Skillshare is a subscription platform for online classes, strongest in creative subjects such as illustration, design, photography, video and writing, with business and productivity courses alongside. One membership opens the whole catalogue.
Because you pay for access rather than per course, a Skillshare membership is only good value if you actually watch and practise. The decisions that matter are the trial, the billing period and how you choose classes.
How the Skillshare free trial works
Skillshare usually offers new members a free trial, and promotional codes can extend it. You normally enter payment details at sign-up.
When the trial ends, Skillshare charges automatically for the plan you chose. If you picked annual, that is a full year up front. Note the end date the day you sign up.
Use the trial with intent. Pick one project you want to finish, such as a logo, a short video or a sketchbook series, and use the trial to see whether Skillshare classes get you there.
Annual versus monthly membership
Skillshare has typically offered monthly and annual billing, with annual costing much less per month. Prices vary by country and change with promotions, so check the current figures.
Annual makes sense once you have found teachers you like and a steady habit. Monthly suits a burst of learning for one project, or anyone unsure after the trial.
Work it out honestly. If you would only use Skillshare for three months of the year, three monthly payments may beat one annual payment.
Check whether a Skillshare discount applies to the first year only. Renewals often return to the standard annual price.
Choosing Skillshare classes you will finish
Skillshare classes are built around a project, and the project is where the learning happens. Prefer classes with a clear, specific project over broad overviews.
Look at the class length and the lesson list. A Skillshare class of under an hour, split into short lessons, is easy to finish in a week of evenings.
Check the reviews and the student project gallery. Seeing what other students made tells you more about the teaching than the class trailer does.
Many Skillshare teachers publish several classes in sequence. Once you find a teacher whose style suits you, follow their path rather than jumping between strangers.
What Skillshare is and is not
Skillshare is practical and project-led. It is excellent for picking up a technique, a piece of software or a creative habit.
It is not an accredited qualification. If you need a certificate recognised by an employer or a university, look elsewhere; a Skillshare class is best treated as skill-building and portfolio work.
Some classes use paid software such as Adobe apps or Procreate. Check the tools list before starting, so the membership does not bring a second subscription with it.
Watching offline and on other devices
The Skillshare mobile app typically lets members download classes to watch offline, which suits commuting and flights. Downloads stay inside the app and require an active membership.
Classes also play on a web browser and on some TV apps. For software classes, watching on a laptop beside your own work is usually easiest, because you can pause and copy each step.
Playback speed is worth using. Many Skillshare teachers speak slowly for beginners, and watching introductions at a faster speed leaves more of your evening for the class project itself.
Save classes to a list as you browse. A short Skillshare queue of three or four classes is easier to work through than a long wish list.
Cancelling a Skillshare membership
You can cancel Skillshare from your account settings. If you signed up through the Apple App Store or Google Play, cancel through that store instead, because Skillshare cannot cancel an app-store subscription for you.
Cancelling usually stops the next renewal, with access continuing to the end of the paid period. Refund rules for annual plans vary, so check the current terms if you forget to cancel.
Where the Skillshare savings are
These Skillshare codes are listed:
Codes for Skillshare are generally for new members, and only one can be applied at sign-up.
If you already know you will use Skillshare all year, 30FOLLOW is likely the better saving, as 30% off an annual plan is worth more than a month or two free.
If you are unsure, take the longest free period, IGAMB3661 or LSG30, and decide during the trial. Remember the charge date either way.
Influencer and trial codes are sometimes retired without warning. If one is refused, try the next, and check the price on the confirmation screen before entering card details.
Common questions
Does Skillshare charge after the free trial?
Yes, automatically, unless you cancel before the trial ends.
Can I use a Skillshare code as an existing member?
Usually not. Most Skillshare codes are for new sign-ups.
Do Skillshare classes give certificates?
They are not accredited qualifications. Treat them as practical training and portfolio work.
Can I watch Skillshare offline?
Yes, members can download classes in the mobile app while the membership is active.
| Discount | Type | Get the deal |
|---|---|---|
| 10% off | Promo code | View at Skillshare → |
| 1 Month Free | Promo code | View at Skillshare → |
| Exclusive 30 Free Trial | Promo code | View at Skillshare → |
| Free gift | Promo code | View at Skillshare → |
