Many of us have skills we want to learn or improve on — like becoming a better negotiator or taking home cooking to the next level. But most of us don’t want to spend the amount of time or money needed to take traditional in-person courses.

Fortunately, online classes are a great way to overcome these barriers. They’re often more affordable than face-to-face courses. And most can be completed at your own pace, in your free time.

In this review, we’ll be comparing 2 online education platforms that you may have already come across — Mindvalley and MasterClass.

Both lean towards personal development education. But there are some key differences you need to be aware of in terms of pricing, instructor quality, courses offered, and more.

Keep reading to find out which is best for you and the skills you’re looking to enhance.

How Do Online Courses Work?

Online courses involve student learning through digital platforms — so this usually includes video lectures or conferences, online homework or quizzes, and peer or tutor discussion forums.

There are several pros and cons to this learning style in terms of time commitment, cost, instructor quality, learning format, and flexibility in learning. But the same goes for learning through in-person courses, books, coaching, or mentoring.

So which is best for you really depends on your preferences and how important flexible learning times are to you.

Whichever you choose, all courses require discipline and organization to be effective. Here are some tips on how to follow through on your personal development goals: 

1. Choose a goal that’s clearly defined.
2. Set out a plan on how you will achieve your goals — like gaining knowledge from other sources or practicing your skill.
3. Put aside a set amount of time each day where you will implement this plan. It can be as little as 10 minutes a day.
4. Get support from others to help keep you accountable and motivated. (1)

7-day free trial: Mindvalley

What is Mindvalley?

Mindvalley is an online education platform that focuses on personal development themes like mind, body, soul, entrepreneurship, and relationships.

It also features a unique social network community to allow users to support each other on their journey.

From $14/month (billed annually): MasterClass

What is MasterClass?

MasterClass is an online course platform with celebrities and top industry minds as instructors. So you can learn directly from the best like Serena Williams and Gordon Ramsay.

They have courses covering a wide range of topics, including music, writing, acting, entrepreneurship, and more.

Mindvalley vs. MasterClass

7-day free trial: Mindvalley

Mindvalley Review

Mindvalley was started in 2002 by Vishen Lakhiani as a simple e-commerce store that only sold a handful of digital self-help courses. 

It’s now grown into one of the most popular online learning platforms with over 10 million users.

Mindvalley focuses on helping people learn about topics that are often left out of regular education but are key to living a fulfilling life — like how to enhance your mind, body, and spirit.

How Does Mindvalley work?

Mindvalley works mostly as a subscription. So you will pay a monthly or yearly fee and get access to the vast majority of their courses. Only Mindvalley’s Partner Program courses are not included in their subscription. These need to be bought individually.

Here’s how you get started:

1. Create a Mindvalley account and select your preferred membership payment option.
2. Complete a quick Mindvalley assessment where you will receive some insights into what learning areas you might want to explore.
3. Choose your preferred programs — You can access them through your computer or the Mindvalley app on handheld devices.
4. Start your course and join communities — Lessons will be released daily. And you can interact with other users through the community section.

7-day free trial: Mindvalley

Mindvalley Courses Available

Mindvalley categorizes their courses into 8 topics:

• Mind (e.g. Superbrain with Jim Kwik)
• Body (e.g. The Longevity Blueprint with Ben Greenfield)
• Soul (e.g. Energy Medicine with Donna Eden)
• Entrepreneurship (e.g. The Quest for Personal Mastery with Dr. Srikumar Rao)
• Career (e.g. Speak and Inspire with Lisa Nichols)
• Relationships (e.g. Conscious Uncoupling with Katherine Woodward Thomas)
• Parenting (e.g. Conscious Parenting Mastery with Dr. Shefali Tsabary)
• Partner programs — not available through Mindvalley membership — you need to buy these courses individually (e.g. Wildfit: Experience Food Freedoms by Eric Edmeades)

Mindvalley Course Format

Short video lessons

Mindvalley courses are delivered chiefly in bite-sized daily video lessons that are 5-20 minutes long. These short bursts of consistent learning help users to retain maximum information while keeping their motivation to complete the course.

Mindvalley has one of the best course completion rates for online learning — up to 5x more than regular online learning. Along the way, you’ll get small pieces of homework to do outside of the lessons.

Private online community

One of the highlights of Mindvalley is their private social network. This allows you to connect with other users in the Mindvalley community and interact with other course members (e.g., to share ideas and questions about course content).

Certification

Certification is now available for some Mindvalley programs. You will need to complete a test after the last lesson of the program and score at least 80% to receive a pass.

This can be a great way for personally assessing what you have learned.

Which Mindvalley Course is Best?

Some of Mindvalley’s most popular courses include:

1. Superbrain by Jim Kwik — how to optimize your learning and memory for success in all areas of your life (2 million+ enrollments).
2. Uncompromised Life by Marisa Peer — Break free from self-limiting beliefs and live to your fullest potential (1.5 million+ enrollments).
3. Energy Medicine by Donna Eden — Reinvigorate your health and wellness through energy healing (500,000+ enrollments).

7-day free trial: Mindvalley

What Makes Mindvalley Different? 

A few things make Mindvalley stand out from other online course providers:  

• Non-traditional topics — Instead of focusing on traditional university subjects like coding or management, Mindvalley caters to those that want to learn more about “life” topics like optimizing your mindset or nourishing your soul.
• Optimized learning — Unlike other platforms that have little regulation in how individual courses are delivered, Mindvalley makes sure that each is structured to maximize learning. Most are delivered as small daily videos that aren’t so long that you lose focus. And not too short that it loses value.
• Active community — Connect with other users and support each other through their online social network. You can discuss things with others and ask questions.
• Flexible learning — Watch your lessons whenever suits you.

Alternatives to Mindvalley

If you’re looking for more traditional university topics like coding, management, or finance, you can check out Coursera or edX. Both offer online courses from top-rated universities like Harvard and Stanford.

Mindvalley Course Prices

Mindvalley works on a subscription basis that gives you unlimited access to 50+ of their courses, and there are a few pricing options:

• Monthly: $99/month
• Yearly: $41.60/month

Note that there is a small selection of courses that are not included in the membership, and they are called Partner Programs:

• Wildfit: Experience Food Freedom by Eric Edmeades: $1,499
• Lifebook Online by Jon and Missy Butcher: $1,250

Mindvalley Free Courses

Mindvalley offers 8-10 free masterclasses that are 60-90 minutes long. Some are ongoing, while others are released on a weekly time-limited basis.

Free class: Health and Weightloss Resolution with WildFit

Mindvalley Pros and Cons 

Mindvalley Free Trial

7-day free trial (all classes): Mindvalley

Paid subscriptions also come with a 15-day money-back guarantee.

Mindvalley Reviews: What Others are Saying

Mindvalley received an average of 4.5/5 stars from 3625 users across 2 platforms (HighYa and Trustpilot). Many users described their courses as transformative and uplifting.

Several posted that it has helped them to change unhelpful habits or lift their spirits at times where they had serious self-doubt.

The way the classes are presented has also been praised by many as they found them engaging and they were able to sustain their attention to the end.

Of the negative comments, some felt that the Mindvalley marketing can be pushy (e.g. receiving many promotional emails). And customer service was hit and miss. Some said they were responsive, while others had difficulties getting refunds.

Is Mindvalley Legit?

Yes, Mindvalley is a legit learning platform for personal development courses with instructors who are respected leaders in their individual fields.

It suits most people that are interested in more “life lesson” topics like changing your mindset, accelerating learning, developing healthy relationships, or productivity.

But it’s important to note that their “spiritual” courses lean more towards eastern philosophies. So it would be better for those that are interested in these areas of learning.

The teaching format is also presented well through short, daily video lessons. And the private social network allows you to discuss and engage other students to maximize learning and motivation.

From $14/month (billed annually): MasterClass

MasterClass Review

MasterClass was started in 2015 by David Rogier and Aaron Rasmussen with the simple mission to develop a program that would allow anyone to learn from the best in their fields. (3)

This formed the foundation of MasterClass. Now they have over 150+ celebrities and notable individuals sharing their knowledge with the world. Course leaders include Gordon Ramsay, Usher, Annie Leibovitz, Simone Biles, and more.

How Does MasterClass Work?

Here’s how to get started on MasterClass:

1. Sign up for an account and choose your preferred subscription option.
2. Get unlimited access to 150+ online courses across 11 categories.
3. Start watching classes on your computer or mobile device with the MasterClass app.

MasterClass Courses Available

MasterClass courses fall into 11 categories, and here’s a quick overview of what they offer:

• Arts and entertainment: Poetry, photography, acting, film direction, portraiture, and more.
• Home and lifestyle: Home cooking, wine appreciation, gardening, interior design, and more.
• Business: Branding, negotiation, leadership, entrepreneurship, and more.
• Music: Singing, songwriting, music production, and more.
• Writing: Creative writing, screenwriting, poetry, and more.
• Food: Home cooking, mixology, BBQ, various cultural cuisine, and more.
• Design and style: Fashion design, personal style, graphic design, and more.
• Sports and gaming: Tennis, chess, gymnastics, skateboarding, and more.
• Community and Government: Leadership, campaigning strategy, diplomacy, presidential history, and more.
• Wellness: Sleep, mindset, mindfulness, yoga, and more.
• Science and tech: Scientific thinking, mathematical thinking, conservation, space, and more.

Who Is On MasterClass — Celebrity Teachers

Here are some examples of the celebrity teachers that are on MasterClass:

• Serena Williams
• Gordon Ramsay
• Natalie Portman
• Malcolm Gladwell
• Anna Wintour
• Annie Leibovitz
• Bill Clinton
• Usher
• Dan Brown
• Steve Martin
• And many more — 100+ in total

From $14/month (billed annually): MasterClass

MasterClass Course Format

MasterClass classes have about 2-5 hours of video content in total. And this is divided into shorter mini lessons (about 20 mini lessons of around 10 minutes per lesson). You can learn at your own pace and timing.

There will also be downloadable guides and a class discussion forum for you to interact with other users.

Best Celebrity-Taught MasterClass Classes

Here’s a look at some of MasterClass’ most popular courses:

• Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking II
• Chris Voss Teaches the Art of Negotiation
• Steve Martin Teaches Comedy
• Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing
• Kelly Wearstler Teaches Interior Design
• Alicia Keys Teaches Songwriting and Producing

What Makes MasterClass Different?

Here are some of MasterClass’ most unique features:

• You get to learn directly from celebrities and famous thought leaders — household names like Christina Aguilera, Marc Jacobs, Steve Martin, Malcolm Gladwell, and more.
• The instructors invest a lot in developing the class content — they didn’t just leave it to others to work on it for them.
• It targets a wide variety of creative and lifestyle topics like singing, sport, cooking, writing, and photography.
• You get unlimited access to all their classes through their subscription.

Alternatives to MasterClass

For those on a tight budget or who prefer to pay once for courses you can check out any of Udemy’s 150,000+ courses — some of which cover personal development topics.

If you’re interested specifically in IT or coding courses, Edureka is another online learning alternative. (See our full comparison here: Edureka vs. Udemy).

How Much Does a MasterClass Cost?

Firstly it’s important to note that MasterClass only offers annual subscriptions (no monthly subscriptions). But if you break it down into months, here’s how much you would pay for their different subscription options:

• Standard: $180 yearly (works out to be $15/month)
• Plus: $240 yearly (works out to be $20/month)
• Premium: $276 yearly (works out to be $23/month)

MasterClass Reviews: What Others are Saying

MasterClass got an average score of 4.1 out of 5 stars from 7,736 users across two platforms (Trustpilot and Amazon).

Overall, the instructors, content, and video production were top-notch for most people.

Many loved how engaging the lessons were from start to finish. And the insights they derived from the classes made the subscription worthwhile.

Of the minority of reviewers who were disappointed with the platform, several mentioned that they felt the classes were a little overhyped.

They were expecting more thorough content from a paid subscription. But this could also be due to misinformed expectations.

Users should note that the content will be similar to any other masterclass — don’t expect to get a full step-by-step course on how to go from a complete beginner to a pro. 

The instructors are giving you their personal tips, tricks, or workflow that have gotten them to the top of their field.

Some reviewers also wished that there was some way to interact more with the instructors through the discussion forum.

Overall, most said that MasterClass is a great way to enhance your skills and develop your knowledge in many areas, as seen in these reviews:

MasterClass Pros and Cons

MasterClass Celebrity Classes

Starting at $14/month for all classes (billed annually): MasterClass Online Classes

MasterClass offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is MasterClass Worth Buying?

MasterClass is worth it for those who what to improve their skills and find value in learning from industry celebrities. Imagine being able to take singing lessons from Christina Aguilera or tennis lessons from Serena Williams!

The style of lessons follows a typical masterclass. So instructors won’t be giving in-depth beginner content. Instead, it focuses on providing expert tips and tricks to elevate skill or performance.

Also, bear in mind that course categories center mostly around arts and lifestyle themes.

Other than that, the production quality is top-notch, which adds to the engagement factor.

Mindvalley or MasterClass, Which Is Better?

Mindvalley will be better for those that prefer mental and spiritual personal development courses. Or who prefer a monthly subscription option. On the other hand, MasterClass is best if you are more interested in creative or lifestyle skills (e.g., singing, cooking, or photography) classes, and you want to learn from celebrity instructors.

Both are great options in terms of video production style, instructor quality, and flexible online class delivery. But here’s a closer look at the key differences to keep in mind:

Class Topics 

Mindvalley and MasterClass are clearly targeting different interests. However, there is a slight overlap in their business, mindset, or career courses.

Mindvalley is skewed towards personal development and optimizing your mindset. Like for achieving success or reaching your full potential. And their spiritual classes focus mostly on exploring eastern philosophies.

MasterClass targets more skills-based personal development. Like cooking, music production, photography, writing, and art. There are some mental and business topics as well, such as how to lead winning teams or how to develop a winning mindset.

The lesson topics alone are likely to determine which is better for you as they cater to very different needs. 

Instructor Quality

Mindvalley instructors are respected and well-known in their industries. But MasterClass instructors are actual celebrities and household names — like Christina Aguilera, Marc Jacobs, and Serena Williams.

This might not directly impact the quality of the course content. But some learners value getting insider tips from famous personalities who have already succeeded in their industries.

Pricing Compared

For pricing, Mindvalley’s monthly cost is more expensive than MasterClass (the start price is $41.60 vs. $14 per month).

However, bear in mind that MasterClass only has annual subscriptions. While Mindvalley has both yearly and monthly subscription options.

Certification

If you want certification to validate your learning, Mindvalley is the only one of these two options that offers this. Although when it comes to personal development, having a certificate may not matter as much in terms of using it for work or schooling purposes.

Overall, both Mindvalley and MasterClass are excellent choices for those that want to learn from industry experts to improve themselves. Their money-back guarantees (15 days and 30 days respectively) give you a risk-free way to test which one is better for your own earning and development.

Mindvalley FAQs

Is Mindvalley a reputable company?

Yes, Mindvalley is a reputable company with industry leaders as instructors. These include Jim Kwik, Marisa Peer, and Vishen Lakhiani.

How long are Mindvalley courses?

Courses have about 5-35+ hours of video content in total (most are about 10+ hours). But this content is split up and released into shorter lessons that are watched daily over 30+ days.

Best courses for self-development

Some of the most popular courses for self-development are:

1. Superbrain by Jim Kwik — how to optimize your learning and memory for success in all areas of your life (2+ million enrollments).
2. Uncompromised Life by Marisa Peer — Break free from self-limiting beliefs and live to your fullest potential (1.5+ million enrollments).
3. Energy Medicine by Donna Eden — Reinvigorate your health and wellness through energy healing (500,000+ enrollments).

How many courses are in Mindvalley?

There are 50+ courses on Mindvalley.

MasterClass FAQs

Can you get MasterClass for free?

There are no free trials for MasterClass, but they do offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. So if you’re not satisfied with the content, simply cancel your subscription within that period and request a refund.

Is it easy to cancel MasterClass?

You can easily cancel your MasterClass subscription through your online account under “Settings.” Alternatively, you can email their support team.

How do MasterClass instructors get paid?

MasterClass doesn’t currently reveal exactly how much their instructors get paid. But other sources have mentioned that they receive a base fee and a percentage of the revenue. (2)

Which MasterClass plan is best?

The Standard plan works well for those who want to save and are happy to access the classes online through only 1 device. If you need to access MasterClass on more devices simultaneously and want to download the courses for offline viewing, then the Plus and Premium options will be better for you.

Can you pay for just one MasterClass?

No, MasterClass works on a subscription basis (starting from $180 a year), which gives you unlimited access to all their 150+ courses.