Short answer: Skool lists a $9/month Hobby plan and a $99/month Pro plan. The most material economic difference for a growing paid community is the platform transaction fee: 10% on Hobby versus 2.9% on Pro, with additional per-transaction components. The cheapest subscription is not always the lowest total cost.
Skool plan comparison
| Decision point | Hobby | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Published monthly subscription | $9 | $99 |
| Skool platform transaction fee | 10% | 2.9% |
| Members, courses, videos and live calls | Unlimited per pricing page | Unlimited per pricing page |
| Best starting use case | Validate demand, keep fixed costs low | Established or growing paid membership revenue |
What does the lower fee actually save?
The difference between the platform rates is 7.1 percentage points. Against a $90 larger monthly subscription, the approximate fee break-even occurs around $1,270 of monthly member transactions, before considering card-processing costs, tax, refunds, payment geography or any feature differences. That is a planning shortcut, not a guaranteed checkout calculation.
For example, a new creator making sporadic sales may find the low Hobby subscription more comfortable. A group generating consistent revenue may benefit more from Pro’s lower platform fee. Always calculate the fee on your own expected transaction volume rather than assuming that the $9 plan is always cheaper.
Which plan should you start with?
- Choose Hobby if you are validating a paid offer, have not signed paying members yet and prioritize minimizing the fixed commitment.
- Evaluate Pro when recurring membership receipts become predictable, the transaction-fee difference is material, or you require features available on Pro.
- Consider Circle instead if community customization, workflows and granular community administration matter more than entry price.
Don’t forget these questions
Is your community free, paid, or mixed? How many members will actually pay? What does your preferred payment method cost? Will your business need automation or integrations not included in Skool’s straightforward setup? These questions change the answer more than any single sticker price.
Sources and verification
These are published-product comparisons based on current vendor information, not an assertion that we used every paid plan. Prices, limits and policies can change; confirm the live checkout before you buy.
Related decisions
What the fee percentage does not show
Skool payment documentation adds $0.30 per transaction to its percentage rates; Pro can use a different percentage for transactions above $900. For US transactions up to $899, the help page describes 2.9% + $0.30 on Pro and 10% + $0.30 on Hobby. A practical plan comparison needs an estimate of both total monthly sales and number of transactions, as well as refunds and geography. The simple $1,270 threshold in this guide is only a comparison of the 7.1 percentage-point rate difference versus the $90 base-plan gap—not an exact bill.
Read the current official terms: Skool payments and fees FAQ ↗.
Explore the next decision
Research checked October 11, 2026 against linked vendor-published material. Where hands-on verification has not been completed, conclusions are editorial interpretations, not test results.
Estimate the Hobby vs Pro fees for your own community
Use this illustrative calculator for payment sizes under $900. It combines Skool list subscriptions with the documented base transaction rates and $0.30 per-transaction component. It excludes taxes, refunds, international variables and plan differences. Review Skool’s current fee document before acting.
Illustrative monthly plan-cost comparison
Compare plan costs. Model assumes transactions of $899 or less and the published fee tiers as checked Oct 2026. It excludes refunds, tax, foreign exchange, and non-standard rates. Values are estimates, not quoted checkout totals. Verify Skool fees ↗
Prices, features, taxes and payment terms can change. Check the linked provider documentation and your checkout before subscribing. Our analysis is editorial and should be assessed against your own business model.