# Skillshare vs MasterClass

The clearest difference is monetization model: Skillshare at freemium against MasterClass's subscription. Skillshare also leads on review sentiment (62% vs 29%) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). MasterClass's advantage is chart position (#30 vs unranked) and ratings volume (123K vs 25K). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Skillshare sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $18.99 per month and MasterClass sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $119.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Skillshare against 4.9 for MasterClass. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25K and 123K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 62% of Skillshare's written reviews are positive against 29% of MasterClass's.

Skillshare ships an update every 10 days, MasterClass every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Skillshare | MasterClass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skillshare-creativity-classes/id916819843/reviews) | **[4.9 (123K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterclass-online-classes/id1273867416/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 25K | **123K** |
| Positive reviews | **61.8% of reviews** | 28.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#30** |
| Size | 64 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Skillshare, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/916819842) | [MasterClass](https://appshunter.io/developer/1273867415) |

## What reviewers say

### Skillshare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skillshare-creativity-classes/id916819843)

Access thousands of online courses taught by industry professionals to develop your creative skills. Learn drawing, animation, design, photography, and more at your own pace. Offers free classes and a premium subscription for unlimited access.

**Highlights:** Thousands of online creative courses, Professionally led lessons, Offline viewing, Progress syncing across devices, Mini viewer for multitasking, Free classes available

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Membership | $18.99 | per month |
| Skillshare Monthly Membership | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Membership | $31.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Membership | $31.99 | per month |
| Skillshare Monthly Membership | $49.99 | per month |
| Skillshare Annual Membership | $167.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium Membership | $169.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium Membership | $169.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Excellent variety of creative classes
- 🤓 High-quality instruction from industry professionals
- 🕰 Flexible learning at your own pace
- 💡 Inspiring and motivating content
- 📚 Broad range of topics covered

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lacking search and organization features in the app
- 🖥 Limited functionality compared to the website
- 🔌 Offline viewing issues and inconsistencies
- 🤖 Buggy and unstable app performance
- 🔒 Questionable billing and cancellation practices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Video playback issues and syncing problems
- Inconsistent user interface and navigation
- Inability to access class resources and materials
- Account management and cancellation difficulties

**Requested features**

- Ability to sort and organize saved classes
- Offline class downloads and viewing
- Seamless integration between app and website
- More advanced search and filtering options
- Picture-in-picture mode for multitasking


### MasterClass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterclass-online-classes/id1273867416)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

Learn new skills from world-renowned experts across a vast range of subjects. Access thousands of bite-sized lessons on professional development, creative arts, wellness, and more. Watch on any device, with offline options available.

**Highlights:** Learn from world-renowned experts, Vast range of premium courses, Thousands of bite-sized lessons, Accessible on multiple devices, Offline learning options, New content added regularly

**Features:** SharePlay

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MasterClass Individual | $119.99 | per year |
| Duo (Free Upgrade) | $179.99 | per year |
| All-Access Pass upgrade | $179.99 | per year |
| MasterClass Duo | $179.99 | per year |
| Family (Free Upgrade) | $239.99 | per year |
| MasterClass Family | $239.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great content from experts
- 🤩 Inspiring and educational
- 👍 High-quality production
- 💡 Diverse range of topics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app
- 🤔 Confusing navigation and UI
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔌 Unreliable offline support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Downloaded content disappears
- Playback issues and random pauses
- Inconsistent behavior across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to download more content offline
- Progress tracking and resume functionality
- Filtering and sorting options
- Transcript search and note-taking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Skillshare free?

Skillshare is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MasterClass free?

MasterClass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Skillshare or MasterClass?

MasterClass is rated higher. Skillshare averages 4.8 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while MasterClass averages 4.9 from 123K ratings.

### Do Skillshare or MasterClass have ads?

Neither Skillshare nor MasterClass shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Skillshare or MasterClass?

Skillshare ships an update every 10 days, and MasterClass every 3 weeks. Most recently, Skillshare was updated on September 24, 2026 and MasterClass on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*