Circle vs Skool
Pick Circle if you want to own the business: your own Stripe account, a custom domain, and member exports with emails. Pick Skool if you want the lowest fees and the simplest setup, since Pro's 2.9% + $0.30 includes card processing. The deciding factor is whether you would rather keep your members or keep more of each sale.
| Circle | Skool | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price, billed monthly | $99 Professional, $219 Business, $419 Scale | $9 Hobby, $99 Pro |
| Platform fee | 2% Professional, 1% Business and Scale | 10% + $0.30 Hobby, 2.9% + $0.30 Pro |
| Card processing | Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 plus 0.7% Billing on subscriptions, on top | Included in the fee |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card required | 14 days |
| Payouts | Your own Standard Stripe account, on Stripe's schedule | Weekly on Wednesdays through a Stripe Express account Skool creates |
| Audience export | Member CSV files with emails | Membership question answers only |
| Custom domain | Yes, every plan | No, custom URL on skool.com |
| Discovery | Circle Discover listings, terms not published | Discovery feed, plus Growth Boost at 30% commission |
| Tax handling | Stripe Tax integration | Skool collects and files EU VAT as merchant of record |
| Courses and live sessions | Courses and live events on Professional | Unlimited courses, videos, and live calls on both plans |
| You keep on $1,000 a month | $835 | $881 |
| You keep on $10,000 a month | $9,241 | $9,511 |
| Our score | 7.8 out of 10 | 7.5 out of 10 |
What you keep on $1,000 a month
Both platforms paid in $30 payments by US cards, each on whichever plan leaves you the most. The blue is yours. The hatched part is fees.
| Platform and plan | Share kept versus fees | You keep | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| SkoolHobby | $881 | −$119 | |
| CircleProfessional | $835 | −$165 |
On $10,000 a month: Circle $9,241, Skool $9,511. How we calculate this.
Pick Circle if
- you want your own Stripe account and a member list you can download.
- you need a custom domain for your community.
- you plan to add workflows, APIs, or more admins as you grow.
Pick Skool if
- take-home pay is your top priority. It is cheaper than Circle at every revenue level.
- you have no audience yet and want Discovery to send you members.
- you want two plans, one fee, and no Stripe account to set up.
Which is cheaper, Circle or Skool?
Skool is cheaper at every revenue level. Skool Pro costs $99 a month and 2.9% + $0.30 per sale with processing included. Circle Professional costs $99 a month plus 2%, Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30, and 0.7% for Stripe Billing on subscriptions.
At $5,000 a month in subscriptions, the percentage fees come to about $280 on Circle Professional and $145 on Skool Pro, with the same $0.30 per payment on both. The fee table runs the numbers at other revenue levels.
Which gives you more control over your members?
Circle, by a wide margin. It connects to a Standard Stripe account in your name, includes a custom domain on every plan, and lets admins export member lists with emails.
Skool is merchant of record. Members pay Skool, you get paid through a Stripe Express account Skool creates, and Skool's help center documents an export of membership question answers rather than a full member list. If you choose Skool, ask for an email address in your membership questions.
Which helps you grow?
Skool, if you have no audience. Its Discovery feed ranks groups by growth, engagement, and retention. Growth Boost, which is on by default, promotes you in exchange for 30% of recurring charges from members Skool brings in.
Circle Discover lets you list your community, but Circle does not publish how listings rank or whether it takes a cut. Plan to bring your own members to Circle. Read the full Circle review and Skool review for the details.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move from Skool to Circle?
Yes, but paying members have to subscribe again. Skool runs payments through its own merchant account, so subscriptions cannot move to your Stripe account. Circle lists payments migrations on its Professional plan for eligible creators.
Does Circle or Skool charge Stripe fees?
Circle does, on top of its 2% or 1% fee. Skool's fee already includes card processing.
Can I use my own domain on Skool like on Circle?
No. Skool gives you a custom URL on skool.com. Circle includes a custom domain on every plan.
Which pays out faster, Circle or Skool?
Skool pays every Wednesday, and its first payout can take up to 14 days. Circle money lands in your own Stripe account and follows Stripe's payout schedule for your country.