You’re thinking about taking out a MasterClass subscription, but €120 a year just to watch online courses is something to think about. What few people know is that there are legal ways to halve that cost – or even reduce it further.
In this article, we break down each package, what it’s really worth, and how to pay for your MasterClass subscription at the fairest price at june 2026.
What you actually get with a MasterClass subscription
Before we talk about price, let’s look at what you’re actually getting. A MasterClass subscription gives you access to over 200 online courses, led by recognised names in their fields. Gordon Ramsay for cooking, Neil Gaiman for writing, Serena Williams for tennis.
This isn’t a catalogue of unknown tutors. These are professionals at the very top of their fields, sharing their real-world methods.
Course formats: videos, workbooks and live sessions
Each course is divided into short video episodes, lasting between 5 and 20 minutes. You can progress at your own pace, on your mobile or TV.
In addition, each course includes a downloadable PDF workbook. This document summarises the key points and provides practical exercises. This is where most subscribers stop — the workbook often goes unused.
MasterClass also offers occasional live sessions with certain instructors. These provide an opportunity for direct interaction, but their frequency varies depending on the subject area.
Subjects covered: from cooking to finance and writing
The catalogue covers a broad spectrum:
- Writing and storytelling — screenwriting, fiction, journalism
- Culinary arts — chef’s techniques, pastry-making, world cuisine
- Business and leadership — strategy, negotiation, personal finance
- Music and performance — composition, singing, instruments
- Sport and wellbeing — training, mindset, recovery
The content is produced to a cinematic standard. The videos are polished, the sets carefully crafted. You’re watching someone exceptional show you how they think and work.
But let’s be honest: most subscribers only take two or three courses a year. The range on offer is extensive, but not structured for progressive learning. This isn’t a qualification-based course. It’s a source of inspiration and methodology.
If you want to enjoy it without paying the full price, the co-subscription via Sharesub allows you to share the costs with other users, legally and automatically.
How much does a MasterClass subscription cost in 2026: the actual price per plan
MasterClass only lists its prices on an annual basis. There are no monthly subscriptions. You either pay the full amount up front, or you miss out. Here’s what that means in practice.
Individual, Duo, Family: what each plan actually offers
There are currently three plans available on the official MasterClass website. Their names are straightforward, but the differences are worth a closer look.
| Plan | Annual price | Monthly equivalent | Number of accounts | Cost per profile via Sharesub co-subscription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | ~€110/year | ~€9 per month | 1 | — |
| Duo | ~€140 per year | ~€12 per month | 2 | ~€5.80 per month per profile |
| Family | ~€165 per year | ~€14 per month | 6 | ~€2.30/month/profile |
Prices checked on masterclass.com on june 2026. MasterClass regularly adjusts its promotions depending on markets and periods — always check the price displayed at the time of your order.
What the marketing material quickly glosses over: the Individual plan does not allow sharing. One profile, one screen. If you want to watch on a second device at the same time, it’s not possible.
The Duo plan costs around €30 more per year than the Individual plan for a second profile. If you share it via Sharesub, it works out at less than €6 per month per member.
The Family plan offers the best value for money: ~€165 for 6 profiles, or around €27 per person per year. That’s less than €2.30 per month per user.
But here’s the catch: MasterClass doesn’t clearly state that the six members must belong to the same household. In practice, there’s no publicly documented address verification in the current terms and conditions.
Another point that’s often overlooked: the courses are identical across all plans. You get access to exactly the same catalogue and the same instructors, whether you pay for the Individual or Family plan. The only difference is the number of accounts.
The result: with a full group sharing the Family plan, the cost per person drops to around €2.30 per month. This is precisely what Sharesub enables: organising this shared subscription automatically, with secure payments between members.
Is MasterClass worth the asking price? Actual quality, limitations and user reviews
The production is polished, and the instructors are reputable. But is that enough to justify the subscription? Here’s what users are really saying — without sugar-coating it.
What justifies the price
MasterClass courses are filmed like high-end documentaries. Gordon Ramsay teaches cooking, Serena Williams teaches tennis, Neil Gaiman teaches writing. You gain access to figures you wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach, at a cost far lower than that of a private, in-person masterclass.
The content is rich in terms of methodology and approach. If you want to understand how an expert thinks, structures their work or deals with failure, this is invaluable. On Trustpilot, MasterClass has a rating of 3.4/5 based on over 1,000 reviews at june 2026 — positive feedback regularly highlights the cinematic quality and the depth of the lessons.
Practical limitations to be aware of before subscribing
No recognised certification. MasterClass does not award any diplomas or badges that would add value to a CV or LinkedIn profile. If you’re looking for a qualification-based course, this isn’t the right platform.
The content is static. The courses aren’t updated regularly. A lesson on digital marketing recorded three years ago may already be partly out of date in such a fast-moving sector.
There’s virtually no interaction — and this is where the most common criticisms on Trustpilot converge. Let’s take a concrete example: you’re taking Neil Gaiman’s writing course. You get access to 19 episodes, each lasting 10 minutes, and an 80-page workbook. That’s a lot of content. But if you submit a piece of writing, nobody replies. No feedback on your exercises, no corrections, no follow-up. You consume the content, but you don’t really practise.
Who is MasterClass really for?
- Creative, curious people looking for inspiration (writing, cooking, music, photography).
- People who don’t read much but enjoy an immersive video format.
- Subscribers who share access within a group — the value for money improves significantly.
Who it isn’t for
- People looking to quickly develop practical skills.
- Those who need marked exercises or structured educational support.
- People aiming for a certified career change.
Put simply: MasterClass is premium inspiration, not a school. The value for money depends entirely on what you’re looking for. If you just want to explore a subject or keep your curiosity alive, it might be worth it — especially if you share the subscription to split the cost.
Legal ways to pay less for your MasterClass subscription
MasterClass isn’t the cheapest subscription on the market. But there are several practical ways to reduce the cost without resorting to dodgy tricks.
The 30-day money-back guarantee
MasterClass offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its plans. If the content isn’t for you, you can request a full refund. It’s a genuine way out, to be used honestly.
Seasonal promotions
MasterClass regularly runs promotional offers: Black Friday, the January back-to-school period, and the summer sales. Discounts can sometimes reach 30% off the annual subscription. The best approach: don’t pay the full price without checking the current promotions at june.
To make sure you don’t miss a thing, sign up for the MasterClass newsletter or set up a Google Alert for “MasterClass promo” — you’ll be notified as soon as an offer is released, without having to check the website every day.
Referral codes
Some content creators or former subscribers share MasterClass discount codes. These codes sometimes offer a free month or a reduced rate for the first year. Have a look on forums such as Reddit before making any purchase.
The Duo or Family plan
MasterClass offers a Duo plan (2 accounts) and a Family plan (up to 6 accounts) for a single price. If you have friends or family who are interested, this is immediately better value than the individual plan.
- Individual plan: ~€10/month
- Duo plan: ~€13/month for 2 people
- Family plan: ~€16/month for 6 people
Even with a 30% discount, the Family plan still costs you around €134 a year. Split between 6 people via Sharesub, this works out at around €22 a year — without having to hunt for a deal or sort out refunds between yourselves manually.
MasterClass shared subscription: split the bill as a group with Sharesub
MasterClass isn’t cheap. At around €120 a year for the Individual plan, the cost might put you off. But with a shared subscription via Sharesub, you pay a fraction of the price — legally, automatically, and without the hassle of sorting out reimbursements with friends.
How to create or join a sharing group on Sharesub
The principle is simple. Someone signs up for a MasterClass Duo or Family plan, then creates a listing on Sharesub. The other members join the group and pay their share automatically each month.
Would you rather join than create one? Just browse the available listings, join a group with a spare place, and you’re all set.
Here’s what happens in practice for the group organiser: you enter the total cost of your Family plan (e.g. €200/year), Sharesub automatically calculates each member’s share (i.e. ~€33 per year), collects payments from each participant according to this breakdown, and then pays the total amount back to you — without any bank details being shared between group members.
As a member, you join an existing group, confirm your participation, and Sharesub takes care of the rest: automatic monthly direct debits, payment confirmation, and no reminders for you to deal with.
No manual bank transfers, no awkward reminders. Sharesub manages payments between all members of the sharing group.
How much you actually save depending on the plan you choose
Let’s look at the figures. MasterClass prices vary depending on the plan. Here’s what it actually works out at per person when you split the costs:
| MasterClass plan | Listed annual price | Profiles included | Actual cost per profile per year | Actual cost per profile per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | ~€120 | 1 | €120 | ~€10 |
| Duo | ~€160 | 2 | €80 | ~€6.70 |
| Family | ~€200 | 6 | ~€33 | ~€2.75 |
With the Family plan shared between 6 people, you get access to the entire MasterClass catalogue for €2.75 a month. Sharesub automatically calculates your share as soon as the account holder enters the total amount — you don’t have to negotiate or check anything yourself.
The Duo plan is still a good option if you’re looking for a smaller group. With two of you, you split the bill in half without having to find other participants.
In both cases, Sharesub secures the transaction: the subscription owner is automatically reimbursed, and members do not share any bank details with one another. Everything is encrypted and automated.
It’s the easiest way to access courses taught by Gordon Ramsay, Martin Scorsese or Serena Williams without paying the full price. You get the content, not the price.
Should you sign up for MasterClass via June 2026? Our verdict based on your profile
It all depends on what you’re really looking for from the platform. Here are three specific profiles to help you decide.
- Occasional curious learner: you watch two or three courses a year. Join a sharing group on a Family plan via Sharesub — you’ll pay around €2.75 a month for full access, with no long-term commitment.
- Regular learner: you consume content every week. The annual Individual plan (around €120 a year) becomes cost-effective as soon as you share it with one other person via a Duo co-subscription on Sharesub, working out at €60 each.
- Professional creative: you want to provide access for several people. The Family plan shared between three users via Sharesub works out at less than €3 a month per person, with offline access included.
In any case, the MasterClass shared subscription completely changes the equation. An Individual plan at €120 per year shared between two or three people, and your actual cost plummets without losing a single access.
This is exactly what Sharesub enables: creating a secure sharing group, automating reimbursements, and enjoying MasterClass for just a few euros a month.
On its own, MasterClass is expensive. Shared via Sharesub, it’s one of the best learning platforms on the market for june 2026.
