As of October 2026, Skool has two plans. Hobby costs $9 a month and takes 10% + 30 cents from each payment your members make. Pro costs $99 a month and takes 2.9% + 30 cents on payments up to $899 (3.9% + 30 cents above $900). Both start with a 14-day free trial, and paying yearly gets you 2 months free.
Skool's pricing page fits on one screen, but the plan you pick changes how much of every membership payment you keep. The detail that matters sits in Skool's Payments FAQ rather than on the pricing page, so I read both, plus Skool's payment terms, to lay out the full picture.
Skool Hobby and Pro compared
| Hobby | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan | $9 a month | $99 a month |
| Fee on member payments | 10% + 30 cents on every payment | 2.9% + 30 cents up to $899, 3.9% + 30 cents above $900 |
| Members, courses, videos, live calls | No limit | Unlimited |
| Custom URL and affiliates | Included on Hobby | Included on Pro |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
What a member payment leaves you
Skool's FAQ gives a worked example. On a $9 a month membership, you keep $8.4 on the Pro plan and $7.8 on the Hobby plan. On a $999 payment, Pro leaves you $959.74. Skool also points out that its Pro fee already covers what Stripe would add for international cards and subscriptions, which it says saves most people moving from Stripe 1-2%.
When Pro starts saving you money
Pro costs more each month but takes a much smaller slice of every payment. So the question is simple: does the fee you'd save on your members' payments add up to more than the extra plan price? Take a typical month of member payments, work out 10% of it (Hobby) and 2.9% of it (Pro), add each plan's monthly price, and pick the smaller total. With only a few paying members, Hobby usually wins that sum. Once a group has a steady base of paying members, Pro tends to come out ahead.
Payouts, currency and refunds
- Every Skool membership price is set in US dollars, and members pay in US dollars.
- Payouts arrive in your local currency, so a UK owner is paid in pounds.
- Payouts go out every Wednesday. Skool says the first one can take up to 14 days while it runs checks.
- Transaction fees aren't refundable, and Skool's payment terms say plan fees aren't refunded either, even if you don't use the group.
- There's a limit of $100,000 per charge.
Changing your price later
Here's a rule worth knowing before you launch. If you raise your price, Skool keeps existing members on the price they already pay. Its own example: a free group with 100 members that moves to $33 a month only charges new members, and the original 100 stay free. So if you plan to charge eventually, set your price before the group gets big.
How payout timing works
Skool's FAQ says US bank accounts usually see a deposit 1-3 business days after the Wednesday payout, and international accounts 3-5 business days. Each Wednesday payout comes with a reverse invoice from Skool, which is handy for your bookkeeping. Build that first-payout wait of up to 14 days into your launch plans, so you're not relying on the money the week you open.
Setting up pricing on Skool, step by step
- Start the 14-day free trial on the plan you expect to use.
- Decide whether your group will be free, monthly, yearly or a one-off payment.
- Set your price in US dollars before you invite your first members.
- Check your payout details so funds arrive in your local currency.
- Review the plan choice after your first full month of member payments.
If you're building your community from the ground up, my guide on building an online community from scratch and this community launch mini guide cover the first members.
Plain advice for new Skool owners
Start on Hobby while you're testing whether people will join, then move to Pro once member payments pass the point where the lower fee covers the bigger plan. Decide your long-term price early, because grandfathering means your first members keep their rate. And remember everything is in US dollars, so if you're outside the US, price with the exchange rate in mind.
Do you make community or membership software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured mention in guides like this one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Skool cost per month?
As of October 2026, Skool's Hobby plan is $9 a month and the Pro plan is $99 a month. Paying yearly gives you 2 months free.
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What transaction fee does Skool charge?
Skool's FAQ lists 10% + 30 cents per payment on Hobby, and 2.9% + 30 cents on Pro for payments up to $899, rising to 3.9% + 30 cents above $900.
Does Skool have a free trial?
Yes. Skool's payment terms say both plans are recurring subscriptions after a 14 day free trial.
How often does Skool pay out?
Skool pays out every Wednesday. Its FAQ says the first payout can take up to 14 days while it runs checks, then payouts follow every 7 days.
Can I get a refund on a Skool plan?
Skool's payment terms say plan fees aren't refunded once paid, and its transaction fees aren't refundable either.
Is Skool's Hobby plan enough to start a paid community?
For many new groups, yes. Hobby includes unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls, a custom URL and affiliates. The trade-off is the 10% + 30 cents taken from each member payment, which is why growing groups often move to Pro.
Is there a limit on a single Skool charge?
Skool's FAQ lists a transaction limit of up to $100,000 per charge.
Does Skool pay out in pounds?
Yes. Prices are in US dollars, but Skool pays out in your local currency, so UK owners are paid in GBP.
What happens to existing members when a Skool group's price goes up?
Skool keeps existing members on the price they already pay. Only new members pay the new price.
