Skool vs Circle (2026): Pricing, Fees and Which to Pick
Skool starts at $9 a month and Circle at $89. The gap widens on fees: Skool Pro takes 2.9% + $0.30 and processes the payment itself, while Circle takes 2% on top of Stripe's own 2.9% + $0.30. Circle wins on branding, automation and API; Skool wins on price, simplicity and built-in discovery.
Prices taken from skool.com and circle’s own pricing page on 16 August 2026.
Circle vs Skool: the short answer
Pick Skool if…
You want a paid community running this week, you sell inside the community rather than through funnels, and you would rather spend $9 than $89 while you find out whether it works.
Pick Circle if…
Your brand has to look like your brand, you need workflows and API access, or you are running several admin seats and want a native website builder alongside the community.
Pricing and fees compared
| Skool | Circle | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan, billed monthly | $9/mo (Hobby) | $129/mo (Professional) |
| Entry plan, billed yearly | $7.50/mo | $89/mo |
| Next tier up | $99/mo (Pro) | $199/mo (Business) |
| Platform transaction fee | 10% Hobby / 2.9% Pro | 2% Professional / 1% Business |
| Payment processing | Included — Skool processes it | Stripe fees on top (2.9% + $0.30) |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days, no card |
| Free plan | No | No |
Headline prices tell you less than the fee structure does. Work your own numbers through the Skool fee calculator before you commit either way.
Features compared
| Skool | Circle | |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited members | Yes | Yes |
| Courses | Yes | Yes |
| Live calls / rooms | Yes | Yes |
| Gamification (points, levels) | Yes | Limited |
| Public discovery directory | Yes | No |
| Custom colours and branding | No | Yes |
| Workflows / automation | No | Business plan |
| API access | No | Business plan |
| Website builder | No | Yes |
| Email marketing | No | Paid add-on |
| Admin seats | Unlimited | 3 on Professional |
Where Skool loses
Every comparison you will read is written by someone with a preference. Here is the case against Skool, stated plainly:
- No control over colours, fonts or overall look — every Skool community looks like Skool.
- No automation or workflows, and no API to build around.
- No email marketing: you will pay for a separate tool.
- One community per account, so a second brand means a second subscription.
- No multi-language support.
Where Circle loses
- The 2% platform fee is charged on top of Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30, so the real take is close to 4.9% — the single most common surprise in Circle reviews.
- Automation, API and white-label sit on the $199 Business plan, not the $89 one.
- Email Hub is a separate add-on rather than an included feature.
- No public directory: every member has to be brought in by you.
- Professional caps you at 3 admins and 10 moderators.
Skool vs Circle FAQ
- Is Circle better than Skool?
- Circle is better if branding, automation and API access matter to you, and if you can absorb roughly ten times the monthly cost. Skool is better if you want the lowest possible fixed cost, the simplest setup, and a fee that already includes payment processing.
- Which is cheaper, Skool or Circle?
- Skool, at almost every revenue level. The entry gap is $9 against $89 a month, and Skool Pro's 2.9% includes payment processing while Circle's 2% is charged before Stripe takes its own 2.9% + $0.30.
- Does Circle have a free plan?
- No. Circle offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, then billing starts at $89 a month on annual billing. Skool likewise has a 14-day trial and no free tier.
- Can you move a community from Circle to Skool?
- There is no one-click migration. You can export your member list from Circle and invite people into Skool, but posts, courses and comment history do not transfer. Plan the move around a launch moment rather than trying to preserve history.
Other Skool comparisons
Try Skool before you decide
Fourteen days, both plans, and you can switch tiers at any time. Cheaper than being wrong about Circle for a year.
Start your free Skool trial (opens in a new tab)