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MasterClass Review: Is It Truly Worth the Price?

MasterClass Overview

MasterClass is the Netflix of online learning platforms. The team behind this site puts a tremendous amount of effort and skill into creating binge-worthy video content. All classes on the platform are taught by celebrities and renowned industry experts, making the experience even more appealing.

However, celebs aside, MasterClass isn’t for everyone. This review will take you through everything you need to know to decide whether you want to sign up.

MasterClass Pros and Cons

Let’s start by looking at the pros and cons of the site.

MasterClass Review

Pros

  • Masterfully produced courses taught by industry experts and celebrities.
  • Binge-worthy classes that keep you coming back for more.
  • Downloadable PDF material to back up the learning.
  • New courses added regularly.
  • 30-day money-back policy.

Cons

  • Only annual membership plans are available.
  • No MasterClass free trial.
  • Courses are not as immersive as on other platforms.
  • Mostly features art and entertainment courses.
  • Little to no tech and IT courses.

Who Is MasterClass For?

MasterClass offers a wide range of professionally shot video courses across multiple categories. Overall, the content will appeal to anyone interested in topics like cooking with Gordon Ramsay, songwriting with Alicia Keys, developing a winning mindset with Lewis Hamilton, and creating change with Malala.

It’s pretty easy to get hooked on MasterClass since each course is extremely well-produced.

However, don’t expect to become an expert in the fields taught by MasterClass instructors. Instead, you’ll get to tap into your creativity and see things from a new and fresh perspective.

If you’re a business professional, there is something for you too. MasterClass has special plans for teams and businesses. You just have to contact their sales team and pick the plan most suited to your needs.

Note that MasterClass doesn’t offer certificates or academic credit, so it may not be a good option for those who have accredited education goals.

Types of Courses Offered on MasterClass

MasterClass video courses are spread across 11 categories:

  1. Food
  2. Design & Style
  3. Arts & Entertainment
  4. Music
  5. Business
  6. Sports & Gaming
  7. Writing
  8. Science & Tech
  9. Home & Lifestyle
  10. Community & Government
  11. Wellness

At the time of writing, there were over 100 classes available in these categories.

MasterClass Courses

You’ll find that some sections have fewer classes than others. For example, there are plenty of courses in the Food and Arts and Entertainment categories, while there are only five classes under Science and Tech.

MasterClass offers multiple options for trying out different classes. The Quick Lists option, for example, groups more courses from the same category in a collection of videos so you can explore specific areas in more detail. For example, if you’re into creative writing, you can combine the classes offered by Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Dan Brown, and other authors into one playlist.

And depending on your plan, you can download each class and watch it offline.

MasterClass Pricing and Refunds

MasterClass only offers annual memberships that grant users access to all content on the platform. There are three different plans (Standard, Plus, and Premium), with the main difference being how many devices you can watch the content on and whether or not you can download content for offline viewing.

If you don’t need these advanced features and only plan on using MasterClass for yourself, the Standard plan is enough. It costs $30, but you can often find it on sale for $15.

The high tier plans average at $43 and allow you to watch courses on two to six devices simultaneously, depending on the tier.

Even though there is no MasterClass free trial, there is a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. To get a refund, all you have to do is email their support team, and they will take care of the rest.

MasterClass Enrolment Process

MasterClass makes it straightforward to sign up and enroll in a course.

Learners can create an account in a few simple steps:

  1. Go to MasterClass.com and click on Get Started.
  2. You will now answer a few questions such as the categories you are interested in and what you hope to achieve.
  3. Select a membership plan as well as your payment method before entering the email you would like to use for your account.
  4. Once you complete your purchase, your profile is ready and you can enjoy new content right away.

Users can search for courses according to instructor, class name, or category. You can also filter the results based on their popularity or the date they were added.

Each course consists of up to 25 lessons. Most of them, however, average 15 – 20 videos. Typically, they’re short videos that last no longer than 10 minutes.

MasterClass Course Structure

The MasterClass team has gone to great lengths to create an extremely user-friendly experience for its members.

Each class comes with a suggested workflow, but you can move through the lessons at your own pace too.

The courses mainly consist of video lessons and PDF downloadable material.

  • Video Lessons. Once you sign up for a class, the video lessons are presented on the right hand of the user interface in the form of a playlist. The lessons have a natural flow and come in a recommended order, but you’re free to work through the videos anyway you like.
  • Workbooks. MasterClass courses also come with downloadable workbooks in PDF format. Users can access the workbooks for each lesson by clicking on the video and expanding its content. They will be available for download either individually or as a package for all videos. To download the complete list of PDFs, users can navigate to the Resources section in their Lesson Plan.

  • Discussions. As a MasterClass student, you can connect with other people who follow the same classes as you. There’s a Join the Discussion section at the bottom of each video page where you can ask questions, get feedback, or share your thoughts about the content.
  • Assignments. Not all MasterClass courses have assignments. Students have the opportunity to submit work to instructors for critique, but this only happens periodically. They receive emails whenever those types of assignments come by.
  • MasterClass Sessions. Sessions is the new hands-on format, where students get to learn by working on activities and projects as part of their 30-day curriculum. Students participate in these Sessions by sharing work with the community and receiving feedback from the course’s Teaching Assistants.

There are currently no certificates of completion for completing any of the MasterClass courses, including the Sessions.

MasterClass Alternatives

If you don’t feel that MasterClass is the right platform for you, there are some excellent alternatives available.

  • Coursera. Coursera courses touch on a variety of professional topics and are taught by university professors and field experts. The learning is more immersive due to the hands-on projects and assigments, and learners walk away with a shareable certificate. Students can pay for courses they like or sign up for a monthly subscription. You can read more about Coursera in our Coursera Review.
  • Udemy. Udemy has thousands of courses (some of which are free) to choose from across more than a dozen categories. There are also frequent sales where you can find a high-quality course for as little as $9.99. What’s great about Udemy is that you have lifetime access to the course content once you make a purchase. Plus, you get a certificate of completion. The main downside of Udemy is that its courses aren’t accredited. But if this feature isn’t something that concerns you, then it’s well worth trying this platform. Get more details on Udemy here.
  • edX. edX is another interesting alternative if you’re after a more professional learning experience. Like Coursera, edX courses are created by companies and educational institutions and consist of high-quality content. You can opt for a specialization or degree program that counts towards college credit, or simply work on a new skill. The main downside of edX is that some course prices can be higher than other platforms, especially their professional learning certifications programs. You can read our full edX review here.

Verdict

So if you still wonder, Is MasterClass worth it? our answer is yes, absolutely!

MasterClass is a great investment for anyone interested in polishing their cooking skills, learning more about music, creative writing, filmmaking, wellbeing, or business. It’s also ideal for anyone who insists on learning from some of the industry greats.

However, if you’re after an in-depth educational experience or the annual MasterClass price is too much for you, then you may want to try Coursera, edX, or Udemy.