In a Nutshell
pros
- Take lessons anytime, anywhere
- Mix and match short courses
- Scholarships give free membership to those who qualify
cons
- Not specifically focused on language learning
- Need to buy membership
Skillshare Plans
Skillshare has only one pricing plan which gives you membership of the platform. With membership, you can access any of the platform’s video courses on an unlimited basis.
Membership costs $167.88/year. When we explored the members’ registration, it was not possible to pay on a monthly basis.
How much does Skillshare cost?
Skillshare operates on a membership basis. While you will be able to use your membership free for a trial period (initially 7 days, although we were also offered a month as a special offer as we browsed the site), once your trial period ends you will be charged the annual rate of $167.88.
It’s possible to get a scholarship to Skillshare membership if you meet certain criteria. For example, students with a valid educational email address get 50% off membership. You can also apply for a free membership if you can prove hardship. However, anyone who has previously purchased a membership would be ineligible.
How does Skillshare work?
Skillshare is a broad-ranging online learning platform that presents a huge number of different topics, from crafts to marketing. Its courses in all subjects, including languages, are created by expert teachers and take the form of video lessons that may be supplemented with written material and tasks to complete. At this point in time, Skillshare is not offering conversation classes, vocabulary drills, or native-level content, as can be found through other language platforms. However, if you enjoy learning through video, this method could be engaging for you.
Most courses comprise a few hours’ worths of material, with most lasting 2-12 hours. It’s also possible to find some very short introductions. The courses can be viewed on the web or on Skillshare’s app (available for iOS and Android), so it’s possible to learn on the go.
Skillshare’s platform can feel a bit overwhelming, as there’s so much to choose from. If you know the language you want to learn, you can use Skillshare’s search function to narrow down the courses. You can then filter by level (“Beginner”, “Intermediate”, or “Advanced”), and class length. You will also get personalized recommendations as you follow certain teachers or courses.
The learning material is not really structured; some teachers offer multiple courses that may progress in difficulty, but you will need to find and select these yourself. Some courses are more topic-focused, teaching vocabulary for speaking about family or work, for example.
As a Skillshare member, you can also access the learner community for each class and give feedback for any work others upload. This can make the experience feel more interactive, even though the learning is asynchronous.
Is Skillshare reliable and safe?
Skillshare currently has 1,279 reviews on Trustpilot, where 55% rate the site as “Excellent”, and 14% “Good”. However, 27% rate the site as “Bad”. Positive reviews praise the great customer service and the useful skills people have learned through using Skillshare. Negative reviews note that some people have had difficulties in canceling their subscription, especially where they did not realize they would be charged after the trial period. A similar theme is echoed on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), where there are 140 complaints registered in the last three years. Skillshare is not yet BBB accredited.
What’s special about Skillshare?
Skillshare’s asynchronous learning method means you can watch the lessons anytime, anywhere. This could be ideal for you if you’re very busy. Unlike just watching videos through a general video platform like Youtube, Skillshare also offers a learner community so you can interact with others taking the same class.
Another plus of Skillshare is that its courses are created by expert teachers worldwide. Because the course library depends on what teachers create, there are many languages available, including those that might not be chosen by more structured course providers. For example, there are a number of American Sign Language courses, as well as opportunities to learn Gujarati, Yoruba, and Latin.
Help and Support
Skillshare offers a rich help center on the website, which should answer many of the questions you might have. You can also raise a support ticket through the website. At this time, there is no phone or live chat support, which would potentially be useful.
Bottom Line
Skillshare is a powerful learning platform that lets you learn on the go. There’s definitely an advantage to having access to Skillshare’s library of language courses—you can mix and match topics and levels as you prefer, learn through engaging videos, view the content anytime and anywhere, and interact with other learners, and. Learning a language through Skillshare could work for you if you’re busy and want something you can dip in and out of.
However, for serious language learners, Skillshare’s language content may not be comprehensive or structured enough to really drive progress. It could be a good way to get started with a language or to add in to a mix of other language tools (for example, taking conversation classes or completing vocabulary games).
For this purpose, the price tag of Skillshare’s membership might seem high, especially when it’s possible to find video content elsewhere for cheaper, or even for free. So, purchasing a Skillshare membership probably makes most sense if you are looking to build your skills in a range of subjects, not just languages, so you can take advantage of the site’s vast library of courses.
FAQs
Is Skillshare really free?
Skillshare offers a free trial membership, but you will need to enter your card details to register and will be charged when your trial period comes to an end. After this point, you will not be able to access Skillshare courses for free.
How much does Skillshare cost per month?
Skillshare costs $13.99 per month but is currently billed on an annual basis.
Is Skillshare worth the hype?
There are lots to like about Skillshare, but whether it is worth the hype will depend on your situation and needs. For learning a language to a high level, Skillshare on its own probably won’t be enough and therefore it might be hard to justify the membership fee. However, if you want a convenient, on-the-go video resource to add to your language learning toolkit and want to pursue other courses on Skillshare, it could be worth it.
