Discord vs Skool: Great for Chat, Tough for Monetization?

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Discord just got way bigger. The default server cap jumped to 25 million members. Great for reach. Still awkward for revenue. Server Subscriptions take a cut, add processing, and are US-only. Courses? Clunky. Events? Possible, but bolted on. If you want a clean path to paid access, structured lessons, and recurring revenue, build the business on Skool—and keep Discord as your free chat if you need it.

👉 Join Skool

Why this matters now

Discord scaled up. Your server can be massive. But scale ≠ monetization. Native paid tools are limited by region and fee rules. Meanwhile, Skool gives you community + courses + events + billing in one place—exactly what paid communities need.

Discord vs Skool: the head-to-head

Category	Discord	Skool
Best for	Real-time chat, open communities, fandom	Paid communities, courses, cohorts, member events
Monetization	Server Subscriptions (90/10 split) + processing; mobile purchases can add app-store fees; US-only for creators	Two plans (Hobby/Pro). Built-in subscriptions, one-time course sales, trials, coupons
Courses / content	Threads + pinned posts + external docs	Classroom with modules, drip/locks, resources, replays
Events & live	Voice channels/stages; no native calendar for paid programming	Calendar/Events + Skool Call/Go Live; easy recurring sessions
Paywalls & tiers	Roles + channel perms; works, but messy at scale	Clean paywalls, member tiers, and unlocks made for training
Payouts	Stripe for payouts (where supported)	Stripe Express payouts, weekly cadence
Global availability	Core app global; Server Subscriptions: US only	Sell globally; members pay in USD; payouts in local currency
Admin load	Heavy mod work; bots to glue it together	Lighter ops; everything lives in the same hub

👉 Want the business side handled? Start your Skool community

What “paid on Discord” really feels like

You’ll create tiers → map them to roles → lock channels → maintain it forever.

You’ll deal with platform cut + processing. If a member buys on mobile, app-store rules can drive prices up.

If you’re outside the US, native Server Subscriptions are off the table. You’ll need third-party paywalls and more glue.

That’s a lot of moving parts for something you want to scale.

The Skool model (simple on purpose)

One hub your members recognize.

One system for content: Classroom.

One calendar for calls, cohorts, and challenges.

One checkout that you control (Hobby or Pro).

One link in your bio: Join the community.

👉 Keep your energy for the work that pays off. Join Skool

Real numbers: where the money goes

On Discord (native subs):

Platform keeps 10%.

Plus processing fees.

Mobile purchases can include app-store fees (which is why prices differ on iOS).

US-only for creators using native Server Subscriptions.

On Skool:

Hobby ($9/mo) with a 10% transaction fee.

Pro ($99/mo) with ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (≤$900), a bit higher on very large one-offs.

Weekly payouts via Stripe Express.

Global selling; members pay in USD; payouts in your local currency.

Pick the setup that leaves you with more and keeps the ops clean.

Use both? Here’s the winning stack

Discord: free foyer. Everyone hangs out.

Skool: the backstage. Members pay for the path, templates, replays, and direct access.

Flow: Bio → “Join the community” → Skool.

Inside Discord, pin a single post that says: “Want the full thing? Join Skool for [benefit].” Repeat it in rules, welcome, and a weekly announcements thread.

7-day switch plan (copy this)

Day 1: Announce the paid home is Skool. Same price for early movers.

Day 2: Open a members-only thread in Skool and post the first quick win.

Day 3: Publish your next live call in Skool’s Calendar; pin it.

Day 4: Share 3 member wins (screenshots or quotes).

Day 5: Lock Discord perks behind “Join Skool” and redirect.

Day 6: Do a final AMA in Discord → end with the Skool link.

Day 7: Close premium channels in Discord; keep a free lobby that points to Skool.

👉 Start the move now: Join Skool

FAQ

Q: Discord just raised server caps. Should I still switch?

A: Yes—if money matters. Bigger servers don’t fix monetization. You still wrestle with fees, regions, and course structure.

Q: Can I keep Discord for chat?

A: Totally. Use it as top-of-funnel. Put the offers, lessons, and events in Skool.

Q: I’m outside the US. Can I monetize natively on Discord?

A: Not with Server Subscriptions as of now. Skool lets you sell globally and get paid weekly.

Q: What do members get on Skool that they can’t get on Discord?

A: Clear Classroom paths, replays, resources, and a calendar—all tied to their membership.

Q: Hobby or Pro on Skool?

A: Testing or small list → Hobby. Crossing ~100 members at $10/mo (or fewer at higher price) → Pro usually yields better take-home.

The bottom line

Discord is brilliant for chat. Skool is built to charge for outcomes. If you want a community that pays you every month and actually helps members get results, make Skool the home—and keep Discord as the lobby if you like.

👉 Join Skool

Sources & references

Discord server caps: default cap raised from 500k → 2.5M (July 2025) and then to 25M (Sept 2025) in official patch notes. Discord

Discord Server Subscriptions: 90/10 split, various fees; US-only availability per Creator Revenue FAQ. creator-support.discord.com

iOS price differences / app-store fee context: Members FAQ notes higher iOS pricing due to Apple fee; Zapier summary of fee breakdown. Discord Support