Source-backed analysis8
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
8 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 11, 2026
How we review
Skool Review
Community, courses and gamification in one flat-priced platform
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Skool suits creators and educators who want community, courses, events and leaderboards in one place at a flat plan price that does not scale with member count. The trade-offs are 2.9% to 10% transaction fees, a no-refund policy and less customisation than more specialised platforms.
Best for: Creators and experts selling a paid community with courses
Skip it if: Brands that need deep design and integration customisation
Pros
- Flat pricing: both plans include unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls
- Community, courses, calendar and chat in one app
- Low entry tier: Hobby from $9/month
Cons
- 10% transaction fee on Hobby and 2.9% on Pro, on top of the plan price
- Subscription fees already paid are non-refundable
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- A discovery directory helps new communities get found
Cons
- The iOS app rates 3.9/5, below Google Play (4.2/5); Google Play reviewers mention crashes and no full-screen video
Best for
- People who want a quick setup without stitching tools together
Skip it if
- Anyone who needs flexible refunds or a multilingual interface: Skool is English-only
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What Skool is
According to its about page, Skool is a community platform where you can discover groups or start your own, free or paid. Owners can charge recurring memberships or sell one-time courses. It was founded in 2019 by Sam Ovens (CEO) and Daniel Kang (CTO), has 30 employees and is based in Los Angeles, California.
Key features
The Google Play description lists four parts: group discussion with posts and comments, video and text courses, an events calendar, and direct messages between members. The help center also covers leaderboards, discovery and affiliates. The basics of a paid community therefore sit in one platform.
Pricing and value
The pricing page lists two plans: Hobby at $9/month ($7.50/month billed yearly) with a 10% transaction fee, and Pro at $99/month ($82/month billed yearly) with a 2.9% fee. Both include unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls, and both renew automatically after a 14-day free trial. For high-revenue communities, Pro's lower fee may offset its higher price; that is each owner's own calculation, not a Skool figure.
More analysis
Versus alternatives
Skool leans toward simplicity and gamified features. If you need more branding control or deeper integrations, Circle and Mighty Networks are worth a look. For a free chat space, Discord covers the need, while Patreon fits membership support for creators. Read the no-refund policy before paying.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 11, 2026
Hobby
Business$9/mo
$7.50/mo billed yearly
Unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls; 10% transaction fee; custom URL and affiliates.
Pro
Business$99/mo
$82/mo billed yearly
Unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls; 2.9% transaction fee; custom URL and affiliates.
- Free plan limits
- Joining free communities as a member costs nothing; community owners get a 14-day free trial before the plan renews. Paid communities are priced by their owners.
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial · no credit card
Cancellation & refunds
Per the help center, subscription fees already paid are non-refundable for full or partial billing periods. Owners can cancel at any time and keep access to the end of the billing period, after which the group is archived as read-only.
Privacy
The privacy policy of SKOOL.COM, INC. (last updated September 29, 2021) names the company as controller of personal data. Collected data includes identifiers, geolocation, professional information, visual information and internet activity, plus device and usage data via cookies and logs. Calls placed by Skool may be recorded. The App Store label says "Data Not Collected", while the Google Play data safety section says the app may collect personal info, financial info and 5 other types; both labels are self-declared by the developer.
Skool alternatives
7.3/10Circle
Paid community platform bundling courses, events, payments and branded apps
7.0/10Patreon
Membership platform where creators earn directly from their supporters
Frequently asked questions
Is Skool free?
Joining free groups costs nothing. Community owners get a 14-day trial, after which the Hobby ($9/month) or Pro ($99/month) plan renews automatically.
What are Skool's transaction fees?
According to the pricing page, Hobby has a 10% transaction fee and Pro has 2.9%.
Do I get a refund if I cancel?
No. The help center states no refunds for full or partial billing periods. You can cancel anytime to avoid further charges.
Does Skool have a mobile app?
Yes. The Skool app is on the App Store and Google Play; its description promises all of Skool's features plus push notifications.
Review evidence & sources8
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.8
- Features
- 7.0
- Value for money
- 7.2
- Performance
- 6.3
- Support
- 6.0
- Privacy & security
- 5.8
Why this score
Skool's about page says setup takes under 30 minutes. No independent source verifies that figure, so the score rests mainly on the simple structure: two plans and four core feature areas.
Why this score
The app lists community, courses, calendar and chat; the help center covers leaderboards and affiliates. Scope is focused, with less customisation than specialised platforms.
Why this score
Flat $9 or $99 per month with unlimited members. The 2.9% to 10% transaction fee and no-refund policy reduce the value.
Why this score
Google Play 4.2/5 over about 7,030 reviews and App Store 3.9/5 over 797. Some prominent Google Play reviews complain of crashes and no full-screen video mode.
Why this score
The help center has separate member, admin and payments sections plus a Contact Support form. No live chat or phone line is listed, and no independent data on response times was found.
Why this score
The policy lists the data collected but has not been updated since 2021 and includes geolocation. The App Store "Data Not Collected" label contradicts the Google Play data safety declaration.
What users say
- Google Play4.2/5 · 7,030
- Apple App Store (US)3.9/5 · 797
Sources
- Vendor-providedOfficial pricing pageNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial about pageNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial homepageNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial privacy policy and legal pagesNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedHelp center: Payment terms and policyNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedHelp centerNov 11, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 11, 2026
- storeApp Store listingNov 11, 2026
Specs & compatibility
Change history
- Update.The help center's "Payment terms and policy" article was last updated.
- Company.The about page says Alex Hormozi partnered with Skool in 2024 to create The Skool Games.
- Feature.Version 1.0 of the Skool Communities app appears in the App Store version history.
Full change history (5)
- Update.Privacy policy last updated.
- Launch.Skool was founded in 2019 by Sam Ovens and Daniel Kang.
About the author
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