# Paid communities

> “Charge monthly for my community”. Ranked by expert consensus and what people use now; affiliate links never change the order.

The big decision is whose brand your members see. Circle runs under your own name on the web and in mobile apps, from $89 a month, with courses and live events built in. Skool, at $9 a month and up, keeps members posting with points and levels that open new content. Patreon is free to start and takes a share of your earnings instead, which suits creators whose fans already follow them for posts, videos or podcasts.

Last checked: 2026-10-12

## Ranking

1. **[Circle](https://suiteintent.com/t/circle?m=GB)**: Community platform under your own brand. · Best for: Creators selling paid memberships · From $89/mo
2. **[Skool](https://suiteintent.com/t/skool?m=GB)**: Paid communities with courses. · Best for: Coaches charging a monthly membership · From $9/mo
3. **[Patreon](https://suiteintent.com/t/patreon?m=GB)**: Paid memberships for creators. · Best for: Creators with a loyal fan base · Free plan

## Side by side

| Tool | Price | Ease of use (1-5) | Team size |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Circle | From $89/mo | 4 | solo, small team, growing team |
| Skool | From $9/mo | 5 | solo |
| Patreon | Free plan | 5 | solo |

## Why these picks

- Prices last checked: 2026-10-12
- Ranked by expert consensus and what people use now; affiliate links never change the order.

## Head to head

- [Circle vs Skool: where to run a paid community](https://suiteintent.com/compare/circle-vs-skool)

## Questions

### Is a flat monthly fee better than a revenue share?

Circle and Skool charge a fixed plan price, so your cost stays the same as the community grows. Patreon is free to start and keeps a share of what members pay, which costs nothing while you are small. Once membership income is steady, a flat fee usually leaves you more of each payment. Work out the break-even with your expected member count and price before you commit.

### Can I sell a course inside the same community?

Skool puts a classroom next to the community feed and an events calendar, so the course and the discussion live side by side. Circle also bundles courses, live events and paid memberships in one place. Patreon is built around posts and tiers, with one-off digital products as an extra. Coaches who teach a programme tend to land on Skool or Circle for that reason.

### I already have a Facebook group: why move to a paid platform?

A free group gives you no simple way to charge members or gate content, and you do not control the feed. Circle keeps members on your own branded space and apps, away from other social networks. Skool's points and levels give members a reason to come back and post. Announce the move with a clear date, and give founding members a lower price to bring them across.

### How do I keep members from cancelling after the first month?

Members stay when something new happens each week, so plan a calendar of live calls and fresh content before launch. Skool's levels open up content as members take part, which rewards the people who show up. Circle's live events and Patreon's direct messages help you keep a personal touch. Track who goes quiet in the first fortnight and reach out to them yourself.

### Do I charge VAT on community memberships sold in Europe?

Paid memberships count as digital services in the EU, so VAT follows the buyer's country once you pass the €10,000 cross-border threshold. You can report all of it through the One Stop Shop in your own country. Patreon processes payments in many currencies, but ask an accountant whether it or you are responsible for the VAT on your sales. With Circle or Skool, check how each platform handles tax before you set prices.