Are Free Online Craft Classes Really Free? How It Works
You're scrolling, an ad pops up for a free online craft class, and the first thing you think is "okay, what's the catch?" That's a fair question to ask. A lot of things online are called free and then ask for a credit card two clicks later, or turn out to be a sales pitch with a little bit of teaching sprinkled in.
At HobbyScool, we've hosted a free online creative summit every month since July 2022, and more than 118,000 people have come to at least one of them. We get this question all the time, so here's the honest answer about what's free, how we pay for it, and what does cost money.
The short answer: yes, the workshops are free to watch
Every HobbyScool summit runs for three days and each day has its own theme. You register with your name and email, and that's it. There's no credit card to sign up for the free ticket.
Each morning of the summit we send you an email with that day's links. Day 1's workshops go live at 9am Eastern on the day they're scheduled, and you can watch them free for 24 hours. Then Day 2's workshops go live at 9am Eastern the next morning, and Day 3's the morning after that.
So if you watch each day's workshops while they're open, you can see every workshop at that summit without paying anything. The free workshop videos do have ads, which we explain below. The only thing you're giving us is your email address, and we use it to send you the links and to tell you when the next summit opens.
So how does HobbyScool pay for free events?
Running a free summit costs real money. There's the video hosting, the website, the email platform, the team that helps instructors get set up, and the support desk that answers questions. Here's how that gets paid for.
Ads on the free workshop pages
The pages where you watch the free workshops show ads. That's the same deal you get with a lot of free video and streaming services, where the free version has ads and the paid version doesn't.
We host ads on our speaker pages to help fund the cost of delivering a free event. If folks want to go ad free, that's the All-Access Pass.
Dr. Destini Copp, Founder of HobbyScoolThe All-Access Pass, for lifetime access and the speaker bonuses
Every summit has an optional All-Access Pass, and here's what it includes:
- Lifetime access to every workshop from that summit, so you can go back and rewatch them whenever you want
- The premium speaker bonuses, which are extras the instructors put together just for pass holders
- No ads on any of the workshop videos
Every All-Access Pass comes with a 14-day money back guarantee, no questions asked.
You never have to buy it to watch the summit. The free workshops are yours to enjoy during each 24-hour window, ads and all. The pass is there for people who'd rather watch without ads, make the projects on their own schedule, or keep the workshops to come back to later.
The Craft & Create Club
The Craft & Create Club is our membership, with a new workshop every month. Some people who enjoy the summits join it so they have something to make between events. Again, it's completely optional.
What isn't free
We want you to know this part up front, so nothing catches you off guard.
Your supplies
You'll need supplies to make the projects, and those come from your own craft stash or the store. Everyone who registers gets a free supply list broken out by workshop, along with shopping tips, so you can see exactly what each project needs before you buy anything. A lot of projects can be made with things you already have at home.
Watching after the free window closes
Each day's workshops are free for 24 hours. After that, the All-Access Pass is how you watch them, along with lifetime access and the premium speaker bonuses. If you know you're busy one of the summit days, it helps to look at the schedule ahead of time and plan to watch the workshops you care about most on the day they open.
The instructors' own classes and shops
Our instructors run their own businesses, and at the end of a workshop they'll often tell you about their free gift and where to find more of their work. Some of them sell patterns, kits or longer classes. That's their business and it's up to you whether you check it out.
How to tell if any "free" online class is actually free
Whether you're signing up for one of ours or someone else's, here are a few things worth checking before you register.
- Does it ask for a card to sign up? A free class shouldn't need your credit card to register. A free trial that turns into a paid subscription is a different thing, and the page should say so clearly.
- Does it say how long you can watch? Free classes often have a viewing window. Look for the exact time it closes so you can plan around it.
- Can you see who's teaching? You should be able to see the instructors' names and what they'll be teaching before you sign up.
- Is there a clear refund policy on anything paid? If there's an optional paid upgrade, the guarantee and refund terms should be easy to find.
- Is it clear what the paid upgrade includes? If there's an optional upgrade, you should be able to see exactly what you get before you decide.
- Can you reach a real person? There should be a support email you can write to if something goes wrong.
At HobbyScool, the free ticket never needs a credit card, the viewing window is spelled out in every email, and if you have a question you can email help@hobbyscool.com and a real person will write back.
How to get the most out of a free summit
Since the free window is 24 hours for each day, a little planning goes a long way.
- Look at the schedule as soon as you register. Pick the workshops you're most excited about so you know which ones to watch first.
- Check the supply list early. Give yourself time to gather what you need, or decide to watch first and make the project later.
- Watch for the morning email. Each day's email has that day's links at the top.
- Join the free community. More than 8,700 makers share what they're making in our free Skool group, and it's a good place to ask questions during the summit.
- Watch the same day if you can. That way you don't have to worry about the window closing.
If you miss a day, don't worry about it. Pick up with whatever's open the next morning, and if there's a workshop you really didn't want to miss, the All-Access Pass is there for that. Plenty of people watch two or three workshops at one summit and save their energy for the next one, and that's a perfectly good way to do it.
There's always a next one
We run a new free summit every month, each with its own theme, so if the timing doesn't work for one, there's always another one coming. The easiest way to catch them is to sign up to get an email the minute each new event opens. You can also see what HobbyScool is all about here.
Never miss the next free summit
Sign up and we'll email you the minute each new HobbyScool event opens, so you can see the workshops and get your supplies ready early.
Tell me when the next event opens See what HobbyScool is all aboutFrequently Asked Questions
Are HobbyScool online craft summits really free to watch?
Yes. You register for a HobbyScool summit with your name and email and can watch every workshop free on the day it opens. Each day's workshops go live at 9am Eastern and stay free for 24 hours. The free workshop videos have ads. There's an optional All-Access Pass for lifetime access, the premium speaker bonuses and no ads, but you never need it to watch the summit.
Do I need a credit card to register for a free HobbyScool summit?
No. The free ticket to a HobbyScool summit only asks for your name and email address. A credit card is only needed if you choose to buy the optional All-Access Pass or join the Craft & Create Club.
How long can I watch a free HobbyScool workshop?
Each day's HobbyScool workshops are free to watch for 24 hours after they go live at 9am Eastern. After the free window closes, the All-Access Pass gives you lifetime access to every workshop from that summit.
How does HobbyScool pay for its free craft summits?
HobbyScool shows ads on the free workshop pages and offers an optional All-Access Pass with lifetime access, no ads and premium speaker bonuses.
Do I have to buy supplies for a HobbyScool online craft workshop?
You'll need supplies to make the projects, but everyone who registers gets a free supply list broken out by workshop with shopping tips. Many projects can be made with things you already have, and you can always watch first and make the project later.
