LearnWorlds vs Skool: Fees, Features and What You Keep
Short answer
LearnWorlds is a course platform: Starter is $29 a month plus $5 per paid enrollment, Pro Trainer $99 with no enrollment fee, and you pay your own Stripe or PayPal fees. Skool is community-first: $9 a month plus 10% per sale, or $99 plus 2.9%, processing included. LearnWorlds lists certificates, SCORM and assessments; Skool centres on the member feed.
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On this page 7 sections
At a glance
| Plan | LearnWorlds Starter$29/moVisit site (opens in new tab) | Lowest fees at $5kLearnWorlds Pro Trainer$99/moVisit site (opens in new tab) | Skool Hobby$9/moVisit site (opens in new tab, affiliate link) | Lowest fees at $5kSkool Pro$99/moVisit site (opens in new tab, affiliate link) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | $5 per sale | 0% | 10.0% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30; 3.9% + $0.30 (txn ≥ $900) |
| Card processing | Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 (US cards) | Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 (US cards) | Included in platform fee | Included in platform fee |
| Plans (monthly) | Starter $29, Pro Trainer $99, Learning Center $299 | Starter $29, Pro Trainer $99, Learning Center $299 | Hobby $9, Pro $99 | Hobby $9, Pro $99 |
| Plans (billed yearly, per month) | $24, $79, $249 | $24, $79, $249 | $7.50 (Hobby), $82 (Pro) | $7.50 (Hobby), $82 (Pro) |
| Per-sale platform fee | $5 per paid enrollment on Starter; none on higher plans | $5 per paid enrollment on Starter; none on higher plans | 10% + 30¢ (Hobby), 2.9% + 30¢ (Pro), processing included | 10% + 30¢ (Hobby), 2.9% + 30¢ (Pro), processing included |
| Payment processing | Your own Stripe or PayPal (their fees apply) | Your own Stripe or PayPal (their fees apply) | Included in Skool's fee | Included in Skool's fee |
| Subscriptions and memberships | Partial (From Pro Trainer (not on Starter)) | Partial (From Pro Trainer (not on Starter)) | Yes | Yes |
| Learner limits | 1,000 active learners a month (Starter), 2,000 (Pro Trainer, Learning Center) | 1,000 active learners a month (Starter), 2,000 (Pro Trainer, Learning Center) | Unlimited members | Unlimited members |
| Community | Yes (Built-in community and social network on every plan) | Yes (Built-in community and social network on every plan) | Yes (Core product: feed, classroom, gamification) | Yes (Core product: feed, classroom, gamification) |
| Certificates and SCORM | Yes (Certificates and up to 20 SCORM uploads from Pro Trainer) | Yes (Certificates and up to 20 SCORM uploads from Pro Trainer) | No | No |
| Email to members | Yes (2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 mass email credits a month) | Yes (2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 mass email credits a month) | Partial (1-click broadcast of a post to all members) | Partial (1-click broadcast of a post to all members) |
| Admin seats | 1 / 5 / 25 admins | 1 / 5 / 25 admins | Not listed on pricing page | Not listed on pricing page |
| Fees at $5k/mo | −$704 | −$274 | −$539 | −$274 |
| You keep at $5k/mo | $4,296 (85.9%) | $4,726 (94.5%) | $4,461 (89.2%) | $4,726 (94.5%) |
| $5k/mo = $5,000 gross from 100 one-time sales, US cards, monthly billing. Sources: www.learnworlds.com (opens in new tab) · www.skool.com (opens in new tab) · help.skool.com (opens in new tab) · help.skool.com (opens in new tab). | ||||
LearnWorlds vs Skool at a glance. Prices checked 21 Oct 2026. At $5,000 from 100 one-time sales, US cards.
LearnWorlds Starter
$29/mo
- Platform fee
- $5 per sale
- Card processing
- Stripe 2.9% + $0.30
- Plans (monthly)
- Starter $29, Pro Trainer $99, Learning Center $299
- Plans (billed yearly, per month)
- $24, $79, $249
- Per-sale platform fee
- $5 per paid enrollment on Starter; none on higher plans
- Payment processing
- Your own Stripe or PayPal (their fees apply)
- Subscriptions and memberships
- Partial (From Pro Trainer (not on Starter))
- Learner limits
- 1,000 active learners a month (Starter), 2,000 (Pro Trainer, Learning Center)
- Community
- Yes (Built-in community and social network on every plan)
- Certificates and SCORM
- Yes (Certificates and up to 20 SCORM uploads from Pro Trainer)
- Email to members
- Yes (2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 mass email credits a month)
- Admin seats
- 1 / 5 / 25 admins
- Fees
- −$704
LearnWorlds Pro Trainer
$99/mo
- Platform fee
- 0%
- Card processing
- Stripe 2.9% + $0.30
- Plans (monthly)
- Starter $29, Pro Trainer $99, Learning Center $299
- Plans (billed yearly, per month)
- $24, $79, $249
- Per-sale platform fee
- $5 per paid enrollment on Starter; none on higher plans
- Payment processing
- Your own Stripe or PayPal (their fees apply)
- Subscriptions and memberships
- Partial (From Pro Trainer (not on Starter))
- Learner limits
- 1,000 active learners a month (Starter), 2,000 (Pro Trainer, Learning Center)
- Community
- Yes (Built-in community and social network on every plan)
- Certificates and SCORM
- Yes (Certificates and up to 20 SCORM uploads from Pro Trainer)
- Email to members
- Yes (2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 mass email credits a month)
- Admin seats
- 1 / 5 / 25 admins
- Fees
- −$274
Skool Hobby
$9/mo
- Platform fee
- 10.0% + $0.30
- Card processing
- Included
- Plans (monthly)
- Hobby $9, Pro $99
- Plans (billed yearly, per month)
- $7.50 (Hobby), $82 (Pro)
- Per-sale platform fee
- 10% + 30¢ (Hobby), 2.9% + 30¢ (Pro), processing included
- Payment processing
- Included in Skool's fee
- Subscriptions and memberships
- Yes
- Learner limits
- Unlimited members
- Community
- Yes (Core product: feed, classroom, gamification)
- Certificates and SCORM
- No
- Email to members
- Partial (1-click broadcast of a post to all members)
- Admin seats
- Not listed on pricing page
- Fees
- −$539
Skool Pro
$99/mo
- Platform fee
- 2.9% + $0.30; 3.9% + $0.30 (txn ≥ $900)
- Card processing
- Included
- Plans (monthly)
- Hobby $9, Pro $99
- Plans (billed yearly, per month)
- $7.50 (Hobby), $82 (Pro)
- Per-sale platform fee
- 10% + 30¢ (Hobby), 2.9% + 30¢ (Pro), processing included
- Payment processing
- Included in Skool's fee
- Subscriptions and memberships
- Yes
- Learner limits
- Unlimited members
- Community
- Yes (Core product: feed, classroom, gamification)
- Certificates and SCORM
- No
- Email to members
- Partial (1-click broadcast of a post to all members)
- Admin seats
- Not listed on pricing page
- Fees
- −$274
Fees at real revenue levels
| Plan | You keep at $1,000/mo | You keep at $5,000/mo | You keep at $20,000/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| LearnWorlds Starter | $836fees −$164 | $4,296fees −$704 | $17,271fees −$2,729 |
| LearnWorlds Pro Trainer | $866fees −$134 | $4,726fees −$274 | $19,201fees −$799 |
| Skool Hobby | $885fees −$115 | $4,461fees −$539 | $17,871fees −$2,129 |
| Skool Pro | $866fees −$134 | $4,726fees −$274 | $19,201fees −$799 |
Assumes one-time sales at a $50 average price (so $1,000 = 20 sales), US cards, monthly billing, each platform's native payments. Excludes taxes, refunds and payout fees.
Change the numbers to match your business:
What you keep, by platform
Keeps the most
You keep $4,726.00 (94.5%)
LearnWorlds Pro Trainer keeps the most at $5,000.00/mo gross.
1. LearnWorlds Pro Trainer
$4,726.00 kept · 94.5%
- You keep $4,726.00
- Platform fee $0.00
- Processing $175.00
- Plan cost $99.00
Total fees $274.00 · effective fee 5.5%
Visit LearnWorlds (opens in new tab) ↗2. Skool Pro
$4,726.00 kept · 94.5%
- You keep $4,726.00
- Platform + processing $175.00
- Plan cost $99.00
Total fees $274.00 · effective fee 5.5% · −$0.00/mo vs LearnWorlds Pro Trainer
Visit Skool (opens in new tab, affiliate link) ↗3. Skool Hobby
$4,461.00 kept · 89.2%
- You keep $4,461.00
- Platform + processing $530.00
- Plan cost $9.00
Total fees $539.00 · effective fee 10.8% · −$265.00/mo vs LearnWorlds Pro Trainer
Visit Skool (opens in new tab, affiliate link) ↗4. LearnWorlds Starter
$4,296.00 kept · 85.9%
- You keep $4,296.00
- Platform fee $500.00
- Processing $175.00
- Plan cost $29.00
Total fees $704.00 · effective fee 14.1% · −$430.00/mo vs LearnWorlds Pro Trainer
Visit LearnWorlds (opens in new tab) ↗
- Skool Pro's fee tier (2.9% vs 3.9%) is chosen from your average transaction size ($900+ uses 3.9%).
- LearnWorlds Starter: the $5 fee assumes one paid enrollment per transaction.
Estimates only. Excludes taxes/VAT, refunds, chargebacks and payout fees unless stated. Not financial advice.
Last checked 21 Oct 2026 · Prices from learnworlds.com/pricing, skool.com/pricing and Skool’s payments FAQ
What you keep on $4,000 of course sales
Example: 20 sales of a $200 course in a month, US cards. Stripe’s standard US rate (2.9% + 30¢) is used for LearnWorlds (Stripe pricing).
- Skool Hobby: $9 + 20 × ($20.00 + $0.30) = $415. You keep $3,585.
- Skool Pro: $99 + 20 × ($5.80 + $0.30) = $221. You keep $3,779.
- LearnWorlds Starter: $29 + 20 × $5 enrollment fee + Stripe $122 = $251. You keep $3,749.
- LearnWorlds Pro Trainer: $99 + Stripe $122 = $221. You keep $3,779.
At this revenue the two $99 plans cost the same, so the difference is in the features each lists. Skool’s figures leave out Growth Boost (30% on members Skool brings in through its search or ads); LearnWorlds’ leave out Stripe’s international-card (+1.5%) and currency-conversion (+1%) surcharges.
Plans and limits
LearnWorlds (pricing, prices in USD; annual billing saves 20%):
- Starter, $29 a month ($24 billed yearly): $5 per paid enrollment, 1,000 active learners a month, 1 admin, 300 AI credits. Sell with your own Stripe or PayPal.
- Pro Trainer, $99 ($79 yearly): no enrollment fees; subscriptions, memberships and payment plans; course certificates and up to 20 SCORM uploads; 5 admins; 2,000 active learners.
- Learning Center, $299 ($249 yearly): full white-label, 25 admins, and tools such as single sign-on and API.
Every plan lists LearnWorlds AI, unlimited video, a built-in community and social network, your own domain, and checkout discounts and order bumps.
Skool (pricing): Hobby $9 and Pro $99 a month, both with unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls. Pro adds a custom URL, the affiliates feature and the lower fee. Yearly billing shows $7.50 and $82 a month.
Courses vs community
LearnWorlds lists academy-building features: an assessment builder, interactive video, certificates, learning paths, SCORM and a website builder (LearnWorlds pricing). Skool’s Classroom keeps courses next to the community, with gamification that can unlock courses at higher levels (Skool features).
Who each fits, based on published features and pricing
This is a reading of each vendor’s published plans and prices, not a tested recommendation. Neither product has been tested hands-on for this page.
- LearnWorlds’ published features fit structured courses that need assessments, certificates, SCORM or a branded academy, including training for teams or clients.
- Skool’s published features fit memberships and group programs built around member discussion, live calls and gamification, where payments are handled by the platform.
What this page doesn’t cover
This comparison is based on official pricing and feature pages. It doesn’t judge course-builder ease, learner experience or support quality, because those need hands-on use.
See Skool plans (opens in new tab, affiliate link)
LearnWorlds’ plans are on its official site: learnworlds.com/pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is LearnWorlds or Skool cheaper?
It depends on the plan. On $4,000 a month from 20 sales of a $200 course, Skool Pro and LearnWorlds Pro Trainer both work out at about $221 including card fees, LearnWorlds Starter about $251 (with the $5 enrollment fee) and Skool Hobby $415.
Does LearnWorlds have a community like Skool?
LearnWorlds lists a built-in community and social network on every plan. Skool's community is its main product, with gamification, a calendar and one-click email broadcasts.
Can I sell memberships on LearnWorlds Starter?
No. Subscriptions, memberships and payment plans start on Pro Trainer, per LearnWorlds' pricing page. Skool supports paid memberships on both plans.
Does LearnWorlds charge transaction fees?
Starter charges $5 per paid enrollment. Pro Trainer and Learning Center list no enrollment fees. You also pay Stripe or PayPal's processing fees.
Which has certificates and quizzes?
LearnWorlds lists an assessment builder among its features and, from Pro Trainer, course certificates and SCORM uploads. Skool's pricing and features pages don't list certificates or SCORM.