While both edX and Skillshare can teach you something new, there are some fundamental differences you should be aware of.
And because we know that you’re serious about furthering your education, we’ve done an in-depth comparison to help you decide which of these eLearning platforms are right for you.
Table of Contents
edX vs Skillshare: A Quick Summary
If it’s an accredited qualification you’re after, edX is the platform for you, especially if you’re interested in tech-related topics. This wide selection of courses was developed in conjunction with leading universities, which means they’re recognized and valued by many of today’s employers. Certificate courses cost between $50 and $300, while degrees cost a lot more.
Skillshare, on the other hand, was built with creatives looking for short, engaging courses that can help them further their careers on any device – quite different from edX. It’s also ideal for anyone who wants to explore a new hobby. While you won’t get a recognized qualification, you will be able to add completed projects to a portfolio. Skillshare memberships starts at $2.45 per month.
edX vs Skillshare: Who Is It For?
edX
If variety and accreditation are important to you, edX might be the right fit.
edX offers over two thousand courses from 140 different institutions, including prestigious universities such as Harvard and MIT.
Along with professional qualifications such as master’s and bachelor’s degrees, edX also offers shorter, self-paced courses that you can complete in your own time. Many of these shorter courses are free, but there is the option to pay for a certificate.
Whether you are a high school graduate looking to pursue a course online, or a professional looking to upskill or change careers, edX has a course for you.
Skillshare
The courses on Skillshare are far more relaxed in terms of course length and structure. If you are looking for shorter, engaging courses that cover a wide variety of topics, Skillshare might be a good fit for you.
Skillshare is particularly popular among high school graduates and undergraduates looking to explore new topics or pursue smaller courses related to their chosen field.
The platform is also ideal for anyone who wants to turn a hobby into a career. From interior design to cinematography, Skillshare covers some of the more unique fields of interest.
Small and home-run business owners may also find Skillshare useful, allowing them to hone skills such as advertising, accounting, and more in their free time.
Winner: Tie. It depends on the type of courses you’re interested in. edX does have a wider selection though.
edX vs Skillshare: Types of Courses Offered
edX
edX courses are divided into a number of different categories. Some of the primary categories include:
- Business management
- Computer science
- Design
- Economics
- Engineering
- Health and safety
- Language
- Medicine
Within each of these categories, you will find a large selection of sub-categories, making it easy to narrow down your search.
Most edX courses are far more in-depth than other online learning platforms, making them ideal for those looking to pursue a specific career or change the course of their existing career.
Along with professional certificates, edX also offers master’s degrees as well as MicroBachelor (under-graduate level) and MicroMaster (graduate level) programs.
The XSeries program is designed for learners who want to explore certain topics further.
Skillshare
Skillshare divides its classes into three major categories.
- The Create category has courses for creators of all types: animators, creative writers, filmmakers, artists, graphic designers, illustrators, musicians, photographers, UI and UX designers, and web developers.
- The Build category has courses related to business analytics, freelancing and entrepreneurship, leadership and management, and marketing.
- Thrive only has two subcategories, namely lifestyle and productivity.
Most skillshare classes are a maximum of 3 to 4 hours, making it ideal for learners who want to upskill during the few spare hours they have available.
Unfortunately, Skillshare does not offer any sort of certification or degree upon completion of these classes. However, one can add the courses you’ve completed to your Skillshare portfolio.
Winner: edX for its accredited and recognized qualifications.
edX vs Skillshare: Pricing & Refunds
edX
edX offers both free and paid courses. By signing up for a free course, you will not have access to all the course material and won’t receive a verified certificate upon completion.
Verified track is the paid option, which includes a certificate, but it can cost you anywhere between $50 to $300. Any professional certificates or degree programs cost more though.
The cost of edX courses might be higher than some other platforms, but the in-depth nature of these accredited courses makes it well worth it.
If for any reason you aren’t satisfied with a course, you can request a refund within 14 days of your purchase. Keep in mind that edX does not offer refunds if you finish your course and receive the verified certificate.
Skillshare
Skillshare also offers a free tier to their classes. However, this free tier is minimal and only available across a handful of courses. 100% free classes are also quite challenging to find.
Skillshare offers two membership options, the first of which costs $2.45 per month. Once you sign up as a premium member though, you get access to all courses.
You can easily cancel your skillshare membership at any point if you feel that it isn’t providing any value.
Unfortunately, the platform doesn’t offer refunds for monthly memberships. Refunds for annual memberships are available if submitted within 7 days.
Winner: Skillshare for affordability and its annual refund policy.
edX vs Skillshare: Enrolment & Usability
edX
The edX registration process is straightforward. The only information needed to create an account is your name, email, and password.
Once you create an account, the website’s intuitive design makes it easy to browse the different programs and courses before enrolling.
In terms of the option to pay for a verified certificate, you can either pay upfront before starting the course or apply for the paid certificate upon completion. For professional qualifications such as degrees, the certificate is included in the cost of the qualification.
Each course page is very detailed, outlining what you can expect to learn, whether there are any prerequisites, important dates to note, lecturer details, and more.
If you have any specific questions about a particular course or qualification, you can submit a contact form directly from the course page.
Skillshare
To get started on Skillshare, you can easily create an account using an email or your Google, Facebook, or Apple account.
From there, choose the topics you are interested in and the site will provide you with course recommendations.
Once you click on one of the Skillshare classes, you can learn more about the skill level, what you will learn, who created the class, and how much time you should set aside.
The Skillshare app is also available on the Apple Store and Google Play, allowing you to learn on the go. The app even lets you listen to the lectures in audio form, making it that much easier to learn wherever you are.
Winner: Skillshare because it has an excellent desktop and mobile learning platform.
edX vs Skillshare: Course Structures
edX
edX offers you a clear breakdown of what topics you will be encountering each week for the duration of the course.
Along with written course material, edX courses also include discussion forums, machine-graded tests, short assignments, self, and peer-assessed weekly tasks, and video lectures.
These video lectures are generally around 20 minutes long, but others can be as long as an hour.
Completing the weekly tasks is mandatory for attaining the verified edX certificate or degree.
Although the edX courses may seem lengthy at first, their effective compartmentalization does wonders in maintaining your interest.
Skillshare
Skillshare courses have a different structure than edX. Both include video lectures, but the similarities end there. Skillshare breaks down its two to three-hour lectures into a series of 10 – 15-minute videos.
All the videos are appropriately named and categorized, making it easy to work through each course.
Unlike edX, Skillshare does not provide you with any assignments or tasks. However, there is a board for every class that allows you to present your work for feedback.
Winner: edX for its in-depth video lessons.
The Verdict
So, is Skillshare worth it?. Is an edX certificate worth the extra fee?
Both these platforms are excellent choices for online learning – it just depends on what you want to achieve.
edX is a platform for serious learners who are interested in accredited courses. If you have a bigger budget and want to take a deep dive into professional fields, edX is perfect for you.
If you want an introduction to a specific field or you want to enhance your existing skills, Skillshare could be a better fit, particularly if you have a smaller budget and less time to spare.
Which platform will you be signing up on?