Skool vs Whop
Entry paid: Skool $9 · Whop $0. Free forever: Skool no · Whop yes.
At a glance
| Feature | Skool | Whop |
|---|---|---|
| Entry monthly | $9 | $0 |
| Entry annual /mo | $7.50 | $0 |
| Entry plan | Hobby | Standard |
| Seats model | Unlimited members | n/a |
| Forever free | No | Yes |
| Trial | Not listed | Not listed |
| Platform fees | Hobby 10%; Pro 2.9% (platform transaction fee on pricing page). | Domestic cards 2.7% + $0.30; international +1.5%; FX +1%. ACH 1.5% (max $5). Optional add-ons can raise effective rate (confirm docs). Marketplace/affiliate commissions may apply when using Discover-like distribution — seller-set, Not listed as a single fixed Whop take beyond payments. |
| Processor | Skool payments (confirm whether 2.9% is platform-only or includes processing) | Whop payments |
| Category | course-platform | course-platform |
All plans
Gotchas
Skool
- Hobby’s 10% fee dominates at scale — Pro often wins past modest revenue.
- Confirm whether Pro’s 2.9% stacks with card processing.
Whop
- Payment fee is the product — compare to Stripe alone plus a course host.
- Marketplace affiliate defaults can dwarf processing if you rely on Whop traffic.
FAQ
How much is Skool vs Whop?
Skool entry plan starts around $7.50/mo (best available monthly or annual-equivalent); Whop around $0/mo. Platform transaction fees often dominate — use the calculator on the courses hub.
Does Skool or Whop have a free plan?
Skool: no forever-free plan cited. Whop: yes — forever-free / $0 SaaS available. Trials: Skool Not listed days · Whop Not listed days.
Do platform transaction fees matter more than the subscription?
Often yes. A $39/mo Starter with 7.5% platform fees on $100k/year of course sales costs far more in fees than software. We show published fee text when vendors list it; otherwise Not listed.