How to use this Skool fee calculator
This Skool fee calculator compares the complete monthly cost of Hobby and Pro from two inputs. Enter the amount charged per payment and the number of monthly charges. The result includes the plan price, percentage fee, fixed $0.30 charge, take-home pay, annualized totals, and the first payment count where Pro costs less.
- Use paying members or completed one-time sales, not free community members.
- Choose yearly effective pricing only if you plan to pay Skool yearly.
- Use the share button to send the exact scenario without copying numbers by hand.
For features, mobile app feedback, and community fit beyond fee math, read our Skool review.
Skool fees at a glance
Skool has two creator plans and both combine a platform price with payment fees. Hobby costs $9 per month and takes 10% plus $0.30 per transaction. Pro costs $99 per month and takes 2.9% plus $0.30 on payments up to $900. Payments above $900 use a 3.9% Pro rate.
Plan | Platform price | Transaction fee | Main cost signal |
|---|---|---|---|
Hobby | $9/mo or $7.50/mo yearly effective | 10% + $0.30 | Lower fixed cost |
Pro | $99/mo or $82/mo yearly effective | 2.9% + $0.30; 3.9% above $900 | Lower fee on sales |
Rates match Skool's pricing page and its Payments FAQ. The calculator uses USD because Skool requires member prices to be set in USD.
The Skool Hobby vs Pro break-even point
Pro becomes cheaper when its lower percentage fee saves more than the extra platform cost. With monthly plan prices and payments up to $900, the exact crossover is $1,267.61 in monthly gross sales. At $49 per payment, whole charges make Pro cheaper from payment 26, which produces $1,274 in gross revenue.
The fixed $0.30 charge does not move the crossover because both plans charge it. The percentage gap does. Hobby takes 7.1 percentage points more than Pro on a normal payment, while the platform price is $90 lower. Divide $90 by 7.1% to get $1,267.61.
Yearly effective prices move the same calculation lower. Skool displays $7.50 per month for Hobby and $82 per month for Pro when yearly billing is selected. That creates a $74.50 platform gap and a $1,049.30 continuous break-even for payments up to $900.
Worked Skool fee examples
The cheapest plan changes with both price and payment count. A $29 offer with 10 monthly payments favors Hobby by $69.41. A $49 community is almost tied at 25 paying members, then Pro wins at member 26. Ten $999 payments favor Pro by $519.39, even with its higher 3.9% rate.
Scenario | Gross | Hobby fees | Pro fees | Cheaper plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$29 × 10 payments | $290 | $41.00 | $110.41 | Hobby by $69.41 |
$49 × 25 payments | $1,225 | $139.00 | $142.03 | Hobby by $3.03 |
$49 × 100 payments | $4,900 | $529.00 | $271.10 | Pro by $257.90 |
$999 × 10 payments | $9,990 | $1,011.00 | $491.61 | Pro by $519.39 |
How high-ticket Skool payments change Pro fees
A single Pro payment above $900 uses 3.9% plus $0.30 instead of 2.9% plus $0.30. The threshold applies to each charge, not total monthly revenue. Ten $999 payments therefore use 3.9%, while 100 separate $99 membership payments stay at 2.9% even though both scenarios approach $10,000 gross.
This distinction matters for one-time courses, premium cohorts, and annual memberships. The calculator changes the Pro rate automatically when the price per payment rises above $900. Skool publishes a maximum of $100,000 per charge, so larger purchases need another payment structure.
Monthly vs yearly Skool plan pricing
Yearly billing lowers only the platform portion of the calculation. Skool currently displays Hobby at $7.50 per month and Pro at $82 per month when the yearly toggle is active. Transaction rates stay at 10% for Hobby and 2.9% or 3.9% for Pro, so sales volume still drives most of the cost.
Use monthly prices when you want maximum flexibility. Use yearly effective prices when you already expect to keep the community open for a full year. The calculator annualizes take-home and fees, but it does not assume that member count, refunds, or sales stay flat for 12 months.
What the Skool fee estimate leaves out
This result estimates Skool platform and transaction fees, not complete business profit. It excludes refunds, chargebacks, affiliate commissions, advertising, contractors, software, and income tax. Skool says transaction fees are non-refundable. It also adds applicable VAT or sales tax to the buyer price and handles collection and remittance as merchant of record.
- Refunds: subtract the refunded sale, but remember the transaction fee is not returned.
- Affiliate payouts: subtract your commission rate from referred sales separately.
- VAT and sales tax: Skool adds applicable tax to the member at checkout.
- Payout conversion: non-US owners receive local currency, so bank conversion can differ.
Which Skool plan should you choose?
Choose Hobby when its lower plan price beats the 10% fee at your expected sales level. Choose Pro when the calculator shows monthly savings, or when you value its plan terms beyond fee math. For low-ticket payments on monthly billing, $1,267.61 in gross monthly sales is the clean financial decision line.
- Choose Hobby: you are testing an offer or expect sales below the displayed crossover.
- Choose Pro: you consistently clear the crossover and want to keep more from each sale.
- Recheck after a price change: payment size can move Pro into its 3.9% tier.
- Use a three-month sales average if one launch month would distort the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Skool take per transaction?
Skool takes 10% on Hobby or 2.9% on most Pro payments, plus $0.30. Pro payments above $900 use 3.9% plus $0.30. The plan subscription is charged separately.
What fees does the Skool Hobby plan charge?
Hobby costs $9 per month plus 10% and $0.30 per transaction. Skool displays a $7.50 monthly equivalent when yearly billing is selected.
What fees does the Skool Pro plan charge?
Pro costs $99 per month plus 2.9% and $0.30 on payments up to $900. The percentage rises to 3.9% when one payment exceeds $900. Yearly pricing displays as $82 per month.
When is Skool Pro cheaper than Hobby?
Pro becomes cheaper near $1,267.61 in monthly low-ticket sales on monthly billing. The exact first whole-payment point depends on your price. At $49, Pro first wins at 26 monthly payments.
Does Skool charge a separate Stripe processing fee?
No separate Stripe processing fee is listed on Skool payments. Skool processes payments as merchant of record and uses Stripe Express to send weekly payouts to your bank.
What happens when a Skool payment is above $900?
Pro uses 3.9% plus $0.30 for a payment above $900. Hobby stays at 10% plus $0.30. The calculator switches the Pro rate automatically.
Does Skool collect VAT and sales tax?
Yes. Skool adds applicable tax at checkout and handles remittance. The tax is charged on top of your listed member price, so it is not deducted in this fee estimate.
Are Skool transaction fees refunded?
No. Skool states that transaction fees are non-refundable. A customer refund can therefore reduce take-home by more than the refunded price alone.
How often does Skool pay community owners?
Skool sends available balances every Wednesday. US deposits usually take 1 to 3 business days. International deposits usually take 3 to 5 business days.