Domestika review: Is it worth it? Everything you need to know

Nowadays, there are some excellent online courses to learn everything from basic mathematics to complex programming, but creative fields are often left in the dust. 

That’s where Domestika steps in with an incredible range of high-quality courses on creative topics like Adobe Illustrator, watercolor techniques, and even macrame knots.

So what is Domestika, and is it worth your time? I’ve been using Domestika for over five years now, and it’s quickly become my favorite online course platform.

If you’re unfamiliar with Domestika, worry not: I’ve compiled everything you need to know about the platform in this guide, including some of my favorite courses to give you a quick taste of what’s in store.

Ready to see what it’s all about? Click the button below to create a free account today!

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What is Domestika?

Domestika is an online learning platform for creatives featuring paid courses on software, crafts, illustration, and more. The platform was born over a decade ago in Spain but has since moved its headquarters to San Francisco.

In a nutshell, what sets this platform apart is its unwavering focus on creatives. Sure, there are a few Python and web programming courses, much like on Udemy or Coursera, but most courses revolve around creative topics. 

Another major feature is the exceptionally high course quality. While the quality of courses on other platforms can vary wildly, all of Domestika’s courses are incredibly well-produced.

Each course is taught by a professional in their industry, and all of the filming and production are handled by in-house professionals. The fantastic camerawork, auxiliary materials, and bustling forum community make it a great experience.

In my opinion, Domestika courses are the closest you can get to hands-on classes from the comfort of your home — and for undeniably great value. 

Most courses on the platform are in Spanish, with auto-generated subtitles in English, Portuguese, and German. Other language options include French, Italian, Polish, and Dutch. 

Although this may be a drawback for some, Domestika courses are all about showing rather than telling, so you’ll have no trouble following along! Plus, the platform offers a unique opportunity to discover new artists from around the world who you wouldn’t have otherwise heard of.

Domestika’s social media origins

Before we get into more details about courses, you should know that Domestika started its run over 15 years ago as a social media platform.

Today, Domestika is still a sought-after social media platform for creatives, allowing you to turn your profile into a portfolio of sorts. You can also follow other users, network, and check out their latest projects.  

This makes Domestika an excellent tool for finding collaborators, and the service has leaned into this even harder by creating a job board. Employers from around the world can list positions for creatives on the platform to check out.

Granted, most of these positions are based in Spain, but there are quite a few remote jobs, as well. You can also list yourself as available for freelance work in your profile.

Are Domestika courses available in English?

Since the company originated in Spain, the majority of Domestika’s catalog of courses is in Spanish. 

The platform briefly played with dubbing these courses in English, but it currently features a wide selection of courses featuring English-speaking instructors.

Unfortunately, there still isn’t the option to filter classes by audio language, so you may have to do some digging if you only want to stick to English-spoken Domestika courses — although I encourage keeping an open mind! 

However, it’s easier to find English-language courses in the app, but it has its own problems, as I’ll get to shortly.

To give you a sneak preview of which English courses to take on Domestika, check out the quick picks below. You can also see my top picks for the best classes in English here.

How does Domestika work?

Once you’ve created a free Domestika account, all you have to do is search for a course and buy it to enjoy unlimited access forever.

There is no time limit or expiration date on courses, and you do not need to pay a subscription fee or any extra fees once you’ve purchased a course. This makes it the perfect choice for busy people who need a creative outlet in their limited spare time.

To make matters even better, Domestika now includes signed course completion certificates with every course purchase. Once you’ve completed your final course project, you can either print these out or share them with prospective clients via a link or QR code.

You can access these courses on the web or on the Android and iOS apps. Lessons can be downloaded on mobile platforms for offline viewing, but this feature isn’t available on desktop platforms.

How much do Domestika courses cost?

Domestika courses typically cost between $10-40, with frequent bundles and discounts to bring prices down. A single course can run anywhere from a few hours to 10 hours or more, broken down into easy-to-digest segments.

Luckily for learners on a budget, Domestika is known for its frequent sales and course discounts, allowing you to take advantage of fantastic price drops and save money when buying classes.

At the end of each course, there’s typically a final project to bring everything you’ve learned together. You can then share these projects with other students and create a portfolio of your work to share with potential employers.

In addition, you’ll receive a class completion certificate signed by instructors when you finish. This is included with every course purchase. 

The platform also offers a subscription option called Domestika Plus. This membership offers monthly and yearly payment options and a new set of perks (but more on this shortly).

If that’s not enough, you can also use a discount code to reduce prices. Grab an exclusive 10% discount code by subscribing to the Tiny Workshops newsletter below!

What are Domestika Basics?

Domestika Basics is a popular program on the platform that teaches you everything you need to know about a piece of software from scratch. You do not need prior knowledge to take these courses, and they ramp up in difficulty as you progress.

There are more than three dozen Domestika Basics courses, although most have Spanish audio with English subtitles. They cover topics like Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Unity, Ableton Live, Procreate, and more.

The best part about Domestika Basics is that they bundle a number of separate courses together for a hugely discounted price. In-depth series can run for well over 10 hours (!) and seem to be permanently discounted from $40 to about $10.

How do Domestika Course Bundles work?

Domestika Course Bundles group together several similar courses for a hefty discount, typically 30% or 40% off sale prices.

This means you can pick up, for example, three related courses about illustration for about $25.

You also have the option to create your own bundle by selecting any 3 (or 6) courses from the platform to purchase at once. This is a great way for dedicated learners to save money if they know which courses they want to try out.

From time to time, Domestika also offers six-course bundles, which are an absolutely incredible value. Don’t hesitate to snap these up when you can!

Who teaches Domestika courses?

Domestika courses are taught by professionals in creative fields but produced by experts from Domestika itself. This keeps the quality and production values of every course extremely high.

For a teacher to create a course, they have to pitch the idea and have it approved. If it goes through, the company covers the full cost of production, and teachers (obviously) get a cut of sales.

I haven’t personally taught a Domestika course, but from what I understand, Domestika pays teachers an advance, then a cut of sales once their commissions surpass it.

It works a lot like a traditional book deal. For creatives who aren’t experts in course/content creation, it’s a great option.

Want to teach your own class on Domestika? Click the button below to apply.

What is Domestika Plus? How much does it cost?

Domestika Plus is the platform’s membership plan and can be paid monthly or yearly. Signing up for the subscription provides learners with a handful of juicy perks:

• 20% extra savings on courses/bundles: An additional 20% discount will be automatically applied whenever purchasing a course or bundle (this does not apply to classes bought on the app).
•  One free Domestika Plus credit per month: You will get a monthly Plus credit that you can use in exchange for any class of your choice (no matter the cost). 
•  Open courses: You will have access to a growing catalog of “free” classes.  
•  Option to buy extra credits: Besides your monthly Domestika Plus credit, you will also have the benefit of purchasing additional credits to exchange for courses at a lower price. 
•  Exclusive content and access to resources: You will receive exclusive newsletters solely curated for Plus members with updates, new course information, and additional materials. 

Domestika Plus costs $83.88 (82.80€) if paid yearly, totaling $6.99 (6.90€) a month. Subscribing on a monthly payment comes up to $9.99 (9.90€) a month. 

Either way, it’s a really great deal.

If you’re considering multiple courses, buying class bundles, and want to join the Domestika Plus community, I suggest opting for the yearly payment. You’ll get a discount equivalent to three monthly payments with an annual payment.

Although slightly more expensive, the monthly plan still has considerable savings. At $9.99, it’s cheaper than buying a course (which costs $10-40), and it includes a course token to pick whichever course you want and keep it forever. 

And if you’re interested in a specific course bundle, the 20% discount is an added bonus.

Again, courses claimed through Domestika Plus tokens feature unlimited access — even after canceling your subscription. This is a benefit other popular learning platforms, such as Skillshare and Udemy, don’t offer.

Also, the Open Course catalog has some really great courses! You won’t get to keep them, but there are (literally) hundreds of them, so it’s a great way to test the waters for new creative hobbies.

Click the button below to learn more! 

How to try Domestika courses for free

One way to get a taste of the platform’s courses for free is by watching Domestika Live on Facebook. These are hour-long tutorials and Q&A sessions hosted by teachers who feature lessons on the platform.

These aren’t as in-depth as Domstika’s paid courses, but these short sessions can be streamed entirely for free.

Audio can be in Spanish, English, or Portuguese, but subtitles aren’t available, so make sure you watch in a language you speak or understand.

“Crafty Tuesdays” is one of my personal favorites, and you can watch the entire back catalog at the link below.

Fun fact: this program started in 2020 as part of the #StayAtHome movement (luckily, that’s over!), but fortunately for us, all of this content is still up for us to enjoy!

Domestika review: Is it worth it?

So, at this point, everything looks great, but I suspect you may be wondering: Is Domestika worth it?

Since I’ve been using the platform for years now, I wanted to share a quick list of pros and cons based on my experience. 

The TL:DR is that it’s my favorite platform for creative courses, and I highly recommend it, with a few minor caveats.

Pro: Consistently high-quality content

I’ve checked out countless courses on the platform in both English and Spanish, and what really stands out is the high production value of every piece of content.

As someone who resorts to simple YouTube tutorials to learn new things, trust me, this was a welcome change.

It’s perfectly understandable for one person to lack all of the skills required to create a course, which is why Domestika’s in-house production team is such a huge advantage.

The difference is immediately noticeable if you’re tired of poor video quality and meandering course content.

Con: Not so user-friendly app

When I first wrote this Domestika review, there were some serious problems with the app on Android, but I’m happy to report that it’s now (mostly) in working order!

However, I do have a few complaints.

First of all, it’s awesome that you can download courses to watch offline, but you have to download each individual video separately. There can be over 20 videos to download, which is a minor inconvenience — but an inconvenience nonetheless.

Another minor thing: There’s no dark mode. The background is all white, so I feel like I’m blinding myself when watching courses in bed at night.

Also, the app is quite aggressive with push notifications, so I turned them off immediately. I don’t mind the notification tab on the website, but my phone notification bar is sacred.

That said, the experience of watching and participating in courses was good in the app. I still prefer taking courses on the web, but it’s nice to have portability.

Pro: Growing community

A big part of Domestika I haven’t touched on yet is the social aspect built into every course.

Each course has its own forum for participants to discuss lessons or ask questions, as well as an area to share their final projects.

Note: this is only available for courses you bought; this doesn’t include Open Courses accessed via Domestika Plus.

Students can then browse and comment on each other’s work. For those of you who are shy, you can also hide your final project and participation in the course from other users in the settings.

Once a student’s work is open, there’s also a mini-portfolio with some of their other projects. Users can set up their profile page with links to social media or their website and indicate whether they’re open to freelance work.

This is a great way to find collaborators or follow up-and-coming artists that caught your attention.

In fact, there’s even an easy-to-find job board in the platform’s main menu (at the top of the page). However, you have to be logged in to view this feature. Just know that most of the jobs listed (as well as comments and reviews on the site) are in Spanish.

Con: Language barriers

My biggest problem with Domestika is the relative lack of English-language courses (although I have to say this has improved over time!).

Even though I speak Spanish and have lived in Spain for years, there’s no doubt it’s always easier to learn in your native language. For those who don’t speak Spanish, it can be annoying at best and outright confusing at worst to deal with the closed caption subtitles.

For example, if the course has a software component, all menus will be in Spanish, making it difficult to follow along. Therefore, for software courses, I highly recommend taking classes in your native language.

However, as mentioned above, things have gotten much better since I first wrote this review, with English-language courses in just about every category. Still, it’s a small fraction of the overall catalog.

Verdict: Is Domestika worth it?

Domestika is absolutely worth trying out for creatives looking to learn a skill. The platform has a killer catalog of well-produced courses worth taking — even if you have to put up with subtitles.

Courses are cheap at about $10 (when on sale), and if you’re not happy, you can always get a refund within 14 days.

The high quality of what’s on offer makes it a great option to learn new skills or crafts — and the social aspect is just icing on the cake. 

With frequent discounts and no expiration date on courses, it’s easy to get hooked on learning all kinds of new and interesting things.

And that’s a good thing in my book.

What type of courses does Domestika have?

Domestika has a wide variety of courses available, so you should be able to find something that interests you no matter how niche or unusual your tastes are.

First of all, you should know that all courses are broken down into main categories/themes:

• Illustration
• Marketing & Business
• Photography & Video
• Design
• 3D & Animation
• Craft
• Architecture & Spaces
• Technology
• Calligraphy & Typography
• Writing
• Web & App Design
• Music

These topics are purposefully broad and contain a wide variety of subjects.

For example, Photography & Video has tutorials for Adobe software, instructions for screenplay writing, and tips on photographing specific subjects like interiors, shiny objects, dogs, or even newborn babies!

If you need help figuring out where to start, check out some of the most popular courses at the link below or continue to the next section.

Best Domestika courses

As I said before, there’s a huge variety of courses on Domestika, and all of them have qualified instructors and high production quality.

The best courses for you will depend on your personal interests, academic needs, or professional goals. That said, there are some super niche options that might unexpectedly catch your fancy!

Here’s a brief list of some of the best and most popular Domestika courses to help you get started.

Domestika alternatives

Domestika has managed to carve out a unique niche in the online education industry, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without competition.

Here’s a brief comparison between Domestika and other top online learning platforms.

Domestika vs Coursera

Coursera is one of the largest online learning platforms, offering full bachelor’s and master’s degrees for specific programs.

Unlike Domestika, it’s focused on more academic subjects like engineering, mathematics, programming, and business.

Courses have set enrollment dates, and although you have some flexibility to watch lectures on-demand, there are deadlines for coursework and a finishing date.

Some Coursera courses are free, but you will need to pay for a completion certificate. These can get pricey (thousands of dollars), but they’re great alternatives to traditional degrees from brick-and-mortar universities.

Domestika vs Skillshare

Skillshare is the closest thing Domestika has to a true competitor for creative courses. The main differences between the two platforms are their business models and course creation processes, despite their shared focus on creative topics and endeavors.

Skillshare offers two types of courses: (Skillshare) Originals and teacher-uploaded courses. 

While Originals are created by Skillshare’s in-house team, teacher-uploaded courses can be created by virtually anyone, which comes with its own set of pros and cons. 

Originals are produced by Skillshare or its partners and are generally high-quality courses. Teacher-uploaded courses vary wildly in quality and structure between teachers, so there isn’t necessarily a standard experience.

However, some courses can be watched free of charge (ad-supported) with a free Skillshare account. Bumping up to a Premium account removes ads and unlocks all content but costs $165 ($13.75 a month). 

Note that only an annual membership plan is available.

You can currently enjoy a whole month of Skillshare Premium for free by using this promotional link. This is more than twice the standard trial period and a fantastic opportunity to test the service before spending a dime of your hard-earned money.

If you want to learn more about Skillshare and how it compares to Domestika, check out our in-depth Skillshare vs Domestika guide!

Domestika vs Udemy

Like Domestika, Udemy features a variety of course content in different languages, with the majority of students living outside the United States.

Courses on the platform are produced and uploaded by teachers, which means quality and production value aren’t always the best. On the other hand, some teachers do an excellent job, and course quality can, at times, even match that of Domestika.

Topics are primarily focused on practical skills like programming and business skills. Still, a few arts and crafts lessons are also available, including a variety of extensive, detailed lessons for beginners and up.  

Udemy courses are available for a one-time purchase that unlocks content forever, much like individually bought Domestika classes. 

However, courses can be significantly more expensive (hundreds of dollars). Popular courses are frequently discounted by 90% or more, which is a much better value for what you get.

The platform does feature subscription options, although they’re restricted to specific areas of expertise or strictly for businesses. An advantage for English speakers is that there are far more English language courses on Udemy than on Domestika. 

Learn more about both platforms in our comprehensive Udemy vs Domestika review!

Domestika vs MasterClass

MasterClass takes the “expert teacher” mantra from Domestika to a whole new level. 

Course instructors are all well-known and respected, and most are celebrities in their own right. Learn how to skateboard from Tony Hawk, cook from Gordon Ramsay, act from Natalie Portman, or make films from Martin Scorsese. 

Each of these courses is somewhat short but extremely well-produced. They’re really quite impressive. The downside is that the list of topics covered is fairly limited.

All of this comes at quite a cost, with an annual membership running $200. This unlocks roughly 100 courses in high definition to stream on a wide variety of devices.

Other FAQs

Can you download Domestika courses?

You can download any Domestika courses you’ve purchased to a mobile device via the app, but videos cannot be downloaded on a PC or Mac.

Where is Domestika based?

Domestika was formerly based in Spain but has since moved to San Francisco, California. It still has a significant presence in Spain, however, where most of its staff is based.

How do I get a refund on Domestika purchases?

You have 14 days to request a refund on course purchases or a Domestika Plus subscription. Request a refund on this page.

When will Domestika add more courses in English?

Domestika is actively seeking and creating courses in English right now, but the production process takes time. New English-language courses are added every week. Be patient!

How often are new courses added to Domestika?

New courses are added nearly every day! Once you sign up you will get notifications on the platform when new courses are added.

How can I become a teacher?

It’s not as difficult as you might imagine! You do, however, need to be a professional in your field who is passionate about sharing what you know. Pitch your courses here.

Can I gift courses to friends and family?

Yes! You can both give specific courses or a gift card. You can even gift course bundles. Currently, Domestika Plus does not offer this option. Learn more about gifting options here.

Is Domestika legit?

Domestika is absolutely legit. Every course is professionally produced and you will leave it feeling like you actually learned something — and enjoyed yourself along the way. For teachers, the production team is a big help, and payments are sent on time and in full.

Is Domestika a safe website?

Yes! Domestika is a legitimate company, and you can feel confident purchasing courses there. If you are worried about privacy, you can add as much or as little to your profile as you’d like.

Are Domestika courses good?

Domestika courses are almost always excellent. The platform maintains a very high standard for its courses, and if a class starts getting negative reviews it’s often revisited with new or updated content.

Is Domestika only in Spanish?

No! There are also courses in German, Portuguese, French, and English, although the majority are still in Spanish.

Does Domestika offer certificates?

Domestika isn’t accredited, but it does offer signed certificates of completion for courses. However, you will need to be a Domestika Plus member to access them.

How do you get a discount on Domestika?

Discount codes are applied at checkout, and there are a few ways to get them. The first is to review a course you’ve previously purchased. You can also get an exclusive discount code by signing up for our newsletter below!

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That’s it for this Domestika review and guide! How has your experience been with the platform? Would you recommend it? Let me know in the comments below!