Udemy vs Skillshare
Buy or subscribe? The biggest course marketplace against the creative all-you-can-learn subscription.
Udemy
The biggest course marketplace, with never-ending sales.
Skillshare
The most fun platform for creative skills.
| Feature | Udemy | Skillshare |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Price | From €18.33/mo | From $13.99/mo |
| Same currency (ECB 2026-09-01) | $21.24 | $13.99 |
| Free plan | No | |
| Best for | Buying single courses | Creative projects |
| Category | Everything under one roof | Creative |
| Provider | Udemy Inc. | Skillshare Inc. |
| Visit Udemy | Visit Skillshare |
Our verdict
The difference is the model and the tone. Udemy sells single, often deep courses you keep forever, ideal for learning one skill for the price of lunch in the sale. Skillshare is a subscription full of shorter, project-based classes with a creative bent, ideal for exploring and continuous learning. For focused depth, Udemy wins.
For creative breadth and the rhythm of a community, Skillshare. On versatility and price per skill learned, Udemy takes it.
“Courses regularly drop below fifteen dollars during the frequent sales. Quality varies by instructor, so read the reviews before you buy. For learning a specific skill fast and cheap, unbeatable.”Editorial team, on Udemy
“The most enjoyable platform of this line-up. Lessons are short and project-based, and the teachers are makers themselves. You learn by doing and walk away with something real every time.”Editorial team, on Skillshare
Frequently asked questions
Udemy or Skillshare: which is the better deal?
Udemy, on versatility and price per skill learned. You buy one often deep course, frequently for the price of lunch in the sale, and it stays yours. Skillshare is a subscription full of shorter, project-based classes with a creative bent, and it wins if you want to keep exploring rather than finish one specific thing.
How much do Udemy and Skillshare cost?
Skillshare is $167.88 a year, which is $13.99 a month billed annually, with a free trial to start. Udemy has no subscription to compare it against. Courses start around $13 each in the near-permanent sales. One Skillshare year therefore costs roughly what a dozen discounted Udemy courses would. Prices last checked June 2026.
Do I keep my classes if I cancel Skillshare?
No. Skillshare is a subscription, so access to the classes ends when the subscription does. Udemy works the other way around. You buy a course and it stays in your account for life, with a 30-day money-back guarantee if it disappoints. If you learn in bursts with long gaps between them, that difference outweighs the price.
Which is better for creative skills?
Skillshare. Its classes are short, project-based and taught by working creatives, and the class projects bring feedback and a bit of accountability, which is what keeps a creative habit alive. Udemy has creative courses too, but its advantage lies in depth on one topic rather than breadth and rhythm.
Cost comparison for a writing course: annual or lifetime?
Lifetime wins for one course, annual wins for volume. A single Udemy writing course starts around $13 in the near-permanent sales and stays yours for life, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Skillshare's writing classes come only with the subscription: $167.88 a year, $13.99 a month billed annually, and access ends when you cancel. Prices last checked June 2026. Pick annual only if you expect to finish several classes this year.