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MasterClass vs Coursera vs Skillshare vs Udemy
Short answer: Choose Coursera for certificates, Udemy for one specific skill at a one-off price, Skillshare for hands-on creative projects, and MasterClass for inspiration from famous practitioners.
See every plan side by side in the price tracker or try the platform quiz.
| MasterClass | Coursera | Skillshare | Udemy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Annual membership: Standard $10/mo, Plus $15/mo, Premium $20/mo, billed annually ($120, $180, $240 a year) | Coursera Plus $59/month or $399/year; single courses and programs $49–$79/month | Annual membership $167.88/yr (shown as $13.99/month) on the web pricing page | Individual course purchases, or Personal Plan subscription (monthly or annual access) |
| Monthly option | Advertised as billed annually | Yes | Via the Skillshare app through your app store | — |
| Free trial | Not shown on the plan pages we checked | Monthly Plus starts with a 7-day free trial | 7 days | May be offered to first-time Personal Plan subscribers |
| Refunds | 30-day money-back guarantee (per MasterClass homepage) | Annual Plus has a 14-day money-back guarantee | 7-day trial: one-time refund if requested within 48 hours of the charge and unused; no refunds for renewals; EU/UK 14-day cooling-off | Eligible individual courses: 30-day refund policy. Subscriptions bought on Udemy.com: no refunds unless required by law |
| Certificates | Not a credential-focused platform | Yes, certificates for completed courses | Not credential-focused | Certificate of completion (not accredited) |
Cheapest way to start
Udemy, because you can buy a single course rather than subscribe. Coursera's monthly Plus has a 7-day free trial, and Skillshare offers a trial too.
Best for a career move
Coursera, thanks to university and industry certificates and graded work.
Best for creatives
Skillshare for short project classes; MasterClass for craft insight rather than step-by-step practice.
Sources
- MasterClass homepage (pricing from $10/mo billed annually)
- MasterClass Help: About membership plans
- MasterClass Help: Subscription charge and renewal
- MasterClass plan chooser
- Coursera Plus page
- Coursera Help: Coursera Plus (trial and refund terms)
- Skillshare pricing
- Skillshare Help: What does Skillshare cost?
- Skillshare Help: subscriptions, pricing and refunds
- Udemy plans and pricing
- Udemy refund policy
- Udemy Help: Personal Plan
- Udemy Personal Plan
Facts checked October 15, 2026. Prices are US list prices, change often and vary by region; confirm on the provider's site before buying.