Skillshare Review: Is This Online Learning Platform Right for You?

Are you a creative professional looking to learn new skills to advance your career? Or maybe you‘re seeking an outlet to explore your artistic passions in your free time. In either case, you may have heard of Skillshare – the online learning community with classes in graphic design, photography, writing, and more.

But with so many e-learning platforms out there, is Skillshare the best fit for your goals and interests? In this in-depth review, I‘ll share my experience taking classes on Skillshare to help you decide if it‘s worth your time and money. I‘ll cover everything from the types of classes offered to the learning format, instructor quality, pricing, and more. Let‘s dive in!

What is Skillshare? An Overview of the Online Learning Platform

First things first: what exactly is Skillshare? In a nutshell, it‘s an online learning community for creators. The platform offers over 35,000 classes in popular creative fields like:

• Graphic design
• Illustration
• Photography
• Creative writing
• Web development
• Marketing
• And more

But Skillshare isn‘t just focused on hard skills. You‘ll also find classes on productivity, freelancing, and other lifestyle topics to help you thrive both professionally and personally.

Unlike platforms like Udemy that mostly offer one-off classes, Skillshare is built around a membership model. That means for a flat monthly or annual fee, you get unlimited access to every class in the catalog. It‘s like a "Netflix for learning."

Skillshare‘s mission is to make learning accessible and affordable for everyone. And with over 12 million registered members and 8,000 teachers, it‘s clear that their community-based, creative approach to education is resonating with students.

Some more quick facts about Skillshare:

• Founded in 2010 by Michael Karnjanaprakorn and Malcolm Ong
• Headquartered in New York City
• Raised over $135 million in venture capital funding
• Offers nearly 2,000 free classes in addition to its premium catalog
• Partners with companies like MailChimp and AWS to provide learning opportunities to their employees

Now that you have a high-level overview of what Skillshare is all about, let‘s take a closer look at how the platform actually works.

How Does Skillshare Work? The Learning Experience

One of the things I love about Skillshare is how easy it is to get started. You can browse the class catalog and watch video previews without even creating an account. And when you‘re ready to sign up, you can do so instantly with your email address or by connecting your Google or Facebook account.

As a member, you‘ll mainly interact with the platform through the class interface. Each class includes a series of short video lessons (usually 20-60 minutes total), plus a class project that challenges you to put your new skills into action.

For example, in the popular class "Procreate for Beginners: Learn the Basics & Sell Your Artwork" by Brooke Glaser, students follow along with Brooke‘s video tutorials to learn how to use the Procreate app on iPad. Then, for their class project, they create a series of illustrations and mock-up products featuring their artwork.

One of the best parts of Skillshare is that you can learn on your own schedule. Unlike traditional online courses that have set start and end dates, all of the video lessons are available on-demand, so you can watch them whenever you want. You can even download them in the mobile app to view offline.

If you get stuck or have questions along the way, you can turn to the class discussion board to get feedback from the instructor and connect with other students. I‘ve found the instructors to be super engaged and helpful in the discussions. Many of them also offer personalized feedback on student projects.

In addition to individual classes, Skillshare also offers curated "Paths." These learning paths pull together a series of classes on a specific topic, like UX design or portrait photography, to help you master a skill over a few weeks or months. I really like how the paths provide a clear learning roadmap and keep you motivated to progress.

Overall, I‘ve found the learning experience on Skillshare to be engaging, flexible, and focused on practical, project-based learning. But of course, the platform is only as good as the content. So let‘s take a look at the classes themselves.

What Kinds of Classes Can You Take on Skillshare?

As I mentioned, Skillshare offers over 35,000 classes on a wide range of creative topics. To give you a sense of the different topics you can explore, here are some of the most popular categories:

• Animation
• Creative Writing
• Film & Video
• Fine Art
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Music
• Photography
• UI/UX Design
• Web Development

Within each category, you‘ll find dozens of different classes at varying skill levels, from beginner classes like "Draw Your Life: Intro to Graphic Memoir" to advanced topics like "Beyond the Logo: Crafting a Brand Identity."

What I like about Skillshare‘s class catalog is that it focuses on trending skills that are relevant to today‘s creative professionals. For instance, some of the most popular classes right now are:

• Character Illustration: Drawing Faces, Figures & Clothing
• Intro to Procreate: Illustrating on the iPad
• Productivity Masterclass: Create a Custom System that Works
• Digital Portrait Photography: Shoot & Edit Instagram-Worthy Shots
• Hand Lettering Essentials: Creating Custom Video Marketing

Another feature I appreciate is that many classes are taught by successful practitioners and influential creators. A few examples:

• Renowned designer Aaron Draplin teaches a series of classes on logo design and branding
• Instagram poet Yrsa Daley-Ward shares her writing techniques in "The Art of Storytelling: Creating Compelling Personal Stories"
• Professional photographer Alex Strohl explains his creative process in "Adventure Photography: Shooting and Editing Outdoor Lifestyle Photos"

Learning from instructors who are respected in their fields makes the material feel that much more valuable and applicable. And on a related note, I‘ve found the production quality of most Skillshare classes to be impressive – clear HD video, clean audio, helpful visual examples. That professionalism makes for an enjoyable viewing experience.

Of course, with thousands of classes in the catalog, not every single one is going to be a home run. I‘ll share more thoughts on class quality later on. But in general, I‘ve been pleased with the breadth, relevance, and caliber of courses available.

Membership Plans and Pricing

Now let‘s talk about how much Skillshare costs. The platform keeps pricing super simple, with just two membership plans:

• Premium ($168 billed annually or $32 billed monthly)
• Teams ($159 per user billed annually, requires 2+ users)

With a Premium membership, you get unlimited access to every class in the catalog, offline viewing, and no ads. You can also participate in class discussions and submit projects for feedback.

The Teams plan provides the same benefits but is designed for organizations who want to offer Skillshare as a learning resource to their employees. Teams get additional administrative features like member management, analytics, and the ability to create private groups.

Skillshare also offers scholarships for students and others who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship provides 50% off a Premium membership for one year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

One of my favorite things about Skillshare is that it offers a generous free trial for new members. You can try out the platform for free for one month, which is plenty of time to explore different classes and see if it‘s a good fit for your learning goals. Just be aware that you‘ll automatically be charged the annual $168 membership fee at the end of the trial unless you cancel.

The free trial is truly risk-free; Skillshare offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on your first payment if you decide the platform isn‘t for you. I really appreciate that customer-friendly refund policy.

So how does Skillshare‘s pricing compare to other online learning platforms? It‘s definitely one of the more affordable options out there, especially considering the breadth of its catalog. Competitors like Lynda.com and Treehouse cost $30-35 per month for similar "all-you-can-learn" access.

The closest comparison is probably Udemy, which offers 150,000+ courses on a wide range of topics. But Udemy‘s classes are all priced individually, and costs can add up quickly if you want to take multiple courses. Plus, Udemy doesn‘t offer the same community experience and instructor interaction that Skillshare does.

For me, Skillshare provides great value for the money, particularly if you take advantage of the free trial and annual pricing. Let‘s take a look at how other students feel about the platform.

What Do Students Say About Skillshare? Customer Reviews and Ratings

To get a sense of what real students think about learning on Skillshare, I dug through reviews on sites like Trustpilot and SiteJabber. Here‘s a snapshot of Skillshare‘s ratings:

• Trustpilot: 4.1 out of 5 stars (577 reviews)
• SiteJabber: 4.04 out of 5 stars (552 reviews)

The vast majority of reviewers praised Skillshare‘s:

• High-quality, well-organized classes
• Knowledgeable and engaging instructors
• Variety of topics to explore
• Affordable pricing and flexible, self-paced learning
• Supportive learning community

Many students mentioned specific classes and instructors that helped them pick up new creative skills. For example, one student raved about the Hand Lettering Essentials class:

"Mary Kate‘s class was exactly what I needed to finally learn how to create beautiful hand lettering. Her teaching style is so approachable and easy to follow along. I‘m so much more confident in my lettering skills now!"

Another satisfied student explained how Skillshare changed their career trajectory:

"The classes on Skillshare gave me the tools and inspiration I needed to transition from my soul-crushing 9-5 into freelance graphic design. I built up my portfolio by completing class projects and even landed my first few clients through the Skillshare community. I‘m so grateful this platform exists."

Of course, no learning platform is perfect, and Skillshare does have its share of complaints. The most common ones I saw mentioned:

• Lack of feedback from some instructors
• Occasional technical glitches with video playback
• Limited offerings in certain topics (e.g. music, coding)
• Difficulty cancelling membership

To the last point, it‘s worth noting that Skillshare automatically renews your membership at the end of each billing cycle. Some students missed the notification email and were surprised to see the charge on their credit card statement. As long as you keep an eye on your renewal date and proactively cancel if you don‘t want to continue, you shouldn‘t run into any issues.

My impression from combing through reviews is that students who go into Skillshare with the right expectations – and take advantage of all the features – get the most value out of the platform. If you‘re looking for university-level instruction or very technical training, you may want to look elsewhere. But if you‘re motivated to pick up new creative skills through engaging, project-based classes, Skillshare is hard to beat.

How to Get the Most Out of Skillshare: Tips and Tricks

I‘ve been using Skillshare for a while now, and I‘ve learned a few strategies for getting the most of my membership. Hopefully these tips will help you maximize your own learning:

1. Mix it up. Explore classes in different categories, even if they‘re outside of your main focus area. You never know where you‘ll find inspiration.

2. Set learning goals. Have a specific skill you want to learn or project you want to complete? Use Skillshare‘s search and filters to find classes that align with your goals.

3. Participate in the community. Ask questions in the discussion boards, share your projects for feedback, and connect with other students. The more you engage, the more personal your experience will feel.

4. Create a schedule. Treat your Skillshare classes like real courses by setting aside dedicated time for watching lessons and working on projects. Consistency is key!

5. Take advantage of class resources. Many instructors provide helpful downloads like project templates, cheatsheets, and additional readings. Don‘t let those extras go to waste.

6. Cancel your account (if needed) before your next billing date. Keep in mind that Skillshare memberships auto-renew, so proactively cancel if you don‘t want to be charged for the next term.

7. Try a free class. Not ready to commit to a membership? Check out some of Skillshare‘s free classes to get a feel for the platform before you join.

With these strategies in your back pocket, you‘ll be well on your way to making the most of everything Skillshare has to offer.

Is Skillshare Worth It? My Verdict

So, after all of this, is Skillshare worth your time and money? In my opinion, for most creative professionals and hobbyists, the answer is a resounding yes. The combination of high-quality classes, expert instructors, and an engaged student community – all for an affordable monthly price – is pretty tough to beat.

Of course, no learning platform can be everything to everyone. I wouldn‘t recommend Skillshare if you‘re looking for very technical or advanced training, pursuing a university-recognized credential, or hoping to learn completely obscure subjects. Skillshare‘s sweet spot is beginner to intermediate level courses in the most popular creative fields.

But if you are seeking that type of creative education, I think you‘ll be hard-pressed to find a better platform than Skillshare. I know my own creative work has leveled up since I started my membership. Being able to tap into the expertise of world-class creators while connecting with a vibrant community of peers has been game-changing for my motivation and growth.

Ultimately, the best way to decide if Skillshare is right for you is to give it a try. If you‘re on the fence, I highly recommend signing up for a free trial so you can test drive the platform. With thousands of classes to choose from, flexible scheduling, and a generous refund policy, you really have nothing to lose.

I think Skillshare is doing something special in the online learning space. In a world where most education is content to stick with the same tired teaching methods, Skillshare feels different – more interactive, more personal, and more directly relevant to the needs of creatives. It‘s a place where I genuinely feel inspired to learn and innovate every single day. And for that, I‘m grateful to be a part of this thriving community.