If you’re a coach, consultant, educator, or entrepreneur aiming to build an engaged online community, host online courses, run live events, and centralize your activities, Skool could be the ideal platform for you.
I’ve spent the past few years extensively using Skool as both a community owner and active member. My firsthand experience allows me to provide a comprehensive review of Skool, its features, pricing, and its potential value for your business.
What is Skool?
Skool is an all-in-one platform designed to build online communities, host courses, schedule events, and more. Launched in 2019 by entrepreneur Sam Ovens, Skool aims to be a central hub for your audience by integrating key elements of community engagement, course hosting, calendars, and gamification.
Here are some issues Skool addresses:
- Distraction-free Community Space: Unlike Facebook Groups, Skool offers a private, ad-free environment.
- Enhanced Community Engagement: Many course platforms lack vibrant community features, but Skool places community at the forefront.
- Unified Tools: Skool consolidates tools for courses, community, and calendars, reducing the need for multiple platforms.
- Improved Course Completion: Gamification in Skool boosts user engagement and course completion rates.
- Simplified Membership Sites: Skool simplifies the creation of membership sites without requiring advanced technical skills.
In summary, Skool provides everything needed to engage your audience, teach online courses, run events, and monetize your expertise within one sleek platform.
Core Features of Skool
Skool includes several key features to help you build and manage an online community effectively:
- Robust Community Features: The community feed allows members to create posts, share media, run polls, and comment. Admins can control user roles and moderation while fostering member engagement and accountability.
- Integrated Classroom: Courses can be easily created within Skool using a drag-and-drop module builder. Although Skool doesn’t host videos natively, it supports platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. Drip content and gamified unlocks enhance engagement.
- Event Calendar: Schedule and manage online/offline events and webinars. Recurring events and email reminders improve attendance, and members can add events to their personal calendars.
- Gamification: Members earn points and level up through engagement, unlocking gated content. Leaderboards and rewards create a competitive, engaging atmosphere.
- Additional Features:
- Direct messaging and chat
- Subscription memberships and payment collection
- Email broadcasts
- Engagement metrics dashboard
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Zapier integration
Key Benefits of Using Skool
Based on my experience, here are the main benefits for different users:
- Community Owners:
- Create branded, ad-free spaces
- Foster active engagement with posts, chat, and events
- Monitor community with metrics and moderation tools
- Host unlimited integrated courses
- Schedule and promote events effortlessly
- Monetize with subscriptions
- Members:
- Enjoy an ad-free, distraction-free environment
- Connect via posts, chat, and direct messaging
- Earn rewards and track progress through gamification
- Access courses and gated content
- Stay updated with calendar integration
- Receive support from the community
- Course Creators:
- Increase course completion rates through community engagement
- Reduce support burdens with peer-to-peer help
- Enhance student accountability and progress tracking
- Easily gate courses for paying members
- Engage students with points and rewards
- Schedule live events and webinars seamlessly
Skool Pricing and Plans
One of Skool’s biggest advantages is its straightforward pricing. It costs $99/month per community, which includes all features, unlimited courses, members, and admins. There are no hidden fees, and you can cancel anytime. A 14-day free trial is available for testing the platform.
Compared to Kajabi’s $119+/month for just 1,000 users or Circle’s tiered pricing, Skool offers excellent value, providing full capabilities without unexpected upgrade fees.
Skool Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent all-in-one solution for courses and community
- Easy to use with minimal learning curve
- Quick setup and fast “time to value”
- Integrated subscription monetization
- Gamification boosts engagement
- Simple pricing with no member limits
- Zapier integration
Cons:
- No native video hosting yet (coming soon)
- Cannot natively handle one-time payments (workarounds available)
- No built-in sales funnel builder
- Lacks student testing tools like quizzes (third-party integration needed)
- Email and chat support need improvement (community support is strong)
While Skool has some limitations, it offers a streamlined experience that significantly enhances community engagement for online instructors.
User Feedback
Skool has received positive feedback from users who appreciate its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Many find it valuable for building private online communities and connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs. Although some users note the absence of native video hosting, most agree that Skool effectively streamlines community building and engagement.
Comparing Skool to Alternatives
- Skool vs. Facebook Groups: Skool provides a private, ad-free space, full control over the platform and data, and straightforward monetization.
- Skool vs. Circle: While Circle offers more customization, Skool excels in structured community management and course features.
- Skool vs. Mighty Networks: Skool focuses on engaging course delivery and progression tracking, areas where Mighty Networks is less robust.
- Skool vs. Kajabi: Skool is simpler and more focused on community building and courses, with a straightforward pricing model.
Conclusion: Is Skool Worth It?
For online instructors and coaches facing challenges with disjointed tech stacks and low student engagement, Skool provides a compelling one-stop solution. It transforms students into active community members, enhancing engagement and learning experiences. Although not ideal for selling physical products or building large social networks, Skool is an excellent choice for coaches, consultants, course creators, and community builders in the online education space.
Summary
Skool simplifies community building, course hosting, event management, and monetization in one platform. It offers a distraction-free, private environment to engage your audience with subscription memberships, intuitive course delivery, and gamification. If you’re looking to enhance course engagement, motivate students, and bring everything together in one space, Skool is a top-notch choice worth exploring with a free 14-day trial.
