Domestika Vs Skillshare: Which one should you pick?

Choosing between Domestika or Skillshare can be heartbreaking. You aren’t the only one agonizing over this dilemma. Both platforms heavily cater to creatives, unlike most other giants in the online learning industry. Expert instructors, fantastic courses, and amazing learning resources are common on both sites.

How does one choose? Order and method, Hastings, that is the answer. Let’s analyze the various features of both websites. Which platform offers learning flexibility? Is one site’s subscription plan better than the other’s? Will the course variety and quality meet your expectations?  

We will look into all this in this Skillshare vs Domestika review. We will also dive into the pros and cons of choosing either website. Most importantly, we will put forth the reasons for which you should consider either platform. Ready, guys? Get, set, go!

Quick Summary: Domestika Vs Skillshare

Criteria	Domestika	Skillshare
Course Quality	4.6/5	4.2/5
Instructors	4/5	4.3/5
Support	3.5/5	3.5/5
Value for Money	4.2/5	4/5
Ease of Use	4.5/5	4.5/5
Overall Rating	4.1/5	4.1/5
	Check for Discount ↗️	Check for Discount ↗️

Comparing Domestika Vs Skillshare

Course quality comparison isn’t the only thing we will dive into in this article. We will also see what skill levels you must have (prerequisites) to benefit from the courses on both sites. Moreover, the regularity of course updates, additional learning resources provided, and course variety will be discussed.

Variety of Courses

Both online learning platforms offer a wide variety of courses. Coincidently, each website has 16 categories. The ones found on both sites are illustration, craft, writing, marketing and business, design, AI, 3D and animation, photography and video, and music and audio. Of course, each category has several subcategories.

However, Skillshare has more course variety than Domestika. The platform has over 35,000 creative online courses. So, duh, it’s going to have much more to offer to creatives than Domestika. Still, the Domestika new courses added every week help the site put up a valiant fight. So, the choice depends on what specific skill you want to learn.

Free Resources

Skillshare doesn’t provide free courses, but you can access their articles and blogs without paying a dime. They are full of tips and tricks to get you started. You can also download e-books and industry reports by signing up to Skillshare’s mailing list. Domestika has several useful blogs, too. However, Domestika Live is so much more fun.

Though you can’t attend the live classes, you can still watch some previous broadcasts if you aren’t a subscriber. However, if you choose to subscribe to Domestika Plus, you get credits (12/year or 1/month depending on your plan) that you can use to purchase courses not included in the Plus catalog. You get lifetime access to such bought courses.

Content Quality

Both platforms have high-quality content; that is undeniable. However, their delivery of such content differs. Skillshare has a much more laid-back yet project-intensive approach. The learning paths are fantastic, and the classes indicate which level of learners their content is for. However, some course content didn’t meet learner expectations. So, read the reviews. 

Domestika has high-quality, in-depth content, but the varying quality of the subtitles drives people up the wall. Still, it is impressive that the Domestika subtitles are available in eight languages. The courses are more structured and the guidance the instructors provide is truly something to be appreciated.

Now, let’s see how the courses in the common categories of both platforms fare against each other. You immediately see the difference when you browse the sub-categories. For example, the writing category on Domestika has narrative, creative, and fiction writing in addition to storytelling and communication.

Skillshare has creative, content, and copywriting subcategories in addition to editing & publishing, non-fiction & journalism, AI for writing, and journaling. However, when I looked closer, it became clear that novel writing, storytelling, and fiction writing courses fall under the creative writing courses. So, it is clear that Skillshare covers a broader range of topics.

Now, what about the quality? What applies for the whole, applies for the part, too. There are slight variations in course quality on both sites. Nevertheless, Skillshare courses’ projects and Domestika courses’ guidance more than makeup for it. Both sites regularly update their courses and new ones are added periodically.

Course Instructors

Skillshare teachers are knowledgeable creatives who have made it in the field. Therefore, you gain valuable insights from their classes. The Domestika expert teachers are no less experienced. They are professionals passionate about teaching and sharing their expertise with you.

You have no direct way of verifying instructor credentials on either platform. However, Domestika has a rigorous selection process, and Skillshare uses Persona (a third party) to verify instructor credentials. In short, they do the verification for you.

Learning Methods

Skillshare classes are exciting because of the hands-on approach of the instructors. They provide a step-by-step guide but encourage self-learning. I like how they provide us with the tools to develop our skills. Kinda like teaching you to fish instead of giving you a fish, right?

But even more mind-blowing is the Skillshare Live Sessions. They are still in the beta stage and are hosted through Eventbrite. You don’t have to be a member to attend the live sessions; just register and buy the tickets. If for some reason, you miss the session you registered for, you will be emailed the recording of that session.

The one-on-one sessions available on Skillshare cost between $25 – $300. This pricing may seem over-the-top, but you get personalized feedback. So, it’s worth it if you pick the right instructor’s sessions. The site uses Superpeer (a platform it acquired in Mar 2024) to conduct these sessions.

Another feature I love is the Skillshare Completion Badges. You get badges for the various tasks you complete as you progress through the course. I don’t know about you, but I like celebrating my achievements. So, this is a great motivating factor for me.

Domestika, similar to Skillshare, uses video lectures. However, the Domestika video production is renowned for its high quality. This in-house production of courses ensures you get the best learning experience. Moreover, the Domestika Plus subscription provides you access to Domestika Live.

The thing about these Live classes is that like most of the courses on Domestika, they have audio only in Spanish. However, courses with audio in English are increasingly cropping up. So, there is hope for the site yet. 

Practical Focus

Project-based learning is common on both platforms. After all, creative skills are honed through consistent practice. You have to complete a final project and get assessed on Domestika to get certified. However, it’s the Skillshare hands-on projects that drew my attention. You have to work on projects at the end of each lesson. Awesome, right?

However, you don’t get assessed on these practice projects. So, if practicing and building a portfolio is more important to you, Skillshare is a fantastic option. Domestika might be better if you need assessments. Moreover, all Skillshare class projects can be shared with the community, whereas you can only share your final project on Domestika.

Certification Value

If you are wondering about certification availability, here’s the answer. Both sites provide certification. Skillshare offers certificates of completion once you finish the class and submit the required project. However, these are not as valuable as Domestika certificates because the project isn’t graded. Therefore, Skillshare certificates have no formal value.

They prove you have the required skills, though. Domestika certification is valuable because your project gets evaluated and the Domestika instructors sign the certificate. The only thing I hate about Domestika is that you have to subscribe to get certification. Otherwise, even if you purchase an individual course and complete it, you won’t get a certificate.

Pricing and Value for Money 💰

Skillshare subscription costs $168/year. Unfortunately, the site no longer has a monthly subscription plan. However, it offers a one-month free trial; so, you can make up your mind as to whether the cost is worth the benefits. Be careful, you will get charged for the annual subscription plan at the end of the trial if you don’t cancel it before it ends.

The Domestika pricing is much more affordable costing $119.99 per year, and the monthly plan costs $10/per month. This platform, too, offers a 30-day free trial after which you will be charged for the annual plan automatically unless you cancel the free trial before the specified time.

Instead of subscribing to Domestika Plus, which offers you access to numerous but not all courses on the site, you can purchase individual courses. Typically, a course costs $10 – $40. If you are set on subscribing but want lifetime access to a specific course, subscribe and use the credits you get (12 credits a year) to purchase a course.

One course costs one credit. You can also opt to purchase additional credits if the one credit per month limitation miffs you. Don’t worry, buying extra credits is less expensive than purchasing the courses using other methods despite course affordability being Domestika’s strongest point.

You can also opt for course bundles. The cost varies according to the courses in the bundles, so check them out. Custom course bundles are also available. I like how many different alternatives Domestika provides.

Are these sites’ subscription plans worth it? Yes, they are. Both have fabulous courses. You just need to determine which platform’s teaching and interaction style matches your preferences. That’s why we discussed the free trial availability. So, try using these websites to develop your creative skills.

Refund Criteria

Both platforms have a clear refund policy. Skillshare will not provide a refund if you forget to cancel the free trial and get charged for the subscription plan. Subscription renewal charges, too, won’t be refunded. Therefore, be careful and cancel the plan before it gets renewed. Don’t worry, the platform sends reminders when the plan is about to be renewed.

You can get a refund for any course you bought on Dometika within 14 days of purchase. Alternatively, you can exchange the purchased course for another. However, if you bought the Domestika courses using credits, you can only exchange them. You aren’t eligible for a refund. On the other hand, Domestika subscriptions are non-refundable.

Customer Support

Unsurprisingly, like most other learning platforms, Skillshare and Domestika customer service have mixed reviews from customers who contacted them. Some gush about how helpful the agents are, while others lament being stonewalled by automated replies and bots. 

I suppose it’s a bit like playing Russian roulette. Fortunately, the Skillshare help center and Domestika’s, too, have answers for the most common issues we face. The chatbots are also somewhat helpful.

Community

The Domestika community is supportive and encouraging. You can access the community section of each course when you purchase it or subscribe to the platform. Aside from gaining feedback from your peers when you share your final project, you can interact with them on any course-related topic.

I love the Skillshare forums even more; just click on the ‘Discussions’ tab on each course to interact with fellow learners using the Skillshare discussion boards. That’s not all. You can join the Skillshare Discord community and take part in the challenges if you want. If you join the challenges, you get prompts each day to help boost creativity. More practice, yay!

Only subscribers have access to the Discord community, and you can chat with some popular teachers from Skillshare’s one-on-one live sessions. Besides this, you can upload your projects (even half-finished ones) in the project gallery and get feedback from other learners.

Accessibility and Device Compatibility 📱

Skillshare has a web version and an app version. So, you can access the courses whenever and wherever you want. (I don’t recommend starting a course when commuting in a tightly packed subway, though!) Your progress is seamlessly synched, and you don’t face any issues.

Domestika, too, has stellar web and app versions. But, what I specifically love about the Domestika app is that we can mirror course content to our TVs (using Chromecast or AirPlay) and watch comfortably. This takes course accessibility to a whole new level. I do not have the mental discipline required to learn while lounging on the couch, but you can do it. 

Learner Reviews: What Other Users Say 👫

Learners love the course quality and variety of both sites. However, varying course quality is also mentioned by some learners. So, check out the reviews of courses before enrolling. The community support on both platforms is awesome. Skillshare testimonials indicate that people love project-intensive learning, whereas Domestika stands out with its certifications.

Of course, you can’t expect everything to be roses and sunshine. Skillshare offers no free courses which can be frustrating. Also, Domestika reviews show that people wish it didn’t have more courses in Spanish than English. The subtitles help, but you may find it challenging to connect with the instructor, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction.

Who Should Use Domestika?

I know this is obvious to you, but Spanish speakers will benefit the most from using this site. If platform reliability, certification value, and courses in niche subcategories are your go-to evaluation criteria, Domestika is the one for you. Sounds cliched, but it’s true. So, let’s take a look at the benefits and disadvantages of choosing this website. Pros:

• Instructor Interaction.
• Course interactivity.
• Affordable course bundles.
• Course diversity.
• Awesome learning community.

The drawbacks:

• Too many courses with only Spanish audio. 
• The subscription plan doesn’t cover all courses (but offers other benefits).
• A limited number of courses compared to Skillshare.

Who Should Use Skillshare?

Skillshare is the best choice if you have a short attention span like me. The short lessons help you stay focused when exploring or acquiring new skills. I also like how the courses mention the prerequisites for enrolling, the materials required, etc. So, go for it if you want high-quality content that can be consumed in a short time for a relatively affordable price.

Reasons to consider Skillshare:

• Community Interaction.
• Expert Instructor Support (through Discord community and 1-on-1 sessions).
• Course completion certificates.
• Wide variety of high-quality courses and great search filters.
• Downloadable resources to help you practice.

The cons of choosing this platform:

• No free courses.
• Certificates don’t have much value.
• Live and 1-on-1 sessions have separate pricing.

Final Verdict: Domestika Vs Skillshare

As you can see, both platforms offer great courses. So, pick Domestika if you like to watch stunning videos with in-depth content and don’t mind resorting to learning through subtitles at times. Choose Skillshare if you like sharing your work with others and gaining feedback or working on numerous practice projects.

Alternative Options

1. Udemy

Udemy is the most affordable platform for learning new skills in any category. It is often berated for the varying quality of its courses, but most courses offered by experts are marvelous. Getting lifetime access to courses at a fraction of other platforms’ pricing plans is a win in my book.

2. CreativeLive

With 2,000+ courses to help hone creative skills, CreativeLive stands out with the free live and on-air events and courses it offers daily. The pricing is affordable and you can access the content via mobile, TV, and desktop/laptop. The free-to-peruse articles on this site have some great tips for building solid foundational knowledge.

3. MasterClass

Don’t roll your eyes saying it is just another platform for creatives. MasterClass is exceptional because of its celebrity instructors. Yes, not all courses are above reproach, but the ones starring world-renowned experts are definitely worth the price. Moreover, the classes are short, concise, fun-filled, and informative. I freaking love the platform. Here is my view on MasterClass.

FAQs

1. How to get Domestika paid courses for free?
The only way you can access free courses is through a Domestika Plus subscription. Since the 1,000+ free courses will cost more if you purchase them individually, this deal is a steal! However, you can’t access paid courses for free without paying a penny. That is, if you don’t subscribe, no free courses.

2. Do we get certificate from Domestika?
Again, you have to subscribe to Domestika Plus to get certification. If you are not a subscriber, you won’t get a certificate.

3. Do Domestika courses expire?
The courses you buy are yours forever as the platform claims. However, the ones you have been accessing through a subscription cannot be watched if you stop subscribing.

4. Is Skillshare better than Udemy?
While most reviewers would say yes, I think the answer depends on your learning style, budget, and the skill you want to hone.

5. Is Skillshare free or paid?
Skillshare has a free trial (30 days), but other than that it is a completely pay-to-learn platform. It has no free courses.