MasterClass vs Skillshare: Which is Better for Learning to Cook in 2025?

Both MasterClass and Skillshare offer online cooking courses, but they’re completely different platforms with different strengths. We’ve tested both extensively to help you decide which is worth your money.

Last updated: November 2025 | Reading time: 8 minutes

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	MasterClass	Skillshare
Price	$180/year	$168/year or $32/month
Cooking Courses	25+ celebrity chefs	500+ varied instructors
Production Quality	Cinema-level (10/10)	Varies (6-9/10)
Instructor Fame	World-renowned chefs	Professional to hobbyist
Course Length	2-4 hours per chef	1-5 hours per course
New Content	Monthly	Weekly
Best For	Inspiration, technique	Variety, exploration
Free Trial	30 days	1 month

MasterClass Overview

What You Get:

All-Access Pass ($180/year):

Unlimited access to 150+ classes across ALL categories
25+ cooking classes from celebrity chefs
4K video quality, cinematic production
Downloadable workbooks and recipes
Mobile app with offline viewing

Notable Cooking Instructors:

Gordon Ramsay (3 Michelin stars) – Cooking fundamentals
Thomas Keller (3 Michelin stars) – French technique
Massimo Bottura (3 Michelin stars) – Italian cooking
Dominique Ansel (James Beard Award) – Pastry
Aaron Franklin (James Beard Award) – BBQ
Alice Waters – Farm-to-table cooking
Gabriela Cámara – Mexican cuisine
Niki Nakayama (2 Michelin stars) – Japanese cuisine

Pros:

Learn from actual legendary chefs
Gorgeous production makes techniques crystal clear
Inspiring and motivating
One price gets you everything (not just cooking)
Feel like you’re in the chef’s kitchen

Cons:

No instructor interaction or feedback
Can’t ask questions
New cooking content added slowly (1-2 per quarter)
More inspiration than hands-on practice
Annual commitment

[Try MasterClass Free for 30 Days]

Skillshare Overview

What You Get:

Premium Membership ($168/year or $32/month):

Unlimited access to 40,000+ classes (all categories)
500+ cooking classes from various instructors
Download classes for offline viewing
Project-based learning with community feedback
New cooking classes added weekly

Cooking Instructor Types:

Professional chefs (culinary school trained)
Food bloggers and YouTubers (popular home cooks)
Cookbook authors (published recipes)
Specialty chefs (pastry, vegan, cultural cuisines)
Enthusiastic home cooks (passion projects)

Pros:

Massive variety of cooking styles and cuisines
Find your preferred teaching style
Project-based learning with feedback
More affordable monthly option
New content constantly
Community interaction

Cons:

Instructor quality varies dramatically
Video production ranges from great to mediocre
No celebrity chef prestige
Need to vet instructors yourself
Can be overwhelming to choose

[Try Skillshare Free for 1 Month]

Head-to-Head Comparison

Production Quality

MasterClass: 10/10

Shot like Netflix documentaries
Multiple 4K cameras
Professional lighting and sound
Close-up shots show exact hand positioning
Beautiful b-roll of finished dishes
Consistent excellence across all classes

Skillshare: 6-9/10

Ranges from webcam quality to professional
Some instructors have broadcast-level production
Others film in home kitchens with decent cameras
Audio quality varies
Editing quality varies
Need to check before committing to a class

Winner: MasterClass (but Skillshare’s best courses are quite good)

Instructor Credibility

MasterClass:

Every chef is world-renowned
Michelin stars, James Beard Awards, TV fame
You’re learning from the absolute best
Names you recognize: Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller
Their restaurants have years-long waiting lists

Skillshare:

Mix of credentials
Some professional chefs with training
Many successful food bloggers
Some enthusiastic home cooks
Credibility varies—check instructor bios

Winner: MasterClass (no contest on pure credentials)

Course Variety

MasterClass:

25+ cooking classes (as of Nov 2025)
Curated selection of elite chefs
Covers: fundamentals, pastry, BBQ, various cuisines
Quality over quantity
Limited niche topics
New cooking classes: 4-6 per year

Skillshare:

500+ cooking classes
Covers: every cuisine imaginable, specialty diets, techniques, baking, specific dishes
Niche topics: sourdough troubleshooting, vegan cheese-making, Filipino street food
Multiple instructors per topic (find your favorite)
New cooking classes: 10-20 per month

Winner: Skillshare (if you want variety and niche topics)

Learning Style

MasterClass:

Sit back and watch (passive learning)
Inspiration-focused
Chef’s philosophy and approach
High-level technique demonstration
Workbooks include recipes and notes
No assignments or projects
Learn by watching, then practicing on your own

Skillshare:

Project-based learning (active)
“Cook this dish and share” approach
Community feedback on your work
More hands-on feeling
Encourages practice and sharing
Discussion boards for questions
Learn by doing alongside course

Winner: Depends on your style

Passive learners → MasterClass
Active learners → Skillshare

Value for Money

MasterClass ($180/year):

$15/month effective cost
25+ cooking classes
150+ total classes (all subjects)
Unlimited rewatching
$7.20 per cooking class if you only watch cooking
BUT: Most people watch non-cooking classes too (business, writing, sports)

Skillshare ($168/year or $32/month):

$14/month annual ($32 month-to-month)
500+ cooking classes
40,000+ total classes
$0.34 per cooking class if you watch 500
More affordable monthly option
Cancel anytime

Winner: Skillshare (if you only care about cooking) Winner: MasterClass (if you want other subjects too)

Best For Different Goals

Choose MasterClass if you want to:

Learn from the world’s best chefs
Get inspired by elite techniques
Understand high-level cooking philosophy
Watch gorgeous, cinematic content
Learn across many subjects (not just cooking)
Don’t need interactive feedback

Choose Skillshare if you want to:

Explore tons of different cuisines and styles
Find niche cooking topics
Get community feedback on your cooking
Try multiple instructors to find your favorite
Learn actively with projects
Pay monthly (no annual commitment)

Real-World Use Cases

Scenario 1: “I want to learn to cook from scratch”

MasterClass:

Take Gordon Ramsay’s fundamentals course
Clear, professional instruction
Learn proper technique from the start
Inspiring and motivating

Skillshare:

Choose from 20+ “cooking basics” courses
Find teaching style that clicks with you
Project-based practice
Ask questions in discussion

Verdict: MasterClass (Gordon’s fundamentals course is excellent for beginners)

Scenario 2: “I want to master French pastry”

MasterClass:

Dominique Ansel’s French Pastry class
World-class instruction
Beautiful technique demonstration

Skillshare:

50+ pastry courses
Multiple French pastry classes
Specific technique deep-dives (just croissants, just macarons)
More practice opportunities

Verdict: Skillshare (unless you specifically want Ansel’s approach)

Scenario 3: “I love trying different cuisines”

MasterClass:

Italian (Massimo Bottura)
Mexican (Gabriela Cámara)
Japanese (Niki Nakayama)
Indian (currently not available)
Thai (currently not available)
~10 cuisines covered

Skillshare:

50+ cuisines available
Multiple instructors per cuisine
Niche regional cooking
Street food, traditional, modern

Verdict: Skillshare (way more variety)

Scenario 4: “I want to learn non-cooking skills too”

MasterClass:

Cooking, writing, business, filmmaking, sports, music, etc.
150+ classes across all topics
Same quality across all subjects

Skillshare:

Cooking, design, business, photography, crafts, etc.
40,000+ classes
Quality varies

Verdict: MasterClass (better non-cooking content)

Our Recommendation

For Most People: Try Both!

Month 1: Skillshare free trial

Explore variety
Find what cuisines interest you
Test project-based learning

Month 2: MasterClass free trial

Experience celebrity instruction
Watch Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller
Assess production value

Month 3: Commit to whichever you used more

Quick Decision Guide:

Get MasterClass if:

You want the best of the best instructors
You value production quality highly
You’re interested in non-cooking topics too
You prefer passive learning (watch, then practice)
$180/year fits your budget

Get Skillshare if:

You want maximum variety
You like exploring niche topics
You prefer active, project-based learning
You want monthly flexibility
You only care about cooking (not other subjects)

Can You Get Both?

Combined: $348/year ($29/month)

Worth it if:

You’re serious about cooking education
You value both celebrity instruction AND variety
You can dedicate 5+ hours/week to learning
Budget allows

Not worth it if:

You won’t use both regularly
One platform meets your needs
Budget is tight

Most people should pick one. Power users might justify both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my account?

MasterClass: Officially no, but allows 5 devices. Many families share one account.

Skillshare: Officially no, 1 user per account. Enforced more strictly.

Can I download classes?

Both: Yes, via mobile apps for offline viewing. Can’t download to computer permanently.

Do I get certificates?

MasterClass: No certificates or credentials.

Skillshare: No official certificates, but can showcase projects in portfolio.

Can I get refunds?

MasterClass: 30-day money-back guarantee.

Skillshare: Refund policy varies, generally within first few days.

Final Verdict

There’s no universal “better” platform.

MasterClass = Quality over quantity Skillshare = Quantity over quality

Both have value. Your choice depends on:

Learning style (passive vs. active)
Budget (annual vs. monthly)
Goals (inspiration vs. variety)
Interests (cooking only vs. multiple subjects)

Our take: If you can only choose one and are serious about cooking, start with Skillshare’s free trial. The variety lets you explore deeply. If you fall in love with a specific cuisine, then consider MasterClass to learn from that cuisine’s master chef.

[Try MasterClass Free Trial] | [Try Skillshare Free Trial]

[Compare All Cooking Course Platforms]