Introduction
Thinking about taking some online courses?
If so, you may find our review of MasterClass helpful when it comes to finding the right online education platform.
MasterClass might be a relatively young online platform, but it’s already making its mark for so many reasons. Read any MasterClass online classes review, and you’ll likely quickly realize that this platform is famous for its excellent instructors (Gordon Ramsay teaches cooking!) and its phenomenal video production quality (the real-life teaching experience is brought to life even more by some seriously impressive video footage).
Ready to learn more? In this MasterClass review, we’ll tell you everything you could possibly want to know, including the techniques that make MasterClass so effective, the community you’ll find here to support you, the MasterClass subscription cost, and much, much more.
What is MasterClass?
Before jumping into exactly what this online learning platform has to offer, it might be helpful to give you a more general MasterClass overview first.
Though relatively young, found only in 2015, MasterClass has already begun to change the lives of students from all over the world. This e-learning platform offers hours of video designed to teach youth lessons and skills you need to improve on a hobby, rise up in your career, or even just become a better you.
For many students, MasterClass is more than just education – it’s also a source of entertainment. You’ll learn from the very best teachers, people who know more about their respective topics than practically anyone else.
For example, you won’t be learning cooking from the guy who got his culinary degree from the community college down the road. No, you’ll be learning from Gordon Ramsey himself.
Interested in learning about directing? Ron Howard, at your service. Want to learn how to act? Helen Mirren can help you out.
MasterClass has some of the world’s best and most well-known names at its disposal. You’ll become a true master of your craft by taking these courses.
Who is MasterClass For?
Although MasterClass might feature classes taught by some of the world’s most elite celebrities, you don’t have to be famous in order to benefit from its video tutorials.
This platform is for anybody. It’s for the person who wants to learn a fun new artistic talent, like acting with Helen Mirren, or for the person who wants to learn how to think analytically like Neil Degrass Tyson.
As long as you want to learn, MasterClass is the perfect choice for you. No, it won’t turn you into an instant celebrity overnight – but the classes offered on this e-learning platform are entertaining and can help you pick up a new talent or skill very quickly.
How Does MasterClass Work?
Learning how to use MasterClass is relatively simple. Once you’ve signed up for a membership (or a free trial) you will be able to login and view from a long list of potential online classes.
Most classes include video lessons that are less than half an hour long (20 to 25 minutes, in most cases). You can watch and learn from your teachers and download materials like worksheets so that you can view them offline.
In most cases, video lessons can be watched at your own pace. They’re short and sweet, meaning you’ll never feel overwhelmed by too much information. Plus, you don’t have to commit to sitting down and working on your online classes for hours at a time, like you might with other platforms.
You can truly work at your own pace as you move through the sequence of stories, training programs, and instructionals offered by these dedicated teachers.
Features
Real-Life Teaching
The most important feature of MasterClass to note is that you will always be learning from teachers who have the credentials to back up what they are saying – in most cases, you’ll be learning from celebrities.
Each video segment is around 20-30 minutes long, with every class containing up to 25 videos. That’s hours of video content at your disposal!
Additional Resources
There are plenty of supplemental materials you can enjoy while taking a class on MasterClass. While some people argue that taking a class here is not unlike sitting down to binge watch Netflix, since you don’t have to pass tests or show your readiness when moving on to new videos or “course segments,” the reality is that MasterClass offers so much more than a regular video streaming service.
You’ll be able to download course notes on each video that summarize key points, log your notes for each video, and even access additional reading resources so that you can truly become an expert in whatever it is you are trying to learn.
Community Support
Another much-loved feature of MasterClass is that you’ll be able to access a variety of community resources. You can join discussions, share your work, and network with other students who are taking the class. This is definitely not something you’ll find on every e-learning platform!
Ease of Use
Using MasterClass is simple. All you need to do is register to create an account. To do this, just enter your email address and pick a membership plan (this is pretty easy since there’s really only one option to choose from – it’s just a matter of deciding how you want to be billed).
Then you can search the long list of classes to find one that best interests you. One of the easiest ways to find a new class is to search the categories. There are several class categories you can choose from, including:
- Design and Style
- Arts and Entertainment
- Music
- Food
- Business
- Sports and Gaming
- Writing
Content Quality
MasterClass courses are known for their outstanding quality. Take just one, and you’re sure to agree. You’ll be able to take courses in dozens of different topics here, and because each class only lasts a few minutes or so, you won’t have to worry about feeling like you’re wasting too much time.
The instructors here know their stuff, and the video quality is top-notch. From expert editing to superior graphics and music scores, you’ll find that the content is some of the best, particularly when compared to other e-learning platforms.
Customer Support
If you have any issue with MasterClass, you can get in touch with customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are several ways you can do this.
The website has an email request form on its webpage along with a phone line you can contact. You can also log on to the customer support section of the website if you’re looking for information on how to get involved in the MasterClass partnership program.
Learning Experience
As a student in MasterClass, you’ll be able to choose from several different ways to watch. You can watch and engage with classes on your laptop or desktop computer, on an iPhone or Android device (though you can’t yet download for offline viewing on Android), or via an Apple TV, Roku TV, or Amazon Fire TV.
As a student, you’ll enjoy the high-quality streaming quality and find that it’s quite easy to move through various video lessons. You can sit through video tutorials and complete a whole class all at once or you can pace yourself and just take a lesson or two a day to spread out the learning and make sure you’re getting everything you can from the content of the online classes.
The learning experience on MasterClass is really unlike that which you’d receive on any other e-learning platform. Courses are engaging and you’ll learn new skills, practically without even realizing it.
MasterClass Pricing Model
Next, it’s time to look at the MasterClass price.There is just one flat-rate MasterClass subscription cost for you to consider. Unfortunately, one of the biggest disadvantages of the MasterClass price system is that there is no free trial program. You take it or you leave it.
The MasterClass subscription cost is $180 for a full year. You can pay this out at $15 per month or all at once. Although this is a reasonable price, $180 is not pocket change, admittedly. However, it’s reasonable given the backgrounds of the instructors and the high production quality you’ll get on every video.
It’s important to note that, while there is no free trial program, MasterClass does offer a few other incentives. For example, several times throughout the year, the company will offer a 2-for-1 deal in which you can purchase an annual membership for yourself and give one to a friend. Also, MasterClass has a solid 30-day money-back guarantee. If you decide that MasterClass isn’t for you you can access this guarantee within that time frame.
At one point in time, MasterClass also offered a student discount. However, this is no longer available (at least not at the time of writing this article). In the past, MasterClass also used to offer just single classes, for which you would pay $90, but this is also no longer an option.
There is also a MasterClass plan for businesses. You can get a group rate of up to 30% off when you purchase 20 or more annual memberships. That’s quite a bargain, especially if you are planning on getting your entire team of employees signed up for MasterClass. It’s a great way to show that you care about your workers and can also help to foster a culture of creativity among your team.
What Courses are Offered on MasterClass?
In general, you can learn just about anything you want in MasterClass. MasterClass online classes review some of the following subjects:
- Design & Style
- Arts & Entertainment
- Music
- Business
- Sports & Gaming
- Writing
- Science & Tech
- Home & Lifestyle
- Community & Government
- Wellness
- Food
The Advantages (Pros) of Masterclass
MasterClass Online Classes Review a Large Variety of Subjects
With MasterClass, you’ll be able to take classes in a wide variety of categories. From journalism to acting, athletics to writing and more, you’ll find everything you could possibly want on this platform. With nine categories to choose from at the time of writing this article and new categories and classes added daily, you won’t have a hard time finding something that interests you in MasterClass.
What will be challenging? Deciding what to watch first!
Great Teachers
You will learn from some of the best and brightest minds when you decide to take classes on MasterClass. You will learn from people who are the top of their chosen professions and since the videos are on the longer side, with dozens of videos per class, you’ll never feel as though these instructors are simply skimming over the topics. You’ll get an in-depth education and real teaching.
Excellent Video Quality
Unlike some other educational platforms that feature videos that seem as though they were recorded with somebody’s old smartphone, the video quality on MasterClass is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. They are filmed with professional lighting, sound, camerawork, and even music, making the videos not only educational, but also enjoyable to watch.
On the Go Viewing
Although MasterClass doesn’t yet offer capabilities for Android users, you can watch MasterClass videos on your cell phone as long as you have an iOS operating system. This adds to the overall enjoyability and convenience factor of using the platform.
Easy to Understand Content
Last but not least, the classes that you take on MasterClass won’t just hold your interest and teach you new things, but they’re also easy to navigate. The courses on here will allow you to learn new things and become a true expert in your chosen subject.
The Disadvantages (Cons) of Masterclass
Pre-Recorded Course Segments
Let’s be clear – if you want to learn from a real-life instructor, MasterClass is not for you. In fact, the sad reality is that most e-learning platforms probably won’t fulfill that need for you, if that’s what you’re in the market for, because most consist primarily of pre-recorded lessons. You won’t be able to access question and answer sessions, coaching seminars, or one-on-one lessons.
There is no direct interaction with the instructor at all – so if you were hoping to get up close and personal with Natalie Portman, another one of MasterClass’s celebrity instructors, sorry! It’s just not going to happen.
No Free Trial
While MasterClass subscriptions are offered at a reasonable price, there is, unfortunately, no free trial to help you determine whether the MasterClass cost is worth it. That can be a downside for sure, especially when you consider that most e-learning platforms out there offer free trial programs to help you figure out whether their courses are right for you.
Courses Are Not Accredited
Another downside of using MasterClass is that you can’t use the credentials from taking the course to help you get into a college. Unlike college classes that you might take online, these are not accredited. You can’t use them to replace college-level courses. While you might, in some cases, be able to use them on your resume to help you get a job, they aren’t backed by any kind of authority or accreditation at all.
MasterClass Alternatives
If you’re looking for alternatives to MasterClass, there are several other options you might consider, including websites like edX and Coursera.
The main benefit of both edX and Coursera, when compared to MasterClass, ist that these are typically structured as nonprofit platforms offering courses for college credit. With both of these platforms, you’ll be able to get college-level training in typical topics like Italian, Statistics, or Business Fundamentals. You may be able to get course credit for these kinds of classes, allowing you to advance academically as well as professionally.
However, the learning experience on these other platforms simply doesn’t stack up to what you’ll get with MasterClass. MasterClass will teach you how to become a “master” of your craft and it focuses more on disciplines that aren’t offered by traditional colleges. The courses are far more engaging and artistic than the ones offered by traditional e-learning platforms.
You also won’t find e-learning platforms that have quite the same caliber of instruction that you’ll get from MasterClass. After all, where else are you going to learn magic from Penn and Teller or baking from Dominique Ansell? Only MasterClass, that’s for sure.
Conclusion
Is MasterClass worth it? That’s for you to decide. However, as you will find echoed in most MasterClass reviews from students, this online education platform is absolutely worth the $180 subscription fee. You’ll be able to learn about a wide variety of new subjects from the comfort of your own home – and you won’t feel like you’re cutting owners in doing so, either.
Although many e-learning platforms feature video tutorials taught by teachers who kind of know what they are doing, that is not the case with MasterClass. Here, you’ll learn from people who not only have an enchanting presence on camera, but also know what they’re talking about.
Hopefully, our review of MasterClass has been helpful in leading you to your next decisions about where to take online classes. Good luck – and enjoy!
FAQ
Is MasterClass legit?
MasterClass is often hailed as too good to be true, but while it seems to be a scam, that’s fortunately not the case. This program is a great value, especially given the quality of the instructors and the production quality of the videos. It’s 100% legit and absolutely worth your time.
Is MasterClass worth the money?
That depends on who you ask. While some students argue that $180 is too much for online courses, it’s still cheaper than what a Premium Membership would cost for many other e-learning platforms.
How much does MasterClass cost?
When you sign up for a MasterClass membership, you’ll pay just $180 per year. This membership fee will provide you with access to all of the classes that are currently available on the platform as well as ones that have yet to launch. Therefore, you won’t pay per class but instead you will pay for a large, all-encompassing membership.
Does MasterClass have a free trial?
MasterClass does not have a free trial. You may see a free trial listed as one of the MasterClass plans on third-party websites, but if you do some digging into the actual MasterClass website, you’ll see that the platform does not offer this as a feature – the websites offering the discount are likely doing so in error or as a scam.
Can I put MasterClass on my resume?
You can put Masterlcass on your resume but you may want to use your best judgment when deciding where or not it makes sense to.
For example, it only makes sense to put MasterClass on your resume if you took an actual class. If you participated in a lecture series, it does not make sense to include it on your resume since it doesn’t actually demonstrate that you gained anything from watching the lecture – there was no analysis of your acquired skills at the end, in other words.
MasterClass also does not offer certificates of completion. For many students, that may be viewed as a disadvantage, particularly if you’re trying to take classes to get ahead in your industry. However, if you’re only taking classes for their entertainment value, it’s probably not a dealbreaker.
Can I cancel MasterClass at any time?
You can cancel MasterClass at any time but it’s important to note that payments are nonrefundable and there are no credits or refunds issued for partially used periods. You can cancel your recurring subscription whenever you’d like, but you will not be refunded subscription fees that were already paid.
Can I download the classes for offline learning?
Usually, you can download most MasterClass course materials from the site for offline learning. However, you cannot download video lessons to your computer. You can download some video lessons to your iPhone or iPad (this feature is available via the iOS app but is not yet available for Android). You’ll be able to view these materials, along with course workbooks, also available for download, when you are working offline.
