Kevin Hayler: Professional Wildlife artist, author, and traveler.
Skillshare is an online learning platform with over 30,000 classes. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to learn new skills, but it’s not without its drawbacks. The platform has evolved significantly recently, and in 2026, it’s fair to ask: is Skillshare still worth it?
Skillshare is worth it if you want to learn specific creative skills and want to try your hand at a variety of “pick-and-mix” courses. However, it remains expensive for casual use, customer support can be patchy, and payment complaints continue to surface online.
In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of Skillshare to help you decide if it’s the right platform for you.
I’ve read other reviews about Skillshare and, Trustpilot apart, they tend to conclude on an upbeat note. Well here’s my advice, DON’T TRUST REVIEWS. We all have an agenda and we are not unbiased, so retain a degree of skepticism.
Why do I say that? For one very obvious reason, Skillshare has a generous affiliate commission and it’s in the interest of reviewers to promote their links.
Don’t believe me? This is what Skillshare pays:
Earn 40% commission, up to $67, for every new customer you refer to Skillshare
Now let that sink in.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to earn $67 per referral, but I do have integrity to deal with and I’m in conflict. Skillshare is OK, but I’m not going to rave about it.
Now you know where I’m coming from, let’s make a start.
Disclaimer: When you buy something via my affiliate links I earn from qualifying purchases and sometimes earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. I am an Amazon Associate among others. I only recommend trusted sites.
What is Skillshare?
Skillshare is a massive platform boasting a library of over 30,000 classes and millions of members. While its primary focus is on creative and entrepreneurial skills, it also covers well-being, web development, and technology.
Skillshare follows an annual subscription model. Most classes are designed as short, digestible lessons, usually under 60 minutes, though it has seen an increase in more in-depth “Learning Paths” that guide you through a complete curriculum
Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill or expand your existing knowledge, Skillshare is a viable option.
It’s important to note, however, that not all courses are created equal, and some may not be worth your time. Before signing up and paying your Skillshare subscription, be sure to do your research thoroughly. You can browse the Skillshare website before you join.
You can start with a free trial. They offer 7 days from the homepage but Keep reading because some people complain about free trials.
Who Is Skillshare For?
The Skillshare platform is aimed at anyone, from beginners to advanced learners, mostly but not exclusively, in the creative field, who want to acquire practical skills or improve existing ones. There is something for everyone, at every level.
Skillshare benefits a wide range of people, including:
- Creative people who want to learn new skills or expand upon existing ones
- Entrepreneurs who need help to get started (mostly online)
- Students who need to study at their own pace from home with access to feedback and a community of creators
Skillshare classes are a good fit for people who like visual learning. It’s hands-on video-based instruction aimed at students who need some feedback along the way.
How Does Skillshare Work and How is it Structured?
You can sign up for a 7 day free trial, and if you’re happy, you’ll pay a yearly subscription fee as a Skillshare Premium member. For that, you will have instant access to all their online courses. BUT BEWARE
Skillshare Refunds and Cancellation
You must submit your payment details to qualify for a free trial. This is the part where most people get caught out.
- 7-Day Trials: You must request a refund within 48 hours of the charge if you forgot to cancel.
- Annual Billing: Once the payment is processed for an annual plan after a 30-day trial, getting a refund is nearly impossible.
- App Store Users: If you paid via Google Play or the Apple App Store, Skillshare cannot help you. You must deal with the tech giants directly.
You’ve been warned.
This is how to access Skillshare Videos:
- Sign up for a 7-day free trial
- Enter your email address and create your password.
- Once you have created an account, you can browse thousands of classes in everything from graphic design to creative writing, productivity to interior design
- Click on the class you want to watch
Many tutors make several separate classes and you can cherry-pick the classes that best suit your needs. In that sense, they are courses in all but name. Instead of being structured in a lesson plan, they’re segmented into stand-alone tutorials.
The Learning Experience:
Skillshare has updated its structure to include Learning Paths, which are hand-picked, sequential classes designed to take you from a beginner to an advanced level in a specific field.
Additionally, they have introduced Official Certificates of Completion that include a unique ID, making it easy to share your accomplishments on LinkedIn.
For those who need more personalized guidance, Skillshare now offers 1-on-1 Sessions. These allow you to book private video chats with “Top Teachers” for portfolio feedback or career coaching.
Note that these sessions are not included in your membership and carry separate fees, typically ranging from $12 to over $300 depending on the teacher’s expertise.
Upon joining a class, you’re encouraged to participate in the Skillshare community by sharing your progress, offering feedback, and asking questions. You can participate under the ‘Discussions’ tab.
You can take as many classes as you wish, learn at your own pace, and ask your Skillshare teachers for guidance as you progress. It’s very hands-on and very easy.
There is a class rating system under each profile where you can see how well the class performs. The most successful course tutors invariably over-deliver.
Under ‘Expectations Met’ there are 4 review headings, Exceeded – Yes – Somewhat – Not Really. The screenshot below is from a class by Brooke Glaser called ‘Make a Living as an Artist’
There are a number of ways to assess the value of the class/course before you commit your time. Such as the following:
- Look at the class ratings
- Choose ‘Staff Pick’ on the left sidebar
- Choose ‘Original’ on the left sidebar
- Filter by the most popular classes
- Search for Top Teachers
The ‘Staff Pick’ tab will show you curated classes the staff recommends that meet the highest standards expected from Skillshare.
The ‘Original’ tab indicates the courses produced by the Skillshare in-house content team. Skillshare originals are designed to be as practical and useful as possible and are taught by top professionals, experts, and industry leaders.
What Classes Can I Find on Skillshare?
The list of classes on Skillshare is ever-expanding, and in recent times, they have leaned heavily into emerging tech alongside their traditional creative roots.
If you click the ‘Browse’ dropdown menu, you will see a reorganized list of categories designed to help you navigate their courses
If you click on All Classes a list of tiles appears under the subtitles
- CREATE: This remains the heart of Skillshare. It includes Animation, Art & Illustration, Design, Film & Video, Photography, Music, and Writing & Publishing.
- BUILD: Aimed at professionals and side-hustlers, this covers Creative Career, Marketing & Business, Freelance & Entrepreneurship, and Leadership & Management.
- THRIVE: Focused on personal growth, this category features Lifestyle, Productivity, Health & Wellness, and the new AI & Innovation section.
You can click ‘view all’ under each section.
Clicking on a category will bring up classes on that particular subject.
I have noticed that when I browse, using the search bar, I don’t always get the results I’m looking for, but that doesn’t mean to say they don’t exist.
It can be frustrating. For example, when I browsed the search box for ‘Drawing’, many classes appeared in the results, but none by Brent Eviston.
It’s strange because his drawing classes are very popular, plus they have ‘drawing’ as a keyword in the titles.
I didn’t know he existed until I found him in the ‘Fine Art’ Category.
What Are Skillshare Classes Like?
While some Skillshare classes are better than others, the platform does offer a lot of value for its users. In 2026, the standard of teaching has improved significantly.
This is largely due to the “50 Follower Minimum” and performance thresholds Skillshare now enforces; teachers who don’t engage or whose classes fall below a 2.5-star rating are now regularly removed.
However, it must be said that Skillshare still relies heavily on user-generated content. While you’ll find industry experts, many classes are still taught by working professionals rather than “career academics.”
As a user experience, this means the quality can still vary, but the content is usually very practical and current.
Does it matter? Not really.
You can filter out the wannabes easily and you’ll still find interesting online classes. The membership gives you access to every course and the best teachers rise to the top.
Most classes are short, often under 60 minutes, and broken into 5–10 bite-sized video lessons.
- Resources: Most teachers provide downloadable “Project & Resources” like PDF guides, Procreate brushes, or templates to help you follow along
- The Project: Every class is centered around a hands-on project. You aren’t just watching videos; you are expected to create something, like a digital illustration or a marketing plan, and upload it to the Project Gallery.
- Community Feedback: Once you post your project, other students and the teacher can give you feedback. This “social layer” is one of Skillshare’s best features for staying motivated.
You can now join Live Sessions for real-time Q&As and earn Official Certificates of Completion for every course you finish.
Some top teachers even sell Digital Products (like specialized software presets) directly on their class pages so you can use the exact tools they use.
Skillshare remains strict about its “no refund” policy once the trial ends, so use those short classes to test the water.
You can quickly see if a teacher’s style suits you by checking the “Most Liked” section on their profile, which highlights if they have “Clarity of Instruction” or “Helpful Examples.”
How Much Does Skillshare Cost?
If there is one thing I cannot abide it’s a website that hides its prices. Skillshare is still incredibly reluctant to reveal the costs until you sign up and hand over an email address. Why? Maybe they are embarrassed by the price? Just guessing.
The Skillshare Premium membership for individuals is currently $167.88 per annum (2026). While the main website tries to hide it, there is now a monthly option available if you sign up via the iOS or Android app stores—but it will cost you a staggering $32 per month.
Not only is the standard Premium Plan billed annually, but it’s also auto-renewed—it’s in the terms and conditions with all the other warnings about fees changing without notice. Read them, and BEWARE.
They promote the free trial heavily but are obviously very concerned that being open with the price upfront will put customers off. You will also discover that they want your payment details before you even begin your “free” trial.
Trials and Discounts:
- Trial Length: This varies depending on how you sign up. Most direct links offer 7 days, but you can still find 1-month free trials through specific affiliate links.
- Coupon Codes: You can often find promos for 30% to 50% off the annual price if you search online before committing.
- Student Discount: Students can still get 50% off with a valid .edu email address.
According to their terms, you can cancel anytime, but that doesn’t cancel your paid membership for the year; it only means you won’t get an auto-renewal when the contract expires. N.B. Be warned that complaints persist about people being charged even after they thought they had canceled.
N.B. According to their terms, you can cancel anytime but that doesn’t cancel your paid membership for the year, it only means you won’t get an auto-renewal when the contract expires.
Teams and “Chroma” Updates
There is a team plan offered and that’s confusing. For $159 per year per person, you get There is a Team Plan offered for $159 per year per person (for groups of 2+). This is slightly cheaper than the individual plan but requires a single annual payment and offers no refunds.
As for Chroma Courses, Skillshare has shifted its focus. While they still occasionally offer “Immersive” programs, they have largely replaced this with the “Shop” and “1-on-1 Sessions.” Top teachers now charge extra, anywhere from $12 to $300+,for private video sessions or digital assets.
Maybe I’m a cynic, but it’s a lot of money to pay on top of a membership. Whether it’s a few Zoom calls or a “Certificate of Completion,” I wouldn’t dream of paying that kind of extra money. Exclusive content or not, the costs add up quickly.
Skillshare Refunds and Cancellation
Skillshare states on its own website that refunds are only possible if made within 14 days after your payment has been processed.
If you pay with a credit card or via Paypal you follow these steps:
- Log in and go to your account settings
- Choose “Payments in the left-hand menu
- Select “Cancel Membership”
- Follow the instructions
- Your access continues until the agreed expiry time.
If you cancel your membership after your trial period is over you will not be refunded. Your membership will last for one year. Cancellation cancels the auto-renewal.
N.B. If you pay via Google Play or iOS App Store, Skillshare is not able to “cancel, refund, or manage memberships”. You must contact the app stores directly. Good luck with that. What could possibly go wrong?
They offer these two links:
- Cancel your membership if subscribed via Google Play.
- Cancel your membership if subscribed via iOS App Store.
What Are The Advantages of Skillshare?
Skillshare is a great resource for those looking to learn multiple skills or deep dive into a subject. There are, however, a few things to keep in mind before signing up.
Here are some of the advantages of using Skillshare:
- The site offers a wide variety of courses
- The best Skillshare classes are taught by experienced professionals.
- ‘Staff Picks’ and ‘Original’ classes are the best value and highlighted
- You can get started with a free trial
- The emphasis is on short videos, they are classes more than courses
- New classes are added regularly
- You can learn at your own pace.
- Certificates are issued
- The site offers a community of like-minded learners.
- You can cancel your “REPEAT” (auto-renewal) subscription anytime
- The video courses are good value if you intend to use the platform regularly.
- You can get started instantly.
- There is a mobile app
- Mobile courses can be downloaded to view offline
- The platform is easy to use
What Are The Disadvantages of Skillshare?
Not everything is rosy, there are minus points that might dissuade you from joining.
Here are some of the disadvantages of using Skillshare:
- The cost of a yearly Skillshare membership can be prohibitive
- The quality of the courses on Skillshare can vary greatly
- When your membership ends you can’t access your courses
- You can’t buy courses individually
- The subscription is on auto-renewal
- Their terms allow them to change their prices at will, at any time.
- Finding suitable courses on Skillshare can be time-consuming
- Skillshare courses are not always up to date
- You’ll need a reliable internet connection.
- Trustpilot reviews are very poor
Is Skillshare Trustworthy?
This might be crunch time. It’s all very well telling you what Skillshare can and can’t do for you, but let’s cut to the chase, are they trustworthy?
This is the verdict on Trustpilot.
Well, the good news is that 53% are very happy with their purchase, and 16% are somewhere in the middle. The bad news is that 31% are not happy at all. A quick scan through the complaints and a number of repeat issues recur.
Some of the comments are scathing, some because of customer service, some because the courses were not up to scratch, but mainly because customers were charged for a year’s membership after canceling their free trial. That is pretty damning.
Don’t take my word for this, check for yourself. https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/skillshare.com
This is a typical comment:
If I could give them a zero review I…
“If I could give them a zero review I would! They charged my account for an entire year and I hadn’t used any of their courses so asked for a refund. They claim they give you one but they never did! A month and a bit later and I’m still waiting on the refund they promised. Not counting on it after reading the other reviews! Absolute scammers – DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!“
Sheri AU – 1st April 2023
And it’s not only students who are complaining, instructors are too:
They removed my class of 100+ students after I asked to speak with a supervisor
“I have a class on Skillshare.
Shane GB – 18th May 2023
My class was fine until I contacted Skillshare when they didn’t pay me for the first month. They didnt provide a good customer service experience, and I expressed my frustration with this and asked to speak with a supervisor.
Skillshare didnt let me speak with a supervisor, but then I found my class was being removed art the end of the month“
It pains me to write this because, until I dug deeper into Skillshare, I had no idea that so many people had issues.
Initially, I happened upon a bad Youtube review by a former Skillshare teacher who claimed to have been cheated out of his $100 royalty payment. The comments below his video revealed other teachers with the same complaints.
I was concerned, but the video was 3 years old. Things change right?
I typed ‘Is Skillshare a scam?’ into Google just to make sure. That is where I found the Trustpilot reviews, and sadly, they are recent.
Now in the interest of balance and fairness, more people complain online than post compliments, and 53% of people on Trustpilot give Skillshare the thumbs up.
Scanning the first page on Google also paints a mixed picture. But that’s the worry, why is it a mixed picture? The overwhelming response should be positive.
Enough people are happy with Skillshare to conclude that it’s not a scam, but something does go wrong. I can only conclude that when signing up, there is an element of risk.
Is Skillshare Worth it? Final Thoughts
I started this review with the firm opinion that Skillshare was an established platform used by millions and worthy of promotion as an affiliate.
Some of the positive blogs I found are written with affiliate revenue in mind. That isn’t to suggest they are dishonest, they probably approached the review in the same way as I did, initially. They write about what the platform offers, without reviewing how it’s administered.
I stumbled upon a negative video when I was looking for something entirely different, I hadn’t questioned Skillshare’s ethos at all. Now I do.
I genuinely think that there are many good classes on Skillshare and if they returned to a rolling monthly contract model I would have no problem recommending the platform.
As it is, I don’t think, at this moment in time, I’d risk losing my $168 when there are so many alternatives out there.
And to round this off, here’s one top tip. Many courses on Skillshare are often found on elsewhere, and available to buy for keeps. So if you see a class you like on Skillshare. Search for the teacher on Google and see who turns up.
That stuffs my affiliate commissions!
On the other hand, I do like Proko courses much more.
If you need more help with drawing, then I urge you to check out
Dorian Iten on Proko. His course is reasonably priced and inspiring
Everyone wants to sell online, but why? I’ve been trading for over 20 years from a summer market pitch and I make enough to hang out in the Tropics all winter! Why not copy what I do?
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Hi, I’m Kevin Hayler
I’ve been selling my wildlife art and traveling the world for over 20 years, and if that sounds too good to be true, I’ve done it all without social media, art school, or galleries!
I can show you how to do it. You’ll find a wealth of info on my site, about selling art, drawing tips, lifestyle, reviews, travel, my portfolio, and more. Enjoy