# Skool vs Circle fees

Page: https://membermath.app/compare/circle-vs-skool.html
Last verified: 2026-10-18

How Skool and Circle fees compare, using each vendor's public pricing. Best plan = highest net at that size.

## 50 members at $19.00/month

| Platform (best plan) | Gross | Platform plan + fees | Processing | Net / month |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skool (Hobby) | $950.00 | $119.00 | $0.00 | $831.00 |
| Circle (Professional) | $950.00 | $108.00 | $42.55 | $799.45 |

## 200 members at $29.00/month

| Platform (best plan) | Gross | Platform plan + fees | Processing | Net / month |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skool (Pro) | $5,800.00 | $327.20 | $0.00 | $5,472.80 |
| Circle (Professional) | $5,800.00 | $205.00 | $228.20 | $5,366.80 |

## 1,000 members at $29.00/month

| Platform (best plan) | Gross | Platform plan + fees | Processing | Net / month |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skool (Pro) | $29,000.00 | $1,240.00 | $0.00 | $27,760.00 |
| Circle (Business) | $29,000.00 | $489.00 | $1,141.00 | $27,370.00 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which keeps more at 50 members paying $19.00/month, Skool or Circle?

Skool (Hobby) keeps about $831.00 per month, versus about $799.45 for Circle (Professional), using the best plan of each. This follows the assumptions on the method page.

### Which keeps more at 200 members paying $29.00/month, Skool or Circle?

Skool (Pro) keeps about $5,472.80 per month, versus about $5,366.80 for Circle (Professional), using the best plan of each. This follows the assumptions on the method page.

### Which keeps more at 1,000 members paying $29.00/month, Skool or Circle?

Skool (Pro) keeps about $27,760.00 per month, versus about $27,370.00 for Circle (Business), using the best plan of each. This follows the assumptions on the method page.

## Skool plans

| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Platform fee | Payment processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hobby | not listed | $9.00/mo ([source](https://www.skool.com/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 10% + $0.30 ([source](https://help.skool.com/article/86-subscriptions-faq), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | included in platform fee |
| Pro | not listed | $99.00/mo ([source](https://www.skool.com/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 2.9% + $0.30; 3.9% above $900.00 ([source](https://help.skool.com/article/86-subscriptions-faq), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | included in platform fee |

### Notes

- Skool's pricing page advertises '2 months free' on yearly billing but does not state the annual price, so no annual price is shown here and the calculator uses the verified monthly price.
- Skool's fee covers card processing, so no separate Stripe fee is added.
- Skool's Help Center lists 3.9% + $0.30 for Pro payments above $900.00, while the pricing page shows only 2.9%. It is unclear which rate applies to payments between $899.00 and $900.00, so the calculator flags that case.
- Skool's Growth Boost and Discovery referrals carry a separate 30% commission, reported by a third-party review. This is not included in the calculator.
- Hobby: Listed on Skool's pricing page ('Hobby $9.00/month'); re-checked 2026-10-18.
- Payment processing: Card processing is included in Skool's fee (per Skool's Payments FAQ).
- Pro: Listed on Skool's pricing page ('Pro $99.00/month'); re-checked 2026-10-18.

### Sources

- https://help.skool.com/article/86-subscriptions-faq (verified 2026-10-18; verified)
- https://www.skool.com/pricing (verified 2026-10-18; verified)

## Circle plans

| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Platform fee | Payment processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional | $89.00/mo ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | not listed | 2% ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 2.9% + $0.30 ([source](https://stripe.com/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, assumed) |
| Business | $199.00/mo ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | not listed | 1% ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 2.9% + $0.30 ([source](https://stripe.com/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, assumed) |
| Scale | $419.00/mo ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | not listed | 1% ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 2.9% + $0.30 ([source](https://stripe.com/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, assumed) |

### Notes

- Listed prices are for annual billing; Circle's page does not show a monthly-billing price.
- Circle does not say which payment processing fees apply on top of its transaction fee, so Stripe's standard rate is assumed.
- Optional add-ons (Email Hub from $99.00/mo, extra admins or spaces, AI credits) are not included.
- Payment processing: Circle's pricing page lists a transaction fee but not the processor's charge. Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 is assumed on top; check with Circle before relying on it.

### Sources

- https://circle.so/pricing (verified 2026-10-18; verified)
- https://stripe.com/pricing (verified 2026-10-18; assumed)