Short answer
- Skillshare: $167.88 a year in the US, “over 35,000 classes,” each class 20 to 60 minutes on average with a hands-on project. You get a class certificate after watching all lessons and submitting a project (Skillshare).
- MasterClass: annual memberships only, $119.99 to $239.99 a year in the US App Store, 200+ classes from instructors it calls “the world’s best.” No certificate of completion for regular classes (MasterClass).
- Choose Skillshare to practice a creative skill with many short, project-based classes. Choose MasterClass to learn how famous practitioners think about their craft.
Skillshare and MasterClass both sell a subscription to a video library, and both cover creative topics. The difference is in the teaching: Skillshare has tens of thousands of classes by independent creators, each built around a project; MasterClass has a smaller library taught by famous names. The earlier version of this article said MasterClass issues completion certificates for its classes; it doesn’t. It also quoted per-class prices of $90 to $180; MasterClass now sells annual memberships. We rechecked everything on September 22, 2026.
Skillshare vs MasterClass at a glance
| Skillshare | MasterClass | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $167.88 a year ($13.99 a month, billed annually) | $119.99, $179.99 or $239.99 a year (US App Store) |
| Billing | annual on the website; monthly only in the app | annual only |
| Free option | none since 2021 (trials only) | none (30-day guarantee on first purchase) |
| Catalog | “over 35,000 classes” | 200+ classes |
| Class format | 20 to 60 minutes of video on average, each with a project | about 20 lessons of about 10 minutes |
| Certificate | class certificate (all lessons + project) | none for regular classes; separate paid Certificates courses |
| Offline | in the iOS and Android apps | select classes in the apps |
| Refunds | one-time, within 48 hours after a 7-day trial charge; renewals not refunded | within 30 days of your first purchase on the website; not for renewals |
Sources: Skillshare pricing, Skillshare cost, Skillshare free classes, Skillshare Teams, Skillshare class format, Skillshare offline, Skillshare refunds, MasterClass in the US App Store, MasterClass membership plans, MasterClass format, MasterClass 30-day guarantee.
What kind of certificate you get
Skillshare: a certificate for each class you complete. Skillshare answers the question with “Yes!”: you get a class certificate when you watch “all of the lessons in a class and submits a project.” It shows your name, the class title, the date, the teacher, the class length and a “unique certificate ID,” and you can share it by link (Skillshare). Skillshare doesn’t claim accreditation or academic credit for it.
MasterClass: no certificate for regular classes. “Currently, we don’t have an official certificate of completion for our classes,” MasterClass says, and points to a separate product (MasterClass). MasterClass Certificates are self-paced courses of 15 to 20 hours with a capstone project and a shareable certificate, sold separately from the membership, from $299 per course (MasterClass Certificates, press release).
In practice: if you want something to show for each class, Skillshare gives you a certificate plus the project you made. With MasterClass you get the learning, and a certificate only if you buy a Certificates course. Neither is a professional certification; for those, see our Certification Cost Index.
Price
Skillshare’s US pricing page showed $167.88 a year ($13.99 a month, billed annually) on September 22, 2026. Its help center notes that prices can vary by location and that the monthly plan is only available through the app.
MasterClass sells annual memberships only. In the US App Store the three tiers cost $119.99, $179.99 and $239.99 a year; on the website prices appear in local currency (from Germany: “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.
On price alone, MasterClass’s entry tier costs less per year than Skillshare’s annual plan ($119.99 vs. $167.88, using the US App Store figure for MasterClass and the US web price for Skillshare). What you get for it is very different, which matters more than the $48.
Class format and teaching
Skillshare classes are made by independent creators. They average “20-60 minutes of pre-recorded video content,” split into short lessons, and “all classes on Skillshare include a project” (Skillshare). Popular classes can be much longer: two of the most popular drawing classes on its browse page in September 2026 ran about 6 hours each. Categories include Art & Illustration, Design, Photography, Film & Video, Music & Audio, Writing & Publishing, Marketing & Business and Development (Skillshare browse).
MasterClass classes are taught by instructors it presents as “the world’s best.” Most have “around 20 video lessons that average about 10 minutes each.” Categories include Food & Drink, Art & Design, Music, Writing, Film & TV, Business & Entrepreneurship and Sports & Athletics (MasterClass categories).
Which one to choose
| You want… | Better fit |
|---|---|
| To practice a skill with a project in every class | Skillshare |
| A certificate for each class you finish | Skillshare |
| To learn from famous practitioners | MasterClass |
| Cooking, sports or entertainment from well-known names | MasterClass |
| A monthly plan | Skillshare (in the app) |
| A structured certificate course with a capstone | MasterClass Certificates (from $299) |
What about Udemy? Udemy is the third option people compare: you buy single courses and keep them for life, and every paid course has a certificate of completion. See MasterClass vs Udemy and Do Udemy courses expire?.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skillshare or MasterClass better?
Skillshare suits hands-on learners who want many short, project-based classes. MasterClass suits learners who want insight from famous practitioners. Both are subscriptions.
Does MasterClass give certificates?
Not for regular classes. MasterClass Certificates, a separate product from $299 per course, end with a shareable certificate.
Does Skillshare give certificates?
Yes, a class certificate when you watch all lessons and submit a project, with a unique certificate ID.
Is Skillshare free?
No. Skillshare dropped its free class experience in September 2021. You can start with a trial.
Can I pay monthly?
Skillshare offers a monthly plan only through its app. MasterClass sells annual memberships only.
How we checked these facts. Skillshare prices, rules and formats come from its pricing page, browse page and help center; MasterClass rules from its help center, category page and press releases; MasterClass US prices from its listing in Apple’s US App Store. All checked on September 22, 2026. Certificate Quest is not affiliated with Skillshare or MasterClass and earns nothing from links on this page.