Read our in-depth Skool Review 2025: explore features, pricing, pros & cons, and see how Skool compares to Kajabi, Circle, and Mighty Networks for community building and online courses.
Introduction
In today’s creator economy, entrepreneurs, coaches, and educators need more than just a course platform—they need a place to build real communities around their content. That’s where Skool comes in.
Founded by Sam Ovens, Skool is a fast-growing platform that combines online courses, gamified communities, and membership monetization into one seamless ecosystem. But does it live up to the hype?
This review breaks down Skool’s features, pricing, pros and cons, and compares it to leading alternatives like Kajabi, Circle, and Mighty Networks.
What is Skool?
Skool is an all-in-one community and course platform designed to help creators, coaches, and online educators monetize their knowledge while fostering an engaged community.
Instead of juggling multiple tools (Facebook Groups, Slack, Zoom, Kajabi, Teachable), Skool merges community + courses + gamification into one simple dashboard.
Key Features of Skool
1. Community Hub
Skool provides a Facebook Group–like feed where members can post, interact, and engage without distractions from ads or algorithms.
2. Course Hosting
Upload videos, PDFs, and lessons in a structured course format. Students can track progress and revisit lessons anytime.
3. Gamification & Leaderboards
Members earn points for participation (posting, commenting, completing lessons), creating a gamified experience that boosts engagement.
4. Memberships & Subscriptions
Easily set up paid or free communities with integrated Stripe payments. No third-party payment processors needed.
5. Calendar & Events
Host live calls, webinars, or Q&As directly within Skool using the built-in event calendar.
6. Simple, Clean UX
Unlike complex LMS or bloated platforms, Skool’s minimalist design makes it extremely easy to use for both admins and members.
Skool Pricing
Skool keeps pricing simple:
$99/month per community
✔ Includes unlimited members
✔ No hidden fees
✔ Stripe integration for payments
This flat fee model makes Skool much more predictable compared to other platforms that charge per member or per transaction.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
All-in-one solution (community + courses + payments)
Flat-rate pricing (no per-member costs)
Gamification keeps members engaged
Clean and distraction-free design
Easy to use—minimal learning curve
❌ Cons
Lacks advanced marketing tools (funnels, email automation)
Limited customization compared to Kajabi or Circle
No mobile app (as of 2025)
Best suited for communities, not standalone courses
Skool vs Alternatives
Feature/Platform | Skool | Kajabi | Circle | Mighty Networks |
---|---|---|---|---|
Community Hub | ✅ Strong | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Strong | ✅ Strong |
Course Hosting | ✅ Simple | ✅ Advanced | ⚠️ Add-on | ✅ Decent |
Gamification | ✅ Built-in | ❌ None | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Available |
Payments | ✅ Stripe | ✅ Stripe/PayPal | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Stripe |
Pricing | $99/mo flat | $149–$399/mo | $49–$199/mo | $39–$119/mo |
Best For | Creators & Coaches | Online Course Sellers | Community Builders | Community + Events |
Who Should Use Skool?
Coaches & Consultants building group programs
Course creators who want community engagement alongside lessons
Entrepreneurs running masterminds or membership groups
Educators & trainers looking for a distraction-free online classroom
If you want advanced funnels and marketing automation, you may prefer Kajabi. If you want flexible community design, Circle or Mighty Networks might be better.
Final Verdict
Skool is one of the best platforms for building engaged online communities in 2025. Its simplicity, gamification, and flat pricing make it especially appealing for coaches, creators, and educators who want to monetize memberships and courses without tech headaches.
For creators focused on community-first learning, Skool is a no-brainer.
Call to Action
🚀 Ready to launch your community?
👉 Try Skool and start building your community-powered business today.