Last updated: September 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.
QUICK VERDICT
Bottom line: If your only goal is to learn to cook, YesChef wins — it is built solely around eight world-class chefs, each teaching one cuisine in a long, documentary-led course with dozens of recipes (37 to 54 in the two classes we checked). If you want cooking plus 200+ other classes, a cheaper entry price, and a polished mobile/offline app, MasterClass is the better all-rounder.
- Pick YesChef if: cooking is the whole reason you’re subscribing and you want depth per chef.
- Pick MasterClass if: you want variety beyond the kitchen, the lowest entry price ($120/yr), or offline downloads.
- Pricing: YesChef $240/yr, $96 per 3 months or $549 lifetime; MasterClass $120–$240/yr. Both have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
AT A GLANCE
| YesChef | MasterClass | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Cooking only | 200+ classes across 11+ categories |
| Cooking instructors | 8 dedicated chefs | Ramsay, Keller, Puck, Waters and more |
| Course length | 5–7.5 hrs per chef, 37–54 recipes (classes we checked) | ~4–7 hrs per class, 20–36 short lessons (Ramsay, Keller) |
| Price (annual) | $240/yr · $96/quarter · $549 lifetime | $120 / $180 / $240 per yr |
| Offline / mobile app | Phone, tablet, desktop, TV (Apple TV/Chromecast); no app, no offline | Apps + offline downloads (Plus/Premium) |
| Recipe PDFs | PDF recipe books | Downloadable workbooks |
| Guarantee | 30-day money-back | 30-day money-back |
| Best for | Serious home cooks | Generalist learners on a budget |
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YesChef vs MasterClass: which is better for cooking?
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Both platforms put genuinely famous chefs on camera in beautifully shot kitchens. The difference is focus. YesChef does one thing — cooking — and it goes deep: each chef teaches a single course built around their cuisine and their story: an hour-long documentary, then 5 to 7.5 hours of kitchen lessons and 37 to 54 recipes in the two classes we checked. MasterClass is a culture subscription: cooking is one of eleven-plus categories, so a chef’s class teaches broad technique rather than one cuisine end to end. The classes are not necessarily shorter — Gordon Ramsay’s first class runs 3 hours 54 minutes and Thomas Keller’s techniques class 6 hours 53 minutes — but you also get writing, business, music, photography, and more in the same membership.
So the honest answer isn’t “which platform is better” — it’s “what are you actually buying it for?” If you want to come out the other side a noticeably better cook, YesChef’s single-cuisine courses give you more recipes per chef. If you want a buffet of skills and the lowest possible entry price, MasterClass is the smarter spend.
Pricing compared
YesChef sells a single all-access pass at three billing lengths. MasterClass sells the same full catalog at three tiers that differ only by simultaneous devices and offline downloads — not by what you can watch. Prices below were verified on each site on 25 September 2026; YesChef in particular runs frequent promotions, so check the live price before you buy.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| YesChef — Yearly | ~$240/yr ($20/mo billed annually) | All classes for a year, any device |
| YesChef — 3-Month | $96 every 3 months ($32/mo) | All classes, billed quarterly |
| YesChef — Lifetime | $549 once | All current + future classes, forever |
| MasterClass — Standard | $120/yr | Full catalog, 1 device, no offline |
| MasterClass — Plus | $180/yr | Full catalog, 2 devices, offline downloads |
| MasterClass — Premium | $240/yr | Full catalog, 6 devices, offline downloads |
Who wins on price? MasterClass, clearly — its $120/yr Standard plan is half of YesChef’s annual pass and unlocks 200+ classes, not just cooking. But the comparison flips if you only care about cooking and you’ll keep the subscription for years: YesChef’s $549 lifetime pass pays for itself against a little over two years of the annual plan, and you never lose access. For a deeper breakdown of the tiers, see our MasterClass pricing guide.
Chefs and instructors
YesChef curates a small roster of eight chefs, each a recognized authority on a specific cuisine: Jamie Oliver, Nancy Silverton (founder of La Brea Bakery and Osteria Mozza), Francis Mallmann (Argentine open-fire cooking), Edward Lee (Korean-Southern), Asma Khan (Indian), Kwame Onwuachi, Dario Cecchini (Tuscan butchery), and Erez Komarovsky (modern Middle-Eastern). Because the catalog is small, each addition is a full, deep course rather than a 90-minute overview.
MasterClass fields a bigger, more famous culinary lineup — Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller, Wolfgang Puck, Alice Waters, Gabriela Cámara, and Dominique Ansel among them. The names carry more star power; the classes teach broad kitchen technique rather than one cuisine’s full repertoire. If celebrity pull is what gets you cooking, MasterClass has the edge; if depth per teacher matters more, YesChef does.
Classes and teaching format
A YesChef course is structured in two parts: an hour-long documentary about the chef, their food and their country (YesChef’s own description), then kitchen lessons. Edward Lee’s class has 13 lessons and 37 recipes over 5 hours; Jamie Oliver’s has 24 lessons and 54 recipes over 7.5 hours. It feels like an apprenticeship — you stay with one chef long enough to absorb their technique. The trade-off is patience: there are only eight courses, so once you finish your favorites you’re waiting for new releases.
MasterClass uses short, modular lessons (around 10 minutes each) with downloadable PDF workbooks that list ingredients and substitutions. It’s easier to dip in and out, and the workbooks are genuinely useful at the stove. The common complaint — some cooking classes begin with pre-prepared components — means a few recipes assume skills the lesson doesn’t teach. For learning one cuisine properly, YesChef’s format wins; for convenience and snackable lessons, MasterClass does.
Features, apps, and offline access
This is MasterClass’s clearest practical advantage. It has mature iOS, Android, and TV apps (Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Android TV), offline downloads on the Plus and Premium tiers, an audio-only mode for listening on the go, and a member community. YesChef streams in 4K on a phone, tablet, desktop or TV (through Apple TV or Chromecast, per its FAQ), but it has no app of its own in Apple’s App Store and does not offer offline viewing — you need a connection to cook along. If you watch lessons on a phone in the kitchen or on a commute, MasterClass is the more comfortable daily tool.
Pros and cons
| YesChef — Pros | YesChef — Cons |
|---|---|
| Dedicated to cooking, deep per-chef courses | No dedicated app or offline viewing |
| Cinematic 4K production + chef documentaries | Only 8 courses — you can finish them |
| Lifetime option; PDF recipe books | Higher annual price than MasterClass |
| MasterClass — Pros | MasterClass — Cons |
|---|---|
| 200+ classes beyond cooking for one price | Cooking classes are shorter, less hands-on |
| Lower entry price ($120/yr), apps + offline | Some recipes start with pre-prepped components |
| Downloadable workbooks, audio mode | Annual billing only — no monthly, no free trial |
Who should choose which
Choose YesChef if cooking is the only thing you’re paying to learn, you want to genuinely master a cuisine, and you value long, immersive courses over a big catalog. The lifetime pass also makes sense if you cook often and hate recurring subscriptions.
Choose MasterClass if you want cooking and other skills, you want the lowest entry price, or you need a polished app with offline downloads. It’s also the better gift — the $120 Standard tier is an easy price point and the catalog appeals to almost anyone. Still deciding on MasterClass alone? Read whether MasterClass is worth it or our roundup of the best MasterClass cooking classes.
RECOMMENDED FOR COOKS — YESCHEF
Learn one cuisine, deeply, from a world-class chef
Eight long-form courses, cinematic 4K, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a lifetime option.
Affiliate partnership — we may earn a commission when you sign up via this link. We only recommend platforms we’d send a friend to.
RECOMMENDED ALL-ROUNDER — MASTERCLASS
Cooking plus 200+ other classes for one price
From $120/yr. Apps, offline downloads, workbooks, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Affiliate partnership — we may earn a commission when you sign up via this link. We only recommend platforms we’d send a friend to.
Frequently asked questions
Is YesChef better than MasterClass for cooking?
For cooking specifically, yes. YesChef is dedicated to the kitchen, and each chef’s class covers one cuisine in depth with 37 to 54 recipes in the classes we checked. MasterClass’s cooking classes are similar in running time but teach broader technique. MasterClass wins on price and on everything beyond cooking.
How much do YesChef and MasterClass cost?
YesChef is $240 a year ($20/mo billed annually), $96 every three months, or $549 for lifetime access. MasterClass is $120 (Standard), $180 (Plus), or $240 (Premium) per year, billed annually. List prices verified 25 September 2026; both platforms discount heavily at seasonal sales, so check the live price before buying.
Does either offer a free trial?
Neither has a free trial, but both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the platform risk-free for a month.
Does YesChef have a mobile app?
No dedicated app. YesChef streams in 4K on a phone, tablet, desktop or TV (via Apple TV or Chromecast), but offers no offline downloads. MasterClass has full mobile/TV apps and offline viewing on its Plus and Premium plans.
Can you cook along with the classes?
Yes on both. YesChef provides PDF recipe books and MasterClass provides downloadable workbooks with ingredients and substitutions, so you can follow recipes at the stove.
RELATED GUIDES
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- YesChef review — our full hands-on verdict
- Best MasterClass cooking classes
- MasterClass pricing explained
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