Short answer
- CreativeLive is still running, under a new owner. “In December 2025, CreativeLive entered a new chapter when it was acquired by CourseHorse” (CreativeLive). Its Creator Pass costs $299 a year; single classes can be bought and “do not expire.”
- Skillshare costs $167.88 a year in the US, with “over 35,000 classes,” each built around a project (Skillshare).
- Certificates: Skillshare gives a class certificate for every completed class with a project. CreativeLive gives none for standard classes; “select paid, tech programs may include a verified digital certificate of completion” (CreativeLive FAQ).
- Choose CreativeLive for live sessions, a structured paid program, or classes you want to buy and own. Choose Skillshare for a large library of short, project-based classes at a lower yearly price.
A lot changed at CreativeLive since this comparison was first written in 2022. Fiverr bought the company in 2021 (Fiverr, SEC filing). In September 2025, CreativeLive announced it would close at the end of the year, according to a report by PetaPixel. Instead, it was acquired by the class marketplace CourseHorse in December 2025 and is operated today by CreativeLive, Inc. in New York (CreativeLive, CreativeLive policies). This version reflects both platforms as of September 22, 2026.
CreativeLive vs Skillshare at a glance
| CreativeLive | Skillshare | |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Creator Pass, $299 a year (no monthly plan) | $167.88 a year on the website; monthly only in the app |
| Buy single classes | yes, prices vary; purchased classes don’t expire | access through the subscription |
| Formats | 2,300+ on-demand classes and 100+ live classes a year, “every one recorded” | pre-recorded classes, 20 to 60 minutes on average, each with a project |
| Catalog size | 2,300+ on-demand classes, 700+ instructors | “over 35,000 classes” |
| Certificate | none for standard classes; verified certificate in select paid tech programs | class certificate after all lessons plus a project |
| Refunds | annual plan within 7 days (once); single classes can be exchanged within 7 days | one-time, within 48 hours after a 7-day trial charge; renewals not refunded |
Sources: CreativeLive home, CreativeLive subscribe, CreativeLive FAQ, CreativeLive about, CreativeLive policies, Skillshare pricing, Skillshare cost, Skillshare class format, Skillshare Teams, Skillshare refunds.
What kind of certificate you get
Skillshare: a certificate for each class. You get a class certificate when you watch “all of the lessons in a class and submits a project.” It lists your name, the class, the date, the teacher, the class length and a “unique certificate ID,” and can be shared by link (Skillshare).
CreativeLive: only in selected paid programs. CreativeLive “does not offer certificates of completion for standard on-demand or live subscription classes,” but “select paid, tech programs may include a verified digital certificate of completion” (CreativeLive FAQ). An example is its Graphic Design Certificate: $2,995 (listed down from $5,215), 84 hours of live training in five units plus a capstone, eight one-on-one mentoring sessions, and an optional Adobe Certified Professional exam in Photoshop included (CreativeLive).
That Adobe exam is the one industry certification in this comparison. Adobe Certified Professional is Adobe’s own certification, not a certificate from the learning platform. Everything else here, including Skillshare’s class certificates and CreativeLive’s program certificate, shows that you completed a course. For certification costs across fields, see our Certification Cost Index.
Live classes: the old claim was wrong
The earlier version of this article said CreativeLive “only offers live classes.” That isn’t true in 2026. CreativeLive’s FAQ describes both on-demand classes, “pre-recorded, professionally produced video lessons,” and live classes for subscribers with Q&A. Its homepage advertises “100+ live classes a year, every one recorded” and more than 2,300 on-demand classes (CreativeLive, FAQ). The Creator Pass includes a guaranteed seat in every live class (CreativeLive).
Skillshare’s classes are pre-recorded: “20-60 minutes of pre-recorded video content” on average, and “all classes on Skillshare include a project” (Skillshare).
Price
| CreativeLive | Skillshare | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual plan | $299 (Creator Pass) | $167.88 |
| Monthly plan | no longer offered | only through the app |
| Single class | varies by class; you keep it | through the subscription |
CreativeLive: “used to offer a monthly subscription option, the only current option is yearly at $299/year” (FAQ). Annual plans “may be refunded within 7 days of purchase, one time per customer.” Single classes aren’t refunded, but can be exchanged once within 7 days for a class of equal value; live classes can be refunded up to 14 days before they start, minus a 10% registration fee (policies, FAQ).
Skillshare: $167.88 a year ($13.99 a month billed annually) on its US pricing page on September 22, 2026. There’s no free tier since 2021; you start with a trial (Skillshare).
The ownership model matters for price. A CreativeLive class you buy is yours: “lifetime access to your enrolled classes” (about). Skillshare access ends when your subscription ends.
Which one to choose
| You want… | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Live classes with Q&A | CreativeLive (Creator Pass) |
| To buy one class and keep it | CreativeLive |
| A structured design program with mentoring and an Adobe exam | CreativeLive Graphic Design Certificate |
| The lowest annual price | Skillshare ($167.88) |
| Many short classes, each with a project | Skillshare |
| A certificate for each class you finish | Skillshare |
More comparisons: Skillshare vs MasterClass, Brilliant vs Skillshare, Lynda (LinkedIn Learning) vs Skillshare.
Frequently asked questions
Is CreativeLive shutting down?
No. CreativeLive announced a closure for the end of 2025, according to PetaPixel, but was acquired by CourseHorse in December 2025 and was operating when we checked on September 22, 2026.
How much is CreativeLive per year?
The Creator Pass costs $299 a year. CreativeLive no longer offers a monthly subscription.
Does CreativeLive give certificates?
Not for standard on-demand or live classes. Select paid tech programs, such as its Graphic Design Certificate, include a verified digital certificate.
Does Skillshare give certificates?
Yes, a class certificate when you watch all lessons and submit a project.
Is CreativeLive or Skillshare cheaper?
Skillshare’s annual plan ($167.88) costs less than CreativeLive’s Creator Pass ($299). CreativeLive also sells single classes, with prices that vary by class.
How we checked these facts. CreativeLive details come from creativelive.com (home, subscribe, FAQ, about, policies, program page); the Fiverr acquisition from Fiverr’s 2021 SEC filing; the planned closure from PetaPixel’s report. Skillshare details come from its pricing page and help center. All checked on September 22, 2026. Certificate Quest is not affiliated with CreativeLive, CourseHorse, Fiverr or Skillshare and earns nothing from links on this page.