With so many online courses out there offering benefits such as convenience, flexibility, and affordability, it’s essential to choose the right platform and course that meets your specific learning needs and goals.
Researching every detail about online courses, such as their pricing models, course offerings, instructors, and features, will ensure that you get the most out of your learning experience.
Skillshare vs. Domestika: Quick Overview and Comparison
Skillshare and Domestika are both popular online learning platforms that offer courses primarily focused on creative fields such as design, photography, illustration, and animation. However, there are some key differences between the two.
Skillshare offers a subscription-based model, giving users unlimited access to all courses for a monthly or yearly fee, whereas Domestika offers a mix of free and paid courses, with some courses requiring a one-time fee and others requiring a subscription.
Before you choose which one is the right one for you, read the full article covering several aspects of both platforms.
| Domestika | Skillshare | |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.6 / 5 (source) | 1.6 / 5 (source) |
| Types of courses | Creatives | General (Multi-disciplinary) |
| Annual Plan: Cost per month | $6,99 (source) | $13.99 (source) |
| Free trial/Audit Option | No, Domestika does not offer free trials. | Free trial for 30 days and not audit option |
| Certificates | Exclusively for Plus members. | Yes (not accredited) |
| Refund | Refund within 14 days from the date of purchase(source) | Yes (30-day refund policy. See details below) |
Skillshare Overview
Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers over 30,000 courses taught by industry experts. The courses are primarily focused on creative fields such as design, photography, illustration, animation, and other creative fields. Skillshare offers a subscription-based model where users pay a monthly or yearly fee to access all courses. The platform also offers a free trial period, allowing users to try the service before committing to a subscription.
Skillshare Features
- Subscription Model: Skillshare offers a subscription-based model, allowing users to access all courses for a monthly or yearly fee. There is also a free trial period available for new users.
- Community: Skillshare has an active community of learners and instructors, allowing users to connect, share their work, and collaborate with others.
- Mobile App: Skillshare offers a mobile app, which allows users to access courses and learn on-the-go.
- Project-Based Learning: Many of Skillshare’s courses are project-based, which means learners can apply the skills they learn to real-world projects.
- Offline Access: Skillshare offers offline access to courses, allowing users to download courses and watch them without an internet connection.
- Personalized Recommendations: Skillshare offers personalized course recommendations based on a user’s interests and previous course history.
- Team Plans: Skillshare offers team plans, allowing businesses and organizations to provide access to courses for their employees.
Skillshare Prices
Skillshare offers two pricing options:
Free Membership: The free membership option provides access to a limited selection of Skillshare courses.
Premium Membership: There are two pricing options for the premium membership that provides unlimited access to Skillshare’s entire course library.
Monthly Plan: $19 per month
Annual Plan: $168 per year (which works out to $13.99 per month)
Skillshare also offers a free trial period for new users, which provides full access to the platform for 7 days.
Additionally, it offers team plans for businesses and organizations, with pricing based on the number of team members and the length of the subscription.
Skillshare Pros and Cons
Pros
- Wide Range of Courses: Skillshare has a vast library of over 30,000 courses covering a wide range of creative topics.
- Affordable Pricing: Skillshare offers affordable pricing plans for individuals and teams, with a free trial period to try the service before committing to a subscription.
- Active Community: Skillshare has an active community of learners and instructors, allowing users to connect and learn from each other.
- Quality Content: Many of Skillshare’s courses are taught by industry experts and professionals, ensuring that the content is of high quality.
- Convenience: Skillshare courses can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, making it a convenient option for learners.
Cons
- Limited Non-Creative Courses: Skillshare’s course library is primarily focused on creative fields, with limited options in non-creative fields.
- Quality can Vary: Anyone can create and teach a course on Skillshare, which means the quality of courses can vary significantly.
- No Certification: Skillshare does not offer certification or accreditation for completing courses, which may be a drawback for some learners.
- Limited Interaction with Instructors: Skillshare’s courses are pre-recorded, so there is limited interaction between learners and instructors.
- Limited Offline Access: Skillshare courses can only be accessed online, which may be inconvenient for some learners who prefer to learn offline.
Domestika Overview
Domestika is an online learning platform that offers courses mainly focused on creative fields such as design, photography, illustration, animation, and more. The platform offers a mix of free and paid courses, with some courses requiring a one-time fee and others requiring a subscription. Domestika also offers a range of classes, which are in-depth courses taught by industry experts and require a higher fee.
Domestika Features
- Certification: Domestika offers certification for many of their courses (Domestika Plus), allowing learners to showcase their skills and knowledge to potential employers.
- Community: Domestika has an active community of learners and instructors, allowing users to connect and learn from each other.
- Offline Access: Domestika courses can be downloaded and watched offline, making it a convenient option for learners.
- Project-Based Learning: Many of Domestika’s courses are project-based, allowing learners to apply the skills they learn to real-world projects.
- Multi-Language Support: Domestika offers courses in multiple languages, including Spanish, English, Portuguese, and others.
- Mobile App: Domestika offers a mobile app, which allows users to access courses and learn on-the-go.
Domestika Prices
Domestika offers a mix of free and paid courses, with some courses requiring a one-time fee and others requiring a subscription. Here are the main pricing options available on Domestika:
Free Courses: Domestika offers a range of free courses covering a variety of creative topics, including design, illustration, photography, and more.
Paid Courses: Domestika’s paid courses typically require a one-time fee, with prices varying depending on the course. Course prices range from around $10 USD to $200 USD, with some courses offering discounts for early enrollment.
Subscription: Domestika also offers a subscription plan called “Domestika Pro,” which provides access to a selection of premium courses, discounts on all courses, and other benefits. The subscription plan costs $19.90 USD per month or $199 USD per year, and users can cancel at any time.
Domestika Pros and Cons
Let’s quickly go over the pros and cons for Domestika.
Pros
- High-Quality Courses: Domestika offers a wide range of high-quality courses, taught by industry experts and professionals.
- Community: Domestika has an active community of learners and instructors, allowing users to connect and learn from each other.
- Certification: Domestika offers certification for many of their courses (Domestika Plus), which can be added to a learner’s professional portfolio.
- Multi-Language Support: Domestika offers courses in multiple languages, including Spanish, English, Portuguese, and others.
- Offline Access: Domestika courses can be downloaded and watched offline, making it a convenient option for learners.
Cons
- Limited Free Content: While Domestika offers some free courses, most of their content requires payment.
- No Refunds: Domestika’s refund policy can be strict, with no refunds offered in most cases.
- Limited Course Selection: While Domestika offers courses in a range of creative fields, their selection may not be as extensive as some other online learning platforms.
- Subscription Required for Some Content: Some of Domestika’s premium content requires a subscription, which may be a turnoff for some learners.
- No Live Courses: Domestika’s courses are pre-recorded, so learners don’t have the opportunity to interact with instructors in real-time.
Both Skillshare and Domestika have plenty of options for you, but are you looking for something different? Let’s take a look at a few competitors to both online learning platforms.
Domestika and Skillshare: Are there any alternatives?
In this section, you will find three popular platforms: Udemy, Udacity, and Wondrium, which have been in the online learning game for awhile. Wondrium has recently gone through a sort of rebranding after once being known as, The Great Courses.
Udemy
With a course catalog that spans thousands of topics, Udemy offers the chance to take a course with less stress.
Prices are transparent and often come with a discount.5 Unlike Coursera and Skillshare, the courses on Udemy are purchased individually. This means you don’t have to commit to a monthly or annual plan. On the other hand, committed users may miss out on the lower prices if they wish to take multiple courses.
Moreover, users get the chance to see reviews right below the course and the number of ratings. As a result, users get a transparent view of the courses they can take.
Udemy has a similar feel to Skillshare with practical courses from the folks who are doing these things every day. The user interface is also clear and easy to use, and you do have the opportunity to get certificates of completion at the end of your courses.
Udacity
Udacity is a learning platform with courses and nanodegrees in many disciplines, including artificial intelligence, digital marketing, programming, data science, and more. Stanford University professors launched the platform in 2011, and it has expanded to courses and programs with industry partners, such as Google and Amazon.
Udacity’s courses have video lessons, hands-on projects, and access to personalized feedback from coaches and mentors. The nanodegrees are an extensive learning experience that includes applied projects and career services.
Wondrium
Wondrium is a subscription-based online learning platform that provides access to a diverse range of courses covering topics such as history, science, health, cooking, and more. The platform offers high-quality video content taught by experts in their fields, and learners can access courses on-demand and at their own pace.
Wondrium also provides supplementary materials such as quizzes, transcripts, and discussion forums to enhance the learning experience. With a subscription, learners can access unlimited courses and can cancel at any time. Wondrium generally has positive feedback from its users.
Domestika vs. Skillshare FAQ
Is a Domestika course worth it?
Based on review and rating of Domestika course online, many learners consider them to be worth the investment.
Do you keep Domestika courses forever?
Yes, once you pay for a Domestika course, you have unlimited access to it for as long as the course remains on the platform.
What is the best course on Domestika?
Based on various reviews and rating online, the best-rated course on Domestika is “The Ultimate Guide to Digital Sketching: Beginner to Advanced,” taught by David Revoy.
Is Domestika a one-time purchase?
No, Domestika is not a one-time purchase. It operates on a course-by-course basis.
How can you get Domestika for free?
Domestika occasionally offers free courses through promotions or giveaways, and some courses may also offer free previews.
What is similar to Domestika?
Skillshare, Udemy, CreativeLive, and MasterClass.
How many times can you watch a Domestika course?
Once a course is purchased on Domestika, the learner has unlimited access to it for as long as the course remains on the platform.
What is the difference between Doemstika and Domestika Plus?
Domestika offers individual courses for purchase, while Domestika Plus is a subscription-based service that provides additional benefits and features.
About the author:
Fernando S. Camargo is a Brazilian professional on the fields of Industrial Design, Business Administration, and Marketing. He currently works in Estonia as a Partner Marketer at Vaimo, a global full-service omnichannel solution agency. Before that, he was the Founding Partner working as Head of Design and Marketing of Project Sports, an outdoor equipment company.
Learn more: