Last updated: September 6, 2026. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
How we know: we tested Systeme.io hands-on in our own free-plan account. Everything here about Skool comes from its published pricing page and documentation, checked on the date shown — we have not run a Skool account ourselves, and we would rather say so than imply otherwise.
Our verdict
Skool’s pricing runs backwards from what you’d expect: the cheap $9/mo plan charges a steep 10% transaction fee, and the pricier $99/mo plan drops it to 2.9%. Systeme.io charges 0% at every tier, including free. If your business is specifically a community with live calls, Skool’s format is purpose-built for that. If you need funnels, email, and courses too, Systeme.io covers more without the fee math.
Try Systeme.io freeFree plan, no credit card required. Affiliate link — see our disclosure.
Skool is a community-first platform — courses, discussion feeds, live calls, and leaderboards, all built around the idea that a paid membership community is the product. Systeme.io has a community feature too, but it’s funnel-first with community as one module among several. Here’s what each actually costs, and where Skool’s pricing structure has a real catch worth knowing before you pick a plan.
Pricing, side by side
List prices as of September 6, 2026, monthly billing, checked directly on Skool’s pricing page.
| Tier | Systeme.io | Skool |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, permanent — 3 funnels, 2,000 contacts, 0% fees | None |
| Entry | $17/mo — 10 funnels, 5,000 contacts, 0% fees | $9/mo (Hobby) — unlimited members, courses, live calls, 10% transaction fee |
| Top | $97/mo — unlimited everything, 0% fees | $99/mo (Pro) — same features as Hobby, 2.9% transaction fee |
The detail worth knowing before you sign up: Skool’s two plans have identical features — unlimited members, courses, videos, live calls, custom URL, and an affiliate program. The only difference between Hobby ($9/mo) and Pro ($99/mo) is the transaction fee: 10% versus 2.9%. On a community charging $3,000/month in membership fees, that’s $300/mo in fees on Hobby versus $87/mo on Pro — the “cheaper” plan costs more the moment you have real revenue.
Create a free Systeme.io account — no card requiredAffiliate link — see our disclosure.
Where the money actually goes
What Skool has that Systeme.io does not
- A community feed and leaderboard system designed as the primary product experience, not an add-on — points, levels, and gamified engagement built in.
- Live calls integrated directly into the community, on every plan.
- An affiliate program on every tier, including the entry $9/mo plan — Systeme.io’s affiliate management is also included on every plan, but Skool’s is specifically tuned for community referrals.
What Systeme.io has that Skool does not
- A permanent free plan. Skool has no free tier at any point.
- 0% transaction fees at every tier, including free — Skool’s fees range from 2.9% to 10% depending on plan.
- Sales funnels and email marketing as core, built-in features — Skool is a community platform, not a funnel builder, and doesn’t include either.
- Unlimited sub-accounts on every plan, including free.
Two questions that decide it
1. How much monthly revenue will actually run through the platform?
Do the math against your real numbers, not the sticker price. Below roughly $1,200/month in membership revenue, Hobby’s 10% fee costs less in dollar terms than upgrading to Pro. Above that, Pro’s lower 2.9% fee wins, even though the plan itself costs $90/mo more. Systeme.io skips this calculation entirely at 0%.
2. Is community the whole product, or one part of a bigger funnel?
If a paid community with live calls and a discussion feed is your business, Skool’s format is purpose-built for that experience in a way Systeme.io’s community module isn’t. If the community is one piece of a larger funnel that also needs landing pages, email sequences, and a course, Systeme.io covers all of it under one login.
Frequently asked questions
Does Skool have a free plan?
No — Skool’s cheapest option is the $9/mo Hobby plan. Systeme.io’s free plan never expires and needs no credit card.
Why does Skool’s cheaper plan have a higher transaction fee?
Skool’s $9/mo Hobby plan charges 10% per transaction, while the $99/mo Pro plan drops it to 2.9%. Both plans have identical features otherwise — the fee is the entire difference. This means Hobby only stays cheaper at low revenue; above roughly $1,200/month in transactions, Pro’s lower fee saves you more than its higher monthly price costs.
Is Systeme.io cheaper than Skool?
At the entry tier, Skool’s $9/mo is nominally cheaper than Systeme.io’s $17/mo — but Systeme.io charges 0% transaction fees at every tier, while Skool’s entry plan charges 10%. Once you factor in real transaction volume, Systeme.io is usually the cheaper option.
Which is better for running a paid community, Systeme.io or Skool?
Skool, if community is the entire product — its feed, leaderboard, and live-call tools are purpose-built for that format. Systeme.io’s community module is more basic but comes bundled with funnels, email, and course hosting if your business needs more than a standalone community.
I’ve been building and maintaining websites for about ten years. The first one is still online a decade later, and I still fix it when something breaks — which is how I learned that the interesting part of any platform is not the launch, it’s year three. I co-owned that site’s business, though I am not a co-owner today; the business itself has since closed. Separately, I have also run an online store on Shopify, until the fees pushed me onto a different payment system. Today I choose the host, the theme and write the plugins that run this site, and I pay for the tools I test out of my own pocket. More on the About page, and exactly what we did and did not test in how we test.
Prices verified against each company’s public pricing page on September 6, 2026. Vendors change pricing without notice — check before you buy, and tell us if you find something out of date.
Try it yourself: Systeme.io’s free plan is permanent, not a trial — 3 funnels, 2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, 0% transaction fees. Start on the free plan and find out in a weekend whether it covers what you need. (Affiliate link — see our disclosure.)