MasterClass has continued to improve the value of its programs since its launch in 2015. It has also continued promoting its vision of becoming the Netflix for thought leaders.

It gives hundreds of global experts and celebrities the space to share their ideas, views, experiences, and insight with aspiring learners worldwide.

These core values made MasterClass one of the top online streaming platforms. It offers courses and lessons in several fields of expertise, taught by some of the most acknowledged global icons in those fields.

Over the years, One question that continues to surface around the MasterClass platform is: How much does MasterClass cost?

This article provides a breakdown of each subscription plan and the benefits offered. In addition, you also get a look at a comparison of MasterClass to alternative platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, Coursera, etc.

How Much Does MasterClass Cost? – Breakdown

Users can expect to pay anywhere from $90 to $276 subscription fees on the MasterClass platform: depending on what they want. And benefits services vary from one subscription plan to another.

Generally, MasterClass offers three subscription plans that are billed annually. Below is a highlight of the annual subscription plans and the pecks that come with each. It is best to mention that the subscriptions are not equal.

There are unique advantages to each plan. And you are about to learn what it is and how to take advantage of it.

However, there is an optional lifetime access plan to any course on the platform (usually a single class) for a one-time payment.

With this arrangement, users get a chance to pay $90 to enjoy lifetime access to any course of their choice.

unique advantages to each plan and you are about to find out what it is and how to take advantage of it.

$90 Single Course Purchase

Before going into the details of the annual plans, let us take a quick overview of the $90 offer and how it benefits you.

Ideally, this plan is more tailored to busy individuals who do not have enough time to take more than one course throughout the year. Or who only want to have a quick review of a lesson and move on.

You can sign up for the plan, pay a sum of $90 and get what you want without getting dragged into other offerings on the platform.

However, the $90 plan may be a little too expensive for you if you have several subjects you want to cover all within the year. Considering that this approach would have you spending a total of $9000+ to take full advantage of the platform.

Another downside of the $90 plan is that you would have to pay to access each new course added to the platform during the year.

MasterClass Standard Plan

The standard plan costs $15 a month, billed annually. It gives learners full access to all the courses offered on the platform for a payment of $180. The unique value of this plan over the $90 one-time fee is that users get full access to any new course added to the platform.

Interestingly, new courses are added to the platform monthly: standard plan subscribers get free access to twelve additional classes throughout the year without extra charges.

However, there is a downside to the standard plan.

Subscribers using the standard plan can not enjoy an offline learning experience due to the download restrictions included in the subscription.

Standard plan subscribers can only access their courses when connected to the internet.

MasterClass Plus Plan

For the plus plan, subscribers pay $60 more than the standard plan to gain access to some added benefits. A subscription fee of $240 gives users access to unlimited courses on the masterclass platform, plus full access to all new lessons added to the platform within the year.

Besides the full access enjoyed by subscribers, the plus plan also provides a download option for users who prefer to view their lessons later. Another benefit of the subscription is the simultaneous viewing on more than one device.

You do not need to pay multiple fees to access the platform. With a single plus subscription, you can access your courses on your device at home and at work.

MasterClass Premium Plan

Consider this the ultimate plan. The premium plan is a combination of the benefits of both the standard plan and the plus plan. Think of it as a plan ideal for group learning exercises.

With the premium plan, users pay $276 per annum to access the platform from up to six devices. Invariably, you are paying $4 per device per month, making it a fantastic investment for families with learning goals.

 It cuts down the cost and puts the family in contact with some of the best minds in the world.

Subscribers can also download their courses for offline viewing as an added value to the benefits that come with their subscription. Users accessing the platform do not have to be connected to the internet when they want to take a lesson.

To get a broad view of the benefits of the premium download option, think of the Netflix experience for your kids.

If you do not want your kids surfing the internet in your absence, the download function comes in handy. You download all their courses and schedule them to view at their convenience without going online.

Masterclass Standard plan vs Plus Plan vs Premium Plan

You may be wondering which plan offers you the highest value for your money. In fact, there is no superior plan on the MasterClass platform.

Your budget and your knowledge needs should dictate the plan you subscribe to.

Each plan offers you access to the 100+ classes hosted on the platform, including a workbook, the membership program and discussion forums with other subscribers.

However, you need to remember that the Standard plan does not offer you the option to download your lectures for offline viewing. But, the plus and premium plan provides the choice.

Also, the Plus plan can only be viewed on two devices, while the premium plan offers access to up to six devices. However the standard subscription is exclusive to only one device.

Also, on the standard plan, you pay $15 per month per device. But on the plus plan, the price comes to approximately $9 per month. And on the premium plan, the cost can be as low as $4 per month per device.

The cost reduction is due to the number of devices that benefit from a single subscription.

MasterClass Buy One Get One Special Deal

You may be wondering which plan offers you the highest value for your money. In the real sense, there is no superior plan on the MasterClass platform. Your budget and your knowledge needs should dictate the plan you subscribe to.

Each plan offers you access to the 100+ classes hosted on the platform, access to a workbook, and access to the membership program and discussion forums with other subscribers.

However, you need to bear in mind that the Standard plan does not offer you the option to download your lectures for offline viewing. But, the plus and premium plan offers you the option. 

Also, the plus plan can only be viewed on two devices, while the premium plan can be viewed simultaneously on up to six devices.

The standard plan is exclusive to only one device.

With the standard plan, you pay $15 per month per device, but on the plus plan, the price comes to approximately $9 per month. 

On the premium plan, the price can be as low as $4 per month per device due to the number of devices that get to benefit from the single subscription.

Masterclass buy-one-get-one special deals

The masterClass is not all about paying exorbitant prices to take courses. 

There are special arrangements on the Masterclass that allows users the opportunity to access the platform without direct charges or fees. One of such programs is the 2-in-1 promo.

With the 2-in-1 promo, users can get a free annual subscription. How does the 2-in-1 MasterClass promo work?

On some special days of the month, MasterClass opens the platform for any subscriber to purchase a yearly plan for the stipulated amount. And along with their subscription, they get a free subscription to gift to anyone they like.

Below are some dates to watch out for if you want to take advantage of the 2-in-1 promo plan. Note that the promo may fall on special days specific to some countries, and may not be available to others.

• Mother’s Day/May
• Father’s Day/June
• Black Friday/September
• Holiday Special/December
• Non-U.S customers/March
• September

During Those periods, you can team up with a friend or family who wants to subscribe to a plan and get the other subscription for free. Another advantage is that you can get a 30% discount for your renewal on some days.

MasterClass Free Trial

MasterClass offers a type of free trial that is not directly free. It comes in the form of a 30-days money-back offer, where you pay for the all-access pass and gets to use the platform for 30 days. 

You can claim a refund for your money within 30 days if you discover that the platform is not ideal for you.

Conversely, the platform automatically takes it as a decision to continue with the plan for the rest of the year if the 30 days elapse before your request for a refund.

It is vital to note that you would be required to enter your credit card details during sign-up before you are eligible for the all-access pass. Therefore, the arrangement is not coming as a free trial. It is more like a refund after purchase.

Is MasterClass Worth it?

One of the most popular questions on the internet about any learning management platform is, “is it worth it?”.

Now, is MasterClass worth it? The answer to these questions depends on what you want. The masterClass is, by far, one of the fastest-growing, high-quality learning platforms in the world.

Currently, MasterClass hosts over a hundred courses taught by some of the rarest experts in the field.

Learners would hardly find any other platform on the internet where the likes of James Cameron, Gordon Ramsey, Samuel L. Jackson, Garry Kasparov, or Bill Clinton take classes for about 2 hours.

This rare combination of talents distinguishes MasterClass from all other learning platforms.

Another fascinating thing about the platform’s array of categories available to learners:

• Art and entertainment
• Home and lifestyle
• Writing business
• Food
• Music
• Design and style
• Sports and gaming
• Wellness
• Community and government
• Science and tech

The platform is also excellently designed with a highly intuitive and user-friendly interface. Navigation on the masterclass platform has three tabs at the top: discover, progress and library.

The discovery page helps you keep tabs on what you’ve been watching and prompts you for other lessons you might find valuable. 

The progress tab helps you keep tabs on each class you are taking in case you left midway. The library tab helps you search for lessons you might be interested in

Once you’ve chosen a course, you will be taken to the course info page, where you will find details of the course you are taking including the number of lessons in the course.

Plus, every class comes with a workbook and assignment sheets with activities for personal studies and enhanced learning. There are interactive sessions too, where learners can discuss their learning experiences.

Again, there are live sessions with experts taking some of the courses. Another added value is the introduction of a learning assistant that helps you navigate your way through the courses to make your learning more interesting and seamless.

In a nutshell, the question is not whether MasterClass is worth it. 

It all boils down to whether you are willing to make the investment that it takes to learn from the best in the field. Without mincing words, the value offered on the platform is worth the price and much more.

Alternatives to Masterclass

You may also want to know if other online platforms could serve as alternatives to MasterClass, where you’ll find valuable courses on various subjects.

The answer is yes. Hundreds of learning management platforms exist on the internet. Each with its unique strength and value. The following is a highlight of some platforms and how each stack up against MasterClass.

Masterclass vs. Skillshare

Skillshare is a learning platform targeted toward creative people. It works just like MasterClass, where you subscribe to a plan and get access to the courses offered on the platform.

The platform covers subjects ranging from Web development to fine art, graphic design, film, and video, etc. With a premium membership plan of $160 per year, you can get full access to the courses offered on the platform.

But, you should not expect to find courses offered by industry stars as you’ll get in the Masterclass. Even though you’ll find lessons from experts like Gary Vee, Seth Godins and on Skillshare, it’s nowhere near the calibre of experts available on MasterClass.

One other strong point for Skillshare is its interactivity and the ease of gaining access to the instructors.

Due to the status of the instructors on MasterClass, subscribers may find it tough to establish a relationship with their instructors outside the platform. However, you can reach out to instructors outside the classes on Skillshare and get their attention.

When it comes to platform design and accessibility, the layout of both websites is intuitive and user-friendly. The configuration are both stable and sound, allowing for easy navigation.

Masterclass vs. Udemy

Think of Udemy as the deep ocean of online courses. It features hundreds, if not thousands, of courses covering every topic and subject imaginable. The website is more of a course hosting platform than a learning platform, where thousands of instructors across the globe host their courses.

Compared to MasterClass, one of the downsides of Udemy is the quality of instructors taking the courses. There is no strict rule guiding against substandard lessons. Udemy allows you to host your class once you demonstrate expertise.

One advantage of Udemy over master class is in the area of versatility. There are topics, and subjects covered on Udemy that you can’t find on Masterclass. And Udemy is a blend of personal learning and academic advancement.

Unlike MasterClass that’s tailored specifically towards personalized learning.

However, when it comes to quality of lessons, and the value of courses hosted on the platforms, Udemy is nowhere near the MasterClass.

The prices of some courses on Udemy are almost equal to the annual all-access passes on MasterClass. It makes it quite expensive to take classes on Udemy, compared with the subscription plan offered on MasterClass.

The two platforms stack equally against one another when comparing the interfaces. Udemy features a user-friendly interface with an intuitive design. The navigation is seamless, and the course info is well presented.

Udemy is an excellent platform for anyone seeking lifelong learning. However, if you want to have access to insider secrets on navigating your field or career, MasterClass is a better option.

Masterclass vs. Coursera

Coursera is to academics advancement, what MasterClass platform is to celebrity learning. Think of these two platforms: MasterClass and Coursera have two sides of the same coin. 

MasterClass hosts lectures from some of the finest global experts, and Coursera hosts some courses from some of the best universities worldwide.Coursera hosts courses from Havard, MIT, Stanford etc. If your goal is to gain access to highly-sophisticated certificate courses, Coursera may be the ideal choice.

The courses offered on the platform are tailored toward people that are more convenient learning in the academic setting.

Students pay per course they take on the platform, and the prices are way higher than the yearly subscription offered on MasterClass. Also, you may be required to pay separately for your certificate, which may cost hundreds of dollars, in some cases.

However, if you want to bust your credentials and CV, Coursera is a formidable alternative. Plus, you can apply for a Coursera scholarship where you get up to a 70% cut on your payment. Sometimes, you can get more.

Wrapping Up

The growth of interactive learning platforms really makes you wonder if it is still worth it to invest in video-based learning platforms. Looking at the values of the courses hosted on the MasterClass platform, missing out on such offers is unimaginable.

The upside is the implementation of several initiatives that bring interactive experiences into the platform: the discussion session, the learning assistant, and the live session with experts. All this comes together to preserve the benefits you get from the platform.

In all aspects, MasterClass is one of the most valuable learning platforms you’ll find on the internet. The array of instructors, the experiences shared on the platform, the quality of the videos, and the categories of subjects covered beat all other learning platforms combined.