Best platform for starting an online community
Getting a community running cheaply and simply, before it has proven itself.
| # | Tool | Starting price | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skool Top pick | $9/mo | Creators starting a community who want courses and live calls in one simple place at the lowest price. | | Visit |
| =2 | Circle | $89/mo | Established creators and brands who want a polished community, website and apps under their own domain. | | Visit |
| =2 | Mighty Networks | $95/mo | Community businesses that want courses, events and automation in one app, and plan to grow into paid programmes. | | Visit |
Ranked on weighted capability scores, weighted most heavily towards value for money and ease of use. Commission is not an input — see methodology.
How this ranking was weighted
| Dimension | Weight | Skool | Circle | Mighty Networks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value for money | ×4 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Ease of use | ×3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Low transaction fees | ×1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Weighted total | 93 | 70 | 70 |
Capability scores are 1–5 per dimension. Weights reflect what matters for this use case. A tool we have not assessed on a dimension scores 3, not 0.
Why Skool wins here
Strengths
- +The Hobby plan is $9 a month with unlimited members, courses, videos and live calls.
- +Both plans include a custom URL and a built-in affiliate programme for your own community.
- +Yearly billing gives two months free: $7.50 or $82 a month.
Limitations
- −Hobby takes a 10% transaction fee on everything you sell; Pro cuts it to 2.9%.
- −Pro costs $99 a month, so it only beats Hobby above roughly $1,270 a month in sales.
- −No free plan — only a free trial.
The case for Circle
A community platform for creators and brands, with courses, events, a website and apps on your own domain. Established creators and brands who want a polished community, website and apps under their own domain.
Full Skool vs Circle comparison →
Common questions
Best platform for starting an online community?
Skool scores highest for a new community, at 93 out of 100 when weighted for value for money and ease of use. Circle and Mighty Networks are joint second on 70.
Why is the pick here different from your overall ranking?
Our overall ranking for community platforms puts Circle first, because it averages every use case. Weighted specifically for a new community, Skool comes out ahead — getting a community running cheaply and simply, before it has proven itself.
Sources & verification
- circle.so — checked 24 September 2026No free plan; a 14-day free trial with no card required, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- mightynetworks.com — checked 24 September 2026No free plan; a 14-day free trial.
- skool.com — checked 24 September 2026No free plan; both plans can be tried for free.