Skip to content
Memberfymemberfy
Sign upCreate account

HomeAlternativesSkool alternatives

Skool alternatives: your community on your own domain, with events, an API and an AI assistant on every plan

Quick summary

Memberfy is the best Skool alternative if you want more than a feed and a classroom on someone else’s address: your own domain on every plan, ticketed events, networking, a store, e-mail campaigns and workflows, plus an API, webhooks and an MCP server to run the community from Claude or ChatGPT, from US$ 10 a month with one fee of 6.99% + US$ 1.00 per sale, payment processing included. Two caveats: outside Brazil, charging your members in US dollars by card is still coming, and Skool wins on unlimited members, a US$ 9 entry plan and its community directory.

  • Brand: your own domain on every Memberfy plan; on Skool, only the group URL changes, and only on Pro, at US$ 99 a month.
  • Fee: 6.99% + US$ 1.00 per sale on Memberfy, the same with any payment method; on Skool, 10% + US$ 0.30 on Hobby and 2.9% + US$ 0.30 on Pro, plus 30% when Skool brings the member.
  • Integrations and AI: an API, 101 webhook event types and an MCP server with 959 tools on every Memberfy plan; on Skool, Zapier on Pro, with four uses.
  • Team: unlimited admins and moderators on every Memberfy plan, with roles and approval per space.
  • Where Skool wins: unlimited members, a US$ 9 entry plan, its community directory and charging in US dollars today.
Quick summary
PlatformBest forPublished price
1. MemberfyCommunities, courses and events that want everything on their own domain, run from an AIPublished price: US$ 10/month, annual + 6.99% + US$ 1.00 per sale
2. CircleAnyone who wants community, courses, live events and apps in the stores, with unlimited membersPublished price: US$ 89/month, annual
3. Mighty NetworksAnyone who wants apps in the stores and robust courses, charging by card through StripePublished price: US$ 79 to US$ 354/month, annual
4. KajabiAnyone selling courses, coaching and funnels who wants website, e-mail and checkout in one placePublished price: US$ 143 to US$ 399/month, annual
5. MemberKitCourse sellers in Brazil who sell through another checkout and want a polished members areaPublished price: R$ 197 to R$ 697/month
6. Hotmart ClubCreators in Brazil who already sell through Hotmart and want a members area with no monthly feePublished price: Free + 9.9% + R$ 2.49 per sale
7. DiscordReal-time chat, free, where your audience already isPublished price: Free

Competitor data checked on November 1, 2026, on each one’s own pages.

Why so many people look for a Skool alternative

Skool is one of the simplest community platforms to set up: community, courses and calendar in one place, with unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls on both plans, gamification with points and levels, an interface in eleven languages and a directory that shows communities to people looking for one. It is a good product, and many people start there.

The first thing people notice is control. Skool is the merchant of record, so members buy from Skool, in US dollars, and you cannot use your own Stripe account or another checkout. There is no custom domain: Pro lets you change the group URL, with the first change free and later ones at US$ 100.

The second is the bill. Hobby, at US$ 9 a month, charges 10% + US$ 0.30 per transaction; Pro, at US$ 99, charges 2.9% + US$ 0.30 up to US$ 899 and 3.9% + US$ 0.30 above. When the member arrives through Skool’s directory (Growth Boost, on by default), the commission is 30%.

The third shows up as the community grows: the integration is Zapier, on Pro only and with four uses; a public API and webhooks are not mentioned in the help center; and beyond the feed, chat, calendar and classroom, events with tickets, a store or automated e-mail need another tool.[1,2,3,5,8,9]

How to choose a Skool alternative

Six questions that separate the platforms on this list. Answer them before you look at the price.

How your members pay
Which currency and which methods, and whether the checkout belongs to the platform or you need your own payment-provider account.
The total cost, not just the plan
Add the plan and the fee per sale, and check for an extra commission depending on where the member came from. A cheap plan with a high fee can cost more.
Brand and domain
Whether the community lives on your domain or on the platform’s address, and which plan takes the platform’s branding off the page and the e-mails.
Beyond community and courses
Ticketed events, networking, a store, e-mail campaigns and automations: what comes included and what needs another tool.
API, webhooks and AI
If you connect a CRM or want to run the community by talking to an AI, check which plan that starts on, and whether there is a real API or only Zapier.
How people find you
A platform directory can bring members, but it charges for them; on your own domain, the traffic and the brand are yours.

The alternatives, one by one

1. Memberfy

Best for: Communities, courses and events that want everything on their own domain, run from an AI

What it does well

  • Your own domain on every plan; the Memberfy branding comes off from Growth, at US$ 19.
  • One fee per sale (6.99% + US$ 1.00), payment processing included and the same with any payment method, with no extra commission based on where the member came from.
  • An MCP server with 959 tools on every plan: the community run by talking to Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor, with the connecting person’s role and a confirmation before anything touches money.
  • 30 space types, among them feed, real-time channel, events with tickets and check-in, courses with certificates, gallery, networking and store, plus gamification with points, levels, leaderboards and badges.
  • A public API, 101 webhook event types, ready-made integrations, e-mail campaigns and workflows that send e-mail, WhatsApp and SMS, and unlimited admins and moderators.
  • Members in Brazil pay by PIX, boleto or card, subscriptions included.

Limitations

  • Outside Brazil, charging your members in US dollars, by card, is still coming.
  • Not on the App Store or Google Play: it installs on the phone’s home screen with the community’s name and icon and sends notifications.
  • Plans go by member limit (100, 1,000, 5,000 and 20,000); above that, US$ 19 for every 2,000. On Skool, members are unlimited.
  • No public community directory and no affiliate program: members arrive through your domain and your own promotion.

Pricing model

From US$ 10 (Starter, up to 100 members) to US$ 99 (Scale, up to 20,000) a month on annual billing, billed in US dollars outside Brazil, plus 6.99% + US$ 1.00 per sale, payment processing included. Unlimited admins and moderators on every plan. SMS from Growth and WhatsApp from Business, with a monthly quota.

Verdict: The best Skool alternative for a community that wants its own domain and more than a feed and a classroom, with events, a store, automations, the API and an AI assistant on every plan, from US$ 10 a month. If your members must pay in dollars today, or unlimited members and Skool’s directory are a must, Skool fits better.

See plans and pricing →

2. Circle

Best for: Anyone who wants community, courses, live events and apps in the stores, with unlimited members

What it does well

  • Community, courses, live events, website and e-mail marketing in one product.
  • Unlimited members on every plan, and gamification from the first one.
  • Circle’s app on iOS and Android, and a branded app on Circle Plus.
  • Your own domain on every plan.
  • Circle MCP to run the community with AI, from Business.

Limitations

  • Professional includes 3 admins; each extra one costs US$ 10 a month.
  • A 2% fee on Professional, 1% on Business and Scale and 0.5% on Circle Plus, on top of Stripe’s fees.
  • Circle’s branding comes off only from Business, at US$ 199 a month on annual billing.
  • Admin API on Business and webhooks on Scale, at US$ 419; the Email Hub is a paid add-on, from US$ 19 a month.

Pricing model

Professional US$ 89, Business US$ 199 and Scale US$ 419 a month on annual billing, with unlimited members; Circle Plus on request. A 2% to 0.5% transaction fee by plan, plus Stripe’s.[10,11,12,13,14]

Verdict: A step up from Skool in features, with apps in the stores, but it costs considerably more. For one fee that includes processing, unlimited admins and the API and MCP on every plan, Memberfy is the pick.

Official site ↗Full comparison: Memberfy × Circle →

3. Mighty Networks

Best for: Anyone who wants apps in the stores and robust courses, charging by card through Stripe

What it does well

  • Mighty’s apps on iOS, Android and the web on every plan, and a branded app on Mighty Pro.
  • Unlimited members on every plan.
  • Self-paced, cohort and live courses, with quizzes, automatic certificates and SCORM content.
  • Live streams, online and in-person events, chat and gamification with points and leaderboards.
  • An MCP server for the network from Scale.

Limitations

  • Payments through Stripe, with an account required.
  • A 2% fee on Launch, 1% on Scale and 0.5% on Growth, on top of Stripe’s fee, which Mighty itself puts at 2.5% to 5%.
  • Hosts and moderators limited by plan: 3 and 10 on Launch.
  • Branded e-mails only from Growth.

Pricing model

Launch US$ 79, Scale US$ 179 and Growth US$ 354 a month on annual billing; US$ 95, US$ 215 and US$ 425 on monthly billing. Mighty Pro, with your own app, priced on request.[15,16,17]

Verdict: For anyone leaving Skool for fuller courses and apps in the stores, one of the strongest options. For one fee that includes processing and no cap on admins, Memberfy is the pick.

Official site ↗Full comparison: Memberfy × Mighty Networks →

4. Kajabi

Best for: Anyone selling courses, coaching and funnels who wants website, e-mail and checkout in one place

What it does well

  • Native e-mail marketing, funnels and landing pages.
  • Checkout with subscriptions, one-time and installment payments, upsells and order bumps.
  • No revenue share.
  • Your own domain on every plan.
  • An MCP server to run Kajabi from AI tools, and the Cofounder assistant.

Limitations

  • Community is one part of the product: 1 community on Basic and Growth, 3 on Pro.
  • Kajabi Payments exists only in some countries; elsewhere, Stripe and PayPal.
  • A 2,500-contact limit on Basic; webhooks from Growth and the API only on Pro.
  • Kajabi branding comes off from Growth, and a branded app only on Pro.

Pricing model

Basic US$ 143, Growth US$ 199 and Pro US$ 399 a month on annual billing; US$ 179, US$ 249 and US$ 499 on monthly billing. 30-day guarantee. Kajabi Payments, in the US: 2.9% to 2.7% + 30¢ per sale, by plan.[18,19]

Verdict: Strong for a course and funnel business, but community comes second and the entry plan costs far more than Skool’s. When the community is at the center, Memberfy costs less and brings the API and the AI assistant from the first plan.

Official site ↗Full comparison: Memberfy × Kajabi →

5. MemberKit

Best for: Course sellers in Brazil who sell through another checkout and want a polished members area

What it does well

  • A members area built for courses: Netflix-style showcase, quizzes, scheduled release and certificates on your own template.
  • Connects to Hotmart, Eduzz, Kiwify and other Brazilian checkouts, so you keep selling where you already sell.
  • White label and your own domain on every plan.
  • Forum-style communities and gamification with rankings and challenges.
  • A REST API, webhooks and a read-only MCP server.

Limitations

  • It does not take payments: MemberKit itself says you need an external platform, and you pay that platform’s fee.
  • Videos are hosted elsewhere, on YouTube, Vimeo, Panda Video and others.
  • Every registered member counts, active or not; above the cap, R$ 0.30 per extra member.

Pricing model

Essencial R$ 197 (1,000 members), Pro R$ 497 (5,000) and Escala R$ 697 (15,000) a month; billed yearly, R$ 1,970, R$ 4,970 and R$ 6,970 a year. 7-day free trial.[20,21,22,23,24]

Verdict: A good choice when the course is at the center and you already sell through Hotmart or Eduzz. For billing, access and community in one place, without wiring up another checkout, Memberfy does it, from US$ 10 a month.

Official site ↗Full comparison: Memberfy × MemberKit →

6. Hotmart Club

Best for: Creators in Brazil who already sell through Hotmart and want a members area with no monthly fee

What it does well

  • No monthly fee and no setup fee.
  • A checkout with over 40 payment methods in 22 currencies, including card, boleto and Pix.
  • Streaming-style courses, with its own player, watermark and automatic certificate.
  • Communities with live streams and gamification, and Hotmart Tutor, an AI that answers students from the lessons.
  • An API and webhooks for custom integrations.

Limitations

  • 9.9% + R$ 2.49 per approved sale, on any product.
  • Standard payout in 30 days; earlier only with a paid advance.
  • The site does not mention a custom domain; customization is through style options.

Pricing model

Members areas are free. Hotmart charges 9.9% + R$ 2.49 per approved sale (down to 8.9% from R$ 500,000 a year in sales). Payout in 30 days; an advance in 2 days costs 3.59%.[25,26,27,28,29]

Verdict: Makes sense if you live off Hotmart’s checkout in Brazil. When the community is the product and the brand must be yours, Memberfy puts everything on your domain, with a lower fee per sale plus the monthly plan.

Official site ↗Full comparison: Memberfy × Hotmart Club →

7. Discord

Best for: Real-time chat, free, where your audience already is

What it does well

  • Free to download and use.
  • Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, and a browser version.
  • Servers of up to 25 million members.
  • Text and voice channels, forums, scheduled events, roles with permissions, bots and webhooks.

Limitations

  • Paid server subscriptions exist only for creators in the United States.
  • The server lives inside Discord, with no custom domain.
  • Content and courses are not organized as in a members area.
  • In Brazil, video and Go Live have been suspended since August 17, 2026 by order of the ANPD, the data protection authority; voice and text continue.

Pricing model

Free. Nitro (US$ 2.99 or US$ 9.99 a month) is a subscription for each user, not for the server. On server subscriptions, the creator keeps 90%, plus processing fees.[30,31,32,33]

Verdict: Great as a free chat, but it does not replace Skool’s courses and billing. For content, courses and events on your own domain, Memberfy does what Discord does not, and your Discord server stays connected through the ready-made integration.

Official site ↗Full comparison: Memberfy × Discord →

Feature by feature: Memberfy, Skool and the alternatives

Feature by feature: Memberfy, Skool and the alternatives
FeatureMemberfySkoolCircleMighty NetworksKajabiHotmart Club
Entry priceMemberfy: US$ 10/month, annual, up to 100 membersSkool: US$ 9/month (Hobby); 14-day free trial[1,3]Circle: US$ 89/month, annual (Professional)[10,11]Mighty Networks: US$ 79/month, annual (Launch)[15]Kajabi: US$ 143/month, annual (Basic)[18]Hotmart Club: Free[25]
Fee per saleMemberfy: 6.99% + US$ 1.00, processing includedSkool: 10% + US$ 0.30 on Hobby; 2.9% + US$ 0.30 on Pro; 30% when Skool brings the member[2]Circle: 2% to 0.5%, plus Stripe’s fees[13]Mighty Networks: 2% to 0.5%, plus Stripe’s fee[15,16]Kajabi: No revenue share; the processor’s fee only[18]Hotmart Club: 9.9% + R$ 2.49[26]
How members payMemberfy: In Brazil, PIX, boleto and card; elsewhere, US dollars by card, coming soonSkool: US dollars, with Skool as merchant of record[2]Circle: Card through Stripe; in Brazil, PIX only for one-time payments[12]Mighty Networks: Stripe; card, in several currencies[17]Kajabi: Card, Stripe and PayPal[19]Hotmart Club: Pix, boleto, card and over 40 methods[27]
Members and teamMemberfy: By plan: 100 to 20,000; unlimited teamSkool: Unlimited on both plans[1]Circle: Unlimited; 3 admins on Professional[11]Mighty Networks: Unlimited; hosts limited by plan[15]Kajabi: Contacts: 2,500 to 100,000[18]Hotmart Club: Student limit not stated[25]
Domain and brandMemberfy: Domain on every plan; no branding from US$ 19Skool: Group URL change on Pro; custom domain not mentioned[5]Circle: Domain on every plan; branding off from Business[11]Mighty Networks: Domain on every plan[15]Kajabi: Domain on every plan; branding off from Growth[18]Hotmart Club: Custom domain not mentioned[25]
AppMemberfy: Installs on the phone, with notifications; not in the storesSkool: Mobile app mentioned in the help center[9]Circle: Circle’s app in the stores; branded on Circle Plus[11]Mighty Networks: Mighty’s app in the stores; branded on Mighty Pro[15]Kajabi: Kajabi’s app; branded on Pro[18]Hotmart Club: Web app and Hotmart Player[25]
Community, events and coursesMemberfy: 30 space types: feed, channel, events with tickets, courses with certificates and moreSkool: Feed, chat, events calendar and courses in Classroom[6,7]Circle: Community, courses, live events and website[11]Mighty Networks: Community, courses, live streams and events[15]Kajabi: Courses, coaching and 1 to 3 communities[18]Hotmart Club: Streaming courses and communities[25,28]
GamificationMemberfy: Points per action, levels, leaderboards and badges, tied to workflowsSkool: Points and levels that unlock courses[6]Circle: Gamification on every plan[11]Mighty Networks: Points and leaderboards[15]Kajabi: Not stated on the pages checkedHotmart Club: Gamification in communities[28]
E-mail and automationsMemberfy: Campaigns and workflows on every plan; SMS from Growth and WhatsApp from BusinessSkool: One-click e-mail to all members[6]Circle: Paid Email Hub add-on; automations from Business[11]Mighty Networks: Branded e-mails from Growth[15]Kajabi: Native e-mail marketing and funnels[18]Hotmart Club: Not stated on the pages checked
API and webhooksMemberfy: API, 101 webhook event types and integrations on every planSkool: Zapier on Pro, with four uses[8]Circle: Admin API on Business; webhooks on Scale[11]Mighty Networks: Admin API from Scale[15]Kajabi: Webhooks on Growth; API on Pro[18]Hotmart Club: API and webhooks[29]
AI and MCPMemberfy: MCP with 959 tools on every planSkool: Not stated on the pages checkedCircle: Circle MCP from Business[14]Mighty Networks: AI Cohost; MCP from Scale[15]Kajabi: Cofounder assistant and MCP[18]Hotmart Club: Hotmart Tutor for students[25]

Sources

Competitors’ pages, checked on November 1, 2026; each cell and section carries the number of its source:

  1. [1] skool.com/pricing
  2. [2] Skool Help Center: Skool Payments FAQs
  3. [3] Skool Help Center: Payment terms and policy
  4. [4] Skool Help Center: How to setup pricing for the group?
  5. [5] Skool Help Center: How to change my group URL?
  6. [6] skool.com/features
  7. [7] Skool Help Center: What is Classroom?
  8. [8] Skool Help Center: Zapier Integration
  9. [9] Skool Help Center: Supported languages on Skool
  10. [10] circle.so/br/precos
  11. [11] circle.so/pricing
  12. [12] Circle Help Center: paywalls no Brasil (PIX)
  13. [13] Circle Help Center: paywall transaction fees
  14. [14] circle.so/mcp
  15. [15] mightynetworks.com/pricing
  16. [16] Mighty Networks docs: transaction fees
  17. [17] Mighty Networks docs: connecting Stripe
  18. [18] kajabi.com/pricing
  19. [19] Kajabi Help Center: Kajabi Payments overview
  20. [20] memberkit.com.br
  21. [21] MemberKit: perguntas frequentes
  22. [22] MemberKit: comunidades
  23. [23] MemberKit: API
  24. [24] MemberKit: servidor MCP
  25. [25] hotmart.com/pt-br/club
  26. [26] hotmart.com/pt-br/taxa-hotmart
  27. [27] hotmart.com/pt-br/checkout
  28. [28] hotmart.com/pt-br/comunidade-online
  29. [29] hotmart.com/pt-br/integracoes
  30. [30] Discord Support: Getting Started
  31. [31] Discord Creator Support: Creator Revenue FAQ
  32. [32] Discord Support: Account Caps, Server Caps, and More
  33. [33] Discord Support: video features unavailable in Brazil

Memberfy data: the pricing page and the Help Center (docs.memberfy.net).

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Skool alternative?
For a community that wants its own domain and more than a feed and a classroom, Memberfy: from US$ 10 a month, one fee per sale with processing included, events, a store and automations, unlimited admins, and the API, webhooks and an MCP server on every plan. If your members must pay in US dollars today and you want the least setup, Skool itself is still a good option.
Can my members pay in US dollars on Memberfy?
Not yet. Your members pay in your country’s currency: in Brazil, in reais, by PIX, boleto or card; outside Brazil they will pay in US dollars, by card, and that is coming soon. Outside Brazil, the Memberfy plan itself is billed in US dollars.
How much does Skool cost, fees included?
On monthly billing, Hobby costs US$ 9 a month and charges 10% + US$ 0.30 per transaction; Pro costs US$ 99 and charges 2.9% + US$ 0.30 up to US$ 899 and 3.9% + US$ 0.30 above. Yearly billing gives two months free. When the member arrives through Skool’s directory, the commission is 30%. Memberfy goes from US$ 10 to US$ 99 a month by number of members, with 6.99% + US$ 1.00 per sale.
Can I use my own domain on Skool?
Skool’s help center does not mention a custom domain: on Pro you can change the group URL, with the first change free and later ones at US$ 100. On Memberfy, your own domain comes on every plan, and the Memberfy branding comes off from Growth.
Does Memberfy have gamification like Skool?
Yes. The Engagement space gives points per action, with the value of each one set by you, leaderboards per community and per section, levels that ask for activity during the week and badges on the profile. Moving up or down a level triggers a workflow, which adds the person to a group or sends a message.
Does Memberfy have unlimited members like Skool?
No. Memberfy’s plans go by member limit: 100 on Starter, 1,000 on Growth, 5,000 on Business and 20,000 on Scale; above that, US$ 19 for every 2,000, without talking to sales. In exchange, admins and moderators are unlimited on every plan.
Can I move from Skool to Memberfy?
Written content can be imported from Substack, Medium and WordPress, and members come in from a spreadsheet from any platform, only people who consented; active subscriptions and payment history are manual work, agreed case by case. No one can transfer an active subscription from another platform without the customer reauthorizing the charge, and we tell you how big the job is up front.

Keep reading

Your community on your own domain, run from your AI

Create the account, set up the domain and the plans, and connect Claude or ChatGPT to run the community by talking to it.

Create accountSee plans and pricing