Short answer
- MasterClass is a streaming membership: one annual fee, 200+ classes from instructors MasterClass calls “the world’s best,” typically around 20 lessons of about 10 minutes each. No certificate of completion for regular classes (MasterClass).
- Udemy is a marketplace: more than 290,000 courses from independent instructors. You buy single courses with lifetime access, or subscribe. Paid courses come with a certificate of completion, which is not accredited (Udemy).
- Price: MasterClass costs $119.99 to $239.99 a year in the US App Store. Udemy prices each course separately and localizes prices by country.
- Choose MasterClass for inspiration and craft from the instructors it features. Choose Udemy when you need a specific practical skill, a step-by-step course or a certificate to show.
MasterClass and Udemy both sell video lessons, but they are built for different goals. MasterClass sells access to a curated library of classes taught by famous names. Udemy sells individual courses from over 90,000 independent instructors. This comparison covers price, format, refunds and one question that matters for career learners: what you have to show for it at the end. We checked both platforms on September 22, 2026.
MasterClass vs Udemy at a glance
| MasterClass | Udemy | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | annual membership only | buy single courses, or subscribe (Personal Plan) |
| US price | $119.99, $179.99 or $239.99 a year (US App Store) | set per course by the instructor, localized by country; subscription price depends on your location |
| Catalog | 200+ classes | more than 290,000 courses (end of 2025) |
| Instructors | 200+ instructors | over 90,000 independent instructors |
| Typical format | about 20 video lessons of about 10 minutes | varies by course (3 to 22 hours in the four courses we sampled) |
| Access | while your membership runs | purchased courses: for life; subscription courses: while subscribed |
| Certificate | none for regular classes; separate paid Certificates product | certificate of completion for paid courses |
| Refunds | 30 days, first purchase on the website only | 30 days for single courses; subscriptions not refunded |
Sources: MasterClass membership plans, MasterClass in the US App Store, MasterClass 30-day guarantee, MasterClass format, Udemy annual report, SEC, Udemy lifetime access, Udemy refund policy, Udemy course pricing.
What kind of certificate you get
This is where the two platforms differ most.
MasterClass (regular membership): none. MasterClass says: “Currently, we don’t have an official certificate of completion for our classes” (MasterClass).
MasterClass Certificates: a separate, paid product. MasterClass also sells certificate courses. They are self-paced, typically take 15 to 20 hours, include a capstone project, and end with a shareable certificate. You have one year from purchase to finish. They are covered by the 30-day guarantee only as long as no certificate has been issued (MasterClass Certificates pricing). MasterClass announced them at “$299 per course” and up (MasterClass press release). These are MasterClass certificates, not academic credit.
Udemy: a certificate of completion for paid courses. “Currently only paid, approved courses offer a certificate of completion”; free courses and practice-test-only courses don’t (Udemy). Udemy is clear about what it’s worth: “Udemy is not an accredited institution. Certificates demonstrate skills and accomplishments, but they cannot be used for formal accreditation.” Two extras:
- CPE credit: Udemy is a NASBA-registered sponsor, so selected accounting and finance courses can earn continuing professional education credit after an assessment (Udemy CPE).
- Exam prep: Udemy’s certification preparation helps you study for vendor exams, but “Udemy does not provide the certification exam” (Udemy).
Bottom line: if you need proof of completion for a résumé or an employer, Udemy gives you one with every paid course; MasterClass only with its separate Certificates courses. Neither replaces a certification exam. For what real certification exams cost, see our Certification Cost Index.
Price: membership vs. pay per course
MasterClass sells only annual memberships that renew automatically (MasterClass). In the US App Store, the tiers cost $119.99, $179.99 and $239.99 a year. On the website the price is shown in local currency; from Germany we saw “Starting at €10/month (billed annually).” The higher tiers add profiles and simultaneous streams: Plus streams on up to 2 devices at once, Premium on up to 6.
Udemy has two models: buy a course once, with lifetime access, or subscribe to Personal Plan for a catalog of more than 28,000 courses. Instructors set course prices, and Udemy localizes them with “a country-specific price tier matrix.” Subscription prices depend on your account’s location, and Udemy’s help center doesn’t publish a US figure.
Which costs less depends on how much you’ll use it. Compare the price of the specific Udemy courses you want, in your currency, with one year of MasterClass. If you’d watch many classes across different topics, one MasterClass fee covers all of them.
Format and teaching style
MasterClass classes are taught by instructors MasterClass presents as “the world’s best” in their field. Most classes have “around 20 video lessons that average about 10 minutes each.” You can switch to audio mode, and download select classes in the apps.
Udemy courses are created by independent instructors, so length, depth and production quality vary. In four Udemy courses we looked up for another guide, length ranged from 3 to 22 hours, and two hadn’t been updated since 2019. Check the ratings, the last update date and the preview lessons before you buy.
Which is better for cooking or creative skills?
Both platforms teach cooking and creative skills. MasterClass lists “Food & Drink,” “Art & Design,” “Music,” “Writing” and “Film & TV” among its categories; Udemy has a cooking topic with courses from independent instructors.
- Choose MasterClass if you want to learn how a well-known chef, writer or musician approaches the craft, and you’d use the whole library.
- Choose Udemy if you want a structured course on one specific thing (a cuisine, a software tool, a technique) that you can keep and rewatch.
Who each platform suits
| You want… | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Inspiration and insight from famous practitioners | MasterClass |
| A step-by-step course on a specific skill | Udemy |
| A certificate for your résumé | Udemy (paid courses), or MasterClass Certificates |
| To pay once and keep the course | Udemy (single purchase) |
| Many topics for one annual price | MasterClass |
| CPE credit for accounting or finance | Udemy (selected courses) |
Ownership in 2026
Udemy is now part of Coursera: Coursera announced on May 11, 2026 that it had completed its combination with Udemy (Coursera investor relations). The course, access and certificate rules described here are those in Udemy’s help center on September 22, 2026.
More on Udemy: Do Udemy courses expire? and Udemy vs Treehouse. More on MasterClass: Skillshare vs MasterClass.
Frequently asked questions
Is MasterClass better than Udemy?
They do different jobs. MasterClass is a membership for learning from well-known practitioners; Udemy is a marketplace for specific, practical courses you buy one at a time.
Does MasterClass give certificates?
Not for regular classes. MasterClass sells separate Certificates courses, from $299 each, that end with a shareable certificate.
Are Udemy certificates worth anything?
They show you completed a course. Udemy says it is not accredited and its certificates can’t be used for formal accreditation. Selected courses carry NASBA CPE credit.
How much is MasterClass per year?
In the US App Store, $119.99, $179.99 or $239.99 a year, depending on the tier. MasterClass sells annual memberships only.
Can I get a refund?
MasterClass refunds within 30 days of your first purchase made on its website. Udemy refunds single courses within 30 days, subject to its refund policy, but not subscriptions.
How we checked these facts. MasterClass rules come from its help center, its category page and its press releases; US prices from the MasterClass listing in Apple’s US App Store. Udemy rules come from its help center and its annual report filed with the SEC. All checked on September 22, 2026. Certificate Quest is not affiliated with MasterClass, Udemy or Coursera and earns nothing from links on this page.