Are you looking for a high-quality online learning platform, but are not quite sold on Masterclass?
If so, you are in luck!
In this article, I will be exploring some of the best alternatives to Masterclass. From more traditional learning platforms to interactive and engaging courses, there is something for everyone on this list.
Whether you are looking to learn a new skill, improve on your existing abilities, or simply expand your knowledge, these Masterclass alternatives are sure to have something that will interest you.
Who Am I?
My name is Jason, and I run this site which is all about mythology and ancient history. I’m also a fiction writer, with several books under my belt.
As a lifelong learner, I have always been drawn to online learning platforms. I rely on them to learn the skills I need to be an author and run this website.
I remember using some of the very first learning platforms, and it has been fascinating to see how they have evolved over the years.
I have always been a fan of Masterclass, but recently decided to give up my subscription in favor of other platforms. I found that while Masterclass offered high-quality content, I was looking for something more interactive and engaging.
As a result, I now use a combination of Wondrium and SkillShare to continue my personal and professional growth.
These platforms offer a wide range of courses, taught by expert instructors, and have been a great fit for me.
I am excited to see what the future holds for online learning, and am always on the lookout for new and innovative platforms to try.
The Problem with Masterclass
While Masterclass is pretty incredible, one of the main problems with Masterclass is its heavy reliance on survivor bias.
Survivor bias refers to the tendency to only focus on successful individuals and their experiences, without considering those who may have failed or had different outcomes.
In the case of Masterclass, this bias is evident in the selection of instructors, who are often uber-successful and famous in their fields. What worked for them won’t necessarily work for everyone else.
Additionally, the emphasis on successful individuals can create a narrow view of what success looks like, ignoring the diversity and complexity of experiences and outcomes.
My Criteria
When choosing which Masterclass alternatives to use, I have taken into account a combination of my personal preference, the price, and the value they offer for that price.
Based on these criteria, I have ordered the alternatives in a way that reflects the quality of the platform and the value it offers, starting with my favorite choice first.
Some of the platforms on my list are highly interactive and engaging, while others are more affordable but still offer high-quality learning experiences.
Ultimately, the right online learning platform for me will be one that offers a combination of these factors.
The Top 8 Masterclass Alternatives
Alright, it’s time to dive into the meat and potatoes of this article. There are 10 good alternatives to Masterclass:
- Wondrium
- SkillShare
- LinkedIn Learning
- Kahn Academy
- Udemy
- MindValley
- CreativeLive
- Coursera
Let’s start with my number one favorite…
Alternative #1: Wondrium (My Top Recommendation)
Wondrium is an online learning platform that offers courses taught by top professors from a wide range of industries. The platform offers a variety of courses in subjects such as business, finance, technology, and the arts, among others.
One of the key features of Wondrium is that it offers streaming access to The Great Courses, a popular provider of educational content. In addition to The Great Courses, Wondrium also offers courses from other leading educational platforms, including:
- Wondrium Originals
- Kino Lorber
- Magellan
- Craftsy
- Truefire
- Intelligence Squared
- And many more
The platform is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, allowing users to easily search for courses and access them on a variety of devices. In addition, the platform offers a range of interactive features, such as discussion forums and quizzes, to help users engage with the material and enhance their learning experience.
Where Wondrium Shines
As someone who has tried a wide range of online course platforms, I have found that Wondrium is my favorite. There are several reasons why I enjoy using this platform.
Firstly, I appreciate the reasonable price point of Wondrium, which makes it a great value for the cost.
Additionally, the platform has a huge library of content, with courses on a wide range of subjects, taught by expert instructors. This means that there is always something new to learn, no matter what my interests are.
Seriously, the diversity of topics is HUGE! And it covers a number of subjects that most online course platforms do not.
Finally, I have found that the courses on Wondrium are taught by experts in their field, which adds to the credibility and authority of the platform.
Overall, I have found that Wondrium is a fantastic online learning platform that offers a lot of value for the price.
Pricing
Wondrium has three different pricing options:
- $20/month billed monthly
- $15/month billed quarterly
- $12.50/month billed annually
This makes it a reasonably well-priced platform, especially when you consider the sheer volume of content on this platform (which vastly outnumbers Masterclass).
This also makes it cheaper than Masterclass, which only has an annual option of $180 ($15/month).
My Recommended Courses in Wondrium
While Wondrium has a lot of courses in the same categories as Masterclass, there are a few that Masterclass lacks, which also happens to be where some of my favorite courses exist.
As a fan of ancient history and mythology, I’d have to go with the following:
- Great Mythologies of the World: If you want to learn about world mythology, this course has 60 episodes and is the place to start.
- King Arthur: History and Legend: I started my Arthurian legend research with this course, and I am glad I did. The teacher, Dorsey Armstrong, breaks down the legend of King Arthur throughout the centuries, and all of the different influences. I highly recommend this course.
- Sacred Texts of the World: This course is a fascinating overview of various religions’ sacred texts, from Hinduism to Buddhism to the Bible.
And it so happens I have a link that will get you 20% off an annual purchase!
I use Wondrium practically every day, and I’m sure you will absolutely not regret it.
Alternative #2: SkillShare (My Top Recommendation for Specific Skills)
As someone who is always looking to improve my skills and learn new things, I have found Skillshare to be a valuable resource.
Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers a wide variety of courses in a range of subjects, including business, technology, design, and more.
SkillShare gives you access to:
- Unlimited access to over 30,000 courses on Skillshare
- Access to the student community for discussions and support
- Download courses for offline viewing on tablets and phones
- Discounts on other creative platforms, such as SquareSpace and Adobe Creative Cloud.
Where SkillShare Shines
Unlike Masterclass, Wondrium, and many others, SkillShare is taught by multiple creators of a wide variety of skillsets. On the one hand, this means that you have to vet your instructors carefully, but on the other hand, this means that you can get a diverse range of perspectives and expertise on the topic you are learning, and you can learn about more niche subjects that don’t generally get addressed in broader learning platforms like Masterclass.
This is why I use Wondrium and SkillShare together.
I use Wondrium to get a broad overview of a subject, and SkillShare to learn specific skills and techniques within that subject.
I find that using both platforms together allows me to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic and develop a wide range of skills.
For example, I might use Wondrium to learn the fundamentals of photography, and then use SkillShare to learn specific editing techniques or how to use different camera equipment.
This way, I can get a well-rounded education that covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject.
Pricing
As of this writing, SkillShare only offers an annual plan of $165/year, which comes out to $13.75/month billed annually.
There is no monthly or quarterly price.
This may make it expensive in the short term, but if you are serious about online courses, it’s a good deal compared to many others, including Masterclass which is more.
Is there a free version of SkillShare? SkillShare offers a one-month free trial, but there is no longer any permanently free version of SkillShare.
My Recommended Courses in SkillShare
There are no mythology and history-type course on SkillShare (which is fine, I use Wondrium for that), so I use SkillShare for specific skills that are relevant to me.
Some of my favorites include:
- Creative Writing: Writing a Fantasy Novel for Beginners: This course teaches the fundamentals of writing a fantasy novel, including how to create better fantasy worlds, establish a plot structure, improve protagonists and antagonists, add emotion to your novel, and create story and character development.
- The Writer’s Toolkit: 6 Steps to a Successful Writing Habit: In this class, Simon Van Booy teaches writers how to optimize their space, create a daily writing routine, and gather and act on inspiration to produce great writing. The class is suitable for authors, aspiring writers, and enthusiasts looking for a creative outlet.
- Adobe Photoshop CC – Essentials Training Course: This course teaches advanced Photoshop techniques, including masking, creating interactive type, and recreating popular visual styles. It is suitable for beginners and those struggling with the basics of Photoshop.
Alternative #3: LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses and tutorials on a variety of topics. It is aimed at professionals who want to improve their skills and knowledge in their field, and offers courses on topics such as business, technology, and creative arts.
LinkedIn Learning is a subsidiary of LinkedIn, the social networking website for professionals, and is designed to help users improve their skills and advance their careers.
Users can access the platform through a subscription, and can take courses at their own pace and earn certifications for completed courses.
I’ve used LinkedIn Learning before when I had access to it through work. It’s really great for professional skills, and its productivity course was a game-changer for me.
In a lot of way’s it’s similar to SkillShare, but with the exception that the instructors are pre-vetted by LinkedIn. So it’s a little closer to Masterclass in that respect.
Pricing
There are two pricing tiers for LinkedIn Learning:
- $39.99/month
- $239.88/year (comes out to $19.99/month)
Of the two, the annual option is definitely the better of the two, as it costs half of the monthly plan. However, this is a more expensive service.
My Recommended Courses in LinkedIn Learning
There are TONS of good courses on this platform, but one in particular was a game changer for me, and that was:
Enhancing Your Productivity by Dave Crenshaw: In this course, author and business coach Dave Crenshaw teaches how to enhance productivity by focusing on the most valuable activities and minimizing distractions. The course shows how to create a plan to manage time and effort and how to help others discover their most valuable activities.
Alternative #4: Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a nonprofit educational organization that provides free online educational resources to learners of all ages.
The organization was founded in 2008 by Salman Khan with the goal of providing a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.
What does it offer? Khan Academy offers a variety of subjects, including math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more.
The organization’s resources are available on its website and on its mobile app, and are accessible to learners worldwide.
But how do they make money if it’s free? Khan Academy is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Pricing
Khan Academy is completely free for everyone! This is a huge plus over other online learning platforms.
My Recommended Courses in Kahn Academy
Khan Academy is largely meant for younger learners, usually from K-12, so all of the courses are geared to help them in their studies.
However, as a fan of history, there are a few courses that I enjoy on Khan Academy:
- World History Project – Origins to the Present: A really nice overview of history from as far back as we know, to the present. A great overview if you can’t afford other options like Wondrium.
- Growth Mindset: Growth mindset is a HUGE thing that most people don’t know about. It’s responsible for me making every advancement in my own life, and every form of growth I’ve head. Highly recommend this one for your kids.
Alternative #5: Udemy
Udemy is an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses and tutorials on a variety of topics.
The platform is aimed at professionals who want to improve their skills and knowledge in their field, and offers a wide range of topics (including a few on history and mythology, my favorite).
Udemy is a for-profit company and courses are typically offered by individual instructors, who set their own prices for the courses they offer.
Pricing
Udemy is similar to SkillShare, except for their pricing structure, which is priced individually instead of a subscription model. Some of the courses appear expensive, but Udemy offers huge deals throughout the year, and these are the times when you’d want to purchase.
My Recommended Courses in Udemy
As a fan of history and mythology Udemy is practically the only course platform (besides Wondrium, of course) that has a decent selection of courses in this area.
Some of my favorites for these subjects and others include:
- Introduction to the Study of Myth: An overview of the study of mythology and the different approaches that scholars take.
- Irish Mythology: A course about Irish Mythology, and the many tales of gods, warriors, maidens, monsters, and magic.
- The Ultimate Drawing Course: This is a course all about learning to draw like a pro. It takes you from zero to producing some decent work.
Alternative #6: Mindvalley
MindValley is an education and personal growth platform that offers a variety of courses and programs on topics such as health and wellness, personal development, and spirituality.
The company was founded in 2003 by Vishen Lakhiani, with the goal of offering transformative learning experiences that can help people improve their lives.
The platform is used by millions of people around the world, and is supported by a community of trainers, teachers, and experts.
As someone who is passionate about personal development, this is a big one for me. I love some of the instructors on here, because they walk the walk, and are just as knowledgeable in their fields as anyone on Masterclass.
Pricing
Mindvalley has two pricing options:
- $99/month
- $499/year (which comes to about $41/month)
Of these two, the yearly is definitely the better deal, however, this is a pricy program, and much more expensive than Masterclass.
However, if you’re serious about personal development, there’s no better platform out there. These guys are the best of the best.
My Recommended Courses in MindValley
There are some quality courses on MindValley, but some of my favorites include:
- Superbrain: The Superbrain Quest with Jim Kwik is a learning curriculum designed to help activate the brain’s limitless potential and improve memory, focus, and productivity. The course is intended for professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and anyone looking to unlock the full power of their mind.
- The Mastery Of Sleep: The Mastery Of Sleep program with Dr. Michael Breus is designed to help people overcome chronic sleep problems and improve their sleep. The program is based on the latest discoveries in sleep science and offers a personalized, effective, and permanent solution to a good night’s sleep.
- The Quest For Personal Mastery: The Quest For Personal Mastery is a program that teaches participants how to embrace a philosophy that empowers them to flow through life and tap into their inner potential to achieve mastery of themselves. The program is led by Professor Srikumar Rao, one of the world’s most in-demand MBA lecturers.
Alternative #7: CreativeLive
CreativeLive is an online education platform that offers a wide range of courses and workshops on topics such as photography, design, business, and personal development.
The platform is aimed at creative professionals who want to improve their skills and knowledge in their field, and offers courses taught by experts in their respective fields.
CreativeLive courses are available online and on mobile devices, and can be accessed through a subscription or by purchasing individual courses.
The platform also offers live broadcasts of classes, which users can watch for free and interact with the instructors in real time, which is something kind of unique to CreativeLive.
Pricing
With CreativeLive, you have the option to buy courses individually (don’t do that), or get access to everything for $13/month.
This makes CreativeLive one of the more affordable options, especially given that they have virtual classes taught by huge titans in various industries, people like Tim Ferris, Mel Robbins, and Richard Branson.
My Recommended Courses in CreativeLive
One of the advantages to CreativeLive is that there are periodic live classes, which is one of the more attractive aspects. There will likely be new classes every week that I might recommend.
That said, here are a few of my favorites from viewing the material thus far:
- Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life: In this class, Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans teach how to apply design thinking principles to making life decisions. They show how to closely examine the “life story” that has brought you to where you are today, shift your thinking to focus on life as a journey, align your “life” and “work” views, fix dysfunctional attitudes, and understand what gives you energy and what drains you.
- Wired for Story: How to Become a Story Genius: In Lisa Cron’s class, aspiring writers can learn how to write a novel or memoir capable of riveting readers. The class teaches students what readers crave in a story, how to write a successful novel without innate talent, how to write a first draft that reads like a fifth draft, and how to become a more confident writer.
- How to Break the Habit of Self-Doubt and Build Real Confidence: In this course, motivational instructor Mel Robbins helps participants overcome self-doubt and build self-confidence. The course covers the science behind self-doubt, how to overcome negative emotions, how to build self-esteem and competency skills, and how to stop living with worry. The course includes actionable advice and steps for practicing new habits and overcoming self-doubt to achieve goals.
Alternative #8: Coursera
Coursera is an online learning platform that offers courses, specializations, and degrees from top universities and companies.
That is the main selling factor that sets it apart: actual connection to real-life universities, giving added credit to the certifications they offer. You can even explore online Bachelor or Masters degree programs through Coursera.
It was founded in 2012 by two Stanford University computer science professors, Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng, with the aim of providing universal access to high-quality education.
Coursera offers a wide range of subjects, and is one of the few platforms to include topics in history and mythology, my areas of expertise.
Students can learn at their own pace and earn a certificate upon completion of a course or specialization.
Coursera has partnerships with over 200 universities and companies and has enrolled over 60 million learners from around the world.
Pricing
Most of Coursera’s content is free to view, making it one of the best free resources around.
However, if you’d like to earn the certificate attached to the course, you will need to pay a fixed amount per course. The cost of the certificate depends on the course itself.
And obviously the degrees cost more, starting from $9000, and the price depends on the University you are getting the degree from.
My Recommended Courses in Coursera
Because Coursera is free and actually has courses on history and mythology, there are a few there that I really find fascinating (once again, these recommended courses are my personal favorites, not necessarily courses I recommend to the general public).
- Greek and Roman Mythology: This course focuses on the myths of ancient Greece and Rome, examining their nature, function, and the way the Greeks and Romans understood them. The course will explore a variety of topics, including the creation of the universe, the relationship between gods and mortals, human nature, religion, the family, sex, love, madness, and death. The goal is to understand the role of myths in individuals, societies, and nations.
- Magic in the Middle Ages: In this course, students will learn about medieval culture, beliefs, and practices related to magic. The course covers popular magic, as well as learned magic such as alchemy, geomancy, and necromancy. It also addresses the influence of eastern practices and texts on western culture, and includes a module on astrology. The course aims to help students overcome stereotypes about the Middle Ages and analyze historical documentation from the period.
- Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization: These courses cover key theories and research in the field, as well as opportunities for application. Topics include Positive Psychology, Applications and Interventions, Character, Grit and Research Methods, Resilience Skills, and a Positive Psychology Specialization Project.
Final Thoughts on These Masterclass Alternatives
Masterclass is a well-known online learning platform that offers high-quality courses taught by expert instructors. However, there are several alternatives to Masterclass that offer similar or even better features and value for the price.
Out of all these options, my top choices are Wondrium and SkillShare.
I use Wondrium to get broad overviews of topics, and SkillShare to drill down deeper into more niche skills.
Both platforms offer a great value for the cost and have helped me continue my personal and professional growth. Ultimately, the best online learning platform for you will depend on your personal preferences, budget, and learning goals.
