Skillshare review
Free planSubscription marketplace for creative classes; teachers paid from a watch-time pool.
The verdict
Skillshare scores 4.3/5 in our review. It's best for creative and design instructors and teachers wanting passive watch-time income. Free to publish to an engaged creative community. The main trade-offs: unpredictable earnings from a shared pool, not direct sales; you don't own the customer or set prices; tighter 2026 payout eligibility (followers + minutes watched). There's a genuinely usable free plan, so you can try it at zero cost.
Pros & cons
- Free to publish to an engaged creative community
- Passive royalty income that compounds with watch time
- No need to price or sell courses yourself
- Unpredictable earnings from a shared pool, not direct sales
- You don't own the customer or set prices
- Tighter 2026 payout eligibility (followers + minutes watched)
Key features
- Subscription marketplace for creative and design skills
- Project-based classes with student galleries
- Watch-time royalty pool paying ~20% to teachers
- Built-in class hosting and discussion
- Teacher referral rewards
- Monthly payouts based on minutes watched
- Mobile and offline viewing
Pricing
Free to publish; no per-course price — you earn a share of a ~20% royalty pool based on minutes watched.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher (free to publish) | Free | Free | Earn from watch-time pool; needs 50+ followers and 75+ min watched/mo |
Transaction fees: ~20% of subscription revenue shared across teachers by watch time. Prices verified against Skillshare's pricing page; verify current pricing ↗.
Who should use Skillshare?
Good fit: Creative and design instructors; Teachers wanting passive watch-time income.
Look elsewhere if: Creators wanting predictable per-sale revenue; High-priced or certification programs — see Skillshare alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Skillshare cost?
Skillshare is free to start. Free to publish; no per-course price — you earn a share of a ~20% royalty pool based on minutes watched.
Does Skillshare charge transaction fees?
Transaction fees: ~20% of subscription revenue shared across teachers by watch time. Factor this in — it often costs more than the monthly fee at volume.
Who is Skillshare best for?
Skillshare is best for creative and design instructors and teachers wanting passive watch-time income. It's less ideal for creators wanting predictable per-sale revenue and high-priced or certification programs.