Skool Pricing (2026): Hobby vs Pro, Fees, Payouts & Break-Even

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Skool now has two creator plans for 2026 — Hobby ($9/mo) and Pro ($99/mo). Both include core features and unlimited members/courses.

The Hobby plan charges 10% + $0.30 per transaction. Pro charges 2.9% + $0.30 on payments ≤ $900 and 3.9% + $0.30 on payments ≥ $901.

There’s a 14-day free trial for creators. Payouts land weekly in your local currency after you connect via Stripe Express.

Want the simple path?

Start your Skool trial and follow this guide as you go: Launch with Skool

Why this matters

Pricing isn’t just a number. It’s margin, runway, and peace of mind. If you pick the right plan on day one, you’ll keep more from every sale, avoid surprise fees, and scale faster.

I track Skool updates weekly and cite the official Help Center throughout this post so you have the latest numbers. As of April 2026, here's exactly how Skool pricing works. Skool Help Center

Skool plans at a glance

Plan	Monthly price	Transaction fees	Admins	Members/Courses	Notable notes
Hobby	$9	10% + $0.30 per transaction	1 admin	Unlimited	Best for testing an idea
Pro	$99	2.9% + $0.30 ≤ $9003.9% + $0.30 ≥ $901	Unlimited	Unlimited	Lowest fees; scales best

Skool lists core features on both plans and confirms the 14-day trial on the official pricing/help pages. Fee tiers and examples come from the Payments FAQ.

What’s included on both plans

Unlimited members and unlimited courses. No metered “per seat” nonsense.

Core community + classroom features (posts, modules, comments, events).

Custom URL and the option to hide suggested communities.

14-day free trial to try everything before you pay.

Ready to test it live? Spin up your group in minutes → Try Skool free

The real costs: fees, payouts, and currency

Let’s talk money flow. Here’s what actually happens when someone pays you on Skool.

1) Transaction fees

Hobby: 10% + $0.30 on every sale.

Pro: 2.9% + $0.30 up to $900; 3.9% + $0.30 above $901. This is Skool’s fee structure (processed via Stripe Express under the hood), designed to be competitive with typical payment processing. Skool Help Center

2) Payouts: when you get paid

Weekly payouts (every Wednesday) to your bank account. First payout can take up to 14 days; then it’s weekly.

3) Currency: how it settles

Your products are priced in USD. Members pay in USD.

You receive payouts in your local currency (e.g., GBP if you’re in the UK).

4) How to connect payouts

You connect via Stripe Express inside Skool’s UI. No separate Stripe account needed. Identity verification is required.

The break-even math: when Pro beats Hobby

Question: “Should I stay on $9 Hobby or jump to $99 Pro?”

Use this:

Fee difference: Hobby 10% vs. Pro 2.9% (or 3.9% on high-ticket).

Extra monthly cost for Pro vs. Hobby: $90 more per month.

Break-even on standard payments (≤ $900):

You need to save at least $90/month in fees to justify Pro.

Savings rate vs Hobby: 10% − 2.9% = 7.1%.

Required monthly revenue (all else equal): $90 / 0.071 ≈ $1,268.

So when your monthly gross volume hits about $1.3k, Pro pays for itself just on fee savings — before you count quality-of-life perks like unlimited admins. On high-ticket transactions (≥ $901), your savings vs. 10% are 6.1% (10% − 3.9%), so the break-even arrives a touch later, but it still comes fast once you’re selling premium plans or packages.

Example scenarios

$49/mo membership

Hobby fee: 10% + $0.30 ≈ $5.20 per sale
Pro fee: 2.9% + $0.30 ≈ $1.72 per sale
Savings per member ≈ $3.48
Break-even ≈ 26–27 members at $49/mo

$99/mo membership

Hobby: ≈ $10.20
Pro (≤ $900): ≈ $3.17
Savings ≈ $7.03 per member
Break-even ≈ 13 members at $99/mo

$1,000 one-time (high-ticket)

Hobby: $100.30
Pro (≥ $901): $39.30
Savings ≈ $61.00 per sale
Break-even ≈ 2 high-ticket sales per month

(Fees per Skool Payments FAQ; high-ticket tier applies at ≥ $901.)

Free trials: platform vs. member

There are two “trials” you’ll hear about. They’re different.

Creator trial (you): 14-day free trial of Skool to build and test your community. You pick Hobby or Pro; you can switch plans during the trial. Cancel anytime.

Member trial (your buyers): You can offer a 7-day free trial to your own subscription community to boost conversions. Toggle this in your group’s Pricing tab.

Annual, monthly, and one-time pricing options (for your offers)

Inside Skool you can sell in a few ways:

Monthly subscriptions (most common).

Annual subscriptions (discounted yearly plan; upgrdes from monthly are pro-rated automatically).

One-time purchases for courses or add-ons (“Buy Now”). Great for upsells, events, or standalone products.

Refunds, cancellations, and grandfathering

Members can self-cancel their membership from their settings. They keep access until the end of the billing period. You as the creator can cancel your own Skool group subscription anytime.

Refunds: You control refunds. Skool provides tooling, but refund policy is set by you.

Grandfathering: If you change your price, existing members keep their original price (even free). New members see the new price.

Which plan should you pick?

Use this simple rule:

Just testing an idea? Start Hobby ($9). One admin. Keep costs tiny while you validate. Flip to Pro the moment your monthly gross hits ~$1.3k or you want unlimited admins and lower fees

Already selling or have an audience? Go Pro ($99) from day one. You’ll save on fees and avoid re-configuring access later.

Don’t overthink it. Create the group, set one clear offer, invite 10 buyers. When numbers climb, switch plans with one click. Then scale.

Cost calculator (quick mental math)

Monthly members × price × 7.1% ≈ your fee savings when switching from Hobby → Pro (for payments ≤ $900).

If that number is >$90, Pro is now cheaper overall.

Example: 20 members × $99 × 7.1% ≈ $140.58 in savings → Pro wins.

Hidden gotchas (good to know)

All product prices are in USD. If you’re outside the US, you’re still pricing in USD; payouts convert to your local currency weekly. Set your price with FX in mind.

First payout delay: Plan for up to 14 days on the very first one. After that, it’s weekly.

One admin on Hobby: Keep in mind if you run a team (coaches, moderators), Pro’s unlimited admins saves headaches.

How to start (today)

Start the 14-day creator trial on your chosen plan.

Connect payouts via Stripe Express (in Skool settings). It’s a guided flow.

Set a price (monthly + annual), add one course, and write a pinned “Start Here” post.

Optionally enable a 7-day member trial to increase conversion.

Invite your first 20 warm leads. Get feedback. Adjust. Scale.

Do it now. Your future members are already searching.
Start free on Skool

FAQs (fast answers)

Is there a free trial for creators?

Yes. 14 days free. Switch plans during trial. Cancel anytime.

Does Skool take a cut of my sales?

Yes. On Hobby it’s 10% + $0.30. On Pro it’s 2.9% + $0.30 up to $900, or 3.9% + $0.30 for $901+ transactions.

When do I get paid?

Weekly, every Wednesday, after the first payout clears. Skool Help Center

What currency are my prices in?

You set prices in USD; payouts arrive in your local currency (e.g., GBP in the UK). Skool Help Center

Can I offer a free trial to my members?

Yes. Toggle a 7-day free trial on your group’s pricing. Skool Help Center

If I raise my price, will current members pay more?

No. They’re grandfathered and keep their original price. New members see the new price. Skool Help Center

Can I sell annual or one-time products?

Yes. Offer annual options and one-time course purchases alongside monthly subs. Skool Help Center+1

(Optional) Upgrade logic you can steal

Start Hobby if you’re pre-revenue.

The moment your MRR ≥ $1,300 or you need multiple admins, switch to Pro.

Add annual at a fair discount (8–20%). It boosts cash flow and reduces churn.

Final take

Still deciding whether Skool fits your business model? Our full Skool review for 2026 covers features, trade-offs, and who it's actually built for. And once you're earning, see how the Skool affiliate programme can add a passive income layer on top of your community revenue.

Skool kept pricing simple on purpose. Hobby lets you test for almost nothing. Pro keeps more money in your pocket once you’re selling. Either way, you’re getting all the core features and unlimited scale without the usual platform complexity.

If your plan is to build a real community business this year, the math is clear. Start. Sell. Then scale into Pro.

Start your Skool trial here

New Skool Pricing Explained: What You Actually Pay — And What You Get