Is Masterclass Worth It? A Honest Masterclass Review: Jan 2025
I paid around $100 & took over half a dozen courses before writing this review
MasterClass is one of the most talked-about online learning platforms, but is it worth your time and money? After paying around $100 & taking over many courses, here’s my honest take.
If you are just browsing and want a quick answer, no need to read the entire blog — just read the next 150 words!
Is MasterClass Worth Your Time?
Yes — if you’re seeking big ideas and creative inspiration (or detailed cooking lessons). All great things start with some creative ideas, motivation & insights — so, yes it is worth your time as long as you are not looking for detailed ‘step-by-step’ guides.
While some courses are hands-on, most offer high-level insights rather than actionable steps. For practical, skill-based learning, platforms like Skillshare or Coursera are better options.
Try Skillshare for FREE (30 days)
Try Coursera for FREE (7 days)
Here’s my video version of Skillshare review — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckjhLw8CgmI&t=12s
Is MasterClass Worth Your Money?
Yes, in general. I paid $100 to explore the platform for this review, and it felt worthwhile for my goal of understanding its offerings. Having also tried Skillshare and other learning platforms, I noticed a clear difference in the depth of course content.
If you prioritize hands-on skills, MasterClass might not be ideal. However, the content is undeniably high-quality and inspiring, making it a valuable investment if that is what you are after. There were quite a few classes that felt me richer in knowledge and understanding of human nature.
Will you not regret spending $100/year investing on yourself — even if the courses aren’t as detailed as other online learning platforms.
Get Masterclass (with a 30-day refund protection)
Disclosure: Some of these may be affiliate links. I may earn a coffee or two when you buy a subscription (at no extra cost to you). I live in Denmark, and at the current discounts and the Danish prices, probably only a shot of Espresso.
What is MasterClass?
MasterClass is an online learning platform that offers video courses taught by industry leaders, celebrities, and experts. The idea is simple yet compelling: learn directly from the best in the field. With high production quality and a polished delivery, MasterClass aims to inspire learners rather than focus on step-by-step tutorials.
Key Features of MasterClass
- Expert-Led Courses: The instructors are world-renowned professionals — think Serena Williams teaching tennis, Mark Cuban on business, and Margaret Atwood on creative writing.
- Broad Categories: With over 180+ classes spanning 11 categories, MasterClass caters to diverse interests, including cooking, writing, music, and more.
- High Production Quality: The video lessons resemble a Netflix-style experience, featuring cinematic visuals and engaging storytelling.
- Bite-Sized Lessons: Each course consists of 10–20 lessons, typically 10–15 minutes long, making it easy to learn at your own pace.
- AI Assistance: Recently added AI-powered tools provide insights and summaries to enhance the learning experience.
What’s in Masterclass: Content Overview
Who’s teaching?
MasterClass is defined by its instructors — stars and legends in their field. Here you’re learning from the best, with credibility and expertise in every lesson. For example:
- Mark Cuban: Business and entrepreneurship
- Malcolm Gladwell: Non-fiction writing (Outliers, The Tipping Point)
- Margaret Atwood: Fiction writing (The Handmaid’s Tale)
- James Cameron: Filmmaking (Titanic, Avatar)
- Gordon Ramsay: Cooking (knife skills, restaurant-quality dishes at home)
You have zero doubts if the instructors know what they are talking about (I’ll make an exception for politicians who talk about leadership & service).
There are 11 categories of classes. Creative fields have the most coverage and Technology seems to have the least coverage.
The video courses last from 2–3 hours based on the classes. A few lessons are slightly longer and some not as you can imagine. You can pick your own pace of learning, and can run through multiple courses in parallel. Masterclass vidoes are like watching high quality Ted Talks in a Netflix style format.
Creative fields make up the bulk of the offerings, tech and science are sparse. So MasterClass is a great choice if you’re pursuing an artistic or creative path, less so if you’re a tech enthusiast.
Course format
MasterClass courses are 2–3 hours total, broken into 10–20 lessons that are 10–15 minutes each. You can fit a lesson or two into a busy day.
What sets MasterClass apart is the production. Each video feels like a documentary or a TED Talk, with cinematic visuals and great storytelling. It’s not about traditional instruction, it’s about delivering a premium experience. Think of it as Netflix for self-improvement.
You can also take multiple courses at once and customize your experience to your interests and schedule. But the platform is more about inspiration and big-picture than step-by-step learning.
MasterClass — Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Superstar Instructors: Learn from industry leaders and celebrities with real credentials.
- Great Production: Videos are cinematic and fun.
- Wide Range of Topics: Creative, business, lifestyle, something for everyone.
- Flexible: Self-paced, no class runs on a clock!
- Inspirational Content: Good for those looking for motivation, ideas and big-picture.
Cons:
- Not Hands-On: Most courses are not for learning practical, step-by-step skills. I recommend Skillshare if that’s what you are after.
- More Expensive: Pricing feels high compared to competitors with similar or more actionable content.
- Limited Tech/Science/Career Fields: Few options for technology, science or career advancement.
- Outdated Pricing: Multi-device access is restricted, weird in today’s world.
- No real community: Limited interaction with instructors and other learners.
- No certificates: But honestly, for the courses on MasterClass it also doesn’t make sense to offer certificates (in my personal opinion).
AI Powered Help (Beta version)
Masterclass offers AI powered support to get specific insights, summaries of classes. Here’s a few that I tried.
Some classes are missing on the AI support window (eg: Mark Cuban), but I expect them to be added shortly. However, I must also warn that summarizing what is already condensed course may not the best option if you really want to learn!
Here you can get a summary, try asking a specific question or seek explanation of something you didn’t understand as well as you would have liked. This is in Beta version, and should gradually become more helpful.
My Final Thoughts on Masterclass
MasterClass is great for inspiration and insight from industry leaders. It’s perfect for big ideas or creative motivation rather than hands-on learning. But if you want to learn skills you can use immediately or advance your career then platforms like Skillshare or Coursera are more practical.
- Skillshare: Known for its project based courses, Skillshare is perfect for creatives who want to build hands-on skills in design, illustration, photography etc. And its affordable monthly subscription makes it accessible for beginners and pros alike.
- Coursera: If you’re looking for career focused learning, Coursera partners with top universities and companies to offer certifications in data science, business and technology. Many of its courses are free to audit, with paid options for certification.
In short, MasterClass is a great platform but works best as an addition to other skill based learning tools.
Frequently Searched Questions on Masterclass
Does Masterclass offer free trials?
No, Masterclass offers a 30 day return guarantee. However, once you have paid to become a member you have the chance to get 3 people to try Masterclass for free for 14 days.
What if I do not like Masterclass after buying a subscription?
Masterclass offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If for some reason you do not like Masterclass, you can get a refund within the first 30 days. I do not personally like the words ‘to see if you are eligible’ — in my opinion anyone should be eligible, especially for a service that does not offer free trial!
Is Masterclass the best online learning platform to learn new skills?
Probably not — unless you are looking for putting creative skills to use (film production, writing etc.,). I found useful courses on YouTube film making, using gen AI etc., but they weren’t detailed enough to my liking. I like more practical advice, especially when I’m completely new in the area, but may be that’s just me!
Can you trust the content on Masterclass courses?
Absolutely yes, the courses are delivered by superstars in their respective fields. It doesn’t get better than that. Serena Williams teaches Tennis, Mark Cuban teaches business — Who else would you want to learn from besides titans of the respective field.
If you want to learn about Film making, how about learn from the guy who has 2 of the top 5 grossing movies of all time — James Cameron! Or the creators of Stranger Things, or may be Jodie Foster is your pick!
How much does Masterclass cost?
Masterclass membership costs around $120–180/year depending on promotions and the type of subscription you choose. I bought it on 50% discount during the year end sale for $100 with access to 2 devices!
Masterclass in general offers 3 different plans — Standard ($12/month), Plus ($17/month) & Premium ($22/month). The key difference is the number of devices & the ability to download. The pricing structure may feel outdated compared to other platforms that allow multi-device usage more freely.
Note: I bought the Plus option which allows supposedly only 2 devices, but I have used it on my Laptop, iPhone & iPad. It looks like Masterclass measures only by the number of ‘app’ installations, and not using via browser like Chrome — I could be wrong though!
If in doubt, go for the cheapest option — and use the browser instead of the App on the second device. If you are sharing in the family, might be worth going for the premium plan which allows downloads on up to six devices — more bang for your buck when you share!
What are the best masterclass courses?
In my opinion, the best masterclass courses are in the creative area. I found the classes that covered anything related to hands-on was a writing course, a cooking course or a film making course.
No one really has the time to go through all the 200+ classes, so all the reviews in a way can never tell you the complete truth. Best to try it our yourself — and if it doesn’t work you can get a refund within 30 days anyway.
My favorite creative course so far — ‘Making Viral Videos’ explained by MKBHD. I also make YouTube videos from time to time, and it was helpful in me understanding it from one of the biggest creators on YouTube.
What about Masterclass community?
While Masterclass does boast of a community, I haven’t really experienced the presence of a community yet. I’m a paid member on multiple other paid courses where community presence is so obvious, Masterclass seems way behind.
You also cannot expect the authors to be so engaged when they are basically superstars and might not be available for everyday questions.
Is Masterclass better than other online learning platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Skill Share etc.?
I would say Masterclass is different, but not necessarily better or worse. If you want high quality videos, from people who you can really trust to help you be inspired — Masterclass has no competition.
However if you are after skills you want to put to use today, or advance in your career I would recommend Skill Share or Coursera.
Masterclass vs YouTube / Podcasts?
Why do I need to buy Masterclass when the content from the teachers are also available on YouTube & Podcasts?
That is an excellent question. The simple answer — structure! The classes are designed to give you a structure to the learning experience. You build on one module to another. The intent of Masterclass platform is to help you learn. The intent of YouTube is to keep you on the platform.
Here’s a snippet of the classes I’m taking right now!
