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Best community platforms in 2026

For a paid community that's simple to run and keeps members engaged, Skool is our top pick — flat pricing, unlimited members, and gamification that genuinely drives activity. If you want a more polished, customizable space with deep branding, Circle.so is the premium choice, and Mighty Networks is best if you need native mobile apps plus courses.

If you just want a free place to chat, Discord is unbeatable — but you'll need a third-party tool to charge for access. Here's how they compare on cost, fees, and fit.

5 tools compared · pricing verified 2026 · updated for TryToolFit

Our top pick: Skool

Best overall fit for a typical communities buyer. Here's why — and when something else wins.

★ Top pick

Skool

Dead-simple paid communities with courses, live calls, and gamification.

Recurring

Why it fits: For a paid community that's simple to run and keeps members engaged, Skool is our top pick — flat pricing, unlimited members, and gamification that genuinely drives activity.

From $9/mo
Score
Txn fee 10% + $0.30
  • Extremely simple all-in-one (community, courses, payments)
  • Strong gamification drives engagement
  • Limited design and white-label customization
Coaches selling paid communitiesEngagement-first course + community creators
Visit Skool (affiliate link, opens in a new tab) Read review

Quick pick by situation

All 5 communities compared

Tool Score From Free Txn fee Best for Visit
Skool ★ Top pick Dead-simple paid communities with courses, live calls, and gamification.
$9 — 10% + $0.30 (Hobby); ~2.9% processing only (Pro) Coaches selling paid communities Visit Skool (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Discord Free real-time chat and voice for communities — monetize with add-on tools.
Free Lowest ✓ N/A (use 3rd-party) Free communities and engaged real-time chat Visit
Circle.so Polished, customizable community platform with courses and built-in monetization.
$89 — 2% (Pro) / 1% (Business) Established creators and brands wanting a premium feel Visit
Patreon Membership and recurring-payment platform with a trusted creator brand.
Free Lowest ✓ ~10% + processing (new creators) Content creators monetizing a fan base Visit
Mighty Networks All-in-one community, courses, and memberships with native mobile apps.
$49 — 2–3% + processor Creators wanting courses + community in one Visit

Score is our composite of independent user ratings, value, and feature breadth — how we score. Prices are entry-tier estimates; verify current pricing on each site.

What you'll actually pay as you grow

Per-members costs change the answer. Drag to your size:

Estimate by members

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Exact:

    The rest, ranked & reviewed

    2

    Discord

    Free real-time chat and voice for communities — monetize with add-on tools.

    Free plan
    From Free
    Score
    Txn fee N/A
    • Completely free to run a community
    • Best-in-class real-time chat and voice
    • No native paid memberships or courses
    Free communities and engaged real-time chatBolting on a free member perk
    Visit Discord Read review
    3

    Circle.so

    Polished, customizable community platform with courses and built-in monetization.

    From $89/mo
    Score
    Txn fee 2%
    • Highly polished, customizable interface
    • Strong all-in-one feature set with monetization
    • No free plan; entry floor now $89/mo
    Established creators and brands wanting a premium feelCourses + events + community
    Visit Circle.so Read review
    4

    Patreon

    Membership and recurring-payment platform with a trusted creator brand.

    Free plan
    From Free
    Score
    Txn fee ~10% + processing
    • No upfront cost; pay only when you earn
    • Trusted, recognized brand for fan support
    • High effective take rate (platform + processing)
    Content creators monetizing a fan basePodcasters, artists, and YouTubers
    Visit Patreon Read review
    5

    Mighty Networks

    All-in-one community, courses, and memberships with native mobile apps.

    Recurring
    From $49/mo
    Score
    Txn fee 2–3% + processor
    • True all-in-one: community, courses, events, payments
    • Branded native mobile apps available
    • Transaction fees on most plans plus processor fees
    Creators wanting courses + community in oneBrands needing native mobile apps
    Visit Mighty Networks Read review

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Skool Circle.soSkool Mighty NetworksCircle.so Mighty Networks

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    Frequently asked questions

    Is Skool worth $99/month?

    If you're charging for your community, yes — Skool Pro has no platform fee and unlimited members, so it pays for itself past a handful of paying members. If you're testing an idea, the $9 Hobby plan works but takes 10% + $0.30 of each sale.

    Skool vs Circle — which should I choose?

    Skool is simpler and more engagement-focused (gamification, leaderboards); Circle is more customizable and polished but pricier with paid add-ons. Pick Skool for a coaching/course community, Circle for a branded membership. See Skool vs Circle.

    Can I run a paid community on Discord?

    Not natively — Discord is free and has no built-in payments. You can bolt on Whop, Memberful, or Patreon to charge for access, but you'll pay their fees (often ~10%) and lose the structured course/classroom experience that Skool or Circle give you.