Skillshare is a subscription-based online learning platform focused primarily on creative skills — design, illustration, photography, video production, writing and creative business. With over 40,000 classes taught by practitioners rather than academics, it has a distinctive character compared to Coursera, Udemy or LinkedIn Learning. For Australian career changers, here is an honest assessment of when Skillshare is actually useful.
What Skillshare Is Good At
Skillshare genuinely excels at creative and design skills. Graphic design, illustration, UI design principles, typography, video editing, photography and creative writing are all well covered with high-quality content from working practitioners. The project-based format — each class includes a project that students complete and share in a class gallery — works particularly well for visual and creative skills where seeing others' work is genuinely instructive.
For Australians pivoting into UX/UI design, Skillshare is a useful supplementary resource for visual design skills and design thinking approaches. It pairs well with the Google UX Design certificate — Google's program teaches the UX methodology and Figma fundamentals; Skillshare can develop the visual design sensibility and aesthetic judgment that the technical program doesn't focus on.
What Skillshare Is Less Good At
Skillshare is not suited to technical career change pathways requiring structured, credential-producing programs. Data Science, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, software development and Project Management are not Skillshare strengths — the platform's content in these areas is shallow and not designed to produce job-ready technical skills. For these career pivots, Coursera or Udemy are far more appropriate.
Skillshare does not issue certificates that carry third-party employer recognition. Completing Skillshare classes develops skills but does not produce a credential comparable to a Google, IBM or CompTIA certification. For career changers who need credentials as well as skills, Skillshare should be a supplement rather than a primary learning platform.
Pricing
Skillshare operates on a subscription model at approximately $19 USD per month (billed annually) or $32 USD per month billed monthly. A 30-day free trial is available. The annual plan at approximately $228 USD ($350 AUD) provides unlimited access to all classes.
Our Verdict
Rating: 3.7/5 — Valuable Supplement for Creative Career Pivots, Not a Primary Platform
Skillshare is genuinely useful for Australians pursuing creative career pivots — particularly UX/UI design, graphic design or content creation — as a supplement to more structured certification programs. For technical career pivots, it adds minimal value. Use it for creative skill development alongside your primary credential program, not instead of it.