An Honest Mindvalley Review: Is it Worth the Cost?
What is Mindvalley?
Mindvalley is an online learning platform established in 2002 by Vishen Lakhiani. With a whopping 10 million students worldwide, it is among the most successful online learning platforms currently operating. The Mindvalley platform also has more than 1,200 expert instructors from all walks of life.
In addition to having a lot of dedicated learners, Mindvalley can also boast with another remarkable statistic. Their Quests (a term used for Mindvalley courses) have a 333% better completion rate than the industry average. Obviously, this is not down to pure luck.
Mindvalley uses science-based motivators and systems in all their courses. This is to ensure that every single Quest gives tangible real life benefits to the dedicated students.
Unlike most online learning platforms, Mindvalley classes are split into daily fragments. This ensures that Mindvalley students practice on a daily basis and it goes a long way in making the course material stick with you long term.
Who is behind Mindvalley?
Vishen Lakhiani, a Malaysian-born entrepreneur, founded Mindvalley.
Lakhiani began his career in 2001 and relocated to the legendary Silicon Valley. He worked as an engineer and later as a senior leader at a successful startup. However, Vishen's personal burnout was caused by Silicon Valley's extremely stressful "work until you collapse" work culture. Following that, he began advanced meditation and a spiritual self-development journey. This journey also resulted in the creation of Mindvalley.
Lakhiani is now an activist, speaker, and bestselling author. His most well-known literary work is "The Code of the Extraordinary Mind." In 2017, the book swept the business world by storm, becoming an Amazon #1 bestseller across all categories and remaining at the top for five days in a row.
Vishen Lakhiani's ultimate life goal is to raise human consciousness to a higher level. And it is this lofty idea that propels him in everything he does. So, whether he's giving a keynote speech in Africa or teaching a meditation class, Lakhiani always keeps the big picture in mind. This is also why he frequently criticises outdated educational systems and traditional definitions of success.
What does Mindvalley do?
Mindvalley's mission is to provide an alternative to traditional education. It is the modern forerunner of what is known as transformational education. Allow me to provide a brief explanation for those who are unfamiliar with the term.
An American sociologist named Jack Mezirow developed Transformative Learning Theory. Mezirow defines transformative learning as "useful, deep, and constructive learning." This study method is known for causing shifts in consciousness or even fundamental changes in one's worldview.
So, instead of just learning a specific set of skills, you will also be spiritually growing. Or, in more scientific terms, developing your brain plasticity.
Mindvalley is a transformational education pioneer that provides high-quality online courses, live seminars, mentorship programs, and even spirituality apps.
Now that you know what Mindvalley is all about, let's look at how much the courses cost.
How much do Mindvalley courses cost?
Bought individually, Mindvalley online courses cost anywhere from $199 to $499. This price covers:
- Lifetime access to all of the course material.
- Yearly free upgrades to the course materials.
- Bonus materials (the nature of which depends on the class).
- Lifetime access to the Mindvalley learner community.
While Mindvalley courses are not the cheapest we’ve seen, they do contain some of the best-produced and high-quality content out of all the platforms we’ve tested. And we’ve evaluated more than a dozen e-learning platforms by now.
But, before purchasing your first course, I would advise getting a taste of Mindvalley by taking one of the free Mindvalley Masterclasses. These 60-90 minute Masterclasses are presented each week and feature transformative ideas from Mindvalley teachers.
Mindvalley Masterclasses are an excellent introduction to Mindvalley courses, as they give you a taste of what you can expect from a full-length course.
After giving these free masterclasses a spin, you’ll know exactly whether Mindvalley classes are the right choice for you or not.
If you already have many positive experiences with Mindvalley, I would suggest purchasing an All Access subscription. This service is what we will be looking at next.
What is Mindvalley Membership (previously All Access)?
Mindvalley Membership is Mindvalley's subscription service. With All Access, you can enrol in all current and future Mindvalley Quests for a single fee. These online course subscription services are becoming increasingly popular, with an increasing number of MOOC sites offering them as an alternative to single course purchases.
Mindvalley membership is the only way to access any of the courses that cannot be purchased individually (such as Superbrain and Be Extraordinary). However, for committed students interested in courses that are still sold separately, the membership subscription plan provides by far the best value for money. Let us investigate why this is the case.
Mindvalley All Access now costs $499 per year (the price has been reduced by $100 since we began reviewing Mindvalley in 2020). If you take three Mindvalley courses in a single year, you've already saved money by purchasing All Access rather than individual course purchases.
Here’s what you get when you pay for Mindvalley Membership:
- Unlimited access to all Mindvalley Quests.
- Coaching sessions with Mindvalley authors.
- Access to Mindvalley University.
- Printable certificates for Mindvalley courses.
- Access to Mindvalley’s learning community.
Luckily, Mindvalley also offers a generous no-questions-asked trial period of 15 days. So, potential customers can try the service entirely free of risk. There is a 100% compensation for people not satisfied with the Mindvalley classes. I suggest you give Mindvalley All Access a try if you liked any of Mindvalley’s courses.
Mindvalley also offers All Access For Business, a service entirely dedicated to training teams. So, if your company is looking for a performance boost, Mindvalley For Business is an option worthy looking into.
Mindvalley: The Advantages (Pros)
Consistency of quality
One of Mindvalley's main advantages is the consistency of their content. Most comparable online learning platforms are hit-or-miss. That is, you must conduct research before enrolling in a course. Otherwise, you risk wasting your money on materials of questionable quality.
Mindvalley, on the other hand, is a textbook case of "quality over quantity."
They do not have as many courses as some other online learning platforms. However, they make up for it in terms of quality.
All Mindvalley courses have a high production value and are led by industry experts in their respective fields. This is also one of the primary reasons why Mindvalley Membership is arguably the best value-for-money collection of online classes available.
High levels of usability
Mindvalley scores highly in all five usability criteria. It is efficient, effective, engaging, error-tolerant, and simple to learn. When it comes to online learning platforms, usability is just as important as content.
Mindvalley also knocks it out of the park with its mobile and desktop platforms.
Very well-structured syllabi
Mindvalley Quests have a very high completion rate, if you've been paying attention. This is because they structure their courses using scientific methods.
And I can say with certainty that this system works. The daily bite-sized chunks of lessons and tasks will keep you motivated and engaged on a consistent basis. Furthermore, you will never be overwhelmed by an abundance of content.
Another significant benefit is the Tribe system. So, whenever you embark on a Mindvalley Quest, make sure to keep the Tribe updated on your progress. You will reap all of the benefits of working with a team without actually being a member of one. Your Tribe will hold you accountable while also providing a huge motivational boost.
To summarise, it is very clear where Mindvalley's high completion rate stems from.
Engaged learner community
Mindvalley has by far the best community of any online learning platform I've tested. My interactions with Tribal members have all been positive. Everyone has been extremely helpful and supportive throughout my Quests. We also had a few laughs along the way.
It's no surprise that Mindvalley Events are so popular; this community is incredible!
Mindvalley: The Disadvantages (Cons)
Relatively small course catalogue
"Quality over quantity" can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Mindvalley does not have as large a course selection as, say, Udemy or Skillshare.
Mindvalley's programme standards, on the other hand, are among the highest in the industry. So, if you DO find a class on a topic of interest, there are no concerns about the content's quality.
Despite this, I would like to see more Mindvalley courses on a broader range of topics. But, based on their release schedule, I'm optimistic.
Courses can be expensive
The Mindvalley team has worked tirelessly to create an online learning platform that is a winner on all levels. They provide exceptional usability, highly qualified teachers, and an innovative learning system.
Unfortunately, this is reflected in the price as well.
It is no secret that Mindvalley courses are more expensive than those offered by most competitors. Although you get what you pay for, the steep pricing makes it unsuitable for some students.
Review Conclusion: Is Mindvalley Worth it?
It appears that our Mindvalley review has come to an end.
So, did we fall down the mind's valley or climb out enlightened?
I'm not sure about enlightenment, but I was certainly impressed.
After completing three Mindvalley Quests in their entirety, I can confidently state that Mindvalley is well worth the investment. "The Habit of Ferocity" and "Lifebook Online" have both significantly increased my daily productivity. And "Superbrain's" teachings have more than doubled my learning abilities.
However, there is a catch.
Mindvalley Quests, as you are aware, are not your typical online video courses. Every day, these classes will demand your complete dedication. As a result, you must complete all assignments, interact with your Tribe, and remain mentally alert at all times. Fortunately, the Quests aren't meant to be difficult, so putting your best foot forwards will be simple. In fact, you'll most likely be looking forwards to your next set of lessons and assignments.
Mindvalley also excels in terms of technology. Everything is presented in high definition, the audio levels are excellent, and all videos are closed-captioned.
To summarize. Mindvalley has earned its place as one of the top online learning platforms. And I will undoubtedly embark on a new Quest in the near future. So, keep an eye out!