Is It Worth Getting Skillshare? Why It Might Be Not For Everyone (2024)

Skillshare is an online educational platform where anyone can take classes in art, design, business, technology, creative media, and more. There are over 30,000 classes in the library, and for a monthly fee of as low as $14 members get unlimited access to all of them. That's an incredibly good deal considering that many platforms charge two to three times more for just a single course. But is Skillshare really worth it, or do you get what you pay for? Before you join the platform, I strongly recommend you take time to learn a bit about Skillshare and the courses that it offers. Of course, you can do your own research. But I have been a member of Skillshare for many years, so this post should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from the platform.

Skillshare tried to create an online learning platform where anyone could take classes and learn new skills. However, in my opinion, Skillshare is not for everyone the same way as online learning is not for everyone either. There are some Skillshare users who are not satisfied with their experience on the platform. So why does that happen? Why do some people absolutely love Skillshare and can't say enough good things about it, while others claim that it's a waste of money? To explain that, I first need to tell you a bit about what Skillshare is, how it works, and what you need to do to avoid wasting your time and money on the platform.

What Is Skillshare?

Skillshare is an online education platform that lets developers, designers, business professionals, and anyone in between learn from interactive courses across a wide range of disciplines. These courses are developed by people who have years of experience in their fields and who wish to share their knowledge through Skillshare (they get paid to do it, too).

For some people Skillshare doesn't work at all, some claim that it is too expensive for them, and then there any millions who are happy with the service. So is there a way to avoid having a bad experience on Skillshare? Will it work for you or should you choose another learning platform? Let's find out.

Is it Worth It To Get Skillshare Subscription?

Skillshare is a good platform that offers unlimited access to more than 30,000 classes at a low monthly fee. You can learn a wide variety of subjects taught by expert teachers. There are many high-quality classes for different levels. Skillshare is worth it as it is an excellent platform for upskilling.

Why Skillshare Doesn't Work For Some People

So if Skillshare is so great, why am I saying that it won't work for everyone? Well, there are several reasons for that, and most of them have nothing to do with Skillshare itself.

Online education has made it possible for people across the world to reach new heights, all within their own homes. People who work full-time jobs or care for children or aging parents can still take classes and advance their skillsets. Skillshare courses are affordable, require no commuting time and the lessons can be accessed on any device that has an Internet connection.

However, there are a few issues with online learning (and not just Skillshare):

• Online courses can lead to more procrastination

• Lack of accountability

• There are technical problems associated with online learning

• Less hands-on learning

• Online learning impacts mental health, and not always in a good way

• Online learning impacts physical health

You can read about these issues and ways to overcome them HERE.

It takes a certain amount of discipline to learn subjects from home without the guidance of teachers or other students. Many people find Skillshare courses less challenging than traditional learning environments, which can cause them to simply put in their hours without actually applying themselves. Skillshare also requires self-paced learning - working through lessons on one's own schedule rather than having set class times.

Skillshare has effective learning methods, such as a project-based approach but you need to be active and engaged in the learning process.

Common Skillshare Complaints

Many Skillshare users have complaints about the company. Let's take a look and see what people don't like about the platform.

• The biggest issue that people are having with Skillshare is that they forget to cancel their free trial subscription and get charged because of that. Crazy, huh? I mean, all you have to do is put a reminder in your calendar that will tell you when the trial is about to end, and you can completely avoid this issue.

• Many people have also reported that they couldn't find the motivation to learn. They joined the platform, procrastinated, and as a result, learned nothing. Again, that has nothing to do with Skillshare. And trust me, I'm not judging, I myself have done it many times in my life. But have I ever accused my gym because I didn't get fit after buying a membership and never going there? Nope. So, again, if you want to learn anything on Skillshare all you have to do is study, even if it's just 5-10 minutes a day.

• Low-quality classes. That's actually a valid concern. Skillshare has over 30,000 classes, and while most of them are great, there are some that are outdated and/or lack quality. Always read class reviews before taking them to avoid wasting your time.

• High prices. I can't agree with that one though. In my opinion, Skillshare classes are affordable, because for just $168 per year I get access to all classes in the library and can take as many classes as I want. In comparison, just one course on Udemy or Domestika can cost more than two months' worth of Skillshare subscription.

• The only thing that I actually don't like about Skillshare is that it's not possible to filter out classes that you are not interested in, and because of that my feed is often cluttered with classes I am not planning to take.

What Is Good About Skillshare?

Okay, and now let's talk about things that make Skillshare worth it for me:

• The quality of classes. Sure, not every class is a masterpiece but there are many great ones available.

• 30-day free trial option. It's a great way to try out the platform. Just don't forget to cancel it if you don't want to become a paying member.

• Thousands of free classes.

• Classes for different levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

• The project-based approach helps learn new skills faster.

Can you trust Skillshare?

Skillshare is a legit, trustworthy site. You can learn a lot, but you do have to dedicate some time to studying. You won't get a certificate after you take a class, but you will learn something new, and that what matters.

In my opinion, Skillshare works better for beginner and intermediate levels. If you are an expert already, then it will be a bit harder to find a class suitable for your level (although there are plenty of classes for advanced learners, too).

The classes can be either hit or miss. I mostly come across good-quality classes that I truly enjoy, but I always do my own research - read class information and reviews from former students - before taking any class, and I think that what makes my Skillshare experience more enjoyable.

Skillshare tries to make sure that all the teachers on the platform are professionals. But, of course, it is not always the case (same with most online learning platforms). So, again: read reviews first.

Can Skillshare trust you?

And by that I mean, are you a good fit for Skillshare? Before joining the platform ask yourself this: "Are you motivated and self-organized enough to start learning online?" If the answer is no, you can either forget about online learning altogether or take one of Skillshare's productivity and time management classes and then give it a try.

Can you learn anything on Skillshare?

Yes, you can learn a lot on Skillshare. Here are some things I recommend doing:

• If you are taking a free trial, you should try to take at least one course taught by an instructor who has a great reputation and/or is recommended by other users in the niche you are interested in. At first, try to take the most hyped classes that have positive reviews.

• Spend at least 5-10 minutes each day learning a new skill. This will help you develop a habit of learning.

• Take a productivity class on Skillshare. This really helped me to stay focused and stick to learning.

Read full Skillshare review to learn more about the platform's features and pricing

Who can use Skillshare?

• Skillshare is worth it if you are self-motivated and willing to learn, and can find classes that will benefit you.

• Skillshare is worth it if you care about gaining knowledge and not certificates.

• Skillshare is worth it if you want to learn a new skill or improve the existing one.

Overall, if you want to learn something new but don't want to spend a lot of time and money on it, then I recommend giving Skillshare a go. Try it for a few weeks and decide whether it is a good fit for you.