Skillshare Review: Worth Joining? (Not for Everyone)

Skillshare is an online learning platform that claims you can earn good money by teaching online classes. So, if you are good at teaching or you consider yourself an expert in a specific field, then this might be a site worth considering.

I’m always on the lookout for great ways to earn extra cash online, so I decided to check it out to see if it is worth joining or not. In this Skillshare review, I will give you an in-depth look so you’ll know how it works and exactly what to expect.

Then, you can decide if you should pursue this opportunity or not. So, without further ado, here’s everything about Skillshare.

What is Skillshare, and what does it offer?

As mentioned above, Skillshare is an online learning platform that will allow you to earn by creating online learning programs. It’s a legit site since you will get paid to create these online learning programs.

Now, to get a clear understanding of how you can earn from this platform, we have to take a closer look at the earning opportunities it offers. So, here’s how to earn from Skillshare.

Option 1 – Online Programs

The only way to earn on Skillshare is to become a teacher and create your own online program. This means you’ll have to go through a lot of prep time first, so if you don’t have the time to do this, then this opportunity is not for you.

Let me break down what an online program of Skillshare consists of so you’ll have an idea of what you need to prepare.

First, your “class” must teach in-demand creative and entrepreneurial skills. Some of the popular topics I found while exploring Skillshare are design, illustration, writing, photography, productivity, freelancing, and much more.

So, if you are an expert in any of those fields, then you’ll be able to hold a “class” on Skillshare. Next, you’ll have to include 20-60 minute pre-recorded video content that will be broken down into a series of short 2- to 8-minute videos.

Skillshare doesn’t want you to teach a broad, sweeping skill set and emphasizes honing one specific concept or skill (hence the name Skillshare). After you’ve created your video content, you’ll have to design a project that will allow your students to practice what they’ve learned.

After you’ve designed your project, you’ll now have to upload your program to Skillshare. Then, you just have to sit and wait for students to sign up for your program.

As for how you’ll get paid, it’s a bit complicated, so I will discuss that in the next section.

But basically, this is how Skillshare's earning opportunity works. You create a class that will involve making a video and designing a project. While Skillshare doesn’t mention anything about the quality of the video you will be making, it goes without saying that the video quality must be good so that it will provide a good learning experience for students.

That’s why you will need to have a good video camera as well as the proper video editing skills, because remember, you’ll have to break down your video content into smaller bits so that students will be able to digest them easily. You also have to make a trailer for the “class” you are offering to give students a snapshot of what you are teaching.

It takes a lot of work on your end and will require a lot of planning. But once it is executed properly, you can earn a decent amount passively.

Option 2 – Referral Program

Skillshare also has a referral program you can participate in to earn more royalties. Every new class you publish on Skillshare has a unique class referral link you can share with your followers outside of Skillshare.

Also, when you become a teacher, you are automatically granted a channel referral link, which lets you market all your classes at once through your profile page. You will earn every time someone signs up for Skillshare through your referral link.

The amount you earn will be equal to 60% of that student’s first subscription payment for a Skillshare membership. The exact amount is calculated based on the membership fees Skillshare receives from a user who becomes a paid subscriber through your referral link. Your referral earnings can be tracked in the Teacher’s Stats section.

While you may be able to earn a significant amount from this opportunity, you still need to make sure the people you invite are genuinely interested in becoming members. And since it’s a paid subscription, getting referrals is easier said than done. You’ll need to formulate a good plan on how to get referrals.

Recommended: Check Out the Best Freelance Sites You Can Join

How do you get paid?

The way the payment system of Skillshare has changed. Now, it has what is called “Teacher earnings eligibility“.

To qualify for monthly royalty payments, you must meet both of the following requirements by the end of each earning month:

1. Reach at least 50 followers: You must have 50 Skillshare followers on the last day of the month.
2. Meet the publishing or watch-time requirement: You must meet one of these conditions
   • Have published at least one quality class within the past 18 months and received more than 400 qualifying minutes watched during the month.
   • If you have not published a new class within the past 18 months, you have received more than 650 qualifying minutes watched during the month.

Now, the question is, what counts as qualifying minutes? Well, it will include watch time from members with an active paid subscription.

The following do not count toward royalty eligibility:

• Watch time through Free Access Links
• Class trailer views
• Watch time from free trials

Payments for each month are paid out on the 16th of the following month. For example, if you’ve earned $50 for June, you’ll receive it on the 16^th of July (give or take). It processes payments through Tipalti.

Skillshare's payment system is not as simple as that of other online earning platforms. But eventually, you’ll get used to it. I do like that they offer a convenient payment method.

If you are looking for more sites that also offer a convenient payment method, I would recommend you also check out the top sites that pay via direct bank transfer.

How much money can you make?

The thing with Skillshare is that while it has the potential to earn you a significant amount of money, there’s really no guarantee you’ll be able to earn from it.

In my opinion, the requirements you need to reach to get paid every month are what make this not a great option for everybody.

If you manage to get a lot of students to take your Skillshare classes, then you’ll be able to earn hundreds of dollars every month. But that takes a lot of time and effort to accomplish. You’ll have to have a solid plan for promoting your classes.

Also, you are competing with other teachers to get a part of the royalty pool. This limits the earning potential, in my opinion.

That’s why I would say the time-to-money ratio is not that great. You’ll have to invest a lot of time to guarantee your earnings from it. If you don’t have the time to spare or the skills needed, then this is not for you.

You are better off joining sites that will allow you to earn a decent amount easily.

Can you use it on mobile?

As mentioned earlier, Skillshare has a mobile app you can use. This mobile app is mainly useful for students, though, and not really very useful for teachers.

As a teacher, the only useful things you can do will be to check your referral earnings, view the minutes of your classes, and view your total earnings. But for all of the work that needs to be done, you’ll need a laptop or a desktop.

As for the app, it will work with both Android and iOS devices. It’s also very easy to use since the user interface is very intuitive.

Who can join Skillshare?

Skillshare is available globally. You’ll be able to apply as a teacher regardless of where you live. But there’s a catch, though.

As shown in the photo above, you’ll be able to sign up using your Google, Facebook, or Apple account. You can also create your login details. But as mentioned earlier, Skillshare is a paid subscription platform.

Sure, they offer a free trial for the first seven days. But if you plan to keep using the platform, which you will have to if you plan to become a teacher, you’ll need to pay their subscription fee. This is true for both students and teachers. That’s why if you are interested in earning from this platform, you have to be prepared to shell out a bit of cash.

As for applying to become a teacher, the process is free. You just have to answer a few questions (refer to the photo above). Once you’ve completed the application form, Skillshare will review your application.

There’s no exact timetable on how long you need to wait to hear back from them, but you can expect a reply from them within 7 business days. Skillshare will only accept your application if they see that you have something to offer.

That’s why I highly recommend that when you sign up as a member, you take advantage of the free trial first because there’s no guarantee that Skillshare will accept your application as a teacher. That way, you won’t waste any money if your application doesn’t pan out.

Can you get support?

If you have any questions about your account or if you encounter any issues while using their platform, you can check out the “Teacher Help Center”. This page discusses all the important topics you need to know about the platform.

But if you need to talk to their support department, there are a few options you can choose from. You can email them at help@skillshare.com, submit a support ticket, or start a live chat.

Overall, I would say Skillshare has a good support system in place for its members since it provides several ways for you to get assistance. Their Help Center is also very useful because it provides all the information you will need to start as a teacher.

Final Verdict

Skillshare is a legit online learning platform that will allow you to earn by providing online classes. It has a couple of great features, but it also has a few considerations you need to keep in mind.

Let me wrap up this review by summarizing its pros and cons to give you an overview of what it has to offer. Then you can decide whether Skillshare is the right fit for you.

In my opinion, Skillshare is only a viable option if you have the skills to become a good teacher. You have to be creative enough to present your classes effectively, and this is not an easy thing to do. That is why Skillshare is not for everyone.

You also need to invest a lot of time and effort, and you have to be committed to being a Skillshare teacher to earn from it. You also have to spend money to use this platform. If you are not prepared to do these things, then this platform is not for you.

Instead, I would recommend you check out the top survey and GPT sites in your country. The sites on this list all have good earning potential, and you don’t have to invest money and a lot of time to earn a decent amount.

If you have any comments, questions, or experience with Skillshare, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.