Skillshare
Skillshare is an online learning community focused on creativity, business, and personal development. Founded in 2010, it operates on a subscription model that gives learners unlimited access to thousands of video classes in areas like graphic design, photography, writing, marketing, productivity, and more. Classes are typically short and project-based, encouraging hands-on learning and creative experimentation. Instructors include both professionals and independent creators, resulting in a wide range of teaching styles and content depth. Skillshare fosters community engagement through class projects, discussions, and peer feedback. Unlike some platforms, it doesn’t offer formal certifications or university-backed content; instead, its appeal lies in its flexibility, affordability, and inspiration-rich environment. With its mobile app and offline viewing options, learners can create and explore anytime. Skillshare is ideal for freelancers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone looking to explore new skills in a relaxed, engaging way. Whether you’re building a portfolio, growing a side hustle, or just learning for fun, Skillshare offers an accessible, low-pressure path to self-improvement.
Description
Are you looking to learn graphic design, photography, writing, or marketing skills from real industry experts? Skillshare promises exactly that—on-demand, creativity-focused online learning that helps you grow personally or professionally. But is it worth your time and money?
In this in-depth review by Learners View, we explore Skillshare’s platform features, learning experience, course quality, pricing, pros and cons, and whether it’s the right fit for you.
Introduction
Skillshare is a popular online learning platform with a heavy focus on creative skills. Founded in 2010, it has become a go-to hub for aspiring designers, artists, freelancers, marketers, and creators who want to sharpen their skills through bite-sized, project-based classes.
The platform is best suited for:
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Creatives (designers, illustrators, photographers, writers)
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Freelancers and entrepreneurs
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Professionals looking to upskill in marketing, business, or productivity
Unlike traditional academic platforms, Skillshare prioritizes practical learning with real-world projects and insights from working professionals.
Platform Highlights
Here are some of Skillshare’s key features that make it stand out:
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🎓 Project-Based Learning: Classes come with hands-on projects that reinforce practical skills.
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🧑🏫 Expert Instructors: Many instructors are industry leaders, freelancers, or well-known creators.
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💻 Short and Engaging Videos: Most courses range from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
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🌐 Unlimited Learning with Membership: Access 35,000+ classes with one subscription.
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📱 Mobile Access: Learn anywhere using the Skillshare mobile app.
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❌ No Certificates: Skillshare does not offer certificates—perfect for skill building, not for credentials.
User Experience
Skillshare provides a seamless and visually pleasing user experience. Here’s what you can expect:
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Clean Interface: Courses are organized by categories and trends, making it easy to explore new topics.
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Progress Tracking: Watch history and saved classes are easy to manage.
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Community Features: Join discussions, leave feedback, and view others’ project submissions.
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Accessibility: Subtitles are available for most classes, and the platform is mobile-friendly.
Course Quality
Skillshare’s course quality is diverse and dynamic—you’ll find beginner-friendly tutorials alongside intermediate and advanced lessons.
Popular Categories:
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🎨 Graphic Design & Illustration
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📸 Photography & Video
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✍️ Creative Writing & Blogging
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📈 Marketing & Freelancing
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🧠 Productivity & Lifestyle Skills
Notable Instructors:
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Aaron Draplin (Graphic Designer)
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Roxane Gay (Bestselling Author)
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Thomas Frank (YouTuber & Productivity Coach)
Who should use Skillshare?
It’s ideal for creatives, hobbyists, freelancers, and entrepreneurs looking to learn at their own pace and apply skills immediately.
Pricing and Plans
Skillshare offers a 7-day free trial for new users. After that, pricing is as follows:
🟢 Skillshare Premium
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$168/year (approx. $14/month billed annually)
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Unlimited access to all courses
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Offline viewing
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Ad-free experience
There is no free plan (except the trial), and Skillshare does not offer per-course purchases like Udemy.
Is it worth it?
If you take even 1–2 classes per month, the subscription easily pays for itself. Compared to other platforms, Skillshare is very cost-effective for creatives who prefer informal, practical learning.
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros:
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Large library of creative and business-focused courses
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Excellent for hands-on learners with project-based lessons
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Affordable with unlimited learning access
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Taught by real-world professionals
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Active community of learners
❌ Cons:
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No certification or accreditation
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Less suitable for academic or technical subjects
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Quality varies depending on the instructor
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No lifetime access (requires subscription)
Learners View Verdict
At Learners View, we tested Skillshare ourselves and reviewed real user feedback. Here’s our conclusion:
Skillshare is one of the best platforms for creative learning.
It’s beginner-friendly, flexible, and packed with actionable lessons taught by people who’ve walked the talk. While it lacks formal certifications, its value lies in practical skill-building—perfect for side hustlers, artists, and digital creators.
✅ Recommended for creatives and learners who prefer flexible, project-based learning.
❌ Not recommended for those seeking professional certificates or academic instruction.
FAQs
Q1. Does Skillshare offer certificates?
No, Skillshare doesn’t provide certificates. The focus is on learning skills through practice, not formal recognition.
Q2. Can I cancel my Skillshare subscription anytime?
Yes, you can cancel anytime before the next billing cycle. The free trial also allows cancellation without any charge.
Q3. Are there any completely free courses?
Skillshare discontinued its free classes in 2021. However, you can use the 7-day free trial to test the platform.
Q4. Can I download courses for offline viewing?
Yes, with a premium membership, you can download videos on the mobile app.
Q5. Is Skillshare good for learning web development?
Not particularly. Skillshare has some basic coding and web dev courses, but platforms like Coursera or Codecademy are better for tech-heavy topics.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to learn new creative skills or level up your side hustle, Skillshare is a solid investment. It’s affordable, community-driven, and full of inspiration for designers, writers, and marketers alike.
👉 Explore Skillshare now on their official site and start your creative learning journey today!
