Skool Review (2026): Is the Simple Community Platform Worth $9 or $99 a Month?
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Skool in One Minute
Skool is an online community platform built around simplicity. Each group has a discussion feed, a classroom for courses, a calendar for live events, member profiles and a points-based leaderboard that rewards activity. Creators use it to run free communities, paid memberships, coaching programs and online courses in one place.
There are two plans. Hobby costs $9 a month with a 10% transaction fee, and Pro costs $99 a month with a 2.9% fee. Both include unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls, and both come with a 14-day free trial. Here's what you get and who it suits.
| Product | Skool |
|---|---|
| Type | Community and course platform |
| Hobby | $9/month, 10% transaction fee |
| Pro | $99/month, 2.9% transaction fee |
| Included on both | Unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls |
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Yearly billing | 2 months free |
What Skool Includes
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Community feed | Posts, comments, categories and notifications |
| Classroom | Courses with modules, videos and resources |
| Calendar | Scheduled live calls and events with reminders |
| Live calls | Unlimited live sessions with members |
| Gamification | Points, levels and leaderboards; unlock content by level |
| Payments | Free, paid monthly, annual or one-time access |
| Discovery | Public groups can appear in Skool's community directory |
| Mobile app | iOS and Android apps for members |
Skool Pricing
Skool's pricing is short: two plans, with yearly billing giving you two months free.
| Hobby | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $9 | $99 |
| Transaction fee | 10% | 2.9% |
| Members, courses, videos, live calls | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Custom URL | No | Yes |
| Affiliates for your group | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
Card processing adds a small fixed fee per transaction. For the full breakdown, see our Skool pricing guide.
Hobby or Pro: Which Makes Sense?
The plans differ mainly in fees. On Hobby, Skool keeps 10% of what members pay you; on Pro, it's 2.9%. If your community earns more than about $1,000 a month, Pro usually costs less overall. Free communities and small paid groups often start on Hobby. Pro also unlocks a custom URL and an affiliate program so members can refer others to your group.
What Using Skool Is Like
Skool's interface is deliberately plain. Members see a feed, a classroom and a calendar, with no complex menus or page builders. That simplicity is its main selling point: there's very little to set up, and members tend to understand it right away. The leaderboard and levels encourage members to post and comment, which helps communities feel active.
The trade-off is limited customization. You can't redesign the look of your group, build sales pages or create complex funnels inside Skool. A dedicated landing page builder such as Leadpages is another option.
Where Skool Falls Short
- No sales pages or funnels: you'll need another tool, such as Systeme.io or ClickFunnels, for landing pages and checkout flows. A checkout platform such as ThriveCart adds upsells, payment plans and affiliate management.
- No built-in email marketing: pair it with an email tool like AWeber to build a list outside the platform.
- Limited course features: no quizzes, certificates or advanced course logic. If you need quizzes, certificates and a full online school, LearnWorlds is built for that.
- Little design control: every group looks broadly the same.
- Hobby fees: 10% of revenue adds up quickly for paid groups.
Compare the trade-offs in Skool vs Systeme.io.
The Skool Affiliate Program
Skool runs an affiliate program for people who refer new group owners, which has been reported at 40% recurring commission. Separately, Pro group owners can offer affiliate commissions to members who refer new members to their own community. See how to make money with Skool.
Is Skool Legit?
Yes. Skool is a real, widely used platform with published pricing and a free trial. Whether it's right for you depends on whether you value simplicity over customization.
Pros and Cons
What Stands Out
- Very simple for owners and members
- Unlimited members, courses and live calls
- Gamification keeps members engaged
- Published prices and a 14-day free trial
- Mobile apps
What to Weigh Up
- No sales pages, funnels or email marketing
- 10% fee on the Hobby plan
- Basic course features
- Little design control
Who Skool Is Best For
Coaches, creators and educators who want an active community with courses and live calls, without managing a complicated platform. It's less suited to course creators who need advanced course tools or businesses that want everything, including funnels and email, in one system.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Skool Cost?
Hobby is $9 a month and Pro is $99 a month.
Does Skool Have a Free Trial?
Yes, 14 days on both plans.
Is Skool Free for Members?
It's free to join communities that the owner makes free.
Can I Sell Courses on Skool?
Yes, as part of paid access to your community.
Does Skool Have Email Marketing?
No, you'll need a separate email tool.
Our Verdict on Skool
Skool is one of the simplest ways to run a community with courses and live calls. Start with the free trial and pick Hobby or Pro based on your revenue.
Start Your Free Skool Trial
Try Skool free for 14 days.