables businesses to create their own custom training programs. With Skillshare for business, companies have access to courses created by industry experts, as well as the training materials and tools needed to create their own unique training programs. This can help businesses save time and money on creating and delivering training, while ensuring that employees are getting the best training possible.
Are Skillshare courses worth it?
Skillshare courses can be a great way to learn new skills and expand your knowledge. Here are 4 pointers to consider when deciding if a Skillshare course is worth it for you:
Quality of Content
Skillshare offers thousands of high-quality classes from industry experts. These classes are designed to help you acquire the skills you need to succeed in your field.
Variety of Courses
Skillshare offers a variety of courses ranging from creative design to business and marketing. This allows you to find the right course for your needs.
Support
Skillshare offers a library of resources and a supportive community to help you learn . This makes it easier to stay motivated and get the most out of your courses.
Pricing
Skillshare offers a variety of pricing plans and memberships, making it accessible to everyone. You can choose a subscription that fits your budget.
Is Skillshare Legit?
Yes, Skillshare is a legitimate online course that you can take up from home offering courses in various creative and entrepreneurial skills. Skillshare was founded in 2010, making it one of the oldest online learning platforms. The company’s headquarter is located in New York.
In addition, Skillshare has a robust community of learners and instructors who are always ready to provide support and answer any questions you may have. The platform also offers a free trial period, so you can try out a course before committing to a full membership.
How to open a Skillshare Account?
To open a Skillshare account, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Skillshare website (www.skillshare.com) and click on the "Sign Up" button in the top right corner.
- You can sign up with your email, Google account, or Apple ID.
- Fill in your name, and email address, and create a password. If you sign up with Google or Apple, your details will be imported from your respective accounts.
- Skillshare will send a verification email to the address you provided. Open the email and click on the link to verify your account.
- Once your account is verified, you can start your free month.
By following these steps, you can easily open a Skillshare account and start learning new skills and advancing your career.
How Much Do Skillshare Courses Really Costs?
Skillshare is known for its affordable courses that provide students with the opportunity to learn new skills. However, it’s important to understand the pricing model of Skillshare courses, so that you know how much you will actually be investing.
Skillshare provides a premium plan for individual learners that gives access to around 3500+ courses, and a team plan for teams and businesses. They also offer scholarship programs for college and school students. Let’s take a closer look at these pricing models and scholarship programs.
Some Of The Most Popular Skillshare Courses
Animation
The Beginner’s Guide to After Effects – After Effects for Beginners taught by Jake Bartlett, is a comprehensive skillshare free course that covers everything you need to know to start creating animations in Adobe After Effects. The class is beginner-friendly and is great for anyone interested in the world of motion design. It covers topics such as Panels & Workspaces, Resolution, Frame Rates, Combining Effects and much more. With over 12,000 students and an 80% satisfaction rate, this class is sure to give you the foundation you need to excel in Adobe After Effects.
Animation Principles: Add Playful Personality To Your Animations - Basic animation principal, Jack Bartlett will be teaching you how to use animation principles in your motion design. But the knowledge you'll gain can be applied to any form of animation - not just in After Effects! You can use them in any animation software, hand-drawn animations, or even stop motion animation. Every principle is universal and applicable to any project.
Creative Writing
Creative Writing: Crafting Personal Essays with Impact – Looking to transform your story into a powerful personal essay? Then this is the class for you! Taught by Roxane Gay, a writer and editor, this one-hour masterclass is an insightful and inspiring look at how to craft your personal voice and write to connect with people. With close to 30,000 students have enjoyed this course, it's no wonder that 70% of them said it exceeded their expectations. So what are you waiting for? Enrol today and start writing your way to success!
Writing for Self-Discovery: 6 Journaling Prompts for Gratitude and Growth – This class, taught by Yasmine Cheyenne, is for all levels and is made up of 12 video lessons. You will discover the power of journaling to cultivate confidence, mindfulness and growth by transforming your life in just 10 minutes a day. You’ll gain tools and frameworks through six meditative writing prompts. Over 22,500 students have enjoyed this class with 80%.
Film & Video
Video Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro for Beginners – Taught by Jordy Vandeput, a Filmmaker and Youtuber, this class is beginner-friendly and perfect for anyone looking to take their creative ideas and turn them into amazing videos using Adobe Premiere Pro. You will learn a solid basis of Premiere Pro, allowing you to perform basic edits, create custom graphics and texts, mix audio from speech, music, sound effects and much more. With over 71,000 students and 60% of students saying the course exceeded their expectations, this is a class not to be missed!
YouTube Success: Build an Authentic Channel That’s Worth the Follow – Sorelle Amore is a Youtuber, Videographer, and Photographer who offers a beginner-friendly class on building up a devoted online following. In her class, you will learn tips and techniques for finding your topic niche and evolving it over time, prioritising authenticity over beauty, creating a posting.
Music
Learn How to Mix Music with Young Guru – Taught by Young Guru, Grammy-Nominated, Legendary Audio Engineer. This class is for intermediate-level learners and the class is made up of four sections which include: Organizing a Mix, Determining Levels, Adding Effects and Tonal Balance. This class has been watched by over 23,000 students with 50% of students saying the course exceeded their expectations.
SINGING MADE EASY (Level 1): Complete Vocal Training System – Taught by GB Voice Academy, Voice Coach. This class is beginner-friendly and this course will provide you with a wealth of information and tools to bring your singing voice to the next level. Some of what you will learn are expanding your vocal range, how to properly warm up your voice, how to utilize your breath efficiently, how to sing with more emotion and feeling and much more. This class has been watched by over 22,000 students with over 60% of students say the course exceeded their expectations.
UX/UI Design
User Experience Design Essentials – Adobe XD UI UX Design – This beginner-friendly class on UX and UI Design, taught by Daniel Scott, an Adobe Certified Trainer, will teach you the essential tools you need to create excellent wireframes. You'll learn about type, colors, icons, and much more. With over 21,000 students and a 70% satisfaction rate, this class is sure to help you improve your wireframing skills.
Intro to UX: Designing with a User-Centered Approach – This beginner-friendly class, taught by Cinthya Mohr (Sr. UX Manager @ Google), will show you how to design digital products that keep your users engaged and give you the results you’re looking for. You’ll learn how to take into account the user’s experience with your product so you can create designs that serve them effectively. Over 7,500 students have watched this class, with nearly 50% saying it met or exceeded their expectations.
Photography
Fundamentals of DSLR Photography –Taught by Justin Bridges, Fashion and Portrait Photographer. This class is beginner-friendly, an introductory photography class where you’ll learn how to manually balance shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to achieve perfect exposure. You’ll also learn Justin’s go-to camera settings, must-have gear and recommendations on a budget. This class has been watched by over 86,000 students with over 65% of students say the course exceeded their expectations.
iPhone Photography: How to Take Pro Photos On Your iPhone – This course, taught by professional photographer and videographer Dale McManus, is perfect for beginners who want to learn everything they need to know to become a professional digital photographer. You'll walk away from this class with plenty of valuable tips and tricks that you can use to make your photos stand out from the crowd. Some of the topics covered include shot composition, how to create depth in your photos, professional photo editing in Lightroom, and much more. This class has been watched by over 95,000 students with over 60% of students saying the study overreached their expectations.
Fine Art
The Art of Science of Drawing – Taught by Brent Eviston, a Master Artist & Instructor, this course is designed for beginner painters, graphic designers, illustrators, and artists of all types. In this class, you'll learn how to use a pencil like an artist. You'll also learn how to draw any shape and how to analyze and draw any subject by simplifying it into basic shapes. Over 56,000 students have watched this course with 60% of those students saying it exceeded their expectations.
Acrylic Painting: Learn the Basics for Beginners – LaurieAnne Gonzalez, a Youtuber, Videographer and Photographer, teaches this beginner-friendly class broken down into 6 categories: Your Workspace, Color Mixing, Brushes, Texture (Acrylic Mediums), Dimension and Depth of Field. With over 21,000 students and 50% of students saying the course exceeds their expectations, you will have all the skills you need to begin painting by the end.
Illustration
Digital Illustration: Learn to Use Procreate – This beginner-friendly class on digital illustration will teach you how to use Procreate on your iPad to create stunning artwork. Key lessons include setting up your first canvas, using select tools, brushes and erasers, creating and organizing your layers, and adding colour, textures, and effects. Taught by Jarom Vogel, a highly experienced digital illustrator, this class has already been taken by over 115,000 students with great reviews – over 50% of students say it exceeded their expectations!
Intro to Procreate: Illustrating on the iPad (UPDATED) – Join Brooke Glaser, Illustrator and Children's Designer, in this beginner-friendly class that covers all the hidden tools and gestures you need to make creating digital illustrations easy and fun. By the end of the course, you'll be able to intuitively and naturally create digital illustrations, just as if you were drawing with pencil and paper. Over 67,000 students have watched this class with 65% of them saying it exceeded their expectations. Procreate has changed the way Join works. It's his favorite tool for creating art.
Graphic Design
Adobe Photoshop CC – Essentials Training Course – Taught by Daniel Scott, an Adobe Certified Trainer, this class is perfect for beginners who want to learn everything they need to know about Photoshop. You'll be able to retouch photographs, distort and transform images, and so much more by the end of the course. With over 63,000 students and a 70% satisfaction rate, this class is sure to exceed your expectations!
Graphic Design Basics: Core Principles for Visual Design – Taught by the highly esteemed and professional Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Phillips, co-directors of the Graphic Design MFA program at MICA, this beginner-friendly class will give you a strong foundation in the core principles of graphic design. You’ll learn and define 5 basic design principles, critique your work for effectiveness and balance and apply each core concept in future projects - ensuring your success as a graphic designer. With over 106,000 students and 80% positive feedback, this is a class you don't want to miss!
Web Development
Responsive Web Design Essentials – HTML5 CSS3 Bootstrap – Taught by Daniel Scott, an Adobe Certified Trainer. This class is beginner-friendly, and you’ll learn how to build professional responsive web sites, which look good on mobiles, tablets and desktop screens. You’ll build 4 sites together; a simple but elegant restaurant website, a bike repair website, a responsive portfolio website and a Bootstrap website. This class has been watched by over 6,500 students with close to 80% of students who said the course exceeded their expectations.
Writing Code Faster with Emmet - Speed up or automate work with Sandra Dudley, Introducing to you Emmet, a plugin that enables you to write code FASTER. Emmet is available in most web editors. Adobe Dreamweaver, Brackets, Sublime Text etc. For this class, She will be demonstrating Emmet using an online web editor she uses on a daily basis. This class is aimed at people who already have some basic knowledge of HTML. It is a beginners class, that will help you become a more efficient developer.
Additional Skillshare Paid And Free Courses
Skillshare and Udemy are two popular online learning platforms that offer a vast range of courses to help learners acquire new skills. While Skillshare is a subscription-based platform that costs Rs. 13711.43 annually and offers a one-month free trial, Udemy offers individual courses at varying prices.
When it comes to the courses offered, Udemy is best suited for in-demand courses related to business, technology, and marketing, whereas Skillshare is best suited for creative courses such as graphic design, photography, and writing.
Based on the overall score of a comparison between Udemy and Skillshare, Udemy has a higher rating between the two brands, scoring 9.4, while Skillshare has a rating of 8.6. Udemy has better value for money, better content quality, more courses and languages, and lower pricing with more free courses. However, DataCamp is suggested as a higher-rated online learning platform than both Udemy and Skillshare.
Skillshare and LinkedIn Learning are both online learning platforms offering courses and tutorials in various fields. Skillshare focuses on creative skills such as design, photography, and writing, while LinkedIn Learning offers courses and tutorials related to professional development and career advancement.
Skillshare doesn't provide certificates, while LinkedIn Learning offers certifications for some courses. LinkedIn Learning is integrated with LinkedIn and provides personalized recommendations based on a user's professional profile, making it a great choice for career development.
Skillshare offers a wide range of courses in creative and professional topics, such as design, photography, business, and technology. The courses are taught by experts in their field and often include real-world projects and activities. The courses are typically shorter, more affordable, and more accessible than those offered on Coursera. Coursera, on the other hand, offers courses in academic topics such as business, computer science, and engineering. The courses on Coursera are often longer, more expensive, and more rigorous than those offered on Skillshare. Coursera also offers certificates and degrees from top universities, making it a great option for those looking to advance their career or further their education. Both Skillshare and Coursera offer great learning opportunities, but which platform is right for you will depend on your goals and interests.
Before concluding all the reasons, you should take a Skillshare class. It would only be fair to highlight where the platform is lacking and why it may not be right for you. Skillshare doesn’t offer certificates or any sort of formal accreditation. If that is something you are looking for then Coursera would be the right fit.
Skillshare isn’t right for you:
- There are no quizzes, tests, or assessments
- You won’t get any feedback from the teacher
- There are no deadlines
You’ll love Skillshare for:
- 1-month free trial
- Engaging & Bitesize video lessons
- Ask questions in the Discussions
- 35,000+ classes on a wide variety of subjects
Top Tips to find the perfect Skillshare Course for Yourself
1. Use Filter
Skillshare offers a filter function to help you find the perfect course for you. By using the filter, you can narrow down your preferred category, subject, skill level, pricing, and language.
2. Research the instructor
Check out the instructor’s background and experience to ensure they are knowledgeable in the subject they are teaching. You can also check their social media handles and/or websites, which are usually listed on the “About Instructor” page on skillshare.
3. Read About this Class
On the course page, you can find the “About this Class” section, which usually covers details about the course, and what you will learn. You must read this section carefully to ensure that your learning expectations align with the course.
Skillshare about the course
4. Read Reviews:
Look for reviews from past students to get an idea of the course’s quality and effectiveness. You can also use the filter in the rating section to read the most recently posted reviews. Also, check the most liked section to know which aspects of the course the students liked the most.
Skillshare Instructor Section
5. Check Projects
Skillshare courses are designed around projects, you can get a preview of the materials the instructor will use to illustrate the lessons. You can access the course resources, even before beginning the class. I suggest taking advantage of this opportunity as it provides insight into the hands-on activities and concepts you’ll be studying.
6. Use Free trial:
Make use of the free trial to get a hint about the courses, and whether they are for you or not. And the cheery on the top is that you can cancel the subscription before 7 days end if you didn’t like the platform.
Skillshare universities and school paterners
Our Final Skillshare Review: Is Skillshare Worth the Hype?
After considering various aspects of Skillshare, it’s clear that the platform offers a wide range of high-quality courses on a variety of subjects. With a strong focus on creative skills, Skillshare provides users with an accessible and engaging learning experience.
The platform’s unique teaching approach, supportive community, and affordable pricing make it a great option for individuals looking to enhance their skills or pursue new interests.
Therefore, it can be concluded that Skillshare is definitely worth the hype and can offer great value for anyone looking to grow their knowledge and creativity.
Frequently Asked Question
Both platforms have their advantages and disadvantages. Skillshare is more focused on creative and design courses, while YouTube has a wider range of topics and is more accessible to everyone. However, Skillshare's courses are more structured and come with a certificate of completion, while YouTube doesn't have a certificate.
No, Skillshare is not completely free. They offer a free trial for a limited period, after which you will need to subscribe to their premium membership to access the full content of their courses.
Skillshare's premium membership in India starts at ₹160.30/month when billed annually (₹1,923.60/annum) for the first year.
Skillshare is generally cheaper than Udemy, but it depends on the course you want to take. Udemy has a wider range of courses and is often more expensive, but they also have frequent sales on udemy for business where you can get courses for as low as $10.
Yes, Skillshare certificates are valid and are recognized by employers. However, it's important to note that they are not equivalent to a traditional degree or certification from an accredited institution.
Article Updates:
15/06/23- Offer sale
03/05/23 – Skillshare online course
13/04/23 – Skillshare for business
28/03/23 – Skillshare FAQs
09/03/23 – Skillshare courses cost
22/02/23- General Update
02/02/23 Who is skillshare for
