Free vs paid Skool communities
Skool supports both free and paid communities. Paid dominates active discovery, but free plays a growing top-of-funnel role.
Independent site — not affiliated with Skool, Inc.
~65%
of active Skool communities are paid
Free communities are common as top-of-funnel; paid dominates active discovery.
Breakdown by model
| Model | Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free (open) | ~25% | Top-of-funnel, list building, or hobbyist |
| Free (invite-only) | ~10% | Cohort waitlists or private groups |
| Paid (monthly) | ~45% | The default paid model on Skool |
| Paid (annual) | ~15% | Often bundled with monthly at a discount |
| Paid (one-time) | ~5% | Lifetime access — less common |
When free wins
- You're building an audience-first business and need a low-friction top of funnel.
- Your revenue comes from something else — coaching, agency, SaaS — and the community is a lead source.
- You need social proof and testimonials before you can charge.
When paid wins
- You want committed members. Paying = showing up.
- You have a clear outcome you can price against.
- You want the community itself to be the business, not a funnel.
Methodology & sources
Last updated: December 2025
Sample: Sampled from public Skool discovery and creator disclosures.
Shares are directional estimates based on visible communities. Private paid communities aren't fully counted; the true paid share is likely a few points higher.
Numbers here are directional estimates compiled by YourSkool from public sources. Skool, Inc. does not publish official platform-wide statistics. Independent site, not affiliated with Skool, Inc.
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