Circle vs Skool
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
$89/mo + 2% · monthly subscription plus transaction fee
$9/mo + 10% or $99/mo · Hobby: 10% transaction. Pro: ~0%
Payout speed
weekly
weekly
Minimum payout
Stripe default
Stripe default
Countries
Wherever Stripe operates
Stripe-supported countries
Email list export
Full access
Full access
Custom domain
Yes (custom domain supported)
Yes (subdomain)
Community features
Full-featured: spaces, chat, DMs, live rooms, events
Forum feed, events, gamified levels
Best for
Coaches, creators, and brands running paid communities plus courses under one roof
Coaches, course creators, and exclusive community builders
Circle vs Skool: which one wins?
Circle charges $89/mo + 2% (monthly subscription plus transaction fee) versus Skool at $9/mo + 10% or $99/mo (Hobby: 10% transaction. Pro: ~0%).
On payout speed, Circle pays weekly while Skool pays weekly. No difference here.
For audience ownership, Circle offers full access email export and Skool offers full access. Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.
Best for: Circle suits coaches, creators, and brands running paid communities plus courses under one roof. Skool fits coaches, course creators, and exclusive community builders.