Skool is a community-focused course platform built around one idea – that your courses and your community should live in the same place instead of being spread across different tools.
Over 200,000 creators are already using it, putting it in the same conversation as more established platforms like Teachable and Thinkific.
If you’re here because you want to try Skool before committing to a monthly plan, you’re in the right place. They offer a 14-day free trial so you can get inside the platform and see how it works before you spend a dollar.
Below, I’ll walk you through how to start your free trial, what the platform actually costs after the trial ends, and what you get access to so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.
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Get Started With Your Skool Free Trial
You’ll need your credit card to get started with Skool’s 14-day free trial. This is so your service isn’t interrupted after the trial period ends and they will automatically bill you the monthly cost.
To get started, go to the Skool homepage and click on “Create your own” which lets you start the process of creating your own community.
You can also start the process from any page on the site by clicking “Create a community” whether you’re logged in or not.
1. Add your name, email address, and password
The first step is to add your first name, last name, and email address to the signup form and create a password for logging in.
Check the box to agree to the terms and privacy policy then click on the signup button to submit the form.
2. Check email for verification code
You’ll be asked to verify a code sent to your email address. Check your inbox for the code and submit it to verify your email address.
3. Choose a Skool plan
There are two plans to choose from when joining Skool to create a community. You can choose any one to try for free.
I’d recommend going with the $9 Hobby plan for now if you’re truly just trying this out. You can always change it later in your settings.
4. Choose your group name and enter billing info
After verifying your email address, it’s time to create your group name and add your billing info.
The billing details are shown before you enter your card information so you can see exactly what you’ll be charged once the trial ends.
There’s no PayPal option, so you’ll need a debit or credit card to complete signup.
5. Go to your dashboard to begin
Once your card is authorized, you’ll be taken straight to your dashboard where you can start building your community and courses right away.
How Much Does Skool Cost?
Unlike other course and community platforms that stack up multiple plans and make you figure out which one you actually need, Skool keeps it simple with two options.
The Hobby plan is $9/month and is a great starting point if you’re just getting started or want to test the waters with a smaller community.
The Pro plan is $99/month and is what you’d move to as your community grows and you need more out of the platform.
Both plans include all features, unlimited members, unlimited videos, and unlimited live-streaming. The main differences come down to three things. Hobby charges a 10% transaction fee on any sales you make through the platform while Pro drops that to 2.9%. Pro also gives you a custom URL, the ability to hide Skool’s suggested communities from your members, and access to advanced analytics – none of which are available on Hobby.
So if you’re just building a free community or testing an idea, Hobby at $9/month is a low barrier to get started. But if you’re actively selling courses or memberships, the transaction fee difference alone could make Pro the better value depending on your volume.
Neither plan has an annual billing option, so you’re paying month to month either way.
One thing worth mentioning is that Skool has a built-in affiliate program. Once you’re a member, you can refer others to the platform and earn 40% of whatever plan they sign up for – $3.60/month per Hobby referral or $39.60/month per Pro referral. After three Pro referrals, your commissions essentially cover your own subscription.
What You Get On The Skool Free Trial
Since there’s only one set of features regardless of which plan you’re on, everything Skool offers is available to you during the 14-day free trial. Here’s what you get access to:
- Community – one group with posts, comments, categories, likes, mentions and everything else you’d expect from a community space
- Courses – create unlimited courses with modules, embedded video, native video hosting, resources, searchable transcripts and progress tracking
- Live streaming – stream directly to your community without needing a third-party tool
- Calendar – schedule group events with a visual calendar so members always know what’s coming up
- Gamification – give members points for engaging and unlock courses when they hit certain levels
- Email broadcasts – send an email to all your members with one click
- Profiles – members have one profile across all the Skool groups they belong to, with space for a bio, photo, and social links
- Chat and notifications – message other members, follow posts, and get notified by email
One thing to keep in mind is that a custom URL, the ability to hide suggested communities, and advanced analytics are only available on the Pro plan – not on Hobby or during the trial.
Should You Use Skool?
Skool is a solid choice if you want your courses and community in one place without dealing with a complicated platform.
The fact that every plan includes all the core features – unlimited members, unlimited videos, and live streaming – means you’re not being nickel-and-dimed as you grow.
The $9/month Hobby plan makes it easy to get started without a big financial commitment, which is rare for a platform that includes this much out of the box. Just keep the transaction fee in mind if you plan on selling. At 10%, it adds up quickly, and that’s when moving to Pro starts to make more sense.
Where Skool stands out is in the community side of things. The gamification, profiles, and engagement features are genuinely built to keep your members active and coming back, which is something a lot of course platforms bolt on as an afterthought.
It’s not the most feature-rich platform out there. If you need advanced marketing tools, upsells, or detailed sales funnels, you’ll hit some walls. But if community and courses together in a clean, simple package is what you’re after, Skool is worth trying.
The 14-day free trial gives you enough time to build something out and see how it feels before you commit to a plan.
