Alternatives · Courses
Skool alternatives
Skool compared with 5 alternatives: Circle, Mighty Networks, Heartbeat, Kajabi and Disco.
Skool is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $9 per month, billed monthly. None of the alternatives has a free plan. 5 more offer a free trial.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| SkoolThis tool | Free trial · from $9/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Circle | Free trial · from $89/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Mighty Networks | Free trial · from $79/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Heartbeat | Free trial · from $40/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Kajabi | Free trial · from $143/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Disco | Free trial · from $399/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
Price against what you get
Skool starts at $9 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Circle, Mighty Networks, Heartbeat and Kajabi score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Skool
- Free trial · from $89/mo
Circle
Community platform with courses, events, payments and branded apps
- Circle starts at $89 per month, billed annually ($99 billed monthly). Skool starts at $9 per month, billed monthly.
- Circle also covers workflow automation and email campaigns.
Suits: Creators and brands whose main product is a community
- Free trial · from $79/mo
Mighty Networks
Community platform with courses, livestreams and paid memberships
- Mighty Networks starts at $79 per month, billed annually ($950 a year). Skool starts at $9 per month, billed monthly.
- Mighty Networks also covers workflow automation.
Suits: Hosts running a paid membership with courses and live events
- Free trial · from $40/mo
Heartbeat
Paid community platform with courses, events and member payments
- Heartbeat starts at $40 per month, billed annually ($49 billed monthly). Skool starts at $9 per month, billed monthly.
- Only Heartbeat lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Heartbeat also covers workflow automation.
Suits: Coaches and creators charging a monthly membership for a community
- Free trial · from $143/mo
Kajabi
All-in-one platform for selling courses, coaching and communities
- Kajabi starts at $143 per month, billed annually ($179 billed monthly). Skool starts at $9 per month, billed monthly.
- Kajabi also covers marketing automation, email campaigns and paid newsletters.
Suits: Coaches and educators who want site, email, checkout and courses in one account
- Free trial · from $399/mo
Disco
Branded learning academy for cohort courses, community and AI help
- Disco starts at $399 per month, billed annually ($499 billed monthly). Skool starts at $9 per month, billed monthly.
- Disco also covers surveys.
Suits: Training businesses running live cohorts with a community around them
Limits worth knowing in Skool
- Hobby keeps 10% plus 30 cents of every sale. Payments go through Skool only; your own Stripe account cannot be connected.
- Growth Boost is on by default and takes 30% of recurring charges from members Skool brings in; it can be turned off.
- A custom URL, the affiliate program and the Zapier integration need the Pro plan.
- Skool's payment policy gives no refunds on its subscription fees.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Skool?
The alternatives to Skool in this directory are Circle, Mighty Networks, Heartbeat, Kajabi and Disco. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Skool.
Is there a free alternative to Skool?
None of the alternatives listed here has a free plan. Circle, Mighty Networks, Heartbeat, Kajabi and Disco offer a free trial.
Which Skool alternatives work on Windows?
The Skool listing does not include a Windows app. Heartbeat lists one.
Which Skool alternatives work on macOS?
The Skool listing does not include a macOS app. Heartbeat lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.