Move over, Zoom. There are other learning platforms in store that are so cool; they don’t feel like your mundane homework.
As seen on subway advertisements, YouTube sponsorships, TV commercials and podcasts, MasterClass and Skillshare are two online education subscription platforms with a massive following for curiosity-seekers and hobby-starters. With thousands of creative courses on each, you can get equipped to learn anything from making sourdough to designing a new space like the pros on HGTV.
I’ve taken 35 classes in total (in a range of topics, too): 25 from MasterClass and 10 from Skillshare.
I know what you’re thinking: Why pay? Can’t you go to YouTube for that? In short, you can, but once you try either of these platforms, you won’t want to.
Ahead, you’ll find my comprehensive review highlighting all of the unique instructors and virtual online classes I still talk about to this day (let’s just say, my cooking and wellness routines have been on point.) But first, here’s an overview of some basic information from each platform.
Click to jump to a specific review:
| MasterClass | Skillshare |
|---|---|
| Price: $180 for a standard one-year plan; $15 a month | Price: $165 for a standard one-year plan |
| Pros: Celebrity instructors (including Gordon Ramsay, Christina Aguilera and Kris Jenner), well-diversified topics (from poker strategy to getting into running), well-produced cinematic videos, the note-taking feature is handy and keeps course insights organized | Pros: Free courses available, geared toward creatives (with courses leaning toward animation, creative writing and UI/UX design, among others), focuses on developing routines and productivity |
| Cons: No free trial available | Cons: Community feedback lacks instructional elements, no monthly membership option |
MasterClass: A Comprehensive Review
Though it’s a bit difficult to compare MasterClass and Skillshare (namely because MasterClass thrives off celebrity-taught courses), I’d have to say MasterClass is the leading internet gem worth exploring. I was beyond excited to dive back into my courses.
Throughout this process, MasterClass nearly replaced my Netflix-watching experience. Whenever I had a free moment and finished a chapter or two in my latest fiction read, I headed on over to MasterClass to learn from the pros. It’s a great gift, too — especially for someone who has everything.
Unique Features of MasterClass
Speaking of Netflix: its interface is similar to the popular streaming platform. The homepage has “New to MasterClass” and “Because You Watched…” sections to keep track of recently added courses and similar follow-along topics. For this reason, the entertainment lean piqued my interest to continue learning online.
What’s more, you can even take notes on MasterClass. Once Gordon Ramsay tipped off that you can insert an entire rosemary sprig into a whole roast chicken for flavor, I immediately typed it in my notes section so I wouldn’t forget it. Sidenote: this is still one of my favorite features, along with the platform’s downloadable resources; no more scouring through a journal to find the specific jot-down.
You can even add specific courses to the “My List” section to pin interesting ones you’d like to take down the line. The “Classes You’ve Mastered” section also shows off the courses you’ve completed and the skills you’ve mastered.
After only a week of fully immersing myself into MasterClass, I could already tell it was worth it — so much so that, when my boyfriend came over to watch The Circle with me, we actually paused it to watch Neil deGrasse Tyson’s course on Scientific Thinking and Communication.
The only con I could conjure for this review is that no free trial option is available. However, since you can browse MasterClass courses ahead of time, you’re likely so excited to dive into Shonda Rhimes’ course on Writing for Television or Ringo Starr’s course on Drumming and Creative Collaboration — even if it’s just $15 for your first month.
Best MasterClass Courses & Classes
Here are the MasterClass courses I’ve taken (and mastered), along with a review for each. If there are any to look into, it’s this hot list:
- Martha Stewart — Think Like a Boss, Live Like a Legend: I didn’t know all too much about Martha Stewart (mainly, how she got started), and this class was an insightful experience to learn about her day to day and how she built a successful, multi-faceted brand (spoiler alert: a daily matcha and cappuccino helped her get there).
- James Clear — Small Habits That Make a Big Impact on Your Life: Author of best-selling book “Atomic Habits” broke down his easy-to-follow steps for building intentional rhythms and rituals that last, along with explaining tangible tips to make them stick.
- Noam Chomsky — Independent Thinking and Media’s Invisible Powers: As a journalist, this MasterClass opened up my mind to how to think more critically about the ever-changing media landscape and is fitting for those in the industry or not.
- Shea McGee — Design a Space You Love: If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to craft an HGTV-grade bedroom or living room, this is the MasterClass for you. I was suddenly inspired to redecorate and redesign the wheel.
- Robin Roberts — Effective and Authentic Communication: This has to be one of the most impactful MasterClass, chockfull of tangible tips and personal stories that teepee into how to become the best communicator in any situation.
- Sara Blakely — Self-Made Entrepreneurship: The inventor and founder of SPANX shares how she became the youngest female self-made billionaire in 2012, touching on developing your big idea, prototyping and building a company culture.
- Melinda French Gates — Impactful Giving: Though I’m not a billionaire with a 503(c)3 nonprofit, the insight the public figure has given in this MasterClass inspired me to think about how to give back in my community.
- Gordon Ramsay — Cooking I: I learned what the most versatile herbs are, how to sharpen and use different cooking knives properly and how to make his signature scrambled eggs — all from celebrity chef and host of Hell’s Kitchen and Next Level Chef on Food Network.
- Bobbi Brown — Makeup and Beauty: I grew up loving makeup (if the plenty of beauty reviews I’ve written aren’t proof enough). I was thrilled to take her MasterClass and learned even more tips for applying everything from foundation and eyeshadow to filling in eyebrows and creating a statement lip.
Skillshare: A Comprehensive Review
First things first — I love the creative suite Skillshare has in its course catalog. If you’ve ever wanted to start a side hustle or an art-inspired business, this platform is the second best thing you can get to a college degree or certificate.
Before gearing up for this review, I have taken one Skillshare class in the past (Queer Eye‘s JVN’s Self-Care Class) and enjoyed its playful yet informative approach to building a routine. However, my creativity *sparkled* and *glistened* to another degree when I put my yearly membership to good use.
I mostly took classes in creative writing, graphic design and web development, though I appreciate its complete offerings. Nearly every time I search, precisely what I’m looking for comes up — and then some.
Compared to MasterClass, Skillshare seems to have more niche courses available — including search engine optimization (SEO), Photoshop and even professional product photography — skills that transfer well with my professional career as a content strategist and commerce journalist here at New York Post Shopping. I knew Skillshare was a notch above MasterClass in the professional development space.
Unique Features of Skillshare
Though most of its courses don’t have the celebrity appeal that MasterClass is known for, its lessons are very well-organized. For instance, once you hover over a course page, you’ll find a detailed explanation of what you’ll learn, who this class is for and the No. 1 takeaway once the course is complete. It feels more collegiate, while MasterClass feels more of an information and entertainment hybrid — though both surpassed my expectations.
Moreover, Skillshare offers Learning Paths, otherwise known as hand-picked, sequential classes based on your preferred topic. This allows you to deepen your skillset from beginner to advanced. Some of these bundled learning opportunities include “Master Workplace Communication,” “Complete Piano: 5 Lessons to Take You From Beginner to Songwriter,” and “Learn to Draw Realistic Portraits.”
Though I didn’t use the discussions all too much, it’s nice to know Skillshare has a community that enjoyed its courses as much as I did! At times, I wished the classes were better produced, though this wasn’t a significant deterrent. After all, it’s the material and instructor who form the experience.
Best Skillshare Courses & Classes
Below are the Skillshare courses I’ve taken and completed, along with a review. This buzzy list is worth checking out above the rest:
- The Ultimate Self-Care Playbook: Discover & Nurture Your Centered Self with Jonathan Van Ness: From learning how to start a self-care journal to adopting meditation and reflection into a daily routine, this course is perfect for the self-care queen. JVN’s encouraging tidbits sprinkled throughout the study were nice touches, too.
- How to Self Publish a Book on Amazon using Kindle Direct Publishing: Though I learned most of what I needed to know for self-publishing as an author on Amazon through research, I also watched this course for supplemental material. It did fill in the gaps I had about formatting my book cover and setting up pricing.
- Editing and Proofreading: Dominate Writing, Punctuation & Grammar: For my career as a journalist and author, it’s always nice to brush up on grammar every now and then (I’m a nerd for this, BTW). I absolutely loved this class and think anyone should take it. If nothing else, it’ll come in handy when drafting emails.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Best Practices: Along with being a grammar nerd, I’m also an SEO nerd. I’m always curious about how to get above the curve on Google search, and this course is an all-you-can-ask-for guide to keyword research, crafting copy, and more.
- Product Photography: How to Use Composition for Impactful Photos: Though I’m not a professional photographer, I’m looking to improve my photo-taking game — especially for product reviews. I learned the most about orientation and angles, especially.
- Create Complex Half Drop Repeating Patterns in Adobe Photoshop: This is one of those courses that’ll help you elevate your digital content creation. Whether you’re making an Instagram story, a YouTube thumbnail or art for an online article, this quick course will make a world of difference.
- Creative Writing: Crafting Personal Essays with Impact: Personal writing is a craft anyone can get into, especially after taking this class from beginning to end. I especially loved learning about conducting research and revising my work.
- Vlogging for Business: Build Your Brand with Video: Video is the wave of the future. If you’re in the marketing and communications field or simply want to learn more about the rise of vlogging, this class is a favorite on Skillshare.
- Interior Design Basics: Simple Steps to Perfect Your Space: Though I’m not looking to revamp my space completely, I appreciated this course for bookshelf styling, learning about patterns and textures and framing my space to give more of a Better Homes & Gardens vibe.
- Create a Perfect Morning Routine: I’m a sucker for any type of productive morning (read: how to craft a morning routine, per experts), so there’s no surprise this class was one of the first on my radar. From meditations and moving your body to affirmations and journaling, it’s a balanced morning, to say the least.
- Illustrate Butterflies: This was a super fun class to take, learning how to sketch, color in and animate butterflies on Procreate.
- Get Ready to Write: This class explained how to craft a storyline and plot a book idea from the beginning — from a successful, published author.
- Grow Your First YouTube Channel: This was a unique class that explained how to get started with creating on YouTube.
What’s most unique about Skillshare is the ability to search for a specific skill, say “animation” or “copy editing” and find hundreds of courses to learn from. However, the con to Skillshare is that you really have to pay attention and sit down (unlike MasterClass, where you can somewhat multi-task).
Masterclass vs. Skillshare — Which One is Best?
We don’t mean to be politically correct here, but they’re both fantastic online learning platforms. It simply depends on your preference — nothing more, nothing less.
The bottom line is this: if you are looking to sharpen your skills in a specific creative industry, opt for Skillshare. If you love entertainment and want to learn from the pros on a wide variety of topics, MasterClass is for you.
If I had to pick a clear-cut winner, MasterClass won the golden trophy. As much as Skillshare was wonderful to develop professionally with niche courses, I found a greater value in learning everything from cooking to gardening to psychology with MasterClass.
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