2020 CreativeLive Review: Classes, Pricing & Promos, Reputation
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To keep our website running, we partner up with some of the companies featured in our reviews. This means that Review42.com may receive compensation from the companies we review when you sign up for a service or purchase a product using one of our links, at no cost to you. Our goal is to test, evaluate and spread the word about solutions that work. Therefore, the expressed opinions in this article are independent and unbiased. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Strengths
- Live-streamed classes are free
- Classes taught by professionals
- 30-day refund policy for individual classes
Weaknesses
- No accreditation offered
- Short 7-day refund period for the Creator Pass
Key Details
YEARS IN BUSINESS
8
BBB RATING
A+
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Email, Phone
MOBILE APP
Yes
CATEGORIES
Photo & Video, Money & Life, Art & Design, Craft & Maker, Music & Audio
FREE TRIAL
Yes
Since 2010, CreativeLive has been helping people pursue their passions by providing those who want to join the creative community with access to online courses curated by industry leaders.
In this CreativeLive review, we’ll take a closer look at:
- The platform’s offer
- How much it costs
- What makes it stand out
- What support you can expect
- What users are saying about it
CreativeLive Key Details
Who Benefits from CreativeLive and Who is it Best For?
These days, the CreativeLive community is more than 10 million strong. CreativeLive is specifically aimed at and tailored to creatives – so whether you already are one or aim to become one, this platform is highly recommended.
While this platform is ideal for all creatives, one look at a CreativeLive review of the course by Sue Bryce reveals that it’s particularly well-suited for photographers.
What Different Products Does the Platform Provide?
CreativeLive user reviews often remark that even though the platform only has 5 categories to pick from, these categories are full of sub-categories. At the moment, the platform offers 1,500 classes.
- Photo & Video: The sub-categories cover everything from cameras and techniques to genres and software as well as the essentials like lighting, posing, and business.
- Money & Life: The sub-categories include skills development (writing, communication, podcasting, and leadership & management), entrepreneurship, and self-improvement.
- Art & Design: The sub-categories cover important design essentials like typography, color, branding, design thinking, UX, logo design, and WordPress development as well as a whole section on different software.
- Craft & Maker: The sub-categories cover classes like jewelry design, needlework, papercrafts, business, as well as topics like cake decorating, floral design, interior design, and party crafts.
- Music & Audio: The sub-categories relate to technique, software, and the essentials of songwriting, sound mixing, audio engineering, studio passes, and the music business.
Aside from its relatively large offering, what makes CreativeLive stand out is that its classes are offered by industry leaders. Think Grammy winners and internationally acclaimed professionals. To put it bluntly: would you rather learn about fashion photography from THE Nigel Barker or someone who potentially has as much experience as you do?
Plans & Pricing
Now to answer the question that is on everyone’s mind: How much does CreativeLive cost?
CreativeLive pricing is split into the following three categories:
- Live Streams: ALL CreativeLive live classes are free and streamed in real-time. Most of the CreativeLive reviews from 2020 so far indicate that if you’re a disciplined person with excellent time management skills this free option will suit you just fine.
- Individual Classes: The individual classes offered by CreativeLive cost anything from $29 to $200. However, CreativeLive often runs massive discounts on their courses so you will have to check the current prices to be sure how much a particular class costs.
- Creator Pass: If you want to take advantage of all the courses CreativeLive offers, at your own pace, we recommend the Creator Pass. This option gives you access to all of their classes and the possibility to learn as and when you please. This option currently costs $39 a month or $299 per year (at the time of writing, the annual option is discounted to $149).
If you don’t mind live streams, opt for the free plan. If you have an eye on a specific course, purchase it individually. And if you’d like access to ALL classes then purchase the Creator Pass. Numerous reviews of the CreativeLive courses indicate that the Creator Pass is loaded with value and that it is the best choice – but it’s entirely up to you.
As you can tell from the above, CreativeLive frequently runs promotions and offers discounts both on their Creator Pass and their individual courses. There’s also the option to give a class to someone else as a gift, which we really love.
There are no hidden costs. The price you see is the price you pay, whether you’re looking at purchasing an individual class or the Creator Pass. Should you ever find yourself asking “How do I cancel CreativeLive?”, know that you can cancel Creator Pass anytime within your 7-day trial period and that you have a 30-day window to cancel your participation in an individual class. You’ll get your money back for both provided you cancel within the stipulated time frames.
Usability
CreativeLive customers are in for a treat as the platform is incredibly user-friendly. Start at the home page and seamlessly navigate your way to the classes, check out the instructors, read their blog, listen to their podcast, and be inspired by real success stories.
There’s also a CreativeLive app that iOS 10+ users can benefit from. At the time of writing, the platform has no plans to develop an Android app. CreativeLive app reviews indicate that the app is simple and easy to navigate.
Help and Support
CreativeLive offers support via email only Monday-Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT. This can be a big disadvantage for anyone who wants efficient and quick customer service.
Pros & Cons
Affordable
Live-streamed classes are free
Classes taught by professionals
30-day refund policy for individual classes
No accreditation offered
Some individual classes are very expensive
7-day refund period for the Creator Pass is too short
CreativeLive User Reviews & Testimonials
CreativeLive has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the best. You’ll be able to find a CreativeLive classes review pretty much anywhere online. Somewhat surprisingly, when looking for honest CreativeLive reviews, Reddit is a fantastic resource!
According to the few available CreativeLive Trustpilot reviews, the customer service is not very satisfactory, but the quality of the class content is unprecedented. Other than that, CreativeLive negative reviews are pretty hard to come by. Generally, most CreativeLive customer complaints are rooted in poor customer service.
CreativeLive positive reviews often speak of incredible class content, phenomenal instructors, and seamless payments.
Alternatives
Overall, CreativeLive ratings are high for a reason. But if you feel that this platform may not be right for you, you’re not necessarily out of options.
CreativeLive vs Skillshare
Skillshare is one of CreativeLive’s biggest competitors. Skillshare is generally better known and offers an assortment of free courses you can access at any time. There is a membership option for $19 per month or $99 per year. It covers much of the same creative categories as CreativeLive. Skillshare may be cheaper, but pretty much anyone can create a course so there’s no guarantee you’ll be getting content worth paying for.
CreativeLive vs MasterClass
CreativeLive and MasterClass are evenly matched. Both offer classes from high-quality instructors. MasterClass’s pricing starts at around $100 per class, and an annual pass costs $180. However, CreativeLive has more than 1,500 classes on offer while MasterClass only has 50! Plus, MasterClass’s courses tend to be more philosophical and theoretical in nature, whereas CreativeLive teaches you every aspect of a certain creative topic.
Summary
This CreativeLive review and as well as CreativeLive reviews by students show that this platform is one that every creative should consider. From its free live streaming service to its pool of 700 professional instructors, it’s a winner.
If after reading this CreativeLive review you’re still unsure, simply watch a couple of live streams to get a taste of the high-quality class content that’s on offer. Then purchase an individual class and do so knowing that their 30-day refund policy protects your purchase. Finally, once you have a feel for the platform and know it’s right for you, you can decide whether you want to get the Creator Pass.
Either way, you literally have nothing to lose. Creativity is calling – are you going to answer?
FAQ
Are Online Photography Classes Worth It?
If the numerous verified CreativeLive reviews are anything to go by, yes. Online photography courses allow those who wouldn’t normally be able to take part in a photography course - e.g. stay at home parents or people with a full-time job - the opportunity to hone their skills. Naturally, you won’t get that physical interaction between teacher and student but that’s a small sacrifice.
How Do I Take Live Classes Online?
Taking live classes online is super simple. All you need is an internet-enabled device and a stable internet connection. From there, you choose a platform that allows for live class streaming, like CreativeLive, and start learning.
How Does Creative Live Work?
After reading this CreativeLive review you likely think that CreativeLive is simple to use. You’re right! For live streams, simply visit the CreativeLive website and click on the “Streaming Now” button. For individual classes, go to their classes page and select the one you’d like to purchase, create an account, and enter your payment information. For the Creator Pass, click the blue “Get the Pass” button, pick between the Monthly Pass or the Annual Pass and enter your payment information.