Online Membership Platforms Compared: Pricing, Community, and Automation
Why I Compared Platforms
When I first decided to launch a membership site, I thought the hardest part would be creating content. But I quickly realized the bigger challenge was choosing the right platform. Every tool I looked at promised to be the best, but once I dug deeper, I found major trade-offs in pricing, community features, and automation.
Some platforms were powerful but too expensive. Others were cheap but lacked engagement tools. And a few looked shiny but ended up being so complicated I spent more time setting things up than serving my members.
That’s why I sat down and compared the most popular online membership platforms side by side. What I discovered completely changed how I build and run my business. Spoiler: I ended up choosing Skool, but let me show you the details so you can decide for yourself.
Table of Contents
What Really Matters in a Membership Platform
From my own experience, here are the three pillars that make or break an online membership:
- Pricing – Can I actually afford this before I scale? And will the pricing model work as I grow?
- Community – Because information alone isn’t enough. Members need connection, accountability, and support.
- Automation – To save me from babysitting the system. Things like onboarding, payments, notifications, and workflows should run without me clicking 50 buttons a day.
If a platform fails in one of these areas, it will eventually hold you back.
Kajabi: Great for Automation, Expensive for Growth
When I tried Kajabi, I loved the power—it has funnels, email automation, and upsell tools built in.
- Pricing: $199–$399/month, depending on plan.
- Community: Weak. Kajabi’s “community” feels more like a forum add-on than a true engagement hub.
- Automation: Strong. Email campaigns, sequences, and tagging make it good for marketing.
My take: Kajabi is best if you’re more of a “marketer with courses” than a coach running an interactive community.
Teachable: Affordable Entry, Weak on Community
Teachable was one of the first platforms I ever used.
- Pricing: $29–$119/month depending on tier.
- Community: Almost non-existent. It’s a course platform first, community second.
- Automation: Limited. You can drip content, but advanced funnels require outside tools.
My take: Good for simple course delivery, but if you want interaction or retention, you’ll outgrow it fast.
Mighty Networks: Strong Community, Clunky Setup
I gave Mighty Networks a shot because it had both groups and courses.
- Pricing: $39–$119/month for basic, more if you want branded apps.
- Community: Strong. It’s community-first with chat and feed features.
- Automation: Moderate. Decent for event scheduling, but not much in terms of built-in marketing.
My take: Great for social-style communities, but I found the UX clunky for coaching and structured courses.
Circle: Clean Community, But Add-Ons Required
Circle is another community-first platform that’s gotten popular.
- Pricing: $39–$99+/month depending on features.
- Community: Clean and well-designed. Easy to organize by topics.
- Automation: Limited. Integrations help, but you’ll often need Zapier or extra tools.
My take: Nice for sleek communities, but less “all-in-one.” Works best if you don’t mind stitching tools together.
Facebook Groups: Free, But at a Cost
Like many people, I started with a free Facebook group.
- Pricing: Free.
- Community: Decent at first, but members get lost in distractions, ads, and unrelated posts.
- Automation: Weak. Zero payment integration, no way to onboard effectively, and you’re at the mercy of Facebook’s algorithm.
My take: Okay for starting out, but not sustainable for serious business.
Skool: Balanced Pricing, Community, and Simplicity
Finally, let’s talk about why I ended up with Skool.
- Pricing: $99/month flat fee. No hidden tiers.
- Community: Excellent. It feels like a private social network without distractions. Plus, it has gamification—points, levels, and leaderboards that make engagement fun.
- Automation: Smart where it counts. The calendar keeps live events organized. Payments are built-in with Stripe. Notifications are clear and consistent. And onboarding is as simple as uploading a welcome video and pinning a post.
My take: Skool hits the sweet spot. It’s not overloaded like Kajabi, not stripped down like Teachable, and not chaotic like Facebook groups. For me, it just works.
You can launch your own community here: Sign up for Skool.
Feature Comparison: Pricing, Community & Automation
| Platform | Pricing | Community | Automation | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kajabi | $199–$399/mo | Weak | Strong | Course sellers with heavy marketing needs |
| Teachable | $29–$119/mo | Weak | Limited | Beginners with small courses |
| Mighty Networks | $39–$119+/mo | Strong | Moderate | Community builders |
| Circle | $39–$99+/mo | Strong | Limited | Clean, simple communities |
| Facebook Groups | Free | Distracting | None | Hobby or free groups |
| Skool | $99/mo | Excellent + gamification | Smart + simple | Coaches, creators, and communities |
What This Means for You
When I compared these platforms side by side, I noticed a clear pattern:
- If you care about automation and marketing funnels, Kajabi is strongest—but expensive.
- If you care about cheap course hosting, Teachable works—but with weak retention.
- If you care about social interaction, Mighty or Circle might suit you—but expect add-ons.
- If you care about scalability, engagement, and simplicity, Skool is where it all comes together.
For me, the choice became clear: I needed something that was powerful enough to grow, but simple enough to actually use every day. That’s why I switched to Skool.
FAQs About Online Membership Platforms
Q: Do I need automation if I’m just starting out?
Not heavily. Focus on engagement first, then layer automation later.
Q: Should I pay $199/month for Kajabi or start smaller?
If you’re a beginner, start smaller. Kajabi is powerful but overkill if you don’t already have a big audience.
Q: How quickly can I launch on Skool?
I had my group up in under an hour—with a course, community, and event calendar.
Q: Can Skool handle payments?
Yes—Stripe integration makes monthly subscriptions seamless.
Conclusion: My Recommendation
Choosing the right platform isn’t just about features—it’s about what fits your coaching style, your audience, and your goals.
For me, after trying nearly everything, Skool was the first platform that balanced pricing, community, and automation without overwhelming me. It let me focus on helping people instead of managing tech.
If you’re serious about launching a membership site that grows with you, I’d recommend skipping the duct-tape solutions and going with the platform that was built for creators like us.
Take the leap here: Sign up for Skool today.
