3 tools that do the same job as Skool, compared on checked pricing and features. Skool's cheapest paid plan is $9 a month for one person, and none of the alternatives cost less. One of the three has a free plan.
Prices checked against each vendor's own pricing page; Skool's on October 5, 2026.
Cheapest paid plan that covers the team, per month before tax, at the yearly rate where one is published. Each tool's prices were checked against its own pricing page, most recently on October 5, 2026.
1. Circle
Best for creators and brands selling memberships, courses and events in one paid community
Circle is a community platform for creators and brands that sell memberships, courses and events from one place. Plans are priced on annual billing from $89 a month, and Circle keeps 0.5% to 2% of paywall payments on top of Stripe's processing fees.
One person
$89/mo
Professional · Skool: $9/mo
Team of 10
$159/mo
Professional · Skool: $9/mo
Free plan
No
Choose Circle if…
You need what Skool lacks: branded mobile app and public, SEO-visible content.
Stay with Skool if…
Price matters for one person: Skool is $9/mo, Circle $89/mo.
Price matters for a team of 10: Skool is $9/mo, Circle $159/mo.
Mighty Networks is a community and course platform for creators and brands, with Mighty's iOS and Android apps included on every plan. Courses start on Launch, at $95 a month or $79 billed yearly, plus a 2% fee on member payments.
One person
$29/mo
Explore · Skool: $9/mo
Team of 10
$354/mo
Growth · Skool: $9/mo
Free plan
No
Choose Mighty Networks if…
You need what Skool lacks: branded mobile app and public, SEO-visible content.
Stay with Skool if…
Price matters for one person: Skool is $9/mo, Mighty Networks $29/mo.
Price matters for a team of 10: Skool is $9/mo, Mighty Networks $354/mo.
Patreon is a membership platform for podcasters, video creators, musicians and artists, with tiers, one-time sales, video and chats. It charges no monthly fee: new creators pay 10% of income, plus payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees.
One person
—
Team of 10
—
Free plan
Standard
Choose Patreon if…
You need a free plan: Patreon has one (Standard); Skool doesn't.
Stay with Skool if…
You rely on what Patreon lacks: built-in courses and gamification & leaderboards.
