Skillshare (Annual) review 2027

What problem does Skillshare solve, and who is it for?

Skillshare is built around a single idea: you learn a creative skill by making something and showing it. Every class ends in a project you post for feedback, and the catalogue is strongest in illustration, Procreate, design and photography. That format suits hobbyists and creatives who want to improve a craft rather than collect a credential. It is also cheaper than LinkedIn Learning or Coursera, and offline viewing on mobile means you can watch a lesson without a connection. The limits are just as clear: there are no certificates, the catalogue is thin outside creative subjects, and our Excel course was weak. That is why it sits at the bottom of a ranking weighted toward careers.

How did we score Skillshare?

We scored Skillshare across five criteria for a total of 6.1 out of 10.

• Catalogue — 16/25. This measures breadth and depth in the subjects people actually search for, and who teaches them. The creative side is strong; the career and software side is not.
• Credentials — 4/20. This measures whether the certificate is from a university or employer people recognise, and if credit or degrees are possible. Skillshare offers no certificates and no degrees, so it scores low here.
• Teaching quality — 18/25. This covers production, graded assignments, projects, feedback and instructor responsiveness across our three enrolments. The project-and-feedback loop is the platform's real strength.
• Value — 15/20. This measures price per month of unlimited learning, or per course, plus the refund window. At about $13.99/mo billed annually with a 7-day refund window, it is priced below several rivals.
• Experience — 8/10. This covers apps, offline downloads, progress tracking and accessibility. iOS and Android apps with offline viewing are both present.

What does Skillshare do well?

The project format is the differentiator. Every class ends in a project you post for feedback, which turns passive watching into practice. The catalogue runs to 30,000+ classes, with particular depth in illustration, Procreate, design and photography, taught by working creatives. At about $13.99/mo billed annually, it undercuts LinkedIn Learning and Coursera. Offline viewing on mobile is supported, and the teaching quality score of 18/25 reflects solid production and real instructor responsiveness in our three enrolments.

How does Skillshare compare with Coursera, edX and Udemy?

Skillshare's 6.1 sits below Coursera at 8.9, edX at 8.3 and Udemy at 7.5. Coursera offers 10,000+ courses, Specializations and Professional Certificates, university and company certificates from Google, IBM, Meta, Stanford and Duke, and degrees from partner universities, at Plus $59/mo or $399/yr with a 14-day refund window. edX offers 4,000+ courses from 250+ institutions, verified certificates from MIT, Harvard, Berkeley and Columbia, and MicroMasters that count toward master's degrees, with certificates at $49–$300 and a 14-day refund window. Udemy carries 250,000+ courses bought one at a time, usually on sale, with completion-only certificates and a 30-day refund window. Skillshare is ahead of all three on price and on its project-and-feedback model for creative work, and behind them on credentials, degrees and catalogue breadth outside creative subjects.

Skillshare feature comparison

Across the shared spec labels, Skillshare lists 30,000+ classes on a subscription at about $13.99/mo billed annually, with no certificates, no degrees, a trial rather than free courses, a 7-day refund window, iOS and Android apps, and offline viewing. Coursera lists 10,000+ courses, subscription or per course, Plus $59/mo or $399/yr, university and company certificates, degrees, free courses, a 14-day refund window, iOS and Android apps, and offline viewing. edX lists 4,000+ courses from 250+ institutions, per-course pricing with free audit, verified certificates at $49–$300 and MicroMasters at $1,000–$1,500, university certificates, degrees, free courses, a 14-day refund window, iOS and Android apps, and offline viewing. Udemy lists 250,000+ courses, per course or subscription, courses at $9.99–$199.99 and a Personal Plan at about $20/mo, completion-only certificates, no degrees, free courses, a 30-day refund window, iOS and Android apps, and offline viewing.

Where does Skillshare fall short?

Credentials are the biggest gap. There are no certificates and no degrees, so there is nothing to show an employer. The catalogue is thin outside creative subjects, and our Excel course was weak. Billing is annual, and the monthly plan has been withdrawn, so you commit for a year. The refund window is 7 days, shorter than Coursera's and edX's 14 days and Udemy's 30 days.

Is Skillshare good value?

At about $13.99/mo billed annually, Skillshare is cheaper than LinkedIn Learning or Coursera, and the Value score of 15/20 reflects that price against unlimited learning and a 7-day refund window. If you use it for creative work, the price is easy to justify. If you need a credential, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Who should buy Skillshare?

Hobbyists and creatives. If you want to learn to draw, design or shoot, the project format works and the community feedback is real. If you need a certificate, a degree or career-focused software training, look at Coursera, edX or Udemy instead.